Once inside the house, Chen Chuan took off his coat and began unpacking items from his suitcase one by one. "Uncle, Aunt, I brought back quite a few things for you."
He picked up an aluminum tobacco tin and handed it to Nian Fuli. "Uncle, this is fine tobacco imported from Tayana."
At the sight of it, Nian Fuli's craving surged immediately. He rubbed his hands together. "Tobacco from Tayana! I've been wanting to try it for a long time." He reached for his pipe. "Xiao Chuan, I haven't had much chance to use the pipe you gave me last time. This pairs perfectly with it..."
Chen Chuan smiled, then took out an exquisite tea set along with a skincare set from Qingnang Jade Workshop. "Aunt, these are for you."
Molan had originally dominated the skincare market, but after Molan Company collapsed, its market share and technology were carved up by various competitors. Qingnang Jade Workshop had secured a portion as well, though for now they only produced high-end lines in limited quantities. As a drug tester for them, he had managed to obtain a set.
Yu Wan said, "Chan'er, you already sent so much last time. Living alone in Center City takes a lot of money; you shouldn't spend it on gifts when you visit."
Chen Chuan said with a smile, "Aunt, I hold a post at the Disposal Bureau now and draw a salary. Room and board at the academy are free, so it's only right I buy a few things for you."
Nian Fuli chimed in, "What kind of post?"
"A member of the Disposal Bureau's Special Execution Team," Chen Chuan replied.
Nian Fuli asked a few more questions to grasp the details, then remarked with feeling, "If you came back to Yangzhi, the constabulary would at least make you a captain. At that rate, you'd already be at my rank."
Chen Chuan smiled. "That's hardly comparable. In the Disposal Bureau, I only manage myself, while you oversee a thousand men, Uncle."
Nian Fuli sighed. "Ah, the pay isn't much higher, but there's a mountain of worries. It's tough."
Yu Wan rolled her eyes at him. "If it's so exhausting, let someone else do it."
"That won't do. So many brothers are counting on me. How could I just drop everything and quit..."
By now, his little cousins were jumping up and down beside him, chanting, "Cousin, what about ours? What about ours?"
"I haven't forgotten you," Chen Chuan said with a laugh. He pulled out the remaining items from his bag—dolls and figurines that boys and girls loved, as well as educational toys for young children.
After handing the items to the two cheering youngsters, he finally brought out a cloth-wrapped cylindrical object and placed it on the table.
Yu Wan asked curiously, "Chan'er, what is this?"
Chen Chuan pulled away the cloth, revealing a palm-sized cage holding a brightly colored bird. "This is a miniature parrot. It greets guests with good wishes, and keeping it at home will help get rid of mosquitoes and other bugs."
This miniature parrot was something he had purchased through the Secret Snake Cult; one word to them and it had been delivered to his doorstep. It was exceptionally easy to care for, had a long lifespan, and was trained to speak flattery about its master.
Its greatest utility, however, was recognizing people. Whether a visitor was familiar or a stranger, it gave the master advance warning before they even stepped inside.
He gently jostled the cage. The parrot stirred, opening its sleepy eyes. Seeing people looking at it, it instantly perked up, flapped its wings, and squawked loudly, "Happiness and fortune! Happiness and fortune!..."
Yu Wan watched in wonder, and even young Nian Mo and Nian Lu came over to look, carrying Chaoming between them.
The miniature parrot wasn't shy around people at all, though when Chaoming thrust its head forward, it shrank back briefly before quickly puffing its chest out again. Its eyes darted toward Nian Fuli and Yu Wan as if pleading for help—an expression that immediately drew laughter from everyone.
Yu Wan said, "With weather this hot, there really are plenty of bugs. Since it catches flies and insects, let's keep the little thing. Chan'er, how long are you staying this time?"
"About a month," Chen Chuan replied. He added, "Aunt, I have a car now, so I'll be coming back to visit more often."
Nian Fuli said, "Aside from your studies, you have your official duties. Those are what matter most. Don't worry about us—just call from time to time. It's quite a distance, and traveling back and forth is tiring."
Yu Wan agreed, "Chan'er, your uncle is right. Neither studying nor working an official job is easy. Rest more whenever you have time. Once you get focused, you lose track of day and night—you have to take care of yourself."
Chen Chuan nodded. "Uncle, Aunt, I'll take good care of myself."
At noon, the family ate lunch together. During the meal, Chen Chuan shared a bit about Center City, though with the two children present and to keep Yu Wan from worrying, he avoided negative matters and gave only a general overview of life there.
The bizarre world enveloped by the biological field held his aunt's family spellbound. While rumors from Center City reached them on occasion, they had never heard anything described in such vivid detail, almost as though they were witnessing it themselves.
After the meal, Nian Fuli said, "Come take a walk with me."
Chen Chuan agreed.
The two stepped outside, exchanging greetings with acquaintances as they walked out of the alley and headed toward a nearby park.
