The young major's voice preceded his arrival, booming and full of energy:
"Dad! Mom! I'm home!"
He pushed open the door, casually hanging his general's cap on the coat hook beside the door. Turning around, he saw Yuan Fang and Chen Yang sitting in the living room and paused, momentarily stunned.
Liu Guoqiang glared at him and said in a gruff voice:
"You're a battalion commander now, when will you ever be more composed? Who told you to drive so fast in the barracks? Don't you know the speed limit of twenty kilometers per hour throughout the entire military area?"
The major immediately lowered his head, not daring to breathe. However, Chen Yang noticed his eyes darting around, indicating that he wasn't necessarily afraid inside, just putting on a show to avoid a scolding.
Looks like he's learned from his mistakes! Chen Yang chuckled inwardly.
At this moment, Yuan Fang stepped in to smooth things over, saying:
"Old Company Commander, this must be Zhengfeng! I think he was about five years old when I left the company to go to military academy! He's grown so much! Oh, right, you just said he's already a battalion commander? Like father, like son!"
Liu Guoqiang's expression softened slightly, and he said to Yuan Fang:
"Yes, this kid is now the battalion commander of the mechanized infantry battalion of the 305th Regiment."
After saying that, he glared fiercely at Liu Zhengfeng and said:
"What are you standing there for? Come over and greet Uncle Yuan!"
Liu Zhengfeng quickly stepped forward, looked at Yuan Fang, and called out:
"Hello, Uncle Yuan!"
However, judging from the confused expression on his face, Liu Zhengfeng didn't remember Yuan Fang. Seeing this, Liu Guoqiang said:
"What? Don't you recognize him? When you were three or four, you followed him around like a shadow. That time he took you to steal sweet potatoes from the machine gun company's vegetable garden across the street, and the machine gun company's political instructor came to me to complain. You've forgotten all that, kid?"
Liu Zhengfeng frowned and thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed with delight:
"I remember! You're Uncle Little Fatty! That year, Xin Yao had just been born, and my parents didn't have time to take care of me. You took me to eat at the company canteen every day, right!"
Another person calling him "Little Fatty" made Yuan Fang feel a little annoyed, but the joy of the reunion was even stronger. He smiled and said... "Remember now? Back then, you said the company's food was worse than pig slop, and you insisted I take you to the machine gun company to steal some sweet potatoes to roast. We didn't get to eat any roasted sweet potatoes, but I got three days of solitary confinement!"
"My dad almost beat my butt to a pulp too!" Liu Zhengfeng said with a chuckle. "Uncle Fatty, I haven't seen you in so many years, I almost didn't recognize you! If my dad hadn't reminded me, I definitely wouldn't have remembered! Where have you been all these years? Why haven't you contacted us?"
Liu Guoqiang snorted and said:
"Your Uncle Fatty is quite capable now, he's a captain instructor at Luda Airlines! Or..." "It was Xin Yao who bumped into him; I doubt he'll ever contact me again!"
"Old Company Commander, it's all my fault, please don't criticize me anymore!" Yuan Fang said awkwardly, then suddenly noticed Chen Yang, who had been watching the commotion with a smile, and quickly pointed at him, saying, "There's another guest here! Old Company Commander, please introduce him to Zhengfeng!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Liu Guoqiang also realized that he had been too busy catching up with old friends and had neglected Chen Yang, so he quickly said, "Zhengfeng, this is Chen Yang. Didn't you always want to meet this great hero in person? You've come today!"
Chen Yang stood up and extended his hand, smiling as he said,
"Hello, Battalion Commander Liu!" "I'm Chen Yang!"
Liu Zhengfeng was taken aback for a moment, then quickly extended his hand warmly and firmly grasped Chen Yang's hand, saying affectionately,
"Chen Yang! I've long admired your name! I even made a PowerPoint presentation of the photos of you killing the terrorists on the plane for the guys in the battalion to use as teaching material! It's simply a perfect case study of urban counter-terrorism!"
Liu Zhengfeng became the battalion commander of the mechanized infantry battalion at such a young age. Although Liu Guoqiang's influence played a part, his own qualities were outstanding. He had participated in the International Reconnaissance Competition and won a gold medal. Now, under his leadership, the mechanized infantry battalion was thriving and had become a benchmark for the 305th Regiment. Shortly after the hijacking, Liu Zhengfeng obtained photos taken by the reconnaissance camera on the J-10 fighter jet. He felt a deep admiration for Chen Yang, who had saved his sister's life. Liu Zhengfeng carefully studied the photos and found Chen Yang's series of reactions within a few seconds to be textbook examples. He treasured these photos and compiled them into a PowerPoint presentation, giving a tactical training lesson to the entire battalion. When he learned that Chen Yang was just an ordinary college student, his admiration only deepened.
Chen Yang was slightly uncomfortable with Liu Zhengfeng's enthusiasm, but quickly smiled and said,
"I've long admired Battalion Commander Liu! I believe every male student at Rongcheng University trembles at the mention of your name..."
