A drama queen meets a con artist.
The scorching sun baked the earth, and cicadas chirped tirelessly everywhere. On the training ground, Gao Junxiao, wearing sunglasses, sat on the high platform as usual, leisurely waiting for his group of "little brothers". Lu Xian was behind him, fanning him with a fan.
As the soldiers entered the drill ground in twos and threes, they saw their officers already waiting for them with smiles. They quickly huddled together, the clanging of their boots and spurs filling the air. Before the officers could even speak, everyone had already lined up and were counting off in unison: one, two, three, four…
"Oh, everyone's so self-disciplined now. Looks like copying military discipline wasn't a waste of time." Gao Junxiao stepped down from the platform and inspected everyone's posture. Wherever he went, everyone stood as straight as a pine tree. He was very satisfied with the training results.
Maintaining team discipline is a scientific issue; you can't force people to obey forever. The core of maintaining discipline lies in the distribution of benefits, and how to distribute benefits tests the commander's political acumen—whether they can resolve the fundamental contradictions while simultaneously manipulating the team.
However, he prefers to do things first and then shout slogans. For example, when military pay is issued on the 5th of each month, each person signs in with their own fingerprint and receives their actual pay. He never engages in activities such as receiving pay without working or exploiting soldiers. Furthermore, he has a good grasp of human nature. Under normal circumstances, if you respect others, you will receive respect in return.
After making a round, Gao Junxiao returned to the high platform and began to praise his younger brothers. The soldiers in the integration phase had made great progress and had great potential to become an excellent army in the future.
After being praised, the soldiers remained expressionless and motionless, probably because they were afraid of being punished again. After all, no one wanted to copy military regulations with a flashlight in the middle of the night. It's just standing at attention, right? They're used to it now.
Looking at the neatly lined-up soldiers below, Gao Junxia felt it was time to shout out a slogan: "We've only known each other for a short time, and you may not know me very well yet. I want to make it clear that I dislike three things: first, I don't like withholding military pay; second, I don't like abusing soldiers; and third, I don't like things not being done perfectly. So today, we won't practice military posture; let's practice something else."
"First time running, hmm... let's do 5 kilometers, no weights, 20 minutes time limit. One lap around a standard track is 400 meters, so 5 kilometers is 12 and a half laps. Good luck everyone." Gao Junxiao thought it was better to keep the first training session light.
At this moment, he felt Lu Xian's resentful gaze. Gao Junxiao chuckled. This kid was still brooding over the 20-kilometer outdoor weighted training he had made back then. Later, during the Northern Expedition, the daily marches were more than 20 kilometers. He should be grateful for Lu Xian's unkindness during training.
"Alright, this kid isn't very bright," Gao Junxiao kindly explained to Lu Xian. "Those people are of varying ages and have different levels of physical strength and endurance. Let's test them first. In the end, everyone will have to pass the 20-kilometer test. Don't worry, I won't hold back."
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiancai regained his smile, while the audience below looked like they were about to cry.
“Don’t feel wronged. The more you sweat today, the less you bleed tomorrow. Nobody wants to be cannon fodder or a sitting duck on the battlefield, and neither do I.” Gao Junxiao changed the subject and said, “Ten people in a group, line up.”
Once everything was ready, with a crisp whistle, the runners on the starting line shot forward like swords released from a bow, and the soldiers watching nearby immediately erupted in cheers...
Finally, it was the turn of the last group of ten. As the final group, everyone was eagerly waiting for the whistle. Gao Junxiao took off his sunglasses and handed them to Lu Xian. Suddenly, he addressed the group, saying, "The weather is nice today. I'll lead you guys on the run, since you're the last group."
The soldiers didn't pay much attention at first, probably thinking that their commander was just there to boost morale and wouldn't actually run the whole distance. But Gao Junxiao never played by the rules. Without even removing his belt, he flashed past everyone's eyes as if riding on a breeze at the sound of the command.
The soldiers, who had been looking forward to it, became even more excited, shouting encouragement at the top of their lungs. The younger brothers behind Gao Junxiao were not to be outdone, gritting their teeth and trying their best to catch up. However, the 3,000-meter mark was a hurdle. Even if they had good stamina, they would be completely exhausted after the 3,000-meter mark, and all that was left was mechanical running.
