A generation of soldiers begins with Feng Yuxiu traveling through time and space with Xu Sanduo

Chapter 445 Old Gao's Rise

A valley covered in snow.

Feng Yuxiu felt no fear or apprehension; he simply stood beside the corpse, staring intently at it.

The corpse, which had been dead for an unknown period of time, was covered in purplish-black lividity. The early spring temperature was not warm enough to freeze the body.

Feng Yuxiu squatted down and thoroughly dug away the snow covering the corpse, only to find that the cause of death was that the abdominal cavity had been pierced, and the intestines had long since dried up and turned into knots.

At that moment, Feng Yuxiu's head was buzzing, because the clothes on the corpse at his feet were the same as those on the group photo hanging next to the mirror at home.

"Could it be that……"

Feng Yuxiu slowly raised his head, gazing at the gray sky. "He's the real Brother Shu, so who am I? I... I've lost my memory... My bone age doesn't match my actual age... I look just like him, so who am I? He fell to his death here..."

-

-

"Auntie, where's Brother Shu? I heard he's back?"

"Distinguished guests are at our doorstep," Xiao Zhuang, Dezi, and two others called out from outside.

The old woman trembled involuntarily when she heard the voices of the villagers. Her son had worked so hard to turn their dilapidated home into a place that everyone in the village wanted to come to.

But now, this person who could have shone brightly and made a name for himself is actually a school security guard, and he has been fired.

The incident of her ascending to heaven and descending to earth happened at the same time, and the old lady almost choked.

"Um... he went out, he's not here."

The old lady didn't even come out of the door; she just stood in the living room and shouted.

Xiao Zhuang shrugged. "Looks like Brother Shu is a big shot now, so busy all the time."

Gao Peng, carrying eggs and milk, said, "What should we do? Should we leave the things here and come back tonight? I've already booked restaurants in the east, west, south, and north."

"Wait a minute."

After waiting in the cold wind for half an hour, Feng Yuxiu finally came out from around the corner of the alley.

"Hey, hey, hey... Teacher Shu is here!" Dezi exclaimed in surprise.

The three hurriedly went to greet him. Xiao Zhuang smiled humbly and said, "Teacher Shu came back without telling us. Doesn't that mean he treats us like outsiders?"

Feng Yuxiu glanced at it, then buried the tree that had fallen to its death back in the valley.

This raises an even bigger question: Who exactly is he? And why is he in Wangdu Village?

What did I do before? What happened to my lost memories?

And most importantly... why can't I win the lottery!
"Teacher Tree? Brother Tree?"

Seeing Feng Yuxiu in a daze, Xiao Zhuang quickly waved his hand.

Feng Yuxiu snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. "Teacher Shu?"

"Yes, I heard you became a teacher at Chen Yixin's school? Isn't that Teacher Shu?"

Seeing the three men's fawning smiles, Feng Yuxiu frowned, lit a cigarette and exhaled, "No, I was just a gatekeeper, but I was fired and have come back. Now I'm unemployed."

The three of them were visibly taken aback when he said that.

"Don't joke around, Teacher Shu. I know you were studying before because you didn't like to talk much. I've heard from the older generation that some people are just late bloomers." Xiao Zhuang didn't believe it at all.

Gao Peng chimed in, "Teacher Shu has learned to joke with us now."

Feng Yuxiu glanced at it and said, "I really am unemployed now."

After saying that, he pushed the three men aside and went inside.

Gao Peng looked at the two of them and asked, "What do we do now?"

Xiao Zhuang frowned. "Who started this rumor in the first place?"

Dezi replied, "It was said by the old scarred woman at the village entrance."

"How did Old Scar's wife find out?"

The two of them stared at Gao Peng.

"Why are you two looking at me like that?" Gao Peng asked, puzzled.

"Your mom said so."

Gao Peng's mother was like a hawk in Wangdu Village, able to hear everything that happened in any household.

It was like staying at someone else's house in the middle of the night. The most crucial thing was that Gao Peng's mother was a chatterbox, and any gossip would never stay unresolved overnight; the whole village would know by the next day.

Gao Peng sighed, "It seems it's true. He couldn't even be a good security guard and got fired."

"Let's go, let's go back. I told you a rat is always a rat. He hasn't even had much schooling, how could he possibly be a teacher? If he could be a teacher, I'd be the director of the education bureau..."

The three of them walked with their backs straight, and when they looked back at the dilapidated room, their eyes were filled with relief.

If all the village guardians of Wangdu Village could become teachers, it would be a devastating blow to their lives.

They would rather Feng Yuxiu remain a bachelor for the rest of his life, living a muddled and aimless existence, than tolerate even the slightest bit of success.

Sure enough, the news spread like wildfire throughout Wangdu Village in less than half an hour.

"anyone there?"

The door was pushed open, and the old lady came out, immediately putting on a smile, "Cuilian, what's wrong..."

Cuilian's woman led a swarm of women in, who stared at the old woman with sneers. "A rat is a rat, it can never become a cat. You're so old, yet you're still so shameless and concerned about saving face. When did your unemployed son become a teacher? Huh?"

