Chapter 7, I desire tranquility but cannot attain it

The bald man, known as Iron Brother, slapped the speaker so hard that their head dropped down to their knees

These salted fish are used to make the traditional pickled fish from my hometown. They need to be air-dried for twelve hours, then placed in a jar with glutinous rice for pickling. They can be consumed only after two months.

Not only is her beauty captivating, but also her unhesitating criticism of her companion's behavior for the sake of a complete stranger like herself... Is it innocence and candor, or ignorance of the world? Is it the demeanor of a young lady, or a deep-seated aversion to evil... With such brief contact, Lu Yan does not know how to evaluate this unique girl

On the way back, the girl's face kept appearing in Lu Yan's mind

Do you know, when I looked at her body, she was only 16 years old, a girl as soft as a flower, her face unrecognizable from the impact, my heart was practically bleeding... Do you know, at that moment, if I had been more alert and had pulled her back before the large truck came rushing in, this would not have happened—I kept thinking, shouting, and regretting in my heart, my head felt like it was going to explode

Three more motorcycles arrived, and the riders on them all claimed not to have seen anyone. The bald man, even more enraged, reached out and yanked one rider's helmet, slamming it violently against the wall. Still harboring resentment, he raised his leg and delivered another kick.

Whenever he thinks of the girl's honey-colored lips curling into a smile, and those beautifully dreamlike eyes that can deeply captivate anyone, Lu Yan cannot help but feel his heart tremble

"High-ranking official's ward? What was the title of the girl's father that you saved?" Lu Yan asked curiously

Dinner is boiled fish. On the Dragon Boat Festival, I poured myself a glass of Erguotou, toasting to those far away.

They discussed some insights regarding abilities again. However, Tao Yan had just awakened, and their abilities were completely different, leaving little to learn from each other. After agreeing on a time to meet at the end of the year, a woman's voice came from the other end of the phone. Tao Yan lowered her voice and told Lu Yan that a nurse was coming for rounds, and the two ended the call

Well, in Hollywood films, many people who share the same fate as us have become tragic figures. For now, let us try to avoid exposing ourselves and quietly observe the developments. Communication through phone or internet is not secure; it is easy to be monitored. Unless absolutely necessary, we should refrain from contacting each other. When you return for the Spring Festival, we can have a good discussion. Oh, by the way, how are Lao Xiao and A Gui?

After speaking, he took out his phone, searching for a number while instructing a man in a floral shirt: "Hey, Lao Er, you take them back to the bar to keep an eye on things. We'll call you once we find it. Remember to be alert; things have been a bit unstable lately"

Little did he know that his hand reached for the empty space where the key was supposed to be in the front of the car. Sweat continued to drip down the smooth forehead of Bald Iron Brother.

Lu Yan recalled hetushu.com and quickly entered the space bar, discovering that Xiao Jingming and Shi Gui had both posted a similar update at the same time a week ago. The gist of their message was that their company would be organizing key personnel to go to California, USA, for a three-month corporate culture and industrial technology vocational training in order to take over the new orders from the second shareholder "Aipo"

It's easy to say, who is Wei Ge? He is the executive director of Wantang Group, the leader in the Jiangcheng Newmen District of Xinyi Hall. He has shares in bars, beef markets, nightclubs, and mahjong parlors; every white goods transaction in Xinmen, Hongshan, and Huishan goes through him. You say a person like him asks me to handle this small matter, isn't that giving me face? Damn, now that we've messed up, does the West Society still want to operate in this area?

Lu Yan was startled by his own thought, and while touching his chest, he couldn't help but curse at the small car that brushed past him.

Lu Yan stared wide-eyed at several comments below that brimmed with envy and hatred, an ominous thought rising in his mind

Tao Yan said: "I have just begun, which is probably related to time. On my way back by car, I had several nightmares, all related to a door-shaped symbol with golden patterns."

Nonsense, has your brain been filled with water? You can associate so much with such a trivial matter. However... there were indeed many people who came to see me before. Tao Yan spoke slowly and retorted, "You haven't mentioned your situation yet?"

