Training ground.
The soldiers are conducting their daily training.
As the regimental commander, Zhang Jianshu came over with Political Commissar Xu to communicate with the battalion commanders under his command.
“There’s only a little over a month until Army Day. In order to participate in the holiday activities, our camp will hold an internal competition, which will be divided into group and individual events. You need to get things done. Our 2nd Regiment can’t lose to the other two regiments.”
The three battalion commanders immediately agreed and discussed the work arrangements.
Zhang Jianshu stood there for a while, then decided to go back to his office because he felt the sun was too strong.
“I’m going back to my office first. Are you coming or not?”
Political Commissar Xu said, “I’ll go practice my martial arts too.”
“Okay, then you can practice. See you later.”
Zhang Jianshu tugged at his military uniform and strode back.
Just then, a person walked towards them. Despite the glaring sunlight, Zhang Jianshu recognized the person as Xiao Heng at a glance.
After all, with such a tall and imposing physique, even in a military camp teeming with men, he would stand out like a crane among chickens.
Thinking back to what happened that morning, Zhang Jianshu felt a little guilty, but he also found a reason for himself. After all, in that situation, Qiao Meili was pressing her daughter’s stomach so hard that it did look like she was hitting someone.
He was worried about his daughter, so it’s understandable that he made a mistake in the heat of the moment. After figuring out what happened, his sister Zhang Miao had already apologized to Qiao Meili.
More importantly, his position was higher than Xiao Heng’s.
“Deputy Regiment Commander Xiao,”
Zhang Jianshu was fully prepared and calmly greeted Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng didn’t respond. He didn’t sneer, nor did he frown. His eyes didn’t even flicker. He just stared at the other person calmly, but an invisible pressure came over him, making the back of his neck feel cold.
Zhang Jianshu suppressed his unease, never imagining that this man, a full twelve years younger than him, could have such a commanding presence.
Why aren’t you saying anything?
Clenching his fist, Xiao Heng shifted his gaze to the soldiers training behind him.
Finally free from being watched, Zhang Jianshu silently breathed a sigh of relief. However, before he could fully settle down, he heard Xiao Heng say something.
“The unit is holding an internal competition to celebrate Army Day. It just so happens that Commander Zhang is here. I’ve heard that Commander Zhang has outstanding results in combat training, so I’m taking the liberty of requesting to spar with Commander Zhang today!”
Within the military, competition among soldiers is encouraged. This is not only a healthy form of competition but also a way for them to learn from each other and improve their skills.
The officers would also spar with each other from time to time.
Therefore, Xiao Heng’s request was not excessive at all.
Zhang Jianshu knew this was bad; this wasn’t a friendly exchange, it was clearly revenge.
Just then, many soldiers from the 2nd Regiment were standing behind him. When they heard that their commander was going to have a competition, they all cheered and applauded.
Political Commissar Xu also came over and said, “That’s great! Regiment Commander Zhang was one of the best fighters back then. I’m in for a treat today.”
Xiao Heng fell silent, then stared at Zhang Jianshu with a seemingly calm but actually fierce gaze.
“Commander Zhang, Commander Zhang—”
The soldiers have already begun to cheer enthusiastically.
Zhang Jianshu felt like he was being roasted over a fire. He had practiced simple martial arts with the village elders when he was a child, so he was better than others in combat after joining the army. However, as he was promoted to officer, he neglected training and his skills were no longer what they used to be.
Moreover, he is older than Xiao Heng.
The scorching sun hung overhead, making Zhang Jianshu feel dizzy, and sweat even began to bead on his forehead.
He wanted to say no, but he couldn’t lose face. This Xiao Heng, who seemed low-key and quiet, was actually very cunning. He found him during training and didn’t give him a chance to refuse.
“I……”
“Commander Zhang, please enlighten me,”
Xiao Heng didn’t give him a chance to refuse and threw a punch right away.
Zhang Jianshu’s body reacted immediately, and he dodged to the side.
In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than a dozen blows.
The soldiers stopped training and gathered around to watch, cheering for their leader. As the two figures locked in combat drew closer, the atmosphere grew increasingly heated.
As time went by, Zhang Jianshu soon realized something was wrong. The reason he seemed to be able to fight Xiao Heng on equal terms was because Xiao Heng wasn’t using his full strength at all.
He… was like he was walking a dog, playing with it.
This realization infuriated Zhang Jianshu. He gritted his teeth and attacked Xiao Heng’s legs with all his might, but Xiao Heng seized the opportunity and slammed him heavily to the ground with a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw.
Zhang Jianshu was also enraged. He got up, wiped his sweat, and launched an even fiercer attack. then,
Over the next few minutes, everyone saw Zhang Jianshu being slammed to the ground by Xiao Heng like a punching bag.
