Chapter 581
An Outstanding Junior, Invited Again
Chapter 581 An Outstanding Junior, Invited Again
The midday sun shone directly down, making the stone-paved streets of Wanghu Town scorching hot.
This is the busiest time of day for tourists, and the restaurants along the street are bustling with activity, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
The black Land Rover SUV slowly drove into the alley and stopped in front of the antique-style courtyard with its blue tiles and white walls.
As soon as Fang Cheng turned off the engine, his gaze casually swept over a black sedan parked next to him.
The window tint is so dark that you can't see inside.
But the driver, who was leaning against the car door smoking, had a straight posture, a neat buzz cut, and a professional vigilance in his eyes.
Fang Cheng recognized it at a glance.
It's the same driver, Xiao Zhang, who held the umbrella for Shi Chengyi at Xishan Cemetery last time.
He felt a slight stirring in his heart, but didn't look any longer.
He then picked up the fruit he had bought on the way and went up to knock on the gate of the courtyard.
Shi Chengyi's driver couldn't have appeared here for no reason.
Clearly, this seemingly ordinary meal, a "grandfather missing his grandson" meal, was not as simple as it appeared on the phone.
"crunch-"
The heavy wooden door was pushed open.
"Acheng is back!"
Li Zhenhua, dressed in a loose-fitting navy blue Tang suit, came out to greet them with great vigor.
"Grandpa."
Fang Cheng wore a friendly smile, seemingly unaware of anything amiss.
"Come in quickly, your uncle and your mother are busy in the kitchen. The lion's head meatballs and beef have just been cooked and smell delicious."
Li Zhenhua cheerfully pulled Fang Cheng's hand and led him inside, casually mentioning as they walked:
"By the way, we have two distinguished guests at home today. They are my chess friends, your maternal grandfather. Since it's lunchtime, they've decided to stay for a casual meal."
Fang Cheng followed him into the courtyard.
After several months of renovation, the garden is now lush with flowers and plants, and looks neat and orderly.
The swing swayed gently in the breeze, exuding an atmosphere of leisure and tranquility.
Through the open living room door, two figures can be seen sitting on a mahogany sofa, drinking tea.
One was an elderly man with graying temples but an extraordinary demeanor, and the other was a young man with a tall and straight posture and sharp eyes.
It was Shi Chengyi and Wei Zheng.
Hearing footsteps, the two put down their teacups and stood up at the same time.
"Acheng is here! It's been a while since I've seen him. He looks even more energetic than before. He's truly a handsome young man!"
Shi Chengyi greeted him with a smile, taking two steps forward. His tone was as familiar as that of a family elder, showing no airs of a special search team leader.
"Greetings, Commander Shi. Greetings, Senior Brother Wei."
Fang Cheng greeted him politely, his expression natural, without the slightest surprise or unease.
Since the elders want to stage this chance encounter, the younger generation should naturally cooperate and play along.
Wei Zheng looked at Fang Cheng, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
He knew very well that, given Fang Cheng's keen perception, he had probably already guessed what was going on when he saw the car at the door.
At this moment, he was able to remain calm and composed. It is truly rare for someone so young to have such composure.
"Alright, alright, don't stand up, sit down and talk."
Li Zhenhua invited everyone to take their seats.
Fang Cheng sat down quietly to the side, observing the exchange of pleasantries without making a sound.
He noticed that his grandfather and Shi Chengyi were talking very naturally, and he would occasionally burst into hearty laughter.
The two spoke and acted with a familiarity that suggested they had known each other for over a decade, clearly indicating that they had been acquainted for quite some time.
A moment later, noises came from the kitchen.
Li Dingjian carried out a large bowl of steaming braised lion's head meatballs, while Li Biyun followed behind carrying several plates of delicate cold dishes.
"The food is almost ready, everyone please take your seats and start eating."
Li Biyun took off her apron and warmly greeted the guests. When her gaze fell on her son, her eyes were full of smiles.
Li Zhenhua walked to the head of the table and gestured to him:
"Old Shi, Little Wei, don't be shy, please sit down."
"Today we won't stand on formalities. We'll just have simple meals and home-style dishes. Everyone, eat as much as you like."
Shi Chengyi and Wei Zheng smiled and took their seats.
Fang Cheng then went into the kitchen to help set out the bowls and chopsticks, and opened a bottle of baijiu to fill the glasses of the elders one by one.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was much more harmonious than I had imagined.
Shi Chengyi was not only in a high position of power, but also a very shrewd and capable person.
He did not discuss any business related to the Special Investigations Unit at the dinner table.
Instead, he chatted with Li Zhenhua about the local customs and culture of Wanghu Town, and some interesting stories from his time in the army.
Wei Zheng would occasionally toast Li Zhenhua, appearing very humble.
"Old Li, you are a lucky man."
