Chen Shuang's move was somewhat overconfident.
He was one meter seventy-eight, but claimed to be one eighty.
Chen Shuang was one meter sixty-eight, but claimed to be one seventy-three.
Fang Huai, with no other option, brushed off Chen Shuang's hand, preparing to turn around and pet the head of his brother as well as his "son," the dog.
So sure am I going to be interested in your sister...
Brother Yang turned his head, his gaze carrying a hint of warning, telling him not to bully Chen Shuang.
Yet his ears were still blushing with a shy coyness that hadn't faded.
Fang Huai gulped a mouthful of hydraulic air.
Brother Yang still had some strength in him.
If it were my past life, even just after high school, before the family's economic disadvantages became obvious, based on my own height and looks, I was probably reaching too high.
"I mean... well, don't you know all about that Huang Jiaojiao? I don't want to date her! I'm borrowing your sister!"
Chen Shuang had a look of surprise, as if he hadn't heard the last sentence, and extended his hand to make the first move by tousling Fang Huai's head.
"What? You were crying over drinks the day before yesterday, saying you didn't want her to dump you, and now you've come to terms with it?"
"I've come to terms with it," Fang Huai sighed.
"My organs, the Ren Vessel and Du Vessel pathways, they're all unblocked."
"Mmm..." Chen Shuang's face showed relief. "That girl's no good; I've been wanting to say it. Firm up your beliefs, don't slip! After your two years as a soldier, daddy will set you up with a good one!"
He then glanced at his own sister and became wary again.
"But forget your aunt! You're still far from Yang Guo!"
Being each other's old man (father) is a constant topic among Chongqing lads.
"Snap!"
Fang Huai swatted Chen Shuang's hand away.
"You're leaving today; could you switch to a human form, and talk properly? ... Seriously, are you just joining the military for two years?"
This was Fang Huai's usual way of PUA'ing Chen Shuang: scold first, then ask him seriously.
"Two years, no more than that. If I don't come back quickly, my sister will squander all my family's money. I need to take my father's money and make more of it ASAP."
Chen Shuang spoke earnestly, while Fang Huai listened and cursed under his breath.
Others have brothers full of knowledge and ideas; all my brothers know are cattle and horses.
Chen Shuang was also a business prodigy.
Had it not been for the two of us opening up a luxury car dealership in a past life, he wouldn't have ended up so miserable.
Although Chen Shuang was the one who put up most of the money.
But with Chen Shuang's family's resources, him contributing 95%, and Fang Huai virtually getting shares for being responsible for sales, it was enough for Fang Huai to end up in a pretty bad state.
Later... Chen Shuang's family lost, and reportedly borrowed a lot of money that they invested in a mine. Then the boss got arrested, their house was sold, the car was sold, and before Fang Huai was reborn, the money was never recovered.
"Brother, if it doesn't work out, tell your dad to hurry to Shanghai and buy a couple of apartments, a few storefronts, they're going to appreciate, really."
Fang Huai, reborn without much strength and having to join the army, could only advise his brother for the moment.
However, the firefighting duty wasn't bad, being stationed in cities. Just get past the phase of being sent to a new squad as a recruit, and once I have the ability and a bit of start-up capital, as long as I can find the right people to operate for me, it's not impossible to do something profitable.
Chen Shuang nodded, not committing one way or the other, primarily because his influence over his parents' decisions was limited.
"You've decided, then? You're going to Guiyang for firefighting?"
"Yeah, my uncle's over there, which means I'll have better chances if I need a leave or anything."
"Damn, I'm envious. We don't have relatives in the military, so I can only join the Guizhou Armed Police as a grunt," said Chen Shuang, shaking his head as if to blame his underachieving parents.
"The Internal Guard and Firefighting both fall under the People's Armed Police sequence," Fang Huai corrected, then quickly taught him a few things.
"You guys are called Internal Guard, the darling sons of the People's Armed Police sequence, with the largest numbers. There's also a Mobile Division among the lower ranks; the responsibilities are diverse. Once you join the new recruit group, you might be directly assigned to a new recruit company. The old soldiers all call each other squad leader. Don't try to stand out, and don't mention that your family is rich—there are many poor families in the troops.