Nian Fuli took out his pipe, and Chen Chuan brought out the lighter he had picked up earlier to light it for him. Nian Fuli waited a moment, took a gentle draw, and slowly blew out the smoke, praising, "Now that's an authentic flavor."
Strolling along the path, he said, "Now that Molan Company is gone and the Blood Mark Gang has been wiped out, there's far less trouble in the city. The Iron Chain Gang knows how to stay in line, so public order in Yangzhi is much better than before.
"Within the constabulary, though, quite a few things have changed. My old company commander was promoted, and now Chief Guan has taken over as commissioner. Instructor Wen was transferred away as well, replaced by a new head instructor. I can't quite figure the man out—he smiles at everyone, but his eyes are always watching you from behind."
He gave a dry chuckle. "With Molan gone, higher-ups need someone to keep an eye on our constabulary."
Chen Chuan understood. In the past, an important duty of the Yangzhi Constabulary had been keeping Molan in check. Now that Molan was gone, the higher-ups naturally sought new ways to maintain checks and balances.
After a moment of thought, he asked, "Uncle, has anything been decided about Molan Company's grounds?"
"That place? Yuangan Company took it over. Right now, a railway is being built to the north, linking in from the naval port at Hangu City. That was decided last year, and rumor has it that Yuangan provided the funding."
Chen Chuan nodded. Yuangan was an arms company, but it was also a state-owned enterprise; handing the site to Yuangan was presumably the Great Shun government's arrangement.
Nian Fuli slowly drew on his pipe. "I hear those island nations out in the open seas are fighting every day. Xiao Qian sent a telegram a few days ago saying his training unit might be deployed there on garrison duty. Looks like he won't make it home for the New Year again."
Chen Chuan was aware of this. Resistance forces among the various island nations across the open seas constantly sprang up, and friction among the nations was unending; skirmishes broke out nearly every day in a state of perpetual conflict.
He said, "The armaments of the offshore islands are several tiers below Great Shun's, and my cousin will graduate as an officer. Tactics are different now; he won't need to go up to the front lines himself..."
Nian Fuli shook his head. "Even if he goes to the battlefield, it's no big deal. If I hadn't fought on the battlefield in my youth, I wouldn't be who I am today.
"On the other hand, you need to be careful in Center City. Even though you didn't say much earlier, your uncle knows that Center City is no easy place to survive. Don't worry about things at home. Your uncle is still hale and hearty; hanging on for another ten or twenty years will be no problem at all. Just focus on doing what you need to do."
Chen Chuan gave an affirmative hum.
Nian Fuli slapped his own forehead. "Right, I nearly forgot something. Just a couple of days ago, a kid named Lu Ke called. He's Yu Gang's apprentice, right? He wanted to pass their contact address to you." He rummaged around and took out a slip of paper. "I wrote down his address."
Chen Chuan took it and glanced over it. "Thanks, Uncle."
Nian Fuli waved a hand dismissively. "Yu Gang used to have a criminal record, but since the Iron Chain Gang helped the authorities block the Blood Mark Gang, his past offenses were wiped clean. He knows when to advance and retreat, and he conducts himself with restraint. He was your teacher, too, so if you think it's right, you can give him a hand."
Chen Chuan nodded.
After taking a walk around the area, Chen Chuan returned home, spent more time chatting with Yu Wan, and then went back to his room.
Though he had been away for over half a year, the room's furnishings remained just as they had been. It was obvious his aunt cleaned it often.
He unpacked the items he needed and tidied up. Come afternoon, he drove his younger cousins to a newly opened amusement park, taking the chance to revisit several familiar spots from the past.
Returning home that evening, he took a refreshing bath and went straight to sleep.
The next day, he placed a call.
"Xiao Chuan... you're back?!" a loud voice boomed from the other end.
Chen Chuan smiled. "That's right. Summer vacation started, so I came back to Yangzhi."
"Aiya, aiya..." Ding Jiao exclaimed theatrically. "Xiao Chuan, you came back to Yangzhi and didn't tell us earlier? The boys could've thrown you a welcome party! Besides, you've been in Center City so long, you've got to tell us all about it so we can brag about it later, right?"
Chen Chuan chuckled. Ding Jiao hadn't changed a bit. "I only got back yesterday myself, and aren't I calling you right now? Let's pick a time to meet up. I'll be home for the whole month."
"Great, great! I'll round up the others right now and get back to you later." The call ended in a hurry.
Chen Chuan smiled and dialed another number, this time to Cheng Zitong. Once connected, he said, "Teacher, it's Xiao Chuan. Yes, I arrived home yesterday. Is now a good time? Great, I'll head over right away."
He put on his hat, picked up some items he had purchased in Center City, and stepped out the door.
These gifts were merely incidental, however. This time he had prepared a special present: a notebook recording various urban legends transcribed from leads across Center City. He was certain Cheng Zitong would like it.
Getting into his car at the entrance of the alley, he drove toward Wuyi Academy.
Chapter 351