Chen Yang was referring to when Liu Xinyao first enrolled a couple of years ago. Many suitors harassed her relentlessly, and one spoiled rich kid, oblivious to the situation, even tried to use underhanded tactics on her. In the end, Liu Zhengfeng led a company of soldiers into the Rongcheng University campus, beat the rich kid up, and took him back to his unit. His father, a minor official, had to beg and plead to resolve the matter.
This was a story almost every Rongcheng University student talked about with great relish, and from then on, Liu Xinyao's reputation as an icy beauty with thorns resounded throughout the Rongcheng University campus. Liu Zhengfeng secretly glanced at Liu Guoqiang, chuckled dryly, and said,
"Hehe, this...we'll talk about it another time!"
Liu Guoqiang gave a soft hum, remaining silent. Although Liu Guoqiang had severely reprimanded Liu Zhengfeng for this incident years ago and even sent him to another unit for three months of training, deep down, he still approved of Liu Zhengfeng's actions in disciplining that privileged son of a minor official. Liu Xinyao was his precious daughter, and Liu Guoqiang naturally couldn't bear to see his daughter bullied. However, as a high-ranking official, he had to maintain a facade of respectability.
After everyone sat down, Liu Guoqiang abruptly asked:
"Liu Zhengfeng, it's not the weekend, why did you suddenly come back to headquarters? Didn't I tell you not to come home so often? A grassroots commander should act like one, don't give people cause for gossip!"
Liu Zhengfeng quickly stood up, puffed out his chest, and said:
"Reporting to the Chief of Staff, I'm here to participate in the group army's staff operations training! I had nothing to do after reporting in this morning, so I asked Director Guo for leave."
Liu Guoqiang nodded slightly and said:
"Hmm, sit down!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yang immediately smiled and said:
"Congratulations, Battalion Commander Liu! It seems you'll be changing positions again soon!"
Liu Guoqiang glanced at Chen Yang with some surprise; he hadn't expected Chen Yang to be able to see the intricacies of a simple training session. If Chen Yang were a comrade who had worked in the military for many years, it wouldn't be surprising. But the problem was, Chen Yang was just a college graduate. Therefore, Liu Guoqiang asked with great interest:
"Oh? Xiao Fang, how did you come to this conclusion? Tell me."
Chen Yang smiled slightly and said:
"Uncle Liu, Battalion Commander Liu is a grassroots commander. Normally, he wouldn't be drafted for staff officer training unless he's about to take on related work. And I guess Battalion Commander Liu's next position won't be in the army group. If I'm not mistaken, it will be the Southeast Military Region Command!"
If Liu Guoqiang was only slightly surprised that Chen Yang had guessed Liu Zhengfeng's transfer intentions earlier, then what Chen Yang said afterward greatly surprised him. His interest was completely piqued, and he asked:
"Xiao Fang, what makes you so certain? What's your basis?"
Liu Zhengfeng actually didn't know about Liu Guoqiang's arrangements, so when he heard about something involving his personal development, he also perked up his ears. Liu Xinyao pursed her lips, somewhat disbelieving, thinking Chen Yang was just spouting nonsense again!
Chen Yang, however, confidently said:
"Uncle Liu, it seems I wasn't wrong. Then I must congratulate you in advance!"
Liu Guoqiang paused for a moment, then burst into laughter:
"Little Fang, Little Fang! You really are something!"
Liu Zhengfeng, however, was completely bewildered and asked:
"Chen Yang, what kind of riddle are you playing with my dad?"
Liu Guoqiang glanced at Liu Zhengfeng, secretly shaking his head. While his son possessed exceptional military skills, he lacked political acumen. Even Chen Yang, a college student, understood the situation clearly, yet Liu Zhengfeng was still completely clueless. Chen Yang smiled slightly and said,
"Battalion Commander Liu, after Commander Huang of the Group Army celebrates his birthday next month, he will reach the maximum term of office…"
Chen Yang stopped mid-sentence, giving Liu Zhengfeng a meaningful look. Liu Zhengfeng lowered his head to think for a moment, then suddenly understood, a look of surprise appearing on his face. He turned his gaze to Liu Guoqiang:
"Dad! Has it been decided?"
Liu Guoqiang nodded slightly, his expression towards Chen Yang very complex. He thought that if Chen Yang were born into a prominent family, he would definitely be a political genius. It was just a pity that he came from a poor background, making it much more difficult for him to achieve anything significant.
In fact, Chen Yang didn't need much analysis. The fact that Liu Guoqiang would succeed Commander Huang as commander of the A Group Army after his retirement was something he had already verified in his previous life. Once Liu Guoqiang becomes the commander of the army group, it would be inappropriate for his son, Liu Zhengfeng, to continue serving in the army group. The Southeast Military Region is traditionally Liu family territory, so assigning Liu Zhengfeng to the military region headquarters would be a more reasonable choice.
What seemed like an incredibly simple question to Chen Yang actually made the Liu family—father and son, including Liu Xinyao and Yuan Fang—look at him with new respect. Liu Xinyao, in particular, looked at Chen Yang with complex and subtle emotions.
Liu Guoqiang had long since abandoned his contempt and no longer treated Chen Yang as an ordinary college student. He sat up straight and looked at Chen Yang, asking:
"Xiao Fang, if Zhengfeng goes to the military region headquarters, what kind of work do you think would be most suitable for him?"