Chapter 23: The Careless Father and His Stubborn Daughter

Meanwhile, on Han Chao’s side…

On the vast training ground, he was staring at a new recruit standing under the scorching sun in military posture.

The recruit wasn’t very tall, but he was built like an ox. His face was flushed dark red, forming a stark contrast to Han Chao’s fair complexion. Sweat streamed down the recruit’s face, resembling the broth from braised pork knuckles.

Han Chao, in contrast, had pale skin, rarely sweated, and kept his face clean and dry. His sharp eyes were as keen as an eagle’s.

The new recruit stood stiffly, his hands positioned correctly, his chest puffed out.

“Captain…” he suddenly murmured.

“Did you do it?” Han Chao asked.

The recruit, on the verge of heatstroke, mumbled through parched lips, “I only saved someone… I never tampered with the firearm.”

“Eighty minutes,” Han Chao declared.

The recruit looked at him in despair but obediently continued standing in position.

Sweat had already drenched him from head to toe.

Just then, someone approached and whispered in Han Chao’s ear, “Captain Han, the command office just called. They need to speak with you.”

Only then did Han Chao relax his stance, turn sharply, and jog off to take the call.

The recruit, seeing his superior leave, was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when Han Chao suddenly snapped his head around, his gaze sharp as a blade.

The recruit immediately straightened up again, standing rigidly at attention.

The one who called Han Chao was his deputy, Xu Liang. As they entered the office, Han Chao picked up the phone. After a brief pause, he simply said, “Commander Xu, I understand your difficulties, but… no.” Then he hung up.

Xu Liang, intrigued, asked, “What did Commander Xu want?”

“He wants to invite some senior officers for dinner and asked my wife to cook for them,” Han Chao replied.

Xu Liang was taken aback. “You didn’t agree, did you?”

“My wife isn’t a chef, nor a servant. Why should she go to someone’s house and cook?” Han Chao countered.

Xu Liang was exasperated. “Captain Han, Commander Xu has always admired you. We’re not saying you need to flatter your superiors, but showing some goodwill is basic courtesy. Commander Luo has personally spoken to you multiple times, but you keep refusing to release Ma Shangbei. Commander Xu has been defending you all this time, but if you keep acting like this, he’ll eventually give up on you and find someone else to support.”

Commander Xu had high hopes for Han Chao, grooming him as a successor.

But Han Chao had always been indifferent toward him. While the military valued ability above all, Han Chao’s refusal to release Ma Shangbei had already displeased Commander Luo.

If he kept this up, he would offend a lot of senior officers.

Han Chao took a sip of tea before replying, “Leaders support me because I can lead soldiers, not because my wife can cook.” He gestured out the window. “The firearm discharge incident—Ma Shangbei was definitely responsible. I just haven’t found solid proof yet.”

The recruit standing outside was none other than Ma Shangbei, the man Han Chao had insisted on detaining despite Commander Luo’s orders.

Before enlisting, Ma Shangbei had been a gang leader. Han Chao also knew that Chen Yuhuang had started running with gangs because of him.

But after joining the army, Ma Shangbei had behaved exceptionally well—enthusiastic, disciplined, and always doing good deeds.

For instance, when an instructor fell into a latrine pit, he was the first to rush in and pull him out.

Or when the water tank in the barracks reeked of urine, he was the one who discovered it first, preventing the others from drinking contaminated water.

One by one, these were all exemplary, commendable actions.

Naturally, he had received multiple awards—within the battalion, the regiment, and even the entire military district. He had even been selected for the reserve forces of the Hong Kong Garrison, awaiting final selection.

However, during the interview process, he was disqualified due to his short stature and returned to Han Chao’s battalion.

Then, just last week, Platoon Leader Song’s firearm suddenly misfired, injuring his eye. And who was the first to react and rush him to the hospital?

Ma Shangbei.

This was classified as a life-saving act of merit, and since Chen Fanshi had ties to Commander Luo, he reported the incident to him.

Commander Luo then issued an order granting Ma Shangbei special admission into the Hong Kong Garrison reserves for training in Guangzhou.

But when the order reached Han Chao, he blocked it.

