For most of the young people in Jinling City, summer was a time filled with beautiful memories. Summer brought cool popsicles, refreshing chilled sodas, girls dancing lightly in skirts on the streets, and the cicadas chirping in the trees in the afternoon. The most crucial thing was that summer was the time for summer vacation! Of course, for foodies, summer also meant barbecue, crayfish, and pickled fish from roadside stalls.

In particular, crayfish, which first gained popularity in a place called Xuyi, soon spread to Jinling. Taking advantage of this provincial capital, also at the core of the Yangtze River Delta region, it gradually spread throughout the country. Perhaps many years later, places like WH, Shanghai City, Hangzhou, and even the Capital City would be overrun with crayfish. But in Jinling City, as early as the 1990s, crayfish had already become a delicacy for the people of Jinling.

Initially, around the year 2000, in a place in Jinling City called Danfeng Street, there was a Yang's Crayfish that pioneered a luxurious way of serving crayfish in Jinling City—they were no longer sold by weight or by the plate. They were sold individually!

(The author was born in 1981. During my elementary school days, which were at the end of the '80s and the beginning of the '90s, the people of Jinling already had the habit of buying crayfish from the market to cook at home. However, it wasn't until the end of the '90s, around 2000, that crayfish restaurants began to appear on the streets and alleys. I don't know about other places, but Jinling was one of the first cities in the country to be swept up in the craze for eating crayfish; you could even omit the words "one of.")

At this moment, Chen Nuo was sitting inside Yang's Crayfish. Before him was a plate of crayfish, reputed to be the most expensive in all of Jinling City—the kind that were sold individually. The crayfish were certainly large; one spread out before him was as long as an adult's palm.

In that era, Snow Beer had not yet become as popular as it would be later, and Tsingtao had not yet made its brand known nationwide. The people of Jinling preferred a local beer called "Jinling Dry Beer," which had a slightly bitter taste. A case of Jinling Dry Beer, five yuan a bottle, sat on the ground before Chen Nuo, one foot resting on the case. This scene would disappear in a dozen years or so... Jinling Dry Beer gradually retreated from the market, and the beer market of Jinling City was taken over by Snow Beer, Tsingtao, and even the legendary, lethal Wusu beer...

Sitting opposite Chen Nuo were Brother Lei and Zhang Linsheng.

This crayfish restaurant did booming business, literally demonstrating the culinary industry's business miracle of "the pricier, the more popular." But Chen Nuo knew the business wouldn't remain this good for too long. The people of Huaxia were very adept at imitation when it came to business, and there were virtually no barriers to entry into the crayfish business. The restaurant's selling point was that its crayfish were huge! Soon, Jinling City would be flooded with restaurants specializing in premium crayfish, and they would squeeze this one out of business.

Zhang Linsheng was earnestly peeling crayfish, and soon a mountain-like pile of shells amassed before him. Brother Lei, finding it troublesome after peeling a few, lost patience and asked for a large plate of barbecue instead, especially the grilled crispy bones. Thanks to his strong teeth, he ate them with a satisfying CRUNCH CRUNCH.

"Hall Master Li heard about our business on Daming Road and asked me about it. Seems like he also wants a piece of the action," Brother Lei said, holding a skewer and gnawing on crispy bones as he spoke. "That old man is interesting. His own business is so big; our small venture is just trivial to him, yet he wants to get involved."

Chen Nuo glanced at Zhang Linsheng. "What do you think?"

Zhang Linsheng quickly replied, "It's up to you."

Chen Nuo took a bite of stir-fried chives with eggs and chewed twice—the chives were a bit old.

Putting down his chopsticks, Chen Nuo shook his head. "Let's wait and see. Hall Master Li can't be considered one of us yet. We need to observe him further."

"Should I refuse him for now?" Brother Lei looked at Chen Nuo.

"Mm."

Chen Nuo nodded slightly, then after a moment's thought, added, "Hall Master Li was a big help with the matter in Xi'an, and I have to repay that favor. But he isn't cozying up to us for our little business; rather, he's aiming for Brother Haonan, hoping to lean on a bigger backer."

