Chapter 33: Reborn 1987 Chapter 33: Dawn of Chema City

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Protagonist:

Jiang Wenyu

Dawn rose, the cool air untainted by any extraneous scent, so fresh and natural, so invigorating.

No word came from the Police Station; they also didn't know whether Li Zhao had already been released. Jiang Wenyu had already decided to have Chen Lan and Nuan Nuan stay home for two days, while most of the appliances Li Chen had acquired for his shop were basically finished being repaired, and work had come to a temporary halt.

But early this morning he heard a bustling hubbub outside. Jiang Wenyu went out to look and saw most of the people on this street heading in a certain direction, not knowing what they were all going to do.

Among them Jiang Wenyu spotted an acquaintance.

"Lin Shen!"

Walking at the rear were precisely Lin Shen and her old man, who also lived on this street. The two came over as soon as they saw Jiang Wenyu.

"Lin Shu, Lin Shen, where are you off to? Why are there so many people today?" Jiang Wenyu asked curiously.

Lin Shen wore a smile and said, "We don't know the specifics either, but word is a big leader from above has come to Chema City on official business. The news has spread through the whole city, and everyone wants to go see what that leader looks like."

Hearing this, Jiang Wenyu pondered a bit more, then understood. He politely bid farewell to Lin Shen and Lin Shu before returning home.

Chen Lan, who was cooking, had also heard the commotion outside and asked, "What's going on?"

Jiang Wenyu smiled faintly: "Nothing, everyone's gone to watch the excitement. So that's it — what Lu Jingguan meant by 'wait a few days' should be this, right?"

Chen Lan listened in a fog; Jiang Wenyu, meanwhile, looked completely relaxed.

……

Today Chema City was indeed very lively, people coming and going on the streets, and occasionally the sound of firecrackers rang out from somewhere, as if welcoming some arriving big shot.

Even Chema City's big loudspeakers were shouting something every now and then.

Time dragged on until noon before this bustling energy finally gradually faded.

Jiang Wenyu called Li Chen over ahead of time. No work today, so he might as well treat Li Chen to a meal.

"Tsk, with our relationship, is there any need to be polite?" Like Jiang Wenyu, the injuries on Li Chen's face hadn't fully healed cleanly either.

Chen Lan had already brought out the rice and dishes. Jiang Wenyu smiled: "As promised, treating you to a meal."

Li Chen took the bowl and chopsticks Chen Lan handed him and said, "Chen Lan, you and Nuan Nuan eat together too."

Chen Lan smiled and said, "Nuan Nuan and I will eat in the inner room. You two eat and chat."

After Chen Lan went back to the room, the two big men immediately started eating and drinking. The drinking was naturally Li Chen drinking by himself; Jiang Wenyu just held a glass of soda for show.

"Hey, did you hear? They say a big shot came for an inspection today, but nobody knows the details." Li Chen said while eating.

Jiang Wenyu nodded: "Heard it. A lot of people went. I reckon it should be 'that one'."

Li Chen asked puzzled: "Which one?"

Jiang Wenyu smiled: "Above started this operation a year ago. It's just that our place is small, so only today did it come around to us."

Li Chen was baffled, thought carefully for a while, then suddenly realized something. His eyes lit up and he said at once: "You mean that… that… eh? What was it called?"

He kept patting his forehead, and finally remembered those four characters: "Strict Investigation, Strict Crackdown! Right?"

Jiang Wenyu smiled: "Right."

The two exchanged a smile, both understanding the implication.

One might say Chema City had waited for this day far too long; the whole country was the same.

This special operation unfolding nationwide was one of the most important transformations of the 1980s. Jiang Wenyu had long known about it, but didn't know the exact date, while that Lu Biao, Lu Jingguan, obviously knew long in advance.