Shi Chengyi picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and sighed:
"My children are filial, and my grandson is so successful. Unlike my good-for-nothing grandson, who just hangs around outside all day."
"Not at all, Acheng is just too honest and quiet."
Li Zhenhua spoke modestly, but his face was beaming with joy.
"When I enter society, I will still need the guidance and support of my elders."
"That's natural."
Shi Chengyi gave Fang Cheng a meaningful look:
"Gold will shine wherever it is."
Fang Cheng ate his meal quietly, occasionally offering a few words of agreement.
He acted neither obsequiously nor coldly, maintaining the persona of an "excellent junior" in just the right way.
He could sense that although his mother and grandfather were smiling, there was always a hint of tension hidden deep in their eyes as they observed his interactions with Shi Chengyi from time to time.
Clearly, they still hoped to secure a position with the Special Investigations Team, but they were also afraid that he might turn against them on the spot because of his past grievances.
After a few rounds of drinks, perhaps feeling that Fang Cheng was too quiet, Shi Chengyi put down his chopsticks and took the initiative to start a conversation:
"Ah Cheng, have you been busy with work lately? Are you still working at that fight club?"
"Yeah, he's still over there, usually mentoring new students."
Fang Cheng replied simply.
Seeing this, Wei Zheng also chimed in and asked:
"Junior Brother Fang, did you encounter any trouble on your way here?"
"Recently, because of the Silver Wing Building incident, the military has set up checkpoints at various intersections and is conducting very strict checks."
"I did encounter it."
Fang Cheng picked up a piece of food and replied casually:
"I was stopped and checked at the expressway entrance to Xiguan District. They even used special detection equipment, but I had all the necessary documents and hadn't done anything illegal, so I didn't suffer any trouble."
Upon hearing this, Shi Chengyi's expression turned slightly serious, and he put down his wine cup, saying:
"The current situation is quite tense, and those people under the military often act without thinking."
"If you encounter this kind of thing again in the future, or are harassed for no reason, just call me."
"Although I have stepped down from my position, this old face still carries some weight in Dongdu. I guarantee no one will dare to cause you trouble."
Fang Cheng smiled and nodded in greeting:
"Thank you for your consideration, Commander Shi."
"Hey, why are you calling me 'sir'? It's too formal!"
Li Zhenhua put on a stern face and then pressed his advantage, saying:
"Old Shi is my chess friend. According to seniority, you should call him Uncle Shi!"
Li Dingjian and Li Biyun echoed their sentiments, smiling as they advised:
"Yes, Cheng, Uncle Shi has taken such good care of you, we should toast him."
Fang Cheng readily agreed, raised his glass and stood up: "Then I shall be honored, Uncle Shi. I toast you with a glass of wine, wishing you good health and all the best."
"well!"
Shi Chengyi burst into laughter, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.
"That's right!"
Seeing this, Li Zhenhua finally felt relieved.
With this change in address, the atmosphere at the dinner table quickly warmed up.
Everyone toasted and laughed.
The initial subtle barriers and formalities dissipated, and the relationship between them was quickly brought closer.
The meal was a pleasure for both the host and guests.
After the meal, Li Biyun cleared away the dishes.
Li Zhenhua, on the other hand, enthusiastically dragged Shi Chengyi to the teahouse to play a couple of rounds of cards:
"Old Shi, that last round doesn't count. I was letting you win. Let's go have another three hundred rounds. I don't believe I can't beat you!"
"Alright, then I'll risk my life to accompany you."
Shi Chengyi smiled and agreed.
Wei Zheng followed them into the tea room.
Fang Cheng wanted to go to the kitchen to help, but Li Biyun pushed him out:
"Go away, we don't need you here, don't get covered in cooking fumes."
"Go to the teahouse and keep the guests company. Give your grandfather some advice. That terrible chess player of his, don't let him lose too badly, or he'll sulk and lose his appetite."
Fang Cheng sighed, wiped his hands, and walked out of the kitchen.
As soon as he entered the corridor, he was stopped by Li Dingjian, who was smoking.
"Acheng."
Li Dingjian offered his nephew a cigarette, but Fang Cheng waved his hand and refused.
He didn't insist, lit it himself, took a deep drag, exhaled a smoke ring, and said in a low voice:
"The old man is doing this for your own good, hoping you will have a bright future, so he strictly ordered me not to tell you that Shi Chengyi came to visit us."
"Moreover, the Special Investigations Team... I think it presents an opportunity."
He offered an explanation, glancing in the direction of the tea room, his eyes brightening slightly:
“I’ve analyzed this privately with a few brothers from the Illuminati.”
"The situation is getting more and more chaotic. Although our Illuminati has developed rapidly, it is still a makeshift organization with too few sources of intelligence, which makes us somewhat passive in our daily work."
