The sky over Kyoto was a hazy gray.
" Lao Zhou, it looks like it's going to rain."
Yu Heavy Industries, forklift loading and unloading area.
At the makeshift dining table made of wooden crates, [ Liu Jie ] ate miso soup and tempura with great relish, until the elderly man with graying temples sat down opposite him, at which point he couldn't help but speak up.
"Hey Lao Zhou, you're eating steamed buns and pickled vegetables every day, no wonder you're not getting any nutrition. Here, my wife made some cod fritters, have a taste."
"We're not used to Japan food." The elderly man, his temples graying, took off his greasy work clothes, revealing scarred muscles like hills. "We're still used to eating steamed buns with pickled vegetables."
[ Liu Jie ] clicked his tongue twice, " Lao Zhou, just look at those exaggerated muscles of yours, you'd be mistaken for an Olympia bodybuilding champion. Who would believe you're already sixty years old?"
"Is Lian Po, now old, still able to eat?"
Lao Zhou stretched his aching shoulders and neck, pulling on his massive back, his muscles bulging, forming a ferocious, grotesque face. He grinned menacingly and said, "I may not be a bodybuilding champion, but my grandson is!"
"Alright, here you go again, bragging about your grandson Su Hang." Liu Jie rubbed his forehead, quite helplessly. "Speaking of which, isn't your grandson a fitness instructor? He should be making a lot of money, right? Why don't you go home and enjoy your retirement?"
"We're still able-bodied, not Lao Ba. We shouldn't be a burden to him if we can avoid it." Lao Zhou's eyes showed longing. "Speaking of which, it's been three years since I've been home."
Liu Jie asked curiously, "Why don't you go home?"
Lao Zhou remained silent.
Liu Jie realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly laughed it off.
He quickly changed the subject, saying, "I don't know what got into the Kyoto government. They suddenly declared martial law throughout the city and held a joint military-police counter-terrorism exercise, forcing us to stop work and production. It's outrageous."
Lao Zhou said slowly, "Perhaps the anti-terrorism drill is a hoax, and the real reason is that terrorists are causing havoc in Kyoto."
"Huh?" Liu Jie was stunned. In recent years, the security situation in Kyoto has deteriorated sharply, with many horrific murders occurring, but those were just ordinary criminals, not terrorists.
"Then I'll have to take a good look at today's news."
"Read it to us, let us hear it."
"Hey Lao Zhou, can't you learn how to use a smartphone? I have to read you news from home and abroad every day."
"I'm too old, I can't learn it."
"Now you're acting all high and mighty?" Liu Jie rolled his eyes, but still opened the international version of Douyin and started reading today's trending news. "Listen up, Lao Zhou, we're going to start reading in chronological order."
Lao Zhou nodded as he ate his steamed bun.
"At 9:00 AM on August 22nd, according to Kyoto media, Yugong Liuli maiden, held a grand wedding ceremony with the Yousu Fox God at Yugong Shrine. Wow, the little shrine maiden got married?"
Liu Jie was quite surprised. Although he was Huaxia, he had worked at Yu Heavy Industries and had heard about the witch. "I was wondering why I got double pay today. Turns out it was to celebrate her wedding."
Lao Zhou picked up some pickled vegetables. "Keep reading, don't stop."
"At 10:00 AM, according to Kyoto media, shocking news! The wedding of the Liuli Shrine Maiden was tragically interrupted by a kidnapping! According to preliminary police investigations, the kidnapper is from Huaxia and is a game streamer using the alias Exalted Emperor."
"Worry?"
Liu Jie said with a chill, "You were right, Lao Zhou. Abducting a little witch in broad daylight—that's utter terrorism! And the terrorists are Huaxia!"
Lao Zhou frowned slightly, "Keep reciting, don't stop."
"At 11:00 AM, citing Tokyo media, a spokesperson for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force stated that three Huaxia warships were spotted sailing in waters adjacent to the Sea of Sea of Japan."