County Party Secretary

Wow, your experiences rival those in the officialdom novels found online! Brother, will many leaders come to meet you shortly? Also, is that girl beautiful? Will she fall in love at first sight with her benefactor, secretly harboring feelings for you? Will your leaders get wind of this and be holding a party committee meeting to prepare for promoting you, a comrade with firm principles and outstanding abilities, to an important position?

Upon returning home, Lu Yan took out all the fish he had caught today. He first cleaned them, then scaled them, opened their abdominal cavities, and removed the gills, intestines, swim bladders, tendons, and lungs. He placed them in bowls for later use, leaving one slightly larger fish for dinner. For the remaining fish, he used a ratio of 1.2 grams of salt per kilogram of fish, evenly sprinkling the salt over the fish and massaging it in. The salted fish were then laid out flat in a cool, ventilated area on the balcony.

As Lu Yan walked down the street, he secretly speculated that it was rather strange that neither of the two individuals could be reached by phone

It has really been a long time since I returned home

Later, I began to sense some differences, such as the last time I had an accident where I injured my leg, but the recovery was surprisingly quick; also, my body is becoming stronger. You know I rarely play basketball, but last week during the county's political and legal system basketball league, I came off the bench and surprisingly scored the highest individual points.

Xipu is indeed one of those places in the book, where the influx of a large number of migrant workers has transformed this previously remote small village into an incredibly prosperous area, with intersecting streets, numerous shops, and bustling traffic. When Tao Yan got off the bus and saw the scene here, he felt that his hometown's county town was no different from this.

* * * * * * * *

A weak voice came from the other end of the phone. Lu Yan found it strange; logically speaking, Tao Yan's leg injury was over half a month ago, so why was he still in such a state? He quickly pressed for more details, and Tao Yan replied, "My leg is almost healed, but my head is hurting badly. I can't explain it clearly over the phone; let's talk when you return."

Unexpectedly, with this kick, the previously lively young man fell to the ground without a sound.

Indeed, as someone well-educated, your quality is exceptional, and your clever ideas come effortlessly! You are referring to finding Gui Qian and Wang Fu, correct? Alright, I will give these few fellows a call, and then we will go investigate together. After that, I will also treat them to a bone-setting session.

Rely on!

A young man cautiously said: "Iron Brother, it's just one person. If we can't get them, then we can't get them."

Of course. Do you remember that day when I called you to ask about the situation? I almost hung up. How are you doing? What is the situation? Lu Yan's heart was filled with joy; finally, there was someone who understood her.

The incident just occurred. Yesterday, an accident happened in front of the county people's hospital, where the daughter of our secretary was struck by a truck and thrown into the air. I was at the scene at the time, and the most outrageous thing happened.

Tie Ge laughed heartily, patting Huang Mao on the shoulder and saying

"Tie Ge, nothing has gone wrong. That kid must be living around here. All rental properties in this area have registration for rentals, and every landlord is usually familiar with their tenants, right? I'll go find my fellow villagers in the security team shortly and try to locate him tonight" said Huang Mao

These two groups of people are actually one gang, consisting of nine men dressed like thugs, each holding baseball bats and machetes, with four of them roaring on motorcycles. Upon arriving here to gather, these individuals exchanged glances, all somewhat taken aback.

When the harvest is good, he enjoys preparing some local specialty dishes. Having been sensible from a young age, he naturally knows how to make hometown flavors such as pickled fish and kimchi. When he finishes cooking, he invites a few colleagues and friends over for a meal, which enhances Lu Yan's popularity among others.

A burly bald man asked the person across from him in a low voice: "Erzi, where is the person? How did we lose them?"

Tao Yan said irritably: "This morning, the doctor told me that my coma was due to an excessive outburst of potential all at once, which resulted in overexertion of my physical strength. However, I need to undergo a complete physical examination and rest properly before I can leave hetushucom.com hospital"

This possibility is quite significant. Previously, there have been peers like "The Thirteen Young Masters of Jinling," indicating that those with super abilities are not alone. Since I have already acquired the ability of precision control, it is almost certain that Tao Yan, Xiao Jingming, and Shi Gui will have the opportunity to gain their abilities under the same conditions at the same moment on the same day.

