Chapter 144 Extra Chapter 1: Liang Jiushan's Story - Living Towards the Sun
The autumn rain of 1993 lashed coldly at Liang Jiushan's head, along with the helplessness and anger that almost swallowed him whole.
He had to rush to save his sister!
Is she in danger being home alone on this rainy night?
However, when he rushed into his house, soaking wet, his heart pounding in his chest, almost leaping out of his throat, the tragedy he had anticipated did not occur. What he saw was the figure in police uniform, standing as straight as a pine tree—Jiang Ling.
She and Li Zhenliang worked in perfect harmony, and with clean and efficient movements, they twisted and subdued Qian Darong, who was screaming ferociously and bleeding from his forehead.
The crisp "click" of the metal handcuffs closing was the most beautiful sound Liang Jiushan had ever heard.
Qian Darong, who had been bullying him and his sister, has been arrested!
The older sister, Liang Qiqiao, clutched the cast-iron coal hook left by her father tightly. Her body trembled slightly, whether from fear or excitement, and her eyes shone with a strange and bright light, as if she had survived a catastrophe. She looked at her younger brother and said in an incredibly clear voice, "I'm not afraid of him!"
Liang Jiushan felt a radiant light, something he had never dared to hope for, shining into his life.
At that moment, Liang Jiushan's gaze was fixed on Jiang Ling.
It was she, this seemingly aloof and even somewhat distant policewoman, who, in the interrogation room of the police station, with a thunderous approach and a keen insight into people's hearts that he had never seen before, forced the arrogant Qian family parents to retreat step by step, and won back the long-lost justice and dignity for them and their siblings.
It was also she who meticulously devised a test that he couldn't fully understand at the time, ultimately bringing the devil Qian Darong to justice and ensuring his and his sister's safety.
After the trial, Qian Darong was sentenced to two years of reformatory education and re-education through labor.
Stepping out of the solemn courtroom, the autumn sunlight was somewhat dazzling. He immediately spotted Jiang Ling waiting outside. She stood there, her expression still calm, yet like a mountain one could lean on. Liang Jiushan felt an indescribable surge of gratitude and respect, along with an intense emotion that even he himself was not yet fully aware of. He mustered his courage, walked up to her, and awkwardly but sincerely called out, "Sister Ling."
She seemed to pause slightly, then a very faint smile curved her lips as she nodded, her voice as calm as ever: "Okay."
Those two simple words and that fleeting smile were like a seed full of vitality, falling into his heart, which was somewhat barren after the storms of his youth, yet yearned for redemption and guidance.
“Sister Ling…” For countless days and nights afterward, he repeatedly chewed over and depicted this title in his heart, as if each time he uttered it, he could get a little closer to the light that illuminated his life, and he could hold onto that warm hope a little tighter.
Qian Darong was sent to a juvenile detention center, and the Qian family received their compensation, sweeping away the heavy gloom that had hung over the family. Liang Qiqiao gradually became more cheerful and loved to laugh, and devoted herself to preparing for the entrance exam to teachers' college.
Liang Jiushan, who is actively preparing for the high school entrance examination, often unconsciously rubs the second button of his shirt. This habitual action used to be repeated repeatedly when he was tense and angry, but now it is because of his contemplation and firm aspiration.
His life trajectory was forcefully reversed by Jiang Ling, returning him to a hopeful and bright future. Could he approach this dazzling light, and perhaps... one day become someone who could bring light and protection?
Countless nights, he would repeatedly recall every word Jiang Ling said at the police station, every calm look in her eyes, and every decisive decision she made. She mentioned criminal psychology, forensic identification, and the need to "forge a new path."
Those words were unfamiliar and profound to Liang Jiushan, yet they exuded unparalleled charm, because they were Jiang Ling's world, the cause she had devoted herself to and firmly believed in.
An idea sprouted and grew stronger with each passing day of gazing up at her: he wanted to go to police academy, to become a policeman like her, to wear the same uniform, to stand proudly beside her, to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, and to protect the justice and light she protected.
However, when he finally found a relatively free afternoon for Jiang Ling and waited for her at the police station, filled with sincerity and a touch of youthful shyness, he revealed this grand wish to her. Jiang Ling looked at him and gently shook her head.
