Zeng Shan's expression changed at once.
Then he rushed into the house like a gust of wind.
Luo Yan heard Zeng Shan's loud cry from inside almost immediately: "Dad, Mom. What's going on? Why are you marrying A Bao off?"
A moment later.
Luo Yan entered the house.
He saw a middle-aged couple.
The man squatted in the corner, smoking nonstop.
The woman sighed and said, "Shan, your father has fallen ill recently."
"He can't work, and medicine and medical treatment cost money."
"We really have no other choice."
"As it happens, Aunt Wang next door introduced us to a young man."
"His family is well-off, and his uncle is the director of the Local Security Bureau in our district."
"I heard from Aunt Wang that his uncle is very close to the Minister of Education."
"He might even be able to arrange for Little Shuang and Little Xi to attend school."
Zeng Shan shook his head. "Does that mean you can sacrifice A Bao's happiness?"
"Mom, I'll find a way to deal with the money."
"I'm a Reserve Mech Pilot now. I receive a subsidy of 1,000 work points every month."
"That should be enough for Dad's medical treatment and medicine, right?"
"As for sending the two children to school, I'll find a way."
Just then.
A woman's voice came from outside: "Brother and Sister Zeng, congratulations!"
Mother Zeng hurriedly pulled her son aside. "Aunt Wang is here."
Luo Yan frowned slightly.
He disliked situations like this.
But this was his first time visiting Zeng Shan's home.
Leaving now would be too disrespectful to Zeng Shan.
So he quietly walked to a corner.
He watched coldly.
A woman in her forties, still dressed extravagantly, walked in.
Several young men followed behind her.
The one at the front was dressed unusually well and wore a gold watch, making him seem completely out of place among the people from the Zeng family.
He was the very picture of ostentatious luxury.
The men behind him carried several large and small bags.
They placed them on the table.
The middle-aged woman took Mother Zeng's hand and said, "Sister Zeng, look. This is a token of Little Chen's sincerity. Hurry and accept it."
Zeng Shan rushed forward. "My sister isn't getting married. Take your things back. We don't want them."
Mother Zeng hurriedly blocked her son and said apologetically to the middle-aged woman, "Aunt Wang, I'm sorry."
"This is my eldest son. He just returned from the Academy and couldn't accept this right away. He was being impulsive."
Aunt Wang let out an "Oh," then said with a smile, "So this is the son you mentioned—the one who was admitted to the Hundred Battles Academy and became a Reserve Mech Pilot."
"He certainly is quite a fine-looking young man."
"But, young man, don't think you've made it in life just because you became a Reserve Mech Pilot."
"Have you ever looked into it? So many students graduate from the Academy every year, but do all of them become Mech Pilots?"
Aunt Wang moved beside Little Chen. "Little Chen is different. His uncle is a bureau director and arranged for him to enter the Local Security Bureau long ago."
"He already enjoys Fifth-Rank Treatment, and sooner or later, he'll take the director's position."
"His future is bright."
"If I were you, I'd marry your sister off as soon as possible. Maybe in the future, seeing that you're relatives, Little Chen might even arrange a position for you in the Local Security Bureau."
The young man, whose full name was Chen Xinhou, shook his head. "Aunt Wang, don't flatter me."
"I don't even know when I'll be able to take the director's position."
"It's too early to talk about that."
His words were modest, but arrogance seeped from his very bones.
It was as if the director's position were already within his grasp.
Then he looked Zeng Shan up and down. "Besides, getting into the Local Security Bureau isn't something you can secure through connections alone."
"Even if someone is a relative, they won't qualify if they lack the ability."
Zeng Shan sneered. "Who wants to be your relative? Stop flattering yourself."
Aunt Wang pointed at Zeng Shan's nose. "How can you talk like that? Little Chen is interested in your sister."
"That means your ancestors' graves are practically smoking with good fortune."
"If my family had a daughter, this good thing wouldn't have fallen to you."
"Now that Little Chen's betrothal gifts have arrived, the girl will come with us first. Tomorrow, Little Chen will send over the work points he promised you."
After saying that, Aunt Wang actually reached for Zeng Shan's sister's hand.
Zeng Shan instantly seized Aunt Wang's wrist. "Let's see who dares take A Bao away today!"
Chen Xinhou sneered. "A bunch of paupers, and you really think you're important?"
"At first, I thought it might be fun to spend some money and play with a little innocent flower."
"But now you're pretending to be noble?"
"You think the money is too little?"
"Then I'll add another 1,000 work points. How about 2,000?"
"Name your price."
"It's just one woman. Don't tell me I can't afford to play with her."
That completely enraged Zeng Shan.
He roared and lunged forward.
One punch sent Chen Xinhou flying out of the house.
"Ah! They're assaulting someone! What are we going to do?"
Aunt Wang hurried outside and shouted, "Someone's been assaulted! The Zeng family assaulted someone! Hurry and call the Local Security Bureau!"
Chen Xinhou was struck dizzy and dazed.
It took him a long while to recover.
He touched his mouth.
His front tooth had fallen out.
He pointed at Zeng Shan and shouted furiously, "Just you wait!"
At that moment, he heard sirens outside.
He was overjoyed.
He had someone stop the vehicle.
It was a Local Security Bureau vehicle.
Sure enough.
A squad of security officers soon walked over.
At the head was a man.
He was balding and had rather thick lips.
When Chen Xinhou saw him, his face lit up. "Uncle! It's me, Xinhou."
He had never expected to run into his uncle, the director, here—Chen Kang'an.
Chen Kang'an had originally received a tip claiming that the giant-beast smuggling group that escaped yesterday had gone into hiding in his jurisdiction.
So he had personally led a team out on patrol.
Just now, someone had suddenly stopped his vehicle.
After hearing that a student from the Hundred Battles Academy had assaulted someone, he came over.
Only to run into his nephew.
Seeing that half of Chen Xinhou's face was swollen and that he had even lost a front tooth, he flew into a rage.
"Who assaulted someone?"
Chen Kang'an roared.
"One man takes responsibility for his own actions. I did it!"
Zeng Shan stepped forward and admitted it loudly.
Chen Kang'an nodded and barked, "Take him to the bureau."
Several security officers stepped forward.
Zeng Shan's parents panicked.
They were merely honest workers.
They had never seen such a situation before.
For a moment, they were completely at a loss.
Luo Yan walked out as well, carrying Star Splitter.
He frowned slightly, wondering whether he should call Little Li from the Exploration Corps.
He could ask him to help resolve this matter.
Unexpectedly.
When Chen Kang'an saw Luo Yan,
his eyes immediately lit up.
Yesterday's Death Match at the Hundred Battles Academy—
because of his relationship with the Minister of Education, Lu Cheng,
he had benefited from it and gone to watch the match as well.
Luo Yan's performance then had been exceptionally dazzling.
Moreover, Chen Kang'an had heard that when the Luo Family later came to collect the body, they not only hadn't made things difficult for Luo Yan, but had even told the student to recuperate properly.
On top of that, Colonel Liang Jian of the Exploration Corps had personally requested him.
Chen Kang'an sensed an unusual "scent" on Luo Yan.
The scent of a noble person!
At once.
Chen Kang'an pushed several security officers aside.
Under the astonished gazes of his nephew and Aunt Wang,
he came to Luo Yan's side.
"Classmate Luo Yan, what are you doing here?"
Before you continue