Chapter 312: Father and Son

"First-Class Merit! You've left everyone else far behind." Ma Jiyang was the pinnacle of commendations in the Changyang City Criminal Investigation Brigade, with three Second-Class Merits—an extraordinary record unmatched by his peers—but he had never received a First-Class Merit.

Jiang Yuan said modestly, "I didn't even expect to get a First-Class Merit."

"How could you not expect it? If you don't get a First-Class Merit for the cases you've solved, what's left for the Second-Class and Third-Class like us? You're the only one who deserves it." Ma Jiyang had only received a Third-Class Merit this time, and now he teased Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan smiled. "Major Ma, you flatter me. Let's collaborate again sometime."

This remark was slightly louder than the last, but upon hearing it, Ma Jiyang instantly blinked—as if he'd just shut and opened his eyes—and said, "Of course we can! Our brigade's strength has always been top-tier. Just look at my medals, right!"

Ma Jiyang slapped his chest loudly, like a 59-tank covered in armored plates.

And the fact that he only got a Third-Class Merit clearly showed that without his wife, his strength had inevitably declined.

Since ancient times, the strongest soldiers were those who could afford housing with their wives.

"Jiang Yuan!" A reporter passed by, raised his camera to photograph Jiang Yuan, then moved to interview him.

Ma Jiyang and the others left, envious and laughing.

This wasn't special treatment for a First-Class Merit—it was special treatment for Jiang Yuan, young, tall, and newsworthy.

Jiang Yuan brushed off the reporter with a few words, then walked out, only to be stopped again.

Yu Wenshu had invited dozens of reporters this time, which looked impressive during the meeting—but during the free-press session, it annoyed Jiang Yuan and the others.

Jiang Yuan pretended to take an urgent call about a case and slipped away.

In the car, Jiang Yuan finally relaxed a little, pulled out his phone, and saw over a hundred WeChat messages and texts, plus several missed calls.

Among the WeChat messages, besides private ones, the most numerous were group red packet alerts—Jiangfuzhen had been sending red packets all over town since hearing the news, especially in the "Close-Knit Family" group, where Jiangfuzhen's packets dominated, once taking up half the screen.

For an ordinary Jiang family member with little housing compensation and insufficient rent, grabbing a few red packets this time could mean a prosperous New Year.

Besides that, private red packets flooded several screens; Jiang Yuan had to pull out his portable notebook and record them all.

Changyang City Year-End Commendation Conference—

Income: First-Class Merit bonus yuan. Father's red packet: 1000 yuan (Son's grown up, pick a gift you like. If it's under a house, I'll reimburse you.). Grandpa's red packet: 6666 yuan (Xiao Yuan, impressive!). Third Uncle's red packet (Heard you shouldn't send too much cash—I'll have the village committee pay you the design fee for the surveillance equipment later; this extra bit is your uncle's consulting fee.). Third Grandpa's red packet: yuan (The Jiang family will always be your solid backing.). Aunt Hua's red packet: yuan (Don't overwork yourself. Heard you're in charge now—don't just think about charging ahead. Lead your team well, and come home safe.). Fifth Uncle's red packet: 5000 yuan (You're really something!). Sixth Uncle: 3000 yuan (Achievement fee). Seventh Uncle: 3000 yuan (Achievement fee). Eighth Aunt: 2000 yuan (Achievement fee). Ninth Uncle: 2000 yuan (Achievement fee)...

Jiang Yuan's hand ached from writing, filled two pages, and realized there seemed to be endless private messages still coming.

Some even sent twice, like:

. Buy yourself some gear for emergencies.)

This time was different—it was as if the whole village had sent him red packets. Of course, not everyone sent individually; red packets were sent by household or family unit.

This

way added up...

Jiang Yuan thought for a moment, turned, pulled his notebook from his bag, and opened a new Excel sheet titled "Jiang Village Household."

