Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 40: Apple

Elder Xu found himself speechless for a moment, with countless words stuck at the tip of his tongue, eager to be spoken, yet all caught on the edge of his lips, not a single word could come out.

"Elder Xu, watch how I perform tomorrow."

Jiang Cheng, with her backpack, dashed off in a race against time, still remembering to greet Uncle Zhong at the door before leaving.

Uncle Zhong came out carrying breakfast, suppressing a smile beneath his rugged exterior.

Elder Xu finally came to his senses, giving Uncle Zhong a stern look.

"If you want to laugh, just laugh."

"Hahahahaha!"

Uncle Zhong burst into genuine laughter, no longer maintaining the calm he had while examining Jiang Cheng.

Elder Xu glared at Uncle Zhong again, but couldn’t help but laugh himself.

"This girl, was she bragging or serious just now? She said she wasn’t trying her best! She learned two books in a day, and memorized one-fifth of a dictionary in two days, and she claims she’s hiding her real capability???"

Uncle Zhong shook his head.

"I don’t understand. Isn’t she the one you’ve been yearning to take as a disciple, yet you can’t even gauge her true strength?"

Elder Xu’s face turned slightly red.

"What do you know, I value her character, her ability isn’t important!"

Uncle Zhong put on a false smile, as long as you’re happy, sir.

*

After leaving Elder Xu’s house, Jiang Cheng sprinted all the way to the recycling station.

Once she completed her usual routine, she took out the materials and continued organizing them, with only a little left to do.

A few minutes later, Sister Wang arrived.

She came a bit early.

"Sister Wang."

Jiang Cheng greeted, and Sister Wang, unable to contain her excitement, came over, peeking outside the door, whispering:

"For you."

A bicycle ticket caught Jiang Cheng’s eye.

She looked up, surprised.

"Sister Wang, what’s this?"

"It’s for you! You’re running around every day, you must be exhausted. You should buy a bicycle for convenience."

Sister Wang bent slightly, speaking softly: "If you’re short on money, I’ll lend it to you first, you can repay slowly."

Jiang Cheng was truly tempted, and after weighing it in her mind, she chose to accept it.

"Sister Wang, I really need a bicycle, but I can’t just take it for free. Please don’t refuse, if you do, I really wouldn’t know how to face you in the future."

Words from Sister Wang’s mouth were swallowed, she smiled and nodded: "Okay, just give me fifty bucks, I don’t want more than that."

"Alright! I’ll listen to you."

Tickets are scarce right now, almost as valuable as the price of the bicycle itself, but refusing too much would indeed pressure the other party who wants to repay a favor.

Jiang Cheng agreed, telling Sister Wang she’d bring the money tomorrow.

Sister Wang naturally had no objections.

They worked together and had lunch together as well.

As usual, Jiang Cheng got an extra meal but put it in a plastic bag in the space, leaving it uneaten for now.

When Jiang Cheng reached the night school, she gave Uncle Wang a big apple.

"Thanks to you for sending me a message yesterday, otherwise I wouldn’t have come down in time. You don’t consider me an outsider, so how could you refuse my apple."

In those few words, Jiang Cheng’s standing in Uncle Wang’s heart rose a little more.

After giving the apple, Jiang Cheng turned to see the principal, holding a lunchbox, waiting for her.

His gaze seemed somewhat resentful.

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt like she was the heartbreaker.

Principal Wang stared at the apple in Uncle Wang’s hand, sourly thinking: Playing favorites.

Even after providing so many meals, does the girl really think it’s leftovers they couldn’t finish?

Should he subtly mention it?

No, he’s the principal, how could he do something so unbecoming.

It’s just an apple after all!

Principal Wang internally monologued, Jiang Cheng could certainly see through it.

She took the lunchbox, tugging open her backpack with the other hand.

"Principal, my backpack is too heavy, could you hold it for me?"

"Every single day, always some hassle with you."

