Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 85: Phone Call

"This is Shen Que," Jiang Cheng exhaled deeply.

Thank goodness he’s still alive.

She looked at Shen Xing and Shen Yue and asked, "Did you hear? It’s your big brother."

Jiang Cheng handed over the phone, and Shen Xing and Shen Yue leaned over, their ears close, calling out one by one.

"Big brother!"

"Big brother!"

The two children couldn’t hold back their sobs any longer, and Shen Que instantly sensed that something was wrong.

However, he didn’t ask, he just softened his tone and quietly spoke a few words with Shen Xing and Shen Yue.

"Of course, your big brother is fine."

"Didn’t I tell you guys, I’m the most amazing!"

"The fact that you two didn’t believe me actually makes me a little sad."

...

Jiang Cheng blinked: What’s with this familiar way of speaking?

Shen Xing and Shen Yue were reassured by a few words from Shen Que and broke into a smile as they spoke a few more lines before Shen Que asked to speak with Jiang Cheng.

Shen Xing and Shen Yue handed the phone to Jiang Cheng and were called out by Principal Wang and Grandma Shen, who had hurried over.

Jiang Cheng: It seems... there’s no need to leave, is there?

The thought quickly flashed through her mind as Jiang Cheng picked up the phone, placed it to her ear, and disclosed the matter frankly.

After hearing this, Shen Que tightened his fist with his free hand and said in an icy voice, "Lin Chengyuan! I’ll have a good session with him when I get back."

Return?

Jiang Cheng caught on to a different piece of information and asked, "Is Mr. Shen going on leave?"

There was silence on the other end for three seconds before a somewhat deep voice was heard again.

"Not on leave, discharged. I injured my leg on this mission."

Jiang Cheng was dazed for a moment, finding Shen Que’s voice somewhat familiar.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that, so she quickly asked, "Do Shen Xing and Shen Yue need to know? Are you injured right now? In the hospital?"

Shen Que responded with a hum and said:

"I’ll tell them myself when I return, I’m currently staying at the Provincial Jun District Hospital, I need a bit more time for treatment, and I’ll head back in due course after finishing the formalities."

After hearing this, Jiang Cheng added, "I will inform Grandma Shen."

"Good! I—"

Shen Que wanted to say something more when Jiang Cheng’s voice came through on the other end.

"If it’s urgent, you can call this number, and I’ll pass on the message to Shen Xing and Shen Yue. Goodbye."

With a sudden click, a busy tone echoed in Shen Que’s receiver.

Shen Que looked at the receiver, unable to say the thank-you that was on the tip of his tongue.

Shen Que smiled slightly.

He felt Jiang Cheng, who talked to him on the phone, was very different from the Jiang Cheng he knew from letters.

With a creak, someone pushed the door open and entered.

"My dear, you just got through a critical period, can’t you give us some peace of mind?"

Shen Que’s comrade pushed the handles on Shen Que’s wheelchair and looked at the disconnected phone. "Called home?"

Shen Que nodded.

"Investigate when Lin Chengyuan made that phone call and who he talked to."

"Lin Chengyuan? Didn’t that coward retire?"

Upon hearing Lin Chengyuan’s name, Shen Que’s comrade disdainfully said, "If it weren’t for him getting lucky in the last mission, how would he have the chance to retire and find a job!"

With a gesture, Shen Que stopped his comrade from ranting and, after explaining the situation, his comrade got even angrier.

"Damn it! He even dared to curse you to death! That Lin Chengyuan, let me see him, I’ll beat him half-dead!"

"Stop this noise!"

Shen Que sternly interrupted and continued, "It’s because you guys talk too loud, even through the door people can hear you, what does this count as? It’s a leak!"

"First go investigate, report back when you’re done, copy the confidentiality agreements that need to be, and be more careful when making phone calls! Learn some lessons!"

"Yes!"

After answering, Shen Que reverted to his nagging state.

"You hurry back to recuperate."

"As soon as you left, Director Lian’s face turned several shades darker!"

"He scolded you fiercely in the hallway, saying he’s never seen such a disobedient patient!"

