Chapter 58: Hot Commodity
The next morning, Chang Ning, who was participating in training, was stopped by Chen Guotao.
“Chang Ning, come over here. I have something to talk to you about.”
“Coming.”
Chang Ning greeted Squad Leader Lao Pao before walking toward Chen Guotao who was standing at the edge of the sports field.
“Platoon Leader, what do you need me for?”
It was normal procedure for a platoon leader to go to the squad leader for matters involving soldiers, not a single soldier, even if this soldier’s military rank was a bit high. Without a specific arrangement, Chang Ning was still just a soldier.
‘Could it be about last night?’
After thinking it over, Chang Ning felt that the only interaction he had with Chen Guotao was discussing his condition last night.
“What you said last night, I thought about it all night after returning to the dormitory.
You’re right. I’m an adult now, not a child anymore. For decisions I make myself, I have to take responsibility for whatever consequences arise.”
At this point, Chen Guotao’s expression became complicated, with reluctance and relief, quite conflicted.
Last night, Chen Guotao thought about it all night. Did he really want to risk the consequence of never standing up again to participate in the special forces soldier selection training camp?
At that moment, Chen Guotao thought of his aging parents and the partner still waiting for him. He didn’t dare imagine what his family would become if he could no longer stand.
He was no longer a child. He carried many responsibilities on his shoulders, and those responsibilities needed a healthy Chen Guotao who could run and jump, not someone in a wheelchair.
‘Can I really bear that consequence?’
Thinking that if he could no longer stand, it would mean facing transfer out of the military, and which unit in society would want someone in a wheelchair?
Moreover, he couldn’t bear to part with his military uniform. Having enlisted for so many years, the mark of a soldier was deeply imprinted in Chen Guotao’s bones. What could he do in society?
Reason told Chen Guotao that he had to give up his dream.
After figuring it out, Chen Guotao suddenly felt as if a burden had been lifted from him, and he felt much more relaxed.
Looking at this 19-year-old youth in front of him who was already a second lieutenant, perhaps his dream would have to be realized by this young man.
After hearing Chen Guotao’s words, Chang Ning didn’t offer an opinion. He just quietly watched the other man, waiting for what came next.
“So I came to find you for two things today,” Chen Guotao said.
“Platoon Leader, go ahead. I’ll definitely help if I can.”
“You kid, still playing mind games with me. Relax, would I make things difficult for you?”
Seeing that Chang Ning was truly cautious around him, Chen Guotao felt both annoyed and amused.
“I’m at least a close comrade who fully cooperated with you in the exercise. Would I harm you?”
Seeing that Chang Ning felt embarrassed by his words, Chen Guotao let him off the hook.
“Let’s get to the point.
First thing, last night I told you that becoming a special forces soldier is my dream. Now I can’t achieve it, so I’m asking you to realize it for me.”
Chang Ning: “Chen Pai, don’t talk about asking or not. I’ll help you with this.”
Chen Guotao: “Second thing is, today come with me to the Military Region General Hospital. Be my errand runner during the checkup.”
“No way, Platoon Leader. I still have training to do.”
For the second thing, Chang Ning rejected Chen Guotao without thinking. Accompanying Chen Guotao for the checkup would waste a whole day, and he still needed to train.
Without training, the system wouldn’t give Chang Ning merit points. Without merit points, how could Chang Ning buy high-tech weapons from the mall?
Chang Ning had already planned it out. Once he saved enough merit points, he would first redeem that discounted stun gun.
Then hand it over to the state. Even if nothing else, just the battery technology inside was invaluable!
Therefore, Chang Ning didn’t want to waste any time now. This wasn’t just time; it was merit points! It was progress for national technology!
“With your current level, skipping a day of training won’t matter. Not to mention anything else, when it comes to physical fitness, which soldier in our company can match you?
And your marksmanship— you broke the army record for scout moving rapid fire, and no one has surpassed it yet.
Don’t stress yourself out too much. Listen to me today.”
After saying that, he pulled Chang Ning onto the vehicle.
What could Chang Ning do? They were already in the vehicle, so he could only go along with Chen Guotao.
“Platoon Leader, if we’re going to the Military Region General Hospital, can we pick up one more person?”
“You mean Xiao Zhuang, right?”
At first, Chen Guotao hadn’t thought of it, but as soon as Chang Ning mentioned it, he immediately understood.
During the exercise, if not for Xiao Zhuang’s girlfriend providing cover, he and Xiao Zhuang would have been caught by Gao Zhong Dui long ago.
Xiao Zhuang’s girlfriend worked at the Military Region General Hospital. Bringing Xiao Zhuang this time would be returning the favor for her help back then.