The old lady's face immediately turned red, and she stammered, unable to speak.

"Where are the things we sent before? Where's my plate of eggs? Give them back to me."

Several people rushed in and took out the things they had given away earlier.

He was about to stand in the courtyard and hurl insults when he saw Feng Yuxiu walk out with his hands in his pockets and a cigarette in his mouth.

Seeing Feng Yuxiu's gaze, the group of women were speechless and turned away.

Once is enough to establish authority in the countryside. Feng Yuxiu had already chased away Erzhu, so these old women wouldn't dare to insult him like before.

"You... you called your second brother, I want to go back, it's so embarrassing." The old lady pointed at Feng Yuxiu and cursed, then covered her eyes and walked in shakily.

Feng Yuxiu didn't care. After discovering the corpse, he knew he might not be a tree anymore.

Since the starting point was in Wangdu Village, he should be able to find out what happened there.

This story spread as quickly as a joke, and then disappeared just as quickly.

In his spare time, Feng Yuxiu began to wander around the village.

Erzhu hasn't come to the village recently, and the factory is only partially open.

Xiao Zhuang and Dezi found Feng Yuxiu again.

As long as Feng Yuxiu remains the same as before, living the same life, they will be happy to come over.

After all, seeing someone who is worse off than you and older at the bottom is at least a consolation, isn't it?

The three of them sat down at the restaurant, ordered a few dishes and two bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and began to enjoy a small drink.

"Xiao Zhuang, how's your coal mine going?" Dezi asked, opening up the conversation after a few drinks.

Xiao Zhuang downed a glass, his face wrinkling, and waved his hand, exhaling a heavy breath of alcohol. "Stop talking. I heard the big boss is coming, and they're making us work overtime. I only sleep five hours a day, I can't keep going."

Dezi picked up a piece of food and said, "It's too tiring. I'd rather drive with you to deliver goods and pick up people. This is dangerous."

"Come on, your delivery and passenger pick-up business isn't stable. My mom said she'll get me a wife tomorrow once I've saved up some money."

Feng Yuxiu listened quietly to their conversation, but his gaze was fixed outside. "Well, I've got nothing to do today anyway, and I'm taking a break. I'll go for a stroll around town. I heard there's a new massage parlor that recently opened." Dezi chuckled, puffing on his cigarette and squinting his eyes. "Let's go get a massage. It's a deal, we'll each pay."

"A tree? Let's go?"

After finishing their meal, the two stood up and looked back at Feng Yuxiu.

Feng Yuxiu stood up and followed him out.

As soon as the three arrived in the town, Dezi stopped the car and suddenly stretched his head forward, staring wide-eyed at the entrance of a hotel.

"Holy crap, isn't that Pingping? She's Wang's second daughter. How come she's hanging out with Erzhu?"

"Really? Pingping is a nurse at the town's health center. She's highly respected in the village. She came back from a big city, a college graduate..."

Xiao Zhuang quickly stuck his head out.

Feng Yuxiu glanced at the scene while smoking, and sure enough, at the hotel entrance, Pingping, dressed in orange, was walking arm in arm with Erzhu.

Judging from their expressions, they had just checked out of the hotel and ended their fierce battle.

"Tsk tsk tsk... This is something I used to dream about in my sleep, but look at the result... Damn, it's good to be rich." Dezi covered his head in pain.

Xiao Zhuang chuckled, "Come on, you didn't even finish elementary school, you have no money and no house, why would a college student want you? Take it easy."

Dezi cried until her eyes were red, "I thought she was different, I thought she wasn't a materialistic woman... Waaah..."

After Erzhu and Pingping disappeared, Dezi slowly calmed down and gritted his teeth, "Come on, the massage is on me today."

Xiao Zhuang was overjoyed, "That's great! I want to order something young. Last time I ordered someone who was forty years old, and his hands were so rough they made my bones ache."

"Hey hey hey... Tree, I've finally found you."

The three had just gotten out of the car when Gao Peng's mother suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Feng Yuxiu.

"Zhang Xiaomei has been waiting for you for days, and you haven't contacted her even with the contact information I gave you. Come on, come on, her family has been urging me to meet her so many times. We have to meet her today no matter what."

As she spoke, Gao Peng's mother pulled Feng Yuxiu toward the massage parlor.

“No need, it’s perfect for Dezi…you can introduce her to him.” Feng Yuxiu pulled the heartbroken Dezi and pushed her in front of Gao Peng’s mother.

Gao Peng's mother was stunned for a moment, then looked Dezi up and down. Dezi was indeed brighter than Shu.

They have a car and the ability to support themselves.

Gao Peng's mother only wanted the referral fee from Zhang Xiaomei's family. She paused for a moment, then grinned and asked, "Well... apart from not being able to speak or hear, Xiaomei is just like a normal person. Besides, she has a good figure, is beautiful, and is only twenty-four."

Xiao Zhuang pulled hard on Dezi, implying that Dezi was disabled and had hands and feet, and that he shouldn't be in this situation.

