Chapter 145: Calculation
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Wu Tong nodded. She understood that all these arrangements were intended for exceptional circumstances.
She had never displayed any abilities beyond mathematics, so ordinarily she would not attract any special attention. But neither she nor Cai Yi and the others were willing to gamble on the one-in-ten-thousand possibility that something might happen.
“I do have some ability to protect myself. If necessary, please make sure my family is safe.” Since they were on the same side, Wu Tong felt it necessary to inform them of her true capabilities. “I’m stronger than the average person, and I know some traditional martial arts.”
The tai chi she practiced during her morning exercises had, through constant practice and insight, as well as deductions aided by the Enlightenment Stele, developed into something approaching true martial arts. She had never ceased her diligent cultivation.
“I don’t have much real combat experience, but I can calculate. Unless firearms are involved, I should have no trouble dealing with several ordinary people.”
The direction of a punch, the angle of evasion... all of these fell within the scope of what she could calculate. Anything within that range was her particular strength.
“Understood. As long as you’re not in danger, we’ll prioritize protecting your family. But our ultimate protection target will still be you.” Cai Yi nodded. Wu Tong’s ability to defend herself would be a considerable help to their work.
Wu Tong had a habit of exercising every morning and practicing martial arts. After protecting her for some time, they had already learned this much about her.
“When we have time, let’s spar. It’ll help us assess your abilities.” Could real combat be calculated as well? To people like them, whose physical reactions surpassed the predictions of the brain, that was rather difficult to imagine.
* * * * *
Wang Jie was an excellent driver. By the time they set out, it was already past four o’clock. Wu Tong had actually resigned herself to arriving late and making her parents wait a little.
Unexpectedly, with Wang Jie’s steady, precise driving and scarcely any jolting, they arrived at Capital International Airport exactly at five.
After parking, the group waited at the terminal exit. Wu Tong heard an airport announcement stating that her family’s flight had landed. It was not long before she spotted her relatives among the departing crowd. Smiling, she waved and hurried forward to greet them.
“Grandpa, Grandma, how was the flight? Did you have any trouble adjusting?” After embracing each member of her family in turn, Wu Tong took the elderly couple by the arm and asked with concern.
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The old couple had never flown before, and she was worried that they might find something uncomfortable or unfamiliar.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Your grandpa’s doing just fine!”
“No, no, it was wonderful!” Grandma Jin was still glowing with the excitement of her first flight. Patting Wu Tong’s hand, she eagerly shared her impressions. “Whoosh, and up we went into the sky! We were flying above the clouds. In the old days, only divine immortals could do something like that, right? It was magical. We only dozed off for a little while, and two hours later we landed in the capital. So fast! Absolutely marvelous!”
The elderly couple had been taking their morning exercises seriously so that they could spend more time with their children. Their appetites had been excellent all year, their various minor ailments had disappeared, and they were both hale and hearty. They had handled the flight perfectly—better than some younger people. Tongtong had no need to worry.
Wu Tong smiled and nodded. Then, with a look of anticipation, she said, “It’ll be even faster in the future.”
Once 614 Shuo had fully absorbed all the technology behind the WS-15S, the high-end version would belong to the military and remain classified. Some non-confidential technologies, however, would likely be developed into a lower-specification version and gradually introduced to the civilian market. The progress of the nation’s domestically produced large aircraft would accelerate further. As technology advanced and civil aviation speeds increased, flight times would naturally grow shorter.
“Capital Airport is enormous!” Xu Meifeng exclaimed. “If I hadn’t simply followed the flow of people, I would never have found my way around by myself!”
“That’s only natural. This is the capital, after all!” Jin Yuan declared proudly. Apart from Tongtong, he was the only one among them who had visited before, which made him the most worldly-wise. “The capital’s airport has to reflect the grandeur of the capital. In the days of the Great Tang, envoys from every nation came to pay tribute. Our capital airport ought to embody the majesty of a great nation too, don’t you think?”
“You just love showing off,” Xu Meifeng said, rolling her eyes at her husband. He was acting as though he were the only one who knew anything.
Wu Tong laughed. Her aunt and uncle were as lively as ever.
“Come on, Grandpa, Grandma. Let’s go home first, and we can talk properly there.”
At her words, the three men who had tactfully stayed several paces behind Wu Tong while the family reunited stepped forward. Cai Yi and the others helped take the extra suitcases from Jin Yuan, Wu Jingzhong, and the rest of the family.
“Tongtong, who are these people?” Wu Jingzhong’s eyelid twitched when two unfamiliar men approached. His paternal alarm went off instantly. His daughter was only seventeen; it was far too soon for other people’s sons to come and trample his family’s little cabbage while trying to win her favor.
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Marriage and all that could wait another ten or twenty years. They were in no hurry at all. Until now, he had assumed that the three men standing nearby were simply other travelers waiting to meet someone.
“We’re the tour guides Ms. Wu Tong hired,” Cai Yi explained with the practiced ease of an ordinary tour company representative, smiling warmly as he introduced them in detail. “We’re responsible for your transportation, safety, and sightseeing arrangements during your stay in the capital. I’m Cai. This is Wang. The two of us will alternate as drivers and accompany the group while handling security. And this is An, who will introduce the scenic sites along the way.”
“Why did Tongtong hire tour guides especially for us?” Jin Yuan scratched his head. “We’re family. We could just wander around and look at things ourselves.”
Their girl had arranged everything far too thoughtfully! There was even dedicated security. Was she worried that they might be unfamiliar with the place and get bullied? This was an extraordinarily high level of treatment.
Had they already begun enjoying the filial devotion of their beloved girl? They were completely unprepared for it. Yet the wide smiles spreading across the family’s faces revealed just how pleased they were.
The only trouble was that the child would have to spend so much money. It was embarrassing to let her go to such expense. Before they went home, they had to remember to transfer Tongtong some extra spending money.
“Since everyone’s here, we may as well have a good look around. Otherwise, our trip to the capital would be wasted. Wouldn’t things be more thoroughly arranged with professionals?” Wu Tong said. “I’ve been in the capital for more than half a year, but I’ve spent nearly all that time going back and forth around Capital University. Truthfully, I don’t know the city very well and wouldn’t be much help. Since I have you all to show me around, why not let me tag along? We can explore the capital properly as a group.”
“Good, good! We’ll show Tongtong around properly!” Jin Yongqing said repeatedly, heart aching for his beloved granddaughter. How pitiful she was—she had come to the capital and spent all her time studying at school without ever going out to have fun.
Xu Meifeng linked arms with Jin Yu and turned to ask Wu Tong about her studies and life in the capital. When she had asked Jin Xin, the answer had always been that he was either training or studying. That was practically all he ever did. The young man was full of energy, yet he had not shown the slightest sign of missing his old mother at home, thoroughly wasting the great reservoir of maternal affection she had for him.
After avoiding the confidential matters, Wu Tong spoke with her family in detail, mainly discussing her daily life—her meals, rest, and other ordinary routines. Her life consisted mostly of moving between places on campus, with little variety to speak of. Her family did not find it boring. Everyday matters could always be discussed at leisure.
End of Chapter
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