Cen Yemeng rushed to the prison and chatted with her son for over an hour.
Jiang Ye listened for a moment before leaving and heading to the corridor.
The prison guards on duty in the corridor had been dismissed. Only Shao Wan and a few senior wardens were waiting, the silence so profound that the hum of the air conditioning was audible.
Seeing Jiang Ye emerge, they immediately followed.
"These kids, a half-year stint should teach them a lesson," Jiang Ye said. "No special treatment, just the same food and labor as regular inmates. Confiscate all electronic devices. For entertainment, only books are allowed. I know their parents have connections, but tell them I gave the strict order, no exceptions."
"Yes," the warden nodded.
"After six months, these children will be reassigned, dispersed to other classes, not to cluster together," Jiang Ye continued. "Don't publicize this matter, and keep it out of the media."
"Understood," Shao Wan nodded.
"I'm rather busy, I need to head back to Meteor Star soon." Jiang Ye stopped and looked at Shao Wan. "Is there anything you need me to handle?"
Shao Wan took an envelope from his pocket and placed it in Jiang Ye's hand.
His expression was exceptionally serious, even somewhat frightening.
"Please read it yourself," Shao Wan whispered into Jiang Ye's ear.
Jiang Ye paused slightly and put the envelope into his inner pocket.
...
Star Station.
The spaceship had just undergone maintenance, its surface glistening with moisture and tiny, sparkling bubbles that slid slowly along the hull, resembling small creatures.
A dedicated car landed in front of the spaceship. Cen Yemeng and Jiang Ye alighted, then hurried aboard together, settling into the window-side sofas.
The cabin door sealed shut immediately. The spaceship took off, the buildings and people at the star station rapidly receding downwards, soon obscured by clouds. The planet's curve gradually became clearer in the distance.
Jiang Ye retrieved the envelope from his pocket and opened it to read.
He had expected it to be printed, but it was all handwritten, in Shao Wan's neat, clear script.
After reading a few paragraphs, Jiang Ye understood why Shao Wan had chosen to write it down.
[Steinbeck Interstellar Trading Company is suspected of cultivating and selling the prohibited plant, Huang Qian Niu. Huang Qian Niu is a fast-growing plant containing lysergic acid diethylamide, which induces hallucinogenic effects upon consumption. This company has established underground factories in multiple locations on Jiang Ye Star, employing over ten thousand local workers. Their finished products are sold to more than ten planets and also flow into the black market. The company's actual controller, Steinbeck, has extensive connections and maintains close ties with the city lords of Daodao City and Heping City. The profits surrendered by the company account for over 40% of the fiscal revenue of these four cities. An immediate disruption would endanger the construction of housing for approximately sixty thousand impoverished residents, as well as the operation of sixteen main subway lines and four new middle schools.]
[Taduo Yichiro, the hidden controller of multiple companies, possesses total assets of approximately two hundred billion on Jiang Ye Star. To seize market share, he once dispatched mentally ill individuals to threaten the lives of competitors in their homes late at night. He also deployed hundreds of employees to surround the Wuxi City Exhibition Center by car.]
[Stone Ratchel, the city lord of Zhuan Sheng City, is engaged in large-scale embezzlement and is secretly cultivating a private army, training over five thousand people under the guise of security companies, and bribing military officers at or above the battalion level in various garrisons.]
Jiang Ye frowned.
Three pages of names, company names, and organization names.
Jiang Ye took out his phone and called Shao Wan.
"Arrest them once you have the evidence; if the evidence is insufficient, wait," Jiang Ye said. "Organize a detailed report of the evidence and charges for me. I'll review which ones warrant execution, which ones imprisonment, and which ones fines. I'll give you my decision in the next few days."
"Understood," Shao Wan replied.
"You are very capable," Jiang Ye said. "With you holding down the fort on Jiang Ye Star, I can rest much easier."
