Chapter 136: Shocked Parents

A luxurious extended limousine was speeding down a street that had been cleared by vanguard military vehicles. The car originally belonged to Chief of Staff Wang Yi, but had now been ruthlessly requisitioned.

Ji Cheng was sitting in the front passenger seat, while Luo Rao sat on Ji Cheng's lap. In the back row were Chen Qian and the Zhang sisters, who were tagging along to have a meal at Ji Cheng's home.

The limousine pulled out of the command building, drove for a little over a hundred meters, and merged onto a main thoroughfare. The avenue was wide, flat, and brightly lit by streetlamps, leading straight to the industrial district of South Port City.

"Turn left!" Luo Rao pointed toward the south. "Make a right at this bend, and we'll be home soon."

After making the turn, large swaths of towering perimeter walls and scattered factory buildings of varying heights came into view within their field of vision, looking quite impressive. However, everyone knew that this was just for show, a facade created by former leaders to save face; the long-declining South Port City had long since lacked any pillar industries worthy of mention.

"Just stop by the alley entrance. The rest are narrow lanes, and it's hard for a car to drive in."

The spot Ji Cheng pointed to was a narrow, deep alleyway that was cluttered, filthy, and littered with overturned trash cans and scattered debris.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

He pushed Luo Rao's hips aside slightly, fished out his long-unused phone, and dialed a number.

***

South Port City, Gongjia Residential Community.

This was a crude yet tidy apartment. Aside from the bathroom and the single bedroom, the living room and kitchen shared an open space, piled with discarded electronic components and metal materials.

Against the living room wall stood a slightly narrow cot with a thin layer of dust on its surface, looking as though it hadn't been used for some time. At the moment, six or seven middle-aged men were sitting in the room.

"Oh dear, oh dear, why move to the New City? It won't be easy for us old brothers to gather together in the future. If you ask me, it was simply heaven's will that you didn't manage to leave last month."

The speaker's attire was noticeably much flashier than the rest, though his flying spittle as he spoke made the atmosphere quite harmonious. However, his remarks clearly did not win the approval of the others.

"Qiangzi, you're living like a dapper gentleman, but don't hold Old Deng back. His son and daughter are both young, just at the right age to go to the New City to forge ahead and build a career. This is actually a rare opportunity."

This argument caused those around to nod repeatedly, casting their gazes toward a robust man sitting on the right.

Deng Zhigang had sparse eyebrows, but the muscles on his arms bulged in distinct blocks. He laughed heartily, "Qiangzi, this relocation isn't up to us; it's all mandated from above. The reason I called you all over today is because the train bound for the New City this month is scheduled to depart the day after tomorrow."

Deng Zhigang had worked as an electrician all his life without making much career progress, and his proudest achievement was raising a remarkably capable pair of children.

As for immigrating to the New City, Deng Zhigang truly regarded it as an opportunity for his children to stand out and make something of themselves.

"Tsk, you old fellows go ahead, sit and chat while eating. I'll fry up another plate of eggs for you to go with the drinks."

At that moment, a middle-aged woman walked over carrying a dish, casually kicking a basin propped up with a rag back underneath a leaking spot on the ceiling.

Women always love beauty, even when they are no longer young. Although Li Qin wore an apron, it couldn't hide the shiny pendant around her neck or the earrings vaguely visible behind her side hair—though anyone with a discerning eye could tell they were cheap street stall items.

***

A few plates of seasonal greens and a dish of scrambled eggs with vinegar were soon laid out on the old dining table, while the center featured a large basin holding seven salted fish braised with scallions and soybean paste.

For an ordinary working-class family, this was already a fairly decent spread.

"Come on, let's have another drink. Who knows when we'll be able to come back once we leave this time?"

The man called Qiangzi planted one foot on a stool, shouting loudly while enthusiastically gesturing with his hands.

