1940s: I supported my wife and sister-in-law by hunting.

For three days in a row, there were no drills at the camp.

A bunch of grown men huddled in the barracks, staring at each other, just waiting around.

The authorities investigated several times, but couldn't find any clues, and in the end, the matter was dropped.

The camp was out of food, clueless, and without any plan; it looked like they were about to starve.

To make do with what was available, the officers could only send the veteran soldiers in the unit to go to the surrounding villages in batches to borrow grain.

Chen Gaoshan has had a bad habit since he was a child: he absolutely cannot be distracted. If he is distracted, he will immediately drift off into a daze.

When he's working, if there's any noise or people chatting around him, his mind will instantly wander and he won't be able to concentrate.

However, his quick wit and composure in the face of adversity made him stand out among these greenhorns.

I was just promoted this week and became the deputy platoon leader of the recruit team.

To put it bluntly, these new recruits were either hotheads, timid and cowardly, or clumsy. After picking and choosing, only Chen Gaoshan seemed reliable, quick-witted, and capable of handling things.

The garrison outside the city is about to perish.

The city's regular garrison strictly controls its firearms and ammunition, not giving any extra equipment to the troops outside the city.

With no guns, no cannons, and insufficient supplies, everyone was left helpless.

The regimental commander was forced into a corner and made a decision through gritted teeth.

He had already informed his classmates in Jichun that Battalion Commander Zhao would lead the team, along with a battalion of soldiers, to Jichun City to borrow weapons and replenish equipment. Chen Gaoshan, who was now considered a close confidant of Battalion Commander Zhao, naturally went along as well.

Now they have nothing. If Eighth Master Grey seizes an opportunity to attack the city, with his meager resources and the standard of three men and one gun, he can only hold out for two or three days at most before the city falls.

Fortunately, there were still ten horses left in the camp, otherwise Battalion Commander Zhao would have had to walk to Jichun with them.

To put it bluntly, going out to borrow equipment this time was like brazenly getting scolded.

They had previously lost the supplies and equipment of an entire brigade, and the news had already spread.

General Zheng of Jichun City was known for his tough temper, his lack of greed and lust, and his polite manner. However, when it came to major issues such as military affairs, material losses, or defense lapses, he would lose his temper more easily than anyone else.

The battalion commander knew in his heart that he was bound to be scolded this time, and might even get slapped hard in public, making people's ears ring.

That's why he specifically cultivated this group of confidants; to put it bluntly, they were there to shield him from anger and slaps in crucial moments.

This journey is completely different from Chen Gaoshan's previous support of the front lines.

They pushed a cart, taking breaks whenever possible, prioritizing stability.

This was a real forced march; everyone was running and stumbling, not daring to stop, and they were all exhausted like wretched calves.

The officials in the procession, all wearing stars, rode tall, magnificent horses, leisurely swaying about.

The young soldiers below, like silly boys, ran after him, their throats parched.

Only Chen Gaoshan, with his solid foundation, could withstand it.

He followed his father into the mountains to chase roe deer and pheasants, sometimes for two or three days at a time, traversing mountains and valleys.

With his honed endurance and physical fitness, this forced march was at most a bit tiring and made him sweat.

After traveling for two days, we finally arrived at the foot of the city gate of Jichun City.

As soon as they entered the city gate, Wang Ergou was completely dumbfounded. He kept shouting and exclaiming as he walked, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"Brother Shanzi! My goodness! Jichun City is huge!"

"No wonder it's Xinjing, built by the Japanese devils back then. It's more than ten times bigger than our Songyuan. Look at these tall buildings and big tile-roofed houses. I've never seen such tall buildings in my life. And these smooth roads, they're so clean, there's not even a speck of dirt on them."

Jichun truly has the grandeur of a big city.

The smooth and sturdy asphalt roads extend in all directions, and rickshaws, bicycles, and the rare minibuses travel back and forth on the streets.

Rows of Western-style buildings and wide, clean streets make it more impressive than rural villages or small towns.

Chen Gaoshan clicked his tongue inwardly. No wonder people outside called this place the New York of the East; it truly lived up to its reputation.

"Stop looking around and shouting, hurry up and keep up with the group, don't fall behind."

Everyone followed the main force and entered the command post compound inside the city.

Although Chen Gaoshan is now a deputy platoon leader among the new recruits, his rank is still too low, and he's not qualified to go inside for discussions. He can only obediently squat at the entrance of the command post, leaning against the wall to rest, waiting for orders.

