The next day.
Liu Ruxin got up early as usual and went to the nearby market for groceries.
Her son had been working part-time on top of going to school every day. It had to be exhausting.
She had even fallen asleep on the sofa before he got home last night.
Liu Ruxin felt a little guilty.
Her son had to work so hard because she and Old Su couldn't provide for him.
Otherwise, Xiao Ye would be living as a young master of the Yujing Su Family.
With that thought, Liu Ruxin gritted her teeth and bought a few more prawns. She would braise them for her son to help build up his strength.
She was almost back at her building, shopping basket in hand, when she ran into her next-door neighbor, Aunt Wang, returning with breakfast.
Aunt Wang glanced at the basket in Liu Ruxin's hand.
"Oh, Ruxin, prawns again? These look good. Nice and fresh."
Liu Ruxin smiled.
"Yes. Xiao Ye loves prawns, and these looked fresh, so I bought some. He's been studying hard. He needs the extra nourishment."
Aunt Wang nodded. "Right. Xiao Ye's in his final year of high school, isn't he? Though I seem to remember his Martial Arts grades aren't very good?"
"Xiao Ye does very well in his academic subjects," Liu Ruxin said. "And he's made a lot of progress in Martial Arts lately."
Her Su Ye had even awakened a Supernatural Ability!
But Aunt Wang shook her head dismissively.
"What use are good academic grades? These days, you need to know how to fight! Look at my Wang Dong. He reached the Seventh Level of Kaiyuan a while back, and the Zheng Family Martial Arts School in New City hired him. That's the Zheng Family Martial Arts School! Plenty of families send their children there to train!"
Aunt Wang couldn't hide her pride. Her voice rose considerably when she mentioned that the Zheng Family Martial Arts School had hired her son.
At once, neighbors passing by or taking a stroll downstairs gathered around to congratulate her.
"Oh my, Wang Dong's mom, Wang Dong got a job in New City? That's incredible!"
"Isn't it? Wang Dong's been clever since he was little!"
"Your family will be New City residents now. Once you leave Old City behind, you'll be a cut above the rest."
"Don't forget us old neighbors when you make it big, Wang Dong's mom."
Aunt Wang grinned from ear to ear.
Ever since her son had come home with the good news last night, she had been beside herself with excitement.
She had barely slept a wink.
That was why she had come out so early: to show off properly.
The envious looks from the crowd warmed her right through.
Then she glanced at Liu Ruxin next door.
She couldn't help feeling even smugger.
Over the years, people had often compared their sons. Su Ye was handsome, did well in school, and was a dutiful son. Liu Ruxin had drawn plenty of envy.
But then Wang Dong had shown Martial Talent, and now a martial arts school in New City had hired him.
As for Su Ye... he couldn't compare with her son at all.
Years of frustration had been turned on their head in an instant.
It felt glorious.
"Ruxin, we've been neighbors for years. If Xiao Ye doesn't do well on the Gaokao, he can follow Wang Dong's lead. If things go well, maybe the Zheng Family Martial Arts School will hire him too."
Whoosh—
The neighbors who had been praising Aunt Wang turned to Liu Ruxin, their eyes full of envy.
They lived in what they called Old City and everyone else called the slums. Wasn't their greatest wish to leave this place and live in New City?
And now Aunt Wang was offering to have her son give Su Ye a hand.
How could they not be jealous?
But Liu Ruxin could only smile bitterly to herself.
Su Ye had awakened a Supernatural Ability. He had a bright future in Martial Arts.
Why would he join some martial arts school?
That would only hold him back.
When Liu Ruxin didn't answer, Aunt Wang's face fell.
"Ruxin, I'm offering to have my son help yours because we've been neighbors for years. Why do you look unhappy about it?"
Liu Ruxin quickly waved her hands.
"No, no. Actually..."
Before she could finish, a commotion came from the distance.
Then...
Creak—
Three military jeeps rolled up in a line and stopped outside the building.
Military jeeps?!
Only people in the military could drive those.
Why had they come to their neighborhood so early in the morning?
Could someone here have committed a crime?
The neighbors immediately forgot about flattering Aunt Wang or picking on Liu Ruxin. They all fell silent.
None of them wanted trouble.
Click—
The doors opened, and several people in blue Patrol Bureau uniforms stepped out.
The man in front was in his early forties, with a deep furrow between his brows.
It was Zhang Baichuan.
He checked the address.
It was right.
Except...
The address Su Ye had left last night specified the building, but apparently not the floor or apartment number.
No matter. He could ask.
Zhang Baichuan turned to the nearest person.
"Excuse me, does Su Ye from Second High School live here?"
As soon as he spoke...
Whoosh—
Every gaze swung toward Liu Ruxin.
Aunt Wang immediately put some distance between them.
"Her, her, her! She's Su Ye's mother!"
If there was trouble, they could take her!
Liu Ruxin panicked a little too.
Had something really happened to Xiao Ye?
"I... I'm Su Ye's mother. I..."
"So you're Ms. Liu Ruxin!"
Just as Liu Ruxin's heart raced with uncertainty, Zhang Baichuan strode over with a broad smile.
"Hello. I'm Zhang Baichuan, Director of the Fangyuan City Patrol Bureau."
"Last night, Student Su accepted our Patrol Bureau's invitation to become an officer. Everyone at the bureau is delighted to have him."
"In fact, I've brought some people to help Student Su and his family move."
Liu Ruxin was still dazed.
Su Ye... had become a Patrol Bureau officer?
One of those officers everyone in the city respected?!
"I... I didn't know about this. And... move?"
Zhang Baichuan laughed.
"Haha, we only settled it yesterday, so Student Su probably hasn't had a chance to tell you yet. As for moving... now that he's one of us, of course the Patrol Bureau will provide housing and benefits!"
"I had a spacious apartment in the Patrol Bureau's Family Building cleaned up last night. It comes with all the furniture and appliances you need. You can move in today."
"Shall we go upstairs and see Student Su? You can confirm it with him."
Liu Ruxin nodded in a daze.
"Oh. All right, all right..."
They watched Liu Ruxin go upstairs with the neatly uniformed Patrol Bureau officers.
Once they were out of sight...
The courtyard, which had been quiet enough to hear a pin drop, erupted.
"My god... the Old Su Family is moving to New City, just like that?!"
"Su Ye became a Patrol Bureau officer?!"
"The Patrol Bureau's Family Building is in one of the best parts of New City!"
"Could Su Ye be some kind of Peerless Prodigy? The director himself came to help his family move!"
"The Old Su Family must have the ancestors smiling down on them!"
Someone couldn't resist turning to Aunt Wang.
"Wang Dong's mom, looks like Su Ye doesn't need your son's help at all. If anything, Wang Dong should hurry up and get on his good side."
"Haha, that boast blew up right in your face."
Aunt Wang's face flushed with embarrassment. She glared at them.
"What are you laughing at? I offered to have Wang Dong help Su Ye out of kindness. Ruxin won't take it the wrong way... Hmph! Ruxin and I have been neighbors for over ten years. You can all be jealous!"
With that, Aunt Wang hurried back inside.
The Old Su Family was moving. As their good neighbor of so many years, of course she had to help!
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