Han Kuang had initially worried that Chen Chuan might not recognize him—which would have been thoroughly awkward, leaving him to wonder what his colleagues would think of him. But he had not expected Chen Chuan to identify him at a single glance.
A breath of relief escaped him, and a warm smile surfaced on his face. "Xiao Chuan, Happy New Year to you as well! Your younger aunt mentioned earlier that official duties would delay you by a few days. Your elder aunt has been thinking about you constantly. She'll be thrilled to see you."
Chen Chuan smiled. "I'm sorry to have kept Uncle and Aunt worrying. We originally planned to travel together, but a few matters held me up. As soon as I took care of them, I came straight over." He glanced left and right. "Uncle, who are these gentlemen...?"
Han Kuang stepped to the side and introduced them. "This is Chief of Staff Bai from our Staff Department. When the garrison learned you were coming, Xiao Chuan, they made a few arrangements, and he was kind enough to drive me out personally to pick you up."
Chen Chuan extended a hand. "Chief of Staff Bai, a pleasure."
Chief of Staff Bai stepped forward, grasped Chen Chuan's hand with both of his, and said with a beaming smile, "Section Chief Chen, hello! We are honored by your visit to our Shannan Dao and could not be more delighted to welcome you. Might I ask how long Section Chief Chen plans to stay in Shannan Dao? That way, we can make proper arrangements."
Chen Chuan replied, "There are quite a few official matters awaiting my attention after the New Year, so I won't be staying too long. Probably just a few days."
Chief of Staff Bai chuckled. "Section Chief Chen is exceptionally capable, carrying a far heavier burden than the rest of us—hard work indeed! Be that as it may, Section Chief Chen is our guest. As long as you are here in Shannan Dao, we, as hosts, will ensure everything is properly arranged for you."
Though he did not belong to the same department as Chen Chuan, he had reached the exact same conclusion as Han Kuang: Chen Chuan had become a martial artist at such a young age and already occupied an exceedingly vital position in Center City. That meant he undoubtedly possessed both remarkable ability and influential backing from above. In all likelihood, he would enter Great Shun's governing echelon in the future.
If there was any opportunity to forge a connection with someone like that, he certainly would not let it slip by. Even if he could not benefit from it personally in time, the younger generation of his family might well ride that connection.
He understood how to handle the situation with restraint. After all, they shared no prior acquaintance, so after exchanging a few pleasantries, he said no more. As for Staff Officer Fan behind him, since Han Kuang had not introduced him just now, Fan knew better than to push himself forward and intrude.
After exchanging a few more polite remarks, the group walked out. Chen Chuan and Han Kuang got into the Staff Department's car, while Chief of Staff Bai and Staff Officer Fan moved to another vehicle.
Once the car set off, Han Kuang glanced in the rearview mirror above the dash. He caught sight of Chen Chuan's brow and eyes, which bore a clear resemblance to Yu Jie and Yu Wan. After a moment's thought, he spoke up: "Xiao Chuan, you were still very small when I first met you. In the blink of an eye, you've grown so tall."
Chen Chuan smiled. "I remember. Back then, Uncle and Aunt brought older cousin along. I still recall how mischievous cousin was—he climbed a loquat tree to catch a cat, fell right out of it, and got a good thrashing from Aunt."
Han Kuang asked in surprise, "You still remember that?" Then, understanding dawned, and he added, "Well, you martial artists must have exceptional memories. But yes, your cousin has been a handful ever since he was little."
"What is Eldest Cousin doing these days?"
"Han Cheng runs an agency handling commissioned affairs now. Lord knows what he's off doing in the middle of the New Year festivities. I don't approve of his business, but neither of us can rein him in, so we just let him be. Your two younger cousins are at home, though. You haven't met them yet—back when I met your parents, neither of them had been born."
"I saw the photos of them that cousin brought back. Xiao Huan looks like you, while Xiao Jing takes after Aunt."
Han Kuang smiled. After these few exchanges, his mind was finally put at ease. To be honest, at first he had not known how to interact with this martial artist nephew of his.
Yet now he found that Chen Chuan was not the cold, unapproachable martial artist he had imagined. While his post and status meant he could not treat him purely as a junior, their interaction was easy and natural, and Chen Chuan's words still carried respect for him as an elder.
He thought to himself that Old Nian and Yu Wan really had a way of raising children. In his eyes, Nian Qian was already exceptionally capable, head and shoulders above his own unreliable son. But Chen Chuan was something else entirely—he had soared far past the upper limit of what any of them could ever have dreamed for the younger generation.
While they were on their way back, Yu Jie also received the news. Because Han Xiaohuan had not explained things clearly, Yu Jie called back, and in the end, it was Nian Qian who took the receiver to lay it all out. It took her quite a while to wrap her head around it.
Only then did she realize what an extraordinary nephew she had. Not only did he hold a high post, but he was also a national-level fighter. Though she did not fully comprehend the weight of that title, if even the garrison commanders treated him with such deference, he was unquestionably a prominent figure.
She grumbled a bit to Yu Wan, "Little Sister, why didn't you tell me about Xiao Chuan earlier?"
Nian Fuli explained from the side, "Eldest Sister, Xiao Chuan originally planned to travel with us, but some official duties came up at the last minute, so we went ahead first. Given his special position nowadays, it wouldn't have been right for us to make assumptions or decisions on his behalf while he was handling matters, right? Knowing he promised to visit you, I thought it best to let him tell you in person once he arrived."
Yu Wan took her hand and said, "Sister, even if Chan'er holds a high office, he's still your nephew. He's Second Sister's boy. Nothing has changed about that. You think that just because his post is high, he wouldn't acknowledge you?"