The gap between the soldiers and Gao Junxiao widened visibly. After Gao Junxiao had run more than half a lap behind them, he ran back and, holding his stopwatch, kindly reminded them, "You still have 3 minutes to run three laps. Tsk tsk, even an old man taking a walk isn't this slow. Why are all the kids these days so weak?"
After mocking Gao Junxiao, he distanced himself from the others and easily sprinted towards the finish line. Those who could still hear their superiors began their sprint. Gao Junxiao, already waiting at the finish line with a stopwatch, didn't even blush or pant, acting as if nothing had happened.
A crisp, sharp whistle rang out, and those who crossed the finish line collapsed to the ground, sweat dripping from their flushed faces as they gasped for air. Those who hadn't crossed the line struggled to run across before collapsing to the ground, panting heavily.
"Anyone who didn't reach the finish line within the last 20 minutes, do an extra 100 push-ups. The first group will start immediately." Gao Junxiao's devilish voice exploded in the soldiers' ears again. "I know your throats are burning, your ears are ringing, and your calves are cramping, but if you can't outrun the enemy on the battlefield, you'll be taken prisoner."
Veteran soldiers who had experienced war knew what fate awaited prisoners of war, and even new recruits had heard of it. Meanwhile, the orderly had already prepared water bottles and distributed them to everyone. The soldiers received the bottles with trembling hands; the lukewarm water, coupled with the governor's pertinent words, was just right.
"Xu Dongsheng." Gao Junxiao personally handed Dongsheng a water bottle. "18 minutes and 40 seconds, not bad. You didn't embarrass your Instructor Liu. Last time he called me, he rambled on and on about how you are a good prospect who didn't rely on connections, and told me to nurture you properly."
Since Xiao Xu was put in solitary confinement, he has become much more obedient, but he still needs to be polished. Gao Junxiao's words may have touched a nerve with Xiao Xu. He pursed his lips, and there seemed to be tears glistening in his eyes. He barely stood up and gave Gao Junxiao a military salute.
“Your Instructor Liu has high hopes for you! Starting today, I appoint you as the official captain. If anything goes wrong again, I will only hold you accountable.” Gao Junxiao ignored Xu Dongsheng’s surprised look and continued, “Captain Xu, you watch them do 100 push-ups. The rest of you stay put and watch. You will continue practicing military posture in a while.”
Upon hearing this, a chorus of groans erupted across the training ground.
The afternoon sun was no longer as harsh as it was at midday. Watching his younger colleagues standing obediently at attention, Gao Junxiao took a break to go back to his office to handle some official business. As soon as he returned to the office building, he received a letter from his secretary.
The envelope clearly stated "To Inspector Gao." Gao Junxiao looked at the neat handwriting on the envelope, thanked the secretary profusely, and then strode into his office, locking the door behind him.
He opened the envelope with great anticipation, only to find it completely empty except for a 10-yuan note. Why wasn't there a note this time? Disappointed, Gao Junxiao stuffed the note back into the envelope. Then, on a whim, he took out another note, put it in an empty envelope, and slipped in a note he had just written.
Ring ring— Ring ring—
Just then, the phone on the table rang. Gao Junxiao didn't have time to apply glue, so he had to answer the phone first: "Hello, who is this?"
"I am He Qingcheng." Gao Junxiao was so shocked by the other person's identity that he couldn't speak. How did she know his office phone number?
Seemingly without waiting for Gao Junxiao's response, He Qingcheng directly stated her purpose: "Supervisor Gao, don't bother returning the money. I'll say it again, I was just treating a friend to breakfast. Don't make such a fuss. You've been sending letters to our newspaper non-stop since my first day here."
The sound of a table being slammed came from the other end of the phone. Even through the phone line, Gao Junxiao could feel He Qingcheng's anger. After gathering his thoughts, he replied, "Ms. He, we are friends, but I can't stand it when a lady treats me. It's too undignified. What will my subordinates think of me?"
"Supervisor Gao! You're a progressive revolutionary soldier, so why do you think ladies can't treat others? If I were a man, would you still have this concern? My money comes from honest means, not from my parents, so I can use it however I want." He Qingcheng's voice rose, almost cracking.
