Moving House

That afternoon, Instructor Jiang Nian took Luo Feng to headquarters, where they enjoyed a lively meal with other Warriors. It wasn't until evening that Luo Feng returned to his home in Yangzhou City. That evening, the streetlights in Nanan Residential District were already lit. Three sweat-soaked middle-aged men walked through the residential district, chatting and laughing. A faint scent of wood and paint clung to them. “My back is really aching. I’ll probably have to sleep on my stomach tonight,” one burly middle-aged man said, clutching his lower back with a pained, helpless expression. “And my prostate hurts too. I really need to go to the hospital soon. Damn it all, hospitals are such money pits.” “Old Tian, why don’t you take a couple of days off? Tell your boss. Go back to work when you feel better?” Luo Feng’s father, Luo Hongguo, suggested. “Yeah, Old Tian, it’s not worth ruining your health,” the slightly plumper man beside him quickly added. “Hmm, I’ve got it covered. Alright, I’m heading home now.” With that, the burly middle-aged man turned a corner and walked towards a corridor-style apartment building. After a moment of shared sighs with Luo Hongguo, the slightly plumper man also bid farewell and headed to another corridor-style apartment building. Luo Hongguo slowly walked towards his home under the dim streetlights. “32nd floor!” Luo Hongguo stood on the ground floor, looking up at the stairs. For people nowadays, climbing 32 flights of stairs was usually easy, but for Luo Hongguo, after a day of hard labor, even walking a little extra felt exhausting. “My neck and back are aching too. I should find some time to rest.” Luo Hongguo climbed step by step, all the way to the 32nd floor! “Ding-dong! Ding-dong!” Luo Hongguo stood at his front door, pressing the doorbell. He was too tired to even bother taking out his keys. “Click!” The door opened, and he immediately saw a lavish dinner spread out on the table inside. Over a dozen dishes—even during New Year’s, his family wouldn’t be this extravagant. “What’s all this? So much good food?” Although a little bewildered, Luo Hongguo smiled as he entered the house. “Ta-da-da-da~~” Luo Hua, sitting in his wheelchair, shouted excitedly, “Dad, welcome home!” “Dad!” Luo Feng, standing nearby, dutifully handed his father a cup of tea, saying, “From today on, Dad, you won’t need to wear this work uniform anymore!” “Huh?” Luo Hongguo was stunned. “Old Luo,” Gong Xinlan, holding her rice bowl, looked at Luo Hongguo with a beaming smile. “Our son just signed a contract with the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo. Once he passes the Warrior Combat Assessment, he’ll get twenty million in startup capital. And he’s been allocated a standalone villa! Our son even brought back the villa keys.” “What?” Luo Hongguo was taken aback. “Xinlan, what are you saying?” “Dad, look.” Luo Feng handed the signed contract to Luo Hongguo. Luo Hongguo took it, examining it meticulously, from the first line to the last. He didn’t want to miss a single word, just as he had once carefully read his marriage certificate over and over. Now, he read his son’s contract repeatedly. The terms were crystal clear. “This, this… signing a contract with the Martial Arts Dojo, isn’t that supposed to happen after the Warrior Combat Assessment?” Luo Hongguo couldn’t believe it. “And how is there twenty million in startup capital?” After Luo Feng passed the Prospective Warrior Assessment, Luo Hongguo had inquired carefully… New Warriors joining a Martial Arts Dojo usually only received one million in startup capital. “Dad, that’s because Brother is a talent,” Luo Hua chuckled mischievously. “What’s most valuable in this era? Talented Warriors are the most valuable.” “We can move into this standalone villa already?” Luo Hongguo looked at his son, Luo Feng. His wife, Gong Xinlan, smiled and said, “If you want to move in, you can go right now!” “Ha, haha…” Luo Hongguo couldn’t control himself, tears welling up in his eyes. For so many years, he had toiled tirelessly for this family. But relying on his grueling labor, there was no chance of ever turning their lives around. And now, they finally had a chance! And they would soon live in a legendary standalone villa! Indeed, for ordinary people, standalone villas were the stuff of legend! After the Grand Nirvana period, a single Base City had to support two hundred million people, making every inch of land worth its weight in gold! Standalone villas were too extravagant in terms of land use; even with money, you couldn’t buy one! Even the few existing standalone villas, occupied by the powerful and wealthy, required enormous luxury taxes. “I, Luo Hongguo, will also have a day when I live in a standalone villa!!!” Luo Hongguo couldn’t help but laugh. “Haha, that damn boss of mine doesn’t even live as well as I will.” “Mm-hmm,” Luo Hua, in his wheelchair, also said excitedly, “From now on, our home will have huge floor-to-ceiling windows! A spacious bathtub. And a very large living room! Our TV and laptops will be voice-controlled, and the living room TV screen will be at least two hundred inches. The bed will be big enough to roll around on!” “I’ve always wanted a bed big enough to roll around on,” Luo Hua exclaimed. Seeing his father and brother’s expressions, Luo Feng felt incredibly happy. What was all his effort for? Wasn’t it for this very day? “Mom, Dad, everyone, sit