Chapter 148: Deadly Special Training

"How is it that you're back so early today?" Bai Yulan asked, leaning against the kitchen door frame while watching Zhou Sen busy preparing dinner.
"I'm leaving tomorrow, so I wanted to cook a proper meal for you all," Zhou Sen replied with a chuckle as he turned his head.
The smile on Bai Yulan's lips instantly froze.
She had only just begun to experience the true feeling of romance between a man and a woman, yet she never expected that happiness could be so fleeting.
"When will you be back?" Bai Yulan's mood dropped noticeably. Although their union had largely been one of mutual interests, after getting to know and understand each other, she found that Zhou Sen understood and accepted her more than any other man she had ever known.
It was acceptance, not indulgence, and this kind of understanding gave her a sense of reliance. After being lonely for so long, understanding was what a person desired most.
Finding a kindred spirit was a very difficult thing.
"Hard to say. Judging by past precedent, it should take at least two or three months," Zhou Sen said while stir-frying.
"So you can make it back around June?"
"June?"
"My birthday is on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month," Bai Yulan said.
"Ah, haha. I'll make sure to be back before that day to celebrate your birthday with you in person," Zhou Sen grinned.
It was only early February by the lunar calendar, so the sixth day of the sixth lunar month was four months away. Judging by the duration of the special training, he should be able to return by then.
"I'll be waiting for you." Bai Yulan's cheeks flushed red, and her figure vanished from the kitchen doorway.
...
"Well, son-in-law, your culinary skills are truly exceptional! If you ever quit being a police officer and become a chef, your business would undoubtedly thrive!" Facing a table full of dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted exquisite, Uncle Chang—who had always been hypercritical of Zhou Sen—gave him a thumbs-up.
"I'm leaving you all with a fond memory. After eating this meal, you won't be able to forget me!" Zhou Sen chuckled.
"Brother, what kind of talk is that? It sounds so ominous, as if you're only ever going to cook this one meal for us," Jiang Rou said.
"Let me share something with you all. I'm going on a long trip. It's nothing serious—just heading to the police academy for a three-month special training course. I won't be able to take leave or come home during these three months, so I'll be temporarily parting ways with all of you," Zhou Sen explained.
"Special training? Police officers have to undergo special training?"
"It's a regulation set by the Japanese. Whenever someone is promoted in rank, they must return to the police academy for retraining. The duration varies—some last a month, others two or three months, or even half a year. I estimate mine will take three months this time."
"Is it here in Harbin? Can we go visit you or drop off some things?" Ah Xiang asked.
"I'm not sure yet. Probably not. The security protocol for this assignment is quite high and strictly confidential. I don't even know what training subjects are involved..."
"Son-in-law, since you're leaving tomorrow, care to have a drink with me tonight?"
"Just one cup?"
"Just one cup!"
"Alright, I'll have a drink with you, Uncle Chang." Zhou Sen agreed; he couldn't keep putting on airs all the time.
Uncle Chang knew his limits. Zhou Sen was leaving tomorrow morning, and getting him drunk would only cause trouble, so one cup meant one cup.
After dinner, they chatted in the living room.
"Xiao Rou, I might miss the new repertoire you're rehearsing. It doesn't matter; when I come back, I'll come support you. By then, we'll be back on the stage of the New Stage Theatre!"
"I know, Brother. If you want to listen, I'll sing for you anytime." Jiang Rou nodded in agreement.
"We've broken ties with Tang Peiyuan, and that fellow is no saint either. You must be careful about your safety. Don't go out on the street alone. If that guy is pushed into a corner, there's nothing he won't do," Zhou Sen warned.
"Mm."
Jiang Rou sat for a little while longer before heading back, leaving the rest of the time for Zhou Sen and Bai Yulan. After all, the two had only recently confirmed their relationship, and now they were about to part ways.
There was undoubtedly much they wanted to say.
"With this trip of mine, the household will be left entirely in your hands. You can drop by the Haicheng Street 'Sen' Bakery whenever you have time. It's about time the proprietress made an appearance," Zhou Sen said with a feigned casual tone.
