Only after the off-road vehicle gradually left the main city area did the guards on either side begin to thin out. By now, the sky was steadily brightening as the morning sun climbed, casting warm, soft light from across the horizon.
Sitting in the back, Nian Fuli thought back to the scenes along the road earlier. Considering that his nephew wasn't even twenty yet, with immense room for future advancement, he truly couldn't fathom how far Chen Chuan might eventually go.
Watching Chen Chuan's focused profile, he couldn't help sighing with emotion. "Xiao Chuan, you really change with every passing year."
Chen Chuan smiled. "Uncle, some things change, but some things never do."
Just then, Chen Chuan glanced ahead and saw a patrol car from the constabulary approaching from the distance. Judging by how caked in dust it was, it had certainly just returned from outside the city—perhaps it had even been out to the wasteland.
He said, "Uncle, has the constabulary stepped up patrols outside the city again?"
"Yeah, more than once," Nian Fuli replied. "After cracking down hard on public security inside and outside the city, Director Guan organized personnel again to suppress bandits out in the countryside, clearing out quite a few armed gangs. That cut off a lot of people's revenue streams. Over the past two years and more, waves of people have tried to bring Director Guan down. But fortunately, Civil Administrator Zhu hasn't tied our hands; on the contrary, he's given us strong backing. So whatever our constabulary wants to do, nobody can stop us."
Chen Chuan nodded. The constabulary's direct superior department was the National Constabulary Department, a relatively closed system. Many local corporations and armed factions were kept under watch by the constabulary branches. As long as the Civil Affairs Department cooperated and no local companies like Molan tripped them up, indeed no one could stand in their way.
These armed bandits engaged in all kinds of smuggling and violent activities. Some were tied to local companies and families in Yangzhi and neighboring county seats, while others were infiltrated and supported by foreign forces. In recent years, the government had been deliberately suppressing and purging such elements.
As a civil administrator transferred in from elsewhere, Zhu Xian naturally carried out the will of his superiors and vigorously pushed forward this strategy. On this matter, his stance aligned completely with the constabulary's.
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment, then asked, "How is Yuangan Company, which moved in earlier, doing?"
"Yuangan Company doesn't meddle in anything inside the city," Nian Fuli said. "They only care about that railway to the north connecting to Hangu City, and most of their armed forces are concentrated there. Speaking of which, Xiao Chuan, I heard a bit of gossip from up that way recently. Don't know if it's true or not."
"What kind of news?"
Nian Fuli rose slightly from his seat, leaned forward, and moved to the seat right behind the front passenger seat. "They say several people were dug up out of the northern snowfields."
Chen Chuan felt a slight stir in his heart. On the surface, it didn't sound like much, yet he couldn't shake an odd feeling about it.
Nian Fuli continued, "They said it was discovered when they were cutting an extra railway line up north. Probably one of those customary secret dedicated lines. Back when I was in the military, I rode on railways like that. Word is those people were dug up right there. Only, from what I heard, these people were remarkably tall."
In the past, he would have been skeptical of such things. But having heard Chen Chuan talk about the Great Collision and the Confluence, combined with his own past experiences, he felt it might not be impossible after all.
Chen Chuan was lost in thought. Unusually tall? That reminded him of certain similar circumstances.
Moreover, they said several "people" were dug up, rather than referring to them as corpses. Were they dead, or...? He shifted his thoughts; this was something he could look into when the time came.
As the Chief of Center City's Security Defense Office, he could theoretically inquire into and intervene in any matter involving security across the entirety of Jibei Dao.
However, as a state enterprise, Yuangan Company's northern operations were carried out in cooperation with the military, and it also involved Haixi Dao. It was only natural that no intelligence had reached him yet. But if he proactively requested the information, they wouldn't refuse him unless it involved genuine state secrets. Given his rank and position, such a request was entirely reasonable.
As they talked, little Nian Mo and Nian Lu pressed themselves against the car windows, curiously peering outside through the glass. At their age, they had rarely ever been to the city's outskirts. Once the car turned onto National Boulevard, the surroundings grew increasingly desolate, with only the distant silhouette of Mount Jiao looming faintly on the horizon.
Chen Chuan also glanced toward Mount Jiao. That place was actually very abnormal, but he hadn't had access to the relevant intelligence in the past. With his current post, he was now qualified to reach it. He had only been in office for a short time and hadn't gotten around to it yet, but he made a note to pay attention to it later.
By this time, the vehicle arrived at the far checkpoint. The guards here had already received advance notice and stood lined up in a row. As the car rolled to a gentle stop and Chen Chuan opened the door to step out, the squad leader barked, "Salute!" Every one of them solemnly snapped a salute toward him.
After all, the personnel at the National Boulevard checkpoint belonged to the Jibei Dao security defense system; they were effectively his subordinates.
Chen Chuan returned the salute, then dismissed them.
