177: Chapter 177 Buying New Year's Goods, Another Strange Incident

Chapter 177: Buying New Year's Goods, Encountering Strange Occurrences Again

Looking at the unfamiliar number displayed on his phone,

Fang Cheng hesitated for a moment but still chose to press the answer button.

"Hello, A-Cheng, it's me!"

A slightly unruly voice quickly came through the receiver.

"Uncle?"

Fang Cheng raised his eyebrows and immediately said, "Where are you now? Why did you change your number?"

"I'm busy with business outside, accompanying some clients."

Li Dingjian answered evasively, and then asked, "Is Grandpa's surgery done? How is his condition?"

Fang Cheng then relayed the general situation and the doctor's instructions to him.

"Sigh—"

Hearing this, Li Dingjian let out a heavy sigh and immediately cursed:

"I was originally supposed to make it back to Dongdu in time, but something unexpected happened, and I was delayed by a few bastards..."

At this point, he paused, then said with a hint of joy:

"Let's not talk about my stuff for now. You and Sis have worked hard during this time. I'll be back in a few days, and then Uncle will give you a big surprise!"

A surprise?

Fang Cheng shook his head and smiled, only hoping his uncle would return safely.

The two chatted for a few more sentences before hanging up the phone.

Looking at the time displayed on his phone,

Today was the 27th, the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, only ten days away from the Lunar New Year.

He had been busy working out and upgrading his skills lately, so it seemed he needed to make some time to buy Lunar New Year goods.

For example, buying a new piece of clothing for his mother, and preparing a gift for Wen Xin.

Thinking of this, Fang Cheng looked up at the bustling crowd and the dazzling array of shop windows on the pedestrian street ahead.

Today was the weekend, and this was a well-known commercial center in Jiangdong District.

There were exceptionally many citizens shopping, each bringing children and pushing shopping carts, creating quite a packed scene.

Many shopping malls and stores took the opportunity to launch promotional activities to welcome the New Year.

Since the fitness equipment didn't seem very satisfactory, he would buy some New Year goods to take home first.

Listening to the song "Gong Xi Fa Cai" drifting into his ears, Fang Cheng followed the crowded flow of people into a bustling large supermarket nearby.

An afternoon passed in the blink of an eye.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky red, and the streetlights and signs on both sides of the street gradually lit up, adding a touch of festive atmosphere.

The pedestrians shopping around did not decrease; instead, they became increasingly noisy.

Fang Cheng walked out of the mall carrying two large shopping bags.

He fully indulged his shopping urge today, and the things he bought almost filled the taxi's trunk.

They were mostly clothing, snacks, daily necessities, and the like.

And that wasn't all.

Fang Cheng doubled back to that sporting goods specialty store from earlier.

He ordered ten barbell plates, arranging for home delivery tomorrow.

Barbell plates could actually be used as weights for Squat, Leg Raise, and Pull-up training.

As for other fitness equipment with special requirements, Fang Cheng decided to find a familiar processing workshop on Jiuchang Street to customize them.

Seeing Fang Cheng's actions, the driver struck up a conversation while Driving the taxi:

"Young brother, getting ready to start working out?"

Fang Cheng sat in the back seat and nodded in agreement.

The driver was obese with a short beard and seemed like a chatterbox, continuing to talk along with the topic:

"Working out is great! Build more muscle. If you meet bad guys, just show off your biceps, and they won't dare to make a move on you."

"You know, the public security in Dongdu isn't very good right now. In the past two months, there have always been gang standoffs and slashings in the Jiangbei area..."

Fang Cheng smiled upon hearing this and said nothing.

The driver talked for a while and, feeling a bit bored, refocused his attention on the road conditions.

At this moment, the melody of the radio song drifting from the car radio suddenly paused, turning into a human voice:

"We interrupt this program for a news broadcast. Recently, a strange illness of unknown cause has appeared in multiple areas of Dongdu. So far, hundreds of people have been affected. The symptoms include intermittent mania, rolling eyes, sluggish reactions, immense strength, and a tendency for violent attacks..."

"The Department of Health has preliminarily identified it as an extremely rare infectious disease, possibly linked to mad cow disease occurring in a certain country. Transmission via airborne droplets and water sources can be ruled out, so the risk of a large-scale epidemic is low."

"Currently, the police have taken lockdown and screening measures in areas with high incidence of cases. Citizens are advised to stay away from the following locations unless necessary..."

"At the same time, please rest assured and do not spread or start rumors. If similar symptoms appear around you, please call the police or the hotline in a timely manner..."

The driver glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed that Fang Cheng, sitting in the back, was attracted by the news.

Thinking he had found a topic, he began to chatter again:

"Young brother, you wouldn't believe it, but this afternoon when I was picking up passengers in Xiguan, I encountered a crazy man. Fortunately, I know kung fu and am agile, so I acted courageously and decisively captured and subdued him before the police arrived."

"Master, you know kung fu too?"

Hearing this, Fang Cheng couldn't help but look surprised, staring at the plump and sturdy driver.

Not a single mistake, the first release of content is on Yiyikan!

"Of course! Otherwise, how would I dare to drive the night shift?"

The driver laughed and said with a touch of pride:

"Let me tell you, the kung fu I learned is the famous Great Sage Pi Gua Fist. This punching technique emphasizes long bridges and wide stances to defeat the enemy in one move..."

Amid the driver's non-stop verbal onslaught, the taxi also drove smoothly and rapidly.

By the time night fell, they finally arrived at Jiuchang Street.

Fang Cheng got out of the car, but the driver's mouth was still blabbering:

"Young brother, I really hit it off with you. If we meet again next time, I'll teach you a couple of moves. As the saying goes, 'With kung fu, there are no cowards'..."

Fang Cheng's ears were ringing, and he was quite speechless in his heart, only able to nod with a smile.

He felt that this guy's level of chatterbox was even worse than Pan Wendi's.

Fortunately, after mastering Meditation and entering samadhi, his willpower had improved, and his resistance to various noises had also significantly enhanced.

Otherwise, after this whole trip, he might have eventually been unable to resist taking action to shut him up.

Seeing the taxi turn around and leave, Fang Cheng then picked up the two large bags of things and walked upstairs.

"A-Cheng, bought so many New Year goods?"

"Yes, Uncle Chen."

It was currently the evening rush hour, and electric scooters were Driving in one after another, parking in the corridor downstairs.

Many neighbors greeted each other and chatted for a bit when they met.

Fang Cheng responded as he walked upstairs.

Arriving at the 9th floor, he glanced as he passed the iron gate of the Zhou family's home, which was leaking light.

He saw only two people in the house: Zhou Xiumei and her grandmother were sitting by the dining table, silently eating dinner.

Presumably, there were many cases at the police station during this time, and Uncle Zhou was too busy to come home often.

As for Auntie He, she had still not returned from her parents' home with her son.

With the New Year approaching, the household seemed exceptionally lonely.

Fang Cheng sighed softly.

Relatively speaking, his own family was doing quite well. He hoped his grandfather could be discharged from the hospital before New Year's Eve so the whole family could reunite.

Click.

Fang Cheng took out his keys and opened the door.

Just as he was about to put down the two bags of New Year goods and change into slippers,

His eyes suddenly narrowed as he caught sight of a brand-new postcard lying on the floor of the entryway.

In the darkness, the postcard shimmered with a cold, eerie luster.

When he saw the string of strange and bizarre characters and symbols written on it,

Fang Cheng locked his gaze onto it even tighter and took a deep breath.