Farewell

After stepping out of the constabulary headquarters, Chen Chuan stood before the wide entrance and pondered for a moment. Ever since he had decided to confront the Mutual Aid Society, he hadn't returned to the company or called during all this time. The company wasn't far from here, so it was about time he went over to check in. He recalled that the families of affluent youths like Ren Shu had business dealings with those powerful clans, and even depended on them to a certain extent. But in a place like Yangzhi City, anyone doing business couldn't bypass those people. The likes of Ren Shu were actually scions not particularly valued by their families. As such, they had neither been groomed as family heirs nor sent to Wuyi Academy, which was why they had chosen to strike out and start their own company. He wondered whether they had been caught up in this affair. Just as he was about to set off, he saw a fleet of constabulary vehicles driving out of the headquarters. Right then, the window of one car rolled down, and someone leaned out to greet him: "Little Brother Chen?" Chen Chuan looked over and recognized the officer he had met at the station after training a few days back, Patrolman Xu Gui. He responded in kind, "Ah, Brother Xu." "On your own? Where are you headed? How about I give you a lift?" Chen Chuan said, "Don't you have official business, Brother Xu?" Xu Gui replied, "Nothing major—just ordered from above to seize certain people's properties. Those things aren't going to run away, so a couple of minutes won't hurt." Chen Chuan politely declined, "No need, thanks Brother Xu. It's just a short walk for me." "All right then. Send my regards to Captain Nian!" Xu Gui didn't press him. Glancing back toward his colleague in the car, he called out loudly before pulling his head in, and the armored vehicle soon drove off in a plume of dust. After leaving the area, Chen Chuan walked only a few streets before arriving near the company building. Seeing him approach, the security guard opened the gate in pleasant surprise and said, "Mr. Chen! Manager Ren and the others are inside too!" Chen Chuan was somewhat surprised. "Oh, are they?" "Every one of them!" When Chen Chuan entered the building, he saw Ren Shu stepping out of the elevator. Ren Shu's face lit up with joy, and he hurried over. Somewhat agitated, he said, "Mr. Chen, it's so good to see you're all right!" Then, with an apologetic tone, he added, "When we heard about what happened to you, we wanted to go back you up, but our families restricted all of us." Beside him, Xiao Jiang piped up, "Brother Chen, you have no idea! When our families heard we were involved with you, they told us to purge your name from the company immediately and warned us never to associate with you again." "Who'd listen to them?" "Exactly! They even threatened to cut off our funding and make us shut down the company. Tch, we started this company using our own allowance and assets given to us by our elders in the past. Do they really think we're using their money?" "If you ask me, Brother Chen did a fantastic job! That crowd around Shao Xiaobie usually walk around with their noses in the air, never bothering to look anyone in the eye. They sicken me." The others chimed in one after another. Clearly, they had swallowed plenty of indignities over the years, mostly because the family elders constantly compared them to the likes of Wei Jun, Jiang Wei, and Shao Xiaobie—they had long grown sick of it. Chen Chuan observed their spirits. It seemed they hadn't suffered much fallout yet, though what lay ahead was hard to say. He gave a word of caution: "Brother Ren, the situation might change going forward. Watch your backs." Ren Shu said solemnly, "I understand. Thanks for the heads-up, Little Brother Chen." Chen Chuan knew that when it came to hands-on business operations, Ren Shu and the others might be clueless, but having grown up immersed in this sort of clan politics, they certainly understood what was at stake. As it was close to mealtime, he had a meal with everyone at the company before heading out, returning to his aunt's house in the car driven by Xiao Wei. From the moment he returned, the wailing sirens of constabulary patrol cars outside never ceased, echoing through the night. When Chen Chuan woke up in the morning and turned on the radio, the broadcast was reporting news of certain powerful families in Yangzhi City colluding with Molan Company to seize water sources, intending to use toxic substances to hold the population around Yangzhi City hostage against the government. Upon hearing this news, he was certain that the Molan Company affair was finally drawing to a close. He believed that after today, every high-society figure who had colluded with Molan Company would be universally condemned, and from this point on, Yangzhi City would turn over a new leaf and usher in a brand-new chapter. After finishing a round of fist forms outside and coming back in, the telephone in the living room rang. He picked it up, and Cheng Zitong's cheerful voice came through: "Little Chuan, have you heard the news? Molan Company has fallen." Chen Chuan said, "Yes, Teacher, I know. I heard the radio this morning." Cheng Zitong said with a smile, "School starts in just a few days. Little Chuan, I've already prepared your application materials. As soon as the term begins, you can apply for a slot to go to Center City. Barring any unexpected changes, it should be approved very quickly." Chen Chuan lifted his head slightly and said sincerely, "Thank you, Teacher." Cheng Zitong let out a hearty laugh. "You, my student, are just too polite! All right, you've been under far too much tension these past days. Take advantage of the few days before classes start and get some good rest. Whatever else there is, we can talk about when we meet." Putting down the receiver, Chen Chuan walked out of the room and stood on the front steps. He looked up at the morning sun shining down and watched the verdant leaves swaying gently in the breeze beside him, feeling a rare sense of relaxation wash over his body and mind. He reached out his hand, watching it enter the sunlight and feeling the breeze brush against it, then slowly clenched it into a fist. From the living room came his aunt's voice: "Chan'er, breakfast is ready!" "Breakfast! Breakfast!" came the voices of his