Chapter 300: Trip To Langde Village
“Does Staff Officer Xia have any opinions to share?”
Hearing Xia Lan speak, Geng Jihui knew what she was going to say, but he just didn’t expect her to be so impatient.
“Why isn’t there a mission for me? I can still participate in the battle.” Xia Lan looked at Geng Jihui and said.
“Staff Officer Xia, as our indispensable combat power, how could I forget about you?
Even if you didn’t ask, I would still tell you your mission.
Since you’re so impatient, I’ll just tell you your mission directly.
You must have heard just now that the combat missions have already been assigned, so Staff Officer Xia, your mission is to protect the safety of the villagers.”
Because of Chang Ning’s reminder earlier plus his own observations during this time, Geng Jihui discovered that Xia Lan’s personality indeed had significant flaws.
How could this make him dare to put Xia Lan into the combat team?
If something went wrong, it would be a small matter if she harmed herself, but if it implicated the entire B Group, where would he go to reason?
So he absolutely could not let Xia Lan participate, and having her honestly protect the villagers was the best arrangement.
“Why can’t I participate in the battle? Do you all look down on me because I’m a woman?”
As soon as Xia Lan heard that the mission assigned to her was to protect the villagers, she immediately became unhappy.
Looking at the picky Xia Lan, Geng Jihui didn’t indulge her: “Staff Officer Xia, protecting the villagers is also an important mission. You’re an officer too—how can you have no ideological awareness at all!”
This time, Geng Jihui decided not to yield to Xia Lan anymore, so his tone was very heavy.
“Fine, I accept the mission.”
Under pressure, Xia Lan finally accepted the mission Geng Jihui assigned to her.
“Wait a minute.”
Just as she was about to leave, Geng Jihui called her back.
“You know the villagers, so evacuate them from the village as soon as possible.
Since they are unwilling to leave here, then evacuate them to the nearby mountain.
Explain clearly to the villagers that the damaged houses will be rebuilt better for them afterward.”
“Got it.”
Xia Lan stormed off without looking back, clearly harboring considerable rage in her heart.
Geng Jihui didn’t care about this at all. After all, they weren’t in the same unit, and after this matter, there was a high probability they wouldn’t meet again, so whether he offended her or not didn’t matter.
With Xia Lan gone, the atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly became much more relaxed.
Geng Jihui then asked his comrades: “Does anyone else have any questions?”
“I have a small suggestion.”
Chang Ning raised his hand, with his index finger and thumb making a gesture toward Geng Jihui.
“Oh? Let’s hear it.”
Upon hearing this, Geng Jihui immediately showed an interested expression. He wanted to hear what brilliant idea Chang Ning had.
“Forest Wolf, your combat plan is fine, but you forgot one thing.”
“What?”
“You forgot that behind us is the Wolf Fang Special Forces Detachment and the Southeast Military Region.”
Hearing this, Geng Jihui instantly understood the implication: “I get what you mean, but because of this operation and until the time to close the net, the military unit can’t come up yet.”
“The military unit can’t come up, but weapon equipment can.”
Seeing that Geng Jihui still hadn’t caught on, Chang Ning continued: “The military unit can’t come up, so we don’t have a numerical advantage, but we do have an equipment advantage.
We can have Army Aviation send attack helicopters loaded with weapons. We don’t need too many—just one would be enough to make these criminals suffer.”
“Right, why didn’t I think of that?” Ostrich slapped the table excitedly and said.
This battle was fighting outnumbered in positional warfare, which they weren’t good at. To be honest, no one felt confident.
They had even prepared for sacrifice. If they were unlucky and got hit by a stray bullet and died, so be it.
“Hehe~
With Ostrich’s brain capacity, how could he possibly think of such an idea?”
The medic unceremoniously mocked Ostrich.
The mocked Ostrich wasn’t annoyed. “Damn medic, I don’t want to stoop to your level right now.”
Chang Ning’s words were like throwing a brick to get a jade gem, opening everyone’s ideas. Since they lacked numbers, they would make up for it with weapons.
Such a big bug was probably the director wanting to show B Group’s combat power and the camaraderie of life and death among members.
Now that a huge variable like him, Chang Ning, had appeared in B Group, how could he let the plot head toward annihilation?
He would definitely go with the easiest way.
Since the military unit couldn’t come up, he would use weapon superiority to close the gap between enemy and us, even increasing our side’s probability of victory.
Once the idea clicked, everyone’s wild thoughts gushed out like water.
Geng Jihui saw his comrades chattering about which powerful weapons could be called in, with Ostrich even fantasizing about having “Dongfeng Express” come to help out at the venue.