"I know. I'll be visiting there often."
"I won't make it back for the tea pastry shop's grand opening, but given my design, the business shouldn't be bad. Once we make our first profit, we can start expanding. The items from the Haicheng Street 'Sen' Bakery can be brought over here, making this our first branch in Nangang District, followed by Daowai District. According to my calculations, one flagship store and five branch stores are enough for Harbin; having more might not necessarily be a good thing. After that, we can consider expanding to neighboring cities."
"You certainly don't lack ambition!"
"Naturally. Turning the 'Sen' brand into a time-honored century-old establishment is my ultimate goal for the future."
"And what about my Fragrant Lotus Pavilion?" Bai Yulan asked, her beautiful eyes shimmering.
"The same applies, of course. But the Fragrant Lotus Pavilion isn't like a tea pastry shop. If you open branch stores in Harbin, you shouldn't have more than three at most, and the pace shouldn't be too fast. In the future, this is meant to become a high-end teahouse spanning the entire country, so naturally, we can't be impatient," Zhou Sen said.
Bai Yulan nodded. Although her man might not be well-versed in the specifics of business operations, his strategic vision was far superior to hers. His foresight and perspective surpassed her own.
"The New Stage Theatre needs a general manager. Who do you think would be suitable?"
"The capable should shoulder more responsibilities. Why don't you hold the concurrent post for now? Once we find a suitable candidate later, you can step down and yield the position to the worthy."
"Yulan, you can make your own decisions about these matters without needing to ask me." Zhou Sen reached out and wrapped his arm around Bai Yulan's soft waist. Having a capable wife was a good thing; it allowed him to slack off.
Bai Yulan did not refuse, allowing Zhou Sen to pull her into his embrace.
Since they had already committed to one another, there was no need to be coy; it was better to be open and straightforward.
"Yulan, I'd like to stay the night tonight."
"Mm, staying is fine, but no mischief..." Bai Yulan smiled faintly, raising no objection.
"I'm not that impatient. Tonight, I just want to talk with you a bit longer, hold you in my arms as we sleep, and nothing else," Zhou Sen said.
"When you return, you can do whatever you like..."
Seeing Bai Yulan's shy expression, Zhou Sen could no longer hold back and leaned down to kiss her directly.
"Son-in-law, the hot water is ready for you!"
"..."
...
True to his word, he simply held her in his arms and slept the entire night. When he woke up the next morning, Bai Yulan was no longer beside the pillow. Looking up, he saw her sitting in front of the vanity table, busy dressing and doing her makeup.
The reflection of her face in the mirror was breathtakingly beautiful. Zhou Sen walked over quietly, placing his hands on her fragrant shoulders: "Yulan, I've never combed your hair for you before."
"A big man like you knows how to comb a woman's hair?"
"If I don't know, I can learn. You can teach me?" Zhou Sen chuckled, picking up the sandalwood comb, gently parting her lustrous hair with one hand and brushing it down with the other.
"Sister Lan, Brother Sen, it's time to get up and wash up..." Ah Xiang's voice came from outside the door.
Zhou Sen's lips twitched. This was undoubtedly instructed by that old fellow Uncle Chang; Ah Xiang wouldn't have been so lacking in tact on her own.
"Coming!"
"Go wash your face and brush your teeth. I'll do this myself." Her face flushing red, Bai Yulan reached out and gently pushed Zhou Sen away.
"Alright, I'll go wash up then..."
"Brother Sen, how was last night? Uncle Chang said that young people shouldn't rely solely on their youth—there's a long life ahead, so you need to exercise some restraint..."
It really was that old fogey! Zhou Sen gritted his teeth. It seemed he had been pent up for too long; with his internal fire raging, he needed to find an opportunity to let him vent some steam!
Zhou Sen couldn't be bothered to explain anything to a little girl. Was he supposed to tell her that he and Bai Yulan hadn't done a thing last night, but simply held each other and whispered sweet nothings for half the night?
