Chapter 136: Invitation
Although Li Gaoyuan had long said that Pi Ruoyu had the intention to defect, Su Yaoyang still didn’t expect the other party to agree so readily, which couldn’t help but make him quite surprised.
But as soon as he and Li Gaoyuan entered Pi Ruoyu’s home, he immediately understood.
The dilapidated earthen walls let in drafts of wind, with a few blocks of stinking garbage piled in the corner, and mice scurrying through stirred up a cloud of floating dust.
When he arrived, Pi Ruoyu’s family was cooking.
A hunched woman was squatting in front of the stove, her skinny fingers pinching half a handful of cornmeal, the sound of boiling water in the iron pot resembling the faint cannon fire outside the city.
Two children were curled up on a straw mat, their bellies pressed against their backbones, but their eyes were frighteningly bright, staring at the cloth belt around their mother’s waist that was tied ever tighter.
The window paper by the stove had long been shattered by the blasts, cold wind carrying the smell of gunpowder pouring in, making the faded New Year paintings on the wall rustle.
The woman suddenly covered her mouth and coughed, cornmeal leaking from between her fingers drifted into the stove, the flames suddenly leaping high for a moment, illuminating the tear tracks on her cheekbones.
Seeing this scene, Li Gaoyuan could no longer bear to watch, turned to Pi Ruoyu and angrily said: “Old Pi, yesterday when I met you, why didn’t you tell me about your family’s situation?
Brother I may not be some rich man, but helping you out I can certainly do. Are you really okay with letting your wife and two kids suffer through this hard life with you?”
Pi Ruoyu gave a bitter laugh: “Brother Li, I know your security regiment has good treatment and high pay, but that’s what you risk your lives for.
Even if your big brother starves to death, I can’t take your blood money.”
“Bullshit!” Li Gaoyuan’s eyes turned red with anger, he wanted to curse more, but Su Yaoyang walked to the haystack, picked up the two children, and said to the woman who was cooking.
“Sister-in-law… don’t cook anymore.
I just arranged a job for Old Pi, making him our chief of staff. From now on, your food, clothing, and daily needs will be covered by our security regiment. Now go inside right away and pack your things, come with us.
Be quick, just pack some personal items, no need to take those jars and pots.”
“This…”
The woman looked at her husband with somewhat frightened and puzzled eyes. Pi Ruoyu said nothing beside her, merely nodded gently to his wife with red eyes. Only then did the woman stand up and go into the house to pack.
Ten-odd minutes later, the woman carried two bundles, held her two sons by the hand, and followed Su Yaoyang and the others onto the Willis Jeep that was waiting outside. The car soon drove out of the city and arrived at the camp in the suburbs.
Upon arriving at the camp, Su Yaoyang first took them to the medical team in the rear, found Song Mei, and immediately had Song Mei give the woman, the two children, and Pi Ruoyu physical exams.
The bad news was that Pi Ruoyu’s whole family’s bodies were in a state of severe malnutrition, on the verge of collapse at any moment.
The good news was that, apart from malnutrition and some inflammation, their bodies had no other issues, and with a period of recuperation, they could recover.
Afterward, Song Mei quickly arranged for Pi Ruoyu’s family to all take hot baths, get haircuts, issued them new clothes, arranged tents and meals. After all the bustle, it was already evening.
And Song Mei solemnly instructed them that the woman and children should mainly have liquid food for a week, and only eat to half-full, then resume normal eating after half a month.
Watching Song Mei and the others bustling about, Pi Ruoyu felt a resolve to die for a bosom friend rise in his heart.
In the evening, Su Yaoyang specially held a banquet to entertain Pi Ruoyu, inviting all regimental officers at company level and above to accompany, and at the banquet solemnly introduced him to all the regimental officers.
Seeing Su Yaoyang do this, all the officers in the regiment understood that the boss was telling them this new chief of staff was personally invited by him, so treat him with respect.
Whoever dared to pay lip service while acting against him behind his back just because he was a cripple, don’t blame the boss for not being polite.
Pi Ruoyu saw all of Su Yaoyang’s actions in his eyes, and while moved, he also steeled his resolve to make something of himself and not let down the regiment commander’s cultivation grace.
Understanding their boss’s meaning, no one was foolish enough to jump out and make trouble for themselves, so the atmosphere at the banquet was especially harmonious.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the officers dispersed. Su Yaoyang led Pi Ruoyu to a small tent, pointed at the pile of documents on the table and said with a bitter smile: “Old Pi, see this? These are all the documents since the security regiment was established these past few months.
To handle this stuff, I’ve gone months without a good night’s sleep. Now I’m handing them to you, and handing the security regiment to you.”
Looking at the documents piled half a person high, Pi Ruoyu couldn’t help but chuckle wryly. “Regiment commander… do you know how Zhuge Liang died?”
“Nonsense.” Su Yaoyang said helplessly: “Of course I know he died from exhaustion, but what can I do?
The security regiment was just established, the people under me are fine for charging into battle, but for handling these trivial matters, might as well kill them.
Now that you’re here, I can hand this mess over to you.
Of course, you probably can’t manage it alone. You can recruit or select a batch of staff officers to help, to make our regiment run smoothly.”
Pi Ruoyu pondered for a moment. “Regiment commander… I do know some people who might make good staff officers.
From what I know, they weren’t doing well in their original units, but I’m not sure if they’d be willing to come over.
How about this: in a few days, I’ll prepare a list for you with their resumes, and you decide whether to recruit them.”
Pi Ruoyu knew very well that Su Yaoyang willing to delegate power to him was a good thing, but he couldn’t abuse Su Yaoyang’s trust. As chief of staff, he had to know what he could and couldn’t do, otherwise there would be problems.
“Very good, it’s decided then.” Su Yaoyang patted his shoulder. “It’s late, go back early to accompany your wife and kids. New arrivals, they must miss seeing you.
Oh, right, the troops set off tomorrow, destination Shanxi.
I’ll give you seven days. In seven days, I want a security regiment development outline and a report on needed improvements.”
Pi Ruoyu smiled faintly: No problem, I’ll look over some materials first, then go back.
After giving the instructions, Su Yaoyang turned and left.
He had just gotten married yesterday, it was the sweet newlywed time, of course he had to spend as much time as possible with his two wives.
As for official business, hadn’t he just recruited a chief of staff? Hand it to him.
Watching Su Yaoyang swagger off, Pi Ruoyu couldn’t help but chuckle wryly.
Working under this regiment commander should be much more enjoyable than before…
