September first, the opening day of Wuyi College.
At six in the morning, Chen Chuan adjusted his appearance before the wardrobe mirror. He wore the standard student formal uniform of Wuyi College, which Yu Wan had already ironed neat and crisp for him.
Reaching out, he picked up the student cap and set it squarely on his head. He smoothed his clothes, turned to the doorway, and took hold of a suitcase. Stepping out, he cast one last glance back at his room before gently closing the door.
Yu Wan was waiting in the living room and urged him, "Little Chuan, there won't be anyone looking after you at Wuyi. Remember to eat well, and don't push yourself too hard in your studies. Be sure to sleep early and don't get worn out."
Chen Chuan smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Aunt. The school has always been generous with meals and lodging. Besides, there's a break every ten days. I'll come back to visit you and Uncle."
Yu Wan stepped forward, adjusted his cuffs, smoothed them with a few pats, and took two steps back. "My Chan'er truly is handsome," she said with deep satisfaction.
Chen Chuan said, "Aunt, I'm heading out. Please pass my regards to Uncle."
"All right. Be safe on the way!"
Chen Chuan pushed the door open and stepped outside into a wave of fresh morning air. He didn't ride his bicycle today, choosing instead to walk straight to Wuyi College.
In his mind, he reviewed today's schedule. The opening ceremony would be around nine o'clock. Before that, he needed to drop his luggage off at the dormitory. Once the ceremony concluded, senior students would lead them around the campus to familiarize them with the grounds and explain the primary course paths ahead. After that would be free time, followed by the official start of their academic studies tomorrow.
After less than an hour's walk, the college gates came into view.
Just as he was about to head over, a silver-gray Tuotu sedan drove up and pulled over a short distance ahead of him. The door opened, and a tall young man stepped out. He sported neat, short black hair and wore a sharply tailored navy-blue imported suit paired with a necktie, his black leather shoes polished to a mirror shine.
"Junior Chen Chuan, is that you?" The young man smiled, walked over, and extended a hand of his own accord. "Allow me to introduce myself. Wei Chang'an, third-year student at Wuyi College."
Hearing the name, Chen Chuan's heart stirred. He shook his hand and said, "Hello, Senior. Are you... Captain Wei's son?"
Wei Chang'an laughed. "That's right, I'm Tiger Wei's son. No need to feel awkward about that nickname—calling him Tiger fits him just fine."
Chen Chuan looked him over. He had met Tiger Wei before—the man was brash, ferocious, and burly. It was unexpected to see his son turned out as such a refined gentleman. Noting that he had clearly sought him out on purpose, Chen Chuan asked, "Senior Wei, is there something you need me for?"
"Here's the situation..." Wei Chang'an turned somewhat serious. "Junior Chen Chuan, an external academy assignment currently requires your cooperation. I'm afraid you won't be able to attend today's opening ceremony on time."
Surprised, Chen Chuan asked, "An external assignment? Senior Wei, are you certain? I haven't even officially matriculated yet..."
At that moment, the rear window rolled down, and a familiar, deep voice called out from within: "Student Chen, go with him. This is an assignment from the school. Wei Chang'an will explain the particulars to you."
Chen Chuan looked inside and realized he knew this person as well—it was Instructor Bian Feng, the one who had admitted him during the entrance exams. He hurriedly greeted, "Greetings, Instructor Bian."
Bian Feng said, "Student Chen, now that you've passed the re-examination, you are a Grade-A student of the college. You have both an obligation and a responsibility to cooperate with the Civil Affairs Department and its subordinate branches." He drew out two forms. "Wei Chang'an, give this to him and have him sign the other one."
Wei Chang'an jogged over, took the papers, and returned, handing one to Chen Chuan. "This is your travel dispatch form from the school. With it, you're excused from campus activities and granted the right to limited self-defense."
Chen Chuan took it and glanced over the document. It bore the stamps of three administrative bodies—the Admissions Preparation Office, the General Affairs Office, and the Enforcement Office—as well as the signature of Vice Principal Gu Botang.
Wei Chang'an offered him a pen. "Please sign the second sheet, Junior. Instructor Bian needs to take it back for the archives."
Chen Chuan considered it. Seeing that this was a decision handed down by the school's leadership, he had no choice but to comply. He only wondered what the matter was and whether he had been selected because of that re-examination.
Taking the pen, he signed his name.
Wei Chang'an took it back, checked it, and walked over to hand it to Bian Feng. Bian Feng placed it into his briefcase, stepped out of the car, and said, "I'll head back to the campus first. I leave this matter to you two. Make sure it's handled properly."
Wei Chang'an replied, "Rest assured, Instructor Bian."
Carrying his briefcase, Bian Feng walked toward the main college gate. Wei Chang'an held out a hand. "Junior, let me put your luggage in the trunk."
Chen Chuan thanked him. Wei Chang'an took the suitcase to the back, popped the trunk, stowed the luggage inside, then walked around to open the passenger door. Gesturing inside, he said, "Hop in, Junior. Let's get going. The sooner we finish, the sooner you can get back."
Chen Chuan walked over, took the passenger seat, and fastened his seatbelt.
Wei Chang'an got in from the other side, buckled up, rested his hands on the steering wheel, and turned the key. With a series of practiced motions, the algae oil engine roared to life, and the car pulled onto the avenue.