Damn it, that would make him worse than an animal!
Washing his face and brushing his teeth, he waited for a full half-hour before Bai Yulan emerged from the room looking radiant.
One could tell at a glance that...
Uncle Chang's smile clearly carried a trace of lewdness, and Zhou Sen letting out a casual yawn only served to cement that suspicion.
There, even if he jumped into the Songhua River, he wouldn't be able to wash himself clean of this.
Anyway, since they had already shared the same bed, whether or not they had done the deed made no difference.
Sharing a bed meant they were husband and wife.
Bai Yulan was also using this method to signal to Uncle Chang and the others that Zhou Sen was now truly and rightfully her husband.
He was no longer just a husband in name only.
After breakfast, they didn't have to wait long before the car assigned to pick up Zhou Sen pulled up at the back door of the Fragrant Lotus Pavilion.
"You don't need to see me off. Everyone, go back inside," Zhou Sen urged them all back, letting Wu En carry his suitcase out the door.
"Zhou Sen, why did you bring such a huge trunk?" Anna stepped out of the car, looking surprised as she watched Wu En drag out a massive suitcase.
"It's not that much stuff—just a change of clothes, some daily necessities, and some food. It's not excessive, is it?"
"The special training base has everything you could possibly need. You don't need to bring this much at all. At most, just bring some personal items," Anna said.
"How was I supposed to know? Anyway, since I've already packed it, maybe I'll find a use for it," Zhou Sen sheepishly replied. "Wu En, help me put the luggage in the car."
"Got it, Brother Sen." Wu En loaded Zhou Sen's suitcase into the car's trunk and shut it.
"Go on back. While I'm gone, listen to Sister Lan. Whatever she tells you to do, you do," Zhou Sen instructed before getting into the car.
"Anna, where are we heading?"
"To the railway station," Anna replied.
"Aren't we going to the Harbin Police Academy? Why are we going to the railway station?" Zhou Sen asked, puzzled.
"Our special training base isn't in Harbin; it's in Zhuhe, over a hundred kilometers away," Anna informed him.
"Zhuhe?" Zhou Sen asked. "Why go all the way out there to the middle of nowhere? Good thing I brought plenty of supplies."
The car soon entered the Harbin Railway Station. In the VIP waiting room, Zhou Sen saw Saburo Shibuya, his adjutant Ono, and Front, a man he currently had zero desire to see.
In addition, Zhou Sen spotted a few other people. One of them looked somewhat familiar—the man who had kidnapped him and claimed to be the fierce bear "Yulejin." Two others were also old acquaintances, fellow "kidnappers." There was also a man with a flat-top haircut and a square face; his facial features didn't look Chinese and suggested he was Japanese. Beneath his gaze and expression, he gave Zhou Sen a persistent sense of "ferocity."
This fellow looked like someone not to be trifled with.
Aside from them, there was a Japanese man in a Western suit chatting and laughing with Saburo Shibuya. Around forty years of age, his every gesture seemed imbued with a natural sense of superiority and immense self-confidence.
"Commander Shibuya, the person has been brought here," Anna stepped forward to report to Saburo Shibuya.
"Good. Everyone has arrived, we can set off now." Saburo Shibuya nodded, glanced at his watch, and said to the Japanese man beside him, "Yamamoto-kun, would you like to say a few words?"
"No need. Everything is decided by strength alone. I hope he manages to come out on top," Yamamoto Minoru said, casting a glance at Zhou Sen.
"Very well, then I will say a few words," Saburo Shibuya said. "You are all carefully selected individuals. Over the next forty days, you will complete various high-intensity training missions. Those who pass will stay; those who are eliminated will face the most severe punishment. Zhou Sen-kun, Sato-kun, only one of the two of you will remain. The others who pass the training will become subordinates of the one who stays. Is that understood?"
"Understood!"
Zhou Sen suddenly realized that he had been drafted into a devilish training game. If his training scores lost to this Sato fellow, the result awaiting him could probably be summed up in two words: death.
"Let's move out."