Chapter 60: Cost_1

As soon as the call connected, Jiang Yu's mother, Hu Huilan, asked anxiously, "Xiaoyu, tell mom the truth, did you get into some trouble? Why did the police comrades ask us to come see you!"

Jiang Yu spent half a day trying to explain to his mother, but she simply wouldn't believe him, convinced that the police were using irony when they said her son had made a huge contribution.

What big contribution could a sophomore make?

After several explanations and seeing that his mother wouldn't listen, he simply hung up, too lazy to explain any further.

Jiang Yu let out a long sigh, his mother's call had disturbed him so much that he couldn't sleep anymore. He decided to take advantage of the time before his mother arrived to go to the university and collect his clothes and daily necessities.

After all, before time traveling, he had already attended university and graduate school. Going through it all over again didn't seem meaningful.

It was better to stay in the villa and carefully polish the academic achievements he had made in the past one or two years, which also made it more convenient for the armed police to protect him.

Jiang Yu estimated that ETO wouldn't have the capacity to retaliate against him for the time being, but he couldn't be sure after the big roundup, so he needed to be careful for a while.

Back in the dormitory, only the dorm head was there. Seeing the two armed police following Jiang Yu, the dorm head was somewhat baffled.

Jiang Yu chuckled, "All right, I confess, I'm going home to inherit a big villa!"

The dorm head came to his senses, "Third, what did you do? Even the army uncles have been called in!"

"Dorm head, you need to get a new pair of glasses. These guys are armed police!" Jiang Yu laughed, "And what uncle? They are only a year or two older than you."

"Armed police brother," the dorm head quickly corrected himself, "What trouble has Jiang Yu gotten into? You guys should reveal a bit so when Jiang Yu's parents ask, I can at least give them some peace of mind!"

The two armed policemen just smiled without saying a word.

As Jiang Yu packed up his things, he said, "Pass me the shampoo I lent you; there's nothing in the villa, I have to buy everything myself."

He had a few tens of thousands of yuan in prize money given by the Adventist faction, so he could afford to buy these daily necessities.

When he returned to the villa, his parents had just arrived, and his sister and brother-in-law had also come.

When Hu Huilan saw her son wasn't handcuffed, the anxiety in her heart eased a bit.

Jiang Yu led them to the living room and roughly explained his recent "undercover" life.

However, he didn't tell his family many things, such as his experiences killing people in Mongolia and about the "Wallfacer's Shop," and so on.

The family hadn't gathered together like this for a long time. At Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiang Yu was in Mongolia and had only made a phone call home.

During the summer holiday, Jiang Yu stayed at the university to gain Kong Xiang's trust as quickly as possible, so he hadn't gone home.

To Hu Huilan and the rest of the family, ETO was understandable as an international terrorist organization.

Jiang Yu had to make quite an effort to convince his family of the existence of the Trisolarans, and asked them not to publicize this for the time being.

Finally, Jiang Yu said, "Although I've helped the police arrest half of ETO's high-ranking members, the price is that several of us, including Lele, are likely to become the targets of ETO's retaliation."

Jiang Yu's sister, Jiang Ying, was startled, "I left Lele at his grandma's house! He couldn't have..."

Jiang Yu smiled and said, "Don't worry, there are a few armed police officers protecting Lele constantly."

Then he seriously continued, "I must apologize to you for putting you in danger."

The elder, Jiang Wenhuan, slammed the table, "What apology? A man should do exactly this, be clear about serving the country when the time comes!

"Let me tell you, none of you are allowed to blame Xiaoyu, do you hear me?"

The old man had been a soldier for over a decade and had worked as the head of security department in a classified unit for another decade; his sense of duty was always high.

At home, when the old man said one, no one dared to say two.

Since the old man had set the tone, Hu Huilan and Jiang Ying, who had some complaints about Jiang Yu, also refrained from saying much.

Their complaints about Jiang Yu were not that he had put everyone in danger, but rather that he had done such a dangerous thing without saying a word.

From now on, Jiang Yu would have to live under protection, which would affect the rest of his life.

For Jiang Wenhuan, since his son hadn't committed any wrongdoing and had actually made a significant contribution, it was an occasion to celebrate.

Thereupon, the old man directed Hu Huilan and Jiang Ying to take the armed police vehicle to the nearby supermarket to buy some vegetables and meat, and also got Jiang Yu a set of pots and pans, and oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar.

That evening, everyone enjoyed a few drinks in the spacious living room.

After three rounds of drinks, Jiang Wenhuan started criticizing his son for living in a state villa! It was clearly taking advantage of the state's resources.

Hu Huilan, however, held a different opinion. She felt that her son, instead of focusing on his studies, had taken such a big risk to help the country so much, and living in a villa was actually modest.

Moreover, the villa was essentially lent to Jiang Yu by the country, not given to him. The strategic command center was being rather petty.

That night, the family happily celebrated. The next morning, as the family left, the villa quickly became deserted.

Neither of Jiang Yu's parents had reached retirement age, and his sister and brother-in-law had their own jobs, so none could stay by Jiang Yu's side.

Looking at the empty living room, Jiang Yu pondered for a long while, feeling somewhat uncomfortable suddenly cooped up at home.

After the long lecture on ideological education by the old man yesterday, he was inclined to accept Chang Weisi's invitation, but he planned to reply to Chang Weisi tomorrow.

As for today, he was ready to visit Yang Dong first.

Driving to the faculty housing complex, Jiang Yu hesitated a bit before finally entering the building.

He was rather afraid that Yang Dong might blast him with a torrent of abuse.

After meeting Yang Dong, Jiang Yu found that she wasn't angry, nor did she show much emotional fluctuation.

This even made Jiang Yu suspect whether Yang Dong knew about her mother's arrest at all.

Once Yang Dong had made Jiang Yu a cup of tea and the two were seated on the sofa, Jiang Yu finally said, "Sorry."

Yang Dong shook her head with a smile, "There's nothing to apologize for. When I found out my mother was the leader of the terrorists, my first thought was also to call the police."

She took a deep breath, "I spoke with my mother on the phone last night. She doesn't blame you and said she would cooperate with the police interrogation.

"Mother even told me not to blame her."

Yang Dong shook her head, "Actually, I had known about my mother's secret for a long time. She had a computer, very well hidden, unknown to anyone but me.

"Some time ago while looking for something, I accidentally discovered that computer and the shocking information it contained."

Jiang Yu was startled, as Kong Xiang had told him earlier that Ye Wenjie's home had no computer. Then he found out that Ye Wenjie was sending out messages while grocery shopping and had overlooked the matter of the computer.

It seemed some information was transmitted through the computer, while other pieces were conveyed through letters.

Or perhaps the letters were simply meant to mislead the enemy. Considering how cautious the old lady was and that she knew Kong Xiang from the Academy of Social Sciences was the leader of the Adventists, it would be normal for her to set off a smoke screen in transmitting messages.

Glancing at Yang Dong, Jiang Yu understood why Yang Dong was so composed—she had been prepared all along.

Suddenly, Yang Dong said, "Do you have time today? Accompany me to see my mother!"

Jiang Yu nodded without hesitation, "Sure!"