After having lunch at Cheng Zitong's home, Chen Chuan took his leave.
When he came out, the sunlight was just right, and birds chirped from the treetops. This time, he did not hide himself, instead walking directly past the main gate of Linhu Villa.
Two elderly men sat on either side of a stone table by the road. One held a teapot as they chatted and basked in the sun with narrowed eyes.
Then they suddenly saw Chen Chuan walk past them and froze, their narrowed eyes widening involuntarily.
Chen Chuan nodded to them. "Happy New Year, seniors."
The two old men were stunned at first, then rose to their feet without thinking and replied, "Happy New Year, Happy New Year..."
Even after Chen Chuan had passed, the two continued staring blankly after him. After a while, one of them said excitedly, "Lao Qian, did you see that? Did you see that?"
"I saw it, I saw it. Old He, stop patting me. These old bones of mine can't take it..." The other old man hurriedly moved farther away.
Old He drew back his hand and grabbed his beard, his face animated as he said, "That was a Fighter! A Fighter wished us a Happy New Year! Good, this old man's life was worth it! Worth it, hahaha!"
Lao Qian could not help nodding vigorously as well.
Unlike ordinary people, as retired teachers from Wu Yi Academy, they knew all too well what a Fighter represented. To them, the position of Defense Department Chief was indeed prestigious, but that was all. Plenty of people could hold that position. But a Fighter? That was a realm not just anyone could reach.
In the hearts of people like them, who had practiced fighting arts all their lives, that title held an irreplaceable