"Yes, I know it's not easy to make money, so why don't you spend it on yourself?" Gao Junxiao smiled brightly, as if he could see Miss He's angry face contorted with rage, which would probably be quite adorable.
“You still don’t consider me a friend. I’m sorry, I was just being presumptuous.” He Qingcheng’s tone turned cold. “Then consider this money as compensation for your laundry fee. It was because I asked that child to buy matches that he fell and you went to help him up, getting your clothes dirty. So I’m paying for your laundry fee on behalf of that child.”
"No, I genuinely consider you a friend. There's really no need for laundry fees. I cleaned it all last time, so there's no need for laundry fees. How about this, I'll treat you to breakfast, okay, friend?" Gao Junxiao kindly turned the tables on her, inwardly marveling at the girl's excellent logic.
"Then can I treat this time, and you treat next time, my friend?" He Qingcheng retorted, not to be outdone.
"Do you really have to do it this way?" Gao Junxiao asked with great interest.
"To be honest, this money of yours has had a terrible impact on me. My new colleagues all think it's pocket money you sent me. When I write you notes, people think I'm replying to love letters." He Qingcheng started pounding the table again on the other end of the phone, which made Gao Junxiao feel sorry for Qingcheng's table and thank the table for suffering for him.
"I'm sorry for damaging your reputation. I'll come to the newspaper office and explain to everyone that it wasn't pocket money or a love letter," Gao Junxiao suggested to Miss He in a serious tone, though there was no trace of apology on his face.
“Your arrival will only make things more difficult to explain. The rumors will dissipate on their own after a while, so please don’t send any more. I sincerely thank you for your understanding.” He Qingcheng said through gritted teeth.
"I understand, I must understand. Oh dear, someone's calling me. Sorry, I'm busy with official business. I'll treat you to dinner next time I have time. Goodbye!" Gao Junxiao chuckled and hung up the phone, then quickly sealed the envelope on the table with a sly smile. Actually, he didn't know why he did this; he just did what he wanted to do.
As dusk settled and the western sunset painted the sky with vibrant colors, Gao Junxiao, noticing the time was almost up, gave the order, and his men finally let out a sigh of relief and stretched their limbs. Lu Xian, who had been waiting nearby, whispered, "Brother, it's not very convenient for us to stay in the military camp all the time."
"What's inconvenient about it? It's just a place to sleep," Gao Junxiao said nonchalantly.
"It's inconvenient everywhere. Think about it, if a colonel always lives in the barracks, what will people think of Commander Xiong? What will they think of the Nanjing government? So stingy that they won't even rent apartments to officers," Lu Xian explained with a wink.
"You're just not used to living in a military camp, aren't you?" Gao Junxiao squinted and tapped Lu Xian's head.
“No, brother, what rank are you? I won’t live with you. The secretariat has already booked an apartment for you and paid three months’ rent. You can’t waste taxpayers’ money, can you?” Lu Xian said, taking out the issued key and holding it up to Gao Junxiao’s face.
"Oh, then move as soon as possible." Gao Junxiao frowned as he took the key. His original hotel room was now being used as a liaison station for the reconnaissance company, waiting for Wang Mama to come and deliver the message, so he simply moved to the barracks to live. Anyway, any place where he could lie down and sleep was a good place.
“We don’t have much stuff, and the apartment has everything we need. We can go there after get off work today,” Lu Xian said, seizing the opportunity.
"Okay, go and get ready." Gao Junxiao then remembered something and asked, "Wait a minute, has a telephone been installed in the new house?"
"Okay, okay. This is the new number." Lu Xian said, pulling a phone number out of his pocket. Only then did Gao Junxiao let him leave.
As soon as Lu Xiangang left, a guard jogged toward him as if something urgent had happened. He shouted as he ran, "Supervisor Gao, your family is here to see you. They're at the door, crying very sadly."
The noise was so loud that the remaining young men around him craned their necks in curiosity. "Nonsense! What family? His family's all in Beiping!" Gao Junxiao could only manage a polite smile and ask, "Oh, from Beiping? Male or female?"
"No, it's a young woman with a southern accent, dressed fashionably, and very tall. Hurry up, she's looking for you with tears in her eyes." After hearing the guard's description, Gao Junxiao had a rough idea of which girl it was.
She couldn't help but think to herself: "Go find him, why are you crying like this? What kind of behavior is this? People will think I've done something to you, when he hasn't done anything at all."
