Do you accept the apology?
On the way back to base, the helicopter co-pilot gave me a thumbs up, and I immediately felt a surge of pride.
Completely unaffected by the anesthetic, I resolved the poisoned building incident in a single day, rescuing thirty soldiers and their commander. Leading my teammates, who hadn't contributed much, to a safe retreat, my quick thinking, courage, composure, and intelligence alone weren't enough. The main reason was the accumulated virtue of the Qi family ancestors and the miraculous power of their bloodline. This is no exaggeration. Think of my second uncle; even the zombie virus couldn't harm him. As a direct descendant of the Qi family, I inevitably inherited this special ability. Anesthetics are nothing to me!
This is talent; most people can't learn it. I was smug, and after getting off the plane, I subtly praised Yu Zhongjian, saying that his physique was quite strong and that it was not easy to wake up in such a short time after being poisoned, but he had still lost most of his fighting ability, which was different from a talented player like me.
He seemed to be in a good mood at the time, agreeing with my statement, which gave me the illusion that "he may be a pervert, but he still has some magnanimity." I was secretly looking forward to soon enjoying the treatment of a returning hero; soon being able to laugh at Han Bo, Zhou Yi, and their bunch of weaklings without restraint; and soon meeting Gao Chen and hearing what he had to say to me.
Unexpectedly, after landing, I only briefly met Gao Chen and didn't even have time to exchange two words before Yu Zhongjian shoved me into the car and took me back to the camp. Medic Cao was ordered to examine me, and after the examination, he said, "Due to limited resources, go back to base. This arm is almost useless."
I thought to myself, how badly could he be crippled? At most, his bones might not have healed properly, and he could just put on a cast and rest. Han Bo and the others were still in shock, Gao Chen was waiting for me to talk to him, I was concerned about the plight of the western survivors, and I wanted to participate in the aftermath of the poison building's handling. Why go back to the base?
But in the camp, I didn't have the final say; Yu Zhongjian insisted on following the doctor's orders.
Strangely enough, while I was busy running around in the poisonous building, I didn't feel any unbearable pain. But after sleeping in the tent all night, my arm ached all night long. The next morning, when Liu Meili and I were packed up and put on the helicopter, I was still wondering if Dr. Cao had done something to me. My right elbow suddenly became red, swollen, and swollen, and I couldn't move it at all. The pain was so intense, it felt like it was seeping from the bone, and it was unbearable.
Before takeoff, Liu Meili held my right hand like an old man, while I slumped in my seat like a salted fish, letting Yu Zhongjian help me fasten my seatbelt, put on my headphones, and even brush the hair in front of my forehead back.
“I’ve already contacted Commander Hu. Someone will make arrangements for you as soon as you get off the plane. Focus on getting better and don’t cause any trouble.” He spoke as if he were lecturing a child.
My eyes were vacant: "Can I say goodbye to Gao Chen?"
"He went to the front line early this morning, let's say goodbye next time."
Next time? He might as well just say he doesn't want me to see him! He's just brushing me off like this; doesn't his conscience hurt at all? But I'm in pain, I'm in so much pain that I quickly lost the will to complain about his scheming or worry about Gao Chen still owing me a word. All I could think about was leaving quickly. The capital might not have miracle doctors, but it certainly has painkillers.
Five hours later, I arrived in the capital. The Langyan Air Base had prepared an ambulance and stretcher for me on the tarmac and rushed me to the hospital. After a series of examinations, I was diagnosed with a dislocated and fractured joint in my right arm, which required surgery.
During the surgery, I was on the verge of death and back again. The anesthesia was completely ineffective. I tried to escape several times and even to punch the doctor, but I was too weak to do so. The various forms of pain and torment I endured will probably haunt me for a year. It was during this experience that I suddenly realized something: the so-called miraculous bloodline that makes me immune to all poisons actually has a medical basis. In folk terms, such people are called "those who don't take anesthesia."
The days of treatment and recovery were extremely difficult; the only comfort was being able to see my family. After three months apart, my parents were in good health and looked well; it seemed they were doing quite well on Mount Jinyin.
I felt sorry for her, but I also received a lot of scolding. My dad chased after the doctor to ask about my injuries, and my mom almost fainted after hearing Liu Meili's account of my experiences on the western front.
"Such a big earthquake and you didn't even tell your parents? If no one had rescued you, would we have even missed seeing you one last time? You broke your arm and didn't come back for so long, and you still dared to run wild outside and get yourself into this state! Dafeng, what were you thinking? Did you only want to tell us the good news and not the bad, afraid that we couldn't bear it?" My mother slapped my leg. "We can't bear it if you don't tell your parents about your injuries and pain!"
