Six years ago, two eighteen-year-old young men entered the recruit company together. They crawled through the mud practicing tactics together, got chewed out by the old squad leader together, and huddled in the restroom to sneak their first cigarette together.
Back then, they didn’t know each other at all. Zhao Minghui only knew that his comrade-in-arms, Lin Yi, was absurdly fit, sharp-minded, and quick to learn anything. He had earned top marks in every event during the recruit company evaluations. The recruit squad leader had patted him on the shoulder and said that kid was sure to go far.
Two years later, Zhao Minghui received an officer promotion, passed the entrance exams, and steadily worked his way up to Company Commander.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi pinned on a big red flower, filled out his application, and lined up to board the bus.
The bus engine started, and it slowly drove out through the military camp’s gates.
Standing among the people there to see him off, Zhao Minghui watched the bus turn onto the highway and drive farther and farther away. He felt a little melancholy, thinking they probably wouldn’t see each other again for the rest of their lives.
Then, that very evening, he saw Lin Yi again, looking thoroughly dejected and back in the military.
It turned out that half an hour after the bus left, the old company commander had personally driven after it. He forced the bus to stop and dragged Lin Yi back.
Apparently, as soon as Lin Yi had left, a call went straight to regimental headquarters, and Lin Yi was directly brought back into the military through special recruitment.
Later, when Lin Yi told Zhao Minghui about it over drinks, he fell silent for a long while before saying, “My Grandfather made that call.”
Zhao Minghui nearly spat out the drink in his mouth.
And so, Lin Yi served another two years.
Two years ago, it was discharge day once again.
Lin Yi pinned on another big red flower and submitted his Discharge Application Form. Everything went smoothly, and the official seal was stamped in no time.
He said his Grandfather had already retired and absolutely couldn’t stop him from leaving the military!
This time, Zhao Minghui thought Lin Yi was really leaving, and that they truly wouldn’t see each other again.
And then…
That very evening, Lin Yi showed up in his dormitory with a bottle of Moutai.
According to Lin Yi, he had carried his bags off the bus and only found out after returning to his neighborhood that his Household Registration had not been transferred back. It was still with the military.
Then he got a call from his dad.
Good news from the delivery room—his dad had been promoted!
And so, another two years as a conscript…
“All right, I won’t say anything more. Once tonight is over and you board the bus tomorrow, you’ll be completely free.”
“Make a good life for yourself after you leave. Don’t keep getting yourself into trouble.”
Zhao Minghui sighed and said with feeling.
“After tomorrow, your buddy here will be free! You’re the little sparrow still trapped in a cage, and you’re worrying about me, the great roc soaring with outstretched wings?” Lin Yi teased.
Zhao Minghui punched him in the arm. “Get lost! And the farther, the better!”
……
The next day.
He folded his blanket into a neat tofu block, packed his things, and pinned on a big red flower once again.
Soon, the bus drove into the military camp.
Lin Yi stuffed his luggage into the baggage compartment, stepped onto the bus, and looked back at the military unit where he had spent six years.
Zhao Minghui, Liu Chang, and all those familiar faces stood inside the military camp and waved to him.
Lin Yi grinned and raised his hand in a crisp military salute.
This had to be the last military salute he would ever give in his life.
He quickly climbed into the bus and found a window seat.
The doors closed, and the bus slowly pulled away.
Lin Yi leaned back in his seat and watched the military camp buildings gradually recede outside the window. The familiar buildings, parade ground, obstacle course, and shooting range slid past his eyes like scenes in a movie.
Six years. He could finally, finally leave the military region!
The dazzling world outside, a life without restrictions, and all the bright lights and nightlife—here I come!
Right at that moment.
A voice suddenly exploded in his mind without warning.
【Ding!】
【System successfully bound.】
【Host detected without soldier status. Please submit an enlistment application immediately to formally activate the System!】
Huh?
I just successfully left the military, and now you want me to enlist again?
What the heck!
……
The Lin Family study was simply furnished, yet an air of authority permeated every corner.
A framed pair of Major General shoulder insignia belonging to Old Master Lin Jianjun hung on the wall. Beside it was a black-and-white photograph of him on border duty in his youth, his sharply defined face full of rugged valor.
