Tempest of the Stellar War Chapter 511 - Old Merchant Sends Greetings

第二十八章老贾又送礼了!

“具体的,我这个战神学院校长的级别还不是很清楚,应该是还不错,倒是你小子,搞出这么多事情,你想清楚下一步该怎么办了吗?”

迪达泰坦星的结局无论如何,王铮在军方履历上,一个抗命不尊的大帽子是逃不掉的,放大了说,把他押送军事法庭接受审判都是可以的事情,不过以蒙熬为首的革新派显然没有再让步,将在外君命有所不受,何况迪达星的局势有那么敏感,瞬息万变,无论如何,王铮成功的完成了任务,为太阳系联邦争光了,其实从报告上,谁不知道王铮起了很重要的作用.

至于王铮和迪达人达成的协议,只是有限的几个人知道,一旦曝光,给王铮带来的危险大于保护.

“Tangibly, the status of this Ares College Princ.i.p.al is still unclear, although it should be quite good. But you punk, after wreaking so much havoc, have you thought about your next step?”

Regardless of how the Dida t.i.tan situation had played out, w.a.n.g Zheng was inevitably looking at having to play a huge role in the military. Broadly, carting him off to military justice for a hearing was possible, but the reformist faction led by Meng Ao gave no ground, and they could act even in the absence of their leader. Furthermore, the Dida Star situation was so volatile, and could change drastically in the blink of an eye. No matter how you looked at it, w.a.n.g Zheng had successfully accomplished his mission and brought glory to the Solar System. From the report, it was apparent that w.a.n.g Zheng had done good work.

As for the agreement that w.a.n.g Zheng had with the Didarians, only a few people knew it. Once exposed, it would bring an uncontainable risk to w.a.n.g Zheng.

蒙敖他们,也只能做到平衡,王铮的命运,还要看自己下一步怎么走.

说到下一步,除了加入X精英学院学习,王铮还真没有认真的考虑过其他的事情.

“知道你和李尔,阿克琉蒂斯他们最大的区别是什么吗?”

古特不等王铮回答,便自己说道:”他们拥有强大背景,可以掌控住媒体的喉舌,利用这些能量,他们可以在无限放大自己优点的同时,又无限夸大对手的缺点,这就像是核武器,想和他们成为对手,在没有同样的能力前,只要你身上有任何缺点,面对他们的攻击,你就会没有任何的还手之力.”

王铮眨着眼,笑了一笑,”校长的意思是…让我买家报纸?”

Meng Ao and the rest could only act to restore balance. w.a.n.g Zheng’s fate would be left in his own hands.

Speaking of the next step, besides entering the Elite X College to study, w.a.n.g Zheng had not seriously considered other matters yet.

“Do you know what the biggest difference between you and Lear, Achilles and the rest is?”

Gu Te did not wait for w.a.n.g Zheng’s reply. “They have prestigious backgrounds. They can control the tongue of the media, and using that ability, they can magnify their own good points, as well as the opponents’ shortcomings. This is like a nuclear weapon, in that you must needs have similar powers. Otherwise, the presence of the slightest imperfection will render you incapable of retaliation.

w.a.n.g Zheng blinked, then laughed. “The Princ.i.p.al means… I should buy a newspaper?”

啪!古特听到了自己的下巴抽筋的声音,气得不行,”你这小子倒是挺幽默的,不错,心态很好,不过韬光养晦是必要的,知道什么样的对手最可怕了吗?看不见的对手才是最可怕的,你现在要做的,是低调低调再低调,低调到被人忽略了,看不见了,你就离成功更近了.”

王铮点了点头,心想自己哪里不够低调了,都是麻烦找他好不好,其实他一点都不怕麻烦,只不过也知道古特是好意.

古特端起茶杯喝了一大口,他现在是看穿了,王铮这小子,就不该和他拐着弯的说话,他该做什么,直接交待就行了,省劲.