Bang, bang, bang…
The situation suddenly became awkward.
Political Commissar Xu, standing to the side, sensed something was amiss and quickly spoke up to smooth things over, “Deputy Regiment Commander Xiao, that’s enough.”
At this moment, Xiao Heng exuded an extremely powerful aura, his muscles bulging, truly like a furious beast. He looked up at Political Commissar Xu, and the solemnity in his eyes startled Political Commissar Xu as well.
I didn’t think things would end so easily.
Xiao Heng stopped, and even reached out to Zhang Jianshu, who was lying on the ground, saying, “Commander Zhang, please forgive me.”
The implication is that this is just a friendly exchange, and as such, it’s normal to have both winners and losers.
Zhang Jianshu looked at the outstretched hand. Although he cursed inwardly, he couldn’t lose his composure in front of so many soldiers below, so he still took the hand.
Xiao Heng pulled the man up and patted Zhang Jianshu on the back in a friendly manner.
Zhang Jianshu was so angry he almost vomited blood.
What a waste of all that fall he took!
This scheming man is clearly taking revenge on me for throwing his wife!
With so many people in the camp and so many soldiers watching over them, the news spread quickly.
Lei Guotao slammed open the office door and found Xiao Heng. He stared at him for a long time. “No way, you really went to fight Zhang Jianshu? And you even threw him around like a punching bag? You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Xiao Heng closed the document in his hand, without raising his eyebrows, “Who said I did it on purpose?”
Lei Guotao choked, but seeing Xiao Heng’s calm expression, which didn’t seem like he was lying at all, he even wondered if he was overthinking it.
“You really aren’t…”
Xiao Heng fell silent again.
Lei Guotao was at a loss. “Political Commissar Qin is hosting a dinner party at his house tonight. Are you going?”
“I’m busy,” Xiao Heng said.
Lei Guotao sensed something was wrong. “Why don’t you have time? You said before that you wanted to spend more time taking care of Zhaozhao, but now that your wife is here, Zhaozhao is being taken care of. What are you still worried about?”
Xiao Heng glanced at the clock on the wall and said, “My wife is injured.”
Lei Guotao almost cursed. His wife’s injury was nothing to soldiers.
Forget it, forget it, he’s too lazy to argue with him.
Lei Guotao went by himself, while Xiao Heng got dinner from the cafeteria and then went to the daycare to pick up Zhao Zhao.
When Zhao Zhao saw that it was his father who came to pick him up, he tilted his head and looked behind him.
Having raised her son alone for over a year, Xiao Heng knew him well. She stepped forward, took her son’s little hand, and said, “Mommy is injured and needs to rest at home.”
Although Zhao Zhao is young, he already understands that being injured means pain. He is afraid of pain and is very worried. He walks very fast, eager to get home.
Qiao Meili was “forced” to lie down in the chair to rest, with a handful of sunflower seeds that Huang Yifang had specially brought over beside her, which she ate intermittently.
She didn’t go to pick up her son, but Huang Yifang said he would help her.
So she wasn’t worried.
As I was staring blankly at the clouds drifting by in the sky, two figures, one large and one small, suddenly appeared in my line of sight.
Oh no, doesn’t she look just like that gossipy old lady at the village entrance right now? Waaah, what happened to her beautiful image?!
Qiao Meili tried to stand up and go to the bedroom, but it was too late. Zhao Zhao shouted “Mom!” and rushed towards her.
Fearing her son would fall, Qiao Meili quickly reached out and caught him.
Zhao Zhao looked at her, her eyes filled with worry: “Mommy, does it hurt?”
Qiao Meili glared at Xiao Heng. What’s the big deal? Why did you tell your son?
After spending a few days together, the two had developed a certain understanding. This time, Xiao Heng understood and said, “You didn’t pick him up. Zhao Zhao kept asking about you the whole way. He was very worried about you.”
“Oh, what a wonderful son he is!”
Unable to resist any longer, Qiao Meili cupped Zhao Zhao’s little face and began to rub it.
After rubbing and massaging the baby, I hugged the little one tightly and showered him with affection.
Zhao Zhao’s face was squeezed so much it was distorted, but the corners of her mouth were still turned up high.
Dinner was at the cafeteria again, this time it was big steamed buns.
Qiao Meili couldn’t go out right now, so she just made do. However, she had been eating vegetarian food for the past few days and was really craving meat.
In modern times, to maintain her figure, she would specifically choose to eat vegetarian food and healthy meals.
Now… we eat healthy, but it’s so healthy that we’ve almost forgotten what pork tastes like.