Chapter 143: Jiang Cheng Is Back
Shen Que, who was pouring tea, put down the teapot, sat down calmly, and watched the show.
"Lao Guo, Jiang Cheng is a student at our night school."
The implication was: Don’t get involved in this, alright?
Manager Guo remained unmoved and picked up his teacup.
"You’re right, our Xinhua Bookstore just pays Jiang Cheng some royalties."
Principal Wang’s expression turned awkward.
He suspected that Lao Guo was hinting that he was poor.
Even though it was true.
Manager Guo put down his teacup, looked at Principal Wang, and said, "Principal Wang, Jiang Cheng completed the translation of seven books last month, in three different languages."
"At the upcoming provincial Xinhua Bookstore’s commendation conference for advanced groups, I can’t secretly take Jiang Cheng’s credit and sneak up there, can I?"
Principal Wang snorted.
"The commendation conference is important, but isn’t our night school important too?"
"I’m telling you, this big exam at the night school is for selecting talents. There’s a chance to work in the provincial capital. Are you really going to stop it?"
This time, it was Manager Guo’s turn to be at a loss for words.
He couldn’t bear to!
This frustrating feeling...
Manager Guo swiftly turned his gaze to Shen Que, who was watching with amusement.
"Director Shen, why are you laughing?"
Expressionless Shen Que pointed at his own face: "I’m laughing?"
"What’s the matter, am I talking nonsense!"
The look in Shen Que’s eyes said: Not only can you, but you did. Yet he said,
"Of course, Manager Guo wouldn’t."
After speaking, Shen Que picked up the teapot to pour tea again.
Principal Wang took away the teacup and said, "Stop pouring! I’ve already drank too much."
Manager Guo, also frustrated, took his own teacup and looked outside and said, "Did Jiang Cheng say she was coming back today?"
"Yes! I called to confirm yesterday, she should be here already."
Principal Wang also anxiously looked outside. As he looked, his concerns turned into mumbling.
"She’s been in the countryside for so many days, I wonder if that girl can adapt."
Manager Guo asked puzzled, "Isn’t Jiang Cheng’s hometown in the countryside?"
Principal Wang clicked his tongue and glared at Manager Guo, "So what?"
Manager Guo immediately shook his head.
"Nothing, just slipped out."
Principal Wang and Manager Guo would bicker occasionally and tease Shen Que from time to time.
In any case, the three of them were sometimes enemies, sometimes friends.
Shen Xing and Shen Yue exchanged a glance sitting on their little stools.
"Brother, is our big brother being rejected?"
"Hmm, you’re not seeing it wrong."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yue sighed with concern.
"I’m worried too! That day I offered my snow cream to big brother to look better and he refused. Doesn’t know my good intentions at all. What if Sister Jiang Cheng doesn’t like him anymore?"
Shen Xing was equally worried.
Big brother is quite outstanding, but he always felt Sister Jiang Cheng was even more so.
Shen Xing worriedly said, "Looks like we both need to work harder to be good to Sister Jiang Cheng. Maybe she’ll be more forgiving to big brother on our account."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yue wholeheartedly agreed.
Shen Que, who overheard everything, thought: Will not using snow cream get you rejected?
Granny Shen sitting at the door also heard the little ones talking and glanced at Shen Que.
What’s with that expression?
He’s definitely being silly again.
Granny Shen, who could accurately perceive Shen Que’s feelings, was not worried about Shen Que and Jiang Cheng.
Because when Shen Que was in love, he didn’t bring his brain along.
And Jiang Cheng just happened to like Shen Que’s silly demeanor.
The two of them were a perfect match.
In the small room, although everyone was thinking different things, the central figure was the same.
"Jiang Cheng is back."
"Ah — just came back."
Swish, bang, bang.
The six people in the room knocked over stools and put down teacups, but the moment they heard Jiang Cheng’s voice, they all got up.
"Sister!"
"Sister Jiang Cheng!"
Shen Xing and Shen Yue rushed over first; Shen Que could have overtaken the two little ones, but considering the many people present, being reserved was important.
So Shen Que dashed to the door.
Granny Shen was startled by Shen Que rushing over, gave him a glare, then lifted her foot to go out and welcome Jiang Cheng.
"I’m back!"
"Did you guys miss me?"
Jiang Cheng first hugged Shen Yue, patted Shen Xing’s head, and finally smiled at Granny Shen.
"Of course we did! When you’re not home, there’s leftovers every day."
Granny Shen jokingly scolded, and Jiang Cheng laughed heartily.
"I didn’t expect you guys to miss me so much you couldn’t eat!"
Granny Shen chuckled, took Jiang Cheng’s bag, and said, "It has to be you; your perspective is just different."
Jiang Cheng affectionately hugged Granny Shen’s arm.
"Of course, I knew you must have missed me."
Granny Shen’s face turned slightly red, but she still hummed an acknowledgement.
Jiang Cheng, holding Granny Shen’s hand, glanced mischievously at Shen Que.
She playfully blinked, and Shen Que’s neck flushed red.
Jiang Cheng thought: So innocent!
"Jiang Cheng!"
"Jiang Cheng, you really came back!"
Principal Wang and Manager Guo squeezed over.
As Jiang Cheng greeted them, she pointed outside and said, "I still have some things outside."
"I’ll go get them!"
Shen Que finally found his chance to be of use and enthusiastically went outside to fetch the stuff.
Once Shen Que came in carrying a deer, he found he had no room left.
The place around Jiang Cheng was packed with people.
The Li family, the Sun family, everyone was there, making a lot of noise.
So, Shen Que simply brought in the deer, the Flying Dragon, and lots of wild vegetables, along with some small bags of grain, one by one.
A few minutes later, the Li family and the Sun family headed back first.
Jiang Cheng also understood the purpose of Principal Wang and Manager Guo’s visit.
"Since everyone is here, why not stay for dinner! I just got a deer; let’s all eat together."
At this point, Jiang Cheng simply invited the Li family and the Sun family to join in the fun.
After a bit of polite refusal, the two families agreed, saying they would bring dishes, and Jiang Cheng’s side just needed to prepare the venison.
At present, everyone got busy in no time.
Shen Que prepared the silly deer, Granny Sun helped with the Flying Dragon, and Li Chunxiang came over to lend a hand.
For a moment, Jiang Cheng had a feeling reminiscent of the Lunar New Year from her childhood.
It’s not about having great food, but about the joy of preparing the meal.
As the inviter, several times Jiang Cheng tried to help, only to be shooed back each time.
In the end, she could only join the tea-drinking team.
Even Shen Xing and Shen Yue were tending the fire and peeling garlic, respectively.
The tea-drinking trio were Principal Wang, Manager Guo, and Jiang Cheng.
Finally, Jiang Cheng officially responded to the two’s requests.
"Principal Wang, I don’t want to work in the provincial capital."
At least not right now.
She wanted to wait until the market became open before considering leaving S City.
However, she knew the policies; Principal Wang did not.
"Jiang Cheng!"
Principal Wang became anxious.
He was genuinely thinking about Jiang Cheng’s future.
"Jiang Cheng, I know you’re a genius, but sometimes society is not as good as you think it is, and the provincial capital is not comparable to our small place."
"I know you want——"
"Jiang Cheng, this isn’t a small matter. Don’t give up just because I mentioned the commendation conference! It’s very important!"
Manager Guo, in his anxiety, directly helped advise Principal Wang, completely forgetting the quarrel they were having.
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