After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

Inside the temporary command post, the air seemed frozen, with only the occasional crackling sound of the flames in the coal stove.

Anyone sitting here, if you randomly picked them, would have stars on their shoulders that could blind you. But right now, the atmosphere is so oppressive that it's hard to breathe.

Commander Wang of the military region sat in the main seat, a half-smoked cigarette burning down to his fingers, but he didn't throw it away. On the table were two reports: one was a report of victory in annihilating the mercenaries, and the other was a report on the injuries sustained in an accident during the exercise.

"Snapped!"

Commander Wang slammed his hand on the table, making the enamel mug dance.

"Gu Zheng fought a brilliant battle! He wiped out that bunch of 'Rattlesnakes' who were feeding on raw rice! That's what special operations are all about! Gu Zheng and Shi Tou deserve a first-class merit!"

Gu Zheng stood straight below, his face showing no arrogance, only a slight nod: "It's the soldiers who have lived up to expectations."

"You've really lived up to expectations!" Commander Wang's tone shifted abruptly, his rough finger pointing directly at Li Yunlong, the Blue Army commander standing beside him. "And you, Li Yunlong! You old bastard, aren't you ashamed?"

Li Yunlong hung his head, looking like a wilted eggplant. His usual fierce and imposing manner was long gone, and his stubble was trembling.

"Commander, I..." Li Yunlong's voice was hoarse, as if he had swallowed a handful of sand, "It's my fault for leading the troops poorly."

"You should confess!" Commander Wang grew angrier with each word, slamming the injury report down his shoulder. "Building a fortification, and stones could smash a soldier's leg? Is that a leg? That's a soldier's life!"

Commander Wang stood up and paced back and forth in the cramped tent, his military boots making a dull thud on the frozen ground.

"That soldier named Erhu, I checked his file, he's only nineteen! And he's the only son in his family!" Commander Wang pointed at Li Yunlong's nose and cursed, "A rural soldier, back in those poor mountain gullies, he relied on his own two legs and two hands to toil in the fields for a living! Now look what's happened, this accident has crippled him! He'll go back with an amputation, he won't be able to get a wife, he won't be able to farm, how is he supposed to survive? You've cut off a family's bloodline!"

Those words were too harsh; they pierced my heart like a knife.

In this era, disability is a devastating blow to a rural family.

Li Yunlong's eyes were red-rimmed. This man, who shed blood but not tears on the battlefield, choked out, "Commander, please stop. I, Li Yunlong, accept the punishment! I request a demotion. I'll support that soldier for the rest of his life! I'll send him my monthly allowance, I'll support his whole family!"

"You'll support him? What will you use to support him?" Commander Wang said, exasperated. "Can you walk for him? Can you carry his burdens for him your whole life?"

The chief of staff sighed, handed over a prepared document, and cautiously advised, "Commander, calm down. Things have come to this, we can only do our best to compensate. This is an application for disability compensation drafted according to the highest standards, assessed as... Level One Disability."

"The amputation surgery... should be almost over." The chief of staff glanced at his watch, his tone somber. "The field hospital couldn't do anything about it; with that level of crush injury, the person wouldn't survive without amputation."

A deathly silence fell over the tent.

Everyone was waiting for the final verdict. The young soldier's fate seemed to have been nailed to the pillar of shame by this report.

Just then—

"Report! Report to the commander!"

The tent flap was ripped open, and a cold wind carrying snowflakes swept in. Before anyone could see clearly, a figure in a white coat rushed in like a cannonball.

It was Director Wang of the field hospital.

This old military doctor, who usually gets out of breath just walking, was now running so fast that his hat was askew, his face was flushed, and he was panting heavily, clutching a dark X-ray film tightly in his hand as if it were a get-out-of-jail-free card.

"...All done intercepting?" Li Yunlong swayed, then closed his eyes in despair. "I'll go write my self-criticism now..."

Commander Wang, his face also grave, waved his hand and said, "Alright, that's enough. Put the film down and have the logistics department arrange a vehicle to take him back to the rear sanatorium..."

"No! Oh no! No!"

Dean Wang finally caught his breath and stomped his feet in frustration, shoving the film in his hand right under Commander Wang's nose.

"It wasn't amputated! The leg is still there! It's still there!"

Dean Wang's voice rose eight octaves, cracking and sounding like a rooster crowing at dawn: "It's back together! It's all back together! My God, the blood vessels, nerves, bones, they've all been pieced back together like embroidery!"

"What?"

Commander Wang's cigarette, which he had just lit, fell with a "thud" onto his crotch, burning him so badly that he quickly and clumsily brushed it off.

Li Yunlong suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils wide like copper bells, and grabbed Dean Wang by the collar: "Old Wang, you old geezer, don't make fun of me! You mean... Erhu's leg is saved?"

"It's saved! Absolutely!"

Dean Wang was so excited that he gestured wildly, pointing at the X-ray, spittle flying everywhere: "Look, sirs! The vascular anastomosis, the bone repositioning—it's simply a work of art! That's microsurgery! Only major hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai have this technology, and I never imagined that a young girl could pull it off right here in our city!"

