As the two were arguing, a group of soldiers came to assemble. Seeing the situation, they were unsure whether to interrupt.
When Zhu Fanfan saw that his teammates had arrived, he gave his grandfather a cold smile and said, "Wait until I return in triumph, I'll smash you to death with my medals."
Zhu Jiabao retorted, "I'm waiting, you brat!"
Zhu Fanfan snorted and left with his men. As they walked away, Ning Jingyun asked enviously, "Squad leader, do you usually talk to Commander Zhu like that? Doesn't Commander Zhu get angry?"
Zhu Fanfan didn't seem to care much: "We're always like this, we say what we mean and never hide anything. Isn't your family like that?"
They were all from the same compound, and these veterans were supposed to be of high quality and accept new ideas. As far as she knew, many families treated their children like friends, on an equal footing, just like her grandfather. From the time she was born, her grandfather never treated her like a child, and he always discussed things with her.
Ning Jingyun fell silent. Her grandfather was not like that. In her family, boys and girls were treated the same, receiving the same education and training. They had to respect and obey their elders. Her grandfather did not allow any dissenting voices. She felt that her home was another military unit, serious and cold, where she had to be on high alert at all times to deal with any unexpected problems.
Zhu Fanfan said, “Everyone has their own ideas, and every family has its own way of getting along. The main reason is that my father’s generation all sacrificed themselves on the battlefield, and I am the only girl left in this generation. So my family dotes on me a lot. My grandmother was afraid that I would suffer, so she was actually very opposed to me joining the army. When my grandfather said he wanted me to join the army, my grandmother almost got into a fight with him. Later, something happened, and I had no choice but to join. Now I am actually quite grateful to my grandfather because I like this kind of lifestyle.”
This approach is more secure than going it alone; she has not just one grandfather behind her, but the entire country.
Ning Jingyun said with a hint of sadness, “But I can’t even choose what I like. My grandfather said that girls should be strong and brave. He doesn’t let us wear pretty dresses, eat snacks, or waste a single drop of water or a grain of rice. He says we should be thrifty and manage the household well. He always tells us how hard and difficult things were in the past. Regardless of whether we like it or not, he makes us join the army. Even if we are not qualified, he will find a way to let us in to train. He says we should learn to be independent and self-reliant. Unless we are asked to leave the army, we cannot take a second path. My grandfather is actually very… serious.”
Zhu Fanfan smiled: "My grandfather also tells me about the environment we were in back then, how difficult it was that we couldn't even find grass roots, and we didn't even have a tattered cotton-padded coat in the dead of winter. That's the truth, we can't change it, and we're powerless to change it. We admire them for persevering under such difficult circumstances. If we're talking about strictness, my grandfather was definitely stricter with me than with you. The intensity of your training now is about the same as when I was eight years old. No matter how much my grandfather spoils his children, he won't slack off on the training, especially for girls. Many times, girls are at a disadvantage due to their innate physical condition. Your grandfather is right about that."
Seeing that Ning Jingyun was still in a bad mood, she continued, "Actually, many of your strengths are related to your family's education. You've already graduated from university. Do you know that many people are only in junior high school when they are eighteen, and some haven't even been to school at all? You've already surpassed many people. In your family, both boys and girls are trained. It's already impressive that you can keep up with Lan Pan and the others. It also shows that your family doesn't favor boys over girls. Go and see what the girls in the family dormitory are doing. You'll know that your grandfather is already very good."
Ning Jingyun thought about it carefully and realized that it really was true that in the family dormitory area, girls did housework while boys played in the square. They said they didn't discriminate against girls, that girls did housework and needlework, and they didn't even want them to go to school.
Zhu Fanfan continued, "You're eighteen now, you should have your own opinions. You're an adult now, you can wear a skirt if you want to wear a skirt, or wear leather shoes if you want to wear leather shoes. You can decide what you like."
Ning Jingyun was a little uncertain: "But my grandfather won't like it."
Zhu Fanfan said, "No matter what I wear, my grandfather will always say that my granddaughter is very beautiful. He supports whatever I do and says that I have to bear the consequences of the path I have chosen. My future is my own, and I want to take control of my own destiny. Even if things don't go well, I shouldn't blame anyone."
Ning Jingyun asked doubtfully, "Is this okay? Will Grandpa be angry?"
Zhu Fanfan could tell that Ning Jingyun was genuinely confused. She didn't understand what there was to consider: "Life is only a few decades long. What is the meaning of living if you can't be your own master? I have nothing to say if you are suppressing your feelings because you are being filial and don't want to disappoint your grandfather. But if you are afraid of your grandfather's financial sanctions or threatening your future, you can think carefully about what you really want. This time our mission is not so serious, so you can make appropriate changes to yourself."
She felt that Ning Jingyun was a very awkward person. When she was in the army wearing a military uniform, it didn't seem like anything special, but when she was outside, her style of dress was more mature. She was clearly an eighteen-year-old girl, but her appearance was still the kind that was more sweet. She dressed herself up like a thirty-year-old homeroom teacher, which was quite incongruous.
Ning Jingyun listened quietly without saying anything. She had become accustomed to the education she had received over the years, and the thought of changing it filled her with panic.
Lan Pan spoke frankly: "If your grandfather really cares about you, he will respect your own decisions instead of trying to decide your life."
Tong Ze couldn't help but exclaim, "We physically strong people can actually persuade others now!"
Lan Pan interjected, "When did I advise anyone? I just can't stand her clingy nature. If she wants to rely on her grandfather's influence to rise in the military, she should be a good girl and listen to her grandfather. If she wants to be herself, she shouldn't be afraid of threats and sanctions from her elders. What is she agonizing over? Isn't it simple?"
She knew she had established herself here entirely on her own merits. She wasn't afraid of anyone. Her grandfather had always favored boys over girls and kept denying her, but she still managed to break through. If her grandfather dared to ask her to do anything, she would beat that old man half to death, even if it meant not joining the army. Daring to order her around was giving him too much credit.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com