Jiang Yuan copied the red packet amounts into the Excel sheet, then reopened WeChat and began adding each red packet one by one.

Jiang Yuan didn't care about the monetary value of these red packets—he cared more about the emotion, the attention and concern from his villagers.

Just like back when he ate from a hundred households, the family willing to give him one steamed bun didn't care less than the one willing to give two; today's neighbors who shut their doors might simply be overwhelmed with raising their own children, not paying much mind to others' kids—but in a couple of days, when their backs ached, they'd open their doors again and cook extra good food.

But Budebushuo, since the Jiang villagers grew wealthy, their customs multiplied—this exchange of red packets was something everyone took seriously. If a family failed to follow the rules, others would suspect they'd been scammed into starting a business.

When that happened, the villagers who came to advise would trample their doorstep into dust.

After collecting all the red packets—and many second-round ones—Jiang Yuan was feeling thoroughly overwhelmed when Jiangfuzhen called.

"Dad." Jiang Yuan set down his laptop, stepped out of the car, and stretched his limbs.

"Where are you? Out celebrating with colleagues?" Jiangfuzhen's voice boomed, as if speaking in the village or at home—he had to shout loudly to be heard.

Jiang Yuan held the phone farther away. "I'm still at the grand hall. Everyone's been giving me gifts. I'm logging them on my computer."

"Yes, better to log them. Send me a copy later—we need to reciprocate properly." Jiangfuzhen paused. "If you're done, come back to the house. I'm downstairs at your new apartment."

"Wait, you're in Changyang City?" Jiang Yuan was surprised—he'd been home just two days ago.

Jiangfuzhen grunted. "If you'd told me you got a First-Class Merit, I'd have come to see it. You didn't even invite your old man to watch the ceremony."

Jiang Yuan paused. "Most others didn't seem to invite their parents either..."

Jiangfuzhen: "That's because everyone else's parents are too old. I'm still young."

"That actually makes sense. I didn't think it through." Jiang Yuan didn't argue. "Next time, when I get another First-Class Merit, I'll call you to come."

"That's more like it," Jiangfuzhen muttered.

Then Qiang's voice came through: "Don't let others hear you two talking—those who don't know will think you're bragging; those who do will be furious."

Both father and son burst out laughing.

Jiang Yuan started the car and drove back to his new small house in under fifteen minutes.

At the building's entrance, he saw a box truck parked outside. Qiang and Jiangfuzhen were standing by the real estate agency's storefront, reading ads.

Perhaps because of the box truck, the agent didn't come out to greet them. Jiangfuzhen happily kept looking, then spotted Jiang Yuan and said, "I was thinking your place is so small—should I get you a vegetable cellar? Nah, we'll talk later. I got you a cow, a sheep, and some chickens, ducks, and geese—later, invite your colleagues and friends over for a meal..."

Jiang Yuan heard his father's serious tone and knew he wasn't joking. He hurried to the back of the truck and saw a cow with exposed flesh, a naked sheep, and chickens, ducks, and geese showing off their angry rear ends.

"This... alright," Jiang Yuan, long familiar with his father's ways, thought a moment. "Then tomorrow—I'll throw a gathering."

"Tomorrow's good. I can help out. You're not working tomorrow?"

"These days, team-building events have to happen during work hours—or you'll get scolded."

"Oh, you got a big pot?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head. "I don't cook much."

"Hmm. No big pot? Then I'll call someone." Jiangfuzhen pulled out his phone, waited for it to connect, then said: "Chef Guo, you guys need to make a trip tomorrow. Yeah... I'm at my son's place in Changyang. Come as you are—seven or eight people should be enough..."

Jiang Yuan then called Wang Chuan and told him: "Work tomorrow—I'm inviting everyone over for team-building. I'll send you the address in a bit."

Jiang Yuan then called Wang Chuan and informed him: "Tomorrow at work, I'm inviting everyone over for a team-building event; I'll send you the address shortly."