Jiang Cheng

Biodata

Background / History

Jiang Cheng and Shen Qing grew up in the same orphanage. Five years Shen Qing’s senior, Jiang Cheng had known him for twelve years and supported him for seven, enabling Shen Qing to finish high school and university through a combination of government aid, scholarships, interest-free loans, and Jiang Cheng’s support. They are not related by blood, but Shen Qing regards Jiang Cheng and Su Wan as family 3.

He later became the foreman of a construction team. While working under Boss Zhao, Jiang Cheng was responsible not only for the site’s work but also for the welfare of the men he led. When a worker was injured and Zhao delayed compensation, Jiang Cheng transferred 20,000 yuan of his own money despite having less than 30,000 yuan remaining, then repeatedly pursued Zhao for the rest of the payment 23.

After the Corpse-Raising Formation incident led to Boss Zhao’s arrest, the construction site was taken over by Xie Chong’s family. Xie Chong’s father, chairman of Mountain River Heavy Industry Group, offered Jiang Cheng’s entire team employment with a 20% raise, staff dormitories, and a company-allocated two-bedroom apartment for Jiang Cheng as team leader 42 44.

Personality

Jiang Cheng is dependable, practical, and deeply protective of those under his care. At the construction site, he dismisses rumors of ghosts, stresses proper rest during exhausting shifts, and promises his workers that their overtime wages will be paid 23.

He is willing to shoulder financial burdens personally rather than abandon an injured worker. Even when Boss Zhao unexpectedly transferred 350,000 yuan covering compensation and wages, Jiang Cheng immediately returned the unexplained extra 50,000 yuan rather than accept money tied to unclear motives 23 38.

His protectiveness can make him suspicious and blunt. He presses Shen Qing about unexplained injuries, late-night work, Gu Jingshi, and Shen Qingtang, but these confrontations stem from concern for Shen Qing’s safety and future 37 49.

Relationships

• Shen Qing — Non-blood younger brother from the same orphanage. Jiang Cheng supported Shen Qing through school and consistently defends, worries about, and investigates matters involving him 3 36 37 49.
• Su Wan — Wife. The two support one another through financial difficulties and her strained relationship with her birth family 3 38.
• Boss Zhao / “Skinflint Zhao” — Former employer. Jiang Cheng repeatedly sought worker compensation from Zhao, later becoming suspicious when Zhao abruptly paid the owed funds and tried to contact Shen Qing 23 38.
• Xie Chong — Shen Qing’s colleague. Jiang Cheng recognizes him as the colleague who encouraged medical treatment for Shen Qing; Xie Chong’s family later takes over Jiang Cheng’s construction site 36 42.
• Xie Chong’s father — Chairman of Mountain River Heavy Industry Group who offers Jiang Cheng and his crew formal employment after hearing of their diligence and responsibility 44.
• Gu Jingshi — Shen Qing’s former college girlfriend, who addresses Jiang Cheng as “Big Brother” when they meet 44 45.
• Su Huan — Su Wan’s younger brother. Jiang Cheng treats him civilly amid conflict with Su Wan’s mother 42 43.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Family Life

Jiang Cheng appears when Shen Qing visits his and Su Wan’s apartment. He intervenes when Su Wan scolds Shen Qing for returning late, balancing amusement with concern for his younger brother 3.

Construction-Site Hauntings

As foreman, Jiang Cheng manages workers frightened by repeated ghost sightings at the construction site. He attributes their experiences to fatigue and overwork, unaware that supernatural activity is connected to the ancient tree and buried Corpse-Raising Formation beneath the site 23 32.

During the Walking Corpse incident, he suffers a gap in his recent memory and later encounters Shen Qing at the site entrance. Seeing Shen Qing wounded and disheveled, he immediately takes charge and insists on bringing him to the hospital 35 36.

Suspicion of Shen Qing’s Secret

Jiang Cheng grows increasingly aware that Shen Qing’s delivery work does not explain his injuries, unusual income, or Boss Zhao’s interest in him. He suspects Shen Qing is concealing something but ultimately decides that it is acceptable as long as Shen Qing has not committed a crime 37 38.

He and Su Wan later question Shen Qing about Gu Jingshi, Shen Qingtang, and Shen Qing’s connection to Mountain River Heavy Industry. Though stern, they chiefly urge him to handle his relationships responsibly 49.

Employment Opportunity

Following Boss Zhao’s imprisonment, Jiang Cheng’s team receives two days off while the site changes management. Mountain River Heavy Industry later offers to formally hire his crew with improved pay and housing benefits; Jiang Cheng is overwhelmed by the sudden offer and asks for time to consider it 42 44.

Trivia

• Jiang Cheng once supported Shen Qing with leftover roasted sweet potatoes when they were younger 3.
• He initially believes Shen Qing’s high-paying late-night work is ordinary food delivery, even after being shown a 5,000-yuan weekly payment 37.
• He is uncomfortable accepting unexplained favors or money, returning Boss Zhao’s extra 50,000 yuan immediately 38.