CH 161 Reality Check

Shi Fengyue's temporary laboratory was right next door to Jiang Chen's office. It had a similar layout and size, but its furnishings and feel were completely different.

Jiang Chen's office filing cabinet occupied one wall, and other information was placed in categories. It couldn't be said to be chaotic, but it looked a bit crowded. Shi Fengyue's laboratory was very spacious, except for a few files on a long table. Apart from a computer and two chairs specially designed for use at the scientific research institute, there was not even a chair for another person.

Comparing the same size of space, Shi Fengyue's seemed much larger.

It was the first time for He Yanya to come to the experimental area here, and it was the first time for Yu Yi to come to Shi Fengyue's laboratory. Both of them were a little surprised. Shi Fengyue looked very dignified and like he was very difficult to please. In addition, he came from a well-off family, and due to health reasons, he had been living a pampered life since he was a child. One would not expect that his working space would be so simple.

However, the two people's attention only stayed on this detail for a brief moment, and soon moved to the two people who were looking at the computer together.

Yu Yi walked over and said, "How is it?"

The file was very large, and it took a while to be transferred before it loaded. This situation was rare on the computers of the Military Research Institute. Except for Shi Fengyue, the other three people held their breath and concentrated, wanting to see what extraordinary things were recorded in it.

The document named "Optimal Choice Exchange Item Record Table" was quickly loaded, but it was not the dozens or hundreds of pages they imagined. There were only three pages, all of which appeared as table documents.

This document had a similar name to the previous "Optimal Choice Record Table" and it did not seem to be much different from it when it had been cracked. However, even though the text inside had been translated, it was still messy and confusing.

But this was the highest-level confidential document after the core data of the System, and the contents inside were by no means simple.

"Pots, bracelets, antiques, knives..." Yu Yi glanced at the seemingly simplest nouns and read them out unconsciously: "If you look at these things according to the pattern, the common point is that they are all made of metal. But there are also toilet paper, water cups, and cockroaches as well? What is this table recording?"

Yu Yi's question was also a question of Jiang Chen and the others. There were only three columns recorded on this table, namely: exchange items, exchanged items, and exchange location.

The locations were unremarkable, scattered throughout Yan City, and the items exchanged were even more irregular. There was everything, sometimes it was paper towels and cups, sometimes it was knives and fruits, and there was no real pattern to follow.

They studied it all morning, trying to find a pattern or rule in their own way, but they found nothing.

Jiang Chen was not upset about this. It took two months to crack and open this file. Now it had reached the final step and he had enough patience to find the secret of this file.

*

Zhangshan Prison.

"The person you want to see doesn't want to see you, so don't ask anymore."

Seeing He Qianjian walking towards this side, the young prison guard was a little impatient and gave the answer before he could speak.

He Qianjian paused and caught the disdain and annoyance on the prison guard's face. Resentment and humiliation flashed in his eyes. If it was in the past, the identity of the person in front of him was not even qualified to lick his shoes, how could he dare to have the confidence to talk to him like this.

If it wasn't for Jiang Chen...Bhow could he have end up like this?

He Qianjian's face changed slightly, and he clenched his cheeks. Only when the taste of blood filled his mouth did he suppress the surging hatred.

As long as he could get out of here, he would definitely make Jiang Chen pay tens of millions of times!

"Big brother." He Qianjian's appearance could not be called handsome, but he looked pleasing enough because of his fair skin. At this time, he had a few bruises on his face, and his careful and ingratiating attitude made it difficult for people to say harsh words.

The prison guard looked He Qianjian up and down, and thought that before he came here, he was still the aloof eldest son of the He family. He must have endured a lot of hardships to become this cautious, and he couldn't help but feel a little pity. When he spoke again, his tone also softened: "We have already contacted your family for you, but they don't have time to see you for the time being. Young Master Jiang, whom you want to see, is also very busy now and has no time to come here to see you."

He Qianjian shook his head, lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly: "I don't want to see the He family... I don't know if you know my family background. In fact, I am not the biological child of the He family..."

The prison guards only knew that He Qianjian's identity was somewhat special, but they didn't know anything else. Their job was quite lonely and boring so how could he be willing to give up the gossip that practically came to his door.

He was as still as a mountain, but his ears were perked up.

When He Qianjian saw the prison guard's expression, he knew that he had taken the bait. He sighed softly and compiled the story about him and Jiang Chen being wrongly switched, concealing and modifying everything that was not in his favor or that was harmful to him. The image he painted caused both himself and Jiang Chen to become innocent victims.