down and eat,” Luo Feng said with a smile. “I’m going to take a shower,” Luo Hongguo laughed heartily. “From now on, I’ll never have to wear this work uniform again. I’ll call my boss and fire him later.” That night, the Luo family was completely immersed in unprecedented excitement and joy. This home, only 36 square meters, had housed their family of four for so many years. Though they had many complaints about it—like his parents having to sleep on the sofa, and the apartment barely getting any sunlight all year, or the tiny bathroom—there was so much bitterness. But… as they prepared to leave, the Luo family still felt a pang of reluctance. This place held too many memories. However, people always strive for better! The next morning, a large truck was parked downstairs, and the Luo family began moving their belongings onto it. “Old Luo, what’s going on? Are you moving?” “Oh, Sister Lan, what are you doing so early?” Many familiar friends and neighbors in the same residential district stopped to ask Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan out of curiosity. “Haha, my son Xiao Feng joined the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo, and we’re moving to Mingyue Residential District!” Luo Hongguo replied with righteous pride. “Wang San, when we have our housewarming banquet, you must come.” Among those who had lived in low-rent housing for so many years, who didn’t hope for a day when they could turn their lives around? Luo Hongguo had turned his life around! Thanks to his son! “Old Luo’s son is really amazing, he actually joined the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo.” “He’s incredible. If my son could be that amazing one day, I’d die with a smile on my face, even if I worked myself to death! Old Luo has turned his life around, he’s hit the jackpot.” The news spread like wildfire among the neighbors. Soon, the entire Nanan Residential District, and even other surrounding low-rent housing residential districts, knew that Luo Hongguo’s son from Nanan Residential District had joined the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo, and their family was moving to Mingyue Residential District! This was a tremendous joyous event, inspiring many young people from ordinary families to also aspire to help their families one day. “Ah Wen, when you want to find me, just come to Mingyue Residential District. But call me beforehand, and I’ll notify the gate,” Luo Feng told his friend Wei Wen. “Okay!” Wei Wen excitedly punched Luo Feng’s chest. “I knew you’d turn your life around, Luo Feng. What’s failing the College Entrance Exam? Even among university graduates and military academy graduates, how many out of ten thousand can move into a standalone villa? Damn it, I’m definitely coming to your place in a few days. I’ve never been inside a standalone villa in my life.” Soon— Under the gaze of numerous women, children, and men from the surrounding neighborhood, the Luo family rode away in a car, with a large truck behind them carrying many cherished belongings they couldn’t bear to part with. The Luo family left Nanan Residential District and entered the Warrior residential district, Mingyue Residential District. In the morning, at the main entrance of Mingyue Residential District, six soldiers with live ammunition stood at attention on either side of the gate, their eyes scanning the surroundings. “Stop!” one soldier immediately raised his assault rifle, pointing it at the approaching taxi. “Screech!” The taxi braked sharply. The Luo family emerged from the taxi, and a white-haired old man walked out of the Mingyue Residential District guardhouse, smiling. “Luo Feng, right? The last time I saw you at the Prospective Warrior Assessment, I knew you had a boundless future. I didn’t expect you to move into our residential district so soon. The notification reached me yesterday. Quick, someone help them move their things.” “Luo Feng, we have people to help move your things; moving companies aren’t allowed inside,” the white-haired old man said with a smile. “We understand,” Father Luo Hongguo nodded, smiling. Soon, seven or eight soldiers ran out from the residential district and very quickly helped move their belongings. Then, under the envious gazes of the moving company personnel, the Luo family entered Mingyue Residential District. “Mingyue Residential District.” Luo Feng looked at the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo in the center, then at the surrounding small bridges, flowing water, rock gardens, and ponds, and the standalone villas encircled by them. “From today on, my home is here.” Luo Feng turned to look at his parents and his brother in the wheelchair. At this moment, his parents and brother were excitedly gazing at the residential district. “Mr. Luo Feng, your house is the one up ahead,” one young female soldier said, carrying items and smiling as she held a document. “House number 199 up ahead is your home, Mr. Luo Feng. This villa has three floors, a basement, and a super-large terrace on the third floor. The total area is 512 square meters. If you include the basement, courtyard, and super-large terrace, it’s nearly 800 square meters.” The Luo family exchanged glances… They then looked up carefully at the luxurious red and white villa before them. This was their future home! “36 square meters? Nearly 800 square meters?” Luo Hua, in his wheelchair, murmured in awe.