Chapter 229: Notification
Chapter 229: Notification
Around 2 p.m., not long after Chen Chuan returned from lunch, a familiar knock sounded at the door of the dormitory. He walked over and opened the door to see Cheng Zitong standing outside with a beaming smile.
It was no exaggeration to say that his face was literally glowing with radiance.
Chen Chuan's heart stirred, and he called out, "Teacher," welcoming him in.
Cheng Zitong, carrying a briefcase, walked inside and said with a chuckle, "Xiao Chuan, I came here today to tell you in person that your application for the Central City enrollment has been approved by the Central Academy."
Although Chen Chuan had mentally prepared himself, hearing the news still filled his heart with uncontrollable joy.
Cheng Zitong smiled and said, "As soon as I received the news this morning, I wanted to inform you right away, but you were out for lunch. So, I've been waiting for you to return."
"Thank you, Teacher," Chen Chuan said sincerely.
"It's no trouble at all. With such good news, I might even eat a few more bowls of rice! I just came from the cafeteria," Cheng Zitong said, patting his rounded belly as he sat down on the sofa. He took out a piece of paper from his briefcase and handed it to Chen Chuan, saying, "Here, take a look."
Chen Chuan took the paper and read: "After verification by the Central Academy and the Processing Bureau, the student meets all the conditions for admission. Therefore, enrollment in the Central Academy is approved, effective from the date of receipt of this notification."
Below were the stamps of the Central Academy, the Processing Bureau, and the Review Committee, along with the signatures of the relevant officials—a long list of over a dozen names.
This was just a flimsy piece of paper, but for so many years, countless students had been kept outside Central City, a distant dream.
Now, Chen Chuan held it in his hands, grasping the turning point of his destiny.
After reading it twice, he looked up and said, "Teacher, it says that it takes effect from the date of receipt of the notification. Does that mean I can go to Central City right now?"
Cheng Zitong nodded and confirmed, "Yes, that's right. With this notification, you can go to Central City at any time. However, the semester is almost over, and there are many things to wrap up, both here and in Central City. It might be a bit rushed to leave now."
"So, I suggest you don't rush. Why not wait until after the New Year to go? You'll probably be staying there for a long time, so you can use this time to prepare and also settle your affairs here."
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement.
Cheng Zitong, still smiling, took out a stack of tickets from his briefcase and placed them on the desk. "These are the entrance tickets for this year's Academy Tournament. I've been keeping them for you."
Chen Chuan didn't hesitate to express his gratitude, "Thank you, Teacher."
"Alright, you go back to your work. I'll be on my way now. It's almost the end of the year, and there's a lot on my plate. I've been so happy today that I've left everything untouched."
Cheng Zitong put on his decorative glasses and left, humming a tune with light, quick steps, clearly in high spirits.
After seeing him off, Chen Chuan returned to his room and picked up the notification. He felt that he should inform his family right away. After some thought, he went to the wardrobe and took out a messenger bag that he hadn't used in a long time. He placed the notification inside.
Then, he changed his clothes, slung the bag over his shoulder, and left the dormitory building. Outside, the winter air was chilly, but the sunlight was bright and dazzling, warming those it touched.
He went to the bike shed, retrieved his bicycle, and rode off towards home. As he left the campus, his students greeted him, and he returned the greetings. After leaving the school grounds, he picked up speed and cycled all the way home.
He parked his bike in the courtyard and entered the house. It was a rest day, and the whole family was there. Nian Fuli was listening to the radio, bobbing his head to the opera playing, while the younger cousins played with building blocks. Yu Wan sat nearby, knitting a sweater. Seeing Chen Chuan, she smiled and said, "Chan'er is back. Have you eaten?"
"Yes, Auntie, I've eaten," Chen Chuan replied with a smile.
"Is everything okay at school? Why don't you stay for dinner since it's a rest day?" Yu Wan suggested with a smile.
"Okay," Chen Chuan agreed.
Yu Wan continued knitting.
"Auntie," Chen Chuan called out softly.
Yu Wan looked up.
Chen Chuan turned to Nian Fuli and said, "Uncle." He took off his messenger bag and walked a few steps before placing it on the desk. Nian Fuli instinctively reached out to turn down the volume of the radio.
Chen Chuan took out the notification and handed it to Yu Wan, saying, "Auntie, this is the enrollment notification for the Central Academy in Central City. I'll be going there to study."
"Central City..." Yu Wan's expression was initially dazed, but then she seemed to realize something. She hurriedly reached for the notification, wiping her hands on her apron before carefully taking it.
As she read the line of text, she felt a mix of genuine joy and a sense of sudden loss, and tears welled up in her eyes.
At that moment, Nian Fuli stood up and put his arm around Yu Wan's shoulder. He glanced at the notification and said, "When I was in the army, my old platoon leader always told me that his biggest wish before enlisting was to go to Central City and see the world. Chan'er, getting into the Central Academy is like holding a gold brick in your pocket. Now, going to Central City is like using that gold brick as a stepping stone." He squeezed Yu Wan's shoulder gently, "Yu Wan, our child has done us proud. We should be happy."
Yu Wan wiped away her tears and said, "Yes, we should be happy. Chan'er, what do you want to eat? Auntie will make it for you."
Chen Chuan smiled, "I've eaten a lot of delicious food at school and elsewhere, but my favorite is still Auntie's chicken soup."
"Oh..." Yu Wan stood up and dried the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand. "Auntie will make it for you right away."
Nian Fuli added, "On rest days, whether you come home or not, Auntie will always buy a chicken to make soup."
Chen Chuan acknowledged with a hum. Then, he took out the tickets Cheng Zitong had given him and passed them to Nian Fuli, saying, "Uncle, these are the entrance tickets for this year's tournament."
