The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 702 Disabled Veteran!

"Thank you, Young Master Mi, for being so thoughtful," Zhang Jin said with satisfaction after inspecting the weapons and equipment.

Mi Qing added, "Mr. Zhang, please finish your meal before you leave! It's difficult to meet anyone even if you travel hundreds of kilometers from here, let alone find a place to eat."

"Thank you, but no need. We should set off as soon as possible; the task assigned by Boss Mi is too time-sensitive," Zhang Jin said with a smile.

While the two were exchanging pleasantries, Lei Jun and his team had already loaded the weapons and equipment onto the vehicle.

Zhang Jin then said goodbye to Mi Qing and got into the "Warrior" and set off.

Ah Gui, familiar with the route, was still in charge of driving. Zhuang Yan sat in the passenger seat just in case, while Zhang Jin and Lei Jun sat in the back.

As soon as he got in the car, Lei Jun started fiddling with the Colt assault rifle, his face showing excitement. He couldn't help but say, "It's really cool, but I'm used to our equipment, so this isn't quite right for me yet."

"There's no other way, we have to use these now," Zhang Jin said with some regret.

Lei Jun understood the captain's meaning; choosing these equipment was also to prevent leaving any handle for outsiders to guess their origins.

The "Warrior" drove out of the town and headed towards the old town.

After driving for more than an hour, the "Warrior" climbed up a hillside, and Zhang Jin told A Gui to park the car on the side of the road.

Then, Zhang Jincheng instructed, "Monkey, you and Agui get out of the car and go ahead to scout the way. Take the wireless communicator with you; I want to test the call quality."

Lei Jun handed the communication equipment to Zhuang Yan, and casually gave him a Colt: "Take this, and go ahead and practice your skills by firing a few shots."

Zhuang Yan took the weapons and equipment. He knew that the captain wanted to contact the commander-in-chief. He called to A Gui, "Come on, A Gui, let's go for a walk ahead and see if we can hunt some wild game."

“Okay, Brother Monkey.” A-Gui didn’t dare call him Monkey and always called him Brother Monkey, while referring to Lei Jun as “Nail Brother.”

After getting off the bus, A-Gui casually picked up his old "A-Ka" and hung it around his neck. His "A-Ka" was quite old; the Laifu line in the Q-Tang was almost worn out.

After Zhuang Yan and the other man had walked away, Zhang Jin immediately instructed Lei Jun, "Contact the command center immediately via radio."

Lei Jun immediately took the radio from behind, put on the headset, tuned the transmission frequency to the designated band, and then began calling the command center.

"01, 01, please respond if you hear me."

"01, 01, please respond if you hear me."

……

The command center's voice immediately came through the headset: "This is 01, reporting your situation."

Lei Jun excitedly took off his headset and handed it to Zhang Jincheng, saying excitedly, "It's connected, 01 wants to hear your report."

Zhang Jin excitedly put on his headset and said into the microphone, "This is 'Phoenix.' We are making good progress and have completed the first step of the operation plan. We are now preparing to investigate the situation in the old city..."

He briefly explained the situation after arriving in the "Jin San area" and the next steps in the operation plan to Commander-in-Chief Liu Wu.

Liu Wu was very satisfied with their progress. He told Zhang Jincheng some good news: "'Phoenix,' you exposed the 'loach' in Mengwu Town, allowing us to uncover the illegal activities of 'flour dealers,' smugglers, and other criminals here... This will help us crack down on..."

You've already accomplished a great feat even before appearing on camera; I believe you'll perform even better in the tasks to come..."

"Please rest assured, sir, we will not let you down and will definitely complete the mission successfully."

After Zhang Jin completed his communication with Commander-in-Chief Liu Wu, he used the radio to call Zhuang Yan and the other two back so they could continue their journey.

Inside the secret base, the tense atmosphere that had been building for so long finally eased.

Commander-in-Chief Liu Wu slowly put down the communicator, let out a long sigh of relief, and finally relaxed his tense nerves that had been stretched for days.

He gazed at the darkening sky outside the window, a relieved smile unconsciously appearing on his lips.

"Great!" Deputy He Qiu exclaimed excitedly, slamming his hand on the table. His eyes gleamed with joy. "We've finally made contact with them!"