After driving for a bit, seeing that Chen Chuan remained silent, Wei Chang'an smiled and said, "What's the matter? Regretting missing the opening ceremony? If you ask me, what's there to attend anyway? Just a bunch of old men and women rambling on stage—it's a bore to listen to. If there's anything you want to know, just ask your Brother Wei directly."
Chen Chuan asked, "Senior, may I ask what this assignment is about?"
"Don't call me Senior; Brother Wei is fine. Well..." Wei Chang'an kept his eyes on the road. "Actually, this matter involves you as well."
"Oh?"
Chen Chuan was somewhat surprised.
Wei Chang'an asked, "Remember when someone attacked you on the road before the re-examination?"
Chen Chuan thought back and said in astonishment, "It's related to that?"
Wei Chang'an explained, "The person who attacked you was named Dou Qi. He was responsible for guarding an underground drug trading post. When the constabulary went to arrest him that day, they discovered a fugitive named Tong Qianjiang. Ah, this fellow is an accomplice of a gang of escapees who broke out of Qiguang Prison three months ago and have eluded capture ever since..."
He flicked his right turn signal and veered onto an off-ramp. Chen Chuan checked the direction; it appeared to head toward the eastern district.
Wei Chang'an continued, "After discovering that lead, Captain Yu... well, the Xigang District constabulary captain who led the team that day, reported the matter up the chain and interrogated the suspects.
"Dou Qi's employer goes by Lao Hei, who controls an illicit drug route. This time, Tong Qianjiang had come specifically to buy anti-alienation drugs. Now that's where things get interesting."
Chen Chuan mused, "Anti-alienation drugs? I seem to have heard of them somewhere."
Glancing at the rearview mirror, Wei Chang'an said, "Implants—ever heard of them? Mega-corporations and major conglomerates use biological cultures to replace human limbs and organs, granting functions surpassing the natural body. Of course, military-grade and civilian-grade models are different. Most of what circulates out there now is civilian-grade. In Center City, they say practically everyone uses them. However, these things require long-term ingestion or injection of anti-alienation drugs; otherwise, an alienation reaction occurs, with catastrophic consequences.
"Implants aren't common outside Center City, probably because the implantation process requires specific technical support. Even the anti-alienation drugs are considered contraband out here.
"Here's the curious part: when Tong Qianjiang's crew was originally imprisoned, none of them had implants. Why would they need anti-alienation drugs? Did they get implants after breaking out, or were they buying for someone else?
"The constabulary investigated and found that Lao Hei sourced his supply from his upstream contact, Chou Huzi. According to Lao Hei's confession, Tong Qianjiang's group had very likely bought drugs directly from Chou Huzi before, and only later were redirected to him. But Lao Hei kept a trick up his sleeve—fearing he might get dragged down, he never showed his face in person, instead having unwitting subordinates meet with Fang Dawei's men.
"To locate Fang Dawei's gang, the constabulary must pursue the trail through Chou Huzi. This man has taken shelter under a boss of the Blood Mark Gang. We're on our way to find this boss right now and make him hand the man over."
Chen Chuan asked with slight confusion, "Since gangs are involved, why didn't the constabulary just kick down the door and make the arrest themselves? Why have students from Wuyi handle it instead?"
"Why not arrest them directly? Heh, behind the Blood Mark Gang stands the Molan Company. On paper, the company set up by the gang is registered under Molan. They not only have their own legal counsel, but they also have Molan's legal division backing them up. If you go through official channels, you can't touch them without concrete proof on the surface.
"As for why this was handed to us..." Wei Chang'an chuckled, leaned forward, pulled a business card from the glove compartment, and handed it over. "Take a look."
Chen Chuan accepted it and read the text: *Commission Association Registered Member, Executive Commissioner, Wei Chang'an*.
Wei Chang'an said, "Wuyi students begin internships in their second year. By the third year, they can either take up posts in various branches of the Civil Affairs Department or strike out on their own. Right now, I'm a member of the Commission Association, specializing in negotiations and liaison work with non-governmental groups."
Chen Chuan had heard a bit about commissioners. The commissioner system was prevalent not only in the Republic of Great Shun, but abroad as well.
Whenever a government department or private individual needed to manage or establish contact with an entity outside their own system, they would entrust the matter to a commissioner to save on overhead and bypass bureaucratic red tape, letting them handle communication and execution.
These commissioners held extensive networks and resources in their hands. Among themselves, there was both mutual cooperation and fierce competition. Some high-ranking commissioners were even vested with actual executive authority.
Understanding Wei Chang'an's current status clarified why he was involved in this.
Wei Chang'an said, "Don't worry, Junior. The commissioner firm I belong to already communicated with that Blood Mark Gang boss. They've agreed to hand the person over to us. This trip is purely going through the motions."
Chen Chuan asked, "And you brought me along simply because this matter is tied to me?"
Wei Chang'an sighed warmly. "Your Brother Wei is looking out for you! You do know that field assignments like this factor into your academic evaluations, don't you? This affects your future licensing—the kind of nationwide certifications that only Wuyi students can even sit for!"
"Then my thanks to you, Brother Wei."
"Of course! We're both sons of the Yangzhi constabulary. In an entire constabulary force this large, between current students including you and me, only four of us ever passed the re-examination. If I don't help you, who would I help?"
Chen Chuan considered this. A tradition of solidarity certainly existed within the constabulary, but still...
His expression turned somewhat subtle. Could it be that Tiger Wei was about to be forced to eat a mop, so he had sent his son to do Chen Chuan a favor first, making it too awkward for his uncle to bring the bet up again?
Chapter 35