Chapter 85: Trade
The moment Chen Chuan and his group got off the armored personnel carrier, they were asked to go to Guan Yuming’s temporary command center.
Guan Yuming had his assistant tell them the situation before saying, “Everyone, Mrs. Fang is getting the medicine ready. Right now, I need you to act according to the situation. If a chance appears during the trade, go in and rescue the son. Once we have him in our hands, we’ll have an easier time taking action.”
While that was what he said, the Martial Valor University students could choose to say no, because they had come as agents, not his subordinates. He could not force them to do it.
Han Guo said nothing. She was only in charge of providing information and giving the examinees marks. The students had to make their own decisions. She was not going to interfere.
The male upperclassman who told Chen Chuan to refer to him as Senior Liu pondered over it and asked, “What about the residents?”
“We don’t know yet, but we believe that the resistance group occupied Cai Hamlet and seem to have some sort of ties with Fang Dawei and his group of robbers. The only thing I can say is that the situation inside the hamlet is worrisome.”
The students discussed among themselves. The majority of them were in favor of taking up the request. Besides, they were asked to act according to the situation, which gave them a lot of autonomy. If they did not see a chance to act, they could stay out of it.
Chen Chuan did not say anything during the discussion. After all, the upperclassmen had more experience than he did. While they were discussing what they should do, he could tell that their reasoning was pretty logical.
Senior Liu said, “Deputy Chief Guan, we can accept the request, but since the enemies have implants and guns, we need the Constabulary to provide us with protective gear and give us a temporary right to wear them.”
“Of course,” Guan Yuming agreed to it readily. If the students could really rescue the son, it would save him a lot of trouble.
Once they got permission, the upperclassmen relaxed a little. With protective gear, they could afford to take a few more risks.
The constables soon delivered the protective gear. Even though they were just standard-issue protective vests, they would be enough.
All the students immediately put them on, including Chen Chuan. The standard-issue protective vest pressed lightly against his skin, and while it was somewhat thick, it was not heavy. It did not affect his movements.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Fang delivered the medicine. Guan Yuming sent a message to the hamlet. After he received a confirmation, the students headed to the hamlet with the medicine.
Halfway there, Senior Wu suddenly asked, “Are you nervous, Chen Chuan?”
“I’m alright,” Chen Chuan answered.
Senior Wu scrutinized him before huffing. “You’re amazing. Even I am not feeling too confident.”
“Enough. Stop talking.”
Senior Liu turned around and said sternly, “Chen Chuan, I know that you’re strong, but you’re not experienced in dealing with this sort of stuff. Let me negotiate with the robbers. If we don’t get a chance, then forget about saving the son. Do not act recklessly, because you’re not alone here. We’re a group. If anything goes wrong, it might lead to all of us dying. But if we do need to take action, don’t slack off either.” He then looked at the others. “The same goes for all of you.”
“Will do, Liu Xin,” Senior Wu said.
Chen Chuan nodded. This was logical and acceptable. The mission could be set aside. Their top priority was to ensure their own survival.
As the group got closer to the hamlet, Senior Liu looked around. The hamlet was eerily quiet. He turned around and said, “Chen Chuan, wait here with Brother Wu. You two will be in charge of providing support to us while we go in to negotiate. Remember to space out a little. Don’t stand together.”
Senior Wu seemed to be displeased about the fact that he was left behind and grumbled under his breath.
Meanwhile, Chen Chuan just nodded.
There was nothing wrong with the arrangement. It was best to have someone standing guard outside, so their escape route would not be cut off without their knowledge. Since no matter what sort of arrangement Senior Liu came up with, someone would have to stand guard outside, Chen Chuan was fine with it.
Once Senior Liu gave his instructions, he charged in with the other three upperclassmen. For their safety’s sake, he split them into groups of two, who were more than ten meters away from each other.
The inside was also quiet, as if there was no one inside. They looked around a little and found a three-story brick-and-wood tower at the center. It was the tallest building in the hamlet. So, they decided to head there.
Back at the command center, Guan Yuming was watching them and the hamlet through the binoculars. But even now, he saw no movement. It was as if everyone had gone into hiding.
When the students from Martial Valor University ventured deep into the hamlet and were about to disappear, the phone rang.
His assistant answered it and said, “Sir, it’s from the chief.”
Guan Yuming immediately turned around to answer the phone. “Guan Yuming speaking.”
The chief said something. The single sentence from him made Guan Yuming tense up. He could not help but turn to the hamlet and immediately order the messenger, “Tell them to come back now!”
The messenger ran off.
***
Chen Chuan was waiting at the bottom of the slope when he heard someone shouting behind him.
When he turned around, he saw a constable running over from the mound while shouting. Senior Wu also seemed to have heard what he said, because his ears twitched, even though he was stationed further ahead. He ran into the hamlet and shouted to the other students, “Guys! The kid isn’t in the hamlet! Deputy Chief Guan has ordered us to come back!”
Senior Liu and the rest immediately turned to run back, but right then, they heard the faint sound of a child crying.
They stopped.
The female upperclassman hurriedly said, “The boy isn’t here.”
“But there’s another kid here!” Senior Liu retorted grimly. He grabbed the female upperclassman’s reinforced parasol and pushed her away.
“You go back!”
Then, he turned around and ran toward where he heard the sound.
The female upperclassman gave him a look, then gritted her teeth and ran back.
A loud explosion suddenly went off behind her. The houses at the center of the hamlet collapsed one after another. Shattered stones, bricks, dirt, and gravel shot out of the hamlet. Some of them even landed where Chen Chuan and Senior Wu stood.
***
Mrs. Fang was waiting nervously and anxiously back at the command center. When she heard the explosion, all color drained from her face, and even her limbs started trembling.
She stumbled over to Guan Yuming and grabbed his arm as she asked in a panic, “Deputy Chief Guan, didn’t you send someone to make a trade? I already gave you the medicine! Was it because you made those people desperate? Why would you do that?! Why?! My son is only seven years old! He did nothing wrong!”
“Mrs. Fang, calm down. Your son isn’t in the hamlet,” Guan Yuming said.
Mrs. Fang thought that she was hearing things. Then, hope filled her. She tightened her grip on Guan Yuming’s arm so much that her nails sank into his flesh. As she stared at him, she demanded hoarsely, “If he’s not in the hamlet, then where is he? Where?!”
Guan Yuming did not seem to have noticed her grip. He said calmly, “I received a phone call just now. Fang Xunli, your son, snuck out of your mansion at 8:30 a.m. and went to his friend’s house to play. I don’t know how he did it, but he’s with his friend right now.” He looked straight into Mrs. Fang’s stunned eyes. “The robbers never held your son hostage.”
All the strength seemed to seep out of Mrs. Fang’s body, and she slid down. Guan Yuming took hold of her and instructed his assistant, “Send Mrs. Fang back.”
His assistant immediately took Mrs. Fang over.
The messenger came over and saluted. “Sir, Captain Yu sent word that Fang Dawei and his gang fled northward. Should we give chase?”
“Tell him to follow them immediately. Don’t let them out of his sight!” Guan Yuming said gravely.
“Roger!”
***
Han Guo was observing the village through a pair of binoculars when the driver of the armored personnel carrier came over and handed a form to her. “A telegram, Ms. Han.”
She took it and quickly translated it in her head. Soon, she knew the contents and said, “Tell them that I understood and will tell the examinees everything as stated.”