https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-354-A-Return-to-Familiar-Grounds/13030531/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-356-Chief-Instructor-Wishing-Everyone-a-Happy-New-Year-/13030535/
Chapter 355: Internal and External Affairs (Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year!)
Chapter 355: Internal and External Affairs (Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year!)
As the Gader car drove back, Chen Chuan intentionally passed by the former site of Mo Lan Tower, which had indeed become Huanan Company's location.
As an arms manufacturing company, Huanan's security capabilities were also exceptionally strong, possessing an even more elite security force than Mo Lan Corporation. Armed patrol cars frequently passed by, and in the square, there were always transport and armored vehicles ready for deployment.
However, Huanan Company differed from Mo Lan Corporation in that it seemed to be just a company outpost, with no industries or factories in the nearby city area and no connections with the city's upper echelons.
Regarding their primary focus, it was the maintenance of the Far View Harbor to the east and the construction of the Northern Railway, seemingly preparing for something.
After leaving there, he made a trip to the telegraph office to send a telegram to He Xiaohang.
Previously, during their telegraph communication, He Xiaohang had informed him that the Furnace Breathing Technique, aside from being a breathing method, also had an application method, but only Third Limit Fighters could grasp it. Now that he had reached this limit, he decided to seek further instruction, hoping to learn this application method.
Upon returning home, he found the two little ones lying on the sofa, propped up on their elbows, engaged in a game of Chinese chess that he had brought back.
Chao Ming was perched on the sofa's edge, seemingly watching the game. Upon seeing Chen Chuan enter, he lifted his body, chirped, flapped his wings, and jumped down, making his way to Chen Chuan's side and climbing onto his shoulder.
Chen Chuan walked over to the telephone, noticing a sticky note beside it with the crooked writing, "Brother Ding Jiao, call at 3 o'clock." He smiled, knowing it was written by his cousin, Nian Lu. Although Nian Mo was also intelligent, he was more playful and couldn't write all the characters.
Chen Chuan picked up the phone and called back. As soon as Ding Jiao answered, he immediately said that he had gathered people, and tomorrow they would have a great time together, including boating and watching a movie.
Chen Chuan agreed.
Since it was a holiday, he decided to relax.
He thought that once he returned to Central City, he might not have such a leisurely time for a long while.
Just as he was about to leave after hanging up, the phone rang again. He answered and inquired about the caller, a cheerful voice responded.
"Junior Brother? I heard you're back?"
Chen Chuan laughed, "Brother Wei? Yes, I returned yesterday."
Wei Chang'an said, "Junior Brother, you didn't inform me of your return. I should at least treat you to a meal. Are you being distant with Brother Wei?"
Chen Chuan smiled, "Not at all, I was just thinking of reaching out to you, and also to the others from our original squad. I wanted to gather everyone for a reunion."
Wei Chang'an replied, "That's easy. After you go to Central City, we still meet up from time to time, and sometimes we even collaborate on commissions. Leave it to me, Brother Wei. I'll let you know once everyone is gathered."
Chen Chuan said, "Alright, then I'll count on you, Brother Wei."
After some casual conversation with Wei Chang'an, Chen Chuan hung up and went to his room. He took out the necessary stabilizing medication and practiced for a while. Then, he retrieved the book 'Chronicles of Various Anomalies' from his suitcase and sat on the bed, flipping through it slowly.
After suppressing his aura, the unsettling feeling emanating from him disappeared, but his demeanor became even more remarkable, and his thoughts seemed more agile than before.
Without the boundary token for authentication, he could only read the book in vertical format. However, after a while, he gradually adapted, and reading it this way seemed to enhance its allure.
Most of the book's content focused on combating anomalies, and many of the experiences described were bizarre and eerie, making the reader feel chilled even on a hot day.
Some people's accounts were particularly intriguing.
For instance, there was a peculiar individual named Liu Cai, whose chapters Chen Chuan especially enjoyed. Liu Cai was an extremely sleepy person, often practicing martial arts in his sleep, with his limbs moving involuntarily at times, and he even sleepwalked outdoors. Consequently, most of the anomalies he encountered occurred during his half-asleep, half-awake state.
On one occasion, as he dozed off, he heard rustling noises in his house, suggesting a possible intruder. However, being asleep, he couldn't be bothered to investigate.
Suddenly, someone shouted in his ear that the house was on fire, and he felt a warm sensation on his back and smelled something burning. He yelled, "It's you who's burning, what's it to me?" and continued sleeping undisturbed.
When he woke up, there was no fire, but all his belongings were gone. He laughed it off, unbothered.
Another time, he had just lain down when he felt someone caressing him with cool hands and whispering sweet nothings in his ear. However, his wife had passed away, and he hadn't remarried, nor did he have any servants. Who could it be? Upon waking, he discovered the door wide open, and there were traces of a large snake on the ground. He smiled and bowed, "Thank you for the meal, kind sir."
On yet another occasion, as he was about to fall asleep, he felt as if he were floating in the clouds, with delicious food, fine wine, and beautiful women within reach. However, he didn't bother to stretch out his hand, and when he woke up, he found himself perched on a cliff edge, unaware of how he got there.