Shen Que leaned back in the wheelchair and nonchalantly said, "Well, now he has."

Shen Que’s comrade: "..."

No wrong in scolding you!

Such a good person, insistent on having a mouth!

*

At night school, Jiang Cheng walked out of the principal’s office, first expressing gratitude to Principal Wang.

"There’s no need for that between us!"

Principal Wang replied casually and, pointing to Grandma Shen and the others, said, "Go home, you’ll need to head to the provincial city in a few days."

Jiang Cheng nodded and walked towards Grandma Shen and the others.

Although still a bit shaken, the outcome was fortunately good.

This only heightened their anger toward Lin Chengyuan.

Jiang Cheng didn’t want Grandma Shen to get too worked up, mainly for her health.

She comforted, "Grandma Shen, Shen Que said him being alive is the biggest counterattack."

After the positive encouragement, Jiang Cheng whispered, "Shen Que will definitely do something."

The initially angry Grandma Shen had her eyes light up, as if thinking of something.

The elderly woman quietly said to Jiang Cheng, "Let’s prepare some sticks, knives aren’t great, don’t hit too hard."

"Just a stick about this thick will do!"

Jiang Cheng glanced at Grandma Shen’s gesture.

Hmm! Not thick!

About the size of a bowl’s diameter!

Shen Xing and Shen Yue also came over, and Jiang Cheng didn’t hide anything, pulling them along to mutter quietly.

To an outsider, the four seemed like the closest-knit family, loving and supportive.

Li Chunxiang, who came along, was the first to ride Jiang Cheng’s bicycle back.

Li Chunxiang who arrived first at the courtyard, shouted loudly.

"Shen Que is fine!"

"Shen Que called back!"

"No problem at all!"

"Some people just talk nonsense! Just can’t see others doing well!"

With Li Chunxiang’s shouting, everyone in and around the courtyard knew.

Lin Chengyuan naturally heard, too.

His heart skipped a beat.

Shen Que is actually fine!

Did he hear wrong?

For years, being overshadowed by Shen Que, Lin Chengyuan felt a sudden panic thinking Shen Que knew what he did.

"Really resilient!"

Not knowing what sentiment she held, Lin’s mother muttered before turning to show off her new clothes.

The clothes were a gift from Lin Jiaojiao.

Since Lin Jiaojiao got married, the Lin Family’s living standard slightly improved.

Yang Yuanming was very generous to Lin Jiaojiao, giving her a lot of cash and vouchers.

Lin Jiaojiao loved to flaunt; she would come back to hear some praises, making her elated.

The only regret was missing Jiang Cheng a few times during her displays.

Lin Jiaojiao simply spent a fortune to make her mom a new outfit.

As long as Lin’s mother spoke to others, she wouldn’t believe Jiang Cheng wouldn’t notice.

Thus, when Jiang Cheng and Grandma Shen’s group walked in as Lin’s mother was showing off her clothes.

For a moment, Lin’s mother was like a peacock flaunting its feathers, wishing she had more to show.

Jiang Cheng found it dull and shook her head, sighing: These folks are colliding with her expertise!

When it comes to showing off, no one could surpass her!

Jiang Cheng began.

"Jiaojiao is truly filial, unlike me who just took Grandma Shen to the department store, let her pick whatever she liked, and after buying, it was just an outfit and pair of shoes."

"Jiaojiao must have bought you fancy shoes, right?"

Lin’s mother’s toes awkwardly moved in her shoes, stubbornly saying, "Words are just words, what you say is what it is."

Jiang Cheng immediately agreed, "You’re right! Shen Xing, Shen Yue, show your new clothes and shoes."

"I just said to change into them, but the kids were worried about getting them greasy at the state-run restaurant!"

Jiang Cheng finished with a slightly forlorn tone, "We only had four meat dishes, could there really be that much oil!"

"Right, it’s just our few family members, one outfit each, fair and square, surely Jiaojiao is the same, right?"

Lin’s mother: She regretted coming out!

The rest of the Lin Family: Ha ha.