And he had a bold theory:

From the broken latrine board to the contaminated water tank, and now the misfired weapon—Ma Shangbei had orchestrated all of it. He staged these incidents, saved the day, and earned accolades to secure his place in the Hong Kong Garrison.

Right now, not only is Platoon Leader Song blind in one eye, but he has also developed an intracranial infection and is in a deep coma.

Despite mounting pressure from his superiors, Han Chao insisted on detaining Ma Shangbei, determined to find evidence that he had tampered with the firearm.

However, finding proof was not easy. Han Chao had already examined Platoon Leader Song’s gun and confirmed that someone had removed the gunpowder from a bullet and manipulated it.

But extracting gunpowder from a bullet requires a match or a lighter—neither of which existed in the recruit camp.

The recruits were under constant surveillance, and no fire-starting tools were found anywhere in the entire camp.

So how exactly had Ma Shangbei pulled it off?

Without solid evidence, Han Chao couldn’t make an arrest.

As the evening approached, Xu Liang said, “Tomorrow’s the weekend. Didn’t you say you were going home? You should head back now.”

Han Chao replied, “Wang Shuya has to look after Platoon Leader Song. Keep an eye on the camp.”

Xu Liang saluted. “Don’t worry!”

“Double-check your firearm. Don’t give anyone an opportunity to exploit a weakness,” Han Chao added.

“Rest assured, I never let my gun out of my sight,” Xu Liang replied firmly.

The recruits might seem obedient, but with the influx of Hong Kong and Taiwan films in recent years, young people had been learning gangster tricks—especially from crime movies. When they committed crimes, it was often highly calculated, making it difficult to guard against.

Han Chao’s theory of “merit-seeking crimes” had sent a chill down Xu Liang’s spine. When it was his turn to be on duty, he didn’t dare blink an eye the entire night.

As Han Chao made his way home, at the same time, Chen Yufeng was happily carrying 5,000 yuan back to her house when she suddenly heard an announcement over the loudspeaker:

“Is Han Chao’s family here? Please come take a call.”

Someone was calling her?

This was her first time receiving a phone call. She rushed to the reception office and held the receiver like she was cradling a newborn.

With her heart pounding from the excitement, she carefully spoke into the phone, “Hello, this is Chen Yufeng.”

“Xiao Chen, right? This is Xu Yongyi,” the voice on the other end said. “Tomorrow, a few senior leaders are coming to my house as guests. I have some important matters to discuss with them, and I’d like to prepare a meal for them. However, I don’t have a lady of the house, so there’s no one to cook. I asked Han Chao, but he refused. So I wanted to ask you—could you come over and prepare a meal for us?”

Chen Yufeng had assumed it was either her mother-in-law or her own mother calling.

She never expected the person on the line to be Commander Xu himself. She was momentarily at a loss for words.

Sensing her hesitation, Xu Yongyi quickly added, “I’ll pay you. Fifty yuan for one meal. How about it?”

Fifty yuan—for just one meal?

“I can’t hold this gathering at a restaurant due to the nature of our discussion, so I hope you understand,” Commander Xu continued. “Han Chao refused, but I have a feeling you’ll say yes. Am I right?”

Chen Yufeng immediately understood.

He had already asked Han Chao, who had turned him down. That’s why he was now asking her.

“Of course, I can do it,” Chen Yufeng agreed without hesitation.

“You should discuss it with Han Chao first. Come only if he agrees,” Xu Yongyi advised.

Chen Yufeng knew Han Chao well. He was extremely protective of his own. When they were kids, he wouldn’t even let her help other girls knit mittens.

If someone asked her to cook for them, he would see it as an insult—like she was being treated as a maid or a servant. It would upset him.

But he only earned 70 yuan a month. She could make 50 yuan in one meal—only a fool would turn that down!

Besides, once Chen Fanshi’s 20,000 yuan arrived, she would open her own restaurant. Zhang Songtao had mentioned that when starting a business, it was best to discuss matters directly with the higher-ups.

So if she cooked for Commander Xu tomorrow, wouldn’t it be a perfect opportunity to bring up her plans?

However, tomorrow was the weekend, and Han Chao had already said he’d be home. If he was there, he would never let her go.