Seeing that she was getting emotional and looked like she was about to cry, I quickly changed the subject: "It's okay, it's okay. You're bound to have good fortune after surviving such a disaster. I'm very lucky. How are you and Dad doing lately? Is everything alright up in the mountain?"
"I'm worried about you every day, it's like I'm living ten years less!" She wiped her eyes and said, "Nothing's wrong on the mountain, it's just that your dad is anxious and wants to know when we can go back to Huaicheng. I told him before that when you come back with the main group, we'll all come back together, but it seems that's not going to work now. Let's leave once your injury is a little better."
"There's nowhere to stay in Huaicheng now. If the young men don't come back, who will clean up the construction debris and build houses?"
My mother said matter-of-factly, "Isn't one of the compensations we're asking for the reconstruction of the veterans' home and our house? Can a few kids build houses and buildings on their own? Of course, we need equipment and workers. Let the base leaders take care of this. They owe us!"
I thought about it and it made sense. Building a two-story house isn't difficult, but the ten-story building for veterans requires piling, digging foundations, installing scaffolding, and doing landscape design—things we don't know how to build. Since I'm back, I need to talk to a few base commanders and get some preparations for going home in advance.
Binbin was at the Wolf Smoke Base. He rushed over as soon as he heard I was hospitalized. I hadn't seen him for months; he was tanned, taller, and stronger. I asked him and found out he could visit his dad once a week, and spent the rest of his time with the reserve youth corps at the base. He excitedly told me he had shot targets, thrown grenades, and made several new friends.
I watched him chatter on and on, and reminded him to calm down: "Don't get so carried away that you forget about your dad. Did Chief Hu keep his promise to your uncle? Did he do anything inhumane to your dad?"
"No, sister, don't worry, Uncle comes to supervise every week!" Binbin was clearly very satisfied with life at the base. "Those researchers also want to cure my dad, they take very good care of him, and the research process is open to the family. I think it's just drawing blood and stuff. My dad is a treasure now, and his living conditions are much better than here."
Looking at Binbin's carefree attitude, I don't know how to educate him. The so-called disclosure of the research process to the family is just a nice-sounding excuse. Do you think they would let you know about the shady things they want to do behind the scenes? But then I thought, my second uncle is only a breath away from being dead. As long as they don't dismember him, whether it's research or treatment, it's better than letting him lie in bed until he dies.
After Binbin, visitors came in droves. I don't know what the people who stayed behind have gone through these past few months, but everyone had a pass, making it very convenient for them to enter and leave the base. People like Sister Wei, Chen Ruonan, and Qin Yun came to visit genuinely, bringing me food, chatting with me, and even discussing taking turns staying to care for me. People like Zhao Zhuobao, Wu Bainian, and Yuan Xikun came under the guise of visiting; they would visit for a minute, then wander around for two hours, disappearing as soon as they saw me. It seems they know this Wolf Smoke Base better than I do.
Liao Donghui, on the other hand, stayed behind and reported his work to me. After we left, he didn't rest. He actively contacted various bases and obtained multiple passes from high-level leaders under the guise of coordinating compensation materials. He often took the remaining personnel to the bases to exchange for supplies, eat good food, and experience the atmosphere of big cities, which made everyone feel unruly.
"The supplies for Commander Hu and General Shen are almost ready, and they can be transported to Huaicheng in batches as soon as you give the order, Dr. Qi. However, there are some difficulties with Commander Shan of the Red Star Base..."
I sat up abruptly: "What difficulties could there be? Shan Kelun made a good promise to me back then, and I've already got the approval. Does he still want to renege on his promise?"
Liao Donghui was also very troubled: "It wasn't Base Chief Shan, it was Deputy Base Chief Xiao who was causing trouble."
"The person surnamed Xiao is in charge of people, not supplies. What right does she have to obstruct things?"
"She's in charge of the supplies. I went there five times, and four times I couldn't find her. The only time I did find her, she made all sorts of excuses. She didn't even look at the approval documents and just dismissed me with a 'I don't have time today'."
I knew the Xiao sisters wouldn't let this go; they were waiting for me here. Xiao Lu played her hand well; she put me in a difficult position without even showing her face, leaving me unable to reason with either side. Going to Shan Kelun, he readily granted the approval; going to the supplies management office, they either didn't have time or gave me the runaround. Such a large quantity of supplies isn't urgent; slowly gathering them, even if it takes a year or two, will only hurt us.
