Tianjin, starting with unorthodox methods to achieve immortality

At eight o'clock the next day, just as the sun climbed above the flagpole on the playground, a thousand or so people had already formed a dense, dark square formation.

Lei Wanjun stood on the high platform, his uniform impeccably tailored and his riding boots gleaming.

"Stand up straight, all of you! Look at you all, are you still half asleep or what? Today is your big day of graduation, and also your first day truly entering the industry!"

The audience was silent.

"There are 987 of you in your class. Being able to stand here shows you're lucky, and it also shows you have some ability." He paused for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "But! Don't think that everything is settled just because you've survived the training camp. Let me tell you, the real work begins today!"

Chen Mo yawned as he listened to the routine motivational speech on stage, which was nothing more than the same old clichés.

What does the Zhenyi Division do?

They are responsible for maintaining peace in the area, dealing with dirty things, and risking their lives for a living.

If you're going to do this job, you have to live up to the paycheck you get every month.

. . . . .

"Alright, enough with the nonsense." Lei Wanjun waved his hand. "Each class's instructors, lead your teams back. The letters of introduction will be sent to you shortly. Report to your posts within three days!"

"Let's call it a day!"

The crowd dispersed with a roar, like eels swimming in the receding tide, jostling each other as they made their way to their respective classrooms.

Chen Mo walked a few steps with the crowd when someone suddenly patted his shoulder.

He turned around, and a round face was squeezed into the crowd—it was Fatty Li.

The fat man didn't say anything, but just gave him an OK sign, which he had learned from Chen Mo.

Chen Mo paused for a moment, then raised his hand and made the same gesture, a slight smile playing on his lips.

.....

The classroom was still the same classroom. People came in one after another, finding their seats. Some were still whispering about Lei Wanjun's words earlier.

"Sit properly, sit up straight."

Su Mei came in through the door, carrying a stack of brown paper envelopes. She placed them on the podium, raising a small cloud of dust.

She wasn't wearing her uniform today; she had changed into a navy blue cheongsam, and her hair was still neatly styled.

Chen Mo noticed that she had some dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept well.

"Those whose names are called, come up and collect yours." Su Mei picked up the top letter, "Wang Jianguo."

A tall, thin man rushed up, took the envelope, and was about to open it.

"Shut up." Su Mei rolled her eyes. "Go back and watch it later, don't make a scene here."

Wang Jianguo sheepishly stuffed the money into his pocket and shrank back into his seat.

"Ma Shicai".

Chen Mo's deskmate stood up and went to take the letter.

When he returned, he secretly waved the envelope in front of Chen Mo's eyes. He didn't open it, but through the kraft paper, he could vaguely see a red stamp inside.

"Chen Mo".

Chen Mo got up and walked to the front of the podium.

Su Mei handed him the letter, pressed her finger on the envelope, and lingered on his face for a second before saying nothing.

Chen Mo took it and turned to walk back.

The envelope felt quite thick, and the seal was very tight. On the front, the words "Chen Mo Shou" were written in pen, with a stiff, masculine handwriting.

He returned to his seat, slammed the envelope down on the table, and didn't open it.

"Zhao Dahe".

"Sun Fusheng".

"..."

Su Mei read them aloud one by one, and the only sounds in the classroom were the rustling of letters being opened and the occasional low gasp.

"Damn, Qing County?"

"Hey buddy, what about you? Let me see?"

She raised her head and glanced over there, and the two people immediately fell silent.

After the last person received their letter, Su Mei dusted off her hands. "Alright, everyone's received their letters. Report to your location within three days. If you don't arrive by then, your spot will be forfeited. Think it over."

With parting imminent, she glanced at the fifty students in her class with a soft heart, "Once you leave this room, your life and death will be your own business."

"Take care of yourself."

The classroom was silent for two seconds, then the crowd began to surge out.

Chen Mo tucked the envelope into his pocket and had just reached the door when Su Mei's voice came from behind him, "Chen Mo."

He stopped and turned back in confusion.

She stood by the podium, holding an enamel mug that had appeared in her hand, and was drinking water.

Seeing him turn around, she pointed the jar towards the door and said, "Come to my office."

"What do you want from me?"

