Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 22: Waste Is Shameful

"Jiang Cheng, did you say you’ve memorized the geography textbook?"

Mr. Li from the geography department asked, and several teachers who hadn’t left the office looked at Jiang Cheng, who had quickly become their favorite student after just one lesson.

Jiang Cheng shook his head.

All the teachers: inexplicably relieved.

"Not just geography, I’ve memorized all the textbooks."

"Crash"

"Clang"

The sound of books and a tea mug falling to the ground.

"How is that possible?"

"Jiang Cheng, you can’t just say things like that lightly."

"We can listen here, but don’t say that outside, someone might laugh at you!"

"Yes, let’s be practical. If there’s anything you don’t understand, the teachers can help you with it."

The reactions of the teachers made Jiang Cheng smile brightly.

Every teacher here might have their own little quirks, but without a doubt, they are all good teachers.

Even in times when the status of teachers is low, they still maintain their passion for education.

Supporting their families is one thing, but more deeply, they understand this phrase: Educating people has immediate benefits today and far-reaching benefits for the future.

They are more than willing to see an outstanding next generation, leading Hua Xia to take off!

"Dear teachers, what I said is true, but I’ve only memorized it. I don’t really understand the meanings inside, so I want to ask more questions."

After speaking, Jiang Cheng took out three sheets of paper from his backpack and handed them to the Chinese language Teacher Wen, politics Teacher Hu, and chemistry Teacher Liu respectively.

"Dear teachers, please help me. I really want to study well. When I achieve academic success, I am determined to contribute to the four modernizations of our country."

Jiang Cheng spoke seriously, and the teachers listened with emotion.

This child has an innocent heart!

At this point, whether or not he has memorized the books is not that important.

They are teachers, and helping students solve doubts is their duty.

The teachers were moved and agreed. After Jiang Cheng thanked them one by one, he left the office.

That night, Mr. Li from geography woke up in the middle of the night, lit the kerosene lamp, and took out the geography textbook.

"Old Li, what are you doing?"

Wearing glasses, Mr. Li didn’t turn his head and said, "I’m getting familiar with the textbook."

Mr. Li’s wife, puzzled, got up and touched Mr. Li’s forehead.

"There’s no fever, what nonsense are you talking? You’ve been teaching this book for many years, what’s there to familiarize?"

With a kerosene lamp in his left hand and flipping the book with his right, Mr. Li took a deep breath and said, "I just feel that what Jiang Cheng said is true."

Mr. Li’s wife: ?? Who is Jiang Cheng?

After Mr. Li explained, his wife summarized, "So, are you afraid this student Jiang Cheng will find mistakes in you?"

Mr. Li’s expression was conflicted; it seemed so and yet not so, and he couldn’t explain, so he just flipped through the book to calm his mind.

Mr. Li’s wife shook her head and laughed. This whole thing seemed ridiculous—a teacher getting scared into studying at midnight by a student?

If the two of them knew the term, they would precisely replace it with a single word—"involution"!

*

The next day, Jiang Cheng still got up at 4:30 to read, study, and exercise.

After breakfast, Shen Xing and Shen Yue rested at home since it was the weekend.

As a temporary substitute worker, Jiang Cheng didn’t have weekends, though he had three days off per month to use at his discretion.

The morning was still spent on sorting and compiling statistics, and Jiang Cheng stared thoughtfully at the three ledger books he had organized.

Every 20th of the month there were no sales records, all the same over the past three years.

"Xiao Jiang, go get the meals."

"Coming, Sister Wang."

Jiang Cheng got up and followed Sister Wang with a lunch box in hand.

"Sister Wang, I saw in the ledgers that there are no sales records on the 20th of each month. Is it a special day?"

"The 20th, huh—it’s our monthly inventory day, and we don’t open for business that day."

"Oh, I see."

The two of them reached the cafeteria entrance, and before entering, they could hear Sister Kong’s hearty laughter.

"Hey, what’s making you so happy today?"

Sister Wang walked in, chatting familiarly, while Jiang Cheng followed silently behind.

Sister Kong, having gotten food for the categorization brother, took Sister Wang’s lunch box and said, "I’m happy! I’ve never been this happy before; my family’s Da Dong found a job!"

Sister Wang was truly surprised.

Da Dong, who could do nothing right and never got enough to eat, and there’s a factory willing to take him?

Sister Wang curiously asked, "Where does he work?"

"At that...what was it again, I don’t really remember, but anyway these days Da Dong’s going out to work every day and even brought me some meat in the evenings."

Sister Wang subconsciously wanted to ask something not very nice but was interrupted by Jiang Cheng from behind.

"Sister Kong, I’ll have some green pepper beef, haven’t had meat in a long time, satisfying a craving!"

"Xiao Jiang, you should buy some meat to eat; I’ll give you extra!"

Clearly, Sister Kong was indeed in a very good mood.

Sister Wang also belatedly realized that, with them being so happy, saying something unpleasant wasn’t good.

Her family had reminded her many times to think a bit before speaking.

After getting their meals, Sister Wang and Jiang Cheng returned to their small office.

"Xiao Jiang, thank you!"

"Sister Wang, why are you thanking me?"

Jiang Cheng looked confused, seeming genuinely unaware, and Sister Wang just smiled and said it was nothing, and the two began their meal.

After the little interlude, they continued working in the afternoon until they finished work.

Jiang Cheng still rushed to night school, thinking about having some beef today?

Luckily, there were some stewed beef shanks in the space.

As she was planning her extra meal, night school arrived, and she was stopped.

Stopped by Principal Wang.

"Jiang Cheng, we made too much food at home. It would be a waste not to eat. Take it to fill your meal."

Afraid that Jiang Cheng wouldn’t feel comfortable taking it, Principal Wang just placed the lunch box on the ground and quickly turned away, running.

"Cherish food, wasting is shameful!"

Hearing Principal Wang’s words, Jiang Cheng smiled helplessly, picked up the lunch box from the ground and wiped the dust off with her palm.

"Jiang Cheng, this is from Teacher Lü for you."

Uncle Wang at the gate handed her a military-green iron water bottle through the window, a shining red five-pointed star glowing in the center.

"And these too, take them to quench your thirst."

Uncle Wang handed over two clean, washed green-skinned cucumbers.

"Uncle——"

"Hurry and go, or you’ll be late for class!"

Uncle Wang’s face turned stern as he forcefully closed the small gate window, giving Jiang Cheng no chance to refuse.

"As you command!"

Jiang Cheng accepted graciously, carrying the lunch box, water bottle, and cucumbers to the classroom where she usually ate.

The lunch box contained a large multi-grain steamed bun with stir-fried eggs and tomatoes.

Nothing special, but much better than yesterday’s dried radish.

For this meal, Jiang Cheng didn’t add anything extra and ate until she was full.

After eating and drinking, Jiang Cheng, carrying the green water bottle, knocked on the office door.

"Come in."

As Jiang Cheng entered, Teacher Lü immediately noticed the water bottle she was carrying.

Feeling a bit embarrassed yet a bit pleased, Teacher Lü’s face still retained its high-cold demeanor.

"Five fifteen, not being late is the basic rule for a translator, so you’re punished to stand for the lesson."

"Yes!"

Jiang Cheng stood straight, with a good attitude, and accepted it perfectly.

What a stubborn yet adorable old lady!