After settling the affairs of the Niu family, Tian Jing went to the special skills team.
This time, she and Zeng Jingrong brought Yulia and Zeng Jingchu out of the dungeon.
Upon seeing the long-lost sunlight, the two closed their eyes and stretched their limbs.
For the entire day, both of them were active under the watchful eyes of Tian Jing and Zeng Jingrong.
In the evening, the two were arranged to rest in the conference room. Tian Jing, not feeling at ease about Zeng Jingchu, personally stood guard.
Zeng Jingrong returned to his own home, the newly built accommodation courtyard.
The next morning, Zeng Jingrong came to relieve Tian Jing. After Tian Jing finished washing up in the office lounge, she saw her eldest daughter-in-law standing at the door, there to pick her up for breakfast.
Tian Jing also wanted to see her eldest son and his wife's new home.
Two rows of brand-new small courtyards were situated on a large open space behind the canteen.
The first house in the first row was naturally Zeng Jingrong's new home. Tian Jing saw that the courtyard gate was open and peeked her head in, only to see a little girl holding a cup in one hand and a toothbrush in the other, squatting by the wall brushing her teeth.
"Yaoyao."
The little girl turned her face, stared at Tian Jing for a long time, and then took the toothbrush out of her mouth, "Auntie?"
"Clever!"
Tian Jing praised with a smile, "Yaoyao still remembers Auntie?"
"Mommy taught me."
The little girl, a little over a year old, with a hint of seriousness, said, "Auntie, come sit."
"Haha."
Tian Jing laughed heartily, "You look so cute, your daddy must like it."
Ji Shiyi walked out from the main hall, "Tiantian, come in quickly to eat breakfast."
"No need."
Tian Jing shook her head, "Wanting has made breakfast. Yaoyao, Auntie is leaving."
"Auntie, bye-bye."
Yaoyao waved her little hand and continued brushing her teeth.
Tian Jing waved at Ji Shiyi and followed Wanting into the fourth house, "Did Hao Hao choose this courtyard?"
Li Wanting nodded, "He said what if a new superior needs to move in? Now they are all empty courtyards, so it's better to choose one in the middle."
New superior?
Still someone useful, apart from Ran Ran, provided Ran Ran finds someone internally.
The female captains within the organization were all quite old, and the staff members were also quite old. Thinking of her younger son's age-gap relationship, Tian Jing chuckled. As long as he didn't find someone too old, she really wouldn't mind.
There were three main rooms and two side rooms, just like the old courtyard in Kushan.
The main hall served as both a living room and a dining room. A three-seater sofa and a glass coffee table were placed in the northern half.
A square table was placed against the west wall, with three chairs positioned around it.
The door to the east room was open, which Tian Jing definitely did not look into, only glancing at the west room.
The west room was temporarily used as a study, with a desk, a bookshelf, and a single bed. The arrangement was simple and clear.
On the square table were rice porridge, boiled eggs, and steamed buns from the canteen. A plate of stir-fried cabbage was also served.
Li Wanting said nervously, "Mom, I'm not very good at cooking."
"It's okay."
Tian Jing washed her hands and sat down, "It doesn't matter if you can't cook, as long as you are willing to learn for your own little family."
Li Wanting sat opposite her. Tian Jing pretended not to notice her nervousness and picked up her chopsticks to take a bite of cabbage:
"Hmm, the taste is not bad. Before stir-frying the cabbage, sautéing a few slices of garlic in the oil will make it taste even better."
Li Wanting breathed a sigh of relief, "I'll try it next time."
Tian Jing quickly finished breakfast, "You don't need to worry about lunch for me, I'll eat at the canteen. Do as you please, and don't neglect your health when Hao Hao is not home."
Li Wanting nodded, "I know."
Tian Jing returned to the conference room and, along with Zeng Jingrong, took Zeng Jingchu to the canteen for a meal.
Zeng Jingrong chuckled, "Did my daughter-in-law's cooking taste good?"
Tian Jing gave him a sideways glance, "I never said I was going to eat breakfast?"
After a full week of accompanying Zeng Jingchu and Yulia, Tian Jing finally announced their liberation.
Zeng Jingchu showed no further abnormalities, and his temperament remained as gentle as before.
Yulia's special abilities could no longer be fully activated.
They were liberated, but what should be done with them?
Zeng Jingrong asked Zeng Jingchu, "It's very unsafe for you two outside. Do you want me to arrange for someone to protect you 24 hours a day, or do you want to stay?"
"Stay."
Zeng Jingchu did not hesitate. He and Yulia had already discussed it. Even if he could go out, Yulia, whom Tian Jing had secretly kept, could not.
It would be better for them to stay in the special skills team, where they could also keep Ji Xiang company.
In the special skills team, he could remotely control Zeng Lin and the Ao Du Group.
Zeng Jingrong then asked Yulia. Yulia nodded vigorously. Finally, there were no more obstacles between her and Jingchu. "I'll stay too. Anything you want to know, I can tell you."
Zeng Jingrong shook his head, "There's no need. Even if you reveal secrets, I cannot act on them, otherwise, you and Jingchu will still have no stable future."
Yulia's eyes welled up with emotion, "I don't know much. I'm always sent on assassination and plundering missions. However, I know Mavit has great ambitions. He wants to become the president of the Association of Espers."
