127. Entering the Capital

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“Also, whether it’s purified water or blended water, you have to pay attention to quality. You should understand that anything people consume must be safe. If something goes wrong, under Huaxia law, you could lose your head.”

“The risk is really that high, Brother Yi?”

Yang Tang knew exactly what Lao Hua was afraid of. With a cold laugh, he said, “Surely selling water isn’t riskier than trafficking drugs, is it?”

“That’s true, that’s true.”

“So as long as you can guarantee the quality of your water, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. A five-hundred-milliliter bottle of purified water should cost at least fifty or sixty cents to produce, right? As for blended water, sell it from the factory at ten times the price of the same volume.”

“What?”

“Then run an advertisement saying that the blended water from your factory comes from an ice-cold mountain spring deep in the wilderness. Broadcast it repeatedly on television for three months. If you still can’t sell the water after that, come to me!”

Lao Hua fell silent for quite some time. At last, he said, “Brother Yi, have you already worked out the entire plan?”

Yang Tang flashed a sly smile but did not answer.

In reality, he had simply drawn up this plan for Lao Hua based on the business manuals he had read in his previous life. Whether it would succeed or fail would depend on how it was actually carried out.

After breakfast, Yang Tang had intended to leave immediately. But when he glanced at Lao Hua, who had escorted him downstairs, he felt a little sorry for him and offered a final reminder.

“Lao Hua, when Hao wakes up later, ask him about the six photographs.”

“Six photographs?” Lao Hua asked, utterly baffled.

“Just tell him I told you to ask.”

After tossing out those words, Yang Tang climbed into a taxi and sped away.

After changing taxis twice, he finally returned home. His parents had only just gotten up and were preparing breakfast.

The moment she saw him, his mother began to complain. “Xiaohong, where have you been wandering around all day and night?”

“Nowhere special,” Yang Tang replied casually. “I just went to hang out at a classmate’s place. He’s suddenly leaving to attend university somewhere else.”

His mother sighed at that. “Yes, it’s already August seventh. In another twenty-odd days, your university in the capital should be starting, shouldn’t it?”

As she spoke, she turned to his father. “Jixue, you said we’d go to the capital to have Xiaohong examined. When are we leaving?”

“I called Xu Wu yesterday. We can go whenever we like. Now it depends on what Xiaohong wants.”

The moment his father said this, his mother turned back and glared at Yang Tang. He hurriedly declared, “I have no objections. I can leave whenever you like. Why don’t we go to the capital today? What do you say?”

His mother hesitated instead. “Leave today? Isn’t that a little rushed?”

“It’s not rushed, Mom. Dad, you two can start packing right now. I’ll book the tickets.” Yang Tang had always been the sort to act on a sudden impulse.

Yang Jixue frowned. “If we take a plane, we can reach the Jade Capital this afternoon. But Xu Wu will have to arrange the hospital examination for us.”

Yang Tang laughed helplessly. “Dad, how could we arrive this afternoon? At this point, we can only book an afternoon flight, and the earliest we’ll arrive is tonight. This is what I’m thinking: I’ll book the tickets in a moment and reserve a hotel room as well. Then we can check in as soon as we get off the plane. After that, I’ll call Uncle Qin and invite his family to dinner tomorrow.”

Yang Jixue brightened. “Ha! When I called yesterday, Xu Wu mentioned that his son had come home from the army on leave. He said we should all have dinner together. Now that you’ve put it this way, it’ll be us treating them instead. What excuse are we going to use?”

“Uncle Qin is helping us contact the hospital for the examination, isn’t he? Shouldn’t we invite them to dinner for that? Besides, there’s the matter of the sponsored training placement. Even though I’m no longer taking up one of those places, he still went to the trouble of arranging it for me. That favor has to be acknowledged.”

There was some truth to that. His mother nodded in agreement. “Xiaohong is right. We should treat them to a meal.”

“All right. We’ll do as Xiaohong suggested.” Yang Jixue nodded.

Yang Tang immediately returned to his room, brought out his branded notebook, and began looking into the ticket arrangements.

