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Chapter 83: Chapter 83: The Second Invitation
Han Yi smiled and added, "But the salary each month will only cover your provisions; food, drink, and necessities are all included, but we won’t be giving you any additional points."
Han Yi didn’t want to be bound by the base’s points system as that would be too restricting. They couldn’t afford to waste all their time earning points; earning just enough to cover the rent each month was sufficient. 𝘯𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Upon hearing Han Yi’s words, Zhou Yan and his wife were first overjoyed, then somewhat troubled.
"The place we’re staying now... requires five hundred points for rent each month." After leaving the hospital, Zhou Yan could no longer stay in the doctor’s dormitory. He now lived in a prefabricated house in the west district with Yu Wanxi, where each room required five hundred points a month.
"You can move over here," Han Yi said, "There are two empty rooms on the first floor, choose one." Aside from Lu Changyuan, who lived on the first floor, everyone else’s rooms were on the second floor. Lu Changyuan chose the first floor because he loved to smoke and needed to stay further from where Han Jiaojiao lived.
Zhou Yan and Yu Wanxi looked at each other, both seeing the joy in each other’s eyes.
"Young Master Han... thank you... we are so grateful!" Both were so moved they hardly knew what to say.
Han Yi’s expression was mild, and he slightly smiled and said, "Just follow my rules, and you won’t be treated unfairly."
"Rest assured, Young Master Han! We understand!"
Zhou Yan was truly grateful to Han Yi. Since leaving the hospital, he had suffered a great deal. Being a doctor without superpowers made it hard to find suitable work. He had no weapons for missions, and he lacked the strength for manual labor. Yu Wanxi was a bit stronger than him and could find some odd jobs, but even with their combined efforts, they barely managed to cover the rent, and having a full meal was a problem. He had hesitated about moving to a cheaper place but really didn’t want to move to the South District. Although rents there were cheaper, it was too dirty and chaotic, with almost daily fatalities... He couldn’t bear the thought of what might happen to Yu Wanxi if he left her alone there while he went to work...
The arrival of Han Yi not only provided them with a job but also rescued them from their predicament.
After deciding to keep Zhou Yan and Yu Wanxi, Han Yi instructed them to pack up their belongings and move over as soon as possible. Because of this delay, everyone ended up eating lunch past one o’clock. Xiao Jian cooked noodles and prepared a pot of fried sauce; they had noodles with fried sauce for lunch.
It might have been a coincidence, but while everyone was eating, Zhan Rong suddenly arrived.
"Oh! Eating, are you? This sauce smells really good," Zhan Rong couldn’t help but comment as soon as he stepped into the house.
Yan Xiao looked at him and laughed, "I say, Major Zhan, why does everyone from your team always seem to arrive right at meal times? Don’t tell me you’re hoping to mooch a meal?"
Zhan Rong’s face turned slightly awkward, and he gave a dry laugh, "How could that be... the base would never take advantage of any civilians; we are disciplined." He thought to himself, who knew you would be eating so late, it’s already almost half-past one...
"I’m really sorry about yesterday. It was a junior secretary of General Ji’s who behaved badly. General Ji was very angry when he found out and specifically sent me here to apologize. This was all just a misunderstanding, so please, don’t take it to heart." Zhan Rong stated his purpose and glanced around the hall, not seeing Han Yi.
Understanding the situation, Yan Xiao went upstairs to call Han Yi.
Lu Changyuan set down his bowl and stood up to brew a pot of tea for Zhan Rong, the epitome of courtesy.
"General Ji is busy with a myriad of tasks each day, and Major Zhan, you too are swamped with official duties. It’s really too courteous of you to make time for such a trivial matter,"
The fragrance of tea filled the air, prompting Zhan Rong to think that even General Ji could not enjoy such fine tea these days... He steadied his mind and said, "It’s necessary. We can’t have Young Master Han holding a grudge; it would be unsightly to have any discord. You all know that the base is striving to build up its strength, and we are indeed desperate for talent over here."
As they were talking, scattered footsteps sounded from the stairs, and Yan Xiao, Han Yi, and Han Jiaojiao slowly descended.
Han Yi’s voice was as always, cold and slightly deep, "Building the base is a good thing for the country and the people. If there’s a way we can help, since we live here, we naturally want to contribute to the base."
"Mr. Han," Zhan Rong stood up, and seeing Han Jiaojiao behind Han Yi, he added, "I upset Miss Han yesterday, please forgive me. The general has already punished that person."
Han Jiaojiao pursed her lips and said, "... Uncle Zhan, you’re too polite."
Only after Han Yi and Han Jiaojiao were seated side by side did he say to Zhan Rong, "My younger sister also has her naïve moments. Please convey to the old general not to mind her childishness."
Zhan Rong’s eyelid twitched, thinking of the rumors that Han Yi was overprotective of his siblings, he felt his mission was extremely daunting.
"Ha... I wonder, Mr. Han, what are your plans going forward?" Zhan Rong tentatively asked.
Han Yi smiled, "If Major Zhan has any advice, feel free to speak openly."
Zhan Rong sipped his tea, then began, "Mr. Han must have heard recently about the base establishing an ability team. Anyone with a score above 120,000 can join. Joining the ability team is akin to having a military post, and there are professional staff to tailor training for each person’s unique abilities, guiding superpower users to enhance their abilities. Currently, our team consists of 300 people and is still expanding."
After finishing, Zhan Rong looked towards Yan Xiao, Xiao Jian, and Bai Kairui, sitting next to Han Yi. —According to the registration forms they filled out at the base, Zhan Rong knew not only was Han Yi’s score exceptionally high, but those around him also had scores around five to six hundred thousand, which was significantly higher than the current average of the base’s ability team.
Hearing Zhan Rong’s invitation made Han Jiaojiao’s body stiffen involuntarily; Han Yi placed a hand gently on her clenched fist, soothing her.
"We are honored that General Ji holds us in such esteem. However, my friends and I are used to freedom. A military life, I fear, would be hard for us to adapt to," Han Yi said with a light smile, his tone neither cold nor warm, "I wonder if Major Zhan has asked my uncle. The Han Family is a military and political family, and I believe, my uncle and cousins will certainly actively respond to Major Zhan’s efforts."
Zhan Rong’s lips curled into a bitter smile, prepared for Han Yi’s refusal. Han Yi was known for his ruthless and sinister conduct. While he might not be well-known in the north, in Qingjiang City and even in several provinces in the south, everyone knew he was not easy to deal with, as evidenced by his years of contention with the old Han mansion. If it were anyone else, they would have long been crushed by Han Chenfeng and the other old men, but he always managed to make them lose face, showing he was not to be trifled with.
How could such a man willingly be others’ puppet?
But then... how could the general rest easy without using such a man at the base?
"Two Hans can’t be written in one stroke. The eldest grandson of the Han Family... is also in the ability team. It would be good for you to support each other if you joined."
Han Yi chuckled, thinking Zhan Rong was quite interesting, knowing well the intense internal strife within the Han Family, yet still playing the family card with him. A playful smile appeared on his face as he said, "We are relatives, and naturally should support each other. Now that I know Han Rui is in Major Zhan’s ability team, I am much relieved. I believe Major Zhan, for the sake of my cousin, will not make things difficult for me."
Zhan Rong sighed heavily, "Since that’s the case, I will speak no further. However, I still hope Mr. Han would reconsider. General Ji is very sincere."
"Please convey my thanks to the general. I am merely a businessman, and even if not in the army, I will still do my utmost for the construction of the base."
Zhan Rong took a deep look at Han Yi, "Then, I take my leave."
