Rejecting Qinghua Baoyan, I became a military officer

"Junior high school classmate? Junior high school classmate?"

Hearing Xu Ye's suggestion, Chen Chen muttered to himself.

Suddenly, as if a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind, Chen Chen hesitated for a moment before saying, "Shao, Shao."

For a moment, he was so anxious that he kept slapping his thigh.

That feeling of wanting to say something but being so close to saying it is incredibly frustrating; anyone who's experienced it understands.

"Shao Han!"

Xu Ye said calmly.

Not to mention his junior high school classmates, Xu Ye remembers his kindergarten and elementary school classmates perfectly. All those liver scroll points were well spent, directly improving Xu Ye's memory significantly.

So even though the lighting wasn't great and Shao Han had changed a lot over the years, Xu Ye still recognized her immediately upon seeing her, which was faster and more accurate than AI recognition twenty years later.

"Yes, it's Shao Han!" Chen Chen exclaimed excitedly, slapping his thigh.

That feeling was like finally letting out a bowel movement after holding it in for three days.

Xu Ye quickly shook his head; he still needed to eat, and he couldn't let it affect his appetite.

Fortunately, Chen Chen hadn't lost his mind. Despite his excitement, he didn't speak loudly, otherwise, the young female stall owner, Shao Han, who was cooking noodles for them not far away, would have heard him.

"You're amazing! Even after all this time, the changes are still so significant, yet you can still recognize it at a glance. Awesome!" Chen Chen praised.

If Xu Ye hadn't repeatedly reminded him, Chen Chen wouldn't have recognized him at all.

There's no way around it; as he said, too much time has passed, and people change a lot.

Back then, Chen Chen realized what was happening and asked with some confusion, "Wait a minute, how did she end up like this?"

That's right, in Chen Chen's eyes it was a fall from grace!

When Chen Chen was in junior high school, although he didn't know what Shao Han's family did, judging from his clothes, mannerisms and behavior, they were definitely not from an ordinary family. In Chen Chen's opinion, they were even much better off than his own family at the time.

However, after graduating from junior high school, we didn't go to the same school and lost contact with each other.

Who would have thought that their reunion would be under such circumstances? For a moment, Chen Chen felt a sense of loss and uncertainty.

"You don't know, how would I know?" Xu Ye glanced at him.

Looking back now, the original self in junior and senior high school was really naive, only thinking about studying and having fun in her spare time, and not caring much about anything else.

In comparison, Chen Chen is much more lively.

For example, among the three of them, Chen Chen is the only one who had a relationship in high school—the kind of relationship where they did everything they should and shouldn't have done.

Of course, what happened next was somewhat "welcome": the two did not get into the same university and ended up in a long-distance relationship, ultimately succumbing to the curse that long-distance relationships inevitably lead to breakups.

As for the question of who cheated on whom, Xu Ye, being a good brother, naturally wouldn't ask.

As for whether Chen Chen said anything inappropriate while drunk last night, Xu Ye said he kept his mouth shut.

"You know what, I think I've heard a little about it," Chen Chen said thoughtfully. "You know the Green Garden residential area in our county, right? I think it was built by their family. I heard something happened to them later. I only heard about it secondhand, so I don't know the specifics."

After all, Chen Chen has been young all these years, and has spent most of his time in school, so he hasn't been very involved in these social issues and naturally doesn't know much about them.

I only found out about these things after I started working, when I overheard my colleagues gossiping in the bureau. I didn't take it to heart at all.

If he hadn't happened to run into her tonight, Chen Chen would never have thought of it.

At this point, Chen Chen hesitated for a moment and glanced at Xu Ye with some doubt.

"Speak directly!"

Seeing this, Xu Ye put down the disposable chopsticks in his hand, which were polished very smoothly and had no burrs left, and glanced at him.

This clearly indicates that something is amiss.

"This matter may be related to you in some way. The people involved in the Shao family's affairs seem to be related to the person who hit your aunt and uncle with his car."

Chen Chen then explained, "However, I just thought of these things; I didn't mean to hide them from you."

Several seemingly unrelated things were connected by a sudden inspiration, and Chen Chen linked them together.

"How could I not trust you?" Xu Ye waved his hand and said, "This is getting more and more interesting."

