[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rich-in-the-70s-i-made-a-rugged-veteran-a-millio":3,"chapter-rich-in-the-70s-i-made-a-rugged-veteran-a-millio-rich-in-the-70s-i-made-a-rugged-veteran-a-millio-chapter-40":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},891004,1166,"Chapter 40: Apple","rich-in-the-70s-i-made-a-rugged-veteran-a-millio-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder Xu, watch how I perform tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng, with her backpack, dashed off in a race against time, still remembering to greet Uncle Zhong at the door before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Zhong came out carrying breakfast, suppressing a smile beneath his rugged exterior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Xu finally came to his senses, giving Uncle Zhong a stern look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to laugh, just laugh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahahahaha!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Zhong burst into genuine laughter, no longer maintaining the calm he had while examining Jiang Cheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Xu glared at Uncle Zhong again, but couldn’t help but laugh himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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???\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Zhong shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Xu’s face turned slightly red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you know, I value her character, her ability isn’t important!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Zhong put on a false smile, as long as you’re happy, sir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving Elder Xu’s house, Jiang Cheng sprinted all the way to the recycling station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once she completed her usual routine, she took out the materials and continued organizing them, with only a little left to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, Sister Wang arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She came a bit early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister Wang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng greeted, and Sister Wang, unable to contain her excitement, came over, peeking outside the door, whispering:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bicycle ticket caught Jiang Cheng’s eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked up, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister Wang, what’s this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s for you! You’re running around every day, you must be exhausted. You should buy a bicycle for convenience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Wang bent slightly, speaking softly: \"If you’re short on money, I’ll lend it to you first, you can repay slowly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng was truly tempted, and after weighing it in her mind, she chose to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright! I’ll listen to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng agreed, telling Sister Wang she’d bring the money tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister Wang naturally had no objections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They worked together and had lunch together as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, Jiang Cheng got an extra meal but put it in a plastic bag in the space, leaving it uneaten for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Jiang Cheng reached the night school, she gave Uncle Wang a big apple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those few words, Jiang Cheng’s standing in Uncle Wang’s heart rose a little more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving the apple, Jiang Cheng turned to see the principal, holding a lunchbox, waiting for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze seemed somewhat resentful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng suddenly felt like she was the heartbreaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Wang stared at the apple in Uncle Wang’s hand, sourly thinking: Playing favorites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after providing so many meals, does the girl really think it’s leftovers they couldn’t finish?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he subtly mention it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, he’s the principal, how could he do something so unbecoming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just an apple after all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Wang internally monologued, Jiang Cheng could certainly see through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took the lunchbox, tugging open her backpack with the other hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Principal, my backpack is too heavy, could you hold it for me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every single day, always some hassle with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Wang did go and help hold the bag, only to see two big apples lying inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Principal Wang, I’ve had a toothache these last couple of days, can you taste the apple for me, see if it’s sweet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Wang finally understood Jiang Cheng’s intent, he haughtily zipped up the backpack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With a toothache, don’t carry apples around. Wait until it doesn’t hurt, I don’t particularly like eating these things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Wang arrogantly tossed his head, his back exuding happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He can go without the apple, as long as she kept him in mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng shook her head, laughing softly. Their principal, why is he so cute?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng didn’t chase after him, instead, she carried the lunchbox upstairs to eat, then went to class with Teacher Lü.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After today’s course, Jiang Cheng left with the homework assigned by Teacher Lü.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the office, Teacher Lü ate the apple Jiang Cheng gave him, it was really sweet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng returned to the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she walked in, it instantly got a lot quieter inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, unaffected, she sat in her designated seat, took out her book and pen, and started writing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Classmates whispered, signaling with their eyes, but no one dared to speak loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gossip travels fast, and yesterday He Dan’s self-exposure had already spread throughout the night school today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost everyone had heard about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only curiosity everyone had was - Jiang Cheng was so smart, why didn’t she leave the Lin Family earlier?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their conclusion was, she must have been blinded at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After school, as usual, Jiang Cheng went home with her gong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Principal Wang found an apple on the desk in his office, with a note underneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Principal Wang wiped the corners of his eyes, feeling odd about himself, saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t it just an apple... Why am I all emotional!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Principal Wang broke into a cheap grin, wiped and polished the apple again, and went joyfully to the teachers’ office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter shared is more enjoyable than laughter alone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After school, Jiang Cheng returned smoothly to the quadrangle courtyard, pulled along by Grandma Shen, to catch up on today’s gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Du Yun didn’t agree, firmly opposing her mother-in-law.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There was bleeding right away, heard she got multiple stitches at the hospital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng diligently handed over a handful of sunflower seeds, and Grandma Shen cracked them noisily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yue sat on a little stool beside, carefully peeling a handful of sunflower seeds, skillfully placing them into Jiang Cheng’s palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Cheng ate them all bite after bite without a shred of embarrassment, waiting for the next handful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Xing lay back inside, watching the assembly line with a puzzled look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why wasn’t a bit of Shen Yue’s attentiveness put to use on him, her own brother with an injured foot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clomp, clomp, clomp, clomp\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yue ran over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprised yet slightly delighted, Shen Xing wondered if he’ll have some share?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, still his little sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother — you peel too, I can’t keep up with Sister Jiang Cheng’s appetite!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Xing was stunned for a second, then chuckled, lowered his head, and started peeling the seeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is nice, the family is delightfully together.\u003C\u002Fp>",1404,"2026-06-03T05:46:21.509Z",1,"novelbin.me","6c3b4187758ed7c66b306e3720fc747dbe6f70c410ca054b2a1bf102b1fc18ec","rich-in-the-70s-i-made-a-rugged-veteran-a-millio-chapter-41","rich-in-the-70s-i-made-a-rugged-veteran-a-millio-chapter-39",340,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frich-in-the-70s-i-made-a-rugged-veteran-a-millio-cover.jpg"]