Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 42: Showing Off

In the evening, the sky was filled with red clouds, a gentle breeze brushed against faces, and the courtyard of the four-family went abuzz.

"Cheng Yuan is really impressive, he’s only been working a few days and already bought a bicycle."

"That’s great! These big wheels are way faster than walking!"

"I tell you, Cheng Yuan is definitely the most capable young man in our courtyard, who else could get into a mechanical factory as soon as they come back? That’s the largest factory we have here."

"You’re absolutely right."

A group of people, young and old, surrounded a not-so-new 28-inch big-wheeled bike, examining it from all angles.

Some curious children wanted to touch it, but their parents pulled them back.

What if they broke it!

Lin Chengyuan, who was being praised, kept a humble demeanor, but his back straightened instinctively, with a struggle to suppress the smile on his face, feeling secretly proud inside.

Beside him, He Dan, with a head wrapped in white bandage, also craned her neck with satisfaction and pride; complimenting Lin Chengyuan was like complimenting her.

The frustrations she felt these two days vanished into thin air at this moment.

He Dan raised an eyebrow and looked towards the Shen family’s door.

No matter how popular one gets at night school, having a bicycle is not something just anyone can achieve.

Mother Lin, Father Lin, and Grandma Lin felt almost the same as Lin Chengyuan.

They were particularly addicted to this kind of false flattery, feeling a sense of superiority.

"It’s not a big deal, Cheng Yuan just knows how to make friends, so don’t praise him like that!"

Father Lin feigned modesty, to which Mother Lin quickly chimed in: "Exactly, it’s just a bicycle, we’ve been wanting to buy one, but with the old and young at home, no one knew how to ride it."

"Cheng Yuan works far at the mechanical factory, it’s convenient for him to commute."

Each member of the Lin family added their parts, implying one thing: We’re not short of money, we buy bicycles whenever we want.

He Dan, with her injured forehead, looked slightly displeased.

Even though it’s second-hand, it still cost 120 yuan, just without a ticket.

She paid eighty!

The Lin family, with so many members, stingy as they were, only spent forty yuan.

Thinking about the annoying matters of the Lin family, He Dan lost some of her pride.

"Why is there so much noise today?"

Jiang Cheng was back.

She came back with a brand new bicycle.

"Wow—whose is this, shining and new?"

Jiang Cheng made a grand entrance, pushing her newly bought 28-inch bicycle.

"It’s mine! I just bought it!"

Jiang Cheng naturally saw the other bicycle in the courtyard and immediately patted the bike seat, saying: "I bought it today!"

If you’re going to show off, you should aim to make the other party steamed with jealousy.

Jiang Cheng didn’t think being modest would make the Lin family dislike her any less.

If that’s the case, she might as well choose the path that makes her happy.

So Jiang Cheng started.

"The ticket? I got Sister Wang from our scrap station to find it for me; Sister Wang’s husband works at our police station."

"There was some money I was owed that just came back, so I bought it right away."

"I picked it myself from the warehouse, this one’s the newest!"

"I even got a bell for it, you can hear it from two miles away, it’s really loud!"

"Look, this chain doesn’t have a speck of rust, brand new, works like a charm, saves effort!"

After Jiang Cheng finished showing off, the faces of the Lin family grew increasingly sour, and Lin Jiaojiao was the one who couldn’t hold it in the most.

"Jiang Cheng, our family buys a bicycle and you buy one too, you’re doing it on purpose!"

Jiang Cheng, who was flaunting her bicycle, stood up and looked at Lin Jiaojiao: "If I were doing it on purpose, I would have gotten a second-hand one."

At that, Lin Chengyuan couldn’t hold back.

Was she mocking him?

"Jiang Cheng, don’t go too far."

"Lin Chengyuan, who do you think you are! The Lin family seems to be everywhere."

"Are you the ancestor of bicycles? Do I need your family’s consent to buy one? Check the mirror if you can’t recognize how big your face is!"

