Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Yangzhi Warrior
Chapter 1: The Yangzhi Warrior
As the evening meal approached, Chen Chuancai sat down, and his uncle-in-law, Nian Fuli, suddenly spoke up, "Chen Chuan, you've graduated from middle school, and there are no higher institutions in Yangzhi City. Your uncle-in-law here only has a meager salary from the Patrol Bureau. I don't have the means to send you to study in the prestigious Central City. Have you decided where you want to go?"
The dinner table fell silent, and his aunt, Yu Wan, looked at Chen Chuan with concern. His two younger cousins, a boy and a girl, glanced at each other with their small heads.
Nian Fuli said, "If you haven't decided yet, and you don't have a place to go, I'll arrange something for you. Don't complain about the hardships, and don't call it quits if it gets tiring. If you're not willing, just say so early on, and find your own way."
Chen Chuan looked at Nian Fuli and smiled, "Uncle-in-law, are you in such a hurry to send me away?"
Nian Fuli glared at him, "An uncle-in-law is an uncle-in-law. Don't add 'little' to it."
He habitually reached for his jacket pocket, his fingers just touching the cigarette box, and glanced at his son and daughter. Then he withdrew his hand, furrowed his brows, and said, "Don't be flippant. Give me a straight answer. Your cousin has prospects, so I don't have to worry about him. Your two younger siblings are still young, and they'll be starting school in just a few years. The household expenses will only increase in the future. You're already sixteen. I, your uncle-in-law, don't expect anything in return from you. All I ask is that you can support yourself in the future. Isn't that reasonable?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "You're right, Uncle-in-law." He thought for a moment and said, "Uncle-in-law, I'm thinking of finding my own way."
"On your own?"
Nian Fuli looked at him for a moment and said, "Alright, school usually has a two-month vacation, right? I'll give you two months. After that, you'll be on your own, and I won't have to worry about you anymore."
Yu Wan wanted to say something but stopped herself.
Chen Chuan said, "Okay, I'll do as you say, Uncle-in-law."
Nian Fuli glanced at him several times and said, "Do as you say." He picked up his chopsticks and said, "Eat." Only then did the family start eating.
Chen Chuan also reached for his chopsticks, but at that moment, he felt a sense of awareness. He lifted his head and saw a boy standing by the wall, looking exactly like him. The boy stared at him with a faint gaze, while Nian Fuli's family was engrossed in their meal, unaware of the boy's presence. It seemed only Chen Chuan could see him.
He naturally averted his gaze, eating while pondering his future. Unconsciously, he finished the last bite of his meal, while Yu Wan kept a close eye on him. At that moment, she said, "Leave it, I'll wash it. You should focus on your own matters first."
Chen Chuan looked at Yu Wan and then at Nian Fuli, who had a blank expression. He put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "Okay, Uncle-in-law, Auntie, I'll go back to my room first."
Nian Fuli put some food in his mouth and chewed slowly without speaking.
After Chen Chuan left, Yu Wan said, "He's still young."
Nian Fuli sighed, "What's so young about him? He's already sixteen. When I was his age, I was already on the battlefield!"
"Alright, alright, I know you're amazing."
Yu Wan saw that he had finished eating too. She got up from the table, took a bottle of yellow wine, and poured him a cup. "I'll go check on the kids."
"Go, go," Nian Fuli waved his hand impatiently. He took a sip from the cup, feeling relieved, but also muttering to himself, “This kid, he’s a bit different from before…”
“Dad, when I was sixteen, did you kick me out too?”
Nian Fuli turned his head and saw Nian Mo, his son, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
Nian Lu, his three-year-old daughter, was a little girl. She said, “You kicked him out, he ate the most meat!”
“I didn’t eat that much! Dad, you kicked me out when I was sixteen too!” Nian Mo looked at Nian Fuli, pitifully.
Nian Fuli laughed and patted Nian Mo’s head, “You’re my son, how could I abandon you? Your spot under my butt is reserved for you. Go and turn on the radio.”
“Oh.”
