Chapter 696: Yan Capital
Yan Capital, Red Star Neighbourhood.
It was a gated community that was home to the family members of many important leaders of the nation. Furthermore, those who qualified for homes in this gated community had to at least be the third-in-command of an entire province. This was vastly different from the leaders of any city, town or village, who, whilst important, didn’t hold true power and clout in their hands.
The gated community was a development that sported many blocks of low-rise developments that sat on large pieces of land. The landscaping was incredibly well done, and the entire community looked almost like a garden in the middle of the city. One would even be greeted by the melodious chirp of birds each morning.
It was currently 7.00 p.m. He had no other meetings to attend to in the evening, and he was thus home early from his work commitments. His wife, Zhu Lanyu had already prepared stewed chicken for the family’s dinner, and she promptly called everyone to the dining table for their dinner.
“Got it.” Mi Changqiu enjoyed the occasional nagging borne out of concern. At 67 years of age, he felt incredibly blessed to be surrounded by his family, and he smiled radiantly and kindly. That said, anyone who knew how this old man was at work would know that he wasn’t someone to be messed with. At the very least, they would appreciate that Mi Changqiu was a man of incisive perception and decisiveness.
Mi Changqiu frowned deeply. He had just picked up his chopsticks. As a high ranking government official, he had made it a point to set an unwritten rule that nobody was to call anyone else during mealtimes. After all, everyone was already busy enough during the day, and nobody wanted to be thinking about national affairs even during their mealtimes with their loved ones.
And as soon as he did, a young voice spoke from the other end of the call, “Mr Mi, it’s been 30 years, hasn’t it?”
The entire table turned and stared at Mi Changqiu in surprise. The old man who was usually bubbly and jovial was actually quivering at the lips and holding his phone incredibly tightly.
Mi Gaozhu shook his head. It was just then that Mi Changqiu finally sighed softly, “I didn’t think you were still alive… After losing contact with you all this while, I’d thought that--...”
“You’re coming to Yan Capital? Good. I’ll have someone pick you up right away. It’s not too convenient for me to leave my post right now.”
Then, there was a protracted period of silence during which it was obvious the voice on the other end of the line was speaking. Mi Changqiu’s face flushed with joy, “Good. I’ll immediately send someone down… Tomorrow? That’s fine. It’s a little late to be making arrangements tonight anyway. Alright, I’ll take leave of absence from work tomorrow morning and await your arrival at home. Rest assured, nobody else will be here apart from my family. My son and daughter are around as well. You’ve seen them before…”
“Yes.” Mi Changqiu gazed blankly at the ceiling, obviously overwhelmed by emotions, “It’s him… Thanks to him back then--...”
Mi Gaozhu desperately searched through his memories of the past, and then finally gasped in shock, “Uncle Qin?”
Mi Gaozhu: ???
“Perhaps… He’s looking for our help?” Mi Lan raised a brow in doubt. She knew how important her father was. Back then, when he first took on his ministerial role, numerous people who purported to be their relatives, including long-lost ones, suddenly started getting in touch with him, looking for help. This was also something that families of influence like theirs were the most afraid of.
Mi Lan shrugged, “I’ve got a vague impression of him. He doesn’t seem like a bad person, and we do owe him a favor. If this is really something that we can help with, I’d be happy to look further into it.”
“That’s right…” Mi Changqiu smiled, “He’s not the same kind of person as us…”
Finally, he turned to address everyone once more, “I’d like everyone to take leave of absence from your work tomorrow. Stay home, and don’t go anywhere else. Also, you’re strictly forbidden from disclosing any of your interactions with Mr Qin, including the fact that you’d even met him!”
The next day, 9.30 a.m. A black Audi was parked right outside the hotel where Qin Ye was staying. The police officer in charge of fetching Qin Ye gave him a curious look.
What is this? Battle Through the Heavens?
“Mr Qin, Mr Mi is upstairs. I trust there’s no need for me to accompany you to the door.” As the police officer took his leave and drove the car away, Qin Ye turned his attention to the luxurious apartment in front of him and sighed softly, “You reap what you sow. Had I not been so diligent in sowing these seeds back then, would I be reaping the benefits of my hard work now?”
Qin Ye: “... What I’m trying to say here is that had I not crossed paths with these people in the past, my life would have been even worse than it is right now. Do you know what kind of terrible invention the identification card is?! It’s a good thing I’d sowed all those seeds back then…”
Qin Ye: Σ(⊙▽⊙!!! (TL: This was literally what the author wrote)
Even the Harken couldn’t help but feel the corners of his lips twitching, “Last night, our neighbours were playing this all night at the community square for their line-dancing… They really didn’t hold back. This song is toxic!”
The door opened at once. Mi Changqiu and every bit of his bodyline of prosperity stood at the door, staring at Qin Ye with complex emotions undergirding the gaze in his eyes. Several moments later, he pulled Qin Ye into a fierce embrace.
“You’re welcome. It was all in a day’s work. Besides, it’s been so long.” Qin Ye smiled faintly, and then looked around the apartment, “Looks like you guys have been doing well for yourselves.”
Qin Ye smiled and waved his hands.
WTF?!
The hazy recollection of Qin Ye in their minds had suddenly cleared up, and it matched exactly the appearances of the teenager in front of their eyes right now. But…
What the hell is going on here?!
Qin Ye nodded slightly, “You might not believe it, but I--...”
Qin Ye: ……
What a waste of my expression!
“I didn’t tell you guys back then because I was afraid that you would shun him.” Mi Changqiu sighed, “The truth is that your Uncle Qin has already lived for over a hundred years. He doesn’t grow old, nor would he die.”
“I still don’t know whether to believe you or not…” Mi Lan sighed softly and slumped back into the sofa, “It’s almost as though my worldview built upon decades of exposure to science has been completely shattered in this instant. No wonder… No wonder…”
“You can just call me by my name.” Qin Ye sat down together with the rest of the Mi family and smiled genially, “Names are but names. I don’t really mind it too much. By the way, let me make a slight correction of the introduction that has been made. I’m not from the mortal realm.”
Qin Ye shook his head, “That’s just a city god. I’m an official Emissary of Hell. It’s been more than a hundred years since I’ve taken office, and the senior management of the Special Investigations Department should have some of my particulars in their records. Furthermore, I can personally confirm that the three strongest experts here in Cathay all know of my existence.”
Just then, the dog in Qin Ye’s hands sneezed softly, and it rolled its eyes.
You sure know how to exaggerate!
1. This is a reference to a song called Little Apple, a single by Chopstick Brothers.
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