Siheyuan: The Era of Struggle

Chapter 381 Pleading to no avail
The jeep had already started. Zhang Lide and Zhang Zhao, father and son, were sitting in the back, turning their heads from time to time to glance toward the hotel entrance.

Seeing this, He Yuanchao knew that the father and son were getting a little impatient, so he didn't waste any more time and quickly walked to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in the car.

When the driver Xiao Wang saw that everyone had arrived, he informed everyone, then stepped on the accelerator and the jeep sped out of the county.

As the car body was shaking more and more violently, He Yuanchao missed the highways of future generations very much. Even the roads in most towns and villages were better than this, at least there were not so many potholes.

The jeep drove along the bumpy road for about fifty minutes. When our internal organs were about to be shaken out, we finally arrived outside the military gate again.

After parking the car and turning off the engine outside the cordon, everyone opened the door and got out of the car impatiently, stretching their fists and legs to stretch their muscles.

Zhang Zhao’s matter had not been reported yet, but everyone in the regiment who should know it already knew it.

Soldiers have no right to deal with things, but they don't look good to their comrades who misappropriate their rations.

Seeing Zhang Zhao, whose uniform did not have any rank insignia, getting closer and closer to the army gate, the sentry on duty immediately shouted in a cold tone:
"Please retreat outside the cordon if you are in a military area."

Zhang Zhao looked a little unhappy after being coldly addressed by his former comrade-in-arms.

Although Zhang Zhao looked nonchalant when he talked to Zhang Lide about the misappropriation of military supplies, he suddenly became timid when facing the soldiers. His face flushed and he lowered his head without saying a word.
A son pays for his father's debts. Similarly, if a son gets into trouble, the father must clean up the mess.

Zhang Lide looked at Zhang Zhao's appearance, shook his head and sighed softly, then walked forward to negotiate with the sentry.

When the sentry heard that they were here to deal with the misappropriation of supplies, his expression improved a little.

"Wait, don't move, I'm going to call the duty room."

He Yuanchao and his two grandsons were all people within the system and knew that this was a necessary procedure, so no one said anything and they just gathered together and waited silently.

About seven or eight minutes after the sentry made the call, Li Hongtao hurriedly ran out of the military yard.

He first informed the sentry that the army leader agreed to let them pass, and then signed his name in the duty record book where the three of them were registered. Then he smiled and invited He Yuanchao and others to enter the army yard.

After walking a few steps and getting a certain distance away from the sentry, Li Hongtao smiled and said to He Yuanchao:
"I thought you would come tomorrow, but I didn't expect you to come so soon. What's the matter? Are you missing your wife and in a hurry to go back?"

Facing the ridicule of his former comrades, He Yuanchao did not shy away and generously admitted:

"Yes! The sooner I finish the job, the sooner I can go home to my wife and children."

The old comrade's current cheerful appearance is completely different from the dull and taciturn He Daliang in my memory.

Although Li Hongtao was a little surprised, he didn't think much about it. He just thought it was a training job at the local level, and continued to chat and laugh with He Yuanchao as they walked.

Zhang Zhao wanted to resolve the matter as quickly as possible and wanted to fly to the commander's office immediately.

Looking at He Yuanchao and Li Hongtao who were walking slowly beside him, he felt a little anxious. He wanted to urge them several times but failed to open his mouth. In the end, he could only lower his head and sulk to himself.

Zhang Lide saw what Zhang Zhao was thinking, but ignored it. He followed the three people and turned his head to look around at the surrounding environment.

There is a large playground between the military gate and the office building. It covers a large area, about the size of two or three football fields, and is equipped with various simple training equipment such as parallel bars, rings, and climbing nets.

It took the four of them about ten minutes to cross the playground and arrive at the three-story office building of the army.

After greeting an officer in the duty room at the door, Li Hongtao led He Yuanchao and the other two to the regiment commander's office on the third floor.

The head of the group was Liu Changshan, who was in his forties, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a slightly dark complexion, and a tall and thin physique. He was not very strong, but there was a sense of oppression when he looked at people.

Seeing several people enter the room, Captain Liu put out the half-smoked cigarette in his hand and placed it on the table, then stood up and walked out from behind the desk.