Running wildly to the gate, Gao Junxiao indeed saw the heartbroken Miss He standing at the entrance of the military camp. It was the time to get off work, and his colleagues passing by looked over curiously. As the crowd pointed and whispered, Gao Junxiao felt his face start to burn red, and his heart was about to jump out of his throat.
The most unexpected people always appear in the most unpredictable ways. Under immense pressure, Gao Junxiao pulled He Qingcheng aside and whispered, "Miss He, are you alright?"
"You still call me Miss He, sob sob." He Qingcheng lowered her head, her long eyelashes trembling, tears falling like a broken string of pearls.
What kind of drama is this? Is Qin Xianglian looking for Chen Shimei? Gao Junxiao was now in a complete mess. He immediately took off his hat and bowed deeply to He Qingcheng: "Miss He, no, Qingcheng, I apologize for whatever I did wrong. I'm sorry! Please tell me what you need to say. It's really inappropriate at the main entrance."
Before he could finish speaking, Jin Qingcheng's tears started falling even more violently. He Qingcheng said with a sob in her voice, "Since you're busy, I don't have anything else to do, so I'll be going now."
When the girl started crying, he didn't know what to do with his hands. Gao Junxiao felt that he could already foresee that the two of them would have a place in the gossip of the headquarters tomorrow. He sighed and said to He Qingcheng, "Qingcheng, if you wanted to embarrass me, you have done it. That's enough."
"That's not what I meant," Kiyosumi said, taking out a handkerchief to gently wipe the corner of her eyes, her expression one of utter grievance.
"I sincerely apologize to you. How about I treat you to dinner another day? Don't let the boss see this, it won't look good. Wipe your tears." Gao Junxiao had just finished comforting them when a black sedan stopped beside them.
As if on cue, Commander Xiong turned down the window and waved to Gao Junxiao. Gao Junxiao immediately ran over to listen to his advice: "Junxiao, I won't ask what happened. A man should be more magnanimous. Even if it's your fault, you have to admit it. Make up with him, buy him some gifts, and don't be stingy with money."
That's it, he couldn't explain himself no matter how hard he tried. Gao Junxiao nodded resignedly.
"Don't be perfunctory. Girls hate perfunctory men the most. Also, it's hard to find a rickshaw around here. You must personally take her back. This is an order." After Commander Xiong finished speaking, he told the driver to drive away, leaving Gao Junxiao alone in the wind, bewildered.
"Now you know what it feels like to be wronged." He Qingcheng silently walked to Gao Junxiao's side, her tears now gone, leaving only red eyes. "I told you not to mail it, so you had the guards deliver the letter directly to my office. Now everyone's asking me if I have a military officer boyfriend."
"I'm sorry, I was in the wrong first." Gao Junxiao felt that his biggest mistake was provoking He Qingcheng. This woman was a troublemaker who would seek revenge and was definitely not a virtuous and gentle traditional woman.
"Here, take this back. Don't come back." Kiyosumi said, tossing the envelope containing the money to him. "I'm leaving now."
Seeing that He Qingcheng was about to slip away, Gao Junxiao disregarded the proper separation between men and women and grabbed He Qingcheng's shoulder: "You're done making a scene and then you run away. Shouldn't you give me back my reputation?"
"Rumors should be handled calmly. If you ignore them, they'll find something else to talk about in a few days. The more you care, the more they'll think you're up to something." He Qingcheng lowered her body silently, trying to escape the clutches of the rumors.
"But I don't like waiting a few days. How about I come to your office tomorrow to chat with you?" Gao Junxiao threatened with a smile, his grip still tight.
"No, no, no, aren't we friends? How can we hurt each other? How do you want to resolve this?" This woman's face changed faster than flipping through a book. Just a moment ago she was crying and sobbing, but now she was laughing and begging for forgiveness.
“Let’s get on the same page. I’m moving today, and I asked you to buy a part, but you couldn’t find it, and you cried because you were afraid I’d scold you.” Gao Junxiao devised a script for the two of them.
"Why should I help you move? And buy parts? That's weird, isn't it?" Kiyosumi immediately refused.
"My friend helped me move and bought some spare parts along the way. What's so strange about that? If you were a man, would you have any doubts?" Gao Junxiao retorted, using He Qingcheng's words from that morning.
