“And so I got a score of 99 against a brat who hadn’t gone through official shooting training; I believed it was going to be a sure win. Who would’ve known, when he picked up his gun, ‘bang bang bang’ he fired, and he got ten bullseyes…”
When Xia Jinyuan was twelve, the father-son duo fought with their techniques; it was either push-ups or hanging horizontal bars; he had always believed the reason because his physical fitness was so good was entirely that he had fought with his old man at home since young.
“I won, he lost, what’s infuriating was that he still tried to deny his loss. I didn’t agree, so he started bawling his eyes out in the shooting range, my father was afraid of us being an embarrassment, so I could only comply. He’s the one who proposed the bet; he was the one that set the rules, and yet he refused to admit surrender at the end; how could I not be mad.”
Xia Jinyuan also remembered that, although it was still a lively memory from the past, however, it was still a memory from the past, from he was fourteen till he was twenty-six this year, twelve whole years had already passed.
“The old man admitting defeat towards his son, you could say I was the first precedent in the military, no matter how I thought it was still embarrassing. In the end, I was forced to agree to his ridiculous demands, even more infuriating.” After he finished sharing his dark past, Supreme Commander Xia replaced alcohol with tea and raised his teacup towards Xia Jinyuan, “Don’t get cocky, I’m waiting for a grandson who would be more fiendish than you, and kick your ass.”
Ye Jian, whose core shook whenever she heard about their dark past, quietly scooped some of the dishes for herself,… a more fiendish kid than Captain Xia, just the thought of it caused her scalp to go numb.
“Dad, relax; with an impressive father here, he won’t have that chance. Besides, even if I lose, there’s still the mother, one vs. two, he’ll definitely lose.”
Supreme Commander Xia downed his cup of tea in one gulp and wasn’t too inclined to acknowledge Major Xia… what a spoilsport!
“Come, Lil’ Ye, replace alcohol with tea and drink with Uncle, regard this as a farewell. I have a meeting to attend to tomorrow, so that I won’t be seeing you off at the airport.” After taking off his military uniform and putting on casual clothes, Supreme Commander Xia, who had returned to his private life, was no longer the high-ranking and influential Supreme Commander who instilled respect in the Generals of the three other armies; instead, he was an elder who was amiable and humorous, she could feel his concern in each and every word.
Captain Xia’s home is very warm, and it was also a home she had yearned for.
They finally finished their meal at 8 p.m., Xia Jinyuan picked up his wallet and went to settle the bill. Meanwhile, Supreme Commander Xia was giving Ye Jian advice, “Honest, steadfast, trustworthy and responsible are the guidelines for men, as a soldier, you not only have to have those qualities, you also need to know how to tolerate, Lil’ Ye, if you know how to tolerate others, then your life wouldn’t go too awry.”
“However, if someone is already stepping on you, and you don’t fight back, that’s not tolerating. Instead, that is weakness. Remember Uncle’s words, as long as you are in the right, no matter what happens, Uncle will be here, so don’t be scared of anything, understand?”
Not knowing why Ye Jian managed to figure out what he meant, but she asked with uncertainty: “Uncle, do you… do you know that something had happened between me and Chief of Staff Du’s precious daughter?”
“Why, are you scared I’ll know? Or are you scared I’m going to scold you?” Her suddenly panicking expression caused Supreme Commander Xia to shake his head as he smiled, “If you have justification, then what’s there to worry about even if I knew?”
“Ah, Six should’ve already told you the things between me and Chief of Staff Du, your attrition with his precious daughter, what’s happened has happened, that’s not a big deal.”
“If she dared pull anything else, Uncle would naturally be waiting, and you…”
Suddenly, an exasperated middle-aged woman’s voice appeared in the private room, “Xia Xinhui, are you inside!” Before he managed to finish his sentence, the Supreme Commander Xia immediately heard what was going on, the smile on his face disappeared. Suddenly there was an imposing look on his face that would stop people from staring at him.