Crack! Gu Te heard the sound of his own jaw cramping, as his fuse blew. “You sure have a sense of humor! Not bad, that att.i.tude is laudable, but biding your own time is necessary. Do you know which opponent is the most terrifying? It is the opponent that you cannot see. What you must do now is to maintain a profile so low that you become unremarkable. The more invisible you are, the nearer you will be to success.”

w.a.n.g Zheng nodded. Privately, he wondered how he could even become less inconspicuous. Trouble was the one who came looking for him, and he often did not mind the bother. But he did know that Gu Te meant well.

Gu Te lifted his tea cup and took a huge gulp. He saw through him now. He should just speak plainly with w.a.n.g Zheng about what he needed to do, and save himself the trouble.

跟古特聊完,王铮总算可以享受一下平静的校园生活了,遗憾的是没有见到张山蒙恬章如男,他们都在军队里面实习,王铮知道,他们都得到了重用,王铮打心眼里为他们高兴,尤其是张山这家伙,半路出家,真的是创出了一番天地.

陈秀和姚艾伦往宿舍里面带了两大件的啤酒,兴奋的拉着王铮上了宿舍楼的天台.

姚艾伦手很快,啪啪啪,三瓶啤酒就开了口,”不喝干净,谁都不许下去,为我们最伟大的哥们干杯!”

After speaking with Gu Te, w.a.n.g Zheng finally could enjoy a moment of peaceful school life. He was a little regretful that he had not met Zhang Shan, Meng Tian, and Zhang Runan. They were training with the military, w.a.n.g Zheng knew. They were being utilized well, and w.a.n.g Zheng was happy for them, especially Zhang Shan. To have left home halfway had been a bold move.

The dorm where Chen Xiu and Yao Aulun stayed had two huge cases of beer. They excitedly dragged w.a.n.g Zheng to the balcony.

With a fast hand, Yao Ailun popped open 3 bottles of beer. “n.o.body leaves until we’ve cleaned them out. To our n.o.ble brother!”

“铮哥,威武!”小陈秀很少这样和人激动,今天是真高兴,两人可是王铮最坚定的支持者,虽然外面没什么声音,可是在他们心目中,王铮就是银盟最强的机甲战士,当然也是他们的室友!

王铮一仰头,一整瓶,一气吹干.

“秀啊,未成年人喝酒不好.”

“不好意思,我已经十六岁了!”

小陈秀挺起胸脯,拿起酒瓶就是一大口,差点没呛到,”咳咳,可惜这次是大山不在.”

“Brother Zheng, formidable!” Little Chen Xiu seldom got so excited, but they were really happy today. Both of them had been w.a.n.g Zheng’s most staunch supporters. Although neither had said much, but in their heart, w.a.n.g Zheng was the strongest mecha fighter in the Milky Way, and also their dormmate!

w.a.n.g Zheng, with the tilt of his head, finished the entire bottle in one go.

“Xiu, minors shouldn’t drink.”

“Excuse me, but I’m already 16!”

Little Chen Xiu puffed up his chest, and gulped his beer, almost choking. “Keke, too bad Big Shan isn’t around.”

姚艾伦也喝了一整瓶,”大山现在风光了,上次回学院,啧啧,直接是开着阿尔法战术运输机回来的,来,为他再干一瓶.”

三个人喝得兴起,聊着最近发生的事情,张山的风光,章如男的稳重,蒙恬是最有前途的,蒙熬的女儿,肯定要有优势,何况蒙恬也有足够的能力,能力加背景,就等于无解了.

姚艾伦和陈秀也不差,由于王铮长期不在,出于工作的需要,肖菲总算把目光放在了”正常人”的身上,陈秀被选中成为了肖菲的助手兼记名弟子,而陈秀的表现是可圈可点的,慢慢在物理学界有了属于他的一份成就.

Yao Ailun had downed the bottle as well. “Big Shan is swimming in glory now. The last time he came back to the college, tsk tsk, he drove back in an Alpha tactical transport craft. Come, let’s down another one on his behalf.”