However, the prison guard might be sympathetic, but he didn’t fully believe it. There were anywhere from a thousand to eight hundred prisoners here, and there were many who came in saying that they were innocent and their punishment was unjust. He had heard too many stories and had his own ability to judge.

"Then why did you kidnap Jiang Chen?"

He Qianjian shook his head: "I don't know why people said I kidnapped Jiang Chen. We were already in our senior year of high school when we met. I didn't know him before, so how could I kidnap him?"

The prison guard raised his eyebrows: "You mean the judge made a mistake?"

He Qianjian smiled bitterly: "The evidence is all there. Of course it's not a mistake. It's just that maybe the He family can't accommodate me anymore. After all, I'm an adult now..." He hesitated, stopped the topic in time, and brought up his true purpose: "I want to meet my biological parents. Since my identity was revealed, I haven't met them much. After all, they have raised Jiang Chen for many years. They should have a deeper affection for him, but now I… I suddenly want to meet them, but I don’t know if they know about my situation, so I want to ask for your help.”

Seeing his lonely look, the prison guard was moved.

Regardless of whether what He Qianjian said before was true or false, if he really had been mistakenly switched with the real eldest son of the He family, then he had indeed not seen his biological parents for nearly two decades. He had been in prison for so long, but no one came to see him. The He family was not his biological family and blamed him for hurting their biological child. They had no reason to come, but the fact his biological parents didn't come to see him either was indeed a bit pitiful.

"Do you know the address and phone number of your biological parents?"

Seeing that he agreed, He Qianjian immediately reported the address and number.

The prison guard nodded: "I can call and ask, but I can't guarantee whether they will come to see you."

"That's great. Thank you so much." He Qianjian's face was filled with gratitude.

The prison guard looked at the time and said, "Your recreation time is almost over. Go on over."

He Qianjian turned around and left obediently. Not far away, he was stopped by a bald man.

"Young Master He." The bald man said with a smile: "Did you just ask the prison guard for something? Or, did you file a complaint?"

He Qianjian subconsciously took half a step back and said cautiously: "How could I file a complaint? Brother Hei, I just want to see my parents and ask the prison guards for help. This is definitely not a complaint."

"Not a complaint?" Brother Hei obviously didn't believe it and moved forward: "Didn't you say before that if I dared to touch you, you would make me regret it? Didn't you go to find someone just to make me regret it?"

The unpleasant bad breath sprayed on his face, causing He Qianjian's face, which was covered with bruises, to become even more ugly. His eyes were full of disgust, but he was also a little afraid. The Brother Hei in front of him was in the same cell as him. Before he entered, he had already become the boss-like figure in the entire cell, so there was absolutely no benefit in falling out with him.

He Qianjian could only hold his breath and explain: "I really just want to see my parents."

Brother Hei pinched his chin, his yellowed teeth moving closer to his face, and suddenly laughed. His sparse eyebrows and triangular eyes moved, revealing a ferocious look: "Don't play tricks, after coming in here, it doesn’t matter what your identity is, not to mention you are just an unwanted thing of the He family. Just be obedient and this brother will let you live more comfortably in the next three years, got it?"

He Qianjian was patted on the cheek condescendingly, and the humiliation in his eyes almost overflowed. Even in his previous life, he was someone with a high self-esteem and pride. He had never been subjected to such insults and threats, but the situation forced him to bow his head. Now he had no System to help him and without the support of the He family, he could only endure it for now.

Brother Hei pinched him and leaned forward, repeating: "Got it?"

"I… understand." He Qianjian's voice came out from between his teeth. There was indeed overwhelming hatred in his heart. When he got out, this man would definitely pay the price.

Brother Hei dropped out of school when he was ten years old and struggled at the bottom of society. Later, he embarked on a path of no return. He had seen all kinds of malice. No matter how well He Qianjian hid the emotions in his eyes, he could not fully hide them from him. Looking into his eyes, he sneered: "I don't think you understand, but it doesn't matter. I will let you understand everything tonight."

He Qianjian was stunned for a moment, seeing clearly the undisguised lust and hostility in Brother Hei's eyes. A sudden chill ran down his back, and up from his toes. While feeling sick, he also realized what he meant.

——The recreation time would be over soon. If he went back to that cell and waited until night, it would really be whatever he said.