Her eyes were gentle, carrying the concern of an elder, but deep within them lay a complex emotion he couldn't decipher at the time: "Jiu Shan, your future holds many possibilities; you shouldn't limit yourself. You're quick-witted, and you excel in mathematics and logical thinking—I can see that. The future will be the age of computers, and that might be a more suitable path for you to showcase your talents and realize your value. Remember, whatever you ultimately choose to do, as long as you can use your own strength and methods to protect those you want to protect and to make this world a better place, that's enough."
Calculator? That was something unfamiliar to Liang Jiushan. He had only seen a few words and pictures of it in science and technology magazines in the library, and it felt very distant.
For a moment, he felt a little disappointed, as if Jiang Ling had rejected him without making a sound.
But just before the sense of loss spread, he keenly grasped the key point in her words—"more suitable for you," and "use your own strength to protect the people you want to protect."
In a flash, he suddenly understood.
Jiang Ling wasn't rejecting or pushing him away; rather, she was guiding him in her own way down a path that might be broader and better suited to his talents.
She believed in his abilities, even more than he believed in them himself.
The gloom in my heart vanished instantly, replaced by an even stronger determination: "Okay, Sister Ling, I'll listen to you."
Since Jiang Ling believes that computers are the future and a field that can create enormous energy, then he will study them! She wants to take a new path in crime prevention, and this path inevitably requires technological support, so he will strive to become the person who can pave the way for her and build a solid backing for her with the most advanced technology!
His goal became clearer and more fervent than ever before: he wanted to take the college entrance exam early, get into the best university in the country, and learn the most cutting-edge computer technology. He wanted to become powerful as quickly as possible, possess enough ability and resources, and then... return to her side.
From then on, Liang Jiushan's life seemed to be wound up tightly.
He was already exceptionally bright, and once he had a clear goal, he unleashed astonishing potential and perseverance. He frantically studied the remaining high school courses on his own, and the stack of workbooks he completed was half a person high. At the same time, he tried every possible way to search for and access all knowledge related to computers.
In 1994, Yancheng City opened its first internet cafe called "Gate to the Future." Internet access was extremely expensive, a luxury for him and his sister. But he still managed to save money by living frugally and went to the cafe for one or two hours every week without fail.
The bulky 486 computer, the monotonous DOS command prompt, and the incredibly slow dial-up network—things others might find boring—held an irresistible allure for Liang Jiushan. He knew that these cold machines and codes were the bridges connecting him to a bright future and to her side.
In his second year of high school, he made a decision that shocked all his teachers and classmates—to register for the college entrance examination early. In the end, he was admitted to the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Kyoto University with excellent grades, and the news caused a sensation throughout the textile factory's residential compound.
On the eve of leaving home to study in the north, Liang Jiushan went to the Municipal Public Security Bureau to say goodbye to Jiang Ling.
She had just come down from a case analysis meeting, her brows showing a hint of fatigue, but her calm, focused, and seemingly in control aura remained unchanged.
Upon hearing that Liang Jiushan had successfully gained admission to the Computer Science Department of Kyoto University, Jiang Ling's eyes revealed genuine admiration and satisfaction. She said with certainty, "Very good, Jiushan, I knew you could do it."
“Sister Ling, I will study hard.” Liang Jiushan looked at her with utmost seriousness, as if making a solemn promise. “You said computers are the future, and I believe you. Once I have mastered the skills, I will definitely be able to use them to help you… to do many things for you.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling smiled slightly, a smile he rarely saw, one that carried a sense of ease and encouragement: "Yes, I'm looking forward to it."
During his four years of university, Liang Jiushan became known as a workaholic in his department. While other students were immersed in romance, club activities, or online games, he devoted almost all his time to his studies and technical research. He voraciously devoured various programming languages, delved into network protocols and architecture, and often worked through the night in the lab. He had a remarkably clear plan in mind: to master the most cutting-edge technologies as quickly as possible, while simultaneously accumulating practical experience and the capital to start his own business.
He kept a close eye on Jiang Ling's whereabouts in Yancheng through various channels.
He knew that she had been transferred to the city's criminal investigation branch due to her outstanding abilities, and had taken the lead in establishing a psychological profiling team, using her knowledge of criminal psychology to participate in solving several sensational major cases.
