I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping
Chapter 1261 - 871 First update!

Chapter 1261: 871 First update!

Fishing seems simple, but in reality, it’s a sport that requires considerable technique.

And patience is indispensable as well.

The fishing line was finally untangled, but after two hours of effort and under the watchful eyes of the two younger ones, Fang Weiguo didn’t catch a single fish—not even a dried-up one.

This left him feeling a bit embarrassed.

"There probably aren’t any fish in this river anymore."

He shook his head, solemnly finding an excuse for himself.

But the two younger ones weren’t the naive kids they used to be.

"Uncle Fang, then what are those people catching?"

Jiang Chen looked across the moat.

Over there, other fishing enthusiasts seemed to have better luck. Even though they arrived later, they kept reeling them in, and right as he spoke, another catch came up.

Seeing the fruitful results across the river made Fang Weiguo even more embarrassed.

"It’s okay, Dad. The water quality in this river isn’t good anyway; even if you caught some, they wouldn’t be edible."

Fang Qing, the considerate daughter, made an effort to console him.

Fang Weiguo immediately seized the opportunity, "That’s right, who dares to eat fish from the Ma River."

The Ma River—

That’s what the locals call this ring-shaped moat encircling the city.

It used to stink to high heaven, and when Jiang Chen was a child, he had even witnessed police dredging up a corpse from the river.

Of course.

For the sake of developing tourism, the Ma River’s water quality underwent costly treatment and is now worlds apart from its former state. Still, Jiang Chen didn’t press the matter and helped gather the fishing gear.

"Let’s go. We’ll buy some fish, cook them whole, and then say we caught them. Got it?"

"Uncle Fang, one whole fish probably isn’t enough. Let’s get a few more."

Jiang Chen’s expression was serious.

"Then let’s get two. Any more would be too much."

Whether or not they would eat all the fish wasn’t important—Fang Weiguo probably thought two fish were more in line with his skill level and wouldn’t raise suspicion with his wife.

"Why are you back this time?"

As they entered the urban tunnels and headed to the market, Fang Qing lagged behind her father and quietly asked the guy beside her.

Jiang Chen carried the fishing rod on his back, "Am I not allowed to return?"

River City is only about one and a half hours by train from Sha City.

"How did the job application go?"

He smiled and asked.

"Looks like it didn’t work out."

"Sha City’s too small a pond to hold a big fish like you."

It wasn’t about looking down on her hometown—it was simply reality.

Sha City’s development prospects were limited, lacking competitiveness and unable to retain top talent.

"Why did you stay for so long in River City?"

Even though he hadn’t received any notifications, Fang Qing instinctively knew that he must have come from River City.

"Bought some land."

Fang Qing turned her head, "What, planning to venture into real estate? It’s probably not the best time now."

Jiang Chen chuckled, "The golden age of real estate is over. I’m building a hospital."

Fang Qing didn’t seem overly impressed. Her gaze remained forward, "A private hospital?"

"Yeah, partnered with others."

"Hurry up, you two."

Up ahead, Fang Weiguo stopped and turned back to urge them.

The marketplace had undergone significant changes.

No longer the dirty and chaotic mess of memories, each stall was now neatly organized, tidy, and well-lit.

They bought some vegetables, beef, and two fish, then the three of them headed home.

"There are fish this big in the Ma River? This one’s at least five or six pounds, right?"

Pan Hui was astonished.

"It’s a big river—it’s not hard to raise just these few fish. Don’t make a fuss."

Fang Weiguo had an air of indifference.

"Nice, looks like you haven’t lost your touch."

Pan Hui praised him.

The two younger ones kept quiet.

"You two sit down."

The couple carried the groceries into the kitchen.

Jiang Chen sat on the wooden sofa with an ease surpassing that of someone in his own home.

"Want some water?"

Fang Qing walked toward the fridge.

"Got soda water?"

"No, just Coke."

"Forget Coke. It’s bad for your health."

It seemed like rich folks were always more health-conscious. But wasn’t twenty-something a bit too early for that?

In the end, Fang Qing still grabbed a bottle of Coke.

