I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping
Chapter 332 - 314 The Prodigal Son Returns Home

Chapter 332: 314 The Prodigal Son Returns Home

"Dear passengers, we have arrived at Sha City station. Please take all your belongings with you as you disembark. Thank you for choosing to ride with us."

In the bustling crowd, Jiang Chen, with his luggage in tow, made his way toward the exit.

"Any passengers going to Song City? Fifty for one seat, leaving immediately!"

"Jianli, Jianli, hurry up, there’s only one seat left!"

Murmurs rose uninterruptedly, bringing with them the familiar accents of Jiang Chen’s hometown.

Faces of all expressions came into view, some greeting arrivals, others touting for business.

The clamor at the exit was overwhelming, yet none of the excitement seemed reserved just for me.

After his ticket was checked, Jiang Chen, dragging his suitcase, walked out of the exit alone.

"Young man, need a ride?"

"No thanks."

Though he went elsewhere for university, Jiang Chen was a Sha City native through and through; he was not one to fall for the tricks of illegal cabs and instead made his way to the legit taxi rank right outside the railway station.

About ten minutes later, it was his turn.

"Baoshan."

Having placed his luggage in the trunk, Jiang Chen got into the taxi.

The cab drove away from the train station.

Sha City.

Located in the Jianghan Plain with its strategic geographical position, it has historically been a coveted military location. During the nineties, it even experienced a brief glory, with local brands like Huoli 38 gaining nationwide fame.

However, in the past two decades, the development of this ancient city has been less than satisfactory. Its growth nearly ground to a halt, with its provincial sibling cities overtaking it one after another and Sha City gradually falling out of the premier league, dwindling to an isolated state of decline.

Jiang Chen had heard many people curse that the decline of Sha City was because of inept leadership across several terms, and this was indeed an important reason.

It was only after going to university that Jiang Chen understood that a more critical issue was the absence of heavy industry in Sha City.

Light industry was merely an embellishment; heavy industry was the foundation of a city.

Take the neighboring Yicheng, for example.

Leveraging the benefits of the Three Gorges Dam, its economy took off rapidly. It has become a rising star in the central region, while Sha City, once so proud among its peers, crumbled under the tides of time due to its fragile foundation.

But a small city has its advantages, too.

Even if its economic development is mediocre, life there can be relatively comfortable for the average person. Especially after staying in a place like East Sea for a while, coming back makes the feeling all the more profound.

"Thank you, but I don’t smoke."

The taxi driver had offered him a cigarette, which Jiang Chen politely declined.

"Rare to see a young man who doesn’t smoke. Good on you," the driver remarked with a smile as he lit a cigarette for himself.

"Back for the New Year’s holiday?"

"Yes."

"Working outside, or studying?"

"Studying."

"What year are you in?"

"Senior year."

Leaning back in his seat, speaking in the local dialect, Jiang Chen felt relaxed. Although Sha City’s development was indeed lagging, there was a sense of belonging he couldn’t find anywhere else.

Perhaps this was the meaning behind the words "hometown."

"You’re about to graduate then," commented the driver between drags of his cigarette. "Which university?"

"East Sea University."

"East Sea?"

The driver looked at Jiang Chen with a mix of surprise and envy.

"I’ve never been to East Sea myself. If I could take a stroll by the Pu River and see the Oriental Pearl Tower once in my life, I’d be content."

Jiang Chen smiled.

"Didn’t they build an airport in Sha City? It’s quite convenient to go now."

With a puff of his cigarette, the driver lamented with a chuckle, "It’s convenient, alright, but I have to work hard to earn money now that my girl has just started university."

Jiang Chen fell silent.

It seemed that parents are all the same.

They give tirelessly for their children, yet completely neglect their own needs.

The newly built airport in Sha City, only a two-hour flight to East Sea, with tickets costing one thousand five. Yet this driver might never manage to see East Sea in his lifetime.

"Actually, East Sea isn’t all that special—just more cars on the road, taller buildings, a larger city. And their Pu River doesn’t really have much on our Ma River," Jiang Chen said.

The driver paused, then burst into laughter.

"Young man, you’re absolutely right!"

When they passed a flower shop, Jiang Chen asked the driver to stop.

"Could you wait for me, sir? It may take some time. We can settle the cab fare later."

"No problem, go ahead. I’ll wait for you," the driver waved casually.

Jiang Chen got out and bought a bouquet of lilies.

Seeing him return with the flowers, it seemed the driver grasped the situation.

"Young man, you’re going to Baoshan to..."

"Visit my parents."

The driver looked startled and then fell silent.

Jiang Chen closed the car door.

"Let’s go."

Baoshan Cemetery.

"Go on, I’ll wait for you. I’ll make sure to get you home today," the driver assured with ease.

Carrying the flowers, Jiang Chen stepped out of the vehicle.

The weather was gloomy and cold today, with occasional gusts of chilly wind. Upon reaching his parents’ graves, he was surprised to find a fresh bouquet of daisies already there.

Recently placed,

clearly within the last two days.

Who had visited?

Jiang Chen looked at the black and white photos on the tombstone, bent down, and gently laid the lilies.

