Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 84: I Am Shen Que

Shen Que is dead!

With a clatter, the key in Grandma Shen’s hand fell to the ground. Her limbs trembled, and she forgot to breathe.

Shen Xing’s eyes were full of anger as he rushed towards Lin Chengyuan, attempting to headbutt him.

"You’re lying! My big brother is fine!"

Lin Chengyuan regretted his words, but being hit in the stomach by Shen Xing made him even more embarrassed.

"You know better than anyone how long Shen Que has been out of touch!"

Lin Chengyuan pushed Shen Xing away.

Shen Xing staggered back, supported by Ms. Jiang Cheng.

Ms. Jiang Cheng’s face was calm, but inwardly she was already furious.

"Lin Chengyuan, you can’t possibly know Shen Que’s whereabouts. It’s absolutely impossible for the team to have told you anything. You’re spouting nonsense because of your own pathetic sense of insecurity as a man!"

"You can’t stand the thought of anyone being better than you and refuse to admit your inadequacy!"

Ms. Jiang Cheng’s words shattered Lin Chengyuan’s self-righteous pride.

He indeed didn’t know the specifics of Shen Que’s situation.

He had vaguely heard words like "missing" and "Shen something" during a phone call, then pieced together false facts after observing the Shen family’s correspondence.

But he understood what it meant to go missing on a mission.

Missing simply meant they hadn’t found the body.

"Ms. Jiang Cheng———"

"Don’t call my name! It makes me sick!"

Ms. Jiang Cheng glared angrily.

"Lin Chengyuan, as a man, you shirk your responsibilities, as a veteran, you curse your comrades in arms. Such ungracious and disloyal behavior is a waste of air!"

Ms. Jiang Cheng supported Shen Xing with her left hand and held Shen Yue with her right, while Li Chunxiang supported Grandma Shen from behind.

Many people came out from the courtyard to watch the commotion.

"Lin Chengyuan, why do you bear such ill will towards the Shen family?"

"Exactly, Shen’s family only has the big brother left, why are you saying such things?"

"What else could it be, he can’t compare to Ms. Jiang Cheng or Shen Que, doing it deliberately!"

The courtyard residents might suspect the same thing, but no one would voice it out.

Firstly, because indeed, the Shen family doesn’t really have anyone left.

Secondly, because the uniform Shen Que wore signified protection for them, making it unacceptable to think ill of him.

Lin Chengyuan regretted speaking out, not because he regretted saying it, but because he regretted it brought him no benefit.

If He Dan hadn’t cried to him about being expelled from night school as soon as he returned, he would not have been so hot-headed.

In a flash, Lin Chengyuan found an excuse to absolve himself in his mind.

Beside him, He Dan, unaware of Lin Chengyuan’s inner thoughts, saw Ms. Jiang Cheng angry and her mind raced.

"Ms. Jiang Cheng, why are you angry? What’s your relationship with the Shen family?"

"You’ve always pretended to be nice, I don’t believe you haven’t thought about Shen Que’s salary."

"These two foolish kids are just being played by you."

He Dan’s words shifted the topic to a nauseating angle.

"Now, with Shen Que dead—"

"Pa!"

Ms. Jiang Cheng stepped forward and slapped He Dan sharply and loudly across the face.

"He Dan, I advise you to clean up your mouth, or I won’t hesitate to press your two faces into the ground and reassemble them!"

Ms. Jiang Cheng’s imposing aura overwhelmed He Dan, the sharpness in her eyes was unprecedented.

"Today, I make it clear, I don’t know what happened to Shen Que, and Lin Chengyuan, you certainly wouldn’t know. But Shen Xing and Shen Yue are under my protection!"

"Anyone who talks shit in front of them, I’ll use every connection I have to ruin everything you care about!"

Ms. Jiang Cheng’s fierce gaze conveyed seriousness, causing people meeting her eyes to instinctively look away.

"You dare hit me?"