“Yeah, Xiao Ying is at the General Hospital.”
“Alright, I’ll go talk to Miao Lian.”
Xiao Zhuang was still serving as clerk for Miao Lian, so this needed to be cleared with Miao Lian.
The two went to company headquarters and found Miao Lian who was reviewing documents, explaining the whole situation to him.
Miao Lian took off his glasses and took a sip of the tea water beside him.
“Alright, there’s nothing much going on anyway. Let’s all go together.
You kid don’t let me worry. You didn’t even tell me about something this big. What if the condition worsens?
I have to keep an eye on you, so you don’t fool me later.”
Upon learning of Chen Guotao’s illness, Miao Lian felt a wave of fear. He didn’t dare imagine agreeing to let Chen Guotao participate in Wolf Fang training camp with such a serious condition—what if it worsened during training?
“Alright then, shall we head out now?”
Seeing that Miao Lian wanted to come along too, what could Chen Guotao do? He knew his company commander’s temper; persuasion wouldn’t work, so he could only agree.
In the vehicle, Xiao Zhuang still didn’t know what they were up to.
“Where are we going?”
“Military Region General Hospital. We’re going for Chen Pai’s checkup. Bringing you is purely because I saw Xiao Ying working there too, so I convinced Miao Lian to give you this benefit.
Once we arrive, go find your girlfriend. You don’t need to worry about Chen Pai.”
Chang Ning didn’t give Xiao Zhuang a chance to speak, arranging everything for him clearly.
Xiao Zhuang was a sentimental person. Knowing Chen Guotao was ill, he would definitely want to take care of him first, which didn’t align with Chang Ning’s original intent.
Besides, it was just a checkup; Chang Ning could handle it alone. Bringing Xiao Zhuang was just to let him spend time with his girlfriend, as it would be hard to meet again later.
Those who knew the plot knew the tragedy between Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Ying. Since Chang Ning was here, he wouldn’t let it happen.
Xia Lan didn’t have that much face with him. When it came to life and death, even Ostrich’s face wouldn’t work!
“That doesn’t feel right.”
Xiao Zhuang felt a bit awkward. Everyone was busy for Chen Pai, while he went to the hospital to see his girlfriend—it felt off.
“What’s not right about it? Accompanying your girlfriend is also a mission.
Don’t forget how your girlfriend and her comrades helped us during the exercise.
Bringing you is to return the favor, so don’t feel bad about it.”
Chen Guotao told Xiao Zhuang the excuse he had prepared, or else Xiao Zhuang might really feel too embarrassed to go see his girlfriend.
“Alright, thanks, Platoon Leader.”
Xiao Zhuang appreciated everyone’s good intentions. They were all comrades—why overthink it.
The group parted ways at the outpatient department of the Military Region General Hospital. Xiao Zhuang went alone to find his girlfriend, while Chang Ning and Miao Lian accompanied Chen Guotao to register and pay.
At the doctor’s office, Chang Ning and Miao Lian were chased out. Inside, only Chen Guotao was exchanging details about his condition with the doctor.
The office was well soundproofed. The two chased out could only see through the glass as the doctor pointed at the laboratory report and X-ray films, saying something.
Chang Ning remained relatively calm. The current Chen Guotao hadn’t undergone Wolf Fang’s extreme training, so his condition shouldn’t be too serious.
But Miao Lian didn’t know that. In his mind, Chen Guotao was an extremely important mid-level cadre for Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company.
Seeing Miao Lian restless, pacing back and forth, sometimes stopping to look through the glass at the situation inside, though he got no information.
“Miao Lian, sit down for a bit first.”
“This kid Chen Guotao has been in there forever. I’m worried!”
Miao Lian sat in the chair, face full of concern.
“Hey, isn’t this Old Miao? Why are you at the hospital? Not feeling well?”
A hearty voice echoed through the hospital corridor, drawing the attention of all patients and medical staff.
The owner of the voice didn’t care, striding quickly toward Miao Lian sitting in the chair.
Hearing someone call him, Miao Lian looked in the direction of the voice and saw it was Kang Lei. His already bad expression instantly darkened further.
He felt his blood pressure rising, and his head beginning to ache faintly.
Kang Regiment Commander ignored Miao Lian’s expression and plopped down right next to him.
Chang Ning also saw Kang Regiment Commander and immediately stood to salute, but was stopped.
“You’re that Chang Ning kid, right? Last exercise, you sniped me with one shot. I still remember that.”
Kang Regiment Commander recognized at a glance the Red Team scout who had sniped him last time. With his level, checking Chang Ning’s information was effortless.