He Qiu paced back and forth a few times, then added, "These past few days I haven't been able to eat or sleep well, I'm just afraid they'll encounter some danger outside."

As he spoke, He Qiu subconsciously touched the newly sprouted stubble on his chin, clearly showing that his worries over the past few days had left him no time to care about his personal appearance.

"Look at you! Go and tidy yourself up. What kind of behavior is this for a chief of staff!" Liu Wu was in a good mood and joked with his partner.

"By the way, I need to report the situation here to my father."

"I reckon he's been waiting for our good news too!" Liu Wu suddenly remembered something and said.

……

Dusk was falling in Liujiazhuang, west of Beijing.

Liu Zhiye had just seen his nephew Liu Yong off when the osmanthus tree in the yard rustled in the evening breeze.

Just as he was about to turn around and go back into the house, his cell phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

"Dad, it's me." Liu Wu's voice came from the other end of the phone, deliberately lowered, with the faint roar of a car engine in the background.

Liu Wu gave a concise report on the recent progress of the operation, his excitement barely concealed.

Liu Zhiye's knuckles turned slightly white as he gripped his phone, and his brows furrowed unconsciously.

He gazed at the lanterns swaying under the eaves and said in a deep voice, "Don't be too happy yet. The closer we get to our goal, the more cautious we must be."

Liu Zhiye paused, then lowered his voice even further, "Remember, it's better to be a step behind than to make a mistake. This operation is of utmost importance and cannot afford the slightest error."

After hanging up the phone with his son, Liu Zhiye put his hands behind his back and slowly walked back to the living room.

A lingering smile still played on his lips, clearly indicating that the phone call had put him in a good mood.

"Hey, Lao Liu, who were you chatting on the phone with just now? You were being so secretive." Gan Ning put down her newspaper and cast an inquiring glance over her reading glasses.

She folded the newspaper in half and placed it on her lap, leaning forward slightly, revealing her intense curiosity.

Liu Zhiye sat down on the sofa opposite his wife and slowly picked up his blue and white porcelain teacup.

He gently blew away the tea leaves floating on the water, the rising steam blurring his smiling eyes: "Who else could it be? Your precious youngest son, of course."

Upon hearing this, Gan Ning immediately pouted and slammed the newspaper heavily on the coffee table: "Oh! This heartless little brat!" Her voice suddenly rose a few decibels, "Now he only has eyes for you, his father, and he's probably forgotten about me, his mother, to the ends of the earth!" As she spoke, she didn't forget to poke her temple with her fingertip, looking both angry and amused.

Liu Zhiye sighed helplessly and said gently, "Why are you getting so worked up? We were talking about military affairs, which involve classified matters. Your jealousy is rather inexplicable." He shook his head, thinking that his wife's temperament had indeed become increasingly unpredictable since she retired.

Gan Ning snorted coldly and slammed the newspaper on the table: "Fine, you think you're so great!" She pointed sharply at a news article, "Take a look at this news yourself..."

The headline of that news article was eye-catching, and it was clearly the real trigger that angered Gan Ning.

This report tells the story of a disabled veteran who, because he couldn't afford medical treatment, could only...

In the report, the reporter wrote with great respect: Even with his disability... he did not accept the money offered to him, but instead chose two steamed buns.

Upon seeing this, Liu Zhiye was furious. For so many years, he and the entire Liu family had been dedicated to the resettlement and support of disabled veterans and families of martyrs, but he never expected that such a thing would happen.

Seeing the veterans described by the reporter, Liu Zhiye felt a pang of heartache.

Anyone who has served in the military would find such a scene unbearable.

In previous years, they dedicated their youth and health to the battlefield, but now they can't even guarantee their basic living needs. It's truly tragic.

The report included a photo showing the veteran sitting on the ground with a makeshift cane made of wooden sticks next to him.

There was no begging bowl in front of him, only a tattered hat.

The reporter mentioned in the report that the hat contained the old man's only possessions, namely his discharge certificate and disabled veteran's certificate.

Before seeing this report, Liu Zhiye never expected that such a thing would happen after so many years of hard work, something he would absolutely not tolerate.

Yi Yuanchao had just been promoted to deputy minister of the logistics support department this year when he received a phone call from his superior, Liu Zhiye.