Last night, while the two of them were completely drunk, Xu Ye did a quick look up some relevant information.

There isn't much information online, especially when it involves a high-ranking official, but Xu Ye still has a lot of basic information.

For example, the year his parents were in a car accident, that high-ranking official's child went abroad to study shortly afterward.

The so-called study abroad is just a way for people to avoid trouble and, incidentally, educate their children.

Such examples have existed in the past, exist now, and will continue to exist in the future, so Xu Ye is not surprised at all.

It would be truly strange if someone were to put aside their own family for the greater good!

In this world, protecting one's relatives is the mainstream practice and is more in line with human nature, which Xu Ye understands very well.

Even he himself, isn't he also subject to different levels of closeness and distance?

Among so many subordinates, didn't Xu Ye show more concern for Li Dabao?

But while we may understand, whether we can actually protect them depends on our own abilities. As long as we don't regret it when we've lost everything, that's all that matters.

Because the internet wasn't as developed back then, Xu Ye couldn't find much information about that person, even abroad.

Without the comfortable environment he enjoyed in China, that person had to keep a relatively low profile abroad.

Note that this is only relative!
That's how Xu Ye was able to find some information about him online; otherwise, it would be hard to say.

Every year, countless Chinese students go to study in the United States, so who would pay special attention to just one of them?

With this information, that's enough; the rest is just following the clues.

In the US, with enough money, you can get information even from inside the White House, let alone information about a mere international student who has already returned home.

That means he went back to China. Otherwise, it would be even simpler: just tie him up and settle scores.

However, now that he's back in China, Xu Ye's target is no longer just that one person. Everyone who aided and abetted him in this process must be punished by law!
If the original owner hadn't been fortunate enough to meet two responsible teachers, Teacher Tao and Teacher He, his life would have been truly ruined.

Even so, the original owner's home was gone, and she had not truly escaped.

"Xu Ye, I won't say anything more. If there's anything I can do to help you, I'll be there without hesitation!" Chen Chen declared.

The fact that he could say such a thing is enough to show Xu Ye's importance to him.

Chen Chen didn't really realize how complex society is until he actually started working.

As for whether it might not be that person?
Ha, if Chen Chen were still in college, he might have believed it, but now, even without any substantial evidence, Chen Chen is still convinced that the real culprit is that person.

"That's good enough!" Xu Ye smiled. "Now, just focus on your job and strive to improve; that's your top priority." "Pah! You look down on me, a nobody?"

"Let me tell you, within fifty or ten years at most, I will definitely get rid of our leader!"

Chen Chen spat and blurted out some grand pronouncements.

Fortunately, he had just vomited once, so he didn't dare to say anything about a minor jump every year or a major jump every three years.

Of course, do such people really exist?

That's a must!

But that's something Chen Chen's family can't compare to.

"Ha, ten years?"

Xu Ye smirked, "Ten years? You won't need to do it. Your bosses will either retire or get promoted!"

There are ten years. By then, I might even have become a real leader!

Of course, this is just what Xu Ye was thinking.

At his rank, there might be a chance for a promotion beyond the usual level, but unless Xu Ye makes an extraordinary contribution, he can only slowly build up his seniority and take it one step at a time. It is almost impossible for him to be promoted beyond the usual level again.

Especially at the next level up from the school, who knows how many people are blocked.

In China, there are tens of thousands of officers at the colonel level, but if you go up one rank, there are only a little over a thousand, and the vast majority of them are at the lowest rank. The ratio is roughly one in a thousand, which shows how difficult it is!

These are all things of the future, and no one can say for sure what will happen. We should just take it one step at a time.

"Xu Ye, you always speak the truth, can't you say something nice to comfort me?" Chen Chen said helplessly.

"whispering sound!"

Xu Ye glanced at him, then turned to look thoughtfully at Shao Han, who was busy cooking noodles for them not far away.

Once a privileged young woman, she has fallen to the point where she has to make a living by setting up a stall at the night market. There must be a lot of stories behind this.

"What? Something on your mind?"

Seeing this, Chen Chen asked with a hint of gossip.

