Hidden moth

Chapter 21 What is a surprise
Xiao Wu is a kind-hearted person. The next day, he took the high-speed rail back to Qiyuan City and called He Kao to make an appointment. After get off work, the two of them went out to eat skewers and drink draft beer.

He Kao sighed inwardly. This guy was really a fool. He had agreed to have skewers, so he just had barbecue instead. He didn't even change the venue, nor did he mention having hot pot or something. He sighed, "I didn't expect you would come all this way."

Wu Yanjun: "You said you'd treat me back, so I have to fulfill your wish. After all, this was caused by my junior sister, so I have to deal with it. By the way, is that badge still with my colleague?"

He Kao: "I returned it. I didn't say anything else. I just told him I found it in the restaurant. Now tell me, which of these two pendants is real and which is fake? I didn't sleep well yesterday."

As he spoke, He Kao took out two pendants with labels already affixed to them.

Wu Yanjun took just one glance and said, "Number one is fake, number two is real, but there is one thing I want to remind you..." He repeated what his junior sister had said.

He Kao suddenly realized what was going on and said, "So that's how it is. That makes sense. Thank you for reminding me! Then I can't wear this real beast claw anymore, but there's no benefit in wearing a fake one either."

Wu Yanjun: "It's okay to wear it. A little bit of blood and anger is nothing. As for that trace of resentment, it will disappear in no time with your physique. Didn't I tell you that on the phone?

If you're still worried, give it to me first and I'll help you get over your resentment. From now on, you can wear this fake claw and no one will doubt it anymore."

He Kao handed Beast Claw No. 1 to Wu Yanjun, who put it around his neck and tucked it into his clothes. He Kao asked curiously, "Is this how you get rid of resentment?"

Wu Yanjun: "I have my own way. If you don't understand, don't ask."

Wu Yanjun actually didn't know the exact method to eliminate the resentment on objects, but he had a vague spiritual perception, so he could use a stupid method, which was to use his own blood and energy to eliminate it. If he couldn't sense the resentment, it would be considered a success.

After they had eaten a few skewers, Wu Yanjun asked again, "Where did you get that beast claw from? Was it an heirloom?"

He Kao: "You can say it's an heirloom, my grandfather made it."

He had heard his grandfather talk about the origins of the animal claws. Many years ago, during the slack season, strong laborers from all over the country would go to work on the water conservancy projects. At that time, the northern hilly areas were densely covered with vegetation and even roamed with wild beasts.

One day, a leopard was killed on a construction site. It was said to be a wounded cub. It happened to be on the site where my grandfather worked. In those days, people were very hungry and meat was rarely available, so they stewed the leopard.

He Kao remembered it so clearly because his grandfather's expression was filled with nostalgia when he recounted the incident. It was said that on the night after eating leopard meat, many people felt hot and agitated.

The leopard skin and bones were later divided among everyone, and Grandpa took home a piece of leopard claw. This happened at least fifty years ago, when He Kao was still a child and even my father Zhou Du was only a few years old.

Grandpa heard that this thing could ward off evil spirits, so he drilled a hole in it and ground it into a pendant, which he later gave to his eldest grandson.

The story was so simple and plain, yet Wu Yanjun blinked as he listened. He pondered, "So it's a talisman. Your grandfather must have had someone treat it, like consecrate it or something."

He Kao: "I don't know about that. Maybe you're right. Xiao Wu, let me toast you first... Do you think we can be friends?"

Wu Yanjun raised his cup and said, "You are a good person, worth making friends with."

He Kao: "Can I ask you something? Can you teach me some magic? I envy you extraordinary people and I want to have more skills."

Wu Yanjun was startled, and said hesitantly, "Well, our sect has its own rules, I can't teach you without permission... Besides, you seem to be too old.

My master said that I was actually quite old, so it was a stroke of luck that I was able to enter the sect. It was also because I had outstanding talent, but talent like mine is very rare.

He Kao: "Of course I know you can't teach easily, but I just want to know how to learn the technique and what are the requirements?"

Wu Yanjun was now embarrassed. He had tried his best to create an unfathomable persona in front of He Kao, but his own identity as a disciple of Ruwei Sect had not been finalized yet, so there was no way he could create unnecessary complications at this time.

Thinking back to when the master accepted Xiao Wu as his disciple in prison, he actually wanted to use his existing connections to formally introduce Xiao Wu to the martial arts school after he was released. This would have been a perfect solution to the problem, but Xiao Wu was not qualified to do so.

He could only vaguely say, "I'll go and ask around for you, but I can't guarantee there will be any definitive answer."

