Reborn in 1950: Shorting the Federal Reserve at the Start

Shen Jinghong placed his hand on the table, and casually tossed the Parker gold pen aside with a soft "click".

He did not sign the "contract of servitude".

He didn't immediately take out the "Declaration of Severance of Parental Relationship" that was already at his fingertips, just an inch away from being slapped on Zhao Yanzi's face.

His gaze slowly swept over everyone in the room.

Zhao Yanzi's face was full of greed, and her facial muscles even twitched slightly as she was about to succeed;

Shen Yaozu clutched his wrist, his eyes filled with resentment yet also a hint of expectation;

And then there were his parents, who were putting on airs but were actually watching his hand gestures intently.

This family is absolutely rotten.

It's rotten to the bone, rotting to the point of oozing pus.

The murderous intent in Shen Jinghong's heart suddenly faded. Not because of forgiveness, but because she felt... simply throwing out the letter severing ties was too lenient on these beasts.

Right now, it's just at home, with only these few people.

If he were to sever ties now, at most they would throw a tantrum and complain to the outside world that he was unfilial. The neighbors, unaware of the truth, would only think that Shen Jinghong was a heartless ingrate.

That's so boring.

If we're going to slap them in the face, we have to do it in front of the entire hospital and everyone else, tearing off that fig leaf so they can never hold their heads up in Beijing again.

Let these vampires climb to the top, thinking they own the whole world, and then kick the ladder away.

That kind of despair, falling from the clouds into the mud, is the best revenge against them.

"System, retract the statement first."

Shen Jinghong coldly gave the order in her mind, "The heat isn't right yet; this pot of green tea hasn't boiled in time."

He withdrew his hand from the table, leaned back in his chair, and wore an enigmatic smile.

"Sister-in-law, and Mom and Dad, you're right."

Shen Jinghong spoke slowly and deliberately, her tone unusually calm, "As the eldest brother, I should indeed give this job opportunity to Yaozu. After all, our Shen family depends on him to carry on the family line, isn't that right?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the room instantly relaxed, as if a taut rubber band had suddenly snapped.

"That's more like it!"

Zhao Yanzi beamed with joy, all her previous shrewishness gone. She swayed over, reaching for the application form. "Big brother is so reasonable! Come on, sign it quickly, and I'll have Yaozu report to his workplace tomorrow!"

"Wait a minute."

Shen Jinghong extended a finger and pressed it against the paper.

"What? You want to back out?" Zhao Yanzi's expression changed instantly, and she stared at him warily.

"It's not that I'd change my mind."

Shen Jinghong pushed up his glasses, his sincere expression worthy of an Oscar. "Sister-in-law, you don't understand the rules of the country. This is a bureau-level cadre position, not like buying cabbage at the market where we can just sign a document in private and call it a day."

He pointed to the sky outside and began spouting nonsense with a straight face:

"I just returned to China, and my personnel file is still being held by the State Security Bureau. If I want to transfer the quota to Yaozu, I have to report to my workplace first, retrieve my personnel file, and then get a 'transfer official seal' stamped on it. If this whole process isn't completed, this piece of paper is just a piece of waste paper."

"Does it need a stamp?"

Shen Yaozu immediately became anxious upon hearing this, "When will that be? Will I even be able to get married?"

"What's the rush? Good things come to those who wait."

Shen Jinghong stood up and patted Shen Yaozu's shoulder—the uninjured side, of course—using a little subtle force, making Shen Yaozu grimace.

"Don't worry, you know how I handle things. I'll have the paperwork done and bring it back by tonight at the latest. Then, our whole family will get together and, in front of the neighbors, settle this matter in a grand and respectable way, so everyone knows that you, Shen Yaozu, have made something of yourself and taken over the position of a government official. How about that?"

"In front of the neighbors?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Dayong's wrinkled face broke into a wide smile. What did he love most in his life? His pride, of course!

"Great! Boss, you've thought of everything!"

Shen Dayong slapped his thigh, abandoning his solemn act, "We have to do it in front of the whole institute! Let Old Yan and Old Liu see that my second son is a cadre now! This is double happiness for the Shen family!"

Although Liu Cuihua felt it was a bit of a dragging process, she nodded in agreement when she thought about the spectacular scene that evening: "Alright, then it'll be as you say, boss. But Jinghong, don't try anything funny."

"Mom, what are you saying? I'm right here, how could I possibly run away?"

Shen Jinghong shrugged, his face showing helplessness and submission.

The family completely believed it.

Indeed, in their minds, Shen Jinghong had always been a bookworm and a cowardly idiot who was easily intimidated. Now, after being intimidated like this, he would definitely have given in long ago.

