Chapter 209

Company Commander Shi was promoted to Deputy Battalion Commander.

Based on Shi Muhuan’s military achievements, he could have been promoted two years ago, but his parents’ demotion had affected his career.

Promoted alongside Shi Muhuan was Instructor Shen Ziming.

Given Shen Ziming’s experience, he barely met the promotion criteria.

This time, Shen’s father played a significant role in his promotion.

Shi Muhuan didn’t show much resistance to continuing his partnership with Shen Ziming.

Aside from the matter between Shen Ziming and his sister, he was a competent instructor. They had already adapted to each other’s temperaments, which saved a lot of trouble.

Moreover, military orders were military orders, and he could distinguish between public and private matters.

However, Shen Ziming was not as happy about the promotion as others might have imagined.

He knew that, with his experience, it would have taken another year or two to be promoted. His father’s influence was evident in his promotion.

No soldier doesn’t want to be promoted, but being promoted this way made him feel uneasy.

That day, he didn’t stay in the dormitory but returned to the family quarters.

When Shen’s mother saw her son return, she smiled, “Xiaoming, you’re back? Are you tired? There are some oranges over there. Have some first; dinner will be ready soon.”

Since the issue with Shi Tingyu didn’t work out, her son had been coming home less frequently.

Shen’s mother went to the kitchen, and Shen Ziming sat in the spot she had vacated.

He saw a copy of the “Chinese Military Newspaper” on the table.

It was a newspaper they rarely missed.

He picked it up and saw that the front page was about the new weapon’s research achievements.

Shen Ziming pressed his lips together in silence.

Others might not know the people behind this success, but those in the military did.

He couldn’t help but think how fate had played its hand. If Shi’s father and mother had succeeded earlier or hadn’t been demoted, would he and Shi Tingyu have had a different outcome?

When Shen’s father came home and saw his son, his expression relaxed.

Suppressing his happiness, he asked, “You’re back?”

Shen Ziming looked up at his father and responded with a nod.

Then there was a long silence.

When Shen’s father sat down opposite Shen Ziming, he noticed the military newspaper in his son’s hand.

He said, “Have you finished reading the newspaper? If so, let me have a look.”

Shen Ziming handed the newspaper to his father.

The page was open to the report about the new weapon.

Shen’s father glanced at Shen Ziming without showing any signs.

Shen Ziming knew his father was looking at him, but he pretended not to notice.

Shen’s father sighed quietly, put the newspaper down, and went to the kitchen.

After he left, Shen Ziming relaxed his clenched fists.

At dinner, the family should have been relaxed and happy, but the atmosphere was cold and quiet.

Only the occasional sound of Shen’s mother placing food on Shen Ziming’s plate broke the silence.

After dinner, while Shen’s mother washed the dishes, Shen Ziming looked at his father and asked, “Was my promotion your doing?”

Shen’s father, seeing no happiness in his son’s expression, couldn’t help but frown, “What kind of attitude is that? Did I do wrong by planning for you?”

Shen Ziming found his father’s words incredibly grating.

Again! Planning for him again!

But did his father know what he truly wanted?

Feelings were one thing, and now even his career?

He took a deep breath, letting go of his resentment, and said coldly, “Dad, I hope you can respect me in the future. Don’t interfere with my career. If I’m to be promoted, I want to earn it step by step.”

Shen’s father scoffed at his words.

“Step by step on your own? Are you kidding? Without me, could you have become a battalion-level instructor at such a young age? Not to mention, even Shi Muhuan’s promotion this time is because he has good parents!”

Shen Ziming suddenly stood up, glaring at his father, “Dad! What are you talking about?”

He knew better than anyone how hard Shi Muhuan had worked.

“Dad, you should know that Shi Muhuan is only now being promoted because his parents’ earlier demotion had held him back. If it weren’t for that, he would have been a battalion commander long ago.”

“His promotion isn’t because of his parents, but because the obstacles due to his background have been removed.”

Shen’s father fell silent. He knew the truth about Shi Muhuan’s promotion.

He had only said those words in the heat of the moment.

Being rebuked by his son like this made him feel a bit embarrassed.

Shen’s mother, hearing the commotion in the main room, quickly came out of the kitchen, “Old Shen, our son rarely comes home. Can’t you control your temper?”

Shen’s mother’s words seemed to hit the mark with Shen’s father, and he finally said nothing more.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if he had really made a mistake back then.

If he hadn’t stopped his son from meeting with the girl from the Shi family, would their home not be in such a tense state now?

Even the relationship between father and son had plummeted to an all-time low.

Seeing that his father was silent, Shen Ziming also retreated to his room.

Late at night, when he got up to drink water, he heard voices coming from his parents’ room.

He approached the door.

Inside the room, Shen’s mother was speaking with a tone of complaint, “I told you not to push our son so hard back then, but you wouldn’t listen. Look at what our home has become now.”

In front of his wife, Shen’s father finally dropped his facade.

“How was I supposed to know they would be rehabilitated so quickly? I was just afraid they would drag our son down.”

To say he didn’t regret it would be a lie.

The girl from the Shi family had both looks and knowledge. If it hadn’t been for her parents being demoted, he would have been very supportive of her relationship with Xiaoming.

But her parents were demoted, and then they returned with a strong presence nearly two years later, causing such a big stir.

There was no remedy for regret in real life.

He had not only destroyed his child’s relationship but also the harmony of their family.

Shen’s mother was full of sorrow, but seeing her husband’s regretful expression, she said no more.

She only said, “What’s done is done. You should stop talking about the Shi family in front of our son. He can’t stand to hear anything bad about them.”

Shen’s father understood and agreed.

“If our son finds another girl he likes in the future, you must not oppose it again.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Outside the door, Shen Ziming smiled bitterly and returned to his room.

Meanwhile, the newly promoted Deputy Battalion Commander Shi Muhuan was writing a letter to inform his parents and sister about his promotion.

When Shi’s father and mother were first rehabilitated, they expressed guilt about how their situation had affected his career.

Now that he had successfully been promoted, it would surely ease his parents’ minds.

When Shi’s father and mother received the letter, they were overjoyed, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from their hearts.

They knew that Shi Muhuan had earned his military merits through hard work and sacrifice, but their situation had prevented his recognition. How could they not feel distressed?

But now, he had finally received the recognition he deserved.