He Kao raised his glass and said, "Thank you very much! Actually, I'm just asking. I'm not forcing you. I'm not forcing you!" Then he changed the subject and said, "Brother Wu, it's been a while since you got out of there. Have you been home to visit?"

This was meant to express concern, but it completely dampened Wu Yanjun's spirits. He lowered his head and took several sips of wine before answering, "My parents came to pick me up when I left.

I told them that my advisor had heard about my situation and had found me a job, which I would take up after graduation. My parents asked who my advisor was and what the job was. I said it was my advisor for my graduate studies abroad, and that he also had students working in industry here.

My parents were relieved and told me to do my best..."

This passage is quite revealing. His parents are actually worried that Xiaowu might be picking up bad habits while in prison. While released prisoners face certain restrictions when it comes to finding jobs, inmates do introduce each other to jobs, as they've been in prison together.

Some of these job offers were out of goodwill, while others might lead to him being introduced to a gang. My parents thought it was a fellow inmate who introduced him, so they made sure to ask for more information, as they were worried about him going.

Xiao Wu was clever enough to make up a lie, saying that his overseas graduate advisor had recommended the job to him, and that the job was for a student of his advisor in China. This wasn't entirely a lie; it simply switched Zhang Yanfei's identity.

He Kao: "Are your parents still running a shop in Nanhua Market?"

Wu Yanjun: “Yes.”

He Kao reminded: "What about those three thugs you beat up back then? If they still run a shop in the local area, that would also be a hidden danger."

Xiao Wu, who had been feeling a bit down just now, suddenly laughed when he heard this: "There's no need for me to solve this problem. I only saw them twice during those nine months in the detention center..."

When Wu Yanjun injured someone, the other party refused to negotiate and insisted on sending him to prison. Now that their son had been arrested, the old couple decided to go all out. Seeing that negotiations were unsuccessful, they paid a lawyer to collect evidence and fight this matter to the end.

It's true that they were repeatedly denied food, right? And it's also true that they were beaten only after being asked to pay the bill. In the end, the three guys were all detained for fifteen days for causing trouble, and their outstanding debts were paid.

The detention location was also in the detention center, so Xiao Wu met them there. Two of them arrived earlier, and one arrived two days late due to a cheekbone injury. They stayed there for half a month respectively.

He Kao interrupted, "We actually ran into each other in there. There wasn't any conflict, was there?" Wu Yanjun drained half a glass of wine, leaned back, and put his hands on his knees. "As for conflict, of course there was, but there wasn't either. My master told me at the time that no matter how much hatred you have in your heart, you shouldn't be swayed by your emotions. You must have determination when doing things.

My master also told me to try not to provoke them first. I came here because of what happened before, and I have already paid the price. If they provoke me again, I must be prepared.

But I had to stay calm and not act impulsively. Once I did it, I didn't want the guards to find fault with me, nor did I want them to have the opportunity to cause more trouble. In short, I had two goals: one was not to increase my sentence, and the other was to prevent them from causing more trouble.

He Kao: "Did you succeed?"

Wu Yanjun hummed heavily and said, "Master taught me well."

He Kao: "What about the second time?"

Wu Yanjun: "If they come in a second time, it won't be easy to get out. They were swept in by a special police operation, and they have to wait for their court sentencing and then be transferred to prison."

Just before Wu Yanjun was about to go out, Zhang Yanfei had already gone out, but the three gangsters came in again. There was also a group of people who came in at the same time. It was said that they were swept up in a local special security rectification operation.

The boy who was originally injured by Wu Yanjun was named Zeng. Zeng's uncle was a leading cadre in the district. After careful investigation, it was found that his uncle had also been dismissed by the disciplinary inspection department some time ago. It is said that the relevant units had received many reports.

The most direct consequence of this was that Xiao Wu couldn't find anyone to take revenge on after he went out, and unfortunately his master was no longer around.

He Kao looked at Xiao Wu with complicated feelings. He had some guesses in his mind but couldn't say them out loud. This kid was probably still kept in the dark. Since Zhang Yanfei was gone, he might as well be kept in the dark forever.

Xiaopang's father was the director of a detention center, so He Kao knew a lot about the situation. The conditions in a detention center were far worse than those in a regular prison. Many prisoners would rather go to prison early to serve their sentences than spend time in a detention center.

The unfortunate Xiao Wu actually had to wait in the detention center for nine months, and it was because of a simple public security case. His parents' attempt to apply for bail pending trial was unsuccessful.

Wu Yanjun always believed that it was because Xiao Zeng's family had a background and insisted on not negotiating that he was put in the detention center, and that the subsequent events were also caused by Xiao Zeng's family... But He Kao didn't think so.