Since they were out in the open wilderness, the wind blew hard and kicked up grit, and it was winter besides. The checkpoint staff invited his family inside to sit down, brewing hot tea and offering newspapers and reading materials.
Nian Fuli didn't want to wait inside. Instead, he stood outside, gazing down the long stretch of road. Chen Chuan accompanied him there, chatting and telling him about the situation in Center City.
After the family had waited for over an hour, they faintly made out a passenger bus heading their way along the straight road ahead.
The bus was a full two stories high, packed with travelers heading into the city from the port. Up on the second deck, Nian Qian sat in the back, holding a newspaper and reading it.
He wore short hair, had broad shoulders, and possessed thick, powerful muscles across his chest and back. He was a very sturdy young man, his face looking as though cast from the exact same mold as Nian Fuli's. Faint, subtle lines from implants could be seen near his ears.
He was already a major. At twenty-three years old, apart from fighters, only officers graduated from military academies like him could advance so swiftly at such an age.
Of course, besides his outstanding marks in all subjects, it was also because he was a rare compatible host.
Biological implant technology in the military was currently quite advanced; it barely required altering original organs, needing only the addition of some implanted mutated tissue to grant someone formidable combat strength and a degree of information processing capability. However, individuals compatible with high-end implants were few and far between. He was one of them, a mid-level officer being groomed as a key talent in the military. Combined with his tact and social acumen, he was highly valued by his superiors.
After skimming through newspapers from previous days, he picked up today's paper. Inside was a newly added headline that roughly read: "Chief Chen Chuan of Center City's Security Defense Office Returns to Hometown Yangzhi for Family Visit; Yangzhi Municipal Government and Citizens Extend Warm Welcome."
He felt a flash of surprise. How was this name identical to his cousin's?
He chuckled. What a coincidence.
Though serving in the military, as a technical officer he still needed to understand administrative positions in Center City.
Chief of the Security Defense Office was indeed a very high rank. Setting aside the era of the Great Expansion, it was the highest position achieved by anyone who had emerged from Yangzhi City in decades. It was practically the pride of Yangzhi, so no wonder everyone from top to bottom was so excited.
Normally, anyone who attained such a post would be at least forty or fifty years old. That meant the man had likely left Yangzhi more than twenty years ago, which coincided right with the northern counter-insurgency war back then. He had probably risen through military exploits before transferring to the civil administrative sector.
The passenger bus had now reached the checkpoint, slowing to a stop just short of it. Passengers disembarked carrying bags and luggage of all sizes; whether heading into Yangzhi or traveling on toward Center City, they would have to transfer to other vehicles from here.
Effortlessly carrying a large suitcase and shouldering a military rucksack, Nian Qian stepped down from the bus. Even without a uniform today, his head-high, straight-backed stride made it obvious at a glance that he was a soldier.
Just then, a familiar, affectionate call drifted from a distance: "Qian'er!" Followed by childish voices shouting, "Big Brother! Big Brother!"
His eyes widened. Looking over the heads of the crowd of disembarking passengers, he immediately spotted Yu Wan, along with Nian Fuli standing beside her, and the two little ones jumping up and down and waving. A wave of excitement washed over him.
Behind the family stood a tall young man, smiling toward him. Instantly recognizing his cousin Chen Chuan, Nian Qian broke into a grin and strode over quickly.
Overcome with emotion as he drew near, he set down his luggage and snapped a crisp salute to Nian Fuli. "Dad!" Then he swiftly turned to Yu Wan and saluted again. "Mom!"
Seeing the son she hadn't laid eyes on in years, tears had welled in Yu Wan's eyes. But his sudden salute made her laugh through her tears, and she answered warmly, "Ai~"
Nian Fuli was a military veteran himself, so far from taking any issue with it, he was thoroughly pleased. He returned the salute with textbook precision, then gazed at his eldest son for a moment, nodding. "A fine soldier. Not a bit worse than your old man was."
Nian Qian chuckled. "Dad, you actually fought on the battlefield, rolled in the trenches, and crawled through barbed wire. Your son has only carried a gun for a few years—how could I compare to you?"
A broad smile broke out on Nian Fuli's face, though he shook his head and demurred, "Different, completely different. The guns we held back then were nothing like what you have now."
Nian Qian turned to his younger brother and sister, bared his teeth playfully, and rubbed their little heads. Then he looked at Chen Chuan. "Xiao Chuan, Dad and Mom told me you got into Wuyi and took up a high post at the Disposal Bureau in Center City. Incredible! Your older cousin truly admires you! You drove Mom and Dad out here to meet me, right? Thanks!"
Chen Chuan smiled. "Cousin, we're all family. What's there to thank?"
"That's true," Nian Qian said seriously. "We are family, but during the years I was away, you were the one helping look after the household. So I should thank you, and thank you I will!"
Chen Chuan smiled again. "Cousin, the wind is strong here, no place to talk. Let's get in the car first."
"All right!"
Chapter 846