"I'm just a front; he actually wants to ride your coattails," Zhang Linsheng said promptly.

"The man deals in the flesh trade—that aside, he has always liked to take shady paths and is very slick. I'm not too fond of him," Chen Nuo shook his head. "Let's keep observing him."

Turning to Zhang Linsheng, Chen Nuo continued, "Brother Lei told me a pretty girl has been coming to the shop to see you lately?"

Brother Lei snickered, while Zhang Linsheng's expression turned awkward.

"Not always," Zhang Linsheng said, looking a bit uncomfortable. "It just so happened that Brother Lei saw her the last time she visited."

"It was twice!" Brother Lei interjected, gleefully adding details. "The first time, she came looking for Lin Sheng to go out to eat, but Lin Sheng turned her down with a straight face. The second time, she brought a big bag of food for Lin Sheng, which even the renovation crew at the shop enjoyed. Roasted duck from the old shop in Shuiximen, duck portions, and beer. I even scrounged a few bites."

Chen Nuo nodded, thought for a moment, and then said slowly, "I heard that girl works at a nightclub?"

"Mm, a 'red card'," Brother Lei laughed.

"What you do is up to you," Chen Nuo smiled. "You're not getting any younger, and at this age, what guy doesn't think about girls? Work is important, but there's no need to force celibacy on yourself."

"That girl... she doesn't really like me," Zhang Linsheng managed to say after a pause. "I'm clear on that; she must have misunderstood something."

"So, do you like her?"

"..." Zhang Linsheng set down his crayfish, picked up a beer bottle, and, too lazy to pour it into a glass, took two large gulps straight from the bottle. Wiping his mouth, he said, "She's pretty, and very charming. But..."

"As long as you're happy, that's what matters," Chen Nuo said indifferently. "How old are you? Only nineteen. At this age, getting a girlfriend isn't about discussing marriage. A girl who is pretty and keeps you happy—who cares how sincere she really is, as long as you're happy. But I just have one piece of advice for you: keep control of yourself, don't dive in headfirst, and don't get too carried away."

He sighed softly. "To have a pure romance, to find a lasting love... that's becoming difficult.

"The times are changing."

The way our parents' generation did it—finding a girlfriend when young, having a simple relationship, then striving to stay together for a lifetime... that era is ending. The future will be about nightclubs, expressing individuality, being alternative, and standing out online. Relationships between men and women will become increasingly casual. Everyone will be busy keeping options open, saving ten or eight contacts of the opposite sex on their phones. Everyone will be pretending, performing, and playing games. Someone who's actually vulgar and crass might put on a facade of 'peaceful times' in front of you. Someone who can't even be bothered to say a few words to their parents at home might, to impress someone of the opposite sex, politely thank a waiter for a pair of chopsticks. Someone who's hardly read any books and only knows about lipstick shades and sneaker styles might skim a few nonsensical articles written by others and then dare to act all learned in your presence. Everyone is curating their online persona—some sell beauty, some ugliness, some strangeness, some vulgarity. As long as people have desires, they will have weaknesses! As people's desires grow stronger, their weaknesses will multiply. When everyone in society is riddled with weaknesses, some clever people will analyze these and devise countless tactics to exploit them. When more and more people fall victim, they will then rush to learn these tactics—interactions between men and women will become a game of tactics versus counter-tactics.

"The city's schemes run deep; I long to return to the countryside."

"But country roads are also slippery; the schemes there are even more complex."

Chen Nuo patted Zhang Linsheng on the shoulder, sighed, and said, "Regardless, maintain your true self. Don't let too much nonsense muddle your mind, and you'll be fine."

Zhang Linsheng looked at Chen Nuo with a complex gaze—at Chen Nuo's greasy hands, then at his own white T-shirt that he'd just put on today.

Then, Chen Nuo turned to Brother Lei. "Regarding Li Qingshan, please arrange a meeting for me. I need to see him about something."

"Okay," Brother Lei answered.

Li Qingshan was a prominent businessman with large holdings, including a hot spring resort near Tangshan, outside Jinling City—a series of small villas built with access to the hot springs. There, they offered a full suite of services, from dining to entertainment—all legitimate, of course. This was one of Li Qingshan's few genuinely legitimate businesses. But truth be told, it didn't make much money.

