Chapter 6: It Is Truly Wonderful to Have Connections

It turns out that having a background—even an imagined one—grants a person treatment far superior to that of an ordinary soul.

If it weren't for his perceived connection to the Huang family, Li Guoren would never have argued so fiercely on his behalf, nor would he have exerted himself to clear away the "spy suspicions" surrounding him. Even if it was all just a bluff, in Li Guoren's eyes, this young man was not only an old acquaintance of the Ambassador's wife but also a scion of a prominent Nanyang family. For a young master of such standing, one does not merely provide service; one seizes the opportunity to build a connection.

After all, with the War of Resistance raging, what was China relying on to fight? It relied not only on the flesh and blood of four hundred million compatriots but also on the donations of millions of overseas Chinese. As an official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, how could Li Guoren not know that before the fall of Nanyang, overseas remittances and donations accounted for eighty percent of the government's expenditures? He naturally understood that the influence of overseas Chinese leaders over the upper echelons was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Even if Nanyang was currently occupied by the Japanese, what about the future? The Japanese were bound to be defeated, and Nanyang would eventually be reclaimed by the British, the French, and the Dutch. Seizing the chance to befriend a down-on-his-luck Nanyang heir was certainly the right move. Whether in official circles or business, it could only be beneficial.

With this in mind, Li Guoren brought his newly recognized "kinsman" to an apartment rented by the embassy.

"My dear brother, I truly apologize. The conditions here are modest. Please bear with it for a while until the Ambassador and his wife return, and then we shall make further arrangements."

As he opened the door, Li Guoren’s tone was filled with contrition.

"Oh, brother, please don't say that," Li Yian replied, bowing deeply in gratitude. "As a refugee drifting into London, I am already content to have a place to rest. If I hadn't met you, I fear I wouldn't have even found a place to lay my head. Your kindness, brother, is something I shall never forget."

*As long as you know it,* Li Guoren thought to himself, though he quickly replied, "You are being too formal again. We both share the surname Li; we are kin. If I don't help you, who would? Now, you’ve been put through the ringer by those foreigners at the police station all night, so you must be exhausted. Rest well. I must return to the embassy to report and, while I’m at it, get your temporary identification sorted. As for your passport, we shall wait until the Ambassador returns..."

Li Guoren was efficient and did not linger to deepen the bond further, choosing to take his leave; there would be plenty of opportunities later.

*Having a background... it’s truly wonderful!*

Watching his overly enthusiastic "kinsman" depart, Li Yian couldn't help but marvel. He had been worrying about identity documents, and here, someone had solved it for him immediately.

"In that case, I shall leave it to you, brother." He offered another deep bow, brimming with tearful gratitude—it was, after all, necessary.

"Oh, stop being so polite with me!" Li Guoren laughed, gesturing at him as if they were truly brothers.

"Alright, get some sleep. Oh, and by the way..." Just as he reached the door, as if remembering something, Li Guoren took a small booklet from his pocket. "This is my ration book. You keep it for now."

Before Li Yian could protest, he shoved it into his hand.

"No, this won't do! Brother, if you give this to me, what will you eat?"

"Look at you, you called me brother, yet you're still being distant. The embassy has separate rations. I usually eat and live at the embassy, so I don't need this. You take it, and when yours is ready, you can return it to me. Besides, this ration card serves as identification. It’s for diplomatic staff, so you won't have to worry even if you run into the police. It will make it easier for you to move about."

After emphasizing the utility of the ration card, Li Guoren teased, "Without this, what would you eat? What, were you hoping to get someone to call the police on you again, or perhaps fall victim to a swindler? Enough, enough—we're family, why stand on ceremony?"

Before Li Yian could thank him again, the door was shut. Listening to the fading footsteps in the hallway and looking at the ration book in his hand, Li Yian couldn't help but sigh.

"What a good man!"

A good man indeed.

As he mused, a light screen flashed into view.

[Successfully persuaded someone to provide assistance, obtaining free lodging. Experience +20.]

*Good heavens!*

It could grant that much experience? It made sense, though—London rent was exorbitantly expensive! To trick someone into providing free lodging with just a few words, of course it would reward experience.

[Attribute function unlocked. View now?]

Li Yian didn't hesitate to check. Information appeared on the screen:

Current Skills:
Commerce: Lv1
Psychology: Lv1
Business Management: Lv2
...

Seeing the last item, Li Yian grimaced, his feelings a mix of complexity and frustration. Commerce and psychology were granted by the system, but his own university major, Business Management, had actually become a skill!

And it was rated at Lv2!

But what in the world was the use of that?

"My head must have been caught in a door when I chose this major. If I had studied pharmacy or even veterinary medicine—since people and animals aren't all that different—I could have invented penicillin and made a fortune..."

Despite his complaints, what pleasantly surprised Li Yian was that, according to the levels, these skills could be upgraded!

"Today's experience gain unlocked the attributes. Does this mean that as long as my skills keep leveling up, I can unlock more functions?"

What kind of functions would the system offer later? Staring at the screen, Li Yian rubbed his hands, eager to train a skill to its limit to see what would happen.

He looked at his skills. Business Management was already at Lv2; if he could find a way to earn skill points for it, he could quickly reach a higher level! The future looked promising.

But... business management? Where was he supposed to find a business to manage right now?

"It seems I'll have to focus on commerce..."

Having made up his mind, he exited the system and sat on the sofa, lost in thought, pondering how to improve his commerce skill. This skill was linked not only to unlocking new functions but also to his future. Although he had a place to stay for now, it was only temporary.

"According to that article, Madame Huang should be returning to London in December. That means I have seven months."

What to do in seven months? Naturally, he had to make himself powerful enough that Madame Huang would gladly acknowledge this "old acquaintance." Nobody likes a poor relative; that was human nature.

He walked to the window and looked out at London. His gaze flickered. Whether this city was full of opportunities or dangers, he didn't know, but he was certain of one thing: only by stepping out of this room would he have a chance!

He took a deep breath and whispered to himself, "Alright, London, here I come!"