"These are great," Nian Fuli said, taking the tickets. Even as a captain, he wouldn't have been able to get his hands on these. It was a shame he couldn't show them off to his superior anymore.
Chen Chuan looked at his younger cousins and said, "Let's go, Uncle is taking you out to play today."
"Oh, oh, oh..." The two little ones didn't quite understand what he had said earlier, but at this, they cheered and ran to Chen Chuan, tugging at his pant legs and looking up at him expectantly.
Nian Fuli waved his hand and said, "Go and play, follow your Uncle and have fun."
"Oh, oh, oh, let's go play!" The children exclaimed.
Chen Chuan bent down and hugged them, then opened the door and escorted the two excited kids outside.
Nian Fuli followed them out and stood with Yu Wan, watching as Chen Chuan led the two playful children out of the courtyard.
"When I brought Xiao Chuan back then, he was about the same age as Xiao Lu and Xiao Mo, right?" Nian Fuli asked.
"Yes, he was so small back then," Yu Wan replied.
Nian Fuli thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Chuan was young then, and it's been how long since? It feels like just the blink of an eye, and now he's ready to spread his wings and fly."
"I was just thinking about my second sister," Yu Wan said. "When she left, it was so far away. I hope Xiao Chuan doesn't follow in her footsteps."
"Xiao Chuan is different. This child has his own ideas," Nian Fuli said.
Yu Wan nodded, looking at the swaying branches outside the courtyard, her arms folded. "When I was little, my mother told me that in the eyes of adults, children are like kites in the sky. We watch them soar, but the string we hold in our hands is something we can never let go of."
Nian Fuli turned to block the wind, gesturing for them to go inside. "Alright, let's go back inside. It's cold out here. Don't stand around. The kids are growing up, and they'll each have their own path. You don't need to worry too much."
Chen Chuan took the two children to a nearby children's playground and spent the afternoon playing and treating them to various snacks.
As they were leaving, Nian Mo licked the rock candy in his hand and looked up, asking, "Uncle, are you going away for a long time? Will it be a long time before you come back?"
Chen Chuan smiled, "You know about this?"
"My brother did the same when he went away. He played with us for a long time, but it's been a long time since he came back."
Nian Lu corrected him, "You should call him 'Uncle.' Mom said it's impolite not to."
"If you don't give me treats, I won't call you 'Uncle.' But if you do, I will!"
Chen Chuan chuckled at the boy's practicality. He glanced at the sky and, seeing that it was already late, took his cousins home. Before dinner, he asked Yu Wan, "Auntie, will Uncle be coming back this year?"
Yu Wan replied, "I don't know. In previous years, he would send a telegram around this time, but not this year. This child is unpredictable. Why don't you send a telegram to remind him?"
"I won't send a reminder," Nian Fuli said. "I'll let him be. This year, we'll still celebrate the New Year as a family, just like always."
Chen Chuan smiled inwardly, knowing that Nian Fuli was putting on a tough front. Who knows, he might be sending telegrams every day, eagerly awaiting a response.
After dinner, Chen Chuan stayed the night and returned to school early the next morning. With his trip to the Central City already decided, there was no need to overthink it. He would make the most of this time to further improve himself and prepare for his journey to the Central City.
The very next day, the Registration Office posted this year's list of students admitted to the Central Academy at the school entrance.
In the past, only recommended students had the privilege of entering the Central Academy, and it had been a long time since any non-recommended students were admitted.
Whether they were first-class or second-class students, they had long given up on the idea of entering the Central Academy, believing it to be exclusively for recommended students.
But when Chen Chuan's name appeared on the list, everyone felt that from this moment on, everything had changed. The news caused a stir, even drawing recently graduated students back to the school to witness the spectacle.
Tai Dongwei stood below the notice, staring at the name and stamp. "I never expected this. Do you think that in the future, students like us will also have the chance to go to the Central City?"
Beside him, Deng Fu said, "Us? Both you and I have already graduated. But there's still a chance for Geng Zhang. Regardless, he has the Infinite Defense Permit, and there are few in his year as outstanding as him. The odds are in his favor, even with the Mutual Aid Society being a negative factor."
Geng Zhang thought for a moment and said firmly, "I want to go."
His family depended on the Central City for medicine, and now that the Mutual Aid Society's supply was cut off, the only option was to go to the Central City. The black market could provide some, but for a complete solution, the Central City was necessary.
Tai Dongwei gazed at the notice, saying unconsciously, "I really envy Chen Chuan."
"Don't envy him," Deng Fu said. "Envy won't get you there. He earned this opportunity himself. If you could wipe out the Mutual Aid Society and topple the Ink Lotus Corporation, you could go to the Central City too."
Tai Dongwei, surprised, asked, "The Mutual Aid Society... I know about that, but the Ink Lotus Corporation... wasn't that handled by higher authorities?"
Deng Fu spoke with implied meaning, "You really think Chen Chuan had nothing to do with it? Let me tell you, for Chen Chuan to dare face the Judgment Court and confront those influential families with ties to the Ink Lotus Corporation, he must have some backing. Think about it."
Tai Dongwei and Geng Zhang were taken aback, then after careful consideration, they felt there might be a bit of truth to it.
After a while, Geng Zhang couldn't help but ask, "If the Ink Lotus Corporation falls, won't there be another company that takes over its assets? Might there be another 'Ink Lotus Corporation' and 'Mutual Aid Society'?"
"Yes, definitely," Deng Fu answered without hesitation.
"What should we do then?"
"What can we do? At worst, we wipe them out again," Deng Fu said.
"But that's no different than nothing changing, is it?"
Deng Fu turned his back and walked away from the crowd, saying, "It's changed, and yet it hasn't!"
...
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(End of Chapter)
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