Cooking for others meant being treated like a servant. Not only would he refuse, but he’d probably be furious.

After hanging up, Chen Yufeng realized she would have to lie to Han Chao.

…

It was Saturday.

Han Chao came home early and, as soon as he entered the yard, saw Mimi leaning over the courtyard wall. She was holding a green beer bottle cap, intently using it to reflect sunlight into the neighbor’s yard.

Next door, the Zhao brothers, Zhao Wen and Zhao Wu, were playing poker. One was seven years old, the other nine—just a little older than Tiantian and Mimi.

Tiantian, dressed in a floral jacket from their rural hometown, was washing her skirt.

She only had one skirt, a pale corn-husk green, which made her look as fresh and delicate as a young corn sprout. She looked absolutely adorable in it.

Han Chao walked over and saw red ink stains on the skirt.

“Did you do this yourself?” he asked as he took the washbasin, ready to help her clean it.

Tiantian pouted, shook her head, and muttered, “Zhao Wu accidentally got ink on it.”

Just a moment ago, Zhao Wu had been playing with a red ink pen, squeezing it until the ink spilled onto her skirt.

Now, with her ruined skirt, she silently cried as she washed it, tears streaming down her face. She looked up at her father with teary eyes.

Han Chao knew exactly how little boys’ minds worked. He took a deep breath and asked, “He did it on purpose, didn’t he?”

Boys often liked to tease pretty girls, pulling pranks just to make them cry.

Tiantian shook her head, but Mimi turned around and whispered, “Of course, he did it on purpose. He just won’t admit it. But don’t worry, Dad—no one can bully my sister while I’m around. I’m already teaching Zhao Wu a lesson.”

Han Chao followed Mimi’s gaze and saw a tiny wisp of smoke rising from the top of Zhao Wu’s head.

Zhao Wu was so engrossed in his poker game that he hadn’t noticed.

Mimi was using the bottom of a beer bottle cap to focus sunlight onto Zhao Wu’s hair, slowly burning it.

Han Chao had been quite a troublemaker himself as a kid, but back then, glass was rare, so he had never pulled off a trick like this.

His daughter was fully concentrated on her mischief, while he observed with great interest.

Zhao Wu remained oblivious—until Zhao Wen suddenly looked up and said, “Brother, why is your head smoking?”

Zhao Wu reached up to pat his head. The moment he did, sparks flared up, igniting his hair.

Panicked, the boy screamed, “My head’s on fire!”

“Bad brother! Let’s see if you dare to bully my sister again—your hair is gone now!” Mimi threw down the beer bottle cap, placed her hands on her hips, and warned, “If you do it again, I’ll burn your butt next time!”

Zhao Wu, both furious and embarrassed, grabbed a playing card and hurled it at her. Han Chao caught it effortlessly, and with a flick of his wrist, the card zipped past Zhao Wu’s ear.

The little boy hadn’t expected an adult to play along. Thinking Han Chao was just joking, he grabbed two more cards and threw them. Han Chao caught them mid-air and flicked them back. This time, one of the cards grazed Zhao Wu’s nose. The sharp sting brought instant tears to his eyes.

A naughty girl with an even naughtier father?

A father helping his daughter fight back?

The two boys exchanged a look, dropped their cards, and ran away crying.

Han Chao, the once notorious troublemaker, bent down and picked up the beer bottle cap. He glanced at his dark-skinned daughter, ran a hand over her head, and suddenly broke into a grin, his white teeth gleaming.

He had figured out how Ma Shangbei had tampered with the bullets.

Ma Shangbei didn’t need matches or a lighter—just a beer bottle cap, a pair of glasses, or anything capable of focusing sunlight. By using it to concentrate heat on a bullet for a long time, the gunpowder inside would expand and separate.

Then, he could discreetly transfer the extracted gunpowder into Platoon Leader Song’s gun.

Han Chao had once personally trained Ma Shangbei, believing in merit over background.

But instead of living up to his father’s legacy, Ma Shangbei had taken after his stepfather, Chen Fanshi—cunning, reckless, and willing to risk lives for his own gain.

Want to join the Hong Kong garrison? Ha! He’ll be rotting in prison instead!

As Han Chao stepped out, he ran into Chen Yufeng, who had just returned from a phone call.

