Transported Into The Book, She Thrives In The 80s Chapter 97: It's Not Like It's a Call from an Old Flame, Why Is He So Guilty? - Novel Cool

Chapter 97: It's Not Like It's a Call from an Old Flame, Why Is He So Guilty?

Chapter 97: It’s Not Like It’s a Call from an Old Flame, Why Is He So Guilty?

Zhang Rong’s expression grew more serious as he examined the two pearls. He had just taken off his gloves, but he put them back on.

He picked up the golden pearl first, his eyes growing brighter with each look. "This flame pattern forms the shape of a deer?"

Jiang Xia smiled and nodded.

"Wow! This isn’t just a pearl, it’s a treasure!"

Jiang Xia: "Brother Zhang, take a look at this white one."

Zhang Rong put down the golden pearl and picked up the white one, which came from the gorilla sea chrysanthemum clam.

"Camellia?" He looked at Jiang Xia in disbelief.

"Brother Zhang has a keen eye."

Damn! What kind of luck do this couple have? The pearls in that bag were already quite exceptional, making them extremely rare!

And now, they have two pearls that are the creme de la creme!

"Where did you get these two giants? I should go there sometime!"

Zhou Chenglei glanced at Jiang Xia. "After the typhoon, Jiang Xia found them on the beach."

"Brother, you have such good luck!"

Jiang Xia smiled. "It was just a lucky find."

"No, next time after a typhoon, I’ll go there and try my luck."

Jiang Xia: "You’re always welcome. Maybe you’ll find even better pearls."

"Ha ha... Thanks for your kind words! These two pearls are definitely auction-worthy. I’ll have them sent to Hong Kong or abroad. They should fetch at least a thousand yuan each, and that’s conservative. Luckily, you didn’t damage the shells. Selling them together with the shells will make them even more valuable. Some collectors abroad love these kinds of things."

Jiang Xia: "I noticed these shells were quite large and beautiful, and they seemed old, so I kept them. I know some collectors like these, so I thought they might be worth something."

"Brother, you’re well-informed. Indeed, some people collect seashells. I’ll give you two thousand yuan for these two pearls now. Whatever they sell for later, that’s what you’ll get. Just wait a moment."

Zhang Rong walked to the room behind the office and took out three stacks of large bills from the safe, then came back out, taking out two of them.

Just then, the office phone rang.

Zhang Rong said to the two of them, "Sorry, I need to take this call."

Zhou Chenglei: "No problem, go ahead."

Zhang Rong picked up the phone. "Hello."

A cheerful male voice came from the other end. "Second Brother, I’ve booked a train ticket and will be visiting you in a couple of days. I’ll arrive at five in the morning the day after tomorrow. Remember to pick me up at the train station."

Zhang Rong frowned. "Why are you coming over? How long are you staying?"

"Five days. I’m delivering something for our commander."

"What are you delivering? Zhou Commander is here right now. Do you want to say hello to him?"

The other end of the line, Zhang Rui, was surprised. "The commander is there! Yes, yes, let me talk to him!"

Zhang Rui’s excited voice was so loud that Jiang Xia could hear it. She looked at Zhou Chenglei.

Zhou Chenglei, however, hadn’t heard anything.

Zhang Rong handed the phone to Zhou Chenglei. "Zhang Rui wants to talk to you."

Zhou Chenglei took the phone with his left hand and held it to his left ear. "Hello."

"Commander, why are you at my second brother’s place?"

"Selling pearls."

The other end of the line was silent for a moment, seemingly in surprise, before speaking. "Make sure he gives you a good price. If he tries to lowball you, I’ll tell my grandfather to beat him up!"

Zhou Chenglei didn’t respond to that. "What’s the matter?"

"It’s your household registration and file. I’m bringing them to you. I’m taking the train tomorrow night and will arrive the day after tomorrow. I’ll come to the village to find you."

Zhou Chenglei instinctively covered the mouthpiece and glanced at Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia, who hadn’t heard, looked at him in confusion.

Zhou Chenglei instinctively shifted slightly, making sure the phone was farther from Jiang Xia, and replied, "Got it. No need to come to the village. I’ll meet you at my second brother’s place."

