Chapter 142.2: Application Form (Part Two)

After he got out of the car, a butler came out and beckoned him inside. “This way, please.”

Tai Dongwei noticed that there were other cars parked outside, meaning that he wasn’t the only one who came here today. He smoothed out his clothes and walked in. He passed the servants standing guard by the gate, walked through the courtyard, and entered a large living room.

Just as he expected, he wasn’t the only one present. Two other people had arrived.

One of them was Geng Zheng, a sophomore with tanned skin. He was the most talented student among their batch, and even the seniors couldn’t defeat him. But he was prideful and refused to join the Mutual Aid Group. However, recently, due to certain matters, he finally changed his mind.

The other was Deng Fu. He was also a sophomore and part of the Weapons Department.

Five people sat on the large sofa across from them. Without a doubt, they were the senior members of the Mutual Aid Group and the representatives of the powerful students.

Tai Dongwei had never seen the two on the sides, so they had to be underclassmen, but he didn’t look down on them just because they were younger. If they could sit there, it meant that they were from rich families. They could also be related to someone who had graduated or gone to Central City.

Among the three sitting in the middle, the one on the left was Jiang Wei. He was often the one in charge of talking to them. The one on the right was Shao Xiaobie. He had left a deep impression on Tai Dongwei because the rich kids liked to jokingly call him Shabby. He was also usually easygoing and did not put on any airs.

Tai Dongwei had never seen the one seated in the middle. Still, he clearly came from the most powerful family among the three.

When Tai Dongwei arrived, Jiang Wei didn’t ask him to sit. He just said, “I asked you three to come here because you’ve already gotten your weapons permit.”

He motioned for his attendant to hand them three forms and gestured for them to start writing. “Fill them out.”

Tai Dongwei took a look and gasped in surprise. “The unrestricted defense permit?”

Geng Zheng was in disbelief. He looked at the people seated on the sofa. “You want us to take the test for the unrestricted defense permit?”

“Correct,” Jiang Wei said with a smile.

“Really? I’ve always wanted this, but why...” Geng Zheng was quite excited.

He had never thought that the Mutual Aid Group would allow him to take this test because the permit was exclusive to recommended students. Who would have thought that they would get the chance as well? Perhaps joining the Mutual Aid Group was actually the right choice.

Tai Dongwei remained cautious and said nothing.

“What do you need us to do?” Deng Fu asked.

“It’s simple. After the test starts, do whatever you must to fail,” Jiang Wei continued while smiling.

“Fail?”

Jiang Wei pointed at the student sitting to his left. “Exactly. Wei Jun here intends to sit for the unrestricted defense permit test this year, and he wants you three to sit for it with him.”

“I... don’t understand. Since we’re meant to fail, why can’t we give up on it?” Tai Dongwei asked tentatively.

“That won’t look nice. After all, the government is creating so many chances for the commoners. It wouldn’t make sense if none of you even sat for the test. But if you sit for it and fail, then that’s another story,” Jiang Wei said with a shake of his head.

“What sort of benefits will we get from this?” Deng Fu asked boldly after giving it some thought.

Jiang Wei’s smile brightened, and he said, “We’ll give you money and waive off some of your debts. We’ll also ease some of the clauses on your contracts.”

“I’ll do it!” Deng Fu immediately agreed.

Tai Dongwei watched Jiang Wei shift his gaze to him, and he, too, said, “I have no objections.”

It was common knowledge that the recommended students monopolized the unrestricted defense permit, so he never thought about getting it himself. Besides, he knew that they were in control of his life, and his will was not important to them. The extra benefits were already a good deal for him.

Jiang Wei then turned to the last of them. “What about you, Geng Zheng?”

“Can I choose not to give up?” Geng Zheng asked while staring at them.

The other recommended students laughed, and Jiang Wei asked with a smile, “Why?”

“Because I think that I can pass. If I do, I will be able to better contribute to the Mutual Aid Group, and I’ll always remember the benefits you gave me,” Geng Zheng said earnestly.

