Chapter 7 It’s time to show off
no!
This is absolutely not possible!
After a moment of stunned silence, Zhang Lan quickly reacted and hurriedly explained: "Editor-in-chief, you don't see how hateful that guy is. Writing like this doesn't match reality..."
She tried her best to discredit Xu Yan and change the editor's mind, but it was all in vain. Not only did the editor not listen to her, but he also tried to persuade her. "Xiao Lan, I don't know what grudge you have against him, but I hope you can look at this issue fairly and impartially, and don't waste such a good topic. Maybe he didn't do well in some aspects, but his enthusiasm for joining the army and serving the country is worthy of our learning and support..."
A few minutes later, Zhang Lan walked out of the editor-in-chief's office with his head hung, and gritted his teeth and wrote a press release titled "Jinsong outside the Army", which was placed on the front page.
That evening, the sample newspaper came out. The editor-in-chief and others applauded after reading it and praised Zhang Lan highly. However, Zhang Lan, the person involved, did not feel the slightest joy at being praised. Instead, she had a sour face. She had originally intended to discredit Xu Yan as a revenge, but ended up having to praise him to create momentum. This is the most tragic thing in history!
"Next time, next time I will make sure you pay!" Zhang Lan swore secretly in his heart.
…
The next morning, the rain stopped and the sky cleared up.
The Donghai Morning Post reached the hands of all kinds of people through various newsstands.
In a residential area in the urban area of Donghai City, Xu Yan's father Xu Nuo was sitting in the living room reading a newspaper. He looked to be about fifty years old, with a square face, a crew cut, and a resolute expression. Even when he was sitting there, he gave people an upright aura.
"Dinner is ready!" Mother Xu walked out of the kitchen, pulled off her apron from around her waist and greeted everyone.
Xu Nuo responded but did not move, still staring at the newspaper.
"It's time for dinner. What are you looking at? You're so engrossed." Mother Xu walked over and asked curiously. She snatched the newspaper from Xu Nuo's hand, took a look, and muttered in a low voice, "Jinsong outside the army!"
"What a mess." Mother Xu muttered, and was about to put down the newspaper when she accidentally noticed the picture on it. Her movements froze instantly. After a moment, she exclaimed in surprise: "Xu Yan!"
The news in the newspaper was about Xu Yan standing at attention in the rain.
Woof woof woof!
When hearing Xu Yan's name, the cute dog Haha, who was originally lazy, suddenly ran over with cheers and circled around Xu's mother.
Mother Xu comforted it and read it carefully. After finishing reading, she threw the newspaper on the table and murmured to herself: "It turns out that my son did not join the army, but suffered outside the army. No, I have to go and bring him back."
"Don't sit there anymore, get up quickly and come with me to pick up our son." Mother Xu said hurriedly and went forward to pull Xu Nuo.
"Let's eat." Xu Nuo said lightly.
"Eat! You still have the heart to eat? Do you know that your son is suffering outside?" Mother Xu stared at Xu Nuo angrily and said, "How can you be a father? I didn't agree with my son to join the army before, but you insisted on letting him go. Now, look what happened, my son can't even enter the army gate, he is suffering outside in the rain, don't you see it?"
"It's okay for a man to get wet in the rain. This is a test for him." Xu Nuo said calmly, and then explained: "Besides, it was his idea to join the army. I didn't force him to go. If you think you can convince him to take him back, then go by yourself. I won't go."
Mother Xu was speechless for a moment. Thinking of her son's stubbornness, she felt overwhelmed. After a while, she said, "It's okay not to pick him up. Don't you have many old comrades serving as leaders in the army? Say hello to them and let your son join the army directly. Let them take care of him..."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with this. Now that the recruitment period has passed, it would be best if he can join the army on his own. If not, then he can wait until next year to let him have awe in his heart. This will be good for his future development." Xu Nuo shook his head and said, "Look at what he has become because of your pampering. He is lazy all day long and a complete scoundrel. What good will it do if he continues like this? Now he is determined to change, and we should support him!"
"Xu Nuo, you are such a jerk. Your son is not your own flesh and blood, so you don't feel bad for him, right?" Mother Xu said angrily, "I don't care. Either you say hello and let your son join the army, or you come with me to pick him up right now. I gave birth to four children for you, but I didn't raise the first three. I worked so hard to raise Xu Yan, and I don't want you to abuse him."
Hearing what Xu's mother said, Xu Nuo's heart softened and he explained, "Xu Yan is also my son. I hope he will be good, just like you, but I have to be careful about how I treat him... Yes, I can say hello, I can let him join the army, and I can also let him be taken care of, but have you ever thought about how others will look at him if I really do this? Do you think that with Xu Yan's pride, he can stand those strange looks?"
…
In the military office building, Tang Jue gently put down the newspaper, held his forehead with his left hand, and silently pondered how to deal with Xu Yan.
At this time, Mo Wenyuan hurried into the office holding a newspaper and said, "Captain, have you read today's newspaper? That guy is in the newspaper. The newspaper says he is the 'Jinsong outside the army'!"
"Stop yelling, I saw it!"
"Well, what are you going to do? Are you really not going to give him a chance?"
"Yes, he was wrong before, but now he knows it. Every young person makes mistakes. Knowing one's mistakes is the best way to improve... Otherwise, you can give him another chance. That kid is really a rare talent. He is smart, flexible, and has good physical fitness. Just look at the way he stands in a military posture. Even a veteran who has worked hard for several years may not be better than him!"
Seeing that Tang Jue was unmoved, Mo Wenyuan rolled his eyes and continued, "Besides, the weather forecast says that it will rain continuously in the next few days. He has a good physique and survived the rain yesterday, but he may not be so lucky next time... If he falls ill or gives up, it will be too late to regret it then."
"If he gives up, he is not worthy of being my soldier." Tang Jue snorted, but he still valued Xu Yan's talent, so he said, "Okay, stop making noise. I will give him another chance, but whether he can seize it depends on him."
Xu Yan was standing at attention outside the army, unaware that his rude remarks yesterday, not only did not bring disaster, but instead created momentum for himself and won him a chance to join the army.
Seeing Tang Jue and Mo Wenyuan coming from afar, Xu Yan immediately said with a drooling face: "Captain, you finally came out. Are you moved by my sincerity and want to make an exception and admit me?"
"To be admitted to the army as an exception, it is not enough to just stand at attention, you must have something extraordinary." Tang Jue rolled his eyes and said, "I have an assessment here. If you can pass it, I can make an exception and give you a chance to join the army. If not, get out of here and don't get in the way."
Tang Jue said this with a stern face, then turned and left.
Xu Yan was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly followed. When he reached the entrance of the army, he clenched his fist silently, and his five knuckles made a series of low hums. He murmured to himself: "I've waited for so long, and it's finally my turn to show off!"
