Chapter 84: Let Go of That Girl

TL: Etude

After the tumult subsided, Chen Jianghai busied himself in the warehouse until sunset when it was time to close up for the day.

Zhao Changgui approached Chen Jianghai, “Brother Chen, should I go to your house tonight to stand guard?”

“There’s no need for that; they wouldn’t dare,” Chen Jianghai waved his hand dismissively.

After all, that district was under the control of Fang Aiguo’s uncle; there was nothing to fear.

Hearing Chen Jianghai’s response, Zhao Changgui didn’t press further.

“Brother Jianghai, if there’s any trouble, remember to call me!” Zhao Yuxi followed with concern.

Chen Jianghai smiled, “Alright, you guys should also head back early!”

“Brother Jianghai, goodbye!”

Packing her backpack, Zhao Yuxi waved sweetly.

Chen Jianghai nodded and took off on his bicycle first.

Once Chen Jianghai left, Zhao Changgui locked up the door and took his sister home.

All the way, Chen Jianghai’s mind was preoccupied with the matters of the thermos factory.

Liang Haoyang’s factory was an excellent stepping stone for him.

In this small county town, even considering the surrounding villages and towns, the market for repairing and selling second-hand appliances would eventually reach saturation.

As for expanding the market to the surrounding areas, it was doable, but personally managing it wasn’t what Chen Jianghai wanted.

That way of making money was ultimately too slow.

He could leave these tasks to others, like Fang Aiguo.

In fact, Chen Jianghai was already planning his next move.

With his foresight and insight, it would be a waste to limit himself to dealing in second-hand appliances and repairs.

Entering the manufacturing industry was the path he must take.

Previously, there was no such opportunity, so he had not considered it.

But now, an opportunity had suddenly presented itself—how could he miss it?!

As long as he could take over the factory, Chen Jianghai’s knowledge and insight would find a place to thrive.

Lost in thought, Chen Jianghai suddenly noticed a shadow dart out from an alleyway ahead.

Could it be that Feng Renjie hadn’t given up?!

He quickly squeezed the brakes, but it was too late—he knocked down the person who appeared in his path.

“Ouch!”

The person who fell exclaimed in surprise; it was evidently a young girl.

Chen Jianghai hurriedly dismounted from his bicycle and helped the girl up.

“I’m sorry, are you alright?”

Chen Jianghai asked with concern.

“How do you ride a bicycle?”

The girl, clutching her peach-like derriere and lifting her head, her voice a bit choked as if in considerable pain, reproached him.

Chen Jianghai saw she was a young woman in her early twenties, with an oval face, slender eyebrows, and an unmade face that was quite pretty; her eyes were watery and seemed to speak.

“I apologize, I was distracted while riding.”

Chen Jianghai admitted candidly.

The girl tried to take a step and winced, “It hurts!”

Seeing this, Chen Jianghai felt obliged to offer, “Miss, where do you live? Shall I escort you home? Or should we go to a hospital?”

The girl, however, looked at Chen Jianghai with suspicion, “What are you trying to do?”

“Hey, what can I do?”

Chen Jianghai was somewhat exasperated, “I hit you, so naturally, I have to take responsibility!”

“No need, I can go back on my own.”

The girl declined briskly.

Chen Jianghai thought for a moment, pulled out a five-yuan note from his pocket, and handed it to her, “Then, let this be for your medical expenses.”

“This… this is too much!”

The girl seemed a bit flustered, waving her hands in refusal.

“Take it, go check yourself at the hospital later.”

Chen Jianghai insisted, pushing the money into the girl’s hand, and couldn’t help but inwardly exclaim at the simplicity and honesty of the people in this era. The girl hastily refused: “This is just too much! I can’t accept it!”

Chen Jianghai didn’t say much more; he simply pushed the cart and left.

With the girl’s movement hindered, she could not chase after him and could only stare blankly at Chen Jianghai’s receding figure.

Chen Jianghai didn’t dwell on the incident either, mounting his bicycle to head home.

But he hadn’t ridden far when he suddenly heard the girl’s cries for help from behind.

Without a second thought, Chen Jianghai turned the bike around and hurried back.

Soon, Chen Jianghai saw the same girl struggling with a man with a sharp, monkey-like face.

“Stop, let the girl go!”

Chen Jianghai shouted loudly, dropped his bicycle, and rushed over.

The man was startled, especially after seeing Chen Jianghai’s size, and quickly released the girl and ran away.

Chen Jianghai quickly went to the girl’s side and asked with concern, “How are you, are you alright?”

“I’m… I’m okay…!”

Tears were still in the girl’s eyes, and not only her voice but her whole body was trembling slightly, evidently scared.

As she spoke, she held her hands protectively in front of her chest, her face flushed a deep red.

Only then did Chen Jianghai notice that the girl’s clothes had been torn, revealing a dazzlingly white and beautiful glimpse of spring underneath.

“Well, I better take you home!”

Chen Jianghai quickly averted his gaze and swiftly changed the subject.

After speaking, he took off his jacket and handed it to the girl: “Wrap this around you!”

“Thank you!”

“Don’t mention it, my name is Chen Jianghai, what’s yours?”

Chen Jianghai followed up with a question.

The still-shaken girl draped the jacket around her and said, “My name is Zhu Yinyin.”

Chen Jianghai picked up the bicycle and asked, turning to her, “Where do you live?”

Zhu Yinyin glanced at Chen Jianghai and then said, “Near Lingyin Road City Central Primary School.”

Chen Jianghai thought for a moment; that place was next to Qianjin Street, not exactly close.

“Come on, get on. Otherwise, if something happens after I leave, there will be no one to help you!”

Chen Jianghai gestured to the bicycle’s rear seat.

Zhu Yinyin gave Chen Jianghai a shy look and then sat down.

Throughout the journey, the two strangers remained silent, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

When they reached a rough patch of road, the bicycle jostled sharply.

Zhu Yinyin instinctively grabbed Chen Jianghai’s clothes and leaned toward him, which prevented her from falling off.

“Why are you going home so late?”

Feeling the warmth from behind him, Chen Jianghai straightened up and asked casually.

Zhu Yinyin replied softly, “I just got off work.”

Chen Jianghai didn’t dwell on it.

In later generations, girls of this age would still be studying, but now, many girls considered themselves lucky to have finished middle school.

Finding a topic, the two started chatting and the previous awkwardness dissipated.

After about fifteen minutes, Chen Jianghai delivered Zhu Yinyin to the side of the City Central Primary School.

“That’s it, I’ll leave you here; your home shouldn’t be too far away, right?”

Chen Jianghai stopped the bicycle and pointed ahead.

In this era, people were still quite conservative in their thinking.

If Chen Jianghai were to take Zhu Yinyin all the way home, it would be unavoidable for a man and a woman together to stir up gossip.

“Yeah, thank you.” Zhu Yinyin got off the bike and said with gratitude.

Chen Jianghai waved his hand, smiled, and added a word of caution, “Be careful when you go home alone after work. I’ll head back now.”

Watching Chen Jianghai’s departing figure, Zhu Yinyin blinked, seemingly lost in thought.