Behind the desk, Lin Jianjun wore a neatly pressed civilian outfit. His brow was slightly furrowed, and his eyes were full of helplessness.
Across from him, Lin Guodong sat ramrod straight. His colonel-rank uniform jacket was draped over the back of his chair, and he held a cup of strong tea. He sighed deeply. “Dad, let it go. Don’t dwell on it.”
“That boy Lin Yi is dead set on leaving the military this time. The first two times we stopped him, he caused such chaos that everyone in the military camp knows the Lin Family has a conscript who keeps changing his mind. If we stop him again, we might end up blowing the whole thing wide open!”
Lin Jianjun fell silent for a moment, his eyes filled with reluctance. “I’m not trying to stop him. The boy has real potential. He’s been exceptionally fit since childhood, and we’ve honed his physical condition well. It would be such a waste for him to leave the military just like that.”
“Besides, we’ve both spent our whole lives making our way in the military. Is it really going to end with his generation? You say it so casually, but are you really willing to watch him come back?”
After a lifetime in the military, he had long since come to believe, deep down, that he was born a soldier and would die with the military in his soul!
His own son was only so-so. His physical condition and fitness were merely adequate, nowhere near as good as his own had been when he was young.
Fortunately, the connections he had built up were still there, so he could give his son a hand and help him reach his current position.
But his grandson, Lin Yi…
He had loved the boy since he was little. Just as he’d said, the boy was outstanding in every way: his fitness, his physical condition, and all his other qualities. He was even a little better than Lin Jianjun had been in his youth!
He was practically born to be a soldier!
If his son was no use, then he could only place his hopes in his grandson!
And his grandson Lin Yi really had made a name for himself in the military: three enlistments and three discharges. Now that was quite a name to make!
When his old comrades-in-arms heard the news, they laughed so hard they nearly keeled over.
Damn it.
“What good does his potential do us?” Lin Guodong said with a bitter smile, taking a sip of tea. “He’s always been wild. The more you try to control him, the more rebellious he gets.”
“The first time you held onto his Discharge Application Form, he started slacking off in the military camp. He’d deliberately show up late or leave early, or pick fights with the military police. And you still couldn’t do anything about it, could you?”
“The second time, you had me hold it back. But once he was in the military, he was still the same. I couldn’t do a thing with him either.”
“Now, I don’t think there’s any point in butting heads with him over this. Let him leave.”
As his father, he really had no idea how to discipline his son.
He knew Lin Yi’s personality all too well. The boy was practically cut from the same cloth as his own father. Once that stubborn streak kicked in, not even nine oxen—nor ninety—could drag him back.
Of the three generations in their family, he was the only one with a mild temper. He had no idea who he’d inherited it from.
But he wouldn’t dare say that in front of his father.
Lin Jianjun sighed. “Enough. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings.”
With that, he glared at Lin Guodong.
The look in his eyes seemed to say: If you could make life easier for me, would I have to put all my hopes in my grandson? Hmph!
Lin Jianjun turned to glance at the clock on the desk. “By my reckoning, the bus bringing the soldiers home should be nearly at the compound, right?”
Lin Guodong raised his wristwatch and chimed in. “The bus left over an hour ago. It’s not far, so it should be home before lunch.”
“Good.” Lin Jianjun pushed himself up slowly from the armchair, his back straight and a faint, confident smile on his lips. “I’ve arranged everything. The moment he steps through the door, keep an eye on him. Don’t let that boy run off!”
Lin Guodong’s eyes lit up, and he picked up the thread. “So you’ve finally decided to beat your grandson?”
“What nonsense. You’re his father, so you can discipline your own son.” Lin Jianjun looked at his son with undisguised impatience. “As his grandfather, I’ve prepared a big gift for him.”
What?
A big gift?
Lin Guodong couldn’t help asking curiously, “…What is it?”
Come to think of it, had his father gotten so worked up that he’d lost his mind?
After Lin Yi had insisted on leaving the military time and time again, he was still preparing a gift for him?
But after mulling it over for a moment, the old man’s words seemed to have an odd ring to them.
This gift… was it really aboveboard?