Chapter 137: Handling Affairs
Chapter 137: Handling Affairs
On the 20th of February, the day of the weekly break, Chen Chuan and his team gathered at the Dui Yi Hotel for a meal.
Many of the team members had come as a favor, but Chen Chuan knew what they valued, so before the meal, he settled the accounts and distributed the rewards according to each person's contribution. He also mentioned that he hadn't had time to deal with the implant and the gold ticket yet and would get back to them about it after some time.
This decision proved wise, as the atmosphere during the meal was noticeably more cheerful after the distribution of funds.
Wei Chang'an raised his cup and toasted Chen Chuan, saying, "Junior, now that you've learned to drive, why not take the license test and buy a car?"
Chen Chuan contemplated for a moment. He decided to hold off on the decision, as the cost of a car was not insignificant, and there were many considerations. Although he had earned a substantial sum, his expenses for martial arts training would undoubtedly be even higher.
Furthermore, when he took on commissions, he would have access to company vehicles, so there was no need to worry. If he needed a vehicle for team missions, he could simply rent one for convenience.
"Let's talk about that later," Chen Chuan replied. "But Wei Ge, due to certain reasons, the client's identity for this commission won't be revealed for some time. It might take a year before we can disclose it, so your promotion to a higher-level commissioner may have to wait."
Wei Chang'an leaned back in his chair, appearing relaxed. He smiled and said, "Why bring that up? I still owe you a favor, and even without that, helping a brother is the right thing to do. As for the promotion, it's not a big deal."
Sitting next to Ren Xiaotian was Lin Xiaoti, who, although not directly involved in the raid on the camp, had played a crucial role in monitoring the radio and relaying messages. She was also entitled to a share, and now she was happily calculating how many snacks, hair accessories, and new skirts she could buy.
On the other side, Wei Dong had barely started eating when he began stuffing food into his mouth. If asked about his experience during the mission, he would surely say it wasn't satisfying enough. Aside from the infiltration at the beginning, the rest of the operation was mostly a gunfight. Although he had learned to shoot, he quickly emptied his magazine without hitting anyone. Instead, he managed to take down several bowmen with his bare hands, perhaps because he hadn't faced any of them head-on.
Wu Han, sitting next to Wei Dong, admired his fellow student. They had worked together during the mission, and this junior had efficiently taken down every target assigned to him without question.
Wu Han thought to himself that if he had a commission in the future, he would bring this junior along.
At that moment, the marksman with the surname Ding raised his cup and toasted Chen Chuan, saying, "Brother Chen, if there's another operation like this, please take me, Ding Liao, along."
Chen Chuan clinked his cup with Ding Liao and smiled, "A skilled hand like Brother Ding is hard to come by. I'd be more than happy to have you on board for future missions."
Ding Liao laughed heartily, "Then it's settled." He finished his drink in one gulp.
Most of the group were martial artists and didn't drink alcohol. Chen Chuan himself wasn't a fan of drinking, as he believed a clear mind was essential for precision in combat.
The meal lasted over two hours, and when it concluded, the group exited the hotel together.
As Chen Chuan stepped out of the Dui Yi Hotel, he glanced back at the entrance, recalling that he had dined here before his re-entry exam for Wu Yi Academy. In the blink of an eye, so much had happened.
Back then, his sole focus had been on passing the exam, but now he was already planning his trip to Central City.
He averted his gaze and looked forward, his steps steady and confident.
A car horn honked, and Wei Chang'an drove up to the group, waving at Chen Chuan from inside the vehicle. "Junior, I've got a few other students with me. Who do you want me to drop off first?"
Chen Chuan didn't hesitate, "Thanks, Wei Ge."
After the ride back to school, Chen Chuan returned to his dormitory, freshened up, and sat down in the common room. He took out the string of bone beads he had been examining for the past few days. These beads seemed to stimulate altered tissues, and each bead could maintain its effect for about four to five days. There were thirteen beads left, which meant they could last for nearly two months if used continuously.
Although he felt there weren't enough beads, he hadn't paid for them anyway, so there was no real loss. He still needed to continue taking on commissions, but with the funds he had acquired, he didn't feel as pressured.
Over the next period, while waiting for news from Gao Ming, Chen Chuan began accepting monster tale commissions from the company.
In return for the company's support, Chen Chuan decided to increase his commission completion rate to improve the company's evaluation in the Government Hall. He started by selecting easier commissions.
The first one was a case of "The Ever-Regrowing Corn." In a village outside Yangzhi City, a villager had eaten half a corncob but had to leave for an urgent matter. When he returned, he found that the corn he had eaten had regrown.
Initially, he thought someone was playing a prank on him, but after a few instances, he was delighted to discover that no matter how much corn he ate, it would regrow the next day. Moreover, it wasn't just one corncob; it seemed like the entire bag of corn he brought back had this property.