After Li Hongtao's introduction, Zhang Lide and He Yuanchao shook hands with the regiment commander and exchanged pleasantries. It was only then that He Yuanchao learned that Li Hongtao's position was the deputy chief of staff of the regiment where Zhang Zhao was stationed.

After a few polite words, everyone sat down in the not very spacious office. After Li Hongtao poured everyone a glass of water, Zhang Lide went straight to the point and talked about Zhang Zhao's matter.

"Captain Liu, I have to apologize to you and all the leaders in the regiment for the mistake Zhang Zhao made. It was my fault for not educating him well. I have no objection to the decision made by the regiment.

But as Zhang Zhao's father, I still want to ask, after compensating the losses of the regiment, can the army make some concessions and let him continue to stay in the army? This child still has deep feelings for the army. "

After hearing this, Captain Liu, who was sitting behind his desk, couldn't help but frowned, but then relaxed.

It is understandable that parents in the world are concerned about their children’s future.

Sympathy is sympathy, but the troops’ attitude must be clear and the results of the handling must be implemented, leaving no room for imagination.

"Comrade Zhang Lide, I understand how you and Zhang Zhao feel. I also know that he made a mistake because he was confused at the moment. As his superior, I really want to give him a chance to reform.

But it was the division's decision to let Zhang Zhao retire as soon as possible. The regiment also pleaded for him, but was rejected. This is the military, and I and other comrades in the regiment have to obey the orders of the higher authorities.

The day before yesterday, the result of Comrade Zhang Zhao’s treatment was put into written form and distributed to the regiment. The regiment and I are powerless at the moment, and I hope you can understand.”

Captain Liu spoke sincerely and politely, not because he was concerned about Zhang Lide's identity and background, but mainly because the division political commissar spoke to Zhang Zhao before the results of the handling came out.

Zhang Lide, Zhang Zhao and He Yuanchao were not stupid people. They knew what Captain Liu meant without having to think about it.

The regiment did everything it should and shouldn't have done, but it was of no use. The words were very tactful, but the attitude was quite clear. Zhang Zhao's transfer to civilian life was a foregone conclusion, and no one could change it.

He Yuanchao and Zhang Lide had already prepared themselves mentally before they came. They thought it was nothing more than trying their best and leaving the rest to fate. Now that the result was out, it was not too difficult to accept it.

Zhang Zhao on the side couldn't accept it, and tears flowed from his eyes.

Although I was mentally prepared when my epaulettes and collar flowers were taken off, I felt extremely uncomfortable when I faced the fact.

Thinking about the ups and downs in the army over the years, Zhang Zhao could no longer control himself and burst into tears.

No one in the room expected that Zhang Zhao, who was in his thirties, would cry. They were all confused for a moment. It was Li Hongtao, who was closest to him, who reacted first.

"Xiao Zhang, don't be sad. The army may change but the camp remains the same. From the day we put on our military uniforms, no one can avoid this.

Besides, isn’t it a good thing to be able to reunite with my family after I retire?”

It would have been better if Li Hongtao had not tried to persuade her, as this made Zhang Zhao cry even louder. Seeing this, Zhang Lide and He Yuanchao hurriedly stood up and came over to persuade her.

The three of them tried to persuade him for a long time, but Zhang Zhao still cried bitterly.

The sound of a man crying in the daytime coming from the regiment leader's office was hard not to attract attention, and soon the regiment cadres on the same floor came over to ask what was going on.

When they saw that it was Zhang Zhao who was crying, the people who came knew what was going on. No matter whether they had a good or bad relationship with him, they all came forward to comfort him.

Listening to Zhang Zhao's crying and everyone's persuasion, Captain Liu was overwhelmed. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore. He first drove away the regiment cadres who were saying comforting words, and then walked up to Zhang Zhao and scolded him loudly. Only then was this little episode over.

Zhang Zhao stopped crying, but Zhang Lide looked unhappy.

When He Yuanchao saw this scene, he knew that he could not rely on Zhang Lide and his father at this moment, so he took out a cigarette and distributed one to everyone in the room.

While giving Captain Liu a cigarette, He Yuanchao asked about compensation for the troops' supplies.

(End of this chapter)