Where's My Mom?

Chen Shuang's move was a little too overconfident.

He was five foot ten, though he claimed to be five eleven.

Chen Shuang was five foot six, though he claimed to be five eight.

Fang Huai helplessly pried Chen Shuang's hand away, preparing to turn around and rub the head of his brother-slash-son.

Are you really that sure I'd be interested in your sister...

Brother Yang turned around with a faint warning in his eyes, telling him not to bully Chen Shuang.

Yet her ears were still bright red with lingering shyness.

Fang Huai swallowed a gulp of pressurized air.

Brother Yang did have some real charm.

If it had been his past-life self, even fresh out of high school, before his family's financial disadvantages had become too obvious, with his height and looks, he would still have been reaching a little above himself.

"I mean... hey, Huang Jiaojiao, don't you know what she's like? I don't want to date her anymore! Lend me your sister!"

Chen Shuang looked startled. As though he had not heard that last sentence, he reached out and struck first, ruffling Fang Huai's hair.

"Oh? The day before yesterday, you were crying into your drink, saying you didn't want her to dump you. Now you've gotten over it?"

"I have." Fang Huai sighed.

"My five organs, six viscera, Ren and Du meridians—everything's clear now."

"Mmm..." Chen Shuang showed a gratified expression. "That woman was no good. I've wanted to say it for ages. Stand firm in your convictions—don't backslide! When you come back after two years in the army, Daddy will introduce you to a good one!"

Then he looked at his sister and immediately became wary again.

"But forget about your aunt! You're still a long way from Yang Guo!"

Calling each other old man—Dad—was an eternal topic among Chongqing boys.

Smack!

Fang Huai slapped Chen Shuang's hand away.

"You're leaving today, for fuck's sake. Can you switch back into human form and talk properly?... Seriously, you're only doing two years?"

This was Fang Huai's usual way of PUA-ing Chen Shuang: curse at him first, then ask a serious question.

"Two years. No way I'm staying longer. If I don't get back soon, my sister will burn through all my family's money. I need to hurry back and make more money with my dad's money."

Chen Shuang said it with a completely serious face, while Fang Huai listened and cursed under his breath.

Other people's brothers were learned and cultured. Mine got drunk and told massage girls to take the civil service exam.

Chen Shuang was also a self-confident business genius.

If the two of them had not partnered up to open a luxury car dealership in his previous life, Fang Huai would not have ended up in such miserable shape.

Though Chen Shuang had put up most of the money.

But given Chen Shuang's family background, even if he had contributed ninety-five percent while Fang Huai had practically taken free shares and only handled sales, it would still have been enough for Fang Huai to lose horribly.

Later... Chen Shuang's family lost everything. Apparently, they borrowed a lot of money to invest in a mine, only for the owner to get arrested. Their house was sold, their cars were sold, and by the time Fang Huai was reborn, they still had not recovered the money.

"Brother, if you can, tell your dad to hurry up and buy two apartments in Shanghai, plus a few storefronts. They're going to rise in value, seriously."

Fang Huai had been reborn, but he did not have any real ability yet. He still had to join the army, so all he could do for now was advise his brother.

But firefighting was all right. They were stationed in cities. Once he got through the stage of leaving the New Recruit Regiment and joining a unit, gained some ability, and got a little startup capital, then as long as he found the right person to help him handle things, making some money would not be impossible.

Chen Shuang nodded without committing either way. Mainly because his influence over his parents was limited right now.

"So you've decided? You're going to Guiyang, firefighting?"

"Yeah. My uncle is over there, so if I need to take leave or something in the future, I'll have a better chance."

"Fuck, I'm jealous. My family doesn't have any relatives in the military, so I can only go be a regular grunt in the Armed Police." Chen Shuang shook his head as he spoke, as though blaming his disappointing parents.

"Internal security and firefighting are both part of the Armed Police system." Fang Huai corrected him, then hurriedly taught him a few things.

"Yours is called internal security, the favored son of the Armed Police system. You've got the most people, and there are mobile divisions under your command. Your duties are varied too. After you enter the New Recruit Regiment, you might be assigned directly to a recruit company. All the veterans are called squad leaders. Don't show off, and don't say your family has money. There are plenty of poor families in the military.