However, the corn only amounted to about thirty pounds, not a significant quantity. It wouldn't fetch a high price, and if he tried to sell it, he feared it might be stolen. So, he decided to use it as daily food, sharing it with some familiar villagers. Some villagers were concerned about potential issues, but he didn't take their worries seriously.
As he consumed the corn, the villagers quickly realized they could eat nothing else but this peculiar rice. After a few days, their bodies became unusually weak and fatigued, and they grew thinner. Strangely, they didn't seem to notice anything amiss and ignored others' warnings.
It wasn't until the villagers started dying of starvation that the village realized something was terribly wrong. They concluded that the corn must be the issue and decided to burn it all. However, this didn't solve the problem; after a while, the corn reappeared, and the cycle repeated.
After several attempts, the villagers felt helpless and reported the issue to the town management, but no one ever came to address it. Over two years had passed since then.
When Chen Chuan arrived at the village, it was already deserted, with warning signs posted at the entrance. The management personnel who accompanied him were too afraid to venture inside.
Alone, Chen Chuan entered the village and approached a particular house, where his second self exhibited signs of fading.
He pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside. In the kitchen, he spotted several fresh ears of corn on the stove, their kernels golden and plump, emitting a mouth-watering aroma as if they had just been boiled and taken out of the pot. The sight alone was enough to stimulate one's appetite.
After a quick glance, Chen Chuan left the house and explored the entire village. He found similar scenes in other places, almost every household had them.
Before coming, Chen Chuan had studied the information and knew that ordinary people could handle this situation, but it couldn't be as simple as burning the corn, as that would only cause it to spread.
In reality, if the corn had been consumed whole, including the core, at the very beginning, there wouldn't have been any issues. If someone had provided guidance initially, perhaps the subsequent tragedy could have been avoided.
By now, dealing with the problem had become slightly more complicated. Livestock needed to eat the corn, and then these animals had to be consumed within a day.
After observing the situation, Chen Chuan understood the gravity of the matter. He returned to the company and informed Ren Shu, asking him to arrange for the necessary personnel to handle it.
Upon hearing that he could participate in addressing the monster tale, Ren Shu's enthusiasm soared. The young partners, upon learning of this, were equally thrilled. They immediately hired people and purchased livestock, resolving the issue within a day. After completing the task, everyone felt a sense of accomplishment.
However, Chen Chuan shook his head. While it was good to have resolved the issue, he believed that providing monster tale consultation services might have prevented such incidents.
He mentioned this to Ren Shu, suggesting that they offer monster tale advisory services. If it were any other company, they would have likely refused, fearing the loss of business. But Ren Shu and his team had a different perspective. Their current workload was overwhelming, and even if they lost some clients, they could always turn to the government offices. Moreover, monster tales that ordinary people could handle were in the minority, and addressing them wouldn't hinder their operations; instead, it could enhance the company's reputation.
Most importantly, Chen Chuan, a crucial partner, had made this suggestion, and it had to be taken seriously. So, Ren Shu agreed without hesitation.
Since this commission wasn't overly demanding, Chen Chuan proceeded to handle a few other smaller cases.
However, due to the significant time gap, not only had the clients of these cases disappeared, but the monster tales themselves had vanished without a trace.
Regardless, once it was confirmed that the monster tales no longer existed, they could be considered successfully resolved, which positively impacted the company's reputation. The company rewarded Chen Chuan for his efforts, so his trip wasn't entirely fruitless.
Time flew, and the end of the month arrived.
One morning, as Chen Chuan woke up, the phone rang. He answered, and a familiar voice greeted him, "Hello, Cousin? It's me, Gao Ming."
Chen Chuan's spirits lifted slightly. He hadn't rushed Gao Ming because he knew his cousin was diligent and responsible. The fact that Gao Ming hadn't called meant he hadn't uncovered the details yet. Now that he was calling, it seemed he had some results.
Chen Chuan acknowledged him, and Gao Ming continued, "Cousin, I've investigated that case thoroughly, but there are some things I can't discuss over the phone. So, during the early part of next month, on a free day, I'll come back to meet and talk in person."
Chen Chuan understood the sensitivity of the matter and agreed, "Okay, let's discuss it when you return next month."
As he hung up and took a couple of steps, the phone rang again. He answered, and this time, it was Ren Shu's voice, "Mr. Chen, are you available today?"
"Regarding the commission?" Chen Chuan asked.
"Yes, yes. The people from the neighboring county's government office have come to our company, requesting our help with a monster tale. I was wondering if you'd be available, Mr. Chen?"
The county government office...
Chen Chuan pondered. Even though it was a county government office, it was still a government department. While he had already obtained the necessary evaluations, it didn't mean these were no longer useful. Successfully handling such commissions would be advantageous for him when applying for an armor license later on.
After considering this, Chen Chuan agreed, "Okay, I'll come right away."
(End of Chapter)
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