Atlas of Heaven and Man

A few more days passed, and it was the first day off after the start of school. Chen Chuan also went back to his aunt's house.

This time, Nian Fuli was also home. When he entered the door, he was sitting on a recliner, listening to the radio, and looking at the newspaper with his legs crossed. His two younger cousins were playing happily on the side.

Chen Chuan greeted them and went to the side to pour water to drink.

Nian Fuli looked at Chen Chuan, then at Yu Wan, touched his chest, and said, "The cigarettes are finished, Yu Wan, go buy me a pack of cigarettes."

Yu Wan glanced at him and said to Chen Chuan, "Look, your uncle is the team leader now, and he knows how to order people around."

Nian Fuli was a little helpless, "It's just a pack of cigarettes, why are you saying this? Even if I'm the team leader, I can only have one pack a day..."

"Okay, Team Leader Nian, I'll go buy it for you."

After Yu Wan went out, Nian Fuli put down the newspaper, got up and sent his younger cousins to play in the room, and then came back to Chen Chuan and said, "Xiaochuan, I heard that you were the one who defeated the Maca? Were you at the scene at the time?"

Chen Chuan said, "Yes, uncle, it was an activity arranged by the school. I was there when the shooting happened. I wonder how Director Liu is doing?"

Nian Fuli said, "There's no need to worry about them. The officials in the Political Affairs Office only dare to go out wearing protective clothing. Liu Zhan just got a little scared and wasn't seriously injured. But because of this, the brothers in the bureau have been busy again..."

Chen Chuan learned from him that the attack that day was not just one place. Obviously, it was to divert the power of the patrol bureau. He asked again, "Uncle, I wonder how those Maca students will be dealt with?"

Nian Fuli said, "How to deal with it? Just deal with it according to the normal procedures for exiled fugitives."

"Exiled fugitives?" Chen Chuan was surprised, "Aren't they exchange students?"

Nian Fuli said, "The higher-ups have found out that these people are not exchange students, but a group of exiles from Maca. The real exchange students claimed that they were attacked by these people when they entered Da Shun, and they replaced them to participate in exchange activities at the Wuyi Academy."

"Is that so..."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment. Judging from the performance of Teacher Dou Ma and those students, they were genuine students and teachers, and they had received long-term fighting education. Otherwise, Wuyi would not be able to tell the difference.

So he guessed that this might be a deliberate replacement by the Maca people, in order not to be criticized, not to damage diplomatic relations with Da Shun, and at the same time not to be dragged into the water by the resistance organization.

It has to be said that this is indeed an explanation on the surface. Even on the surface, the Maca exchange group is still the aggrieved party, because those fugitives have long been expelled from the country and are not considered Maca people.

However, no one is a fool. As for what is going on, it should not be difficult for the higher-ups to figure out. If the Maca people deliberately arranged this, then Da Shun and Maca may be able to maintain their relationship on the surface, but privately, they will definitely not be able to return to the past.

He asked again, "Uncle, what about the students who escaped with things that day?"

Nian Fuli said, "They are currently missing. Someone should have been there to meet them. The resistance organization that appeared this time is highly valued by the Political Affairs Office. It is likely that they took the opportunity to emerge again after the last time Fang Dawei and his gang failed to make trouble."

Saying that, he took out half a pack of cigarettes, took one out and lit it, took a puff, and said with emotion, "The higher-ups move their mouths, and the lower-ups break their legs. The brothers in the patrol bureau have to work hard again."

Chen Chuan thought to himself, 'Okay, uncle, your status is high, and your ideological realm is really different.'

After Nian Fuli took a few puffs, he suddenly thought of something, looked outside a few times, quickly extinguished the cigarette, quickly opened the window to ventilate, and turned back to Zhengse and said, "Don't tell your aunt about this, lest she worry again."

Chen Chuan said with a smile, "Don't worry, uncle, I won't tell my aunt about this."

After eating lunch at home, Chen Chuan planned to meet Cheng Zitong's junior niece, a senior sister named He Nan.

Speaking of which, although he had never met this senior sister, he had worked with her apprentice, Lin Xiaodi, when he was following Ren Xiaotian on assignments.

Because this was not an assigned task, he did not choose to call the commission company's car. After making a phone call, he went to the city center to take a tram to Senior Sister He Nan's foothold in the south of the city.

This is a martial arts hall located on the bank of the Baihe River in the south of the city. Rows of willows are planted on the river embankment, and the willow buds have now grown out, adding a little color. When he arrived at the martial arts hall, a person who looked like a follower came out and said respectfully, "Are you Young Master Chen? Miss is waiting for you, please follow me."

Chen Chuan thanked him and followed him inside. It was clearly a martial arts training ground, but the road leading to the stadium was paved with smooth pebbles, and both sides of the hall were flower stands and potted plants, with greenness looming and full of vitality.

When he arrived at the outer hall, he smelled a refreshing fragrance, which felt very comfortable. Through the hollowed-out screen, he could see a woman pruning flowers under the window, and a long sword could be seen hanging on the side within reach.

The follower went in and said a word, she put down her things, went to a washbasin to wash her hands, wiped them clean, smoothed her hair, and walked out from inside.

Chen Chuan looked at the person who came out and sized her up. This was a beautiful woman in her early thirties, with an oval face, curved eyebrows, and an intellectual and elegant temperament. She had a bun on the back of her head and was wearing an improved, waist-fitting jade-white training suit.

If it weren't for the fact that her walking was unusually rhythmic, and her landing faintly revealed a strength, looking at her face alone, she didn't look like a fighter.

He clasped his fists and saluted, saying, "Are you Senior Sister He?"

