Chapter 16: Provocation
“Good, tomorrow you’ll come with me.”
Seeing how straightforward Chang Ning was, Chen Guotao felt happy inside.
The matter was solved, it was late, and they had to be busy tomorrow, so Chen Guotao got up, put on his training uniform, and planned to return to the dormitory.
His body had warmed up after the exercise and he didn’t feel cold, but now with the early spring breeze blowing, he suddenly felt chilly.
If he didn’t want to catch a cold, it was better to put on clothes.
“Ouch!”
He had been fine just moments ago, but as soon as Chen Guotao stood up, he clutched his waist and sat down on the ground.
“Platoon Leader, what’s wrong?”
Chang Ning knew it might be ankylosing spondylitis acting up; he only knew that in the later stages, one couldn’t stand and would need a wheelchair.
Seeing Chen Guotao sitting on the ground in pain and gasping, Chang Ning quickly went forward to help him up.
“It’s nothing, just an old problem.”
“Platoon Leader, you should still go to the hospital and get checked. You don’t look like you have a minor illness.”
Chang Ning’s persuasion had the opposite effect. Chen Guotao was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; he pushed Chang Ning away, wanting to prove he was really fine.
As a result, without Chang Ning’s support, he didn’t walk a few steps before falling down.
“It’s actually this serious.”
Chang Ning hadn’t realized that Chen Guotao’s condition was already this severe at this point; it seemed he needed to get him treatment quickly.
“Platoon Leader, I think it’s best for you to go to the hospital and get treatment.”
“I’m fine, it’s just a herniated disc.”
Clearly in so much pain that sweat covered his face, yet still pretending to be relaxed—it was tough on Chen Guotao.
Becoming a special forces soldier had been his dream since childhood. To achieve it, he had prepared for over a decade, and with Wolf Fang’s selection training camp about to start, he wouldn’t allow himself to fall at this critical moment.
“A herniated disc still needs treatment; if you keep dragging it out, a minor illness will turn into a major one!”
“Chang Ning, just don’t worry about my business.”
Without thinking, he wanted to refuse, but after meeting Chang Ning’s gaze, Chen Guotao softened.
For a tough soldier to show a pleading look, it was clear how important becoming a special forces soldier was to Chen Guotao.
“Good, let’s head back to the dormitory first.”
Unfortunately, Chang Ning was someone whose rationality outweighed his emotions. He decided to stabilize Chen Guotao first. Since his own words weren’t effective, Miao Lian’s words would surely be heeded.
Maybe in Chen Guotao’s view, Chang Ning was meddling, but Chang Ning just thought Chen Guotao was too selfish, only considering his own feelings.
Why didn’t he think about how devastating it would be for his parents if he could never stand again?
After helping Chen Guotao back to the cadre dormitory, Chang Ning returned to the cookhouse, where he ran into Xi Wa again. If they weren’t close, just Chang Ning wandering around sleepless at night would be enough for a disciplinary action.
The next morning, Chen Guotao found Chang Ning kneading dough in the cookhouse; today they were making egg noodles.
“Squad Leader Old Ma, Miao Lian told me to take Chang Ning away.”
Chen Guotao said this to Squad Leader Old Ma, then beckoned to Chang Ning to signal him to come along.
“Take him away.”
Old Ma had actually known from the start that the cookhouse couldn’t keep a talented guy like Chang Ning.
The cookhouse pool was too shallow, and the environment here wasn’t suitable for Chang Ning; he should roam in vast heaven and earth.
“Chang Ning, come back to visit when you have time, and if you want to learn any dishes in the future, just tell me.”
As soon as Wang Xiao Mao heard Chang Ning was leaving, he quickly put down his work and hurried over.
Chang Ning’s talent for cooking was exceptional; after watching once, he could basically imitate it. Where else could you find such a great disciple?
Wang Xiao Mao had planned to teach his skills to Chang Ning in a few days, but in the blink of an eye, he was leaving.