Not long after, the pockmarked guy from the team came out of the house.

"Everyone disperse on the spot, find a place to eat and fill your stomachs. The battalion commander stays inside to discuss matters with his superiors. Be back by five o'clock. Get out of here."

The one hunched over with his crotch tucked in was Er Gouzi Hanjian. Chen Gaoshan immediately stood at attention and saluted.

"Yes, platoon leader."

As soon as Ma Zi left, the group of boys in the yard immediately relaxed.

Wang Ergou slumped at the corners of his mouth, looking unhappy, and huddled behind the crowd, muttering to himself.

"What the hell is this? The officials are staying inside eating and drinking like kings, while we working brothers are left out here unattended. It's inhuman!"

Chen Gaoshan was considered a minor leader by everyone.

At this moment, he waved his hand and called to the thirty brothers behind him.

"Let's go! We'll find our own food."

A large group of soldiers in yellow uniforms marched in a grand procession down Jichun Street.

Ordinary people are most afraid of joining the army.

These people looked intimidating in their leather outfits. Pedestrians and vendors on the street would quickly dodge to the side of the road or walk around them from a distance when they saw them coming, for fear of getting into trouble.

The street was lined with shops, stalls, food vendors, general merchandise sellers, foreign firms, and stores—it was much busier than their town.

He spotted an open-air noodle stall by the roadside, with a pot of hot soup bubbling away, and everyone swarmed around it.

The noodle stall owner was an honest, middle-aged man who was tending the stall with his young son. Suddenly, he was surrounded by more than thirty soldiers, which made his legs tremble so badly that he could barely hold the noodle ladle.

"Sir, sir, what would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."

Chen Gaoshan stood at the front.

"Keep it simple, one bowl of noodles per person, thirty bowls in total."

The boss didn't dare to delay and quickly told Hu Zi to add firewood, cook noodles, make soup, and sprinkle scallions.

The noodles tasted so-so, with little oil or seasoning; they were just plain white noodles in clear broth.

But these brothers had been marching for two days straight without a hot meal, and their stomachs were already rumbling with hunger.

As soon as the hot noodles were served, everyone picked up their bowls and started eating with gusto, slurping and munching away, finishing every last drop of soup and noodles.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they put down their bowls and chopsticks, and he subconsciously reached for his waist pocket.

The boss, with his sharp eyes, spotted the soldiers reaching out and was terrified.

These days, it's common for soldiers to eat for free and rob things. He thought these soldiers were going to pull out their guns and act tough, so he quickly pulled his son back two steps and waved his hands repeatedly to beg for mercy.

"Sir, please, please don't touch me! This noodle is free. I'm offering it to you gentlemen as a token of my respect. You can leave after you've finished eating; it's free."

These words stunned Chen Gaoshan. He had lived for over twenty years, and he had actually become a military officer who ate without paying and then just walked away.

In the eyes of ordinary people, he is now seen as someone who takes advantage of others and acts arrogantly.

His brows furrowed, and his face darkened.

"I'm rich, why should I eat for free? Who said I didn't pay? How much is a bowl of noodles? Tell me."

The boss swallowed hard, trembling as he extended a hand.

"Five military notes for a bowl, sir."

These days, the Northeast is in chaos. Although military scrip has depreciated significantly and is not worth much money, these people are needed in nine provinces, so soldiers have plenty of it.

Two days ago, before setting off, Ma Zi had just given everyone 100 military notes as pay.

Chen Gaoshan casually pulled out a stack of military bills from his pocket, counted out five bills, and slapped them on the table.

"The money is here. Remember, soldiers are human too. They have to pay for noodles. I have my bottom line. People earn their money through hard work and can't just eat it for free."

When the platoon leader saw that even he was paying, none of the men dared to cheat. They all obediently pulled out their military bills and slapped them on the table. The cost of the thirty bowls of noodles was not reduced by a single penny.

The boss stared wide-eyed at the colorful military notes on the table and immediately called for his son.

"Tiger, hurry up and pick up the money, quick!"

He picked up the money while sighing with emotion.

"I've been running this stall for so many years, I've seen all kinds of soldiers, they all just eat and take for free. Today is the first time I've seen a soldier give me money on his own initiative, it's like I've finally gotten some return on my investment, it's so rare."