At noon, citing Huaxia media, a spokesperson for the Northern Military Region of Huaxia announced that the "2025 Jiaolong Departure" military exercise would be held in waters adjacent to the Sea of Sea of Japan.
" Huaxia issued a statement saying that its naval military exercise was entirely in accordance with international law, and urged the outside world not to make unfounded speculations."
"At 1 p. m., citing Tokyo media, a spokesperson for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force stated that multiple Huaxia fighter jets were spotted flying over international waters near Japan."
"At 2 PM, citing Huaxia media, a spokesperson for the Northern Military Region of Huaxia made a major announcement that the 2025 Warhawk military exercise will be held in the airspace near Japan."
"At 3 p. m., according to Huaxia media, a senior Huaxia official in charge of foreign affairs summoned the Tokyo ambassador to Huaxia."
"At 4 PM, citing Kyoto media, the Kyoto Consulate General of Huaxia issued a evacuation notice, stating that given the recent deterioration of public security in Kyoto, local overseas Chinese could seek refuge inside the consulate if needed!"
"At 5 p. m., according to Tokyo media, breaking news! The Foreign Minister of the Huaxia Tokyo Embassy in Tokyo has arrived at the Kyoto Consulate General to oversee the evacuation of overseas Chinese in the area."
Liu Jie finished reading in one breath, panting, "That's it."
"Strange." Lao Zhou stroked his chin, his brows furrowed. "How come even the government is helping that terrorist from Huaxia?"
"What do you mean, Lao Zhou?" Liu Jie never cared about politics, so he wasn't interested in these news reports.
Lao Zhou tapped the table and said, "Look, Huaxia is conducting large-scale military exercises in the waters and airspace near Japan. This in itself sends a strong signal and demonstrates a tough stance."
Liu Jie asked, puzzled, "What tough stance?"
Lao Zhou blurted out, "Release them!"
"Who are we putting here?" Liu Jie was completely baffled.
Lao Zhou squinted and said, " The Huaxia man who kidnapped Yugong Liuli."
"No?" Liu Jie asked, bewildered. "Our Huaxia is making such a fuss just to support a kidnapper. Isn't that blatant aiding and abetting evil?"
"That's what's strange about us," Lao Zhou said, his brow furrowed and stroking his chin. "But since the country has chosen to intervene, it means that the kidnapper isn't a bad person, but a good one, or rather, a righteous one."
Liu Jie immediately stated his position. "No matter the reason, kidnapping someone is a crime!"
"Trust the nation's judgment," Lao Zhou said, picking up a steamed bun. "If the kidnapper is not a righteous person, and his actions are not just, the nation will not provide diplomatic assistance."
Liu Jie asked in confusion, "What diplomatic assistance?"
Lao Zhou said calmly, " The Kyoto Consulate General issued a evacuation notice and even assigned our comrade's... oh no, our country's minister of foreign affairs, at the bureau level, to fly to Kyoto to oversee the evacuation efforts."
"This is essentially telling the kidnapper that as long as you enter the Kyoto Consulate General, you will immediately receive asylum from the country, and at the very least, they can guarantee your safe return to your homeland."
Liu Jie couldn't help but say, "I still can't accept the state's complicity in wrongdoing. I want to see just who this kidnapper really is..."
Lao Zhou said indifferently, "It's not a matter of background. Even if his connections are as powerful as the heavens, if he's not a righteous person and his actions are not righteous, the country will not only not step in to support him, but will also assist in his arrest."
At this moment.
" Lao Zhou, what's your grandson's name again?"
Lao Zhou picked up some pickled vegetables. "Our grandson's name is Su Hang, what's wrong with that?"
Liu Jie's expression was strange. "That kidnapper is also named Su Hang."
Lao Zhou, with his pickled vegetables on the ground, suddenly looked up.
His face was filled with shock. "What?!"