At this point, Li Dingjian flicked his cigarette ash out the window and looked at Fang Cheng with a serious expression:
“Acheng, if you can get into the Special Investigation Team, even if it’s just as a nominal position, not only will your family be happy for you, but with this official identity as cover, it will be much more convenient for us to do things in Dongdu in the future.”
"At least, in situations like this one where you encountered a military search, having the Special Investigations Team's credentials can save you a lot of unnecessary trouble."
"In a way, we've infiltrated the enemy's ranks. Being able to find out what's going on above and get intelligence as soon as possible is much better than being completely clueless."
"of course."
Li Dingjian patted his nephew on the shoulder, his tone sincere:
"The final decision is yours. Whatever choice you make, your uncle will support you."
Fang Cheng nodded, his expression calm:
"I know what I'm doing."
Pushing open the door to the tea room, a delicate aroma of tea fills the air.
On the chessboard, the situation has become one-sided.
Li Zhenhua, playing black, frowned, his hand hesitant to make a move, and a light sheen of sweat on his forehead.
Shi Chengyi held the white cup, calm and composed, his hands holding the teacup as if he had the victory in his grasp.
"Oh no, we're going to lose again!"
Li Zhenhua tossed the chess pieces into the chess box and shouted in a cheating manner:
"No, no, I'm not feeling well today."
"Acheng, come here and teach Uncle Shi a lesson for your grandfather!"
Without saying a word, he stood up, pushed Fang Cheng back into his seat, and then slapped his forehead:
"Oh dear, look at my memory! Your uncle bought me a few jars of top-quality pre-Qingming Longjing tea a couple of days ago. I'll go get them for you to try."
After saying that, the old man gave Li Dingjian, who was standing at the door, a wink.
The two tacitly withdrew and closed the door behind them.
"Click".
The door lock clicked softly.
Suddenly, only Fang Cheng, Shi Chengyi, and Wei Zheng remained in the tea room.
As the noise subsided, even the air seemed to quiet down.
Looking at the chessboard that had been set up, Fang Cheng did not refuse. He picked up a black piece with his slender fingers and gently placed it in a corner of the chessboard.
"Uncle Shi, please."
Shi Chengyi looked at the spot where Fang Cheng placed his piece, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
This move may seem ordinary, but it actually has hidden power, subtly blocking one of White's paths.
The two exchanged blows, going back and forth for over a dozen rounds.
Shi Chengyi's originally composed playing style gradually became somewhat chaotic.
He seemed distracted, and his steps became somewhat hurried, even revealing a clear flaw.
Snapped!
Fang Cheng made a move, sealing off the large white group.
Then he raised his head, looked calmly at the old man opposite him, and said softly:
"Uncle Shi is restless and not focused on the game. Is there something you want to say to me?"
Shi Chengyi paused for a moment, looked at the dead end on the chessboard, then gave a bitter smile and resigned.
"The younger generation is truly formidable."
He looked at Fang Cheng, his smile fading, and his expression became serious:
"Since you've figured it out, I won't beat around the bush. Ah Cheng, I'm here again for that matter from last time."
“After careful consideration, and after listening to your master Ma Jianguo’s advice, we all agree that it would be a great pity if your medical skills and martial arts prowess were to remain unknown in the community.”
Wei Zheng, who was standing nearby, took over the conversation at the opportune moment, speaking sincerely:
“Junior Brother Fang, we know you don’t like being constrained and don’t want to get involved in those complicated factional struggles.”
"Therefore, the position we've arranged for you this time isn't a combat post in the Operations Department, but rather a special medical team in the Logistics Department."
"Medical team?"
Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not reply immediately.
"Yes."
Shi Chengyi nodded, then explained:
"The medical team is relatively independent and is directly under the jurisdiction of the logistics department, which is my command."
"The working environment there is simple. We are only responsible for treating the wounded and studying allogeneic pathology. We don't need to charge into battle, and there are not many formalities."
"and."
Shi Chengyi emphasized his words slightly:
"As long as you pass the exam and become a formal team member, you will receive all the benefits you are entitled to, and you will even have the opportunity to investigate what you want to investigate."
A brief silence fell over the tea room.
Fang Cheng leaned back in his chair, his fingers gently stroking the cool chess pieces, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
Neither Shi Chengyi nor Wei Zheng spoke; they simply waited quietly.
They knew that this young man had his own opinions, and any urging would be superfluous.
After a long while, the chess piece in Fang Cheng's hand fell back into the chess box with a crisp "ding".
"I am willing to take the exam."
Upon hearing this, Wei Zheng's face instantly lit up with joy.
Shi Chengyi's tense shoulders couldn't help but relax a little.
"but."
Fang Cheng changed the subject, holding up three fingers:
"I have three conditions that I would like to make clear in advance. If you can agree to them, we can continue to discuss this matter."
(End of this chapter)