He Qingcheng scratched her head, seemingly caught in his trap, and finally reluctantly agreed. Seeing that Gao Junxiao showed no sign of moving, she asked curiously, "Supervisor Gao, what do you want to do? Everyone's off work now, and there's no one to talk to."
"Wait here, my car will be here soon. And don't call me Inspector Gao, it's too formal." Seeing that the other party's attitude had softened, Gao Junxiao breathed a sigh of relief and made a new request.
He Qingcheng thought for a moment and then asked, "Then can I call you A-Xiao?"
"Okay." Gao Junxiao propped himself up on his arm, his expression unchanged, but a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.
The sky finally darkened completely, and the white lights at the entrance of the command headquarters turned on at the right time. The newly driven car flashed its hazard lights to signal Gao Junxiao and the others to get in. Gao Junxiao took the initiative to open the back door for He Qingcheng, and only after she was settled did he close the door and sit in the passenger seat.
"Ah Xiao, are you taking me back to the city? Just drop me off at the entrance of Fuxing Park, thank you." Qingcheng leaned on the leather seat of the passenger seat and gave the address in a familiar manner.
“Brother, your new apartment is also near Fuxing Park, on the same route as Miss He.” Lu Xian said excitedly.
“It’s on the way, let’s go to my house first. Miss He is here to help me move, right, Qingcheng?” Gao Junxiao asked, turning around.
"You really moved? Should I congratulate you on your housewarming? I didn't even bring a gift, it's so embarrassing to go to someone's house without buying one. How about I go to the department store to buy some gifts?" Qingcheng's eyes lit up when she heard that Gao Junxiao had really moved.
"It's okay, you can owe me the gift later. All you have to do today is clean the house for me." Gao Junxiao shamelessly asked her to do housework, since she had offered herself up.
"You really know how to order people around," He Qingcheng muttered discontentedly, pouting.
Gao Junxiao, with his sharp ears, overheard the girl's complaint: "At home, you rely on your parents; when you're out, you rely on your friends. That's what you said."
"Hehe, do you want to repeat everything I said?" Miss He's tongue was like a sharp sword, piercing through him in a flash.
“Because what you said makes sense.” Gao Junxiao then pushed back with a Tai Chi Bagua Palm, using minimal force to deflect a great weight.
"Then I said we should eat our fill before working, do you think that makes sense?" He Qingcheng asked, tilting her head.
“Of course that makes sense. You know Shanghai better than I do where you want to eat.” Gao Junxiao waited for Miss He to speak with a sincere smile on his lips.
"Go put your luggage down first, and then I'll take you out for something delicious," Qingcheng said confidently, her eyes crinkling with a constant smile.
After they put down their luggage, He Qingcheng mysteriously slipped into a dark alley, and the two grown men could only follow her like bodyguards.
The narrow alleyway, devoid of streetlights, could only be illuminated by the faint glow of the buildings on either side. The dim light cast long shadows of the three people, and together with the soothing chirping of cicadas, created a unique sense of tranquility.
Emerging from the alleyway, a completely different scene unfolds. A narrow river flows through the area, and on the opposite bank, one can see the swaying figures of prostitutes. Men are playing mahjong at the intersection, and even in the distance, smoke billows from a doorway, making it obvious without even thinking that it's an opium den.
"Across the street is a shantytown, full of ordinary migrant workers." Seemingly sensing Gao Junxiao's disdain, He Qingcheng finally spoke up, "There are hidden masters among the people, don't underestimate this place, but I haven't been here since I returned to China."
"Is it really worth it just for a bite to eat? I've heard the security here isn't very good." Gao Junxiao frowned and reminded her, it's too unsafe for a girl like her to come to a place like this.
"Are there any safe places in Shanghai at night? I am fortunate to have been taken care of by the two gentlemen today, which is why I dared to come and try some of their food." He Qingcheng seemed indifferent and even had the mood to joke.
Just as she finished speaking, they heard a hollow knocking sound not far away. Upon hearing this, He Qingcheng immediately called Gao Junxiao and the others to a stall. The wooden board next to the stall read "Chai Pan Wonton".
He Qingcheng, familiar with the process, began ordering: "Grandma Cai, three bowls of large wontons, please."