Jiang Chen chuckled softly, reached out to take it, twisted it open, and took a sip, letting out a breath.

"How long are you planning to rest?"

"Do you still have the energy to worry about me?"

"You were so good to me back then. I’m someone who remembers kindness."

Jiang Chen joked lightly. Then, as if casually chatting, he said, "I bumped into some old high school classmates in Sha City this time. Everyone seems to have changed."

"No one could have changed more than you, right?"

Fang Qing said softly.

Jiang Chen turned his head, "You’re not bad yourself. Back then, you sent Fu Zili to block Chi Jin, and now you’ve become a trailblazing lawyer."

Fang Qing hadn’t forgotten about that incident either; she chuckled, "After all, it wouldn’t have helped to tell the teacher."

"It’s a pity Sha City High School has relocated. Otherwise, I’d really want to visit again."

Jiang Chen sounded wistful, then, as though he had just remembered something, he cradled the Coke in one hand while the other reached into his pocket.

Soon after.

A hair clip appeared before Fang Qing.

"Take it."

Jiang Chen gestured.

Fang Qing looked puzzled, "What’s this for?"

"Your birthday’s coming up, and I probably can’t make it back, so consider it an early gift."

"..."

Fang Qing fell silent.

Her birthday was indeed near—next week.

But a hair clip as a birthday gift?

Even for ordinary people, this felt far too stingy.

The color was nice, though—moonlight white.

"Got it at a night market in River City, discounted, five bucks each."

Jiang Chen explained.

A night market find.

Should she call it thoughtful, or miserly?

Perhaps it would have been better not to explain.

"I don’t use hair clips anymore."

Fang Qing didn’t immediately take it.

She was still polite enough.

If it had been any other girl, faced with such a cheap gift, nine times out of ten they would’ve thrown a fit and shown him the door.

Jiang Chen looked at her silky, shoulder-length hair, "It’s nice to switch up your style occasionally."

He shook the hair clip again.

Ultimately, Fang Qing’s refinement won over, and she finally raised her hand to accept this prematurely gifted birthday present.

"I’ll go see if Uncle Fang needs any help."

Jiang Chen set down the Coke and got up, not expecting her to thank him in the slightest.

Fang Qing didn’t seem to have such intentions either, her fingers slowly stroking the utterly cheap hair clip.

The clip still carried a sliver of residual warmth.

After dinner at the Fang Family’s, the sky had turned dark. Jiang Chen took a few steps back home, opened his door, and heard a notification sound from his phone.

Entering the house, he closed the door and fished out his phone.

Seeing a video sent by Bai Haoran, Jiang Chen wondered if he was hallucinating or perhaps still drunk.

"Young Master Jiang, she told me to pass this along to you."

Along with the video was a photo.

A cherry blossom specimen.

Jiang Chen carefully examined the video a few times and then forwarded it to Luo Peng.

Soon after.

Young Master Luo’s call came through promptly.

"Is that Bian Zaide?!"

"Yeah. Do you recognize the woman next to him?"

Familiar.

Very familiar indeed!

Even though Luo Peng had long moved on from his infamous failure with Luo Li’er, there remained one person he couldn’t forget.

"How come this woman looks so much like... Teacher Xiang Tian?"

Indeed.

Luo Peng’s feeling matched Jiang Chen’s first reaction.

The woman seen with Bian Zaide at the Haojiang casino definitely resembled the melancholic, recently returned Dong University foreign teacher, Koda Kaoru!

"Jiang Chen, where did you get this video? Was it shot at the casino? Teacher Xiang Tian couldn’t possibly know Bian Zaide, right? She probably just looks similar..."

Luo Peng rattled off his thoughts.

It made sense.

A dismissed university foreign teacher wouldn’t possibly have connections to the vastly more powerful corporate magnate.

But.

Why did she seem to know him?

Mr. Jiang.

Mr. Jiang Chen.

As the various forms of address echoed faintly in his ear, Jiang Chen suddenly thought of another woman,

A woman he had only ever seen in a video, a woman wearing a mask.