Sky-cracking Rider

"Hey, Xiao Meng, how come you have time to call me?"

Chen Fei was very surprised. It wasn't the time for him to call home yet, but his little sister had taken the initiative to call. Shouldn't that cunningly adorable Meng Meng be buried in her books, preparing for the college entrance exam?

Suppressing her excitement, the little sister spoke loudly, "Second Brother, I've got a solid shot at the undergrad program now!"

Chen Fei's second-hand clunker of a phone might have been worn on the outside, but the call quality hadn't been affected at all. It was still clear and loud. He said in confusion, "Did the college entrance exam get moved up? How come you're so sure?"

There were still a few months to go before the college entrance exam!

"Brother, I got the qualifications for a trainee position, guess which company it is?"

Finally shedding her recent sullenness and gloom, Chen Meng had returned to her originally cheerful and vivacious self.

"Could it be one of the top 500 in the world? A Central Enterprise? No, Central Enterprises only look after their own employees' children."

Chen Fei was puzzled and couldn't guess which company had thrown such a good opportunity his little sister's way.

According to the college entrance exam reforms over the past two decades, securing a trainee position was akin to having one foot in the door of a university, with extra consideration given on the scoreline. In the fierce competition of the exams, even a single extra point was an unimaginable advantage, something that money couldn't buy.

After graduating with an undergraduate degree, a job would be waiting, guaranteeing a government-subsidized livelihood. Don't think that just any company can apply for a trainee; if a small street vendor brought out a university trainee, it would be ridiculous.

Once they obtained an undergraduate degree, trainees could opt to continue their education – graduate school, master's programs, doctoral studies – as long as they could qualify, the sponsoring organization would not refuse since they had already invested resources in grooming talent, the higher the level of expertise developed, the better.

Proudly, his little sister Chen Meng said, "No, it's Henghai Tactical Weapons Group, the centennial factory, Henghai Military Defense. I am now a trainee of Henghai Tactical Weapons, and I've got a twenty-point bonus!"

"Hiss! How did you manage that?"

Chen Fei gasped in astonishment.

His little sister had really turned her luck around, securing a deal with the century-old factory and getting a twenty-point bonus on the college entrance exam—an advantage two million Star Yuan couldn't buy!

"Hee hee! Henghai Tactical Weapons Group openly recruited trainees, I tried my luck and ranked third in the exam. Just like that, I made it!" Chen Meng explained simply and then continued, "The police just got new information; it seems like they've found a clue to the whereabouts of the family who tricked me into providing a guarantee. It won't be long before they catch them."

Her voice choked up as she reached the end.

You can know a person's face but not their heart. A childhood playmate turned into both a best friend and a fellow student whom she thought she knew well, yet she took advantage of Chen Meng's trust to brutally stab her in the back, shattering her worldview in an instant.

A five million Star Yuan debt is an amount most ordinary people wouldn't earn in a lifetime, even without spending a dime—and that's without counting the interest. With such a burden, whether interest was included or not made little difference; it was impossible to repay.

Her oldest brother had just managed to finish his wedding banquet, yet life was anything but easy. Second Brother had no choice but to drop out of school and leave home to work off the debts. A cloud hung over the entire family, with no glimmer of sunlight in sight.

If she could catch the malicious friend who had ruined her life and her family's, Chen Meng would love to tear her limb from limb to release the hatred in her heart.

"That's great news, like double happiness coming your way. Xiao Meng, your luck is turning around. Congratulations!"

One piece of good news after another made Chen Fei, as the second brother, feel genuinely happy.

"Second Brother, it's all because I've been a burden to you."

Chen Meng started sobbing. If it hadn't been for her naivety, the most promising member of the Chen Family wouldn't have had to interrupt his promising academic career, giving up the chance to pursue a masters and immediately start working, and moreover, in the desolate Xingdu Kush Mountain Area.

A place that couldn't even be called an economic zone, not to mention a suitable area for farming or animal husbandry—it was only known for the occasional appearance of mutants and magical beasts, as well as roaming wild animals, conditions that were harsh beyond imagination.

"Xiao Meng, when you finish your undergrad, don't rush to start working. Continue your education. The higher your degree, the higher your income will be. I'm still young, I can endure a few more years. Once all debts are paid off, I might even make a fortune, and then we can have a good life," Chen Fei said, holding the phone with a smile on his face.