He didn’t speak, just stood quietly in the cold wind for a long time.

"Young man, don’t be too sad. If I were your parents, I would definitely be proud of you."

The patient taxi driver looked at Jiang Chen getting into the car.

Jiang Chen smiled gratefully.

"Where to now?"

"The East Gate, home."

————

Sha City is divided into the Old City and the Outer City.

Jiang Chen’s home is in the city.

Those born in Capital City grew up under the shadow of the imperial palace, while he grew up under the shadow of the ancient city walls. It took only a five-minute walk from his home to see the old city walls.

The once provincial construction unit, also a state-owned enterprise, suffered closure waves during the reform and opening-up period, and his father’s workplace was no exception.

During Jiang Chen’s primary school days, the closure of the unit forced his father out of a job and into unemployment, which plunged his family into poverty.

Of course.

Despite the closure, the employee housing complex was preserved, serving as the last bastion of survival for these workers, preventing them from becoming homeless.

Watching the youth dragging his luggage into the Third Construction housing complex, the driver who insisted on not taking money smiled, restrained his smile, and sighed silently. Just as he was about to drive away, he caught a glance of a few banknotes wedged in the passenger seat’s crack.

There was a full five hundred.

He was startled, pulled out the money, and was about to step out of the car to give chase, but then his hand on the door suddenly stopped.

People suffer from three thousand ailments as they age.

That’s an inevitable part of life.

The youngster had an open mind and was a high-achieving student from East Sea University, his future boundless.

There seemed nothing pitiable about him.

The driver turned his head, watching through the car window as the youth’s figure gradually receded, then pocketed the money.

He was a man of simple background without much education, but he understood that sometimes pity is not a virtue.

"End of the shift. I’ll go to the market to buy some fish. It’s been a while since I cooked for my daughter. I’ll show off my skills today,"

The taxi left.

Residents of the housing complex came and went. Since they were all employees of the same unit and had lived there for decades, most of them knew each other, greeted when met, and would stop for a chat if they were free.

This is what is called the spirit of city life.

Building number eight in the Employees’ Quarters.

Almost thirty years old, and with maintenance neglected due to its residents being laid-off workers and no property management, the building looked quite worn, its peeling paint revealing the traces of time.

Decades-old houses obviously couldn’t incorporate elevators. With two apartments on each floor and only stair access, Jiang Chen had no choice but to carry his suitcase up the stairs. Fortunately, the building was only eight stories tall, and his home was on the sixth.

Reaching his doorstep, Jiang Chen set down his suitcase and pulled out his keys, about to unlock the door, when there was noise coming from the apartment opposite.

"Bang,"

The door opened, and an older man with graying sideburns came out with a trash bag,

Jiang Chen turned and smiled, "Uncle Fang."

The man was startled, and after a moment, he recognized him.

"Jiang Chen?!"

"Good lad, I thought you weren’t coming back!"

He walked over excitedly, patting Jiang Chen on the shoulder.

"You’ve grown stronger and even more handsome in a year!"

Jiang Chen smiled bashfully.

"Uncle Fang, you’re making me embarrassed with all the compliments."

"Haha, your skin isn’t that thin."

"What’s all this babbling?! Hurry up and dispose of the trash, and don’t forget the vinegar!"

An assertive shout came from the opposite apartment, followed by an ordinary-looking housewife appearing at the door.

"Look who’s back."

"Little Chen?!"

Upon seeing Jiang Chen, the middle-aged woman was equally surprised, with a reaction identical to her husband’s.

"Aunt Pan."

Jiang Chen greeted her.

"You kid, didn’t the school go on break a while ago? Why are you only back now?"

She spoke with a tone of reproach.

Clearly, this couple were Jiang Chen’s neighbors, having lived here even before he was born, and had watched Jiang Chen grow up. The relationship between their families was naturally close.

"It’s almost graduation, and my thesis delayed me a few days."

The woman’s stern facade melted into benevolence, "As long as you’re back, that’s good."

"I’ll go buy the vinegar now."

"Uncle Fang, you go ahead."

Fang Weiguo took the trash downstairs.

"Little Chen, you haven’t been back for so long, your house probably needs cleaning. Do you want Aunt Pan to help?"

"It’s alright, Aunt Pan, I can manage."

"Alright then, if you need help, just tell Aunt Pan, don’t be shy."

Jiang Chen nodded,

After exchanging greetings with the Fang family, Jiang Chen finally entered his apartment.

Two bedrooms and a living room, just over sixty square meters, with many areas of flaking plaster on the walls and cobwebs on the ceiling. While it couldn’t be said to be utterly barren, it was definitely a rather humble abode.

Jiang Chen didn’t rush to unpack his luggage; he set down his suitcase and began to clean.

"Thump thump thump..."

Just as he finished sweeping the living room, there was a knock at the door.

He put down the mop, wiped off the sweat, walked to the door, and opened it.

He expected it to be the Fang family, but it was not.

"Long time no see."

Outside.

A flourishing young girl stood there gracefully, with long hair draped over her shoulders, her once youthful face now soft and appealing.

As their eyes met, the corners of Jiang Chen’s mouth involuntarily curved into a slow smile.

"Long time no see."