Senior Sister He smiled, "You are really a student of my Uncle Cheng. You are so young, don't learn from my uncle's old-fashioned ways." She walked over, took the initiative to shake hands with Chen Chuan, "Xiaodi told me about you last time, saying that Uncle Cheng's student is a good-looking young man, um, very good, come in and sit down."

She took Chen Chuan inside, under the flower window, and sat down on the antique sandalwood chairs, and asked someone to pour a cup of fragrant tea.

Chen Chuan felt that the arrangement here was very exquisite, and the colors and environment made people feel very comfortable. Every utensil was very particular. It seemed that this Senior Sister He was a person who liked exquisite life.

Senior Apprentice Sister He sat with elegant posture, her back straight, hands placed on her abdomen. She said, "Uncle Cheng already called me about this. This matter has troubled Old Lei for a long time, but Old Lei doesn't like owing people favors. He wouldn't bring it up, and I was too embarrassed to ask Uncle Cheng for help. Now that Uncle Cheng is willing to help, that's really great. It's truly lifted a weight off my mind."

Hearing this, Chen Chuan knew that this Senior Apprentice Sister might have misunderstood. She probably thought that Cheng Zitong was willing to help resolve the matter concerning Director Lei's son, and that he, the student, was just there to facilitate the connection.

However, he didn't point it out. If Cheng Zitong didn't mention it, he must have his reasons. On the other hand, Senior Apprentice Sister He spoke of Director Lei with a concerned tone, yet with a hint of casualness, clearly indicating a very close relationship between the two.

After getting in the car, it headed south. The speed wasn't slow, but the driving was very steady. After about thirty minutes, they arrived at the edge of Quan Zhou District. This place was almost outside the city. Judging by the location, it could be considered the southwestern corner of Yangzhi City. There were few residential buildings around, but they were all two or three-story buildings, spaced apart, making it seem very secluded.

He asked the driver, "Master, does Director Lei live near here?"

The driver explained, "Director Lei doesn't like living in crowded places."

After another five or six minutes, the car turned into a tree-lined road and stopped in front of a three-story building surrounded by flowerbeds. The driver said, "We're here."

Chen Chuan got out of the car and saw many brightly colored flowers and plants in the flowerbeds. He couldn't name them; they might be foreign varieties or specially cultivated. Considering it was February, it was truly remarkable to make them so vibrant and eye-catching.

The newest novels are first published on Liu 9 Shu Ba!

Looking at these things, the image of Senior Apprentice Sister He appeared in his mind. He couldn't explain why, but he just felt that these flowers and plants were related to her.

After saying goodbye to the driver, he walked along the clean path to the steps outside the door, passed through a canopy, and knocked on the door.

After waiting for a while, he heard footsteps approaching, and the door opened from the inside. A man who looked to be at most forty years old, wearing black-framed glasses, a gray-black jacket over a white shirt, with a straight nose and a handsome appearance, came out.

Chen Chuan wasn't sure of his identity and said, "Hello, is this Director Lei's home? I'm looking for Director Lei."

The man nodded and said, "I am. Did she send you?" When Chen Chuan nodded, he politely said, "Thank you for making the trip." He turned and walked inside, "Come in and sit down."

Chen Chuan looked at him. This Director Lei didn't seem like a government official, but rather like a teacher. He changed his shoes at the door and went inside.

Once inside, Director Lei was very polite, even to a young man like him. He invited him to sit on the sofa, poured him a glass of water, and said, "May I ask your name?"

Chen Chuan said, "Chen Chuan, a student at the Wuyi Academy."

Director Lei was a little surprised and looked at him twice. "Oh? He Nan only said you were Supervisor Cheng's disciple, but didn't mention you were a student at Wuyi."

A disciple and a student were different, but Chen Chuan understood that Senior Apprentice Sister He was emphasizing his relationship with Cheng Zitong. He didn't rush to deny it.

"Chen Chuan..." Director Lei pondered the name. "I seem to have heard that name before." He raised his head, the gaze behind his glasses becoming sharp. "Five days ago, were you the one who intercepted and killed the Maka fugitive, Du Ma?"

Chen Chuan didn't expect him to know about this, because government officials usually didn't care about specific people and events below. He said, "It was me. I didn't expect Director Lei to know about it."

Director Lei looked at him. "As a Wuyi Academy student, not being part of the on-site security, you didn't have to get involved in those things. Why did you take the initiative to do it?"

Chen Chuan said, "I didn't originally intend to get involved, but someone was shooting innocent civilians at the scene. Regardless of my identity, as long as I had the ability, I felt I couldn't stand by and watch."

Director Lei nodded and commented, "You have a strong sense of justice."

Chen Chuan frankly said, "It's not just that. I'm a local of Yangzhi City. My friends and family are here. What if they were among those people?"

Director Lei's gaze, which had been fixed on him, softened. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "You should go back."

Chen Chuan was stunned and said, "Director Lei?"

Director Lei shook his head. "Regarding my son's matter, I've thought of many ways. Whether it can be resolved is one thing, but it's easy to implicate others and potentially cause other troubles. You're a very good young man with a bright future. You shouldn't be drawn into this."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "Director Lei, my teacher sent me here precisely because he trusts my ability."

Director Lei was a little surprised, because Chen Chuan was emphasizing himself, not his teacher. He pushed up his glasses, carefully looked at Chen Chuan, and after a while, he nodded and stood up. "Come with me."

Chen Chuan followed him up the stairs, all the way to the third floor. Director Lei took out a key, opened the door, and softly said to a child huddled in the corner, "That's my son. He's very afraid of strangers. If you need to ask anything, please be as gentle as possible."

Chen Chuan nodded. He walked towards there, but his steps paused slightly. He looked back at Director Lei, who said in a natural tone, "What's wrong? Is something amiss?"

"Nothing..." Chen Chuan glanced at the child again. It was just... it was a puppet.