"It's Miss He! It's been a long time. I haven't seen you since you moved." Granny Cai seemed to recognize Qingcheng.
"It's not moving, it's going abroad to study," Kiyosumi explained patiently.
"Oh, you've studied abroad! Congratulations! I'll give you two more wontons then," Grandma Cai said happily.
Actually, she was quite a gentle girl when she smiled with her head down! He didn't really hear what they were saying after that; he just stared blankly at her hazy profile in the steam room.
"Big brother, my dear big brother, look at your adorable adjutant!" Lu Xian's voice came from beside him.
"What's so great about you? I'm tired of seeing your face every day." Gao Junxiao's face was full of disgust.
“It’s not that I’m tired of him, it’s that there are more attractive faces. Think about Commander Tan’s last order, can’t you carry it out?” Lu Xianyi looked at He Qingcheng meaningfully.
"Xian'er, do you miss him? How about we send you back to Nanjing to keep Old Tan company?" Gao Junxiao threatened Lu Xian with a cold look.
“Brother, these are all the same old threats. Think of something new! Your relentless way of pursuing girls won’t work on Miss He. You had such a good opportunity just now, why didn’t you sit next to her? Why did you feel guilty and sit in the passenger seat?” Lu Xian sighed, sounding exasperated.
"What do you mean by feeling guilty? I'm just trying to avoid suspicion." Gao Junxiao felt that since she was an unmarried girl, he should keep a certain distance. He was afraid that He Qingcheng would hear him lower his voice and scold, "Are you asking for a beating? When did I ever pester you?"
"Brother, why did Miss He bring it herself? Let me do it." Lu Xian was about to say something when He Qingcheng appeared and interrupted him.
"This is some leftover cold noodles from the shop. I seasoned it a little. Please have some to tide you over. Don't mind it," He Qingcheng said, sitting down on the bench next to him.
Gao Junxiao and Lu Xian nodded and picked up their chopsticks. Even though they appeared calm on the surface, their hearts were churning with excitement, as if the cold noodles in front of them were some rare treasure. They took a small bite and tasted it, finding it to their liking. It seemed to be mixed with peanut sauce.
Before long, Grandma Cai brought out three bowls of steaming hot wonton soup, with a few pieces of egg skin floating on the clear broth, and it smelled of noodles.
Qingcheng enthusiastically introduced to them: "Look at their wontons, the skin is as thin as a cicada's wing. That's the result of the owner's decades of hard work. They just dip them in boiling water, and as soon as they float, they have to be taken out. If they're overcooked, the wontons will disintegrate. Once they're fully cooked, the meat filling inside looks faintly visible, just like a beautiful woman wearing a veil, which makes them look very appetizing."
"Sure, sure." After hearing her explanation, Gao Junxiao felt even more hungry.
"By the way, Miss He, what's your home phone number?" After eating for a while, Lu Xian suddenly blurted out this question out of the blue. Gao Junxiao awkwardly kicked Lu Xian under the table. What if the brat was too blunt and she thought he had ulterior motives?
“My older brother’s new phone has been installed and hasn’t been tested yet. He doesn’t have any friends in Shanghai, so he’s hoping Miss He can help him test the phone. Let him call and see if the line is working.” Lu Xian gave a perfectly reasonable explanation with a calm expression.
After hearing Lu Xian's explanation, the doubt in He Qingcheng's eyes disappeared. He nodded to indicate that he could help, and right in front of him, Lu Xian exchanged phone numbers with He Qingcheng, or rather, his number.
Gao Junxiao glared at Lu Xian, annoyed that he had made the decision on his own, but his body still betrayed him as he took He Qingcheng's number. After hesitating for a moment, he said to He Qingcheng, "After you finish eating, I'll have Lu Xian take you to Fuxing Park. I was just joking when I said I'd ask you to clean up, don't take it to heart."
"Brother, the room is quite messy. I'll go back and clean it first, otherwise you won't have anywhere to sleep tonight. Why don't you take Miss He back?" Lu Xian stood up and stood behind He Qingcheng, desperately trying to wink at Gao Junxiao. Before Gao Junxiao could agree, he waved to the two of them and left.
With a beautiful woman by my side, we strolled through the crowd, the night gentle and serene.
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