"Alright, now that the important things are settled, let's discuss the house."

Zhao Yanzi ignored Shen Jinghong's presence and began to dictate the situation like a hostess.

Her greedy eyes swept around the room, finally pointing to the south-facing main room where Shen Jinghong was now living:

"This room has good lighting, so we'll keep it for Yaozu as his wedding room. We'll throw away all the junk inside, paint the walls white, and replace the furniture with new ones. Also, I think that grape trellis in the yard is in the way, so we'll cut it down and build a motorcycle shed for Yaozu later."

"Yes, yes, yes! Swallow has excellent taste!"

Shen Yaozu chimed in, completely forgetting that the grape trellis was planted by Shen Jinghong herself when she was a child.

"Where does the eldest brother live?" Shen Dayong asked casually, without a trace of concern in his tone.

"he?"

Liu Cuihua rolled her eyes and pointed to the outbuilding next to the west wing, which was piled with miscellaneous items. "That room can be tidied up and people can live in it. Anyway, he's a bachelor, so he just needs a place to sleep. When Yaozu has children in the future, we can ask him to help take care of them. That would be a good way for him to be a dutiful uncle."

"Mom is right!"

Shen Yaozu crossed his legs smugly and said, "Brother, did you hear that? That storage room may be a bit gloomy, but it's warm in winter and cool in summer. You're lucky."

Shen Jinghong stood to the side, maintaining that gentle smile throughout.

He watched as this group of people gleefully divided up his property, stripped him of his dignity, and even arranged for his future life to be provided by a free nanny.

That was really amazing.

The ugliness of human nature was vividly displayed at this moment.

The happier they laughed, the sharper the knife in Shen Jinghong's heart shone.

He wasn't angry; in fact, he felt a perverse pleasure. Like a patient hunter watching his prey walk step by step into a trap strewn with spikes, he cheered and jumped for joy at the bait before him.

"Since you've made all the arrangements, I'll head to my workplace now."

Shen Jinghong picked up the tattered leather suitcase and turned to leave.

"Hey! Leave the box!"

Liu Cuihua suddenly called out, her eyes fixed on the suitcase, "Why are you taking a suitcase with you on your errands? It's heavy. Leave it at home for Mom to watch over."

She was still not convinced and believed there must be US dollars hidden inside.

"Mom, this box contains the documents I need to give to my boss."

Shen Jinghong patted the box, her tone suddenly turning serious, exuding an unquestionable official authority, "This is a state secret. If it gets lost, our whole family will be executed. Are you sure you want to see it?"

"Huh? A gun... a bullet?"

Liu Cuihua shuddered in fright, her hand recoiling as if she'd been electrocuted. These days, ordinary people have a natural reverence for the words "state secrets."

"Then...then take it away quickly! Don't bring trouble into your home!"

She waved her hand dismissively, as if afraid of getting some bad luck on her.

Shen Jinghong sneered and walked out of the house without looking back.

As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, they heard Zhao Yanzi's unrestrained laughter and Shen Yaozu's boasting coming from the house behind them.

"Yanzi, I told you my brother's a coward, didn't I? If I just scare him, he'll pull out anything!"

"Hmph, he's smart to be sensible. Once we're married, I'll make him pour our foot bath water every day!"

Hearing these words, Shen Jinghong stopped and looked up at the square of sky framed by the courtyard walls.

The sky was overcast, as if it were about to snow.

"Softie?"

Shen Jinghong chuckled softly at the air and straightened the collar of her wind-blown trench coat.

He pulled a business card from his pocket—it was given to him by the officer in charge of receiving him before he got off the train; it only had a red phone number and an address on it.

That was the pass to the inner walls of the Red Wall.

This was also the last "death warrant" he prepared for the Shen family.

"Shen Yaozu, Zhao Yanzi, I hope your smiles last until tonight."

Shen Jinghong carried the suitcase and strode out of the alley.

He flagged down a black sedan at the intersection—this was a car arranged by the Huo family to pick him up in Beijing, which had been quietly waiting in a corner.

"Sir, where to?" the driver asked respectfully.

Shen Jinghong sat in the back seat, casually placed the tattered leather suitcase on his lap, took off his glasses and wiped them, his eyes instantly becoming sharp as an eagle's, all his scholarly air vanished, replaced by a kind of iron-blooded domineering aura that made people dare not look him in the eye.

"Go to the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense."

He put on his glasses, looked at the receding street scene outside the window, and said in a low voice:

"Go see Marshal Nie. Some big shots need to be brought out and put to the test."

"Also, when you come back tonight, remember to bring a few extra trucks. There are some people I'd like to help with their move."