Ask less about the 'why' and just listen. If you really get sick and can't take it, don't whine. Hold out until you reach the training ground, then just faint. The squad leader won't approve your leave; only the leadership on the training ground who sees you can let you go to the infirmary or head back to the company to rest."
"Got it, got it, Liu Haiyang in our courtyard is a soldier, he already told me all about it. Hey, you didn't bring anything? My parents packed me a lot of food, do you want some for the road?"
Fang Huai nodded and glanced at the door again.
His parents should be waiting at the door, ready to see him off, right?
"No need, my parents brought stuff too—they'll hand it over at the door... Whatever food we have, we'll eat on the way, especially cigarettes. Once you're in the new recruit company, you probably won't get out, and since you'll also be a new recruit in the lower ranks, you won't be allowed to smoke. Smoking is not conducive to training."
"Alright, I'll go talk to my sister for a bit."
"Tell her, ask your parents to buy a property in Shanghai. Storefront!"
"Got it." Chen Shuang waved.
...
A lonely fifteen minutes passed.
A vehicle already left and was parked at the door.
It must be one of those troops with very few people like Forest Gold.
Firemen are also few, but they left with the Guizhou Armed Police.
During the assembly, soldier-receiving cadres of each unit stood in front of their formations. Chen Shuang stood in a team to the right, looking quite happy, even making a face at him.
Fang Huai rolled his eyes.
Laugh it up; you won't be laughing for many more hours.
"Listen to my command! Look right! Look forward!"
"All aboard!"
A captain and a sergeant in front commanded the scruffy youngsters onto the large truck.
Fang Huai added a showy touch by tossing his camouflage bag on board without using the steps, trying to climb up by grabbing the handrail...
Awkward, he failed to climb aboard and was left hanging in midair.
He quickly turned and shouted, "Brother behind me, give me a push, a push!"
The non-commissioned officers behind him all laughed but conveniently helped Fang Huai get onboard, even giving him a bit of encouragement in a Jiangxi accent.
"Taking risks is admirable, but skill-wise, you still need some improvement!"
"Thanks, squad leader!"
Fang Huai chuckled, recognizing the sergeant.
He was a regular in leading the Firefighting Recruit Squad and one of the squad leaders of the seventh company he was heading to.
That was a bit of a convoluted explanation.
Not many are in firefighting; the entire Guizhou province only recruits several hundred new soldiers annually, all centralized in the provincial capital at the Firefighting Training Base for new soldier training. This year... they probably have seven or eight companies, each with nine squads.
In his previous life, he had been assigned to the seventh company.
This sergeant was one of the oldest soldiers in their seventh company.
In the military, he was also known as an old ghost, holding a fairly high position.
Some officers with... no, in the People's Armed Police they are called police years. Officers with fewer police years would also address old soldiers as squad leaders.
And these old soldiers, although older, most possessed one or more eye-popping skills, and their physical abilities were not as feeble as they seemed during their leisurely walks.
On further reflection, it made sense. Aside from the seldom-seen first and second-class sergeants, even older soldiers were merely in their thirties. How weak could someone in their thirties be...
Fang Huai thought about this and couldn't help but pat his back, recalling the state of his body before his rebirth.
Well, actually, once you hit thirty, the decline is pretty significant.
...
"Shh~ shh shh!"
The commander up front, clutching a small red flag, blew a slightly leaky whistle and gestured over this way.
"Roar..."
Many Liberation trucks started up and slowly set off.
Firecrackers erupted at the gate, and the sound of drums and gongs filled the air.
Fang Huai sat on a small stool to the right, his hands on his knees, sitting upright and proper, watching the outside, hoping to present a mature and steady image to his parents when he left, to put their minds at ease.
Having just said goodbye to his brother in the vehicle behind, Yang Shaoqing hurriedly caught up, waving vigorously.
"Fang Huai! Take care!"
Fang Huai nodded and waved back, shouting loudly.
"You too, study hard at university. When you have time, come to Guiyang to visit me! My mobile number won't change!"
Yang Shaoqing's eyes curved into a smile as he pointed at his phone.
"Alright, we'll keep in touch by phone!"
Fang Huai felt somewhat exhilarated by Yang Shaoqing's bright smile.