Several heads instantly crowded in front of the black and white film.

Although they couldn't understand the complex medical markings, the complete image of the lower leg bone was undeniably real.

There are no gaps. There are no truncations.

That's a good leg.

"Amazing..." Commander Wang muttered to himself, running his finger across the film. "This really was made by... Gu Zheng's wife?"

"It's her!" Dean Wang exclaimed with fervor, like a believer who had just witnessed a miracle. "Dr. Ye's hands are amazing! I don't know how she did it. In just two hours, she snatched this leg back from the jaws of death! She said that as long as she rests for six months, she'll be able to go back to work!"

No problem working in the fields.

These seven words are more precious than any first-class merit, and more valuable than gold bars!

Li Yunlong stood there, stunned for a full three seconds. Suddenly, he whirled around and gave Gu Zheng a bear hug, the force so strong it felt like he wanted to break Gu Zheng's ribs. "Gu Zheng! You're something else! You married a living goddess!"

"Good! Good! They're not useless! My soldiers aren't useless!"

Gu Zheng pushed Li Yunlong away with disdain, slowly straightened his crumpled collar, and put on a calm expression that said, "What's the big deal?" There was even a hint of smug nonchalance in his expression.

"Commander Li, you flatter me." Gu Zheng's tone was calm, but the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his feelings. "My wife is timid and usually just sews and mends clothes. This time, we were forced into this situation, mainly because Erhu is a tough guy."

"Screw your mending and patching!"

Commander Wang laughed and cursed, then slapped Gu Zheng on the back with such force that he clearly released all his pent-up frustration.

"You've struck gold, kid! Stop acting all high and mighty with me!" Commander Wang lit another cigarette, took a deep drag, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out. "Comrade Ye Zhen has done a great service! I'll personally recommend her for commendation later!"

"It's not just about claiming credit!" The chief of staff next to him also snapped out of his daze, pushed up his glasses, and his eyes lit up—the eyes of someone who had discovered strategic resources. "Commander, think about it, since Dr. Ye can perform such difficult limb replantation, then our wounded soldiers coming back from the battlefield in the future..."

Upon hearing this, everyone present changed their expressions; they looked like wolves eyeing meat.

Yes.

What's the most frightening thing on the battlefield? It's not death, it's being maimed.

If we had this skill, how many families could be saved? How much combat power could be preserved for the military?

Commander Wang suddenly turned around, staring at Gu Zheng with eyes as eager as if he were eyeing a piece of Tang Monk's flesh: "Gu Zheng, don't hold back. Can you teach your wife her cooking skills?"

Gu Zheng raised an eyebrow, secretly overjoyed, but feigning difficulty: "Sir, this is a unique skill, and the surgery is exhausting. My wife is frail, and she's worn out this time..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Commander Wang waved his hand grandly, exuding an air of magnanimity. "We'll provide the manpower and equipment you need! As long as she's willing to teach, I'll even count myself in; I'll be her logistics manager! That's settled!"

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly transformed from lifeless to bustling with activity.

Looking at the group of leaders who had just been gloomy, now beaming with pride as they discussed how to "exploit" his wife's skills, Gu Zheng felt a surge of pride that surpassed even his own achievement of receiving a first-class merit.

He glanced at his watch, his sharp eyes scanning the corner of the room before settling on the two red-shelled cans of luncheon meat.

In the 1980s, Merlin brand canned goods were a rarity, especially these large-capacity export-to-domestic products, which were plentiful of meat and oil. In this kind of weather, they were the perfect replenishment for people who had just expended a great deal of energy.

Without saying hello, he walked over, stretched out his long arms, and brazenly grabbed the canned food into his arms.

This action made Li Yunlong's eyes widen. "Hey, Gu Zheng, that's what the Commander said he'd give us as a treat after the meeting. It's not fair of you to keep it all for yourself."

"Commander, I'm canceling the meeting," Gu Zheng said.

Everyone was stunned: ? ? ?

Commander Wang was also stunned. Although this kid was usually a rascal, this was the first time he had ever stormed off like this at a formal post-war debriefing meeting.

Without turning his head, Gu Zheng strode quickly, lifted the curtain, and walked out: "I have to take my wife to eat. No matter what, my wife's eating is the most important thing."

He left behind a room full of dumbfounded generals.

Commander Wang sat there, pointing outside the door, laughing and cursing angrily, "That bastard, he's forgotten his mother now that he has a wife. Alright, alright, stop looking. Gu Zheng is right, the great hero needs to be fed first. You there, the bodyguard!"

The guard at the door quickly saluted, "Present!"

"Go to the mess hall and get those two dried chicken legs Old Li brought back. Also, go to the kitchen and heat up two bowls of noodles, with extra eggs in them," Commander Wang instructed, slamming his hand on the table. "Take them directly to the tent where Dr. Ye is resting. If you miss a single piece of meat, I'll hold you responsible!"