First Night with the Army: The Stoic Big Shot Is Done Pretending

Wen Ci quietly watched Wen Yaozu. He sucked in a breath and held it for what felt like an eternity, but just as he was about to burst, he hung his head in defeat. "Fine, I got fat again."

After a long moment, Wen Ci spoke, her voice calm and unhurried. "I hear you’ve been running amok at school?"

"Slander! That’s absolute slander!"

His cronies on the wall had never seen Boss Wen look so cowed. Just as they were about to jump back over, a shrill voice boomed, "Su Sisi, Wang Wuyi, Li Yun, it’s you lot again! And where is Wen Yaozu?"

The campus wall was built of red brick, and through a small crack near the center, the dean of discipline spotted Wen Yaozu.

"Wen Yaozu, go get your parents! This time, even if the principal himself tries to protect you, I will personally give you a harsh reprimand in front of the entire school and your parents."

Hearing the frustrated disappointment in the dean of discipline’s voice...

Wen Ci was extremely satisfied.

It showed that the teachers at the county middle school hadn’t completely given up on him yet.

Suddenly, the dean of discipline noticed the young woman next to Wen Yaozu and asked tentatively, "And who might this student be?"

"I’m Wen Yaozu’s older sister."

The dean of discipline had been transferred from the provincial capital this year. She had heard about Wen Yaozu’s older sister—excellent grades, but unfortunately, her parents wouldn’t let her continue her studies.

Every time the scoundrel Wen Yaozu was brought up, the veteran teachers would feel a wave of regret for his sister. But there was nothing to be done if her parents wouldn’t support her education, especially with the county seat being so far from their village.

Even if Wen Ci’s tuition and miscellaneous fees were waived, they couldn’t help with her living expenses.

The dean of discipline’s voice inevitably softened. "Yaozu’s sister, do you have a moment? I’d like to speak with you about Wen Yaozu."

"I do."

Wen Ci was invited into the school office. Wen Yaozu stood behind her with his head hung low, his mind racing with how he was going to apologize.

"Yaozu’s sister, can you handle him?"

This was the first time the dean of discipline had ever seen Wen Yaozu look so cowed. In the past, he remained insufferably arrogant even in front of his parents.

Yet in front of his sister, he was a complete wimp.

"I can," Wen Ci replied.

"In that case, I’d like to ask you to focus more of your attention on Wen Yaozu. He’s a sharp kid, he just doesn’t apply himself to the right things. If he put even half of that cleverness toward his studies, getting into high school would be a breeze!"

the dean of discipline urged, her tone painstaking.

Hearing this, Wen Yaozu was secretly thrilled.

As long as she wasn’t just scolding him, he’d still have a chance to explain things to his sister later. He looked up at the dean, a hint of gratitude in his eyes.

Wen Ci nodded and explained, "I actually came to school today to request an extended leave of absence for him. He’ll be starting his final year of middle school right after the summer vacation, and I’d like him to stay with me for a while so I can correct some of his bad habits."

"That’s wonderful! I fully support that."

"However..." Wen Ci drew out the word, looking the dean directly in the eyes. She explained with a helpless air, "If my parents find out, they won’t be able to bear seeing him endure the slightest hardship. So, I was hoping the teachers could help keep this from them."

The dean of discipline fell into thought.

She had met Wen Yaozu’s parents, and the couple had left an extremely poor impression on her. One could say that Wen Yaozu had been raised to be the lawless terror he was today.

It was all due to his parents’ unchecked indulgence.

After a long moment, the dean of discipline slapped her hand on the desk, having made up her mind. "I’ll do it. I hope that when summer vacation is over, we will see a completely different Wen Yaozu!"

"You can count on it."

·

That same day, Wen Yaozu went back to his dorm to pack his things and complete the paperwork to suspend his studies.

