Chen Chuan put the items back, closed the box, and walked into the living room. He found a rotary phone, picked up the receiver, and said, "Nian Residence..."
A familiar voice came from the other end of the line. "Hey, Chen Chuan, what are you up to? Don't coop yourself up at home. Come on out and hang with us."
He recognized it as the voice of his middle school deskmate, Ding Jiao. The line was noisy; Ding Jiao must have been calling from a payphone. "Where are you?" Chen Chuan asked.
"Where else? The old spot, Zizai Snack Street. Dali and Mian Gua are here, too. What have you been up to lately? We haven't seen you around at all."
Chen Chuan said, "You guys have fun. I'm busy with some things lately, so I'll pass."
"Hey, are you looking for work? I'm telling you, man, don't bottle things up. Your buddies are here to help if we can. I mean, my family has that factory—getting you a job there would be a piece of cake."
Chen Chuan chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I wouldn't hesitate to ask if I needed to."
'He didn't mention getting into Wuyi. Ding Jiao was a loyal friend, but he was also a huge gossip. If Chen Chuan told him now, he could guarantee that by tomorrow, all their former classmates would know. Then, a lot of people would definitely show up to congratulate him or try to curry favor. He still had to prepare for the entrance re-examination and really didn't have the time to deal with all that.'
"Alright. Oh, by the way, did you hear...?" Ding Jiao's voice suddenly rose. "Han the Third got into Molan! Everyone's talking about it! Shit, what kind of bullshit luck did that guy have? His grades weren't even as good as yours!"
Chen Chuan was a little surprised. "Molan Company?"
"What other one is there? And don't even get me started on how smug the guy is!" The envy and jealousy in Ding Jiao's voice were so thick you could almost feel them through the receiver.
Chen Chuan made a noncommittal sound.
'The Molan Company, full name Molan Gaoling Company, supposedly had its headquarters in Central City. Its branch in Yangzhi City was a major one. Ostensibly, its main business was cosmetics. In reality, the company had already infiltrated every facet of life in Yangzhi City and the surrounding towns. Most aspects of the citizens' lives—from their food and clothing to housing and transportation—were connected to Molan and its subsidiaries.'
'According to what Nian Fuli had said in private, half the councilors on the City Consultation Bureau were on Molan's payroll, and the other half helped them count the money. Successive Civil Affairs Chiefs had all learned to act according to the Molan Company's whims.'
'The company also had its own independent security team and a dedicated training facility for its employees. That must be where his classmate was headed. That was no simple feat. His family must have pulled some strings. He vaguely recalled the Han Family was in charge of the waterworks, wasn't it?'
After ranting for a bit, Ding Jiao remembered something else and said loudly, "Oh, right! Don't forget the graduation dinner at the end of next month."
"I remember. I won't forget," Chen Chuan replied.
"Alright, I gotta go. Dali and the guys are getting impatient."
Chen Chuan hung up and went back to his room. He needed to start preparing for the entrance re-examination. Counting from the beginning of June, it seemed like he had three months. But with only three months, it was far too soon to relax.
Besides, the real reason his predecessor was murdered remained a complete mystery. Even though it had happened in the suburbs, far from the city proper, he decided it was best to avoid going out unnecessarily.
He took out a map of Yangzhi City and spread it on the table. Then he retrieved a small notebook labeled "Martial Records." His gaze drifted across the map as if searching for something, and he used a pencil to heavily circle a few locations.
「Time flew by, and soon it was suppertime.」
Nian Fuli's family returned one by one, and the house grew lively. Once everyone was seated at the dinner table, Nian Fuli spoke. "Kid, did you go job hunting today?"
"Yes, Uncle," Chen Chuan replied.
Nian Fuli grunted. "How'd it go?" He was only asking casually, figuring that Chen Chuan wouldn't have had any luck on his very first day.
Chen Chuan said, "I went to Wuyi University Hall today."
"Wuda?" Nian Fuli suddenly looked at him, utterly astonished. "What were you doing there?"
Chen Chuan smiled. "I was just about to tell you and Auntie. I passed the entrance exam for Wuyi University Hall today. I'll be moving into the school dorms when the semester starts."
"You got into Wuda? *You*?"
Nian Fuli was stunned. His eyes went wide as he sized Chen Chuan up and down, as if seeing his nephew for the very first time.
'What kind of place was Wuda? Countless people tried to get in every year. That Wei Oldhu, who he was always at odds with, had a son who got into Wuda, and the man had bragged about it for an entire year!'
He couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "You didn't cheat, did you?"
Yu Wan was instantly displeased. She gave him a shove. "Why couldn't Chan'Er pass on his own merit?"
Chen Chuan said with a smile, "Uncle, how could I have cheated? I don't know anyone, and I don't have any money. Why would a Wuyi instructor help me?"
"That's true."
Nian Fuli glanced at him a few more times, an unreadable, complex emotion in his eyes. Chen Chuan also noticed a hint of melancholy in his aunt's expression, though it was mostly overshadowed by a look of gratification.
After a moment, Nian Fuli picked up his chopsticks and tapped them on the table. "Wuda is a good path forward. Getting in is like having a bar of gold in your pocket. But you still have the re-examination, don't you?"
"Yes." Chen Chuan nodded. "There's an entrance re-examination."
"Exactly." Nian Fuli tapped the table again. "Kid, let me tell you, there's an inside track to these things. Even after you're admitted, there's a world of difference between those who pass the re-examination and those who don't. I don't know how you managed to pass the first exam, but just because you got in doesn't mean you'll pass the re-examination."
Yu Wan immediately grew anxious. "Honey, what should he do then?"
Nian Fuli waved a dismissive hand at her and looked at Chen Chuan. "Xiaochuan, what was your original plan?"
Chen Chuan thought for a moment. "I was planning on finding a Boxing Club to train at, but I don't know which ones are reliable. I was actually hoping to ask you about that, Uncle."