Chen Mo walked behind her, two steps away.

Su Mei walked ahead without turning her head, only showing him the back of her head. "You'll see when you catch up."

The corridor was bustling with activity as groups of students poured out of the classrooms, arm in arm.

Many people opened the envelopes right there at the base of the wall and gathered together to tell each other their place names.

Chen Mo followed behind, keeping a distance of two steps, his gaze naturally falling on her.

Su Mei was wearing a moon-white cheongsam today, with very faint lotus-root-colored small flowers woven into the dark pattern, which were almost invisible unless you looked closely.

The fabric clung softly to my body, running down my shoulder blades and then suddenly tapering in at my waist, as if I could just grab it with my hand.

The slit was neither too high nor too low, revealing only half of the calf when walking, encased in sheer white stockings.

The heels tapped on the cement floor with a crisp, tinkling sound.

He swallowed hard, looked away, and stared at the window at the end of the corridor.

Old newspapers were pasted on the windowpane; the newspapers were yellowed, and the edges were curled up, revealing the gray sky outside.

Old newspapers were pasted on the windowpane; the newspapers were yellowed, and the edges were curled up, revealing the gray sky outside.

The office was at the end of the corridor, and the door was half-open.

As Chen Mo walked past her, he caught a faint scent of soapberry mixed with the bitter aroma of tobacco.

The office was small, with a table, two chairs, and a metal cabinet in the corner. Several patches of green paint had peeled off the cabinet door, revealing the rust underneath.

The window was open, and the wind made the curtains billow and then fall back down.

Su Mei placed the enamel mug on the table and walked to the chair inside to sit down.

"Close the door."

Chen Mo closed the door behind him and sat down in the chair in front of his desk.

She didn't rush to speak. She reached into the drawer, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, took a puff, and then slowly asked, "Did you break Wang Lao Er's leg?"

Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show it on his face. "Yes."

"That's satisfying." She exhaled a puff of smoke. "Aren't you going to ask how I knew?"

"You'll always find out what you want to know."

Su Mei glanced at him upon hearing this, her eyes somewhat amused. "Sometimes you're quite eloquent, and other times you're incredibly cheeky."

"hehe."

Chen Moqian chuckled twice but didn't respond.

Su Mei took another drag of her cigarette, flicked the remaining half against the edge of a metal box, and said, "The eldest son of the Wang family said that his younger brother was inferior in skill and deserved to be cut off. Nobody should come after him."

Chen Mo listened quietly without saying a word.

"However," she changed the subject, "the boss is the boss, but who knows what his subordinates are thinking? You still need to be careful of the Wang family when you're out and about in the future."

Chen Mo nodded. "I've got it."

Su Mei glanced at him, seemingly trying to discern something from his expression, but Chen Mo's expression remained flat, revealing nothing.

She stubbed out her cigarette in the jar and changed the subject, "Where were they divided?"

Chen Mo took out an envelope from his pocket, but hadn't opened it yet.

Su Mei reached out her hand, "Let me see it."

She tore open the seal, pulled out a piece of paper, glanced at it, and raised an eyebrow slightly. "The East District of the Municipal Public Security Bureau? Not bad."

"Did that fat guy from the Li family arrange it for you? Otherwise, most of your graduating class would have been sent abroad."

"Yes." Chen Mo nodded; there was no need to hide such a thing.

"No wonder." Su Mei picked up the letter again, glanced at it, and threw it back to him. "In the East District of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, no more than twenty people from this year's cohort will be able to enter the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"The East District is lucrative, and the work is easy. It's mostly petty theft and small-time crimes. It's bustling with people and there's very little dirt going on."

"However, if something goes wrong, it will be a major case, and the forces over there are quite complex, so you should be careful."

Su Mei stood up from the chair, walked to the window, and pushed it outwards.

A gust of wind blew in, lifting a stray hair from her forehead, which she tucked behind her ear.

"Over in the East District, the boss's surname is Shen, and his name is Shen Dajiang," she said with her back to Chen Mo. "He has a terrible temper, but he's fair in his dealings. You won't suffer if you follow him. Once you get there, don't get cocky just because you have Li Pangzi's connection. Behave yourself."