After Liao Donghui left, I pondered this matter for a long time. To resolve it, I'll probably have to go to Xiao Lu's place again.
I have a pair of rivets in my right elbow joint. The doctor said they can be removed in a year, and if the recovery goes well, they won't affect the arm's weight-bearing capacity or flexibility in the future. However, a side effect is that rainy days might be a bit uncomfortable. I was very happy to hear that. There are hardly any rainy days these days! It only happens once or twice a year, so I don't have to worry about the side effects at all.
Ten days after the surgery, my right arm was fitted with a professional-grade fixator, and the doctor agreed to discharge me. The first thing I did was exchange thirty kilograms of rice for two bath tickets. My mom put plastic wrap around my arm and took me to the bathhouse at the facility for a good bath. As I walked out, I passed the full-length mirror by the bathroom door and was startled by my unfamiliar reflection.
Her hair was long enough to reach her earlobes, her bangs covered her eyes, and her chin was so sharp it could be used as a screwdriver. Her skin never seemed to lighten no matter how much she washed it; it wasn't quite bronze yet, more like a wheatish complexion. The dry skin on her lips had peeled off, revealing small cracks. No wonder it hurt so much when the steam hit them in the shower earlier.
My nose bridge is higher, my eyes are bigger, and after studying it for a long time, I concluded that I've lost weight.
My mom stood beside me, heartbroken: "You're not allowed to run anywhere anymore, absolutely not allowed to run around again. You've lost all the flesh on your body, you can hardly tell your chest and back apart, your ribs are so prominent they look scary! You've lost at least twenty pounds, how long will it take for you to recover?"
I said, "Great, I've successfully lost weight."
My mom snapped, "What do young people know? All you ever think about is dieting! You're not even married or have kids yet, how can you be so weak and sick! Come on, let's go to the base canteen and get some pork. We'll make dumplings for you when we get back to the mountain tonight!"
I'll have dumplings, but I have important business to attend to. Since I've just had a shower and feel refreshed, this is the perfect time to visit friends and family, socialize, or negotiate.
Without a guide who could show me my face, I only realized how complicated the procedures were when I arrived at the Red Star Base for the second time. At each checkpoint, I had to get out of the car for inspection and have my pass checked. The 20-kilometer distance between the two bases took Liao Donghui and me an hour to drive there.
Upon entering the main gate of the base, I immediately registered to see Deputy Base Commander Xiao. The staff on duty asked if I had an appointment. I said yes, and they asked what my relationship with her was. I said we were relatives. The staff then began to relay the message through the intercom system to the base center.
After waiting for twenty minutes, news came from the center that Deputy Base Commander Xiao had agreed to meet with his relatives.
I knew she would agree. Having lived to such an old age and held such a high position, she'd probably never suffered any injustice in her life. To be humiliated and lose face at the hands of a nobody from such a small place like me was something she'd been holding a grudge against. While withholding supplies was certainly one way to retaliate, nothing beats a direct, satisfying slap in the face.
Having no choice but to submit to your official power and deliver myself to your door for you to beat, aren't you feeling excited, thrilled, and relieved?
When I saw her in Xiao Lu's office, the politeness and enthusiasm I had shown during our first meeting were gone. She was still impeccably dressed and exuded an air of elegance, a far cry from the disheveled state I had once left under the bed. Sitting behind her desk, organizing documents, her face was frosty, and she didn't glance at us for a long time.
Liao Donghui, a local civil servant, was meeting a high-ranking official from a ministry for the first time. His usual quick wit seemed rather dull, and he awkwardly gave a forced laugh: "Hehe, Deputy Base Chief Xiao, we are the survivor team from Huaicheng. It's our first time visiting you, and we brought some local specialties from our hometown. Please accept them."
I glanced at the bag of rice weighing 100 jin (50 kg), two buckets of salad oil, and a packet of dried tangerine peel candy next to the sofa, and thought to myself, "Weren't these all stolen from General Shen's private warehouse? Where is the Huaicheng specialty?"
Xiao Lu half-raised her eyelids, gave us a cool glance, stared at me for a moment longer, snorted, and continued with her work without saying a word.
Was she waiting for me to apologize? I laughed, put my arm around her right arm, and walked to her desk, saying, "Deputy Base Commander Xiao, long time no see. Do you still remember me?"
She didn't change her expression, giving me a cold look: "You still dare to come."
"Hey, what are you saying? I had no choice but to come. I acted rashly back then, so I've come to apologize to you."