Principal Wang did go and help hold the bag, only to see two big apples lying inside.

"Principal Wang, I’ve had a toothache these last couple of days, can you taste the apple for me, see if it’s sweet?"

Principal Wang finally understood Jiang Cheng’s intent, he haughtily zipped up the backpack.

"With a toothache, don’t carry apples around. Wait until it doesn’t hurt, I don’t particularly like eating these things."

Principal Wang arrogantly tossed his head, his back exuding happiness.

He can go without the apple, as long as she kept him in mind.

Jiang Cheng shook her head, laughing softly. Their principal, why is he so cute?

Jiang Cheng didn’t chase after him, instead, she carried the lunchbox upstairs to eat, then went to class with Teacher Lü.

After today’s course, Jiang Cheng left with the homework assigned by Teacher Lü.

In the office, Teacher Lü ate the apple Jiang Cheng gave him, it was really sweet.

Jiang Cheng returned to the classroom.

As soon as she walked in, it instantly got a lot quieter inside.

As usual, unaffected, she sat in her designated seat, took out her book and pen, and started writing.

Classmates whispered, signaling with their eyes, but no one dared to speak loudly.

Gossip travels fast, and yesterday He Dan’s self-exposure had already spread throughout the night school today.

Almost everyone had heard about it.

Most people had their moral compass straight on this matter, it was clear who was right and who was wrong, so there was no gossip about Jiang Cheng.

The only curiosity everyone had was - Jiang Cheng was so smart, why didn’t she leave the Lin Family earlier?

Their conclusion was, she must have been blinded at the time.

Today, He Dan still didn’t come, whether something had held her up, or if she wouldn’t come at all in the future, was unknown.

After school, as usual, Jiang Cheng went home with her gong.

At the same time, Principal Wang found an apple on the desk in his office, with a note underneath.

"Principal Wang, the meals have been delicious. With a full stomach, I light up with untapped brilliance in my studies, I owe you a credit! Jiang Cheng left."

Principal Wang wiped the corners of his eyes, feeling odd about himself, saying:

"Isn’t it just an apple... Why am I all emotional!"

After speaking, Principal Wang broke into a cheap grin, wiped and polished the apple again, and went joyfully to the teachers’ office.

Laughter shared is more enjoyable than laughter alone!

*

After school, Jiang Cheng returned smoothly to the quadrangle courtyard, pulled along by Grandma Shen, to catch up on today’s gossip.

"Du Yun didn’t agree, firmly opposing her mother-in-law."

"The Lin Family tried to reclaim things, only for Du Yun’s mother-in-law to deliver a scolding. Once something enters her hands, good luck getting it back."

"Cheng Yuan’s mom couldn’t stand up to Du Yun’s mother-in-law, went home and threw stuff around. Somehow, the stuff hit He Dan right on the head."

"There was bleeding right away, heard she got multiple stitches at the hospital."

Jiang Cheng diligently handed over a handful of sunflower seeds, and Grandma Shen cracked them noisily.

Shen Yue sat on a little stool beside, carefully peeling a handful of sunflower seeds, skillfully placing them into Jiang Cheng’s palm.

Jiang Cheng ate them all bite after bite without a shred of embarrassment, waiting for the next handful.

Shen Xing lay back inside, watching the assembly line with a puzzled look.

Why wasn’t a bit of Shen Yue’s attentiveness put to use on him, her own brother with an injured foot?

"Clomp, clomp, clomp, clomp"

Shen Yue ran over.

Surprised yet slightly delighted, Shen Xing wondered if he’ll have some share?

After all, still his little sister.

"Brother — you peel too, I can’t keep up with Sister Jiang Cheng’s appetite!"

A bag of unopened sunflower seeds was placed by his bed, and Shen Yue spun around and dashed back to her little stool, plopping down, and continued diligently peeling seeds.

Shen Xing was stunned for a second, then chuckled, lowered his head, and started peeling the seeds. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

This is nice, the family is delightfully together.