Not to mention whether deploying “Dongfeng Express” for a gang of criminals was cost-effective, once “Dongfeng” was used, the environment around Langde Village would change, making the villagers who were already unwilling to leave wonder what to think?
If “Dongfeng Express” was deployed, where would B Group have a chance to shine? It would also alert the enemy and ruin this “Jungle Wolf Operation.”
So even using his toes to think, everyone knew the leader wouldn’t approve such a ridiculous application.
“Hey, I was just saying it for fun, can’t I even satisfy my mouth?” Ostrich said cheekily.
The others didn’t speak, just giving Ostrich a look to let him figure it out himself.
Under everyone’s contemptuous gazes, Ostrich obediently shut his mouth.
Finally, Qiang Zi summarized everyone’s ideas to facilitate proposing their requests when contacting Wolf Den next.
On that paper filled with Qiang Zi’s requests, Chang Ning’s idea was prominently placed first: Request Wolf Den to dispatch a helicopter formation to assist B Group in combat.
As the saying goes, “Ask for the sky, settle for money.”
B Group was asking big here to bargain with Wolf Den. Dispatching one helicopter was their bottom line.
If more came on top of that, it would be a profit. Ending the battle early wouldn’t that be great?
After finalizing the combat plan, everyone relaxed.
Next, they just waited for those criminals to come to their doom, assuming the equipment they requested was approved by He Da Dui for air transport.
Thinking about it was exciting!
“Alright, meeting adjourned.
Qiang Zi, you run over and send our requests to Wolf Den. Everyone else, come with me to help Staff Officer Xia evacuate the villagers.”
Everyone replied in unison: “Yes.”
After everyone left the meeting room and dispersed, Ostrich deliberately lagged behind his comrades by a few steps. He looked at Qiang Zi’s departing back and secretly smiled.
“Medic, my stomach doesn’t feel well—I need to use the toilet first. I’ll find you later.”
“Got it.”
Seeing Ostrich’s pained expression, the medic didn’t suspect him.
At a time like this, who could guess what little scheme Ostrich had in mind?
After the medic acknowledged, Ostrich pretended to go to the toilet but turned midway to follow Qiang Zi up the mountain.
The tailed Qiang Zi had no idea someone was behind him. He brought the sorted supplies list and equipment application form to the radio placement spot—a cleared grass nest.
Qiang Zi had just put on the headphones and was about to transmit when he felt his shoulder lightly patted. He broke out in cold sweat and instinctively gripped the unfamiliar hand on his shoulder with his right hand, then twisted it hard.
Immediately, a familiar scream came from beside his ear.
Looking back, Ostrich was squatting on the ground clutching his right hand, grimacing in pain.
Seeing Ostrich’s pitiful look, Qiang Zi was speechless: “Couldn’t you just say something? Don’t you know scaring people can scare them to death!”
“How was I supposed to know your reaction was so big?
Hiss~”
The needle-like pain from his wrist made him gasp repeatedly.
“Aren’t you supposed to help evacuate the villagers? What are you doing up here?”
Qiang Zi didn’t want to waste time with Ostrich; he had a long list of supplies and equipment to send.
He was busy—where did he have time to chat idly with Ostrich?
Ostrich said impassively: “Uh, Forest Wolf is calling you.”
“Really?”
Qiang Zi highly doubted Ostrich’s motives. This guy was probably deceiving him.
Facing Qiang Zi’s suspicious gaze, Ostrich continued stubbornly: “After you left, Forest Wolf suddenly called me over and told me to find you. He didn’t say what it was about.
He’s waiting for you at the foot of the mountain right now.”
Seeing Ostrich speak without changing expression, Qiang Zi, full of doubts, went down the mountain to find Geng Jihui.
After seeing Qiang Zi off, Ostrich finally revealed a sly smile.
He put on the headphones, briefly operated the radio, then slipped away quietly with his gun before Qiang Zi returned.
“No one here.”
Qiang Zi arrived at the radio spot in a daze. Following Ostrich’s words, he went to the foot of the mountain and saw nothing.
There was no sign of Geng Jihui; he even specifically searched nearby, but still found nothing.
Now he knew he’d been tricked by Ostrich.
That impudent guy—joking around at a time like this.
Just as Qiang Zi was fuming to settle accounts with that dog Ostrich, the other had already slipped away.
“This account can’t end like this.”
Qiang Zi suppressed his anger and secretly noted it against Ostrich in his heart.
At night, the cold moonlight shone on the empty Langde Village like a layer of silver gauze draped over it.
The formerly smoke-wreathed Langde Village was now deathly silent, with no lights in any household.