Hearing he didn’t have to go to school, Wen Yaozu was ecstatic. He followed closely behind his sister. After they got on the bus, he blinked and asked, "Sis, aren’t we going home?"

"No."

"Then where are we going?"

Wen Ci’s bright eyes stared at him fixedly. Wen Yaozu was a bit chubby, but he’d inherited his mother’s fair and smooth skin.

"You think you get to be happy just because you’re not going to school?"

Wen Yaozu tilted his head. "Aren’t I?"

A smile that wasn’t quite a smile appeared on Wen Ci’s face.

Though Wen Yaozu ruled the roost at school, he was still just a teenage brat at heart. Thanks to the Wen Family’s coddling, he remained utterly naive about the ways of the world.

He didn’t understand just how harsh life could be.

"From today on, you’re coming with me to live in Beijing."

"Really?" Wen Yaozu met Wen Ci’s gaze, his pupils shining like stars, his expression excited. "Sis, you’re not going to the Northwest anymore?"

"Not for now."

"Then where will we live?"

"Guess."

By the time the two of them arrived in Beijing by bus, the sky was already dark. Wen Yaozu had lost all his energy from the ride and said miserably:

"Sis, I’m hungry..."

Wen Ci thought for a moment. "How about the state-owned restaurant, then?"

’This might be Wen Yaozu’s last satisfying meal for a long time. Over the next while, I don’t just have to get his grades up; I need to get him to lose some weight, too.’

’Teenage boys who are too fat have a hard time finding a wife.’

"Really?!"

The words "state-owned restaurant" were like a wonder drug, instantly curing his exhaustion. He beamed. "I knew you’d take good care of me, Sis!"

The state-owned restaurant had already closed for the day.

Wen Ci paid the chef extra to whip up a few meat dishes for them. Seated in a private room on the second floor, Wen Yaozu gulped. "Sis, how did you get so stinking rich after getting married?!"

Even though he was spoiled at home.

This was still his first time eating at a state-owned restaurant.

As the dishes arrived at the table, Wen Ci’s expression remained placid. "Yaozu, this is your last feast. Starting tomorrow, you’ll get up when the military camp’s bugle sounds."

"Military camp?" Wen Yaozu pouted, not quite understanding. He asked curiously, "So are we staying in the military camp tonight? Can we even get in?"

"Your brother-in-law is a soldier."

"But isn’t he serving in the Northwest?"

Although he’d never seen what his brother-in-law looked like, he’d heard his parents mention that after his sister got married, she would have to follow her husband to the Northwest, and it would be hard to see her again.

"But your brother-in-law’s maternal grandfather’s family is in Beijing."

"Oh."

Smelling the fragrant dishes on the table, Wen Yaozu gulped. He couldn’t be bothered to think about it anymore. First things first, he was going to stuff himself.

Wen Ci was a little hungry too.

·

At nine o’clock at night, Wen Ci and Wen Yaozu were walking through the family courtyard, listening to the evening training at the adjacent military camp. Wen Ci couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile.

The Beijing Military Region had electricity, which allowed for evening training sessions.

"You won’t just be training in the morning; you’ll be training at night, too."

"Got it."

Full and content, all he wanted to do was sleep. Wen Yaozu, his back laden with a heavy bag of clothes, looked pleadingly at Wen Ci. "Sis..."

"What is it?"

"Can you help me with some of the weight of my backpack? I’ve been carrying it the whole way."

"No," Wen Ci refused without a second thought. "Carry your own things. If you can’t even handle a little hardship like this, I’ll send you home tomorrow."

"I can do it!"

Wen Yaozu immediately straightened his back, as if the heavy backpack no longer existed. Blinking, he said, "Sis, don’t send me away. I can do it."

There was a hint of a wheedling tone in his voice.

"We’ll see based on your actions."

Wen Ci had been on a bus for over ten hours and was exhausted. After getting the downstairs guest room ready for Wen Yaozu, she advised him, "You’d better get to sleep early."