The three drank in high spirits, chatting of recent events. Zhang Shan’s impressive deeds, Zhang Runan’s stability, and the one with the brightest future, Meng Tian. As the daughter of Meng Ao, she definitely had an advantage, and Meng Tian had sufficient ability as well. With both ability and background, she would go far.

Yao Ailun and Chen Xiu were not bad as well. Because of w.a.n.g Zheng’s extended absence due to work, Xiao Fei had finally laid eyes on the “normal people”, and Chen Xiu had been chosen as Xiao Fei’s a.s.sistant and disciple, where he had performed well. Gradually, he had begun to carve his own name in the realm of physics.

至于姚艾伦,物理学方面同样优秀,但是,他更多被关注的,是他在解说圈中的成长,甚至已经有公司邀请他代言产品了,他的博客空间,已经有了固定的数十万粉丝,正在朝着百万粉前进.

无论夜晚醉得多么厉害,第二天,一切又都又重回正轨,按照原先的基调,不断的前进.

一连几天的平静生活,王铮居然过得有点不适应了,原本还担心肖菲会找他,结果,那女人已经忙疯了,几天都没有消息,估计忙得把王铮回来的事情都给忘记了.

As for Yao Ailun, he was equally brilliant in physics, but he was valued for his ability in commentary. Companies had already begun to invite him to be their product promoter. His blogs.p.a.ce had over 100,000 fans and was heading for 1 million.

No matter how drunk they got that night, everything would return to normal the next day, at their usual pace, ceaselessly advancing.

The few days of peaceful life had actually left w.a.n.g Zheng a little out of sorts. Initially, he had been worried that Xiao Fei would come looking for him, but that woman had been obsessed with her work, and no news had come in these few days. He surmised that she was so busy that she had probably forgotten of his homecoming.

对此王铮倒是松了口气,和陈秀交待了一遍又一遍,做肖菲老师助手的时候,千万别提他的名字,肖菲现在的研究已经进入到后期阶段,其实以王铮现在的水平也提供不了多少实质的帮助了.

王铮还有个地方想去.

一个人坐上了城际列车,王铮第一个要看的,就是被老贾卖掉的房子,是不是可以重新买回来,但想想也就算了,这显然不是钱的问题.

“盖尔前辈,你要来地球?”

正看着窗外风光,王铮突然接到了一个意外的天讯,游咖俱乐部的盖尔.

That had w.a.n.g Zheng heaving a sigh of relief. He gave explicit instructions to Chen Xiu not to mention his name in his time as a.s.sistant to teacher Xiao Fei. Xiao Fei’s present research had entered the final phase, and honestly w.a.n.g Zheng’s current level could not render her much practical aid as well.

w.a.n.g Zheng still had a place he wanted to go.

Boarding the city train alone, w.a.n.g Zheng really wanted to see the house that Old Merchant had sold off, and if it could be bought back. But then he thought better of the decision. Money was no issue.

“Senior Gail, you’re coming to Earth?”

Gazing out at the scenery through the window, w.a.n.g Zheng suddenly received a message out of the blue. It was from Genesis Coffee’s Gail.

说起来,当初王铮和游咖结缘,就是因为盖尔找王铮的麻烦,不打不相识,除了老穆,盖尔是游咖里面最力挺王铮的人.

“就问你欢迎不欢迎我们这些老家伙?”

盖尔的性子,还是那么又急又烈.

“当然是举双手欢迎,不过,您老来地球,肯定轮不到我来欢迎您.”

王铮一笑.

“哈哈,算你小子聪明,行了,不逗你玩了,找你没别的事,到时候有个宴会,你要是有空,就过来一趟.”

Speaking of it, w.a.n.g Zheng had gotten to know Genesis Coffee because Gail had come to w.a.n.g Zheng looking for a bone to pick. They would not have known otherwise. Besides Old Merchant, Gail had been w.a.n.g Zheng’s biggest supporter in Genesis Coffee.

“I’m asking if you will welcome us.”

Gail’s personality was as intense and impetuous as always.