In the year 2001, consumer spending hadn't fully taken off yet. For the average person, soaking in a hot spring was still a considerable luxury. Why not spend that money on a few more pounds of delicious meat? Or buy a couple of new outfits for oneself or one's family? Wouldn't that be better? However, Li Qingshan was far-sighted. He had consulted experts and knew that this land would be very valuable in the future. Even if the hot spring resort was barely profitable now, the appreciation of the land itself would eventually recoup the investment!

Chen Nuo's meeting with Li Qingshan took place at this very hot spring resort. In fact, Li Qingshan was somewhat relieved to see Chen Nuo arrive alone; the old man was slightly apprehensive about facing both Chen Nuo and Zhang Linsheng at the same time. He wasn't sure how to handle the two martial brothers, given the colossal secret he was privy to. Damn it, I'm hiding their huge secret!

Li Qingshan treated Chen Nuo with good food and drinks. Then he watched as Chen Nuo took out a small wooden box and slid it across the table.

"Thanks for your help with the lottery last time, Hall Master Li," Chen Nuo said with a carefree laugh. "This time, I have another favor to ask of you..."

"Haha! A trifle, not worth mentioning! What do you need this time? Just tell me."

"This time it's not about me; it's about my senior brother, Brother Haonan. Well, to be precise, it's about our sect!"

"Oh?" Li Qingshan instantly became alert.

Chen Nuo opened the box. Inside was a jade token. To be precise, half of one. It was a jade token the size of a matchbox, but only half remained. The break was uneven, and it was unclear whether it had been snapped or shattered.

Li Qingshan glanced at it, then looked back at Chen Nuo with a puzzled expression.

"Please, take a look."

"Alright!" Li Qingshan thought for a moment, picked up the jade token, and examined it carefully. He nodded and praised, "This is a fine item!" He held it up to the light and inspected it again. "It's an ancient jade! The quality is excellent, top-grade! The translucency is good too. The carving is delicate yet retains an antique simplicity. It's just a shame that it's damaged!"

He carefully placed the item back into the box and looked at Chen Nuo. "I'm not sure what you would like me to do..."

"It's related to this jade token," Chen Nuo said slowly. "Hall Master Li, as you know, Brother Lin Sheng and I are from the same sect. Our sect is an ancient, traditional one."

"Hmm..."

"I can't say too much. All I can say is that this jade token is somewhat related to our sect. And the favor I'm asking of you is to find the other half of this jade token!"

"Ah?" Li Qingshan looked troubled. "This... where should I even start looking?"

"I've received information that the other half of this jade token should be here in Jinling City, in someone's collection. But... as you know, our sect has always remained hidden. It's not convenient for us to go about inquiring openly, so I can only entrust this to you."

Li Qingshan pondered for a while, frowning. "Well, it's not impossible. I can send people to the jade shops in Jinling City to ask around, but I can't guarantee we'll find anything."

Chen Nuo smiled. "Of course! This has been going on for many years, so there's no rush. Take your time inquiring. Whether you succeed or not, we'll owe you this favor."

Reassured, Li Qingshan nodded. "Alright, in that case, I'll have my people start making discreet inquiries. I know a few prominent figures in the jade circles of Jinling City. As soon as I have any news, I'll inform you immediately."

"No rush, no rush!" Chen Nuo said with a smile, then slowly added, "The matter isn't urgent. However, there is one condition!"

"What is it?"

"This matter pertains to the secrets of our sect! So, whether you succeed or not, you must not discuss this with anyone! I'm leaving this half of the jade token with you. You absolutely must not lose it!"

Li Qingshan nodded. "Of course!"

After Chen Nuo left, Li Qingshan immediately had Old Seven bring an expert from a jade shop to appraise the half jade token. It was indeed an old artifact. He then carefully put it away. Following that, Li Qingshan began to meet with some prominent figures he knew in the Jinling City jade trade.

