CHAPTER 311: CHAPTER 312 KEEPING TRACK OF EVERY SINGLE DETAIL

Over at the back mountain, Jiaxing and Xuebing met again. Xuebing said, "You really move fast. I had just come back when my dad told me you got married to Xiaoxiao. Congratulations."

"I’ll accept those congrats without reserve," Jiaxing laughed.

"When have you ever been reserved with me?" Xuebing remarked.

"Why would I need to be reserved with you?" Jiaxing retorted, then asked, "When are you heading back to the unit?"

"I’m here for ten days," Xuebing said.

"That’s not too bad. I’m visiting my in-laws tomorrow. When I get back, we should hang out again."

No sooner had Jiaxing finished speaking when Xuebing said, "Alright."

"Let’s have a bout."

"Make your move."

And so, they fought another round on the back mountain. This time, Xuebing’s blows were particularly ruthless, as if he had eaten gunpowder.

"Wow, you’re really serious today," Jiaxing said.

"When have we ever not been serious?" Xuebing said.

"Well then, don’t blame your brother for going hard," Jiaxing dropped the jokes, his attitude turning serious.

After the fight, Xuebing started talking about the military unit. Jiaxing didn’t hide anything from Xuebing either, and also shared about the new recruits in his unit.

Xuebing felt envious in his heart. Jiaxing’s entire unit was made up of recruits from the same batch, naturally with fewer issues to deal with.

As for the Dragon Breeding Corps, practically every year new recruits joined, and there were even more old soldiers, and more people overall. Wherever there are people, there are rivers and lakes—it was the same everywhere. The prominence of Xuegang and Xuebing naturally aroused envy and jealousy in some people.

"I never expected that one day, I’d be able to join the military," Jiaxing said, then he brought up Liu Yuanchao, how he had fought with Liu Yuanchao and was recruited by him with a special draft.

How could Xuebing not be envious? Jiaxing’s luck was truly undeniable. He missed his chance during the military draft, failed his first college entrance exam, and the second time the college entrance exam was canceled. Yet, unexpectedly, fate gave him another opportunity right in front of him.

"You’re destined to be a soldier," Xuebing said.

"Maybe," Jiaxing replied, "But the new recruits unit I’m in might just be a training camp; I still don’t know where I’ll be assigned afterward."

"Regardless, during this assessment competition, you won decisively, promoted to platoon leader in two years—that is unheard of. You’ve caused a sensation, caught the leadership’s attention; even our regiment commander has asked about you," Xuebing said.

When Xuebing mentioned the regiment commander, Jiaxing asked, "So, how are things going with the regiment commander’s daughter?"

"This time," Xuebing didn’t shake his head but simply said, "Now the regiment commander has directly told me his intentions of having me marry his daughter."

"What do you think about that?" Jiaxing inquired, "She’s not bad-looking at all, obviously has feelings for you, and marrying the regiment commander’s daughter would bring great benefits."

Hardly having finished speaking, Jiaxing received a sharp glare from Xuebing, "Would you want her? If you wanted to be the regiment commander’s son-in-law, I believe our regiment commander would be very happy; he holds you in high regard."

Jiaxing shook his head, "I’ve got Xiaoxiao; no one can compare to her."

At this point, Xuebing was filled with a mix of emotions and asked, "If you were me, what would you choose?"

"That’s a pointless question; I’m not you," Jiaxing said.

"Assuming you were in my shoes, would you accept or not?" Xuebing asked.

Jiaxing frowned and slowly shook his head, "It’s a hypothetical that hasn’t happened to me, so it’s pointless. The military has been our dream; if we offended the higher-ups and had to leave, it certainly wouldn’t be without regret. But if you complied, there would be some level of discontent, I suppose."

Xuebing nodded; after striving for so many years, to see it all gone to waste would be intolerable.

"Why don’t you try to get along with the regiment commander’s daughter? If you hit it off, then maybe it’s worth considering. If not, it’s up to you to make the choice," Jiaxing could only offer that advice.

"If I had known there’d be a day like this, I would never have given up on Xiaoxiao," Xuebing said despondently.

"Ptui," Jiaxing couldn’t help but speak out, "It was Xiaoxiao who gave up on you."

"Are you even my brother, stabbing me in the heart like that?" Xuebing was utterly disheartened.

"I’m just telling it like it is; Xiaoxiao is my love now, and it was not you who made Xiaoxiao give up but your mother," Jiaxing became very serious when he mentioned Xiaoxiao.

A brother is a brother, but a wife is a wife; these are not the same thing.

Jiaxing valued brotherhood, but he valued his wife just as much. He didn’t feel that he and Xiaoxiao had wronged Xuebing in any way. If Xuebing really had someone to blame, it should be his overly meddling mother.

Xuebing lay back, gazing at the night sky, vast and infinite, while feeling his own insignificance.

Could he blame his mother? Yes, but after all, she was the one who had raised him, and Xuebing was at a loss as to what to do with her.

In truth, not being able to be with Xiaoxiao, Xuebing could marry anyone—it didn’t matter to him, but he disliked this feeling of being forced. Although the regiment commander had not forced or threatened him, his intentions regarding the marriage were clear. If Xuebing refused again, he might soon find himself among the next batch of soldiers transferring out.

What would be his choice? Xuebing looked at his own hands, already having some idea in his heart.

Jiaxing didn’t chat with Xuebing for long and left. As for Shengmei going to work in the Red Star Production Team, Jiaxing couldn’t be bothered to mention it.

The Gao family would not interfere with the affairs of the Red Star Production Team. The previous commotion caused by Haiguo when he led people up there, along with Ge Lai’s troubles and the incident of Ge Liang getting beaten up, Jiaxing noted them all.

Now, Jiaxing would rather have Haiguo gone for good; there was no way he’d help. As for Shengmei’s situation, if the He family did not or could not handle it themselves, any involvement with the Red Star Production Team was the He family’s business.

When Jiaxing got home, Xiaoxiao had already returned and was in the yard, holding Weilin as she peed.

"Where’s your sister-in-law?" Jiaxing asked.

"She hasn’t come back yet; she’s over at Sister Ai Hua’s," Xiaoxiao said.

Jiaxing said, dissatisfied, "Even if she’s out having fun, she shouldn’t neglect her daughter. Isn’t your big brother at home?"

"Brother was just at home, but then Xuegang came looking for him, so I’m watching Weilin." At the moment, the house was empty. Guoqiang and Xianghong had both gone out, and when Xiaoxiao got back, she saw Jiazhi taking care of the child. As soon as Xuegang arrived, Xiaoxiao took over from Jiazhi, and Jiazhi left with Xuegang.

"You and mom spoil her too much," Jiaxing wasn’t very happy, mainly because Yuhua had gone out after a meal and hadn’t returned home until now, leaving her daughter behind without a care.

"Don’t talk about it anymore. She’s your niece, and Weilin is so adorable. Could you really ignore her?" Xiaoxiao said.