Chapter 33: Lingering Sounds

The medical staff was able to lift Zhong Wu up despite him weighing more than two hundred kilograms, but his limbs slid out of the stretcher. They had to hold up his limbs as they brought him to the emergency room next door.

The doctors inside shook their heads and said that they could not treat him. They sent him out again.

It was a real hassle to carry Zhong Wu around, and since he was no longer available to test the other examinees, the university had to find a replacement. They put up another list on the bulletin board, which caused quite a stir.

The remaining examinees got excited when they understood the situation.

“That’s Zhong Wu on the stretcher! The guy who was supposed to test some of us! Look!”

“They carried him out? Aren’t the doctors going to save him?”

“I guess they can’t.”

“If even the doctors can’t perform emergency treatment on him, just how badly was he beaten up? Wait, who beat him up? One of the examinees? They’re amazing!”

“Obviously! I think it’s one of those who went in just now. I just wonder who it was. He did good! A true lifesaver! Haha! If he were to stand in front of me right now, I’d kowtow to him.”

The examinees felt invigorated and let out the pent-up frustration in their chests. Even those who stayed silent to maintain a good impression were cheering inwardly.

“Quiet down!” the female lecturer barked, but she did not use the rules to keep them in check nor stop them from talking altogether.

She was familiar with Zhong Wu. He was a powerful upperclassman, who had obtained a lot of resources from the university. To think that he would be beaten up like that... Did an examinee do it?

She remembered the feeling she had when Chen Chuan passed by her and became certain of it.

Fang Zhiming saw Zhong Wu being wheeled in, then wheeled out, while he was in the emergency treatment room.

Hang on. I just came in, and you’re in here too? Oh, wait, you’re leaving...

He could not quite believe what he was seeing, but felt relieved. After he figured out what had happened, he giggled and punched the air, though he ended up pulling at his injured arm, which made him wince. He took a moment to recover, then grinned happily in the direction of the ceiling.

In the eastern part of Yangzhi City, a Lanhui limousine, which was another high-class car, stopped and parked by the roadside.

Meng Shu sat in the backseat. Next to her was her bespectacled female assistant.

“Martial Valor University is holding its follow-up exam today, isn’t it?” Meng Shu asked.

“Yes, it is,” the female assistant answered seriously.

“Go and ask about the results. I want to know how it went,” Meng Shu ordered. The female assistant immediately got out and gave instructions to the people who followed behind them.

An old man who looked like he could be Meng Shu’s butler sat in the front passenger seat. He asked, “Miss, do you still think so highly of your classmate? I know that you’re childhood friends, but people change. Does he still live up to your expectations?”

“Mr. Yi, my opinion of him isn’t clouded by childhood nostalgia nor do I act based on emotions.

“I’m almost eighteen. I need a trustworthy agent with a clean background to serve me and my family. That’s the only way for the company to keep going in the long run. He’s the most suitable candidate for that role.”

“I’ve checked Chen Chuan’s information before. His grades in high school were pretty good, but he never joined any martial arts schools nor received training in any training center before taking Martial Valor University’s entrance examination. He got into the university based solely on his abilities, so you are indeed a good judge of character. With just a bit of guidance, such a person will become an excellent candidate for an agent.”

Footsteps came towards them, and the female assistant returned. She said tentatively, “Miss, Chen Chuan passed the follow-up exam.”

Meng Shu did not say anything else on the topic. She simply looked ahead. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, Miss. If you want that young man’s services, I have an idea,” Mr. Yi said.

Meng Shu turned to him. “Mr. Yi, aren’t you a Yangzhi City local?”

Mr. Yi sighed. “Yes, but I’m old now. I went everywhere with the fifth young master in earlier years, and I may still be physically capable of doing it, but I’m mentally exhausted. I’d rather stay in my hometown and keep an eye out on this young man for you.”

“I know Chen Chuan. You can’t force him into anything. You can stay, but don’t do anything unnecessary.”

“I know my task, Miss, and I won’t do anything that will make things difficult for you. It isn’t easy to become a top-ranking student in Martial Valor University, especially for a student who isn’t from a privileged background. The more outstanding one is, the more pressure they face. I won’t do anything on my own. I will just give him an offer when he needs it. I believe that he will understand all the painstaking effort you put in for him,” Mr. Yi said with a smile and a calm expression.

“Remember your promise, Mr. Yi,” Meng Shu said.

The front door and back door of the car opened. The female assistant went in while Mr. Yi got out. He pushed the door shut, took two steps back, and bent down to give Meng Shu a wave.

Meng Shu kept her eyes trained ahead as she said, “Let’s go back to Central City.”

The headlights shone and lit up the road. One of the escort cars took off before the limousine. The others along with armored vehicles followed after it.

Chen Chuan stood outside the exam site until he finished the beef jerky, then left the university. He went to the square to retrieve his bicycle and headed home.

Nian Fuli, Yu Wan, and his cousins were waiting for him. When they heard his bell ring, Yu Wan wanted to go out to see him, but Nian Fuli stopped her and said sternly, “Try not to show that you care too much. If he didn’t pass, he’d feel horrible seeing you like this.”