“Of course, you will be welcomed with both arms raised. But you always come to Earth, and there are so many more worthy people who welcome you.”

w.a.n.g Zheng laughed.

“Haha, at least you know. Alright, enough teasing. I’m not calling about anything in particular. There’s a banquet soon. If you’re free, come on over.”

“就算没空也一定到场.”王铮笑着点头应下.

“那好,就这么说定了.”

王铮关闭天讯,城际列车正好停下,到站了.

王铮走出站台,熟悉的街道,没有变化,街角的汉堡皇,对面是茶餐厅,王铮没少在这两家打对门的店里混日子,今天汉堡,明天鸡扒饭.

走到街角,王铮买了个汉堡,又跑到茶餐厅要了份鸡扒饭,今天运气不错,有送西瓜汁当配餐.

东西还是那个味道,服务员却是一张张陌生的脸庞.

“Even if I’m not free, I will make time.” w.a.n.g Zheng acquiesced smilingly.

“Alright, that’s settled then.”

w.a.n.g Zheng switched off the Skylink. The city train had stopped as well. He had reached.

w.a.n.g Zheng walked out from the platform. The familiar streets had no changed. The Burger Queen on the corner, the teahouse opposite. w.a.n.g Zheng had spent many a day between these two places, eating hamburger today, and chicken chop rice the next.

At the corner, w.a.n.g Zheng bought both a hamburger and a chicken chop rice. Today he was lucky. There was a set meal that came with a free watermelon juice.

The food tasted the same, although the service staff were all unfamiliar faces.

时间这东西,总是会把熟悉的东西变得陌生.

吃完晚餐,正是黄昏,夕阳西斜,把人的影子照得长长的,道路上,有孩子正在奔跑,欢畅的笑声让街道生机勃勃.

王铮一笑,沿着这熟悉的回家道路,一步步走着,忽然,王铮顿住了脚步,怔怔地看着街边的那家书店,灯光通明.

老贾的书店!

快步上前推门而入,叮咚!

Time always turned to familiar into the strange.

After dinner, it was evening. The setting sun cast long shadows everywhere. On the sidewalk, children were running, and their exuberant laughter lent life to the streets.

w.a.n.g Zheng smiled, walking the familiar path home. As he walked, he suddenly stopped, staring at a roadside bookshop with lights on.

Old Merchant’s book store!

With quick steps he pushed open the door and entered. Ding dong!

清脆的叮声却让王铮激动的心绪一下子沉了下去,老贾从来不用这种东西,进出店门,都是静悄悄的,说是不要打扰在书店看书的人.

走了进去,外面书架上摆放的,都是当下的畅销书和杂志,光鲜亮丽的书皮,让人一看就喜欢的那种.

再里面,是一些工具书,但水平都很浅.

“欢迎光临,客人您好,这里的书,除了杂志和未开封的小说,都可以随便看,如果不喜欢实体书,鄙店可以提供各种版本的电子版.”书店的服务员迎了上来,是个二十左右的年轻人,应该是兼职打工的学生.

The crisp bell made w.a.n.g Zheng’s heart sink. Old Merchant never used these things. Entry had always been soundless, in order to prevent disturbing the readers in the bookstore.

Walking in, the books displayed were all popular books and magazines with brilliant eye-catching covers, that were instant favourites.

A little deeper in were tool books, but they were basic.

“Welcome, sir. Besides the magazines and the unopened novels, the books here are free for browsing. If you don’t like physical books, the store offers an electronic version.” The bookstore’s staff came up to greet him. He was a young man of about 20, and seemed to be a student doing part-time work.

“这家店是什么时候开的?”王铮好奇的问道,难道老贾把店也卖了?

“半年前,客人您?”

“哦,以前我住在附近,后来搬走了.”

“原来如此,我听人说,以前这里也是家书店,不过是卖那种古董书的,和我们现在卖的实体书完全不同,我们的书虽然也是实体书页的,但是,封页采用了新型书页技术,同样可以达到某些电子效果…”

服务员很热情的介绍着现代实体书的新科技,在书面上轻轻一点,一个手势操作,上面的封面画一下子活了过来,演绎着书中的某一章场景.

