Chapter 228: Quota
Chapter 228: Quota
Since the joint departmental commission ended, Chen Chuan had not taken on any new commissions and had temporarily put off company matters. He had been focusing on enhancing his combat training at the academy.
Another ten days passed, and it was the last day of November.
Since the commission rewards had already come in earlier in the month, he had already called the team members. They were to gather for a meal at Dueyi Hotel at noon today and split the money. With the end of the year approaching, this matter could not be delayed.
Just as he was about to leave, he received a call from Director Lei.
"Her Nan and I have set the date for our wedding. It will be on the 15th of next month. We will only be inviting a few close relatives and friends. The invitation will be sent to you today. Please make sure to come."
Chen Chuan knew that someone in Director Lei’s position would always be under the watchful eye of cultists. Therefore, even though the Secret Sect Review Bureau was a powerful organization, it usually had little presence in governmental institutions.
For the safety of his family and friends, his wedding would have to be a low-key affair. He couldn’t gather everyone together and make a grand celebration.
He said, "Congratulations, Director Lei. I will definitely be there."
Director Lei said, "Xiao Ying’s health has improved a lot. I told him about you, and he has been wanting to meet you to thank his big brother."
Chen Chuan thought of the boy. It was fortunate that he had survived the ordeal with the cultists.
Director Lei continued, "This time, a senior from the Central City’s Review Bureau will be attending. I will introduce you. It will be beneficial for you in the future."
Chen Chuan said, "Thank you, Director Lei."
"No need to be formal. Compared to the help you gave Xiao Ying, this is a small matter."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "Director Lei, after the last commission, there was something I wanted to ask."
Director Lei said, "You want to know about the whereabouts of the person who set up the ritual, right? We tracked the hot air balloon after it landed, but we couldn’t find the person. Later, I speculated that the true mastermind might have been hiding on the train."
"On the train..."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and asked, "Did the person on the train not reveal anything?"
Director Lei said, "He was just a cooperating cultist. According to his confession, he was merely hired. We confirmed that he was telling the truth. But don’t worry, after the ritual was activated, even if we didn’t actively intervene, the patterns and materials would disappear over time. Without the necessary resources and manpower, he won’t be able to set up such a large-scale ritual again. We can handle those small rituals."
Chen Chuan nodded. While secret sect rituals could achieve many mysterious effects, they often required a significant amount of preparation.
The person could only achieve that level because they had previously received help from Mo Lan Corporation. Without such support, it would be nearly impossible to replicate what had happened.
After a few more words, they hung up the call.
Chen Chuan could sense that Director Lei was guiding him towards the secret sect direction. Introducing him to a senior from the Secret Sect Review Bureau might also be part of this.
However, while he was interested in the mysterious aspects, only combat skills could truly strengthen him. Since he had chosen this path, he would walk it firmly and not veer off.
He tidied up, adjusted his attire, and left the dormitory. He rode his bicycle to Dueyi Hotel.
Since the meetings of various companies had concluded and the resistance organization had been nearly eradicated, the city center was now safe. When he arrived, the team members were also trickling in one by one.
As usual, they distributed the money before the meal.
Receiving a substantial reward before the end of the year, along with a boost in personal evaluation, made everyone very happy.
Wei Chang'an stood up with a glass in hand and said sincerely, "Brother Chen, thanks to these few commissions, I am now a senior commissioner. I no longer have to worry about the company’s attitude. I would like to toast to you."
Chen Chuan raised his glass and smiled, "Congratulations, Brother Wei."
Everyone else also raised their glasses to offer their congratulations.
Senior commissioners had higher personal evaluations, could earn more substantial rewards, and had easier interactions with governmental departments and major companies. Some senior commissioners, due to their long-term employment by certain departments, indirectly held a certain amount of power, and their status was completely different from before.
It was indeed a cause for celebration that Wei Chang'an had achieved this at his age.
After toasting with everyone, Wei Chang'an sat down. At this moment, Cai Si, who was sitting next to him, said, "Have you all been listening to the radio these past few days? They’ve been continuously praising the new Minister of Civil Affairs for eradicating the resistance organization. Unfortunately, we can’t say anything about it even though it was our doing."
The broadcast made no mention of Chen Chuan or the team members. The involved departments had already informed them beforehand that the focus was on restoring the public’s trust in the current government. Therefore, they did not mention the team, but instead, provided them with a bit more compensation.
Feng Xiaoqi muttered, "More compensation isn’t bad. Compared to fame, I’d rather have more money."
Chen Chuan said, "Actually, even if they didn’t mention it, I would have requested the same. The resistance organization isn’t just a group of people; they use all kinds of methods and have no qualms about what they do. For everyone’s safety, we should avoid exposing ourselves. Besides, as far as I know, an important figure has escaped. We don’t know where they are."
Ding Liao interjected, "That’s right. As long as the world remains as it is, the resistance organization will always exist. We may have extinguished the surface fire, but the embers beneath still remain. Who knows when they will flare up again. Better to be cautious."
Luo Kaiyuan then said, "Some of them might have been forced into it."
Feng Xiaoqi said, "I don’t like them. One explosion was just a few dozen meters away from our family’s small shop. I knew a neighbor, an old man who used to make grasshoppers to entertain children. He’s buried there."
"Wei Chang'an raised his cup again and said with a smile, "Regardless, the resistance organization has been mostly eradicated, and the Mo Lan Corporation has collapsed. It's worth celebrating. Come, let's all drink to that."
