Zhang Xingguo grew angrier as he listened. "They've got some nerve! They're really giving themselves a hard time. Who gave them the guts?"

“Dad, just like you said, Zhou Shixiong wouldn’t do it. If he really dares, I won’t give him any face at all.”

"I know, whatever you do, Dad will support you. No one can say anything against you."

Lu Jing knew Zhang Hongmei, so she didn't go to the building or the supply and marketing cooperative, but went to the free market instead.

The group of five made a round of shopping, and Zhang Hongmei ordered 500 jin of dried shrimp and 500 jin of seaweed to improve the soldiers' living conditions.

"Dad, isn't this too much?"

"It's alright. If necessary, have Wang Hua and Xu Liang drive over. Bring more; what you bought is enough for the garrison there to eat for a few meals."

“Okay, even if it’s a donation from the service company to them, we’ll still order more and send out two cars, all made with local products.”

Lu Jing, go back and call Huang Yanqiu to inform her to settle the account.

"Yes, I'll arrange it." Lu Jing knew Zhang Hongmei's temperament; she always wanted things arranged immediately.

"Remember not to bring much else, just dried shrimp. It has to be dry, otherwise it will go bad before it arrives. Also, dried fish, I just saw it."

"Yes, I understand."

"Dad, let's eat out. Let's not go to a restaurant, let's just eat at a local villager's house by the sea, okay?"

"Fine, whatever you say."

Zhang Hongmei lowered her head dejectedly. "Let's go back. Grandpa is still at home. We might as well bring him out too."

Zhang Xingguo just laughed. When they returned, Lu Jing went to make arrangements, while Gan Lu and Liu Xu stayed with Zhang Hongmei.

Gu Chuanming came downstairs. "I was wondering if you weren't coming back for lunch."

"Grandpa, you know me best. I really did have that thought."

Zhou Shixiong also came out and glared at Zhang Hongmei, saying, "Even if you don't like her in the future, you can't be so disrespectful to her. She is still an elder."

"I'll treat him as someone I hate. From now on, I won't let him appear in front of me when I'm around."

"Why? You're not that kind of person."

"Uncle, I think you must know about the Cui family's special ability, right? I have it too, so I'm very sensitive to other people's good or evil intentions towards me. Should I greet someone with a smile if they have ill intentions towards me?"

Zhou Shixiong frowned and asked, "Hongmei, how did you know?"

“I didn’t know this before I went to the US. I could sense if someone was hostile to me. I didn’t know what was going on back then. It was only after I met Huang Meihua in the US that she told me about it.”

"Hmm, Huang Meihua? I see, she's a pretty and assertive girl."

Zhang Hongmei had very complicated feelings towards Zhou Shixiong. He genuinely meant her no harm, and he said what he truly thought.

"Are you going to eat or not?" Gu Chuanming glared at Zhang Hongmei. This girl would say anything.

After lunch, Zhang Hongmei went upstairs and told Zhang Shouyi everything about her meeting with Xiao Manshan that morning.

Zhang Shouyi broke the pen in his hand. How dare he plot against his son and look down on his own father?

"Xiao Li, come in."

"lead."

"Go and bring me the appointment letter."

Xiao Li looked at the appointment letter and saw that the deputy commander had been directly promoted to commander. He had been promoted by half a rank.

They directly issued Xiao Manshan a retirement order.

Zhao Ziyang was given an appointment letter as deputy commander; their previous positions were filled through a recommendation system.

"Send it directly to the military headquarters, and let Jia Chongshan and Zhao Ziyang take up their posts immediately."

Send someone to deliver it directly to Xiao Manshan.

"Yes." Xiao Li took it and went straight to the military headquarters.

Zhang Shouyi told his wife about his recent appointment. He felt much better afterward. This was just the beginning; he would immediately arrange for someone to investigate Xiao Manshan and make him nothing.

"Xiao Liang, come in."

"lead!"

"Send people to the Southeast Military Region to conduct a comprehensive and detailed investigation of Xiao Manshan."

"yes."

When Zhang Hongmei saw Zhang Shouyi's letter, she was happy. It wasn't that she was being unreasonable, but she just couldn't tolerate someone who was malicious towards her family.

Meanwhile, Xiao Manshan took his three granddaughters back to their residence, dismissed the three girls who dared not utter a sound, and sat down in his room, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

No one has ever been so disrespectful to me before. How dare a mere girl like her have such audacity? With Zhang Shouyi's backing? Gu Chuanming's backing?

But no matter who it is, this feud has been formed.

In the afternoon, Lu Jing, Wang Hua, and Xu Liang had all made arrangements and were just waiting for the car to arrive from the capital.

Zhang Hongmei was quite satisfied with the dried goods they had purchased. She was thinking of sending another truckload to Liujiatun in a while, so that they could have a change of pace.

In the evening, the instructors still took the children out for exercise. The four of them also went for a walk on the beach.

"It's so much better here, it's comfortable and not stuffy. Hongmei, are you still unhappy? From now on, you can do whatever you want. That's right, with me, your grandfather, and Shouyi, who would dare to give you a hard time?"

"Uncle, I'm fine now. It's not worth it. Who is he? Is he worth my concern?" He'll be nothing to me soon enough, not worth my attention.

It was quite funny to see the children lined up in a row. But they were all in pretty good physical condition.

When they got home, they went to rest. Zhang Hongmei still gave Zhang Xingguo and Gu Chuanming each a glass of water.

When I got back, I gave each of the five of them a cup. After a night of cultivation, I felt I had gained a little more strength.

I was still going downstairs to exercise when Xiao Manshan suddenly barged in.

Zhou Shixiong looked helplessly at Xiao Manshan, whose eyes were bloodshot, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Two military personnel followed him in and saluted Zhou Shixiong, Gu Chuanming, and Zhang Xingguo.

"Boss, this is the transfer order signed by the second leader."

Zhou Shixiong took it and glanced at it, then closed his eyes briefly.

Zhang Hongmei sensed that he was genuinely angry, but what did it matter to them whether he was angry or not? His conduct was his own business, and she would absolutely not tolerate it.

Zhou Shixiong handed the transfer order to Gu Chuanming.

"Alright, Jia Chongshan should be promoted too."

Zhang Xingguo glanced at it and handed it to Zhang Hongmei.

"Dad, is this a transfer order?"

"yes."

"Sir, why? You just agreed?"

Zhang Hongmei watched Xiao Manshan with great interest. Was this some kind of attempt to sow discord?

“Manshan, you’re getting old. It would be good for you to retire and enjoy life properly.”

"Boss, I'm not convinced."

Gu Chuanming smiled. "Not convinced? What makes you not convinced? Tell me."

"Why did you give me a transfer order? Why? I could work for another ten years."

"You think this means you're disobeying orders from above?"

"Should I file an appeal?"

“Okay, we’re all here. Maybe my status isn’t high enough, so you can appeal to Zhou Shixiong.”