At this time, Chang Ning hadn’t entered special forces yet, so his information security level wasn’t high.
“Leader, an exercise is actual combat!”
Running into the person involved, who was now picking on him— with the higher military rank, Chang Ning could only grit his teeth and give the standard answer to deflect.
“Enough, why are you making things hard for my soldier!”
Miao Lian couldn’t stand it anymore and glared, telling Kang Regiment Commander not to go too far.
Kang Lei and Miao Lian were comrades from the Laoshan battle back then, brothers who had shared a trench and even split a single cigarette. They knew each other inside out.
If not for Miao Lian’s injury preventing him from entering Wolf Fang, his military rank now would never be lower than Kang Regiment Commander’s.
“Did you take your meds today or something? I was just joking with Chang Ning. Don’t you know my temperament?”
Kang Regiment Commander saw Miao Lian in a bad mood and got serious.
Miao Lian thought Kang Lei was the type who never showed up without a reason, and whatever it was wouldn’t be easy to handle.
Deciding that if Kang Lei’s matter was too troublesome, he definitely wouldn’t agree. With a plan in mind, Miao Lian said: “Precisely because we’re old acquaintances who know each other well, just get to the point instead of beating around the bush!”
“Alright, Old Miao, no more circling. Let’s lay it all out.
I’ve got my eye on your company’s Chang Ning. Are you letting him go?”
What!
Chang Ning had planned to stay low-key on the side, quietly eating the leaders’ drama, but the drama landed on him.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. How about it? Interested in joining our Iron Fist Regiment? I’ll make you platoon leader in Sharpshooter Fourth Company.
Your Miao Lian is so stingy. You’re already a second lieutenant and he still hasn’t arranged a proper position for you. What a waste of talent!”
Seeing Kang Regiment Commander’s pained expression in front of him, Chang Ning didn’t know how to respond.
Miao Lian’s face darkened beside him. Poaching his man right in front of him was simply not taking him seriously—too arrogant!
“Kang Lei, don’t go too far!”
“Too far? Where am I too far? A fine bird chooses its tree. Why are you in a hurry!
Anyway, our regiment is also in the Southeast Military Region. Chang Ning coming to us isn’t selling out to outsiders.
Everyone knows your plans, Old Miao. I just don’t get it—why send such a good seedling to Wolf Fang?
The highest achievement in special forces is about Old He’s level at best.
Our grassroots path rises slower, but the ceiling is higher!”
Seeing Miao Lian not budging, Kang Regiment Commander persisted in persuading.
In Kang Lei’s mouth, Old Miao had become the kind of person who sacrificed a soldier’s future for his own dreams. If the soldier wasn’t willing, he wouldn’t force it.
He had talked to Chang Ning before, and Chang Ning had clearly expressed wanting to go to special forces. Moreover, Chang Ning’s individual military quality was already top-notch.
If Chang Ning became a grassroots officer now, it wasn’t impossible, but it would take huge effort to start over—not worth it.
“I understand that logic better than you. Put away your little schemes.
You want to poach Chang Ning? I won’t stop you.
The one who tied the bell must untie it. As long as Chang Ning wants to go to you, I’ll go to the regiment commander to sign off on the transfer!”
Miao Lian said straightforwardly. He was already annoyed about Chen Guotao’s matter and didn’t want to waste time bickering with Kang Lei.
“Chang Ning, how about it? Come to our regiment, and I guarantee it’ll be more comfortable than staying in the reconnaissance company.”
Kang Regiment Commander said to Chang Ning.
Seeing the ball kicked back to him, Chang Ning instinctively glanced at Miao Lian. But Miao Lian had closed his eyes to rest, probably annoyed just seeing Kang Regiment Commander.
No hope from Miao Lian, so Chang Ning had to handle it himself.
“Kang Regiment Commander, thank you for thinking highly of me, Chang Ning. But I promised my platoon leader before that I’d realize his dream for him, and I’m quite curious about special forces too, so sorry.”
“Alright, forced melons aren’t sweet. I won’t push you.”
Actually, Kang Regiment Commander wasn’t certain he could poach Chang Ning.
From his understanding of Old Miao, that guy was great at leading soldiers, and every one he trained was top-notch.
If Chang Ning accepted his olive branch, he would keep his promise, but his impression of Chang Ning wouldn’t be great.
Seeing Chang Ning reject him, Kang Regiment Commander felt a bit defeated, but he quickly composed himself and asked with concern about Miao Lian’s health.
“Old Miao, where are you not feeling well? Old ailment acting up again?”