Everyone followed suit, raising their cups.
Just as they were having their meal, Cheng Zitong emerged from the principal's office, a list in his hand, and his face beaming with excitement.
He hurried back to his office, immediately calling Chen Chuan, but the call went unanswered. Then he remembered that his student might be out dining today.
He hung up the phone, thought for a moment, and with a 'hey' sound, took out a copy of the list and tucked it into his briefcase. He then went downstairs and drove straight to the Lakeside Manor.
After getting out of the car, he removed his decorative sunglasses and stood at the entrance for a while before striding inside.
"Old Qian, is my senior brother here?"
"Yes, he is," the doorman replied.
"Is he teaching his disciples at this time? Alright, I'll go find him myself."
Cheng Zitong walked into the courtyard, and with a quick glance, he saw the student practicing punches in the water pavilion while Qiao Linhu was drinking tea in the living room, occasionally glancing outside with a satisfied look in his eyes.
Cheng Zitong strode over, took out the list from his briefcase, and slapped it down on the table in front of Qiao Linhu.
Qiao Linhu was startled and looked up at him in surprise, then frowned as he looked at the list, "What's this?"
"What's this? It's the admission quota for the Central Academy in the Central City!"
Cheng Zitong patted the list with his hand and said, "This is my student, and I'm his instructor. Senior brother, you didn't expect this, did you?"
Qiao Linhu fell silent for a moment. After witnessing Chen Chuan's overthrow of the Mutual Aid Society, he had felt something was amiss. He slowly said, "Everything requires humility and patience. One must not be hasty in seeking success..."
In the 1619 book, there is no error!
Cheng Zitong pulled out his briefcase again and slapped a piece of paper on the table, "This is my student's Weapon Permit!"
"Students need to be tempered. Elevating them too much will only make them lose their self-control..."
"This is my student's Armor Permit!" Cheng Zitong slapped another certificate on the table.
"Even if he has achieved a little..."
"This is my student's Infinite Defense Permit, a Grade B permit!" Cheng Zitong slapped down another certificate and pointed at it.
Qiao Linhu's words caught in his throat, and he sat there stroking his beard, feeling glum. No amount of words could compete with the significance of the Infinite Defense Permit.
The Great Harmony Republic strictly regulated this aspect, which was why so many recommended students first had to take the Grade C permit exam and then find ways to take the Grade B permit exam. But this permit represented national-level recognition, rendering any words of argument or explanation powerless and futile.
Cheng Zitong's eyes were slightly red as he said, "My student doesn't need to follow some nonsense old path, nor does he need others to impose their ancient rules on him. He doesn't have to walk the path laid out by others; he can forge his own path!"
His voice rose above the entire courtyard, even reaching the attendant at the front and the student practicing punches. Yet, the surroundings remained quiet, as if the sounds of insects and birds had momentarily ceased.
"The old man says that only his path is the right one, but that doesn't mean everyone has to follow it. His words are not the golden rule. I've said it before; I left, and I can find my way back. Now, my student will go back in my place. The old man has taught for so many years and has so many students; just bring any one of them here..."
Cheng Zitong slapped the table and said, "Put it here, put it on my student's place. Which one of them can pat their chest and say they can do what my student has done, achieve what my student has achieved? Which one? Come out and let me see!"
After listening to Cheng Zitong for a while, Qiao Linhu slowly said, "Junior brother, don't forget that my student can also go to the Central City. It's not just your student who can go there!"
"Well, it might take a year, right?"
"Yes."
"My student..."
"Enough!"
Qiao Linhu took a sip, but he had lost interest in listening to Cheng Zitong's boasting. The more he spoke, the more annoyed Qiao Linhu became.
Qiao Linhu slapped the table and stood up, saying, "Junior brother, let me tell you, the old path has a guide, seniors to look after you, fellow disciples to support you, and students to follow you. Have you ever thought about it? When your student gets there, he won't have any of that. How far can he go?"
However, Cheng Zitong wasn't the least bit worried. He looked at Qiao Linhu for a moment, then smiled, put on his decorative sunglasses, and walked out, saying, "That's my student, and I have faith in him. Oh, and by the way..."
He turned back and said, "I just love seeing that stubborn look on your face, senior brother. Keep it up. I'm off..." As he spoke, he waved his hand and left with a swagger.
...
The student in the courtyard had been practicing punches, but as the two men talked, he couldn't help but perk up his ears. As he listened, he suddenly saw Qiao Linhu standing in front of him with a blank expression, causing him to shudder.
"If you can't get a single move right, it means you haven't practiced it enough. Do it a hundred more times."
"Yes, master," the student said, his heart sinking. But he dared not speak up at this moment and continued practicing obediently.
Qiao Linhu watched from the side, feeling a surge of frustration. He remembered that Cheng Zitong had been coming here daily to praise his disciple and wondered what had changed his attitude.
He had been too careless.
Looking at his disciple, who had once seemed so perfect, Qiao Linhu now saw only flaws.
More practice was needed, much more practice!
Cheng Zitong walked outside, taking a deep breath. He felt the weather was excellent, and it was so refreshing and relaxing.
He turned back and said to the doorman, "Old Qian, tell my senior brother that I'll be back tomorrow. Ask him to keep a bowl of food for me." Then, with a relaxed demeanor, he got into the car and drove off.
...
(End of Chapter)
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