On the phone, Liu Zhiye's voice was low as he said he needed Yi Yuanchao to come over.

Yi Yuanchao didn't know why Liu Zhiye wanted to see him, but judging from the old commander's voice, Yi Yuanchao felt that he was not happy. Perhaps one of his subordinates had made a mistake?
With a mix of unease and anxiety, Yi Yuanchao arrived at the door of Liu Zhiye's office.

The secretary was standing at the door, and Yi Yuanchao glanced at him.

The secretary simply shook his head, said nothing, and went to report to Liu Zhiye that Yi Yuanchao had arrived. Yi Yuanchao heard the instruction to "let him in" and saw the secretary open the door for him.

He was a little confused and didn't quite understand what had happened.

Upon seeing Yi Yuanchao enter, Liu Zhiye pointed to the sofa, gesturing for him to sit down.

Yi Yuanchao plopped down on the sofa, but Liu Zhiye didn't say anything, and the atmosphere in the office suddenly became somewhat dull.

As he sat for a long time, Yi Yuanchao became increasingly nervous.

"Yi Yuanchao, how are you feeling about your time in the Logistics Department?" Just as Yi Yuanchao was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, Liu Zhiye suddenly asked a question that had nothing to do with the matter at hand.

"Sir, the work in the Logistics Department is indeed quite busy, but it's much easier than in other departments."

However, the affairs of the Logistics Department are varied and miscellaneous, and there are bound to be some things that cannot be taken care of. When Yi Yuanchao heard Liu Zhiye ask, he spoke the truth.

After listening to Yi Yuanchao's words, Liu Zhiye didn't say much and handed him a newspaper.

Yi Yuanchao was a little confused, but he still took the newspaper.

On the front page of the newspaper, there was actually a news article about veterans who fought against the epidemic and aided the Chinese people...

When Yi Yuanchao saw this report, his eyes widened in surprise.

He looked at Liu Zhiye, as if to confirm whether the matter was true or false.

Liu Zhiye nodded with a stern face, confirming the authenticity of the report, which immediately dispelled any lingering hope in Yi Yuanchao's heart.

To be honest, even Yi Yuanchao himself hadn't expected what was reported in the newspapers.

After all, everyone thinks that veterans who have made contributions will definitely receive some support from their hometowns after their retirement.

Moreover, the veterans did not want to cause trouble for the local authorities, so they never asked for help from them.

So everyone thought that retired veterans shouldn't have any major problems in their lives.

This report and this photo were like a resounding slap in the face to Yi Yuanchao, jolting him awake.

Liu Zhiye showed Yi Yuanchao the report, mainly to make him understand that in the corners they couldn't see, some people... were actually having a hard time.

He cared for his soldiers like his own children, and Yi Yuanchao did the same.
...They have dedicated everything to the country and deserve special treatment.

But it is precisely these people who have given everything who are least willing to cause trouble for others, and even hope to receive special treatment.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhiye felt a sharp pain in his heart.

He told Yi Yuanchao that our heroes should not be reduced to this state and should enjoy the treatment they deserve as heroes.

After reading the newspaper, Yi Yuanchao's eyes also reddened.

"Sir, it's all our fault for not doing our job properly. I need to apologize to you..."

Liu Zhiye waved his hand and said to Yi Yuanchao, "I called you here not to hear you give a self-criticism, but to make you understand the importance of the work you are in charge of..."

Liu Zhiye is particularly concerned about his retired subordinates and makes time to visit them every year.

In his eyes, disabled veterans deserve the best care.

Liu Zhiye remembers that year when he was the deputy commander of the 2nd Guard Division.

One day, he went to a remote village called Meilihe Village in northern Xinjiang Province to visit his old subordinates from the Anti-Japanese War, whom he hadn't seen for many years.

Although the villagers didn't know Liu Zhiye's identity at first, they could tell that he was no ordinary person when they saw several cars they had never seen before parked at the village entrance.

Soon, Liu Zhiye and his group found the village committee with the help of the villagers. Many curious villagers followed them to the village committee.

When they arrived at the village committee, the village officials were flattered to see military leaders visiting.

Liu Zhiye immediately stated his purpose, saying that he had come to the village to find someone, and then asked, "Do you have a person named Wang Alin in your village?"

