CHAPTER 220: CHAPTER 220: THE BITTER ARMY CAMP (1)_1

"I heard your daughter and son were also coming to the military camp, so I brought my people over. The grudges between our generation are settled, but the young ones still need to get to know each other, right? In a few years, we’ll be family, so it’s natural to start fostering those connections now." Yu Jiayong’s voice involuntarily lowered, audible only to the two of them.

Shangguan You’s mouth twitched violently. What in the world? Get to know each other? Family? Who on earth wants to be family with you?

"Commander Shangguan, your military camp is in the most perilous part of Beijing, and it’s renowned for its rigorous training. That’s precisely why I sent the three of them here—to toughen their characters and train them well. These three kids will be quite a handful, so please don’t hold back on their account." Yu Jiayong burst into laughter, interrupting Shangguan Hao’s attempt to refuse.

"Really? You’re willing to let them suffer? My daughter and Qing will be trained a certain way; will yours receive the exact same training?" Shangguan Hao retorted.

"Of course, don’t hold back at all. Let’s grind away their spoiled young master and young miss airs." Yu Jiayong laughed heartily, patting Shangguan Hao’s shoulder. His precious daughter was here. Would he really be harsh? What a joke! These were just words for show, things everyone said and heard. Who would actually take them seriously?

"Alright, since Commander Yu has said so, I won’t hold back then." Shangguan Hao laughed heartily and then bellowed.

"Liu Dabao!"

"Yes, Commander!" Liu Dabao gave a military salute and stood before Shangguan Hao.

"For the next half month, all of them are in your hands. Train them just as you do the new recruits. Understood?"

"Yes, Commander!" Liu Dabao replied loudly, saluting again.

"Shangguan Qing, Shangguan You, Gui Jun, Gui Mo, Yu Zifeng, Yu Zijin, Zhang Chenyu, the seven of you, step forward!" Liu Dabao called out loudly, naming each of the seven in turn.

"At ease! Attention! About face! Forward march!" Liu Dabao issued commands, and those whose names were called silently complied.

The sound of "ONE, TWO, ONE... ONE, TWO, ONE..." gradually faded as a burly man in a green uniform led seven figures, two of whom looked particularly frail, trailing behind him.

Yu Jiayong watched the departing group, worry in his eyes. A man has to go through trials to truly become a man. His concern was for Shangguan You and Yu Zijin. Could those two, so delicate and pampered, withstand such hardship?

"Commander, given Liu Dabao’s temper, I’m afraid he might train the children too harshly, especially the two girls. Maybe we should give him a heads-up?" Gui Yongjun voiced his concern.

"Harsh? The harsher, the better! If Liu Dabao weren’t so tough, I wouldn’t have sent these kids here. I want them to learn how to endure hardship." Shangguan Hao laughed loudly, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. Yu Jiayong, who had been about to speak, swallowed his words upon hearing Shangguan Hao.

They had protected the children too well. The youngsters needed to experience hardship to understand life. Otherwise, without their families’ protection, they would be nothing.

"Send Liu Dabao a message for me. Tell him to train those kids thoroughly. Shangguan You and Yu Zijin are to receive no special treatment," Yu Jiayong instructed.

"Exactly. They eat what others eat, and they train how others train. I’ll come back to pick them up in half a month. If they don’t meet my standards by then, you’ll all have to answer to me," Shangguan Hao added, watching the children’s receding figures.

"Yes! We guarantee to complete the mission assigned by the Commander!" The remaining men stood ramrod straight and replied in unison. Even Gui Yongjun nodded, sighing as he looked at his daughter beside him. If only Gui Luo possessed a fraction of Shangguan You’s and Yu Zijin’s courage, he would rest easy.

"Very good. We shall await the results then. We’re off to the military district for a meeting now. Everything here is in your hands." With the matter settled, Shangguan Hao prepared to leave with Yu Jiayong. This was a critical time. There were not only meetings to attend but also many other issues to address. Since things were already in motion, they couldn’t afford to be passive; it was time to make their own strategic arrangements.

Shangguan You gazed at the vast training field, her eyebrows knitted tightly as she hurried to catch up with Shangguan Qing. She didn’t want to become a muscle-bound woman or get so tanned she’d look like a piece of charcoal. The early spring sun, already high at midday, was brutally fierce. Yet, seeing Liu Dabao standing nearby, watching her like a tiger watching its prey, she swallowed the words she had been about to say. No matter what, she wouldn’t let anyone look down on her.

The group crossed the drill ground and stopped in front of a six-story building behind a grove of trees.

"This is the battalion headquarters dormitory. From now on, you will live here until your training period ends. The rest of you wait here. You and you," Liu Dabao pointed at Shangguan You and Yu Zijin, "come with me." Then he led the way.

Shangguan You and Yu Zijin exchanged a glance and then followed Liu Dabao. Shangguan You felt an inexplicable agitation in her heart. Would this physical training even be effective for her?

Liu Dabao led the two to a row of small, single-story buildings behind the dormitory. Shangguan You clearly saw the small red cross emblem on one. This was the base’s medical station.

A young woman in her early twenties, with short hair and wearing a white coat, came out to greet them just as the three arrived.

"Battalion Commander Liu! What brings you here today?" Yang Qian greeted him with a smile.

"Doctor Yang, this is Shangguan You, and this is Yu Zijin. They’ve been sent here by their fathers, the commanders, to stay for half a month. I was thinking of arranging for them to room with you. Would that be convenient?" Liu Dabao explained, looking at the warmly smiling Yang Qian.

"Oh, so that’s it! No problem at all. I’m the only one living there anyway, so they’ll be good company," Yang Qian replied with a light laugh, sizing up Shangguan You and Yu Zijin. The two girls, one eighteen and the other sixteen, were in the bloom of youth. Though still growing, their faces were so lovely one couldn’t help but want to give their cheeks a gentle pinch.