149: Chapter 149 Visiting Relatives 4

"Alright, as long as you aren't doing this on a whim, I'll support you!"

Chu Ge spoke gently. He felt he hadn't been a very competent brother; he had previously left Xiaowu to her own devices. Aside from the massive bank transfers, he had been lacking in other areas.

Now that Xiaowu was about to go to Yanjing, she would be right by his side. If possible, the two siblings might even work together in the future, giving him plenty of chances to make it up to her.

"By the way, Brother, I told my sister-in-law yesterday that you were coming back. Did she call you?"

Chu Xiaowu tilted her head and asked suddenly.

"Yeah, she did! She gave me an earful. I haven't even settled that score with you yet!"

"Hee hee!"

"Mom, Dad, Dilireba Nazha might come over in a bit to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with us. You two don't mind, right?"

"What are you saying? We couldn't be happier! Why would we mind? Hey, you! Don't just sit there grinning like an idiot. Get to the kitchen and start preparing lunch! Didn't you hear your son say his girlfriend is coming? Sitting there smiling like a Maitreya Buddha..."

Chu Ge's mother maintained her usual authoritative style over his father. Chu Ge's father had no desire to resist at all; he happily agreed and hurried off to the kitchen.

"Xiaowu, ask your sister-in-law where she is. If needed, let your brother go meet her. Look at him sitting there all proper—does he really think he's some big leader?"

Xiaowu nodded and pulled out her phone to make the call. While waiting, she winked at Chu Ge and leaned toward him, whispering,

"Mom practically exploded with joy the moment she heard Sister-in-law was coming. She doesn't even care about you anymore. Brother, your charm definitely isn't as high as hers."

"Yeah, it's a classic case of 'other people's daughters are better'!"

"Exactly! When you weren't around, she could only bully me. Yesterday she even said she was going to use 'family discipline' on me."

"..."

The siblings whispered back and forth for quite a while. Chu Ge's mother pricked up her ears to listen, a smile spreading across her face.

Chu Xiaowu dialed the number several times then shook her head at Chu Ge.

"No answer."

"She's probably busy. She'll call you back when she sees it."

"Mhm."

Chu Xiaowu put down her phone, and the mother and daughter began asking about Chu Ge's recent life. Chu Ge picked out some insignificant things to tell them.

Chu Ge's father was making a racket in the kitchen, doing who-knows-what. In the living room, the family talked and laughed in a scene of perfect harmony.

...

Chu Jingran stood up to see Director Wu out. Although he had repeatedly asked him to stay, Director Wu insisted on leaving.

"Jingran, I'll leave the investment promotion to you. Don't worry about the meal. Once the investment is successful, your Uncle Wu will treat you to whatever you want to eat, haha."

"Don't worry, Uncle Wu. Since you're calling yourself my uncle, I have to give it my best, don't I?"

Chu Jingran opened the front door. Wu Jun was about to say a few more words when he suddenly saw soldiers on guard in the street.

"This..." Wu Jun poked his head out and looked around, but didn't continue speaking.

Chu Jingran's family also saw the soldiers standing guard outside. Ordinary citizens had never seen such a scene. The guards were fully armed, holding standard rifles and wearing sunglasses, looking right at their family.

This terrified the old lady, who tightly gripped her son's clothes.

She muttered, "This... could they be here to arrest someone?"

Chu Jingran patted his mother's shoulder and comforted her in a low voice. At that moment, a soldier walked over and gave a salute.

"Hello. This area is currently under martial law. If you need to go out, please show your identification."

"Martial law? Identification? What does this mean? Director Wu, what are they?" Chu Jingran felt a bit embarrassed.

Director Wu had regained his usual composure and gestured for Chu Jingran to stay calm, indicating he would handle it.

"Are you from the County People's Armed Forces Department? Old Wang's subordinates? What's the meaning of martial law here? It's the Mid-Autumn Festival. Doing this will affect the normal lives of the people. Do you know the consequences? Call Old Wang immediately. Why am I even talking to a common soldier like you?" Director Wu began to pull rank.

"I'm sorry, you have no right to tell me what to do! Please show your identification if you wish to leave. We will let you pass after verification. Please do not disturb the order. If you do not comply, we will take compulsory measures!" the soldier warned sternly once more.

The person checking was likely a squad leader. Seeing the raised voices, his subordinates surrounded them with their rifles ready.

Captain Gong also noticed the situation and walked over quickly.

"What's going on?"

"Captain, these people refuse to show their identification!"

After getting the details from his subordinate, Captain Gong turned to Director Wu. "Are you a local government employee?"

"Yes! I'm Wu Jun from the County Investment Promotion Bureau! You're their leader, right? Who are these people? Bringing guns to intimidate me?"

"They are not intimidating you; they are performing a mission. As a government employee, do you not even have this much awareness? Just cooperate with the inspection!" Captain Gong reprimanded him sternly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"What? You're lecturing me? I'm really going to dig my heels in today. Just you wait, I'll have your superior come and deal with you!"

Director Wu was also angry. It was no longer a matter of cooperation, but a matter of face. He couldn't lose face in front of Chu Jingran, or how would they face each other in the future?

Seeing how stubborn the man was, Captain Gong stopped paying him any mind.

It was a very simple matter; he could have just asked the local police officers on the outer perimeter through his headset to verify the information, but the man in front of him insisted on making a scene.

Captain Gong simply let him make his phone call.

Just then, Chu Ge and Chu Xiaowu walked out. Captain Gong saw them and hurried over.

"Academician Chu!"

"Captain Gong, my girlfriend is being held at the perimeter. I was thinking of going to pick her up."

As Chu Ge spoke, he looked toward Chu Jingran. Several guards were currently using their bodies to block Wu Jun and the others, clearly afraid they would disturb Chu Ge.

"Alright, I'll go with you!"

"What's going on over there?"

Captain Gong saw Chu Ge pointing at Chu Jingran's family and quickly explained what had just happened.

"I know that family; he's a childhood friend of mine. How about this: let a guard follow Xiaowu to the perimeter to lead her in, and I'll go over there with you to take a look."

"Yes, sir!"

Chu Xiaowu obediently left with a guard, while Chu Ge walked toward Chu Jingran's family.

Along the way, the soldiers saluted Chu Ge one after another.

Chu Ge walked up to the group at Chu Jingran's doorstep.

The guarding soldiers stood in a line, their rifles snapping to their chests in a standard present-arms salute.

Chu Ge nodded and looked at Chu Jingran.

"Brother Jingran, Uncle, Auntie, hello."

"Oh, Chu Ge, you're back for the Mid-Autumn Festival too. You're the most successful kid in our alley now..."

Seeing Chu Ge being so polite, Chu Jingran's mother responded instinctively, her previous nervousness vanishing. Her husband next to her saw she wanted to keep talking and quickly nudged her.

Chu Jingran didn't respond, only nodding. He frowned, unable to make sense of the current situation.

"And these people are?" Chu Ge looked toward Wu Jun and his group.

Director Wu had watched this young man walk all the way over, with the surrounding soldiers saluting him, including those who had just surrounded them. He was confused.

It was only when he heard Chu Jingran's mother call him Chu Ge that he suddenly realized. Wasn't this young man the scientist who had been on TV a lot lately?