"I’m busy every day and don’t have time to care about what you guys do. People like you aren’t worth my trouble to intentionally annoy."

Jiang Cheng finished her usual jibe and pushed the bicycle into the house.

Grandma Shen and Shen Yue helped from the sidelines.

Mother Lin was infuriated and rashly said: "Why are you pushing it into the house, afraid of whom?"

"Afraid of you!"

Jiang Cheng turned back to add: "You have such a big heart, leave it outside to weather in the wind and rain. I can’t compare to your Lin family, I can’t bear it!"

The Lin family got stuck in an awkward position; now, they couldn’t decide whether to push the bicycle in or leave it out.

Jiang Cheng gleefully returned to the house, while the Lin family begrudgingly put the bicycle under the eaves, with occupants pretending to glance at it from time to time.

Obviously worried, but stubbornly saving face.

After watching the spectacle, the people from the courtyard dispersed, though what they gossiped about at home remained unknown.

In the evening, Jiang Cheng had dinner with Grandma Shen and others.

Today, she had moved Teacher Lü’s class to the afternoon, which is why she was able to return at this time.

After dinner, Jiang Cheng still went to night school.

Come rain or shine, she was determined.

Days passed by like this for seven or eight days, and Shen Xing’s ankle was almost healed, finally able to go to school again. At the same time, he received a reply from his big brother, Shen Que.

At night, Jiang Cheng returned from night school.

Shen Xing was waiting for her at the Shen family door.

"Missing me so much, you’re making me embarrassed."

"Sis—you better wipe that smile off before you say that."

Jiang Cheng put on a serious face and said disapprovingly: "Stop being jealous of my good looks."

Shen Xing realized he could never keep up with his sister’s train of thought.

"Sis, this is for you."

Jiang Cheng parked her bicycle and took what Shen Xing handed over.

A watch ticket.

Jiang Cheng didn’t know what to say for a moment; these two kids, along with Grandma Shen, were always giving her tickets.

"Shen Xing, you don’t understand; someone as outstanding as your sister has her own sense of time, it’s in my heart and never wrong!"

Jiang Cheng had a refreshingly unique way of refusing, though Shen Xing was used to it by now.

"Sis, this is also for you."

Jiang Cheng looked at the paper in Shen Xing’s hand.

A letter?

"My big brother wrote to you."

Jiang Cheng was genuinely surprised—why would Shen Que write to her?

Regardless, Jiang Cheng took the letter and unfolded it.

There were only three lines.

’Hello, I’m Shen Que.’

’Thank you for taking care of my younger brother and sister, Comrade Jiang.’

’Shen Que, July 5th, kept.’

After reading, Jiang Cheng looked at Shen Xing and asked: "So this is a thank-you note?"

Shen Xing nodded vigorously.

"Yes!"

Jiang Cheng suspiciously asked: "Did you mention me in your letter?"

Shen Xing nodded.

"Did you praise me?"

In his mind, Shen Xing halted the sentence "not much written".

"I did!"

Jiang Cheng nodded with satisfaction, patting Shen Xing on the shoulder: "Xing Xing, this is called being truthful, keep it up."

Jiang Cheng decided to accept it first and decide later whether to use it or not.

Shen Xing’s little nerves were once again tempered by Jiang Cheng, and he slept soundly that night.

The next day, Jiang Cheng got up a bit earlier, took some food from the pantry to the kitchen, and then rode her bicycle to Elder Xu’s home.

Oddly, Uncle Zhong wasn’t present today, only Elder Xu was there.

Jiang Cheng didn’t inquire and attended her class attentively.

After the class ended, Elder Xu said: "I have to leave."

"So soon?"

Jiang Cheng’s expression of reluctance comforted Elder Xu.

He gave Jiang Cheng an address and phone number, telling her to contact him if needed.

"When I return to Beijing, I will mail you some study materials; you must not interrupt your studies, understand?"

"Rest assured, I definitely won’t."

Elder Xu nodded at Jiang Cheng’s solemn promise, waving her off: "Off you go, no need to come tomorrow."