In the center of the village, an orange-red bonfire rose, mixed with indistinct voices.
“Ostrich… canned food…”
“Milk…”
“Leave some for me…”
Thanks to the efforts of Chang Ning and others along with Xia Lan, all the villagers of Langde Village had been evacuated. Now, only Chang Ning and the others sat around the bonfire.
Ostrich looked bitterly at his empty backpack, which originally had plenty of strategic food.
Now it had all gone into his good brothers’ hands and mouths.
Most importantly, this group of beasts hadn’t left him even a bite—no sense of boundaries at all!
Chang Ning chewed loudly on the compressed biscuits in his hand and asked Qiang Zi: “Cut it out, when will the supplies arrive?”
After swallowing the food in his mouth and washing it down with water, Qiang Zi answered: “Tonight at 9:00.”
Hearing Qiang Zi’s answer, Chang Ning rolled up his sleeve to check his wristwatch, which showed 8:00.
“One hour until the supplies arrive. Everyone needs to eat faster.
The drop site is some distance from the village; we must leave time to get there,” Chang Ning suggested.
“Chang Ning is right. We’ll leave half an hour for travel.
Does everyone have confidence to handle personal matters within thirty minutes?”
After hearing Chang Ning’s suggestion, Geng Jihui accepted it readily and set the time.
Everyone indicated no problem and sped up.
Twenty minutes later, Chang Ning and the others had shouldered their backpacks, slung their steel guns, and were ready to move.
Silent journey. They arrived at the agreed supply drop site right at 8:50.
“Everyone rest. In ten minutes, prepare to receive the supplies,” Geng Jihui said.
The sound of airplane propellers came from the sky, growing nearer.
“It’s here. Prepare to guide the airplane.”
After Geng Jihui spoke, Chang Ning dashed out.
This was pre-arranged: Chang Ning was responsible for guiding the attack helicopter.
A beam of laser from Chang Ning’s laser pointer traced a fixed pattern in the air. The pilot would drop supplies at the laser’s origin upon seeing it.
White parachutes carried boxes full of weapons and ammunition slowly to the ground. Ostrich stared unblinkingly at the descending boxes, muttering to himself.
If anyone were beside him, they would hear him mumbling: “Airdrop chicken… airdrop chicken… where is my strategic airdrop chicken?”
“What airdrop chicken? Is that on our supplies list?”
Xiao Zhuang heard Ostrich’s mutter and asked curiously. The supplies list was discussed by everyone; he remembered clearly what was on it—no strategic airdrop chicken.
“Yes, you forgot.”
Ostrich, eyes fixed on the sky searching for airdrop chicken, had no time for Xiao Zhuang’s question and casually brushed him off.
Not far from them, Chang Ning saw Ostrich’s dazed sky-staring look and knew he was obsessing over his airdrop chicken.
But he didn’t plan to point it out. Besides, if the airdrop chicken came down, he could get a share too.
Ostrich stared at the sky at the falling supply boxes until a larger iron cage appeared.
What set it apart from other boxes was the obvious chicken feathers stuck to it, revealing what was inside—not to mention the accompanying clucks during descent.
“It’s my strategic airdrop chicken!
Wolf Head is so cool—I love Wolf Head!”
Seeing his longed-for airdrop chicken finally appear, Ostrich was so thrilled he spoke incoherently.
If not for the occasion, Chang Ning figured he might drool on the spot.
Thinking he could get a chicken leg thanks to Ostrich, Chang Ning held back his urge to mock him.
“What strategic airdrop chicken? I see Wolf Head airdropped you a bunch of feathers!”
Xiao Zhuang laughed hard at the flying chicken feathers.
“Wolf Head is so thoughtful—saves me plucking.”
With that, Ostrich slung his gun and eagerly ran to retrieve his airdrop chicken.
Geng Jihui watched Ostrich’s gleeful back and laughed in exasperation.
He truly hadn’t expected Ostrich to pull this stunt—how was he supposed to explain it to the captain later?
“It’s done. Let’s eat first.”
Chang Ning saw Geng Jihui’s odd expression, guessed what he was thinking, and patted his shoulder comfortingly.
“Think of it this way: thanks to Ostrich, we all get a chicken leg—worth celebrating.
After all, if He Da Dui pursues it later, the main responsibility is on Ostrich.”
“You’re right. Later, we’re definitely eating Ostrich’s strategic airdrop chicken hard!” Geng Jihui said with a laugh.
While inventorying the airdrop chicken, Ostrich felt a chill on his back but dismissed it in front of a cage of chickens, unaware his good brothers were plotting to eat his chicken.
