1029: "Skinny Monkey"

"Skinny Monkey"

Unexpectedly, the soldier said tearfully, "I'm too ashamed to get up! I'm sorry! It's all my fault! If not for me, Master won't have to face death! I've let him down!"1

Xia Wen recalled the identity of the person in front of him. Xia Mao had mentioned this kid to him during one of their casual chats.

In the beginning, the kid's name was Fugui and he did not have a surname. He was a bastard child who did not know who his parents were. He was saved by Xia Mao and the team at the scene of a huge flood. They were unable to find his parents, so they asked if anyone in the army was willing to adopt him. In the end, a retired old cadre adopted him and when he grew up, he joined the army as he wished.

The old cadre had named him Wan Zhuang because he wanted this child to grow up stronger. However, over the years, Wan Zhuang did not gain weight no matter how much he ate. Everyone teased him and gave him a nickname, "Skinny Monkey". He accepted this nickname coolly and even used "Skinny Monkey" as his code name in the army.

Xia Mao said that when he looked at this kid, it was like looking at Xia Wen from the past. Although this kid's results were mediocre and there was no way to compare his results with Xia Wen's results from back then, this kid's propensity for hard work was not inferior to anyone. He was just like Xia Wen in the way that he kept conquering peaks. If Wan Zhuang was nurtured well, he would definitely become a pillar of strength for the army.

"You're not at fault in this matter. Get up," Xia Wen said gently.

Wan Zhuang stood up while still weeping. He had only just reached adulthood and Xia Wen was old enough to be his uncle.

"I know you. My father mentioned you to me before. He said that you're the soldier he thinks most highly of. He is looking forward to seeing you develop even better in the future. I won't blame you. I was once a soldier. If I'm in my father's position, I will make the same choice as him," Xia Wen said emotionally as he looked towards the tent.

After hearing what Xia Wen said, Wan Zhuang wept even harder.

"I… I let him down… If I hadn't acted rashly and exposed my whereabouts, Master wouldn't have needed to take that shot for me!" Wan Zhuang said as he wept.

"Then what about now? Can you achieve anything by crying?" Qiao Mei asked as she looked at Wan Zhuang coldly.

Her words stunned everyone present. They did not know what Qiao Mei's intentions were. Xia Wen even thought that Qiao Mei was angry and that she resented what this kid did.

"Qiao Mei, watch what you say. He's still a child…" Xia Wen reminded her softly.

Qiao Mei completely ignored what Xia Wen said. She stared straight at Wan Zhuang and said, "Can crying solve any problems?"

Wan Zhuang shook his head and said softly, "It… it can't solve any problem…"

"Then can crying bring my father back from the dead?" Qiao Mei pressed on, not giving Wan Zhuang a chance to catch his breath at all, nor telling him that Xia Mao had already gotten better.

"No… I'm sorry…" Wan Zhuang said.

"Since the facts can't be changed, then don't let my father get shot for nothing. It's not your fault, but you have to become what my father expects to see and work hard to realize your dream. You shouldn't be apologizing to us over and over again here and doing such meaningless things," Qiao Mei said.

Wan Zhuang listened quietly to what Qiao Mei said. This was something that no one else had ever said to him and this was also the first time that someone had "reprimanded" him so blatantly. During this period of time, everyone had been comforting him, but every time someone comforted him, he hated himself even more. He wondered why he did not listen to Xia Mao's instructions at that time and kept falling into a cycle of self-blame.

At this moment, however, his confused heart seemed to have seen a bright light.

"I understand. I'll work hard and definitely won't disappoint him!" Wan Zhuang said as he looked at Qiao Mei firmly.

Qiao Mei nodded in satisfaction. Although this child had snot and tears all over his face and he did not sound imposing at all when he spoke, it was a good thing that he had a positive attitude and he knew what to do next.

Xia Wen looked at Qiao Mei and shook his head helplessly. She was clearly being kind, but she insisted on using the cruelest words to provoke others. Fortunately, the effect was not too bad. This was simply Qiao Mei's temper and personality and the way she did things.

After Xia Mao's physical examination was over, the doctor ran out excitedly and said, "He's alive! He's alive! He's all well now!"

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