“No need.” She tapped her fingers lightly on the table and said calmly, “You broke into the base, committed fraud, arson, assault, kidnapping—all serious crimes—and have been on the run ever since. Since you turned yourself in today, I'll consider it a voluntary surrender. As for an apology, go to the base's disciplinary center and talk to the police!”
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly banged on the table twice. The door immediately opened, and two guards rushed in, pointing two batons at me and Liao Donghui.
"Arrest this suspect and send him to a correctional facility!"
The unexpected turn of events left me stunned for a moment. I had thought she wanted to slap me in the face to vent her anger, but I never expected it to be in this way. Her quick agreement to see me was clearly a trap.
Liao Donghui, terrified, raised his hands: "Calm down, Deputy Base Commander Xiao, things aren't as you think. Please give us a chance to explain. Base Commander Shan... Base Commander Shan has already reached an agreement with us. There's a misunderstanding here!"
Mentioning Shan Kelun only made things worse, as Xiao Lu became even more assertive: "I don't care what deal Shan Kelun made with you, I have the right to deal with anyone or anything that threatens the base's security. I am a witness to all the crimes you've committed! Arrest him!"
Two guards pulled out handcuffs and approached me. I sighed. I'd only said two sentences; how could things have come to this? This was far too careless—I'm referring to Xiao Lu. If you're going to trap someone, how can you give a terrorist so close? Did they see my disabled right arm and limited mobility? Far too careless!
Without a second's hesitation, I leaped onto Xiao Lu's desk, kicked her in the chest, knocking her over, and then jumped down. A butterfly knife slid from my left sleeve, and I knelt on top of her with one knee, the tip of the knife aimed straight at her throat.
"Ah!" Xiao Lu's face didn't just turn pale; her features were practically distorted. Her eyes were filled with nothing but terror and disbelief. Yes, at the Red Star Base, her headquarters, guards were everywhere, and her people covered the entire area for miles around. How could she have imagined that this "turtle" would be so audacious as to bite someone?
Before I came here, I never intended to take action. I planned to sincerely apologize, seek forgiveness, and have a proper discussion. But she suddenly wanted to arrest me. I couldn't just surrender without a fight, could I? The base's disciplinary center didn't sound like a legitimate national institution.
Everything happened so fast; in the blink of an eye, Xiao Lu's life was in my hands. Taking advantage of everyone's momentary daze, I wrapped one arm around Xiao Lu's neck, the blade pressed against her cheek, and with a swift movement, lifted her halfway up, quickly moving behind her. Using the table as cover, I completed the series of kidnapping maneuvers with fluid grace. If my right hand weren't injured, I could have made the pose even more elegant.
The guard yanked off his handcuffs, drew his gun, and shouted, "Put down your weapons, release the hostage, or you're not getting away!"
I hid my head behind the desk cabinet and sneered, "I can't escape, and neither can Xiao Lu. If you don't want me to slit her throat, back up! Back up to the door!"
Liao Donghui squatted down beside the sofa armrest as soon as I jumped onto the table, not uttering a sound and not daring to raise his head.
Hearing the commotion, the guards in the corridor drew their guns and moved to secure the door with two layers of protection, so tight that not even a fly could get out.
"Liao Donghui, come here!" I shouted impatiently. They were about to arrest us, and he was still cowering there, too afraid to move. How could that be acceptable?
Liao Donghui was trembling like a leaf, clutching his head as he looked at me from the side of the table: "Dr. Qi, what...what are you doing? Don't be impulsive!"
"Come here!" I glared. "Come here and pick this woman up, and hurry up, or we'll both die here!"
The guard didn't retreat; instead, he moved forward, trying to find my air defense. I saw his feet under the table, and the knife made a cut along Xiao Lu's cheekbone.
"Ah! No, no!" Xiao Lu cried out in pain, and the guard dared not move again.
Liao Donghui crawled over, trembling, and pulled Xiao Lu up as I instructed. The two of us then held her against the wall like typical bandits, with many parts of our bodies exposed to the gun barrels, making us easy targets for the guards.
But they didn't fire. On one hand, they probably felt we had no chance of escape, and pushing us too far could result in the deputy base commander being injured; on the other hand, Xiao Lu kept screaming hysterically, "Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"
So that's how afraid she is of death. I pulled her neck back forcefully and whispered in her ear, "Deputy Base Commander Xiao, look, I've come in person and brought gifts, showing my sincerity. I now formally apologize to you. Do you accept it?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