His tone was very relaxed, not at all a forced display of indifference.

In truth, he had never complained.

Everyone was family. No one wanted such things to happen, but someone had to shoulder the burden.

Although Chen Fei had taken on the responsibility, that didn't mean others could truly relax. It just allowed them to catch their breath for a moment—how could he let himself be buried under the debt for a lifetime?

To be honest, Apocalypse Defense Group and the Aircrew Base hadn't mistreated Chen Fei himself.

Even though he had incurred an additional debt of two million Star Yuan due to a life-saving First Rank Earth Order magic potion worth ten million Star Yuan, he not only pulled back from the brink of death but also fully recovered, retaining his ability to work. This alone was priceless, far exceeding the two million Star Yuan.

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If ending up with a fate worse than death, that would be a misery beyond description. At least now I can take on a few more jobs at the 911 Aircrew Base, earning quite a bit, clearing all debts within a year is almost certain, without being forever suffocated by them.

Looking back, I might even earn a large sum of money, and that's not an exaggeration.

Leaving those aside, just the Third Rank Light-element Magical Beast Crystal Core in the new nest of Pure Light Sparrow Xiao Jiu on the bedside table right now is enough for Chen Fei to shake off all debts on the spot.

On the other end of the call, Chen Meng sniffed and said firmly, "Yes, big brother, I will work twice as hard."

As a trainee for Henghai Tactical Weapons, once completing her studies and entering a job post, her salary would definitely not be less than what Chen Fei is making now with multiple jobs.

Chen Fei said with a smile, "Alright, keep it up!"

"Keep it up!"

Finally, Chen Meng hung up the phone.

This really was not easy!

Chen Fei had thought his sister would never be able to get out of this for life, or else all his hard work to pay off debts would have been in vain.

The whole family can only see hope if they pull together and support each other. If disaster strikes and everyone fends for themselves, the boat will capsize sooner or later, and no one will escape.

Ding-a-ling-a-ling.

Just after hanging up the call with his sister Chen Meng, another call immediately came in.

"Hello, Mr. Abel, what's the matter?"

The caller ID showed one of the two head chefs at the base canteen, Chef Abel.

Abel said anxiously, "Chen Fei, have you heard? War has been declared!"

He didn't have many friends at the Aircrew Base, other than Chen Fei, there was only one fellow townsman, "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron's "Fragrant Orchid" Carlos Silva Lane.

"War? Isn't it over?"

Chen Fei was stunned. By over, he was referring to the recent event when the 911 Aircrew Base flattened the 897 Aircrew Base in a campaign.

The opposing military contractor was probably still crying over rubble and cement blocks!

"Not that one, a giant military contractor has initiated a corporate war against our Apocalypse Defense Group, the battle is about to begin, damn it, as soon as the war news broke out, Singh and a bunch of people are making a fuss with Human Resources Manager Takar demanding a salary increase by at least thirty times, or they are walking out. They are so damn greedy!"

Chef Abel was full of complaints on the phone. If not for Singh's obsessive-compulsive disorder keeping the kitchen spotless, he would not tolerate this individual who insulted the spirit of chefs.

"Thirty times, why don't they just rob a bank!"

Chen Fei was also shocked.
Experience more on m-v|l e'm,p| y- r

As the Human Resources Manager doing anything but human resource work was already bad enough, but for Takar to be aggravating the situation at such a critical juncture was a bit too much. It was no different from looting in a fire.

"Exactly, they originally wanted a fifty-fold salary increase. Afraid of negotiations breaking down, they left some room for compromise. Chen Fei, you have to think of something for me. If Singh and his crew run off, I won't be able to cope on my own. Damn Ministry of Internal Affairs, they even fired Old Piao!"

Whenever Chef Abel mentioned Pu Aihua, who liked to mess with petty trades instead of doing his job properly, he was full of resentment. Compared to Human Resources Manager Takar's group of cunning countrymen, Pu Aihua was like a hardworking ox.

If it weren't for finding Chen Fei, a newcomer to fill in just in time, Chef Abel might have felt overwhelmed.

"Me? What can I do?"

Chen Fei scratched his head. By the time there was only Chef Abel left, not even unpacking frozen packages would work; the key factor would be what the canned goods thought.

But the main point isn't this!

Who exactly does the 911 Aircrew Base have to fight, and what exactly is the plan for battle?

He was almost sidetracked by Chef Abel's point of view.

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