younger cousins. Chen Chuan called back, "All right, coming right now." From inside came the voices of Nian Fuli and his aunt: "The bureau has things going on today, I have to leave early." "I know, but remember—one pack of cigarettes a day, not a single one more." "All right, you say it every day, my ears have calluses already." "You never remember, so I'll keep saying it." Chen Chuan smiled, drew his hand back, and turned to head inside. After breakfast, Nian Fuli headed off to the bureau, while his aunt took his cousins out. Chen Chuan remained alone in his room reading, savoring the rare leisure. Near noon, a voice called from outside: "Is Little Chuan home?" Chen Chuan recognized the voice—it was the owner of the convenience store at the mouth of the alley. She was also a constabulary family member, and her son often helped deliver groceries to the house. He stepped out from inside and opened the door. "Aunt Qiu, what is it?" Aunt Qiu was a middle-aged woman around fifty. She said, "Little Chuan, I saw you come back yesterday and figured you were home. There's a phone call for you! I asked who it was, and he said he used to practice martial arts with you. I figured you're a Wuyi student, and that guy didn't sound like he was from Wuyi at all, so I asked him again..." Before she could finish, Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Thank you, Aunt Qiu. I know who it is." "Oh, you know? Well, figures!" Aunt Qiu cut herself off reluctantly as she walked with him toward the lane entrance, chattering on, "By the way, is your aunt home today? The pattern on that sweater she knitted last time was so lovely, one of these days I'll have to ask her to knit another... Captain Nian... I saw Captain Nian head out earlier than usual today..." Humoring her rambling along the way, Chen Chuan arrived at the corner store. He picked up the telephone receiver and said, "Hello, this is Chen Chuan. Is this Brother Lu?" He had guessed that the caller was probably Lu Ke. Because Yu Gang had a criminal record, Chen Chuan couldn't leave his aunt's home phone number; instead, he had previously left the number of this corner shop at the mouth of the alley, and that was the only time he had ever given it out. Sure enough, Lu Ke's voice came through from the other end. "Little Brother Chen, it's me... Little Brother Chen, are you free? Could you come over? Teacher wants to see you. The old place, House of Fists..." Chen Chuan suddenly remembered what Old Feng had mentioned about the Iron Chain Gang when they returned yesterday. He didn't ask questions over the phone and simply said, "All right, I'll head over right now." Hanging up, he thanked Aunt Qiu nearby, returned to the courtyard, wheeled out his unused bicycle, and pedaled off toward the House of Fists. Ever since Yu Gang had joined the Iron Chain Gang early on, he seemed not to want Chen Chuan to be implicated and had ceased contacting him. Chen Chuan had gone looking for him once later on, but failed to find him, and they hadn't been in touch since. Thinking back, nearly a year had passed since then. A quarter of an hour later, he reached the alley entrance to the House of Fists. Dismounting from his bicycle, he walked inside and saw Lu Ke sitting on an old tire, seemingly waiting for him. Upon spotting Chen Chuan, Lu Ke immediately stood up, but as he took a clearer look, he froze for a moment. Over the past year, Chen Chuan had grown taller again, and as a— Seeing him, Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Brother Lu, long time no see." Recognizing that familiar smile, Lu Ke finally stepped forward. He gave a smile as well, high-fived him, but then his eyes dimmed. "Master, he..." Chen Chuan looked toward the building and asked, "What happened to Teacher Yu?" Lu Ke pressed his lips together, turned, and walked into the room. Chen Chuan followed behind. Inside, he saw Yu Gang sitting on a chair. His face was somewhat pale, and his formerly robust frame looked gaunt. He had only one arm left; his legs and other arm were gone, and the wrapped gauze was still stained with dark red blood. Chen Chuan said, "Teacher Yu, you..." Yu Gang, however, was very calm. "It's nothing. Yesterday, I worked with the Iron Chain Gang to hold off Molan Company. Since I promised to do a job for them, and the Iron Chain Gang helped resolve my trouble, it was only right that I gave something in return." With reddened eyes, Lu Ke said, "Last night, Master crawled all the way back using only one hand." Yu Gang shook his head. "Compared to those who lost their lives there, I'm far better off. At least I kept my life." He looked Chen Chuan up and down a few times. "I can tell you've learned a lot at Wuyi Academy this past year. Very good. I called you here today to say goodbye." Lu Ke chimed in from the side, "Teacher plans to go to Center City for implant surgery. We're getting ready to leave this afternoon." Lu Ke added, "I asked around in the Iron Chain Gang. Good implants should be able to help Teacher return to a normal person's life, and restoring his former strength isn't out of the question either." Yu Gang said, "Mm. The Iron Chain Gang was fairly decent this time—they gave me a good sum in injury compensation and retirement money. It's just that Yangzhi City lacks the facilities for it, so I plan to head to Center City next. Oh, right, take this." He picked up a booklet and held it out. Chen Chuan stepped forward quickly to take it. "I know Lu Ke taught you the throwing technique, but that was only the most basic level. This booklet covers the application of guiding and releasing force. For you as you are now, it shouldn't be difficult. It's not some profound skill either. In today's world, things like this are useful in their own way, but practically speaking, they aren't of much use anymore. Keep it as a keepsake." Chen Chuan tucked it away solemnly and said, "Thank you, Teacher Yu." Then he added, "If there is anything Teacher Yu needs help with, please don't hesitate to tell your student." Yu Gang said, "No need." Lu Ke said, "Teacher had a former student who settled down in Center City's Lower District. We already called her, and she said she can get in touch with an implant doctor. There shouldn't be any problems." Chen Chuan thought for a moment, then said, "In that case, Teacher Yu, what time do you depart? I'll see you off."