“I have to work late tonight,” Han Chao said.

“And tomorrow? Will you be home?” Chen Yufeng asked.

Han Chao planned to arrest Ma Shangbei that night. The interrogation would likely take all night, and tomorrow he had to report to Commander Xu. The method of using optical principles to manipulate firearms was a new type of crime, something the leadership needed to be briefed on. Once a meeting was called, he’d be tied up all day.

He felt a pang of guilt—his wife had been here for so long, and he hadn’t spent any quality time with her.

Yesterday, he had caught a glimpse of Qi Cailing from a distance. Though he couldn’t see her clearly, she was dressed fashionably—long, wavy hair, high heels, lipstick, painted nails—and was walking with Xiao Sheng, the Second Battalion Commander of the Third Regiment. According to Xiao Sheng, she was planning to open a clothing factory and go into fashion retail.

Back in Guihua Town, Qi Cailing always lived better than Chen Yufeng. Her mother occasionally supported her, and her father was a businessman. Even though Uncle Qi was strict and often hit her, he at least let her finish high school.

Chen Yufeng, on the other hand, had an unfortunate father—Chen Fanshi—who forced her to drop out after middle school.

At eighteen, when Qi Cailing was enjoying life and dating, Chen Yufeng was stuck at home, as Wang Guoguo had once described—one child on her back, one in her arms, soaked in milk and drool, waiting anxiously for Han Chao to come home.

Han Chao felt even more remorseful. Seeing how stylish Qi Cailing looked, he wanted to take his wife shopping, buy her some fashionable clothes and a nice pair of leather shoes.

That was why he had been furious when Commander Xu asked Chen Yufeng to cook—was his wife just some servant in the commander’s eyes?

But tomorrow, he really couldn’t make it home.

“Next weekend,” he promised. “I’ll take you out for a nice day.”

His paycheck was coming in next weekend—perfect timing to buy his wife some nice outfits.

“Really?” Chen Yufeng suppressed her excitement. “Okay, I’ll wait for you at home.”

See? Such a silly wife—just the promise of a day out makes her so happy.

“I promise, next weekend, I’ll make time for you,” Han Chao reassured her.

He took a closer look at his wife. She was still wearing the floral jacket she had made back in town. Her permed short hair, combined with her round face, made her look like a little girl with no fashion sense.

“I should get going,” he said.

“Alright, take care, and don’t stay up too late,” Chen Yufeng waved him off.

Perfect! If Han Chao was working late tomorrow, she wouldn’t even have to lie—she could go to Commander Xu’s house without any trouble.

Chen Yufeng only had one black dress, which she had bought from a distant suburban market.

With little money to spare, she hadn’t bought new clothes for herself in a long time.

But with 5,000 yuan in hand, she went straight to the largest department store near the military district—Minbai Shopping Mall.

There, she bought herself a set of cosmetics from a brand called “Avon.” The salesperson said it was imported from abroad, complete with facial cleanser, face cream, and lotion. Using the full set would improve her skin.

She also bought two blouses, a pair of trendy denim pants, and a green skirt.

She had tried on high heels but felt like she was walking on stilts, so she opted for a pair of flat leather shoes instead.

She immediately tossed aside the cheap synthetic leather shoes that made her feet stink.

For Tiantian, she bought two little dresses and a pair of small leather shoes. For Mimi, she picked out shorts, an army-green sweater, and sneakers.

Spending money for herself was painful, but spending it on her daughters? No hesitation!

By the time she was done, she had spent a solid 500 yuan.

After returning from shopping, she wrote a letter to Wang Guoguo, using coaxing rather than demanding, hoping to convince the two women to come to the capital.

The next day, since it was the weekend, Mrs. Bao was home. Chen Yufeng gifted her a jar of rose jam in exchange for looking after Tiantian and Mimi.

At noon, Commander Xu sent an orderly to fetch her, saying he would help her buy groceries.

When the orderly saw Chen Yufeng, dressed in a crisp white blouse, a green skirt, and flat leather shoes, with her short curls looking both fashionable and stylish, he was momentarily stunned.

Today’s guests were high-ranking military officials—was this young and beautiful woman really here to cook?