Hearing that Qi Taiguo was volunteering to take over the mission for Squad Leader Long Shaoguang, surprise wasn’t only on Long Shaoguang’s face—Regimental Commander Mai was also caught off guard and repeatedly emphasized the danger and difficulty of the mission.
"Of course, I absolutely believe in your abilities. The missions you’ve led in the past have all been completed with great success, and this year, you’ve been on a few missions, you see..."
And this is what Qi Taiguo said, "I am a soldier trained by the country, and whenever there’s a threat to national property or personal safety, no matter how great the danger in front of me, I will face it without hesitation."
His sincerity and previous mission achievements eventually made Regimental Commander Mai nod in agreement, and Qi Taiguo requested to bring Wan Dahe along.
After the reassignment of squads, Wan Dahe was placed in his team. He was twenty-five this year, brave and physically fit, and his shooting was accurate, too. What he lacked was military merits, and Qi Taiguo was keen to give him a leg up.
Selection of team members for a mission was mostly up to the squad leader, and Regimental Commander Mai had no objections. Qi Taiguo found Wan Dahe and shared the news, which almost made him jump for joy.
"Commander Qi, are you really willing to take me with you?" Wan Dahe’s skin was dark, and his eyes shone brightly—he was a simple and honest young man.
"This mission is very risky and challenging. If you don’t want to go, we can find someone else," Qi Taiguo said.
"No, I want to go, I really want to go," Wan Dahe hurriedly replied.
Commander Qi was known for his swift and brave actions, and he was strategic. Most of his missions ended with perfect success. Going with him meant sure military honors, and besides, he needed such an experience.
Wan Dahe did not want to remain a low-ranking soldier forever.
Qi Taiguo smiled and said, "Then go back and discuss it with your wife. Comfort her well, don’t let her get scared or worried."
"Yes, sir!" Wan Dahe saluted and then joked, "Should Commander Qi discuss it with your sister-in-law as well?"
Qi Taiguo smiled without replying, wondering whether Cheng Su would get angry knowing that he volunteered for someone else’s mission. She would probably be annoyed, right?
Even if she were annoyed, he would still press on, as he could not hold her back. Watching her progress further and further, if he stood still, he would soon fall far behind, unable to catch up.
Cheng Su had said, she would earn the money, she would have the children; all he needed to do was to pamper and indulge her.
No, that was far from enough. If he couldn’t earn the money, then he would provide her with a strong sense of security, standing behind her so she would have no worries. And such a sense of security and peace of mind required greater military authority.
Indeed, under Old Zhou’s influence during his reassignment and being subtly guided by Cheng Su, Qi Taiguo’s own ambitions had also grown.
For a couple to last long and well, being equally yoked was best, to stand at the same heights.
"Compared to looking up to someone, I prefer love where we meet each other as equals. Old Qi, you’ve got to push on!" Qi Taiguo recalled what Cheng Su had said to him that night, and his heart warmed.
Love where we meet as equals!
If she wanted it, he would give it to her!
Qi Taiguo hurried back home, excitedly telling Cheng Su about the mission he had actively sought, while bracing himself for her annoyance and fury. He had his excuses ready to spill out.
However, upon hearing the news, Cheng Su just said "Oh" nonchalantly and calmly asked, "When do you leave? How many days will it be? Who else is going with you?"
Just like that, no anger, no irritation, no losing her temper, no causing a scene?
The words Qi Taiguo had prepared to appease her, like a cigarette just lit, were snuffed out by her composure.