He Qianjian's scalp was numb and he struggled immediately. However, he never exercised when he lived at the He family. Even He Qianmin could beat him, let alone the tall and muscular man in front of him. In just a moment, he was falling to the ground after Brother Hei kicked his knee.

Brother Hei stepped on his back and was about to speak when he heard a whistle and remembered. He moved his foot and squatted next to He Qianjian. He threatened coldly: "I advise you to see clearly what situation you are in. Do you really think that you are still the eldest young master of the He family?"

He Qianjian clutched his knee and got up after a long while. He looked at Brother Hei who had disappeared into the crowd, his eyes full of malice.

Everything that happened here was witnessed by a short, thin man. He sneered and followed the crowd into their cells.

The prison guard found He Qianjian squatting motionless, walked over with an electric baton, and urged: "Hurry up, what are you dawdling for."

He Qianjian tried to get up, but Brother Hei's kick was merciless. One of his legs hurt so much that it seemed like it was broken in half. He fell to the ground several times and still couldn't get up.

The prison guard frowned, realized something, and clicked his tongue: "It's almost time, hurry up over there."

He Qianjian saw that the prison guard was just watching from a distance and had no intention of coming to help him. He held on to the wall and endured the pain as he climbed up. He walked towards the cell step by step. The prison guard was still urging him from behind, so he had to speed up his pace. Just when he was about to fall again, a short man supported him.

"Young Master He, were you okay?" the little man asked.

He Qianjian saw the man clearly and frowned in disgust, but he quickly covered it up. Even if he looked down on the man in front of him, he also realized that a lone person here could easily be targeted. Someone must be with you to prevent you from being squashed at will.

"I'm fine."

The man seemed a little flattered when he heard this: "I'll help you."

He Qianjian nodded, though disdainful of his flattery, he was also very pleased. He had not enjoyed such flattery and timidity for a long time since his identity with Jiang Chen was exposed.

Thinking of this, He Qianjian couldn't help but think of Jiang Chen. He thought that he must now be enjoying everything he had before, with fame, wealth and power in his hands. Both his biological parents and adoptive parents loved him very much. Just these thoughts had him gritting his teeth with hatred.

The man saw the brief moment of darkness, and something flashed in his eyes, but as if he didn't realize anything, he asked about something else: "Young Master He, you said before that you can ask your family to send things over, and that the prison guards will turn a blind eye at you selling goods to us, how is it now?"

He Qianjian stopped for a moment, and thinking of the He family who were avoiding him, his eyes became even more gloomy. He said impatiently: "We are still talking."

A hint of ridicule flashed in the man's eyes, he nodded as if he had no suspicion at all, and said ingratiatingly: "I just know it, if Young Master He is going to take action, nothing can stop you. When we can sell goods, we can have things to hand over to the bosses. With them protecting us, our life will be easier."

When He Qianjian came in, the first person he met was the man in front of him. This man could be bullied by anyone in their cell. Even towards a newcomer like him, he was still careful not to offend him. He Qianjian looked down on him, but after this man showed his goodwill to him and suggested that they could do business together to improve their status, he was still persuaded because he was really fed up with the days when everyone could step on him.

Moreover, with this excuse, he had a reason to contact the He family and the Jiang family. Now the He family had completely given up on him, but he did not believe that as the biological son of Jiang Zhuo and Yang Si, they could really watch his life in prison become so miserable.

As long as Jiang Zhuo and Yang Si felt even a little bit pity or distressed, He Qianjian could guarantee that they would help him plead with the He family. This was his fundamental purpose.

——Have the He family be a little soft-hearted, and then get a reduced sentence and be released from prison.

*

Jiang Chen asked for leave and took the time to return home.

Due to Jiang Chen's busy schedule during this period and the short amount of time he could come back on leave, Yang Si and Yang Yun agreed that every time he came back, he would go directly to the He's house and have dinner together with everyone, so as not to delay Jiang Chen's time.

School had started, but He Qianmin still asked for leave after knowing that Jiang Chen was going home.

The two families had long lost their previous unfamiliarity and politeness. Yang Yun and Yang Si sat together as if they were close friends who had known each other for many years. They talked about the dishes they had just learned in the past few days and where they wanted to go shopping. They had become very close indeed.

When Jiang Chen walked in, the helper auntie at home immediately shouted: "The eldest young master is back!"

When the people in the living room heard this, they all looked towards the entrance. He Qianyu ran downstairs, opened her arms and threw herself into Jiang Chen's arms.

