Chapter 21: Cheng Shi Was Robbed

Sister Wan got up and went to the back, pretending to use the restroom, then vividly recounted the incident to others.

Some people clicked their tongues and sighed, “Well, that kid really found a shortcut to getting rich.”

Sister Wan said, “That kid looks like a pretty boy. I saw the person in the car—a skinny figure with shoulder-length curly hair, wearing a floral shirt. Definitely an old lady, ugly as sin. I can’t believe he stooped so low.”

Another person said, “Oh, people like that will do anything disgusting as long as there’s money involved. Look at his sister…”

Just then, Juan Cheng came in. Judging by their expressions, she knew they were speaking ill of her again. She stood firmly and looked at them.

The woman who had been speaking hurriedly laughed awkwardly and explained, “Oh, Juan Cheng is back. We were just talking about Xiao Li’s sister.”

Juan Cheng said calmly, “Hmm, you carry on. I’m going to practice my professional skills. Soon, the credit union will merge, and those without ability will be eliminated.”

So, you’re saying there’s no point in us practicing, and we’re just waiting to be weeded out?

The group of women, including Sister Wan, bit their lips in frustration.

Juan Cheng walked away with a composed expression.

Someone cursed viciously, “Seductress, let’s see how long your glory lasts.”

Sister Wan, trembling with anger, pointed at her retreating figure and demanded, “Why hasn’t anyone reported her for moral misconduct?”

If it were a few years ago, a woman like her would have long been branded a “fallen woman.”

Someone said, “Ah, it’s different now. Back then, all you needed was to open your mouth, but now you need evidence, or else it’s considered false accusation.”

-----

Returning from the credit union, Juan Cheng entered the factory housing area and saw the storage room door wide open from a distance.

Yong Jin Cheng was sitting on the ground, holding his head.

Ai Ping Cai was wiping tears while hugging him.

Neighbors and residents had gathered around.

Juan Cheng’s heart skipped a beat. Before the car even stopped, he opened the door and jumped out.

Neighbors said, “Juan Cheng, your machine tool was taken away by people the factory director sent.”

“Your parents couldn’t stop them.”

Juan Cheng hurried over, asking, “Dad, are you hurt?”

Yong Jin Cheng’s eyes were red, and with a hoarse voice, he said, “Sorry, son. I’m useless. I couldn’t stop them.”

Juan Cheng’s hands trembled with anger. “Where are you hurt? Did they hit you?”

Yong Jin quickly said, “No, I just got pushed into the wall when I tried to stop them. It’s nothing serious.”

Juan Cheng examined him.

There was a swollen bump on Yong Jin’s head, but no major injury.

-----

Only then did Juan Cheng relax slightly and say, “Mom, Dad, don’t be upset. I will make things right for you.”

He turned to leave.

Yong Jin grabbed him, “Son, don’t be impulsive. No fighting. We’re fine; this isn’t a big deal. If we can get the stuff back, great; if not, so be it. There’s always a way.”

Juan Cheng looked deeply at his father, who was only forty-two—still in his prime—but already had two or three strands of white hair at his temples and wore a constant frown like an old man.

Although his father often scolded him and even pretended to hit him when he got into trouble,

the thunder was always loud but the rain light.

In the end, it was always his father who came out to protect him.

Despite being surrounded and attacked by so many, his father hadn’t shed tears, but now his eyes welled up with worry.

Juan Cheng felt a pang of sadness and gently patted his father’s hand. “I have a plan. You two rest and don’t worry about it. I don’t need to fight; I can get them to return the stuff willingly.”

Uncertainty flickered in Yong Jin’s eyes.

Juan Cheng was so different from before, especially at a time like this.

In the past, he would have grabbed a stick nearby and rushed out without a second thought, never pausing to comfort others.

Ziqiang Zhang followed him the whole time, looking shocked.

Suddenly, Juan Cheng remembered Zhang Ziqiang, who glared at him gloomily.

Zhang hurriedly said, “It’s not me. I didn’t even know your machine tool was in the storage room.”

I’ve always wondered why I never saw you in the workshop.

Juan Cheng nodded slightly. “Alright, I believe you.”

Zhang stayed close but didn’t know what to say.

After all, Juan Cheng had been so confident about starting his own factory,

yet in the blink of an eye, someone had snatched the machine tool away.

Everything was shattered.

Now Zhang patted Juan Cheng on the shoulder. “Sorry for your loss. Need a hand? If there’s a fight, I’m in.”

Unexpectedly, this kid he’d only just met a few days ago, and who always tried to poach his clients, showed such loyalty.

Quite the contrast to his sly, despicable old man.

Whether sincere or just politeness, those words were rare.

Juan Cheng looked at him in mild surprise, then withdrew his gaze and said calmly, “No, you should go home first.”

Zhang sighed softly and left.

Juan Cheng went down and borrowed the telephone at a small shop, making three calls.

-----

“You want to play this game, huh?

Then I’ll show you what it means to bully others with power.”

The first call was to the police, reporting a daylight robbery by a criminal gang.

The second was to the credit union: “The collateral has been stolen. I remind you to report this to the police first.”

The credit union took it seriously.

Before Juan Cheng finished repaying the loan, the machine tool technically belonged to the credit union.

Who would dare openly steal credit union property?

It was lawlessness!

They called the police and rushed over immediately.

The third call was to the TV station: “The city credit union’s collateral at the mechanical factory was just stolen.”

The TV station was thrilled: such explosive news is rare once a year. Stealing credit union collateral is like robbing a bank!

“Hurry, get the crew and reporters here as fast as possible for a live report!”

The police had initially not planned to pay much attention to Juan Cheng, since he was a frequent visitor to the station.

They suspected he might be making a false report for some ulterior motive.

But once the credit union called, they had to take it seriously and promptly dispatched officers.

Representatives from all three parties arrived almost simultaneously.

The credit union director, seeing the violent signs of disassembly on the ground, was furious, shouting, “Who, who dared do this?!”

The police, seeing the credit union and TV staff present, were cautious and began questioning the onlookers.

They learned that the mechanical factory had sent people to seize their worker’s property, leaving the police exasperated: what kind of wildly absurd case was this?

Very tricky. Let’s observe the situation first.

The reporter was the same one who had seen Juan Cheng rescuing someone at the department store that day—Reporter Guo.

In her eyes, Juan Cheng was a handsome, capable young hero.

Now, knowing he was being bullied like this made her furious.

She was relentless, stirring the pot and asking many piercing, straightforward questions.