After Zeng Jingchu and Yulia signed non-disclosure agreements, they went to choose a courtyard.
Zeng Jingchu wanted to choose one in the second row, but Zeng Jingrong insisted he stay next to him, meaning the second courtyard in the first row.
Zeng Jingrong's reason was for close supervision.
Thus, the furniture from the dungeon was moved out again and settled into their new home by Zeng Jingchu and Yulia.
Zeng Jingchu bid Tian Jing farewell, "Tiantian, when the weather gets warmer, can you send Ji Qing and Ji Xiang in?"
Tian Jing nodded, "It's just right, the two little ones miss Xiao Xiao Hei. However, if you and Yulia want to play with Ji Qing and Ji Xiang, you'll have to bribe Xiao Xiao Hei. Xiao Xiao Hei is good friends with the two little ones."
Bribe that wolf?
How to bribe it? Food and drink? Raw or cooked meat?
Zeng Jingchu's dilemma made Tian Jing laugh, "Go find Wanting, she plays very well with Xiao Xiao Hei."
And so, the 'servants' for Xiao Xiao Hei increased from one to three...
...
News spread from the Chinese Medicine Association that one of the research groups had made progress and was expected to have experimental results soon.
A few days later, Old Master Shen called Tian Jing, "Old Lan has been bothering me, saying Captain Zeng has transferred someone from the Ren family. I wonder what his plans are?"
It seemed that the Lan family, having recruited the Ren family, was still wary.
"Uncle Shen, I'll tell you the truth. Captain Zeng transferred someone from the Ren family because he intends to have the Ren family participate in the research project to enhance human physiological functions."
"Tell the Lan family to focus their business on the upper echelons and not forget about the many impoverished common people."
Old Master Shen's mouth twitched. Old Lan's premonition was quite accurate.
Not hearing Old Master Shen's reply, Tian Jing asked, "Uncle Shen, what was your original intention for Ginseng Fortification Pill?"
Old Master Shen was taken aback. His original intention was not to make money. He wanted to use the Ginseng Fortification Pill to gain various connections, to help his son maintain stability, and for his grandson to develop and improve.
He was also doing it for some of the higher-ups...
Thinking of this, he thanked Tian Jing, "Thank you for the reminder. I was misled by the effectiveness of the Ginseng Fortification Pill and everyone's admiration."
"You're welcome."
Tian Jing breathed a sigh of relief. If Old Master Shen couldn't hold steady, the Ginseng Fortification Pill would have indirectly benefited the Lan family:
"When we go to Kyoto, we will bring 50 stalks of ginseng. Please ask the Ren and Lan families to be prepared."
"Okay."
...
Tian Jing visited the planting base at the west end of the village every day.
On the surface, she seemed to be looking after the forty men, but in reality, she was tending to seedlings in the nursery greenhouse of the planting base.
Seedlings could only be cultivated by oneself to avoid being discovered.
It didn't matter in the village of Kushan; everyone only planted a small patch outside their doors. Villagers who contracted greenhouses in the first and second villages would definitely have opinions.
Since the higher-ups had agreed to her leave, she couldn't be too blatant.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was the second day of the second lunar month, and the Li family was celebrating Si Ji's first birthday.
The living room floor was covered with mats and blankets, and many items were laid out for Si Ji to perform the "zhuazhou" ceremony.
Shen Jianrong sighed with emotion, "Fortunately, we didn't plan to go back, otherwise, I would have had to hold a first birthday banquet for Si Ji, losing money and energy."
"If I didn't hold it, those people would definitely guess that I don't like Si Ji as my grandson. The social circles are too competitive, and one gets drawn in without being able to help it."
Tian Jing's gaze fell on Si Ji, who was squatting on the floor, picking up one item and discarding another, "Every social circle is demanding. It's difficult to remain detached, so one can only wait to be drawn in."
"You're right."
Shen Jianrong nodded, "In Beisheng Province, I often hid at Zi Yu's place, growing vegetables and raising chickens and rabbits with Sister Cai. It was happy and carefree."
Little Si Ji, during the zhuazhou ceremony, grabbed a scallion and stuffed it into his mouth. After gnawing on it for a bit, he opened his mouth and was about to cry. The adults watching the fun burst into laughter.
Not only did the adults not comfort him, but they also laughed at him, making Si Ji cry bitterly in grievance.
Xuan Xuan walked onto the mat and poked Si Ji's forehead with her finger, "Shameful."
Si Ji's crying stopped abruptly, "Jie."
Xuan Xuan patted his little head, "Throw."
Si Ji's little arm flicked, and with tears in his eyes, he grabbed a bun and, after looking at Xuan Xuan, handed it to his sister.
Xuan Xuan waved her hand, "Dirty."
Si Ji's little arm flicked again, and the bun was thrown away.
After that, he grabbed a bun and asked Xuan Xuan, but Xuan Xuan didn't approve.
Everything on the mat was thrown away, leaving only the last wooden stick in Si Ji's hand.
Xuan Xuan nodded her little head, "Want."
Si Ji immediately handed the stick to Xuan Xuan. Upon receiving it, Xuan Xuan hit Si Ji's back with it, "Hit."
The adults watching the fun...