Ask fewer questions about why. Just listen. If you're genuinely sick and feel awful, don't whine. Hold on until you get to the training ground, then pass out on the spot. Your squad leader definitely won't approve your leave, but if a leader sees you on the training ground, they can send you to the infirmary or let you rest back at the barracks."

"I know, I know. Liu Haiyang from our compound was in the army. He told me all that ages ago. Oh, right, you didn't bring anything. My parents packed me a lot of food. Want to take some?"

Fang Huai nodded, then glanced at the gate again.

His parents should both be waiting outside to see him off, right?

"No need. My parents brought some too. They'll hand it to me at the gate later... Eat whatever you bring on the road, especially cigarettes. Once you enter the recruit company, you probably won't be able to get out. Even after joining a unit, you'll still be a new recruit. They won't let you smoke. Smoking will mess up your training."

"All right, I'll go say a few words to my sister."

"Tell her to get your parents to buy apartments and storefronts in Shanghai!"

"Got it." Chen Shuang waved his hand.

A lonely ten-odd minutes passed.

One truck had already left and stopped by the gate.

It should have been for units with very few recruits, like the Forest Gold Corps.

There were not many firefighters either, but they were leaving together with the Guizhou Armed Police recruits.

When everyone assembled, the officers receiving recruits from each unit stood at the front of the formations. Chen Shuang stood in a line toward the right, smiling happily and even making a face at him.

Fang Huai rolled his eyes.

Laugh while you can. You won't be laughing in a few hours.

"Follow my commands! Dress right! Eyes front!"

"Board the trucks!"

A captain and a sergeant at the front directed the green recruits onto the big military trucks.

Fang Huai flashily tossed his Camouflage Bag up, skipped the ladder, grabbed the handrail at the side, and sprang upward...

Awkwardly, he did not make it. His body dangled in midair.

He hurriedly turned back and shouted, "Brother behind me, give me a push! Give me a push!"

The sergeants behind him all laughed. One casually pushed Fang Huai up, then encouraged him in a Jiangxi accent.

"Daring to take a risky path, your courage is commendable. But your ability still needs a little work!"

"Thanks, Squad Leader!"

Fang Huai grinned. He recognized that sergeant.

He was a regular recruit instructor at the Firefighting Training Base's New Recruit Regiment, and one of the squad leaders in Seventh Company, where Fang Huai was headed.

That sounded a little convoluted.

There were not many firefighters. In all of Guizhou, there were only a few hundred recruits each year. They all trained together at the Firefighting Training Base's New Recruit Regiment in the provincial capital. That year... there should have been seven or eight companies, with nine squads in each company.

In his previous life, he had been assigned to Seventh Company.

This sergeant was the longest-serving soldier in their Seventh Company.

In the military, he was also called an Old Ghost, and his status was quite high.

Some officers with fewer years of service—no, the Armed Police called it police service—would also call veteran soldiers Squad Leader.

And though these veterans were a little older, most possessed one or more astonishing skills. Their physical fitness was not nearly as weak as they looked when they ambled around at an unhurried pace.

If one thought about it carefully, it made sense. Aside from the rarely seen First and Second Class Sergeant Majors, even the oldest soldiers were only in their thirties. How weak could someone in their thirties be...

At that thought, Fang Huai could not help touching his lower back and remembering the state his body had been in before his rebirth.

All right, people really did decline quite a bit after thirty.

"Whew! Wheeew!"

The commander at the front, holding a small red flag, blew a slightly leaky whistle and gestured in their direction.

"Rumble..."

Many Liberation trucks started at once and slowly pulled out.

Firecrackers exploded at the gate, while gongs and drums thundered.

Fang Huai sat on a small stool on the right, both hands on his knees and his back straight. He watched outside, hoping his parents would see a mature, steady image of him as he passed through the gate and be reassured.

After saying goodbye to her brother in the vehicle behind, Yang Shaoqing hurriedly chased after them, waving hard.

"Fang Huai! Take care of yourself!"

Fang Huai nodded, waved back, and shouted, "You too. Study hard in college, and when you have time, come to Guiyang and visit me! My phone number hasn't changed!"

Yang Shaoqing's eyes curved into crescents as she pointed at her phone.

"All right, we'll keep in touch!"