After some hesitation, Yu Wan did not go out.

The door opened with a creak, and Chen Chuan came inside. He looked around and found his cousins sitting tightly on the sofa while staring at him intently. Nian Fuli was beside them reading his newspaper.

Yu Wan was knitting a sweater. When she saw him, she asked in feigned nonchalance, “How did it go, Chan’er?”

“I passed.” Chen Chuan smiled.

As if a burden had been removed from her shoulders, Yu Wan put down the sweater and sighed. She glared at Nian Fuli. “It’s all your fault!”

Then, as if she remembered something, she turned around and wiped away her tears.

Nian Fuli was delighted, but he held himself together and pretended to be indifferent. “Enough, Yu Wan. He passed, not failed. Why the fuss?”

Yu Wan whipped her head around. “Can’t I just be happy about it?”

“When Xiao Qian got into military school, you weren’t this happy...”

“It’s not the same. Your former comrades were taking care of him in the military school.”

“I’m not going to argue about this with you.”

Yu Wan got up and went over to Nian Fuli to tear the newspaper from his grasp. She snapped, “Stop pretending to be all cool. You didn’t even notice that you’re holding the newspaper upside down.”

Nian Fuli cleared his throat. “We need to change the lights. My vision has been getting worse.”

Nian Mo and Nian Lu could tell their parents were happy, so they jumped off the sofa and clapped as they cheered. As long as everyone was happy together, that was all that mattered to them.

“You haven’t eaten, have you?” Nian Fuli asked Chen Chuan.

“Not yet.”

“Fuli said to wait for you. You’re just in time for dinner,” Yu Wan said.

“Set the table. Xiao Chuan, let’s have a toast tonight.” Nian Fuli stood up and gave a wave of his arm.

“Dinner! Dinner!” Nian Mo and Nian Lu cheered.

Yu Wan smiled as she went to the kitchen and brought out plates of warm food. Once everyone sat down, she brought out the glasses and poured rice wine for Nian Fuli. “Xiao Chuan, you’re a martial artist, so you can’t have this. Let Fuli drink it alone. I’ve bought soda for you instead.”

“I want it too!”

Nian Fuli chuckled and gave a noncommittal remark that Yu Wan was being a busybody, but he did not force Chen Chuan to drink.

Chen Chuan smiled. After Nian Fuli took a few bites of food, Chen Chuan grabbed his soda-filled glass and toasted him. “Uncle, Aunty, once the school semester starts, I’ll move into the university dorms.”

“That’s what you should do, I suppose. You’ve found a good place for yourself, so we won’t have to worry about you anymore. Once you’re in there, study well. I’m not far-sighted enough to see how far you can go, but remember to come back and visit your aunt and cousins often.”

“Uncle, Martial Valor University is only a few kilometers away from home. If you don’t find me an eyesore, I’ll come back often to have Aunty’s food.” Chen Chuan smiled.

“If you like it, I’ll cook for you every day,” Yu Wan said in delight.

Nian Fuli slammed his hands against the table, producing such a loud sound that it made Yu Wan jump. She glared at him and grumbled, “What are you doing? Why are you being so dramatic?”

Nian Fuli scratched his head. “I have to go back and look for Wei Laohu’s mop. Yes. I have to find it.”

“What mop?” Yu Wan was baffled.

“There’s no hurry for it. The semester hasn’t started yet. It’ll take Captain Wei a few days to hear the news.” Chen Chuan grinned.

Nian Fuli chuckled, rolled up his sleeves, picked up his chopsticks, and pointed at Chen Chuan. “He asked me to feed that mop to him, didn’t he? I’m going to do it. Let’s see him trying to say no. He won’t be able to act like a hotshot in front of me anymore.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Yu Wan muttered.

Nian Fuli dismissed her. “It’s a thing between men. Just ignore it.”

“I can’t be bothered to care.” Yu Wan rolled her eyes at him.

Chen Chuan turned to Yu Wan. “Aunty, there are some things I can’t bring to the university. Can I keep them here?”

Yu Wan mulled over his words and said, “You mean your parents’ belongings, don’t you? Keep them here. After you graduate and get a job, you can take them.”

When the follow-up exam ended at Martial Valor University, Gao Ping returned to his office and picked up his phone. After the call went through, he said, “You know about what happened at the exam venue, right? Yeah. That kid is pretty interesting. He beat up Zhong Wu well. We have to give proper guidance to someone like him, but it’s all up to him whether he makes it and is able to stand on his own two feet.”

“He has only started showing his splendor. Don’t put too much pressure on him, or he’ll crack. We have to support him at the start.”

“You can’t make a diamond shine by protecting it. It needs to be cut and polished to show its brilliance. Do you think every diamond is like you and can just find a good wife and rely on her father-in-law?” Gao Ping retorted.

“Oh ho, you’re teasing me. Looks like you’re in a good mood. I should give you some stuff to do, then,” the other person said.

Gao Ping’s expression turned stern. “Alright. Let’s stop talking about this. I’ve done all that I needed to do. You’re a member of the university board, aren’t you? Deal with Mr. Jiang.”

“As long as it conforms to the university’s rules, I can take care of it for you,” the person said calmly.