"It's not just my credit. Many people lost their lives while investigating these matters," Shao Wan said with a heavy tone. "I'll send you a list of the fallen heroes shortly. This list cannot be publicized yet, as their comrades are still working, and their families are still in hiding."
Jiang Ye's mood instantly turned somber. "Provide me with detailed information on each fallen hero. I'll look into their family situations and allocate some funds in the next couple of days for you to arrange care for them."
"Understood."
The call ended.
Jiang Ye folded the papers and put them back into his inner pocket.
He sighed deeply and looked out the window.
Cen Yemeng was curled up on the opposite sofa, having kicked off her boots and propped her long legs on the coffee table to rest, her face etched with fatigue.
"Are you worried about our son?" Jiang Ye asked, looking at her.
"Extremely worried," Cen Yemeng rubbed her face with her hands. "I wish Forest could be like a normal child, but he's growing more and more astray. I truly don't know what to do. I consulted many educational experts a few months ago. They all said Forest's situation is too unique. His mind and brain structure are already that of an adult, even beyond that of an ordinary person, making it very difficult to correct him using methods for teaching children."
"Born into a family like ours, and with a congenital illness, it's naturally impossible for him to be like other children," Jiang Ye said, his temples aching with worry. "I thought the military school would make him more ordinary, but it seems completely ineffective. After he gets out of prison, we'll send him to study abroad on another planet."
"Study abroad?" Cen Yemeng asked, confused. "He's still so young... to middle school?"
"Either is fine," Jiang Ye said. "Or we can have him work as a grassroots employee under me."
"Grassroots employee?" Cen Yemeng looked even more perplexed.
"Following the military, working in a military factory to build equipment, learning to repair machinery, mingling with engineers and infantrymen," Jiang Ye explained. "He has the ability, working like an adult for a period, learning to live independently."
Cen Yemeng rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head back to look at the ceiling, lost in thought.
"Get him a small single dormitory, with just a bed, a desk, an induction cooker, and a toilet. Simple, clean. A cheap air conditioner on the wall, and a radiator. Outside the window, the plains of the suburbs," Jiang Ye described. "He'll be assigned to a work group, with quiet old engineers and some repairmen in their twenties and thirties. He'll wake up at seven to wash and dress, eat two steamed buns and a bowl of congee for breakfast, then walk to the workshop. Under the bright white lights, the entire workshop will be filled with machinery smelling of engine oil. Then he'll observe the malfunctions one by one, slowly fixing them with a wrench."
"When the work is finished early, he'll sit by the workshop door, looking at the flowers and plants outside," Jiang Ye continued. "After work, he'll go for barbecue with his colleagues, and in the evening, return to his dormitory. On weekends, he might play football with his colleagues, or take a bus to the city to go shopping. Of course, if he misses home, he can visit us."
"Like this..." Cen Yemeng frowned. "What's the point?"
"Of course, there's a point," Jiang Ye said. "Let him experience being an ordinary person, self-reliant, living his own life. This is the best education. Do you want to raise a crown prince?"
Cen Yemeng shook her head. "I just want a normal son."
"Every weekend and holiday," Jiang Ye said, "Forest can choose to visit us, his parents, have a meal, and chat. Just like when he was very young and always at home."
"You decide, dear," Cen Yemeng sighed. "Studying abroad or working, either is fine. As long as I can see our son every week."
Jiang Ye nodded. "First study abroad, then work for a few years, then study abroad again for a few years. There's still plenty of time. I don't believe Forest can't change. His parents are good people, and I have confidence in our son."
"Jiang Ye," Cen Yemeng suddenly changed her expression.
Jiang Ye was startled. She always called him husband, and rarely used his given name.
"Do you want to practice a second account?" Cen Yemeng asked seriously.
"What's the rush!" Jiang Ye said speechlessly. "Let's get the main account right first."
"It won't interfere," Cen Yemeng said. "If Forest has a younger brother or sister, perhaps he'll become more sensible?"
Jiang Ye fell silent.
It seemed like she had a point?