王铮在热情的攻势下,竟然也买了两本畅销书,还不是小说,是心灵鸡汤类型的…

“When did this store open?” w.a.n.g Zheng asked curiously. Could Old Merchant have sold the shop too?

“Half a year ago. Sir, you are…?”

“Oh, I used to stay nearby, then I moved away.”

“Ah I see. I heard that this used to be a bookstore as well, but it sold those antique books. Completely different from the practical book collection that we now stock. Although our books are physical copies, but with the new archiving technology, we have achieved similar electronic results…”

The staff enthusiastically introduced the new technologies of modern books. With a light touch on the book’s surface, and a hand gesture, the cover ill.u.s.tration leaped into life, performing a scene from the book.

Under such a pa.s.sionate attack, w.a.n.g Zheng actually bought 2 books. They were not novels either, but the chicken soup for the soul kind…

走出书店大门之后,听着服务员热情的欢迎再次光临,王铮看着手中的两本现代实体书,有点无语的笑了笑.

在自己的老房子面前兜了几圈,王铮带着两本畅销书,又坐上回战神学院的城际列车,不巧正赶上了下班高峰期,人挤人的车厢,竟然让人有点怀念起迪达泰坦星起来.

刚回到宿舍楼下,正好碰上外出的姚艾伦,”我去做解说的工作,对了,有你的快递,我代收的,就在你床上.”

“好…”王铮一笑,但话还没说完,就被姚艾伦用惊异的眼神打断了,”这个,王铮,你没事吧?”

Walking out of the bookstore, he heard the staff brightly call out to him to return anytime. w.a.n.g Zheng looked down at the two modern books in his hand, and smiled wordlessly.

He wandered aimlessly around in front of his old room for a while. w.a.n.g Zheng, books in hand, boarded the city train back to Ares College. He had just met rush hour as well. In the packed carriage, he recalled Dida t.i.tan with longing.

Returning to the lobby of the dorm, he met Yao Ailun, who was going out. “I’m off to do some product explanation. Right, I accepted your delivery for you. It’s on your bed.”

“Right…” w.a.n.g Zheng nodded, but he was not given a chance to finish, interrupted by Yao Ailun’s startled expression. “This, w.a.n.g Zheng, are you alright?”

“我?没事啊,能有什么事?”

“呵呵,没,没有.”姚艾伦用眼角余光瞥了眼王铮手中的两本书,”心灵灵药”和”成功之心”.

王铮买这两本书是要干啥?治愈心灵?还是急切成功?说实话,王铮明明在IG有如此优秀的表现,最后却什么都没有得到,连个庆功宴都没有,整个社会好像把他给忘了一样,换成是他,早就发狂了.

姚艾伦真有点小担心王铮的状态,有时这社会是太不公平了,不过,有些话他不好说,大不了,晚上天台见,喝个一醉方休.

王铮回到宿舍,就看到他的床位上面放着一个包装十分简陋的盒子,不由皱了皱眉头,怎么看着…这么眼熟呢?

“Me? I’m fine. What could be wrong?”

“Keke, nothing, nothing’s wrong.” Yao Ailun scrutinized w.a.n.g Zheng’s books from the corner of his eye. “Medicine for the Soul” and “The Heart of Success”.

What had w.a.n.g Zheng bought these 2 books for? To rejuvenate his soul? Or to chase success? In truth, w.a.n.g Zheng’s spectacular performance in IG had not been rewarded with any tangible success after, not even a celebration banquet. It seemed like society had simply forgotten him. If it was him, he would long have gone crazy.

Yao Ailun was a little worried about w.a.n.g Zheng’s state of mind. Sometimes society could be too cruel, but he was in no position to bring it up. No matter, they would convene on the balcony at night, and drink it all off.

Back in the dorm, w.a.n.g Zheng saw the crudely wrapped box on his bed. He frowned. Why did this… look so familiar?