Although Shao Han's skin isn't as smooth and supple as it used to be due to making a living, and her hands aren't as delicate, she's still quite young. Calling her "Xi Shi of Jiangmian" (a term referring to a beautiful woman with delicate skin) is no exaggeration. Look at how this small stall is still packed with people at this hour!

More importantly, Chen Chen seemed to remember that Xu Ye had a crush on Shao Han back in junior high school.

I have a girlfriend!

Even without seeing Chen Chen's expression, Xu Ye could imagine his "sleazy" look and said without turning his head.

When the original owner was in junior high school, she did have a period of time when she developed feelings for Shao Han, but it was more of a youthful impulse, an impulse for beautiful things. It came suddenly and went just as suddenly, and it quickly faded away without her taking any action.

If Chen Chen and he weren't close enough, he wouldn't have known.

"Really? Or not?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen was somewhat surprised.

He admitted that he couldn't compare in terms of academic ability, and nowadays, combat capability as well.

However, when it comes to relationships, Xu Ye is far inferior to her.

When she was in junior high school, she was too young to understand things. But when she got to high school, she started doing all sorts of things, both things she should and shouldn't have done. By now, Chen Chen has had at least five relationships.

Fortunately, each relationship ended gracefully, so he can't be considered a scumbag.

What about Xu Ye?
He has had crushes throughout his life, but as far as he knows, he has never actually been in a relationship.

Even after Xu Ye went to university in Beijing, their contact wasn't as close as before, and Chen Chen knew that Xu Ye didn't date anyone in university.

Now that you mention it, Chen Chen suddenly realized, "You did this in the army? That's impressive!"

He knew very well that there were always more men than women in the military, so finding a girlfriend in the military was extremely rare.

“That’s true. With how outstanding you are now, it’s normal to have a girlfriend! If I were a woman, I would definitely pursue you too!” Chen Chen realized and said somewhat matter-of-factly.

Previously, Xu Ye was good at academics but not particularly outstanding in other areas. He wasn't good at talking and his image management was practically nonexistent...

However, Xu Ye has not only undergone a dramatic transformation in his image, but he has also accumulated numerous merits, making his future bright and promising. Isn't it perfectly normal for him to have a girlfriend?
If he has that ability, then forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore, my kidneys can't take it!
"That's it!"

Xu Ye withdrew his gaze and nodded.

Now, Han Ziqing has also been specially recruited into the army and is a proud member of the People's Liberation Army, so it's not wrong to say that.

"The kind where you're planning to get married?" Chen Chen followed up with a question.

"Do you think I'm like you?" Xu Ye said irritably.

This guy is such a womanizer. Compared to him, I'm practically a saint when it comes to relationships, the kind who can remain unmoved even with a woman in his lap.

"When are you getting married? Can I be the best man?" Chen Chen asked casually.

On this point, Chen Chen really couldn't refute it.

"You forgot? I'm not old enough, I have to wait two more years!" Xu Ye said casually. "As for the best man, that depends on whether you're getting married by then."

In their culture, you can't be a best man if you're getting married.

"Stop talking. What about you? You're old enough. When are you planning to get married?" Xu Ye asked back.

These days, even if you go to university, it's not like ten years later when it was perfectly normal to be unmarried at thirty. Once you officially enter society, marriage is the next step.

"Uh, maybe at the end of the year!" Chen Chen said with some regret. "My parents introduced her to me, and she's alright to look at."

She paused for a moment, then asked with some anticipation, "Could you come then?"

"You know my current situation; I'm often not in control of my own destiny. We'll see how things develop then!" Xu Ye said with a wry smile.

Even in a regular job, you can't just come and go as you please, let alone in the military. Xu Ye is only relatively free; there are still rules to follow.

"that's true!"

Chen Chen was not disappointed and sighed with emotion.

"However, I'll try my best!" Xu Ye said, glancing at Shao Han, who had already cooked the noodles and was bringing them over.

"Your noodles are ready, they're a little hot, please enjoy!" Shao Han said warmly, placing a bowl of noodles in front of the two of them.

"Thank you!" Xu Ye said.

"You're welcome, it's all... Oh! You're Xu Ye?"

Shao Han remained polite out of the ordinary, but after looking up and clearly seeing Xu Ye's face, she exclaimed in surprise. (End of Chapter)