Chapter 25

Office of the Commander-in-Chief.

General Hao Yi of the 9th Army sat up straight, reporting the events of the previous day to Commander Yu Jiashun, who sat across the desk, listening impassively.

Yu Jiashun was already aware of the entire incident but listened without showing any emotion.

Hao Yi had also brought the meeting minutes from the previous day. Yu Jiashun read through the clear and logical statements made by Yu Xiangnian in the records, feeling a sense of pride.

Especially the part where she said that when something goes wrong, the focus should be on solving the problem rather than finding someone to blame. This made Yu Jiashun feel a twinge of emotion.

His daughter, who had always been a source of worry, had finally grown up!

Yu Jiashun placed the meeting minutes back on the table. “Comrade Hao Yi, whatever decision the leadership of the 9th Army makes, I will support it.”

Hao Yi replied, “We have been struggling to find a proper way to handle this matter and would appreciate your guidance, Commander.”

Yu Jiashun took a sip of tea. “Comrade Hao Yi, whether to handle Cheng Jingmo or how to handle him is not for me to comment on due to our special relationship. I just want to remind you not to overcomplicate things. Remember, we are soldiers, and our mission is to protect our country. Our actions should always be guided by the interests of the nation and the people.”

Hao Yi thought for a moment before understanding Yu Jiashun’s point. He stood up and saluted, “Commander, I understand what to do now.”

Back at the barracks, Hao Yi convened another meeting with the same leaders from the previous day.

He first relayed the conversation he had with Yu Jiashun that morning. Everyone felt relieved when they realized Yu Jiashun had not shown any favoritism toward Cheng Jingmo.

“The Commander is right. We have been overcomplicating this issue!” Hao Yi continued, “We have overlooked the core problem! If there are wolves, we need to kill them! If people are injured, we need to treat them! That is our duty as soldiers, not finding someone to blame for every problem.”

Political Commissar Ma Dacheng agreed, “The Commander and the General are right. Yesterday, we were too hasty and got it wrong. Since there are wolves in the mountains posing a threat to the villagers’ lives and property, we should eliminate this threat for them.”

Colonel Ai Jianguo volunteered, “Please assign this task to me. I will lead a team to eradicate the wolf pack completely!”

Hao Yi shook his head in disagreement, “This wolf pack is very cunning. We mobilized an entire regiment yesterday and still couldn’t find them. Instead, we alerted them, making future eradication even harder. This mission doesn’t require a large number of people; we just need a few elite soldiers.”

Ma Dacheng suggested, “General, why not let Cheng Jingmo lead a small team for this task? He is the best soldier we have, especially skilled in land operations. Let him select the other team members.”

Both Ai Jianguo and Su Mingliang clenched their fists. Cheng Jingmo’s excellence made them feel threatened.

They had spent over a decade climbing to their current positions, yet Cheng Jingmo, with his rapid promotions, was on track to surpass them in a few years.

Hao Yi also agreed with Ma Dacheng’s suggestion.

Cheng Jingmo’s excellence was evident to him as well.

Every mission he undertook was completed perfectly. In every annual military competition, as long as Cheng Jingmo participated, no other unit could claim first place.

A soldier with both exceptional brains and physical prowess had limitless potential for future achievements!

“Today is Saturday. Notify Cheng Jingmo on Monday to form a small wolf eradication squad to eliminate the wolves in the forest,” Hao Yi decided.

Cheng Jingmo was still completely unaware of the decision made by the army.

That evening, he pulled out several large banknotes from his jacket pocket and handed them to Yu Xiangnian. “These are for you.”

Yu Xiangnian glanced at them, estimating there were more than ten notes.

Wasn’t the monthly allowance 80 yuan? Why was there so much this time?

Yu Xiangnian didn’t think much of it and didn’t intend to take Cheng Jingmo’s money. She had enough for now: Zhao Ruozhu had given her a hundred yuan, out of which she kept fifty, and she had also received eighteen yuan in wages the day before, which she hadn’t spent yet.

“Keep it for yourself. If you give it to me, I’ll just spend it,” she said.

Cheng Jingmo was taken aback. Yu Xiangnian actually didn’t want his money?

For the past six months since their marriage, the only times he saw her smile were when he handed her money.

“It’s for you,” he repeated, still holding out the money.

Yu Xiangnian suddenly smiled. “Cheng Jingmo, I don’t want your money. Can’t you just accept that? Tomorrow, I’m taking Xiao Jie into town, and we’ll need money. Keep it for now, and I’ll ask you when I need it.”

She finished speaking and returned to the bedroom. At the doorway, she turned back and said, “Cheng Jingmo, I’m sleeping in tomorrow. Wake me up at nine-thirty.”

Sleeping in was the least she could do to respect the weekend, especially since she only got one day off, which she cherished greatly.

Twenty minutes to wash and dress, ten minutes to walk to the gate to catch the bus—the timing had to be precise.

Cheng Jingmo watched the bedroom door close and put the money back into his pocket.

Yu Xiangnian had been acting strangely lately. He would give her the money when she really needed it.

The next day, at nine o’clock, the military bugle sounded. After a while, Cheng Jingmo estimated it was nine-thirty and went to knock on her door to wake her up.

There was no clock in the house, but Cheng Jingmo, having often performed missions in the wild, could estimate time within a margin of two minutes.

Once Yu Xiangnian got up and washed, he went to wake Xiao Jie.

The original owner of the clothes had plenty, with over ten dresses.

Yu Xiangnian chose a light green dress with a turned-down collar, paired with black cloth shoes, and tied her hair into a low bun.

Facing the large mirror in the middle of the three-door wardrobe, Yu Xiangnian posed a few times, praising herself inwardly: truly a beautiful person…

When she left the bedroom, Cheng Jingmo and Xiao Jie were already waiting in the main room.

Cheng Jingmo had a military bag slung over his shoulder, and Xiao Jie wore the rubber shoes she had bought for him. His pants were short, exposing his ankles. Their expressions were similarly serious, making them look like father and son.

When they reached the gate of the residential compound, they saw a swarm of women and children rushing towards a large truck.

The sight made Cheng Jingmo frown.

Taking large strides, he picked up the children who couldn’t climb onto the truck and placed them one by one.

Finally, he lifted Xiao Jie onto the truck, then jumped on himself, extending his hand to pull Yu Xiangnian up.

Yu Xiangnian thought, I’d like to be lifted up too, but instead, she extended her hand to Cheng Jingmo.

With a pull, Cheng Jingmo helped her onto the truck.

Sunday trips to town were especially crowded, with the truck bed full of women and children, and Cheng Jingmo was the only man.

Most men felt that accompanying their women shopping was a humiliating task.

The truck left the residential compound and hit the road, starting to bump along.

The women in the truck didn’t stay idle, glancing at the family of three standing on one side and whispering among themselves.

“Why does it look like those two are settling down? Weren’t they supposed to get divorced?”

“That wicked woman is clever! With a man like Deputy Leader Cheng, would she really let him go?”

“I feel bad for Dr. Wu. Such a good woman, and her fiancé was stolen from her, and now she’s still single.”

“…”