“Dad, is the three o’clock flight all right?”

“What time is it now?”

“Half past eight in the morning.”

“Fine. Book the three o’clock flight.” Yang Jixue made the decision.

After purchasing the tickets, Yang Tang booked the hotel as well. Then he asked, “Should I reserve the place for tomorrow’s dinner too?”

Yang Jixue hesitated. “I haven’t discussed that with Xu Wu yet. What if his whole family can’t make it tomorrow?”

“That’s easy. I’ll book three days in a row. One of them is bound to work. At worst, we’ll lose a little deposit.”

His mother shot him a look. “You’re certainly generous with other people’s money.”

Yang Jixue did not object, however, so that was how the matter was settled.

Before lunch, Yang Tang’s parents—who were not used to paying by card—went to the bank to withdraw some cash. They also packed a little luggage, especially some clothes to wear next to the skin. Only then did they feel ready to leave.

As for Yang Tang, apart from carrying a guitar case and a small travel bag containing his branded notebook, admission letter, and a few daily necessities, he had nothing else.

For that reason, even after they got into the taxi, his mother continued nagging him.

“Honestly, child, why didn’t you bring a few changes of clothes?”

“It’s August, Mom. The Jade Capital won’t be much cooler than Fog City. Why would I bring so many clothes?”

“You should at least bring a few sets of underwear. These newly bought ones have to be washed before you can wear them.”

“I know. That’s why I brought one set.”

“One set?!”

And so Yang Tang and his mother argued all the way from the moment they got into the taxi until they reached the airport. Even Yang Jixue became embarrassed and kept making awkward small talk with the driver.

At the airport, they presented their identification, exchanged the tickets for electronic boarding passes, and passed through security without trouble. After eating lunch at a restaurant in the departure lounge, they boarded the plane while chatting idly.

Once the aircraft began queuing on the runway, the cabin grew quieter. Most of the passengers closed their eyes and rested.

Yang Tang, however, could not do the same. Whenever he closed his eyes, he could “see” the scenes of himself killing Master Wuxiazi, Gu Yuexuan, Old Hu, and the Seven Sages of Wangyou. He forced himself not to open his eyes, but as time passed, more and more souls of those he had slain appeared one after another.

“Damn it!”

His outburst was rather loud. The flight attendant passing by and the passengers in the rows before and behind him all turned to look. His mother, sitting beside him, gave his thigh a vicious pinch.

Fortunately, it was only a minor incident. Three hours later, the plane landed safely at the capital’s international airport.

The most striking impression the Jade Capital gave people could be summed up in one word: vast.

This “vastness” did not refer to the area under its jurisdiction. In terms of administrative territory, the Jade Capital could not compare with Fog City. What it possessed instead was grandeur—majestic scale, imposing breadth, and an air of magnificence. After all, it was the capital of the world’s foremost power. Naturally, it carried an air of lofty confidence, as though it stood above the world and looked down upon it.

But Yang Tang knew that the Jade Capital’s “vastness” had another meaning as well. If you stopped someone on the street and asked for directions, they might tell you that a place was “not far away.” In the Jade Capital, that could easily mean walking nearly two kilometers.

Because of this, when Yang Tang reserved rooms at the Jade Capital Hotel, he also arranged an airport pickup. Thus, the moment the family stepped out of the airport, hotel staff met them, ushered them into a car, and delivered them to the hotel before they quite knew what was happening.

After checking in, Yang Tang hurried to the restaurant to arrange dinner, while Yang Jixue excitedly called Qin Xu Wu.

By the time Yang Tang returned to invite his parents to dinner at the hotel restaurant, Yang Jixue had already finished the call.

“Xiaohong, it’s settled. We’re treating your Uncle Qin and his family to lunch tomorrow. By the way, which restaurant did you book?”

“Not far from here. Tan Family Cuisine.”