Liu Cai was genuinely open-minded and optimistic. The Imperial Court, upon hearing of his reputation, invited him to contribute to the book's compilation.
Participating in the book's compilation wasn't an easy task, as those involved often experienced various anomalies when recalling their memories, and readers might also encounter the anomalies described by others.
These anomalies seemed to entangle and attract each other, often driving the compilers to insanity or sudden death. Liu Cai, however, was one of the few documented in the Anomaly Exam, and he managed to survive.
Looking at his actions, it was as if he had no attachments and paid no mind to these phenomena, thus avoiding these external disturbances one by one.
Chen Chuan contemplated his situation. Although he had already restrained his thoughts, the occurrence of external phenomena might decrease, but as long as he desired progress, they would undoubtedly continue.
Furthermore, he realized that this only happened when his emotions underwent significant changes. Therefore, it could be controlled and avoided, but not too deliberately, as the more attention he paid, the more likely it was to trigger them.
Additionally, he needed to maintain absolute calm during combat to avoid being disturbed by powerful enemies.
As he flipped through the book, the sky gradually darkened. Nian Fu returned from the Patrol Bureau, and Yu Wan noticed his unusual mood. She waved for Nian Mo and Nian Lu to go out and play, then approached him with concern, asking, "Old Nian, what's wrong?"
Nian Fu took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff before saying, "That new car instructor is arguing with Director Guan again."
Yu Wan asked with concern, "Does that have anything to do with you, Old Nian?"
Nian Fu replied, "If it's happening in the bureau, how can I avoid it? This car instructor has approached me twice. Even Wei Laohu and those captains have been privately approached and talked to. They want people to support him openly and secretly."
Yu Wan was surprised, "Has this car instructor only been here for a few months? Would anyone listen to him?"
In the 16th and 19th chapters, there is a version with no mistakes!
Nian Fu took another puff and exhaled, saying, "This car instructor has his ways. He started by testing the patrol officers. If they fail once, their salaries are docked. If they fail twice, they face disciplinary action within the bureau. If they fail three times, they are dismissed. But it's not up to him whether they pass or fail; he decides. Many patrol officers can't take it anymore and are leaning towards him."
Yu Wan was puzzled, "Does he have the authority to dismiss patrol officers?" The Patrol Bureau was unusually cohesive, and this couldn't be done without the agreement of the director, the deputy director, and the captains.
Nian Fu said, "He doesn't have the power to dismiss them yet, but he can send them to the surrounding towns and counties. Deputy Director Shang is very cooperative with him on this matter."
At this moment, Chen Chuan walked out of the room and heard this. He realized the severity of this tactic.
The towns and counties only had simple law enforcement members, who were hoping to get official positions in the Yangzhi City Patrol Bureau. If they were sent there, their salaries and status would be significantly lower. Most patrol officers couldn't accept such a drastic change in treatment.
Nian Fu continued, "When this car instructor arrived, he brought a team with him. Now, he's assigned these people as squad instructors to supposedly improve the combat capabilities of the patrol officers. Although this is within his authority, it's clear he's trying to implement his own methods."
Yu Wan was worried, "Won't Director Guan do something about this?"
"Director Guan," Nian Fu shook his head, "Director Guan has the means and is considerate of his subordinates. But he's too upright, and at critical moments, he often can't make tough decisions. If the old battalion commander were here, he would have pushed back against this. No matter how capable this Car person is, he can't stir up any trouble."
His old battalion commander, though harsh, valued the interests of the Patrol Bureau highly and would never allow outsiders to interfere in their territory.
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "Director Guan probably doesn't want to ruin the relationship, as the bureau still needs this instructor to protect its important figures. But with Instructor Wen being transferred and this new instructor arriving, it seems like they want him to do something."
"Xiao Chuan sees through it," Nian Fu slapped his thigh, "They want to deal with the villages and towns outside the city.
Whether there are members of the resistance organization there or not, it's certain that there are. But this isn't a matter of just one or two years. Those villagers have no protection, and when faced with bandits and armed groups, what can they do but band together for self-defense? Who would choose a life of fighting and killing if they could live peacefully?
It's not right to turn away from bandits and armed groups and instead target the villagers."
At this moment, he took a deep puff. "The bureau has an operation tomorrow to eradicate a village outside the city, suspected of harboring members of the resistance organization. They originally wanted me to lead the team."
"What happened then?" Yu Wan asked anxiously.
Nian Fu seemed puzzled as well. "I don't know what happened, but this afternoon, Mr. Car approached me with a slightly more polite attitude than usual. He said the task had been assigned to someone else, and I shouldn't go. Hey, it's better not to go. I don't want to be involved in such a heartless matter."
Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside, shouting, "Nian Tou, someone from the bureau is here!"
Nian Fu cursed, "Who is it, coming at this time..." He went out, spoke a few words, then returned with a strange expression. Looking at Chen Chuan, he said, "Mr. Car is here, and he wants to see Xiao Chuan."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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