With rebirth, many things had started to change.
...
As the vehicle moved out, the lively noise around intensified, with parents of various sorts lining the gate, and even a few vegetable vendors next to them.
Quite the economic mindset.
Parents sending off their mischievous kids would surely want to buy some vegetables on their way back home to have a few drinks and celebrate, right?
"That's Cao Yuan's kid there! Did you see? He's sitting up front!"
"His cap is all crooked. His mom must be in a hurry! Zhang Yang, you gotta get married when you come back, you hear?"
"Exercise well!"
Fang Huai continued to sit upright and proper.
"Son, listen to your leaders! Aim for the Military Academy!"
"I got it!" The bespectacled boy sitting next to Fang Huai adjusted his glasses, sounding somewhat proud.
Fang Huai continued to sit upright and proper.
His parents must be outside waiting for him. He sat up straighter.
The boy across from him leaned over the side of the truck, yelling loudly, "Mom! Don't fight with the old man! If you really want a second child, just have one!"
The man below instantly bristled.
"Have your mom's foot! How old are your mom and I? Exercise well!"
...
As the truck reached the exit, nobody had called his name yet.
Fang Huai started to panic.
Where's my mom?!
"Mom!" Fang Huai yelled out to the people around him.
"Eh!" A woman, about to head back, immediately turned around and responded.
Their gazes met, but neither recognized the other, resulting in a moment of mutual embarrassment for Fang Huai and the woman.
Fang Huai couldn't worry about embarrassment anymore.
Damn, my mom's gone.
The feeling was bewildering; she had been chattering all the way here about her son leaving, and now she couldn't even be bothered to send him off??
In his previous life, they had at least seen him off!
Your faces changed so quickly, dear parents!
Is it you who want to have a second child??!
...
As vehicles took to the streets, Fang Huai watched the people blowing horns and beating drums ahead of him, following the troop carriers that swayed and shook as they paraded countless youths through the streets.
Before joining the troops, they had to wear a little red flower and patrol the nearby streets to show honor and the local government and people's care.
On entering the service, you'd wear a small red flower on your chest; upon discharge, a large red one. This system seemed to send people back into a simple contentment with a kindergarten mentality.
The army emphasized two words: honor.
Excellent soldiers would go to the Military Academy. Third-class merits led to recognition and promotions, learning to drive, joining the Party; for second-class merits, you'd get a plaque hung at your door; for first-class merits, appearances on TV, honorary titles...
During peacetime, attaining the highest rank of Military Merit Medal was very tough.
Of course, there are survivors, but most of them live on in many people's hearts now.
In a regular troop, earning recognition is quite difficult, mainly involving participation in major events to achieve rankings or year-end evaluations.
But firefighting...
Eh?
Mom?
Fang Huai was sitting under the truck canopy lost in thought when he suddenly spotted their family's small van parked by the roadside.
It was parked a good distance away, but he could faintly see his father's profile, that of a melancholy prince with a cigarette in hand.
Fang Huai waved, and the other side responded with a "beep beep."
Fellow netizen, this is!
Fang Huai smiled, wishing he could shout "Heavenly King covers the earth tiger."
But whether his dad replied "a chicken stew with mushrooms" or "hanging one and a half meters long," neither would befit a father's seriousness.
Forget it, he wouldn't anyway.
His dad indeed used to enjoy dark humor, but ever since his mom left, he hadn't laughed much.
His mom was touched enough to wave back, seeming to have cried, wiping her face.
Fang Huai waved again.
Suddenly, he realized... his dad was actually quite handsome, and his way of saying goodbye was pretty cool.
His mom was too silly...even crying!
...
In the van.
Fang Kaiyang turned to look at Zhang Mei and flicked his cigarette butt out of the window.
"Had enough of watching? That's all there is to it, just standing there looking dumb."
Zhang Mei rolled her eyes, not amused, "There's an ashtray in the car for you, so why did you have to flick the cigarette butt out? When the kid comes back, if you haven't quit smoking, keep smoking and he'll douse you with a high-pressure water gun!"
Fang Kaiyang chuckled, "Quit, I'll quit."
The Fang family's chain of contempt came full circle.