"Go and wash your hands quickly." Yang Yun turned to him and called: "The fruits are cut on the table. I heard your aunt say that you don't eat on time in the laboratory, so you definitely didn't eat much fruit either."

Yang Si also smiled and said, "The oranges you like to eat have already been peeled."

Jiang Chen touched He Qianyu's head and led her inside. He didn't see He Qianmin and asked curiously, "Where is Qian Min?"

"Doing his homework upstairs." He Yanfeng said, "He probably didn't hear you are back, otherwise he would have run down here long ago."

Just as he was talking, He Qianmin came downstairs and saw Jiang Chen. His eyes lit up: "Brother!"

Jiang Chen nodded: "The math competition will be here in a few days. How are you preparing?"

He Qianmin muttered and complained: "Brother, why do you ask these questions every time you come back? It's such a damper."

Jiang Chen: "Then let me ask something else. Shi Ao said you got in a fight a few days ago. What happened?"

He Qianmin's excited expression paused, and his steps became a little slower, "How do you know?"

"Come here and let me take a look." Jiang Chen stood up, pulled him and looked him up and down: "You're not injured, are you?"

He Qianmin raised his chin: "Of course I'm okay. How could they be my opponents?"

He Qianmin just came back today. Yang Yun and He Yanfeng didn't know about this either. However, one of them, seeing that his older brother was already minding him, didn't interfere, while the other didn't take it seriously at all.

Jiang Chen glanced at him and waited for his proud look to fade away before he asked, "Why?"

He Qianmin pursed his lips and sat down next to him. He poked an orange, saying nothing.

When Jiang Chen saw that he didn't want to say, he didn’t ask again.

During this time, he was busy with work and had less contact with He Qianmin. However, he knew that his younger brother was not someone who would cause trouble arbitrarily. He must have his reasons for fighting. He just asked because he was worried he was hurt but just didn't say anything.

When He Qianmin saw that Jiang Chen didn't ask further questions, his tense expression softened, and he moved closer to him. With bright eyes he asked: "Brother, is there any progress on your project?"

Since the last time He Qianjian's recording was cracked, He Qianmin would ask this question every time he saw Jiang Chen.

Hearing his question, the other people in the living room also looked over. They all knew that something had been helping He Qianjian comot the things he did before, but what exactly was that thing? What else had he done besides what they knew? How had He Qianjian obtained it, they didn't know, and they were very concerned about it.

Jiang Chen understood their concerns and briefly said what he could. When he mentioned the newly cracked file, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did He Qianjian have a driver to pick him up when he went out before?"

"Yes." He Qianmin complained: "He feels that even taking a public bus or taxi cannot show his identity. Even if he is only 500 meters away, he insisted on being picked up by Uncle Zhang."

Jiang Chen thought for a moment and said to He Yanfeng, "Dad, cam you have Uncle Zhang come over tomorrow?"

"Of course." He Yanfeng paused and raised his eyes: "Is it related to He Qianjian?"

Jiang Chen: "I want to confirm something."

"What's going on?" He Qianmin was curious.

Before Jiang Chen could speak, a cell phone rang.

Yang Si looked at her phone and frowned when she saw it was an unfamiliar number.

Jiang Chen noticed and asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"

Yang Si shook her head and was about to hang up the call: "It's an unknown number. They've called several times today."

Jiang Chen knew that she had the habit of not answering calls from strangers from other places, so he casually said, "Is it an out-of-town number?"

"No, it's local." Yang Si thought for a moment, moved her thumb to connect, stood up and said, "I'll answer it, maybe someone changed their number."

Yang Si walked out, and the others didn't pay much attention. They continued the previous conversation. But just as they started talking, they heard Yang Si's voice suddenly turn cold: "I don't know him, you are looking for the wrong person."

It seemed to be an ordinary conversation about dialing the wrong number, but the tone was really cold. Everyone present noticed the emotion in her voice, stopped the conversation, and looked at Yang Si.

Yang Si had already hung up the call and walked back, looking very normal as she returned to where she was just sitting.

Seeing that she was obviously unwilling to say anything, no one asked any more questions. However, not long after, her cell phone rang again. After she hung up on it repeatedly, Jiang Zhuo's cell phone also rang.

"Honey?"

Before Jiang Zhuo could pick up the call, Yang Si glanced at it, took it directly, and hung up the call.

Yang Si put her husband's mobile phone and her own mobile phone together, her expression clearly worse than before. Facing the gazes of everyone, she explained vaguely: "Scam call."