The following noon, on the seventh floor, outside the entrance to Tan Family Cuisine—

After another night in which he had barely slept, Yang Tang stared at the couplet hanging there:

“May Splendid Fortune Adorn the Journey of Ten Thousand Miles;
May Glorious Deeds Shine More Brilliantly Through the Ages.”

He felt an overwhelming urge to smash the place.

Fortunately, his mother, who had already been led ahead by a server, turned around and called out, “Xiaohong, what are you standing there for? You’re the one who made the reservation. Come on!”

Yang Tang finally came to his senses and hurried after her into the private dining room.

Yang Jixue confirmed the room number, then said to him, “Xiaohong, discuss the serving arrangements with the waiter. I’ll go downstairs to meet your Uncle Qin and his family.”

With that, he turned and left.

Yang Tang looked around. The private room was quite large. On the left after entering was the banquet table; on the right was an area for sitting and chatting. He first sent his mother over to sit on the right, then turned back to the waitress.

“I reserved this room for three days. Cancel the remaining two. Also, make sure the twelve portions of braised shark fin are served. Serve as many portions as there are guests. If that isn’t enough, we’ll order more. If there’s any left over, pack it up. We’ll order the other dishes after everyone arrives.”

The waitress could hear that his tone left no room for negotiation. She hunched her shoulders and nodded repeatedly to show that she understood.

Not long afterward, Qin Xu Wu entered the private room with his family of four, chatting and laughing with Yang Jixue.

Naturally, most of the warmth came from Qin Xu Wu and Yang Jixue themselves. They were as intimate as brothers.

Yang Tang’s mother gave him a sidelong glance before stepping forward to greet them.

Yang Jixue hurriedly introduced her. “Xu Wu, this is my wife, Yuan Xiaorong. It’s been quite a few years since the two of you last met, hasn’t it?”

“Xu Wu, how have you been?” Yang Tang’s mother said with a smile.

“Yes, it’s been eleven years. Sister-in-law, it’s good to see you!”

Qin Xu Wu sounded somewhat emotional. He was just about to reminisce about the old days when Cao Wei, standing behind him, gave a timely cough.

Qin Xu Wu immediately came back to himself and introduced his wife and children to Yang Tang’s mother.

“Sister-in-law, this is my wife, Cao Wei. You can call her Xiaocao. This is Yilan, and this is Yijian.”

It had to be admitted that Qin Yilan had inherited her mother’s features exceptionally well. Her appearance was more resolute than that of a sheltered young lady, yet gentler than true cold beauty. Combined with a height just over five feet seven and a well-proportioned figure, she was an exceptionally attractive woman.

As for Qin Yijian, he had inherited Qin Xu Wu’s firm, square face. With a sturdy build and a height slightly greater than Yang Tang’s, he was the very image of a soldier.

Unfortunately, neither sibling looked kindly upon Yang Tang’s family. Their faces remained stern from beginning to end.

Yang Tang’s mother ignored their attitude and introduced him.

“This is Xiaohong, whose full name is Yang Tang. He was just admitted to Capital University this year. Xiaohong, hurry up and greet everyone.”

Yang Tang felt thoroughly uncomfortable. Narrowing his eyes, he sincerely called out, “Uncle Qin,” then offered a half-hearted greeting to Cao Wei and the others.

“I’m sorry. I need to use the restroom.”

With that, he walked away on his own.

After turning into the restroom, Yang Tang scooped up a handful of cold water and splashed it onto his face, clearing his head somewhat. Then he cursed.

“Damn it!”

The instant the words left his mouth, he felt a hand land on his shoulder.

“Who are you cursing?” the newcomer asked angrily, increasing the pressure of his grip.

That increase in force only made things worse.

In the blink of an eye, Yang Tang’s shoulder became as slippery as a loach, twisting free from the other man’s grasp. At the same time, Yang Tang half-turned and drove a short punch directly into the area just above his opponent’s navel.

“Bang!”

The man’s back slammed heavily against the restroom wall.

And then he met Yang Tang’s ferocious, merciless gaze—the gaze of someone steeped in slaughter.

“It’s you? Qin Yijian?”

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