Insisting on putting Wu Yanjun in jail was likely Xiao Zeng's idea, and his family likely played a role as well. However, Wu Yanjun spent nine months in jail after his bail application was unsuccessful, which is unlikely to be something Xiao Zeng's family could have accomplished.

Later, Xiao Wu's parents got angry and insisted on filing a lawsuit instead of negotiating. Xiao Zeng himself was detained, which shows that his family's power is limited.

So what's the problem? Who has the ability and motive to keep Xiao Wu in the detention center for over six months? The first suspect is his master, Zhang Yanfei!

Zhang Yanfei definitely had the ability. In that situation, he was able to find a way to get himself out. No matter what happened to him after he got out, he was indeed successful.

As for the motive, he probably thought Xiao Wu was pretty good. Since he was teaching him as an apprentice, he should let him finish his studies. At least he should stay in the detention center for a sufficient period of time. Otherwise, he would be released before he had finished teaching the skills.

But these were just He Kao's guesses, and he couldn't say them out loud. The topic of conversation still revolved around the experience of that year, and He Kao added, "Actually, for some things, it's best to nip them in the bud, otherwise it will become more and more troublesome later on.

Let's talk about not paying for meals. I don't think those thugs dine and dine in every restaurant. For example, in Kaifeng cuisine, you order first and then the food is served, and the waiters don't have the power to give people a free meal.

Your specialty rice noodle shop can also pay first and then serve the food. Now everyone orders by scanning the code. When the customer comes, they scan the code to pay and then place the order. There is a waiter at the front desk who can tell the customer that he is not the boss and has no right to serve rice noodles without collecting money.

If someone insists on eating for free in this situation, you can just call the police, there's no need for you to fight. So even though your restaurant is old, you could make some changes to your business model..."

Xiao Wu reached across the table and patted He Kao's shoulder heavily, "Brother, you're absolutely right! My rice noodle shop has recently switched to ordering by scanning a code, just like you said.

It was originally a long-established restaurant, and many of its customers were old neighbors, so it had never changed. People ate first and then paid, and they only had a QR code payment system at the counter. Recently, they finally changed it..."

The two chatted for a long time, and Wu Yanjun felt that he had a special affinity with He Kao. Since returning to China, he had not met such a friend with whom he could talk so well. Under the influence of alcohol, they unconsciously said a lot of words that seemed to be from the heart, and it did not seem like this was the second time they met.

He Kao also managed to get some of the things Wu Yanjun hadn't wanted to tell him yesterday out of his head. For example, why were Wu Yanjun's brothers and sisters targeting him? Was it because of his father Zhou Du's case? Anyone who dug up that old news would notice He Kao.

There is some good news, too. Xiao Wu explained that his uncle, after conducting an in-depth investigation, ruled out He Kao as the suspected culprit. This was because He Kao was not present during several suspected culprit sightings.

He Kao didn't know how his uncle conducted the investigation, and Xiao Wu didn't say who his uncle was, but in any case, he came to this conclusion. Presumably, such a master would have his own way.

While toasting, He Kao begged Wu Yanjun that since he was an insider, he might as well publicize his uncle's investigation results in the circle as much as possible to avoid being targeted.

Then He Kao persuaded Xiao Wu to go back to Nanhua City, not only to see his parents but also to let his parents see his current self. After all, he was a senior consultant with a good income.

Xiao Wu admitted that he had actually wanted to do this for a long time, but he just couldn't move his legs. He always felt that he was embarrassing his parents. Now he finally decided to go back to Nanhua City tomorrow...

The two were originally sitting face to face, but at the end of the drinking, Xiao Wu moved to a seat next to He Kao without him knowing when, and hooked his arms around his neck and actually cried while drinking!
Getting someone drunk is just a matter of alcohol tolerance; making them cry is a true skill. The owner of the barbecue stall was startled. What were these two men doing? He was worried they might flip the table, throw bottles, or refuse to pay.

Fortunately, this didn't happen. Xiao Wu wiped his nose and tears and then He Kao paid the bill. Xiao Wu took the pendant off his chest and put it on He Kao. He Kao asked, "It's been taken care of. Is there any problem?"

Wu Yanjun: "Of course."

He Kao: "Is it that simple?"

Wu Yanjun: "How complicated do you want it to be?"

Not only did Xiao Wu not take back the fake made by his junior sister, he also specially processed it and left it to He Kao. Although He Kao got a lot of information out of him, there were two aspects that Wu Yanjun refused to reveal, even when he cried.

The first is the specific secret content of the subtle art, and the second is the so-called evidence of time travel.

What did Wu Yanjun's appearance mean to He Kao? It was actually a surprise, an absolute big surprise! He confirmed to He Kao that there really were extraordinary people in this world, and that there were various techniques to cultivate.

**
(End of this chapter)