「And three days later...」

「Jinling Lukou International Airport.」

「International flight arrival gate.」

Alonso Rodriguez slowly walked out of the exit. He didn't have a suitcase, just a backpack. His oversized sunglasses and full beard obscured his true features. His tall, burly figure stood out conspicuously in the crowd.

Alonso Rodriguez, of course, was an alias. It was just one of the names on the passports he used. This man's real name was Harvey. Nickname: "Bigfoot."

After leaving the airport, he took a taxi to a hotel in the city center. Harvey checked in with his passport and went to his room. He opened the laptop he carried and received an email from a temporary email address.

The content of the email was written in Spanish. Attached were two photos.

The first photo was a portrait: a Chinese man around fifty years old, his hair slicked back and neatly combed, dressed in a Chinese-style short jacket that fastened down the front. The second photo was of half a jade token.

Harvey scrutinized the two photos, then deleted the email—as an expert of the Mentality Series with strong spiritual power, he had already firmly committed them to memory.

Picking up his phone, he dialed the number of a familiar middleman.

"I've arrived."

"Good, Harvey. How's the weather in Huaxia?" the middleman on the other end chuckled relaxedly.

"Damn the weather! I don't even know if the food here is any good." Harvey sniffed. "I don't like the weather here. Let's just finish the job, get the money, and go home."

"You've seen the commission in the email. Find that person, get that item, and you can come home, my brother," the middleman chuckled. "Three million USD. Easy money, isn't it?"

"Of course."

"I must remind you of something, Harvey!" The middleman's tone became slightly more serious. "Huaxia is a place with strict controls. Those little 'amusements' you're used to elsewhere—don't mess around with them in Huaxia, or you'll cause big trouble! I won't be able to clean it up for you!"

"What the fuck do you mean?"

"My meaning is simple. That stunt you pulled in Chicago last time—don't let it happen again! If you want women, spend some money, brother! Don't fucking do those disgusting things. Do you know, the Cleaner I sent to clean up your mess last time almost threw up at the scene!"

Two hours after Harvey arrived, Chen Nuo received the news. His method of finding out was simple, albeit clumsy: he had known this bastard in his previous life and knew several of his common aliases, one of which was Alonso Rodriguez.

The assignment had been released through other channels, contacting one of Harvey's middlemen—bypassing the "Octopus" website. Then, Chen Nuo had Brother Lei wait with Harvey's picture at the airport and in the lobbies of several hotels in Jinling City. Using this seemingly clumsy casting-net method, they had found Harvey.

In that era, there weren't as many foreigners in the country as there would be later. Harvey's appearance was also very conspicuous. It was easy to find him by lying in wait.

Chen Nuo held his phone in one hand and chopsticks in the other as he ate. He was in a small restaurant in Tangshan, situated at a rather narrow street corner. Sitting in the restaurant, he could see Li Qingshan's hot spring resort diagonally across the street.

"Have your people pull back. Don't make contact with that guy," Chen Nuo instructed Brother Lei over the phone. "He's very dangerous, a pervert."

Sun Keke handed her completed workbook to the tutor and then sat uneasily before the teacher, waiting. The teacher carefully reviewed it, a trace of joy appearing on her face.

"Keke, you've been improving very quickly recently," the math teacher smiled. "In a few days, I'll get some mock exam papers. You can try them then. Your foundation isn't strong, but you've made rapid progress lately. If you continue like this, I think Old Sun will be very pleasantly surprised."

Sun Keke breathed a sigh of relief.

The math teacher looked closely at Sun Keke and shook her head. "Haven't you been resting well recently? Your dark circles are quite noticeable, and you've lost some weight. This won't do. You still have your entire senior year of high school to get through. You can't afford to wreck your health this early."

Sun Keke smiled. "Teacher, I actually feel pretty good, and my spirits are quite high every day. It's just that I've been sleeping poorly lately; I often can't fall asleep."

"It's good to be focused, but don't overdo it," the math teacher waved her hand. "Go home early. I'll call Old Sun later and discuss your situation.

"You've improved very quickly in math. I'll communicate with Old Sun about your other subjects, and then we'll decide where to focus your tutoring for the next stage."