Seeing Yang Shaoqing's bright smile, Fang Huai felt invigorated.

After being reborn, many things had begun to change.

As the truck drove out, the bustle around them grew louder. All kinds of parents were mixed together on both sides of the gate, and there were even a few vegetable vendors nearby.

They had a good head for business.

The parents seeing off their troublesome kids had sent them away. Wouldn't a couple buy some vegetables, go home, have a couple drinks, and celebrate?

"That's Cao Yuan's boy! See him? The one sitting up front!"

"Wear your cap crooked and a wife will come quick! Zhang Yang, when you come back, you'll be getting married!"

"Train hard!"

Fang Huai sat upright.

"Kid, listen to the leaders! Get into military academy!"

"I know!" The bespectacled boy beside Fang Huai adjusted his glasses, looking rather proud.

Fang Huai continued sitting upright.

His dad and mom had to be waiting for him outside. He needed to sit straighter.

The boy across from him leaned over the side of the truck and shouted, "Mom! Stop fighting with Dad! If you really want to have a second child, then have one!"

The man below immediately blew up.

"Have my ass! How old are your mom and I? Train hard!"

The truck had already reached the gate, but no one had called his name.

Fang Huai began to panic.

Where's my mom?!

"Mom!" Fang Huai shouted toward the crowd.

"Here!" A woman who had been preparing to head back immediately turned around and answered.

They looked at each other. Neither recognized the other, and both Fang Huai and the woman felt a little awkward.

Fang Huai had no time to be embarrassed.

Holy shit, my mom is gone.

The feeling was surreal. She had nagged him all the way here, but now that her son was leaving, she could not even be bothered to see him off??

She had seen him off in his previous life!

You two changed your faces fast, old folks!

You're the ones who want a second child, aren't you?!

The trucks entered the streets. Fang Huai watched speechlessly as the people ahead beat drums and played music, swaying along as they escorted countless troop carriers full of delinquent youths through town.

Before entering the military, recruits had to wear little red flowers and parade around the nearby streets once, displaying honor and the care of the local government and residents.

They wore little red flowers on their chests when joining the military, and big red flowers when they were discharged. This system probably used kindergarten logic to send people back into simple satisfaction.

The military emphasized just two words: honor.

Outstanding Soldiers got to take military academy exams; Third Class Merit meant evaluations and commendations, learning to drive, and joining the Party; Second Class Merit meant a plaque hung outside your home; First Class Merit got you on television; honorary titles...

In peacetime, earning the highest honorary title of a Military Medal was far too difficult.

Of course, some people lived to receive it, but most lived on in the hearts of countless others.

In ordinary units, earning merit was quite difficult. Usually, one had to place in major competitions or receive it through year-end evaluations.

But firefighting...

Eh?

Mom?

Fang Huai sat under the truck's canopy, lost in thought, when he suddenly spotted his family's little van parked by the roadside.

It was parked quite far away, but he could vaguely make out his dad's melancholy-prince side profile, a cigarette between his fingers.

Fang Huai waved. The van replied with two honks.

A fellow meme guy, huh!

Fang Huai smiled and really wanted to shout, "The king covers the earth, the tiger covers the mountain."

But whether his dad replied, "Chicken stew with mushrooms," or "A dick five feet long," neither answer would suit a father's solemn image.

Forget it. His dad would not know it anyway.

His dad used to watch those joke videos often, but after his mom passed away, he had rarely smiled.

His mom also craned her neck out and waved at him. She seemed to be crying too, wiping her face.

Fang Huai waved again.

He suddenly realized that his dad... was actually pretty handsome. Even his way of saying goodbye was cool.

His mom was too silly... Why was she crying?

Inside the van.

Fang Kaiyang turned to look at Zhang Mei and flicked his cigarette butt out the window.

"Seen enough? That's all there is to him, acting like a fool."

Zhang Mei rolled her eyes at him irritably. "There's an ashtray prepared for you in the car, but you just had to flick that cigarette butt outside? When our boy comes back, if you still haven't quit smoking and dare smoke again, I'll have him put out your cigarette with a High-Pressure Water Gun!"

Fang Kaiyang chuckled. "I'll quit, I'll quit."

The Fang family's hierarchy of contempt had formed a perfect loop.