Before the village officials could answer his question, one of the villagers present blurted out, "Wang Alin, we all know that he has had a very difficult time these past few years. He still has to live in the stable."

Upon hearing the other party's words, Liu Zhiye was immediately thrilled and asked the village officials and villagers to take him to see Wang Alin.

Although everyone had a lot of questions, they didn't ask Liu Zhiye. Instead, they quickly took him to the stable where Wang Alin was.

Upon seeing Wang Alin, Liu Zhiye's already excited emotions became even stronger. Ignoring Wang Alin's filthy appearance, he immediately hugged him and exclaimed, "After all these years, I've finally found you!"

“Old Company Commander… Waaah… I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime…” Wang Alin was also moved to tears.

At this moment, a villager who was watching asked Liu Zhiye curiously, "Commander, did you know each other before? What is your relationship with this 'homeless man'?"

Liu Zhiye patiently explained to everyone, "He was a combat hero during the Korean War, and also a soldier I once led."

Then, Wang Alin gave Liu Zhiye an exceptionally standard military salute.

This time, however, Wang Alin didn't use his right hand to salute like an ordinary person, but his left hand, because he now only has this one hand.

Seeing this, Liu Zhiye was deeply shocked and quickly gestured for him to put his hand down.

Then, Liu Zhiye looked around and noticed that although the stable where he was staying was very dirty and messy, the only thin quilt was folded very neatly, just like in the military camp. He praised, "You really are worthy of being a soldier I once led!"

Afterwards, disregarding the filth and mess of the stable, Liu Zhiye sat on the floor of the stable and talked with Wang Alin about the past.

They were comrades-in-arms who fought side by side during the Korean War more than a decade ago.

In particular, Wang Alin became a combat hero during that ambush battle.

However, at the same time, he also lost an arm in the battle and became disabled.

In the early stages of the campaign, our army defeated the enemy many times, but at the same time, our own army also suffered heavy losses.

At this point, the enemy decided to launch a counterattack.

At that time, Liu Zhiye was the acting company commander, and Wang Alin was one of his soldiers. However, Liu Zhiye was actually two years younger than Wang Alin, and was less than twenty years old at the time.

At that time, the main force of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had already advanced to within a short distance of the two important military towns of Hengcheng and Chipyong-ri.

Ultimately, the commander decided to first capture the strategically important military town of Chipyeong-ri.

At that time, the superiors ordered the soldiers to capture Chipyong-ri, a key enemy military town, within two days.

This is because there are many enemies in the vicinity. If the two of them cannot capture Chipyong-ri within two days, then a large number of enemies will come to support them, making it even more difficult to conquer the area.

Liu Zhiye's unit was ordered to ambush the enemy from behind, in order to encircle the enemy and block any reinforcements that might come.

Just as everyone was getting ready, they encountered the enemy's armored artillery unit, so they decided to launch a brilliant ambush.

However, the enemy had an advantage in equipment, making it very difficult to annihilate them.

Therefore, the superiors told the soldiers that even if they could not annihilate the enemy, they should still hinder their advance and prevent their heavy weapons from being deployed to other battlefields.

After the ambush began, the soldiers launched a fierce attack on the enemy. In an instant, the sounds of artillery and gunfire filled the air, catching the enemy off guard by the sudden attack of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

Once they realized what was happening, they launched a counterattack. The enemy had a significant advantage in weaponry, so the battle quickly became a stalemate.

Meanwhile, the enemy also had many heavy tanks, which they planned to use to lead the charge.

Due to their inferior equipment, the soldiers were struggling to withstand the attacks of the enemy's heavy tanks.

Therefore, the superiors decided to have the soldiers use grenades to blow up the enemy tanks. As the grenades were thrown one after another, the enemy tanks remained undamaged. The soldiers were extremely anxious.

With their pre-prepared grenades almost used up, the consequences would be unimaginable if they didn't destroy the enemy's tank soon.

The only way to destroy the enemy tank now is to get close to it and throw grenades at it.

Liu Zhiye, the acting company commander at the time, decided to personally carry out the mission, but his soldier Wang Alin stopped him. Wang Alin said, "Company commander, you can't go. What will happen to everyone if something happens to you? You have to stay here and take command."

(End of this chapter)