Nian Mo happily jumped off the stool and ran to turn on the vintage radio. The radio crackled with static.
“…Due to the impact of the landslide, the originally scheduled repairs for early June will be delayed once again…”
“A group of prisoners escaped from Qiguang Prison, and a wanted notice has been issued. The main fugitives are as follows: Fang Dawei, male, age thirty-five, who committed multiple home invasions and street gun murders; Tong Baitao, male, age twenty-seven…”
“The Bloodstain Gang and the Iron Chain Gang clashed in Xinqu Park and Micang Street intersection, resulting in damage to multiple residences and dozens of deaths and injuries…”
Chen Chuan had already returned to his room. His study, which also served as his bedroom, was approximately eight to nine square meters in size. The windowsill and the old red-painted wooden floor were spotlessly clean, and the surroundings were neatly arranged, indicating daily tidying and cleaning.
Movie posters adorned the walls, and as he looked at them, the movie titles naturally came to mind: Lone Blade Knight, High Ridge Beast, Final Conquest, Great Expansion, Enigmatic Machu, Military and Civil Talent, Militia Military Training Manual, Ten Thousand Whys, and more.
Walking on the creaking floorboards, he approached the writing desk. One corner of the half-old desk held a framed photo of a young couple. The woman was young and beautiful, while the man was tall and handsome. Their clothing was made of high-quality fabric, and they smiled at him.
To the right of the writing desk was a bookshelf over two meters tall, filled with books. A quick scan revealed that most were extracurricular books, such as Great Expansion, Jianzhi Year 15, Enigmatic Machu, and more, with only a few old textbooks.
He muttered to himself, “It’s a pity there’s no Military and Civil Talent, Militia Military Training Manual, or even the Ten Thousand Whys.”
“What whys? Chan’er, can Auntie come in?” Yu Wan’s voice came from outside the door.
“Chan’er” was the nickname given to Chen Chuan by his parents, and now, only Yu Wan and the annoying cousin called him that.
Chen Chuan said, “Auntie, you can come in. There’s nothing wrong. I’m just thinking about a topic.”
“You’re still so diligent even after graduating from middle school, Chan’er.” Yu Wan entered the room. She was in her forties, with fair skin and an ordinary appearance. In contrast, Chen Chuan had a delicate appearance, with red lips and white teeth, and he was tall. Standing together, one could barely discern their blood relation from their eyebrows and facial features.
Yu Wan said, “Chan’er, don’t blame your uncle-in-law for today. He has his difficulties, and you shouldn’t be stubborn and act tough. I’ll talk to him again later.”
Chen Chuan smiled and said, “Auntie, don’t worry. I’m not showing off. I really have plans.”
Yu Wan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Chanchun... Are you going to look for Miss Meng?"
At the mention of this name, Chen Chuan's mind involuntarily conjured up the image of a young girl. He shook his head and said, "I'm not going to see her."
Yu Wan said, "That's good. Their family is of high status, and the people around them have their eyes in the sky. You've always had a stubborn streak, and you were childhood sweethearts, but as you grew up, you drifted apart."
Chen Chuan replied, "Auntie, you're right. What happened in childhood doesn't count. Nowadays, when people go out, they're always followed by their parents. Why would I go looking for trouble?"
Yu Wan felt relieved by his words. She held up a handkerchief-wrapped package in her hand and began to unwrap it layer by layer in front of him, revealing a stack of ten-yuan Jianyuan bills.
The bills featured a green mountain and water pattern on one side and a dome and square earth design on the other, with a rice and wheat covering nine flows crown and a felt hat as the watermark.
She grabbed Chen Chuan's hand and stuffed the money into it. "Take it. Use it when you need to, don't be frugal, and if you run out, I have more here."
Chen Chuan didn't reach out to take it. Instead, he asked, "Does Uncle know about this?"
"This is money I've saved for you," Yu Wan said, lightly hitting his arm. "Don't call him 'Uncle,' he doesn't like it."
Chen Chuan smiled and took the money, then said seriously, "Auntie, I'll consider this a loan, and I'll repay you."
(End of Chapter)
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