Jiang Xia: "…."

Wait, the person on the other end of the phone is a man, right?

If they weren’t close, why would he sound so guilty?

The person on the other end of the phone said something, and Zhou Chenglei added, "See if you can get me a pair of diving suits, one for a man and one for a woman… We’ll meet up then."

Zhou Chenglei didn’t want to say too much and hung up after a few more words.

The person on the other end was still confused!

He hadn’t finished speaking yet!

Zhou Chenglei put the phone down but still felt uneasy. He turned to Zhang Rong and said, "Peng will come the day after tomorrow. Have him wait for me here, and I’ll come to see him."

Zhang Rong replied, "Sure."

Zhang Rong placed the money in front of Jiang Xia. "Here’s 2,800 yuan, Sister. When the pearls are sold, I’ll give you the rest. It might take a while, but there’s no rush. We’ll sell them at a good price."

"Alright, thank you, Brother Zhang. You handle it," Jiang Xia said as she put the money in her bag.

Zhang Rong glanced at his watch and realized it was almost noon. He said to the couple, "Come on, it’s rare for you to visit. Let’s go eat."

Zhou Chenglei didn’t refuse. Zhang Rong had done them a huge favor, so it was only right to treat him to a meal. Besides, Jiang Xia was probably hungry.

Zhou Chenglei suggested going to the state-owned restaurant, which seemed to be Jiang Xia’s favorite. They had also arranged to meet Zhou’s father there.

Zhang Rong was tired of the state-owned restaurant’s food and suggested a newly opened restaurant instead.

Jiang Xia, who had already experienced the state-owned restaurant, said, "Let’s pick up Dad and try the new place?"

It would be good to see how the restaurant industry was developing.

Zhou Chenglei naturally agreed, "Sure."

So, the three of them went to the state-owned restaurant to pick up Zhou’s father and then headed to the newly opened restaurant.

After the reform and opening up, the city had seen the opening of a couple of new restaurants. They chose a recently opened one called the New Wind Restaurant.

It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was fairly busy, especially in the city center where private restaurants were still rare. The hall was almost full. Jiang Xia knew that the restaurant industry was just starting to boom in this era, and it would grow rapidly in the 1990s.

Jiang Xia thought that when they had more money, they could open a restaurant. After all, the competition was low, and there were plenty of people in the city with money to spend.

Zhang Rong reserved a private room.

Zhang Rong asked Zhou’s father to order, but he declined, "I’ll eat anything. You order."

He then turned to Jiang Xia, "Sister, what would you like? The chef here is from the capital, and the Peking duck is excellent."

Jiang Xia ordered a Peking duck and a sour cabbage and meatball soup, then let the two men order.

Zhou Chenglei ordered a ginseng chicken soup for Jiang Xia to drink, and then let Zhang Rong order.

Zhang Rong added braised sea cucumber, chicken with mushrooms, stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat strips, sweet and sour fish, braised pork, and garlic sprouts, making it eight dishes and one soup.

During the meal, Zhou Chenglei and Zhang Rong talked about the reform and opening up, and their predictions for the future. Zhang Rong also made sure to include Jiang Xia and Zhou’s father in the conversation from time to time.

Zhou Chenglei kept checking on Jiang Xia during the meal, often picking up food for her. When she didn’t like the chicken skin, he took the piece she had bitten and ate it himself. When she frowned at a dish she didn’t like, he immediately offered her a bowl to pass the dish to him.

Zhang Rong felt that he had eaten his fill without even realizing it!

Zhou’s father was pleased, thinking that the pearls must have sold for a good price.

The meal was enjoyable for everyone.

After the meal, Zhou Chenglei paid, saying it was their wedding banquet, making Zhang Rong feel embarrassed to argue over the bill.

The total for all the dishes was around 10 yuan, which seemed like a good deal. But Jiang Xia remembered that the monthly salary was only about 30 to 40 yuan, and it didn’t seem so cheap anymore.

After the meal, they said goodbye to Zhang Rong and headed straight to the shipyard.

The security guard at the shipyard still recognized Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia. Their striking appearances made them hard to forget. He smiled, "Oh, you’re here! There’s a great deal today!"

(End of Chapter)

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