Soon, with the roaring sound of the motorcycle starting up, only Bald Iron Brother and Huang Mao remained in the dim alleyway

The ceramic inkstone is used in the study of communication engineering. Since he mentioned that the communication is not secure, if there exists a group of individuals intent on monitoring Lu Yan, the likelihood of exposing casual communications would be significantly high. The life of laboratory mice depicted in American dramas has been a persistent concern for Lu Yan during this period.

In the 1980s, this area was still a banana grove. With the spring breeze of reform and opening up, a large influx of foreign capital led to the establishment of numerous factories in this narrow region. The influx of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers made this several hundred square miles of land more bustling than ever before

After discussing the application and experience of abilities, Lu Yan expressed his concerns to Tao Yan: "I think we should be cautious. The celestial phenomena are unusual, and many beings have acquired abilities. Will these abilities pose a threat to us? Will there be organizations with ambitions towards us? ... These situations are currently unclear. If we recklessly expose ourselves, we will only become the prey in the crocodile pit, devoured completely."

The bald man was furious: "I lost the person, how am I supposed to explain this to Wei Ge? I had previously assured them with confidence that I would bring the person here, what am I supposed to do now?"

Lu Yan's eyes lit up, and the spirit of gossip ignited fiercely

On the way back, Lu Yan realized that he was being followed

Lu Yan recounted the significant events of the past few days to him, particularly the dangers faced that day, which still left him feeling apprehensive. Upon hearing this, Tao Yan could only exclaim in admiration. When the source of the superpowers was mentioned, Tao Yan agreed with Lu Yan's perspective, believing it to be related to the Night of the Dark Moon.

"Who knows, we have been following from the street all this time, and several nearby roads are blocked. Could he possibly have flown away?" The speaker is a young man with blonde hair, one of those who had been following earlier.

Lu Yan contemplated various possibilities as he walked into the alley. After a short while, he heard chaotic footsteps coming from both directions, suggesting there were four or five people. Noticing that there was no one around for the moment and the light was dim, Lu Yan took a deep breath, leaped up, and, with the agility of a monkey, used both hands and feet to climb up the drainage pipe to the adjacent five-story building.

"I was just about to call them. If that is the case, we can wait until the Spring Festival when the situation becomes clearer and discuss it in detail when we go home together". Lu Yan felt a bit apprehensive.

Since acquiring extraordinary abilities, I have been immersed in immense excitement and thrill, akin to a child receiving a new toy. Time has passed in continuous experimentation and exploration, yet I have not considered whether my friends, who have had similar experiences, have also gained the same abilities

The difference lies solely in whether one is awakened or not

In an instant, the surrounding scenery twisted and stretched, changing violently. The first image that stabilized in the world was surprisingly her once again appearing at the entrance of the county people's hospital, walking towards the crosswalk across the street... I instinctively ran over to push her away, and as the truck brushed past, I suddenly felt as if I were living in a dream... I instinctively ran over to push her away, and as the truck brushed past, I suddenly felt as if I were living in a dream...

Lu Yan concealed himself entirely in the darkness, holding his breath, with only his eyes faintly glowing. Ever since he discovered the anomaly, his vision and hearing have become more acute than those of ordinary people. He has also attempted activities such as seeing objects in a dark room and listening closely against the wall.

Such telephone booths are quite common in the suburbs of Jiangcheng and in urban-rural fringe areas. In the Xinmen District, there are many migrant workers, and numerous businesses have installed a line in their shops, dividing it into several private rooms. Long-distance calls are priced at 0.1 yuan per minute, which is very popular among people

It has been a long time since I returned home. Looking at the factories in the distance under the setting sun and the bustling streets around, the streams of busy people weave through like threads. Further away, the gentle hills appear dark green, shrouded in a mist that lingers at the edge of my vision. A feeling known as nostalgia rises in my heart

In the evening, after Lu Yan had called home, he suddenly remembered that he had not been in touch with a few classmates for some time

Hello, Ayan...

