Lu Ziqing rolled onto his side and said to Qi Yong, "Have everyone take their positions."
Qi Yong hesitated, "Treating these new recruits is really a bit much. Even if you were to fetch soldiers who had served for two years, they might not be able to pass the test smoothly."
"Xilin has never had anything like an officers’ preparatory course in all the time since it was established. These students are so eager to enroll because they all know it’s a shortcut on the path to becoming an officer."
"With opportunity often comes challenges and risks. Isn’t that right, Lieutenant Qi?"
Once Lu Ziqing said this, Qi Yong had no room left for rebuttal and could only stand straight, saluting, "Yes, sir. I’ll get everyone into position right away."
Duan Chen listened, but his gaze was fixed on the distance where Song Lili and Lin Xinglan had left...
Lu Ziqing caught sight of his deep in thought and strolled over, "What, starting to worry about that little girl now?"
Duan Chen closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, he glared fiercely at Lu Ziqing.
"Glaring at me? Don’t you know why Lin Xinglan cried and begged her father to send her to the military academy? You’ve been pretending every day here. Does it feel good?"
Lu Ziqing scolded Duan Chen with his first sentence,
"Now that such a big change has happened in that little girl’s family, have you given her a word of comfort? Now you show a worried expression, can she even see it?"
"I’m not worried about her. This assessment was planned and arranged by you, so naturally, you’ll be responsible for everyone’s safety. What I’m feeling is a bit of regret..."
"That Tang Xiaohua is going to be harmed by Lin Xinglan."
Duan Chen shrugged his shoulders, his hands in his pockets, and walked away.
Lu Ziqing raised an eyebrow and called after Duan Chen’s retreating back, "I don’t think so! Duan Chen, let’s make a bet!"
Duan Chen stopped in his tracks.
"Bet that your little Lin Xinglan girl won’t harm Tang Xiaohua."
"If I win, you go kiss Lin Xinglan on the mouth! How about that?"
"Lu Ziqing, I think you got up too early and your mind isn’t clear."
Duan Chen immediately bristled.
"Ah, so you’re gambling with the mindset that you’re sure to lose? You can’t even stake a kiss?"
Duan Chen, after all, was a strong and imposing man, and being provoked by Lu Ziqing , he was a bit unsettled, "If you lose, you’ll do three hundred push-ups in front of the whole new recruits!"
The sergeant following the two men listened and couldn’t help feeling that the two commanders were really acting like children.
In recent times, Xilin had become a keyword for many news media, with the President’s two short-term visits leading to much speculation about Xilin.
Many believed that this marked the beginning of substantial development for Xilin, a region that was relatively backward in various aspects and where young people were slowly leaving—an area that might see a new turn of events after President Wen Nian assumed office.
The media’s speculation, as well as the President’s public statements, both skirted around this topic.
This left many people in a fog, including political elites who couldn’t grasp what President Wen Nian planned.
Inside the President’s Office, a septuagenarian sat on a sofa, with short white hair but still looking spry, wearing a simple but elegant black robe.
As soon as Wen Nian finished a meeting and entered, he straightened his suit and reverently bowed to the old man,
"Do you bow to me in the President Mansion?"
"Grandfather, stop joking like that. Did you come here specially today because something happened at home?"
Wen Liangyu was straightforward, not beating around the bush,
"Grandfather is here to ask you if the rumors that you plan to develop Xilin vigorously are true or not."