Jingle-ling—Jingle-ling—

A phone ringtone suddenly chimed, causing Qiangzi to turn his head in puzzlement. "It's already past eight o'clock at night, and your foreman is still handing out tasks for you? You're leaving anyway, why even bother with a guy like that?"

"I don't collect my wages until tomorrow," Deng Zhigang waved his hand with a wry smile. "Still, it's fine; I reckon it won't take long. You brothers go ahead and eat."

Tap. Deng Zhigang picked up his phone, squinted his eyes, and swiped to answer.

"Hey Dad, you guys haven't eaten yet, right? My younger brother and I are almost home, wait for us to eat together!" The voice came through the phone, causing Deng Zhigang, who had just stood up to change his shoes, to freeze instantly.

"Xiao Rao!"

Deng Zhigang stared in disbelief, and just as he was about to say something more, the call had already been hung up.

"W-What's the situation?" The surrounding men were also startled. As people aged, they tended to turn their phone volumes up high, and the previous conversation had clearly reached everyone's ears.

Everyone knew that people forcibly relocated to the New City were not allowed to buy return tickets to South Port City under normal circumstances, unless they committed a crime and were repatriated. The authorities feared people would secretly sneak back.

Could it be that they were repatriated?

Due to the radiation in the wilderness zones, communication between cities was impossible. The fact that a phone call could come through meant they had already returned to South Port City!

Even Qiangzi, who had previously joked about not letting them leave, grew nervous.

Qiangzi ran a small restaurant; although it didn't make him a fortune, he was very well-informed. He knew full well that repatriation was a serious matter, even more severe than most people imagined. People repatriated from the New City would be unable to live a normal life from then on—their school registrations cancelled, basic welfare revoked, and if they were Genotype Injectees, even their training subsidies would be cut off.

If they really had been repatriated, that would be catastrophic!

***

The sky had grown dim, yet the heat had not dissipated. The ground, baked by the scorching sun over an hour ago, was still hot enough to scorch through the soles of shoes.

Inside the Gongjia Residential Community, everything was quiet. The residents of this community were all workers from nearby factories who got off work late. It was just time for dinner at home, yet six or seven people were standing at the entrance of the community, anxiously waiting for something.

"Look over there, is that Xiao Cheng and the others?"

"Their figures look very similar, but why are there several people following them?"

"Could they be being escorted?"

Deng Zhigang and Li Qin exchanged a few words before seeing five figures approach close.

At the very front was precisely Ji Cheng in simple casual wear.

"Oh my, it really is them!"

***

Inside the home.

The small living room was packed to capacity, half of whom were good friends of the father, Deng Zhigang.

"Xiao Cheng, if there's anything the matter, just spell it out directly. No need to hide it," Li Qin looked at Ji Cheng while secretly sizing up the Zhang sisters and Chen Qian, especially Chen Qian in her uniform, which made her somewhat uneasy.

"What is it? Mom." Although this was Ji Cheng's first time seeing his parents after transmigrating, he felt a strong sense of familial bond and familiarity.

Qiangzi, who could no longer hold himself back, pulled Ji Cheng aside and lowered his voice, "Xiao Cheng, tell your Uncle Qiang, were you repatriated? What kind of trouble did you get into, and what's the deal with these three chicks?"

"If you really got into trouble, you have to tell the truth. Your Uncle Qiang has saved up some money over the years and can figure out a way to pull some strings for you."

"Uncle Qiang," Ji Cheng shook his head repeatedly, "I didn't get into trouble. Don't be so excited."

Ji Cheng was just about to introduce the others to his parents when he heard a beeping sound coming from Chen Qian's handbag.

Wearing short-sleeved casual clothes and strapping a wristband computer would look somewhat incongruous on him, so he had naturally left it with his secretary.

Chen Qian opened her bag, took a glance, and immediately said:

"Boss, Councilor Huang is looking for you."

Boss? Deng Zhigang and Li Qin were startled simultaneously.

Councilor who?! Qiangzi's neck stiffened as he turned his head, his eyeballs bulging to the size of lightbulbs.