Chapter 267: The Wife’s Prestige

“It must be from sister-in-law! She sent something to Camp Commander Lu from back home! I wonder what delicious food she sent him!”

“Let’s go, let’s go check it out!”

The soldiers of the First Battalion couldn’t even be bothered to finish breakfast, rushing to the camp gate to join the excitement.

It was no wonder the soldiers were so excited. When Jiang Moli visited the base before, she brought beef chili and cured meat that the entire battalion still reminisced about.

Lu Cheng rushed to the camp gate as fast as he could.

A Jiefang truck was parked outside the camp, and several soldiers from the logistics department were performing a routine inspection of the goods in the cargo bed.

Lu Cheng walked up to the truck bed. “Unload my things first.”

‘He couldn’t wait to see if his wife had sent him something.’

The logistics team leader saluted him. “Camp Commander Lu, regulations state that all external supplies entering the camp must be inspected one by one and registered.”

Lu Cheng said, “Then register my share first.”

The team leader replied, “We’re on it. This whole truck is for you.”

Hearing this, Lu Cheng couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

‘So many supplies… could they have been allocated by the higher-ups?’

‘But that’s not right. If the command was allocating supplies, they’d go to the regiment, not my battalion.’

While he was trying to puzzle it out, the team leader handed him a letter.

“Camp Commander Lu, here’s your letter. It’s already been registered.”

Lu Cheng took the letter, tore it open, and as he read, his confused expression instantly melted into a huge smile.

Behind him, the soldiers of the First Battalion were all crowded just inside the camp gate, watching the show.

“Camp Commander Lu is smiling so happily. Don’t tell me sister-in-law is pregnant and he’s going to be a father?”

“Nonsense. The Camp Commander hasn’t even been home. If she’s pregnant, whose baby would it be?”

“Maybe she got pregnant last time he was home. The Camp Commander’s getting on in years, it’s about time he had a kid.”

Just as the soldiers’ discussion was heating up, Lu Cheng suddenly turned and walked toward them. One by one, they immediately fell silent.

They knew if Lu Cheng caught them gossiping about his wife, they’d be in for a harsh drilling.

“Here. A letter from your sister-in-law. Pass it around.”

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment.

‘A letter from sister-in-law? And he wants us to pass it around and read it? Isn’t that a little… too familiar?’

When the first few soldiers in the front read the letter’s contents, they were all stunned.

—With the Lunar New Year approaching, I know the soldiers of the First Battalion are working hard to guard the border! I’m sending 250 kg of rice, 250 kg of flour, 50 kg of lard, 100 kg of cured meat, 250 kg of peanuts, and 25 kg each of brown and white sugar, so that you all can have a good New Year!

The soldiers in the back swarmed forward. “What did sister-in-law write in the letter? Let me see!”

When they saw the contents, they nearly went wild with joy.

“AHH!! Sister-in-law sent us a whole truckload of supplies!!”

“What? This whole truck is from sister-in-law, for our First Battalion? Did I hear that right?”

“Look, it’s written right here in the letter!”

Watching the cheering soldiers, Lu Cheng was also grinning from ear to ear.

‘His wife… when she makes a move, she goes big!’

Soon, the men from the logistics department came down from the truck bed.

“Camp Commander Lu, everything has been inspected and registered. With this much stuff, how about we store it at the logistics depot for now?”

‘If this truckload of food went to the logistics depot, we’d never see it again.’

“No need. The First Battalion has plenty of space!”

With that, he told the driver to get out, hopped into the driver’s seat himself, and drove the Jiefang truck into the camp.

The logistics personnel watched the dusty rear of the truck disappear, so envious their tears were practically drool.

‘Such a huge truck of good things. If only it were for the regiment, they’d at least get a bite.’

As Lu Cheng drove at the front, the soldiers of the First Battalion spontaneously formed two columns, marching proudly on either side of the truck like an honor guard.

The spectacle made soldiers from other battalions point and whisper. “Isn’t that a supply truck? Why is it heading to the First Battalion instead of the logistics depot?”