He had obtained the weapons permit during his sophomore year and was the most outstanding student in his cohort. Even many of the upperclassmen could not compare to him. Due to that, he was prideful and believed that certain opportunities belonged to him. He thought himself worthy of the Mutual Aid Group’s high regard. That was why he didn’t want to give up.

“Geng Zheng, you’re talented, alright. We’ll give you plenty of opportunities, but those opportunities come with conditions—”

“I know! I’ll do my best to repay you after I graduate. Didn’t you tell me before I joined that I was free to hold my own opinions?” Geng Zheng stressed.

“We did, on the condition that they don’t infringe on the group’s interests,” Jiang Wei said with a nod.

“But I didn’t—”

“Wei Jun’s request represents the group’s interests, and the same goes for all of our requests,” Jiang Wei said while nudging his glasses up. He was still smiling.

Geng Zheng couldn’t accept it. “But you—”

Shao Xiaobie lost his patience and pointed at him accusingly from the sofa. “But what? If you’ve agreed to be our dog, then act like one. Just do whatever we tell you. What’s with all this nonsense?”

“You...” Geng Zheng’s face turned red with anger.

Deng Fu’s expression remained calm, as if he was completely unbothered by it. Meanwhile, Tai Dongwei bowed his head.

“You can, of course, choose not to agree with it, but since it goes against our interests, we’ll consider it a violation of the agreement, and you’ll need to pay a hefty penalty. We’ll also be pulling back all of our investments on you. You won’t receive any additional guidance or medicine anymore,” Jiang Wei said.

Geng Zheng clenched his fists. He had joined the Mutual Aid Group because he had no other choice. His family owed a huge debt due to medical expenses, and he could not repay it. Things had only started looking up after he got help from the Mutual Aid Group, so he couldn’t anger them. They were the only reason his family was receiving medical treatment.

Jiang Wei checked his watch. “I’ll give you two minutes to think.”

Tai Dongwei and Deng Fu said nothing. The entire room sank into silence.

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The other members of the Mutual Aid Group, including Wei Jun, who had not said a thing since the start, watched him with amusement, as if they looked forward to his choice.

The seconds ticked by. Soon, Jiang Wei said, “That’s two minutes. What’s your decision, Geng Zheng?”

“I...” Geng Zheng bowed his head and clenched his fists so tightly that his veins bulged. “I’ll do it.”

Wei Jun stood up from the sofa. “Make sure that you take good care of it.”

He left, and the other rich children from the Mutual Aid Group also stood up.

“Can’t believe I had to come here for something so minor,” Shao Xiaobie grumbled on his way out and turned to his attendant. “By the way, don’t forget to give them their money. We have to feed the dogs.”

Once they were outside, Jiang Wei smiled and said, “You’re far too harsh on them, Shao Xiaobie.”

But Shao Xiaobie didn’t think so. Dogs needed to be tamed, or they wouldn’t obey orders. If they treated them nicely, they were going to walk all over them and think it was their right to do so.

Meanwhile, after the three commoners signed the forms, they were given a check each.

Geng Zheng felt as if his dignity had been crushed to pieces, and a deep sense of shame welled up in him. His breathing grew labored, and his eyes turned bloodshot. Tai Dongwei saw that something was wrong with him, and he went over to pat him on his shoulder. “Are you okay, Geng Zheng?”

“Get lost! Don’t touch me!” Geng Zheng smacked his hand away.

Tai Dongwei quickly stepped aside and said, “Hey, even if you’re angry, don’t vent at me, brother.”

Deng Fu flicked his check before stuffing it into his pocket with a smile. When he saw how Geng Zheng was acting, he said, “Enough of that. This is how the world operates. Just take the money and enjoy your life. We’re working this hard for it for a reason, no?”

Geng Zheng stared at the two of them and just couldn’t understand it. He whispered, “Don’t you two have any aspirations?”

“Aspirations?” Deng Fu gave him a surprised look before he shrugged and started walking away. “If you had dreams and aspirations, you shouldn’t have joined the Mutual Aid Group. Listen to me. Give up on those things as soon as possible. They have no meaning on this side of the fence.”