I Won't Allow Any Stain on My Record

"Fortunately, thanks to my outstanding grades during advanced training and my proactive performance, I was promoted to platoon leader before we left.

It was supposed to be a military exercise.

But at the time, Annam was frequently stirring up trouble along the China-Annam border, carrying out large-scale anti-Chinese campaigns at home, and expelling and persecuting ethnic Chinese residents.

We all knew that an exercise might turn out to be more than an exercise.

I couldn't be sure whether I would make it home safely.

All I could do was... put off our marriage for the time being.

I arrived at the China-Annam border in March 1978.

In February 1979, the war between China and Annam broke out in full.

In fact, I didn't personally take part in the war. In October 1978, before it broke out, I was wounded in a border clash and stayed in Spring City to recover.

In March 1979, the war ended, and I returned to Rong City with the main force.

When commendations were awarded, I received a second-class merit citation.

And because of my outstanding performance during the conflict, I was promoted to company commander ahead of the usual schedule."

At this point, Song Ning sounded a little surprised. "You went from platoon leader to company commander in just over a year?"

Lu Changqing gave a bitter smile and replied:

"Perhaps I was lucky, in a way, to encounter a war like that during peacetime. On the battlefield, there are always more opportunities to earn merit and get promoted! That was why I wanted to go in the first place. Only by going could I have that chance!"

"What... did you do to earn the citation?"

"During a routine patrol along the line, I happened to discover an Annamese communications outpost. I led a team and followed the clues from that outpost to their central station, where we destroyed all their equipment. That rendered over a hundred kilometers of communications lines useless. It would take them a month to rebuild."

Then he pointed to the right side of his abdomen. "I took a bullet here! Luckily, it missed anything vital!"

Song Ning fell silent for a moment, then asked:

"So you were shot last October, didn't return from the border until March this year, and then joined this disaster relief operation in May! And got injured again!"

Lu Changqing smiled. "It had been over six months since the gunshot wound. It had long since healed! I just didn't expect to break a bone this time!"

Song Ning gazed at Lu Changqing for a long moment before speaking.

"Lu Changqing, the next step above company commander is deputy battalion commander. You... only just received an exceptional promotion this year. Forget one year-for at least the next few years, the chances of making that jump... of getting another promotion are very slim! You don't have to push yourself so..."

Lu Changqing's eyes reddened again.

He rubbed his face and shook his head, cutting her off.

"It's not enough! Still not enough! At my rank, I can't find out anything! Years have passed, and my 'mission' has barely made any progress! I know the chances are slim, but slim doesn't mean nonexistent... In any case, I won't allow any stain on my record! Not even a warning!"

As he spoke, he grabbed Song Ning's hand and pleaded:

"Song Ning! You-you said that if I needed your cooperation, I could tell you clearly! I... I hope you won't break off our engagement!"

Some distance away, Gu Zheng, who had been about to approach, stopped in his tracks.

His IV infusion had finished long ago, but Zhou Yunzhi clung to him like a burr, bringing fruit, then soup, and coming into his ward every few minutes.

Unable to stand it, he had slipped out.

Regimental headquarters had kept putting off its decision on Lu Changqing's case. He thought it would be best to ask Song Ning for her opinion in person.

Instead, he had stumbled upon this scene.

"Regimental Commander Gu, they're over there! I'll call them over for you!" said the head nurse who had brought him.

"Don't-"

Gu Zheng hurriedly stopped her. "Never mind. Let's not disturb them!"

With that, he turned and left.

The head nurse glanced in their direction and smiled with her lips pressed together.

"You're right! We came at the wrong time!"

Gu Zheng felt that aching pressure swell in his heart again, while his chest felt horribly tight.

These symptoms had been occurring more and more frequently lately!

And they seemed to be getting worse!

He suspected that his injury wasn't in his head at all, but in his heart-and that it was spreading throughout his body!

Have I got some damn terminal illness...?

Gu Zheng brooded.

So much so that he didn't even hear Wang Ze greet him as they approached each other.

The two of them knew nothing of this.

Song Ning looked at Lu Changqing, gently pulled her hand free, and asked:

"Lu Changqing, you want me to hold off on breaking our engagement, then put in a good word for you when the regimental leaders ask for my opinion-ideally so you can avoid punishment. Is that right?"

Lu Changqing looked embarrassed, but he nodded anyway.

Song Ning shook her head. "If all you want is to avoid punishment, that has no direct connection to our engagement! You didn't violate military discipline. It's only a question of how your personal conduct reflects on you. I believe your leaders can make the right judgment!"

Lu Changqing said anxiously, "Song Ning! Do you really... have to break off the engagement?"

"Yes!" Song Ning said. "Lu Changqing, I know you promised my grandfather you would look after me! But as you can see, I don't need you to look after me, and I certainly don't need this engagement!"

Lu Changqing was about to say more when someone called from a distance:

"Company Commander Lu! Song Ning! So this is where you are!"

Song Ning turned and saw Wang Ze waving at them.

She told Lu Changqing, "I have to give Elder Zhou acupuncture at four this afternoon. It must be nearly time! I'll come see you tomorrow morning about ending the engagement!"

As Wang Ze walked over, he said, "I went to the ward to find you, but the nurse said you'd come out! I was worried you might lose track of time!"

Song Ning glanced at Wang Ze's watch. It was already ten to four. She handed the wheelchair over to him.

"Then please take him back. Sorry for the trouble! I'll head straight over!"

Professor Yang wasn't there for Elder Zhou's acupuncture session this time.

Chief of Staff Xu was, however.

After Song Ning finished the acupuncture, Elder Zhou fell asleep as usual.

Once she was done, Chief of Staff Xu and Song Ning quietly stepped out.

Chief of Staff Xu said he wanted to talk to her.

As expected, he asked what she thought about the matter involving Lu Changqing and Chen Yuting.

Song Ning said that since everything had been cleared up, she wouldn't hold it against them and would respect the organization's decision.

Then he asked about their engagement.

Song Ning said sincerely, "Chief of Staff Xu! I hope the organization can look at this matter rationally, without being influenced by the status of our engagement. That would be the fairest way to treat a soldier."

Comrade Xu praised Song Ning's attitude highly! Believing he had received an affirmative answer, he left thoroughly satisfied!

On her way downstairs, Song Ning heard a woman crying in the second-floor corridor and leaned over to look-

It was Zhou Yunzhi.

The young woman who had looked so pretty and polished earlier was now crying with snot streaming down her face, all composure gone.

The lunch box in her hand clattered as she swung it around, and she kept tearfully complaining about something...

But the person standing beside her happened to be Chen Liang.

Chen Liang stood there like a pillar, motionless and silent.

When Song Ning poked her head out, he merely looked up and silently glanced at her.

The more Zhou Yunzhi cried, the angrier she became.

Noticing someone watching her, she shot a vicious glare over...

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