Reborn in the 70s: Pampered by Regiment Commander-Chapter 23 - Do you want to be a soldier
23: Chapter 23: Do you want to be a soldier?
23 -23: Do you want to be a soldier?
With a bag of dumplings in her left hand and a bag of millet behind her right, and a bundle of dried sweet potatoes in her arms, Chuxia walked on the road home, her mind filled with the melody of “A chicken in the left hand, a duck in the right hand, and a chubby baby in the arms…”
Her grandparents were getting on in years, her eldest uncle and his wife had to go to the fields to work, her cousin Zhao Qihui was grieving, and her second uncle and his wife had never been fond of her…
so Chuxia could only walk alone on the path home.
Taking a few steps and stopping, she had never missed the mixed smells of sweat, foot odor, and everything else as much as she missed…
the bus!
In April, although the air still had a chill, it was another matter when carrying heavy loads.
When she squatted by the roadside once more, nearly sticking out her tongue to cool off, she saw in the distance a vehicle-like object!
Getting closer…
closer…
At that moment, she felt an urge to throw herself on the big metal thing and kiss it!
＞▂＜
“Screech!”
An army green jeep stopped in front of her, kicking up a cloud of dust that made her cough repeatedly.
Turning her head, she saw a middle-aged military man poking his head out from the car window—Captain Zhou Hanliang.
“Lin Chuxia, get in!
We’re heading to Dalin Village, we’ll give you a lift home.”
Chuxia quickly estimated the time it would take her to cover the half-mile distance, then decisively opened the rear car door, dumped everything in her arms onto the back seat, and after throwing it all in, climbed inside, sat down, closed the door, and looked at Zhou Hanliang: “Thanks!”
Meaning, you can drive now!
During the process, her gaze definitely did “not” sneak a peek at the passenger seat position at all.
Zhou Hanliang stole a glance at the regimental commander sitting beside him, Colonel Zhou Mikang, who appeared calm as he started the car, his heart, however, was churning with undercurrents.
He simply couldn’t understand why Regimental Commander Zhou, who was usually not one to meddle in others’ affairs and had a heart as hard as iron, would move to the front upon seeing this staggering little figure and ordered him to pick up the girl and take her along.
What he understood even less was where this little girl got the audacity from.
Clearly aware of their identity, she still acted so aloof, as if it was a matter of course for them to pick her up.
“Are you angry with me?”
All of a sudden, the Great Regimental Commander Zhou spoke.
“Asking me?” Chuxia pointed to her own nose, shook her head quickly, “No!”
“Then what’s with the attitude?”
What attitude?
Chuxia looked somewhat puzzled at the back of his head: “Commander Zhou, are you saying that I should be eternally grateful before getting in the car?”
“Conscription has its criteria, it doesn’t count just because someone says so.”
Was this an explanation?
Chuxia was taken aback, anger quickly rising in her eyes: “Of course, I know conscription has its criteria, but you shouldn’t have said such words at that moment!”
“I was just telling the truth.” Zhou Mikang frowned.
He puzzled over why he cared about this little girl’s opinion and took the initiative to explain it to her.
Perhaps it was to thank her for taking away that girl who cried her heart out at a crucial moment, sparing him the embarrassment?
“Telling the truth is fine, but couldn’t you be a bit more tactful?
If one could grow tall, who would choose to be short?
If one could eat well, who would want to go hungry?
You seem to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, right?
To become a regimental commander at that age, there are only two possibilities: either you have strong backing, or you possess exceptional abilities, or maybe it’s a combination of both.
From your character and the way you conduct yourself, I would boldly guess that you are the kind that possesses both.
Maybe you have been hungry during training, but you definitely weren’t starving while growing!
Why did my sister end up short?
That’s because she’s considerate and felt sorry for my brother, giving all the good food to him, and as a result, she didn’t develop well because of hunger.
And why does she want to join the army?
It’s because the one thing Brother Yuanbao most wanted to see was her in military uniform; she wants to join him.
You…
you are too insensitive!” With a long sigh, Chuxia finally let out the words that had been pent up inside her chest, feeling much more relieved!
“Are you done?”
“Pretty much!”
“Have you ever starved as you grew up?”
“Of course!”
“How tall are you?”
“One hundred sixty-four centimeters!”
“Zhou Hanliang!”
The petrified Zhou Hanliang, aka Tongzi, quickly focused, steering the car back on track.
He had narrowly missed driving the car into a ditch!
Don’t blame him for the lack of danger awareness, seriously, the shock his boss, Tongzi, had given him was just too far beyond his understanding.
Since when had his boss, Tongzi, learned to explain things?
In his mind, his boss, Tongzi, was always the type to act first with his big feet and sparingly spare a word.
Today, how many words had Tongzi said?
He really regretted not bringing a recorder along!
Otherwise, he would have had someone to wash a month’s worth of stinky socks for him!
Absolutely!
“Lin Chuxia, you know what rank the commander holds, right?” Zhou Hanliang finally couldn’t help asking the question that was on his mind.
Chuxia glanced at him indifferently, “I know, about the same as the head of our county.”
Zhou Hanliang: “…” Okay, then, he didn’t know what to say.
Should he ask her if she knew how significant the head of the county was?
Surely the kid would know if she wasn’t stupid.
Zhou Mikang turned his head back with a deadpan look and stared at her, “Knowing full well my rank, you still talk to me like this, aren’t you afraid?”
“What have I got to be afraid of?” Chuxia returned his gaze with a look of disbelief, “I don’t live off what you earn, nor do I work under you.
What have I to fear?”
Zhou Mikang sized her up, “Ever thought about joining the army?”
“Me?” Chuxia chuckled, pointing at herself, “Join the army?”
“Yes!” Zhou Mikang nodded affirmatively.
“Don’t you find that amusing?
With my physique…” Chuxia shrugged, “My sister didn’t even qualify, and you come asking me if I want to join the army.
How come I find that so hilarious?”
“You’re tall enough, and with your personality, you’d fit the military profession quite well,” Zhou Mikang said before turning back, “I’m just making a suggestion.
If you want to join the military, you need to start training now.”
Chuxia rolled her eyes, “Will you pull strings for me when the time comes?”
“Dream on!” Zhou Mikang, turning back again, nodded toward the bag Chuxia used for making dumplings, “We’ve given you a ride all this way, shouldn’t you show some gratitude?”
“Screech!”
Zhou Hanliang couldn’t hold it any longer.
He stalled the car with a jolt, feeling the chill of Tongzi’s gaze, his back quickly drenched with sweat.
Trembling, he tried to reignite the engine while explaining, “We’re…
nearly at the village, I…
I’m a bit excited.”
Zhou Mikang expressionlessly asked, “Is your mother-in-law in this village?”
“Pfft!” Chuxia quickly covered her mouth, “Sorry, you two carry on.”