He knew that she had not stopped learning; in addition to her work, she had passed the entrance exam for a master's program under the renowned criminology professor Ying Xuanji, and was studying crime prevention theories more systematically and deeply.
He felt genuinely proud of her every step forward and achievement, and at the same time, he was even more eager to accelerate his own pace, hoping to have the ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with her as soon as possible.
Opportunity favors the prepared mind.
In the second semester of his sophomore year, with several award-winning software designs and solid technical skills, he and two like-minded classmates keenly grasped the wave of the Internet era and resolutely plunged into the entrepreneurial wave, jointly founding "Star Shield Technology Co., Ltd."
"Star Shield" means "a shield under the stars." He dreams of using technology to create a sturdy shield to protect the light and security of the online world and even the real world. Deep within this name lies a shy yet firm personal wish that no one knows—he hopes that one day he can become the shield that protects her.
The road to entrepreneurship is fraught with difficulties and hardships.
But he has clear goals, excellent skills, unique vision, and a maturity beyond his years, as well as a tenacious spirit of hard work and perseverance.
The company initially started by undertaking software development and system integration projects, gradually accumulating its initial customer base and capital pool through its excellent quality and reputation. However, Liang Jiushan was not content with this. He keenly perceived the enormous potential and development prospects of big data services in the fields of cybersecurity and public safety, and gradually and consciously shifted the company's focus to these areas, beginning to provide professional technical support and solutions to some government agencies and enterprises.
He earned far more money than the average wage earner, which greatly improved his and his sister's living conditions and gave him a more solid foundation.
He never forgot the original intention behind all his efforts.
He knew that Jiang Ling's dedicated research into crime prevention and exploration of new criminal investigation technologies required processing massive amounts of data and more advanced analytical tools and algorithm models, while the police often had very limited funding in this area.
Therefore, he led the "Star Shield Technology" team to participate in the database construction of the data center, won the bid with a price far lower than that of the peers, and continuously provided Jiang Ling's team with the latest data processing equipment, customized analysis software and powerful computing power support through technical cooperation and targeted support.
He personally led the team to develop a dedicated algorithm model for Jiang Ling's crime prevention system. However, he never took credit for it and forbade the company's publicity department from hyping it up. He simply explained to Jiang Ling that it was a pilot application of the company's cutting-edge technology and a win-win collaboration.
Jiang Ling was completely absorbed in the case and research, and initially did not think too much about it. She simply regarded Liang Jiushan as a smart, resourceful, and capable younger brother, and had a very high opinion of Xingdun Technology Company's strength and service attitude.
Until Sun Wei's disappearance occurred.
Everything was shrouded in mystery, with barely any clues left, and traditional investigative methods had reached a stalemate. Jiang Ling's team had been working overtime for days on end, and were exhausted. At a critical moment, Liang Jiushan found Sun Wei's OICQ chat history, identified the suspect, and, in order to locate the suspect, Liang Jiushan successfully pinpointed the suspect's whereabouts using digital geographic profiling technology, providing a decisive direction for the arrest.
After the case was solved, Jiang Ling returned home and the first phone call she made was to Liang Jiushan.
On the other end of the phone, her voice was hoarse from staying up late, but filled with heartfelt joy: "Jiu Shan, thank you so much. Your company's system has been a huge help this time. Your algorithm is amazing!"
Liang Jiushan was in a meeting at the company when he received the call and immediately went to the window. Holding his phone, he stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the president's office at Star Shield Technology, overlooking the bustling city below and the lights of countless homes. He could hear her unusually cheerful voice, and he could almost imagine her slightly tired but relaxed appearance.
His heart felt as if it were being soaked in warm water, soft and comforting. His voice, transmitted through the microphone, was a calm and gentle tone that he had tried hard to suppress: "I'm glad I could help you, Sister Ling. This is what... our company should do."
He stood there for a long time, listening to the phone call.
Neon lights flickered outside the window, casting shadows on his young yet already composed face.
He seemed closer to her world, able to offer her tangible support. But he knew it wasn't enough. He wanted far more than just remote technological assistance.
What he longed for was to stand shoulder to shoulder with her in a true sense, to be able to protect her at all times, and to be able to let her clearly see and rely on his presence.
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