To the family, to friends, to the inexplicable existence between heaven and earth

The motorcycle suddenly sank down, and a cold finger pressed against the jade pillow point at the back of Tie Ge's head. A deep voice from a man leisurely asked, "Are you looking for me? May I ask what brings you here?"

It is an immense honor that both individuals have been selected.

He took out his phone and scrolled through the call log, where Lu Yan first dialed Tao Yan's number

The techniques employed by these few individuals in disguise to follow others are evidently quite amateurish, or rather, they have no intention of concealing themselves at all

Then I fainted, and only woke up today, now lying in a high-level hospital ward, feeling as weak and powerless as a girl who has been exhausted by a dozen people, with a splitting headache

After some thought, Lu Yan left his residence and ran to an IP phone booth not far to the west

However, she could have remained a mere bystander like the flamboyant woman in the orange short skirt beside her, yet she chose to step forward and advocate for justice on behalf of this "disadvantaged" passerby. In our society, people often apply double standards when judging others; to act in such a manner embodies the essence of chivalry.

The situation was eerie; he had been mingling in Xipu for years and had some courage. He put his phone in his pocket and crouched down to push the limp figure of the blonde lying on the ground. The blonde, sprawled on the ground like a puddle of mud from drinking too much, wouldn't wake up no matter how he pushed. Tie Ge began to feel uneasy, his mind in a chaotic state.

Lu Yan's residence is slightly off the bustling main streets, located in the residential area south of Xipu. To return to the residence from the street, one must navigate through a winding and confusing alley. It is now around 9 PM, and the dimly lit alley, devoid of streetlights, occasionally echoes with the sound of barking dogs, which adds a sense of tension.

However, due to its remote location, small administrative structure, and rapid development, the overall layout of Xipu has not been well planned. The alternation of old and new buildings, the winding alleys, and the often abandoned construction materials and household waste piled up along the sparsely populated roads create an unappealing atmosphere

What next

However, I can never replicate my mother's flavor

With a heart full of anxiety, naturally every blade of grass and tree seems like an enemy

A sense of foreboding washed over him; disregarding the fate of his subordinate, he leapt up, mounted the motorcycle, and prepared to start it, eager to leave this eerie place behind

Holding the phone, I saw the fat penguin application inside and thought to contact them via QQ. In fact, the few of them are generally like submarines, surfacing only occasionally; unless an appointment is made, they usually communicate by phone and rarely log onto QQ. In the long list of friends, scrolling down to the avatars of Xiao Jingming and Shi Gui, all appeared gray.

Have you gone abroad

It is truly strange that these two individuals did not reveal even a hint of such a significant matter to themselves... Xiao Jingming, Shi Gui... Could it be that they have obtained superpowers and, through this technology, have immigrated to become American citizens?

The last time we agreed to go home together was during the Spring Festival, and counting it up, it will still be more than half a year. Lu Yan couldn't wait any longer and urgently asked: "Don't mention those things, just tell me why you have a headache. Is it related to the total lunar eclipse at the beginning of the month?"

Tie Ge's phone is still the new black iPhone 4S. After fiddling with it for a long time, he couldn't find anyone. He kicked Huang Mao and said, "Damn it, what kind of broken smartphone is this? I can't even use it. Where is that bastard Gui Qian's phone number? Help me find it."

Before long, two groups of people came rushing in from both sides, exuding a fierce aura.

The residential area where Lu Yan lives is called Xipu Village, which is adjacent to the New Qin Industrial Park

The other end of the phone fell silent, and after a while, Tao Yan said softly, "Are you too?"

Tie Ge was taken aback, but having weathered many storms, he quickly understood that something was amiss. Instinctively, he grabbed a gleaming watermelon knife from the remaining motorcycle beside him, crouched down in a defensive posture, and scanned the surroundings, yet he did not spot a single figure.

Lu Yan paid a deposit of 5 yuan, and then proceeded to call Xiao Jingming and Shi Gui one by one. However, after several attempts, all calls were met with the response that they were not in the service area