Life is truly unpredictable, like the big intestine wrapping the small intestine.
After bidding farewell to the comrades in the cookhouse, Chang Ning carried his luggage and didn’t speak along the way. If Chen Guotao hadn’t observed that there was no trace of sadness on this guy’s face, he would have thought Chang Ning was reluctant to leave his comrades.
“Aren’t you curious where I’m taking you?”
Perhaps unaccustomed to this strange atmosphere, Chen Guotao started the conversation.
“What’s there to be curious about? Anyway, I can’t go to any unit other than Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company. Miao Lian isn’t the type to make a losing deal.
Since it’s still within Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company, I’m pretty familiar with the environment here, so it doesn’t matter where I go.”
After saying that, Chang Ning fell silent again. Plus, he was thinking about Chen Guotao’s matter, so he wasn’t in the mood to talk.
Chen Guotao: “Kid, you’ve killed the conversation.”
Chang Ning: “Oh.”
Luckily the journey was short. After dropping Chang Ning off with Lao Pao, Chen Guotao left without looking back. The atmosphere along the way was too oppressive, making him feel uncomfortable all over, and he didn’t know what that kid Chang Ning was thinking.
“Squad Leader, good!”
Chang Ning saluted Lao Pao. He had no grudge against Lao Pao; although he had been thrown into solitary confinement by him before, he had also bruised Lao Pao’s eye, so it was even.
“Let me introduce everyone: this is Chang Ning, just transferred from the cookhouse.”
After Lao Pao spoke, Chang Ning saw the future comrades with varied expressions. Except for Xi Wa, who looked delighted to see Chang Ning, the others were either full of doubt or unfriendly.
The cookhouse gave everyone the impression of a retirement place; what skills could someone from there have?
Lao Pao’s squad had just been rated as an excellent squad collective this month, so of course the soldiers didn’t want a rat to spoil the pot of good soup in their squad.
“A new comrade joins, everyone clap.”
The applause was sparse, and the soldiers showed no sign of welcome on their faces.
“Chang Ning, looks like no one welcomes you.”
Lao Pao started stirring things up from the side, with a playful expression.
“Squad Leader, give me an idea.”
Knowing what Lao Pao was up to, Chang Ning played along. In the barracks, to quickly integrate, you had to show skills that would convince them.
“Simple, let strength speak. Beat this group of arrogant guys, and everyone will respect you.”
With Lao Pao laying it out plainly, Chang Ning wasn’t scared.
“Alright then, gentlemen, what’s the plan? Let’s draw the line.”
Hearing this from the newcomer, everyone thought he was pretty cocky. But they weren’t fools; generally, cocky people have something to rely on.
“All mute now? Usually you’re all yelling that you’re invincible, but now no one speaks? I knew you were a bunch of softies!
Someone’s come to provoke at the door, and not one dares to fight!”
This group of veteran soldiers was too slick; without harsh stimulation, they wouldn’t step up.
Lao Pao, being a veteran soldier, knew what his squad’s comrades were like; except for Xi Wa, none were easy to deal with.
“Looks like none of you can do it.”
Cooperating with Lao Pao, integrating into the group was beneficial for Chang Ning at this stage; he had to take the initiative.
“Kid, being too cocky will make you suffer.”
Someone stepped out from the ranks and stared straight at Chang Ning.
How could a man say he couldn’t?
Thanks to the monthly tickets from book friends Wangran De Rensheng and Huaxie Shui Zai.
Thanks to 5263551, book friend 20210512045322686, Top Ten Kings of Hell, God’s adult, Secondary Yuan Moe Thing Control?, Li Jia Ge Ge Zhen Shuai, Fake Sincerity!, Life Like Wine, Xing Lin, book friend 161117224846288, Feng Ju Xing Gui, Masked Shadow, Shuoyue Zhaojun, book friend 150329150634593, Lying In Bed Thinking Of Losing Weight, and all readers’ support!!!