He Dan held her face and glared at Ms. Jiang Cheng.

Ms. Jiang Cheng sneered: "A hit is a hit, do I need to pick a day for it?"

He Dan clenched her teeth and pulled Lin Chengyuan, pointing at Ms. Jiang Cheng: "Chengyuan! She hit me!"

Facing Ms. Jiang Cheng’s clear and sharp gaze, Lin Chengyuan felt like she could see through his inner thoughts.

If he once harbored fantasies of Ms. Jiang Cheng liking him, that illusion vanished at this moment.

She genuinely disliked him.

When did this feeling start?

Lin Chengyuan became distracted.

He Dan pushed him forcefully, shouting again: "Lin Chengyuan, she hit me!"

Lin Chengyuan glanced at the intimidating crowd behind Ms. Jiang Cheng and stammered:

"I’m a man, it’s not appropriate for me to fight a woman."

He Dan couldn’t believe what she heard, staring at Lin Chengyuan as if meeting him for the first time.

Shen Xing and Shen Yue, although trembling with fear, didn’t shed any tears.

Shen Yue held Ms. Jiang Cheng’s hand: "Sister, you’re not like that! My big brother is fine too!"

Shen Xing’s gaze was steadfast and silent, his adolescent stature upright and unyielding.

He was conveying a message: even if something happened to Shen Que, the Shen family still had him!

Ms. Jiang Cheng felt for these two children.

Years ago, if the orphanage director hadn’t given her a hand, she wouldn’t have become the person she was today.

Receiving kindness from others, extending goodness in return.

Ms. Jiang Cheng wanted to do it and was willing to do it.

She held the two children’s hands and solemnly said: "No matter what happens, I will always be your sister."

"Sister has no family, will you be my family?"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

This scene left many in the courtyard in tears.

The rope breaks at its weakest point, misfortune seeks those who suffer most.

The Shen family truly endured enough hardship.

In the unnoticed corner, a matchmaker who had planned to visit quietly left.

Forget it.

Ms. Jiang Cheng decided to raise these two dependents.

Who would want to marry such a woman into their family, it’s better not to ruin her reputation.

Ms. Jiang Cheng was unaware that her protective actions towards Shen Xing and Shen Yue invisibly reduced many frivolous suitors.

Lin Chengyuan pulled the stunned He Dan, wanting to say something to lessen the impact of his earlier words, to salvage some reputation.

"Ms. Jiang Cheng, there’s a call!"

A loud shout came from outside, interrupting Lin Chengyuan’s brewing speech.

Principal Wang quickly ran to the middle of Ms. Jiang Cheng and Lin Chengyuan.

"Ms. Jiang Cheng, the team called the night school saying they need to speak with Shen Xing and Shen Yue."

Principal Wang paused for a moment, sensing the tense atmosphere in the courtyard.

Ms. Jiang Cheng’s hand was tightly held by Shen Xing and Shen Yue, both of them fearful.

Afraid of receiving bad news.

Ms. Jiang Cheng comforted them by squeezing their hands and turned to Grandma Shen, saying: "Grandma Shen, I’ll go——"

"Hurry and go! I’m following behind!"

Grandma Shen couldn’t bear to wait at home, and Shen Xing and Shen Yue could even less bear it.

Finally, Ms. Jiang Cheng rode a bicycle with Shen Xing and Shen Yue, while Li Chunxiang supported Grandma Shen and followed behind Principal Wang on the way to the night school.

Granny Sun picked up Grandma Shen’s key and waited for their return.

"It’s fine, it’ll definitely be fine."

*

Night school.

Upon arriving at the night school office, Ms. Jiang Cheng immediately dialed the phone.

Shen Xing and Shen Yue held their small hands tightly, watching and listening intently.

"Hello——this is Ms. Jiang Cheng, I’m looking for Shen Que."

A deep and magnetic voice came from the other side.

"Hello, Ms. Jiang Cheng, I am Shen Que."