Yu Jie thought about it and realized she was right. Her spirits lifted immediately. "Then what are we standing around for? Let's hurry back! Quickly, quickly! Ah, Second Sister... Xiao Chuan has truly made something of himself."
Yu Wan was holding Nian Lu's hand. Seeing her elder sister pick up the pace, she called out, "Eldest Sister, slow down a bit!"
Nian Fuli took two quick steps forward and took Nian Lu from her hand. "Yu Wan, walk with Eldest Sister. I'll follow behind with Xiao Mo and Xiao Lu."
Reaching their car, the family hurriedly piled inside and sped back from Center City.
Meanwhile, along the Staff Department's car's journey, martial law lined the entire route. Even though they were outside Center City, armed security personnel stood stationed along the roadside, snapping salutes as the vehicle passed. Though Han Kuang was in the military, he rarely witnessed such grandeur. This was treatment reserved solely for the garrison's Commander Zhao. There was a time when he had daydreamed of having such a day of his own, only to gradually abandon the hope as years went by. Never had he imagined he would share in that honor today by basking in Chen Chuan's reflected glory.
He glanced at Chen Chuan, who looked completely composed, as though such scenes were nothing more than routine, making Han Kuang's feelings even more complicated.
When the car pulled up in front of the Han family's villa, Chen Chuan and Han Kuang stepped out. Chief of Staff Bai also got out of his car, came forward to exchange a few words with Chen Chuan first, and then patted Han Kuang's shoulder. "Old Han, drop by my house in a couple of days. Wan Shu brought me some fine tea recently, and I haven't found anyone to help me drink it yet."
Han Kuang agreed with a smile. After seeing Chief of Staff Bai off, his heart was awash with emotion. Straightening his uniform, he gestured welcomingly and walked inside with Chen Chuan.
Nian Qian and the Han sisters ran out at that moment. The Han sisters looked at Chen Chuan with curiosity, finding him far more impressive in person than they had imagined—especially those eyes, gleaming with brilliance and an imposing, almost divine aura, unlike anything they had ever seen in anyone else.
Han Kuang said, "This is your cousin Chen Chuan. Where are your manners?"
The Han sisters quickly called out, "Cousin," their voices a mixture of familial warmth and timid awe.
Chen Chuan replied with a gentle smile.
Just then, the sound of an approaching car came from outside. Han Kuang peered out and said, "That must be your aunt and the others returning. They went out shopping earlier."
A moment later, Yu Jie walked in, her gaze instantly locking onto Chen Chuan's face.
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Aunt, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year, Happy New Year!"
Beaming from ear to ear, Yu Jie came forward, studying Chen Chuan's features. "Xiao Chuan, you look so much like Second Sister! Seeing you makes me think of her all over again."
As she spoke, her eyes welled with tears.
Han Kuang said, "It's the New Year, why are you..."
"Oh, right, right."
Yu Jie wiped her eyes. "Sit, sit." She glanced at the fruit plate set out on the table. "Honestly, you people—is this all you set out for Xiao Chuan?" Turning back to Chen Chuan, she asked, "Xiao Chuan, it's midday already. What would you like to eat? Aunt will make it for you!"
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Aunt, there's no rush. I'll likely be troubling you for a few days, so I'll have plenty of chances to savor your cooking."
"Wonderful, wonderful! Stay as long as you like. Xiao Chuan, you must have just arrived, right? Old Han, Xiao Huan, Xiao Jing, help look after him properly... Sister, Brother-in-law, take a seat first, I'm going to wash my face."
After wiping her face, Yu Jie went to the kitchen with Mother Ling to prepare the meal. By lunchtime, a table laden with dishes was laid out, and the two families ate until past one o'clock. Afterward, Yu Jie personally tidied up the guest room for Chen Chuan. Once she returned to the bedroom, she said in wonder, "Old Han, how on earth did Xiao Chuan become the chief of the Security Defense Department?"
Han Kuang, sitting on the edge of the bed, replied leisurely, "That's secondary. The main thing is that he is a martial artist."
Yu Jie only knew that meant an extraordinary fighter who was valued by the highest echelons of the state, but she had no real concept beyond that. Sitting down beside him, she nudged him. "Old Han, explain it to me, will you?"
Han Kuang gave an acknowledging hum. A familiar sensation washed over him, as though he had returned to their school days, when Yu Jie would sit beside him just like this, asking all sorts of questions. He said slowly, "Put it this way: this nephew of ours is worth an entire garrison all on his own."
"What do you mean?"
"Literally what I said," Han Kuang said gravely. "A national-level fighter. Such fighters are strategic weapons capable of taking on an entire army single-handedly. I've watched video recordings of battlefields left behind by martial artists. The aftermath looks like an area bombarded by hundreds of cannons over and over again.
"In the old imperial dynasties, martial artists were called 'Generals of State Subjugation,' meaning a single person could pacify an entire country. Wherever someone like that is placed, the military balance of power shifts. In the entirety of our Shannan Dao Center City, there are no more than two such individuals."
Yu Jie listened, stunned beyond words. Such scenes and descriptions lay entirely beyond the realm of her imagination. After a long silence, she murmured to herself, "Xiao Chuan... Xiao Chuan has already become this formidable...?"
"So never look down on fighters," Han Kuang said, looking out the window with a sigh. "Back then, I could see the stubbornness and fighting spirit in your Second Sister's eyes. She was someone with an unyielding conviction. And the path she never managed to walk to the end—Xiao Chuan has now realized it for her."
Chapter 861