As if sensing their confusion, a soldier from the First Battalion shouted an explanation: “These are supplies sent to our First Battalion from our sister-in-law!”

Soon, the news that Jiang Moli had sent a truckload of supplies to the First Battalion spread throughout the entire base.

The soldiers of the First Battalion were happier than if it were New Year’s itself, while the men from other battalions were red-eyed with envy.

‘What kind of family is that, sending a whole truckload of supplies?!’

…

Once they reached the First Battalion’s barracks area, Lu Cheng personally directed the soldiers to move the supplies from the truck into the storeroom. 𝖿𝖗ⅇℴ𝑚

Everyone in the First Battalion scrambled to help, each one of them beaming.

Even through the thick burlap sacks, they could smell the fragrant aroma of rice, flour, and meat.

‘The smell was intoxicating!’

Before long, Zhong Weiguo arrived at the First Battalion.

“Commander Zhong!”

“Greetings, Commander Zhong!”

The soldiers of the First Battalion all saluted and greeted Zhong Weiguo.

Zhong Weiguo nodded. “Carry on. I just came to have a look.”

Watching the soldiers haul one bag after another into the barracks, Zhong Weiguo felt a pang of envy.

‘With so many supplies, the First Battalion is going to have a bountiful New Year!’

Lu Cheng grabbed a handful of peanuts and offered them to Zhong Weiguo. “Commander Zhong, try some peanuts from my hometown.”

Zhong Weiguo took a few, shelling and eating them as he teased, “Did your wife strike it rich? Sending you all this good stuff.”

Lu Cheng’s smile was so wide an AK-47 couldn’t have flattened it. “My Moli just has a kind heart. She can’t bear to see the soldiers suffer!”

Zhong Weiguo chuckled. “Then you should learn from her. Happiness shared is happiness doubled. Let the soldiers of the whole regiment share in the good fortune.”

“Commander Zhong, you’re setting me up. Since ancient times, those whose achievements outshine their master’s have never met a good end.”

Lu Cheng deftly deflected the suggestion, and Zhong Weiguo was tactful enough not to press the issue.

‘It’s a lie to say I’m not envious, but who can we blame for not having such an enlightened wife?’

“Alright, go on and get busy. When you’re done, come to my office. I have something to discuss with you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lu Cheng also wanted to call his wife, so after all the supplies were moved into the storeroom and he had personally arranged for a platoon of soldiers to stand guard in shifts, he hurried to the command post.

He arrived at Zhong Weiguo’s office.

Zhong Weiguo gestured for him to close the door and got straight to the point. “The higher-ups have assigned a mission. A batch of valuable scientific research materials needs to be secretly transported back into the country from Myanmar. Your team will need to infiltrate Myanmar to rendezvous with the escort personnel and secure the materials.”

Zhong Weiguo’s tone was grave. “This mission is critical, and it’s dangerous. If you are captured on foreign soil, due to special circumstances, the organization will likely be unable to rescue you. I’ll give you half a day to consider.”

Lu Cheng nodded solemnly. “Understood. Commander Zhong, I’d like to borrow the phone.”

Zhong Weiguo nodded, then picked up his tea mug and took a sip.

After his sip, seeing that Lu Cheng wasn’t moving, he couldn’t help but say, “Well, use it.”

Lu Cheng: “Could I trouble you to step out for a moment?”

Zhong Weiguo let out a short, exasperated laugh. “Fine. I’ll give you the room.”

He said as he walked out, mug in hand.

Lu Cheng also followed him toward the door. Just as Zhong Weiguo thought Lu Cheng was seeing him out, he watched Lu Cheng shut the office door right in his face.

Zhong Weiguo: “…”

‘You’ve got some nerve, kid!’

…

Back in the office, Jiang Moli was racking her brain for ideas for the New Year’s Day performance when Zhong Lin came over and called to her:

“Xiao Jiang, there’s a phone call for you.”

When she stepped out of the office, Zhong Lin said to her in a gentle tone, “It’s your husband, calling from the base. You go take it. I’m going to the restroom.”