Kadoko, still grieving the loss of her goddess, agreed without a second thought.

"I've come to terms with it. What's the use of being pretty and having a good temperament if you're still a materialistic woman... Er Zhu already has a wife and they're still hanging out together, ugh... Gao Peng's mom, let's go on a blind date."

Gao Peng's mother was stunned for a moment, then her gossip-loving nature instantly kicked in. "Who are you saying is dating Er Zhu?"

"Who else? Wang's second daughter, Pingping, was just seen coming out of the hotel with Erzhu," Xiao Zhuang added.

Gao Peng's mother's eyes gleamed with elation; it was news that she could chat with her old friends again.

"Come on, Dezi, I'll take you on a blind date. Let me tell you, Xiaomei is such a virtuous woman..."

Watching Dezi and Gao Peng's mother leave, Xiao Zhuang smoked a cigarette and looked at Feng Yuxiu, "Brother Shu, shall we go for a massage again?"

"Go ahead, it's your treat."

Feng Yuxiu patted Xiao Zhuang on the shoulder.

Xiao Zhuang was stunned for a moment, "Why should I?"

“I don’t have a job, but you do,” Feng Yuxiu explained matter-of-factly, puffing on his cigarette.

Xiao Zhuang thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, it's not expensive anyway, let's go."

-

After the massage, it was already past 5 p.m. The two ordered a bowl of noodles, ate it, and then waited for Dezi.

Around 7 p.m., Dezi returned with a ruddy complexion.

"How is it?" Xiao Zhuang asked, stepping closer.

"Get in the car first." Dezi opened the car door, and the three of them got in.

Feng Yuxiu sat in the back seat, smoking and listening.

"Beautiful, short hair...fair skin, great figure, unlike the old women in our village who are all flabby...long, straight thighs too..."

As Dezi spoke, her eyes reddened and she stood up straight.

"Hey, hey, hey... keep going!" Xiao Zhuang swallowed hard as he was being described and urged him on.

"So it's a done deal. He's always smiling... I'm very satisfied. I'll start showing him around tomorrow so my mom can propose to his family... Hehe... My buddy's getting married this year!"

"That's great news... but you said you'd treat me and Brother Shu to massages today..." Xiao Zhuang said with a smile, changing the subject.

Dezi slapped his thigh, "Oh dear, I forgot about that, my bad, my bad... Here's what we'll do... I'll treat you to massages tomorrow, and we'll have hot pot at Jufuzhuang Restaurant in town!"

"Alright, let's go!"

At 8:30 p.m., Feng Yuxiu returned home, and the old lady was picked up by San'er again.

Feng Yuxiu added charcoal to the stove and sat down beside it, staring blankly at the ground.

If we knew his name, perhaps...

Feng Yuxiu suddenly stood up and rushed to the bedroom, rummaging through several boxes to find the camouflage uniform he had been wearing at the beginning.

He sprawled on the bed and examined it closely under the lamplight. There were no shoulder patches, no armbands... it was just a very ordinary camouflage uniform...

Feng Yuxiu put down his phone in disappointment, thought for a moment, and then looked up. "Maybe I should go to the police station to ask? Or go to the military? No, there are dead bodies in the valley... What if they didn't fall to their deaths... but I killed them? Wouldn't that be walking into a trap? I need to find out what really happened and what I did before."

Boom boom boom!
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Feng Yuxiu alertly stuffed his camouflage uniform back into the box.

He quickly put on his clothes, walked out, and opened the door. A burly man with a stubble beard appeared in the doorway.

The more Feng Yuxiu looked at it, the more familiar it seemed, and he blurted out, "Old Gao?"

This man was none other than Old Gao, the one who threatened the village chief at Gao Peng's wedding.

Old Gao shrugged. "Is it convenient for me to come in?"

Feng Yuxiu nodded. "It's convenient, come in."

-

Old Gao sat by the stove, warming himself by the fire, and his sallow complexion gradually regained its rosy hue.

Feng Yuxiu sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and quietly watched him.

About ten minutes later, Lao Gao looked up and said, "I know the village chief embezzled money. I'm going to report him! I'm going to write a letter to report him! My family, who are on welfare for the elderly, haven't received our allowance yet."

Feng Yuxiu remained silent.

Old Gao rubbed his hands together. “I know your family hasn’t gotten rich either. It’s okay, you don’t need to help. I’m just telling you. In this village, only our two families are looked down upon by the village chief. The village chief doesn’t dare to go too far with the others. Isn’t it because he sees that you and I are honest people? Anyway, I’ve figured it out these days. I was originally penniless, how much worse can I be?”

"I can't let someone like this bully me for the rest of my life!"

"What are you going to do?" Feng Yuxiu finally couldn't help but ask.

Old Gao revealed a mysterious smile, "I'm going to write a letter to Beijing to sue him!"

After seeing Lao Gao off, Feng Yuxiu was still deep in thought.

Why did Lao Gao come over in the middle of the night specifically to say this? What was his purpose?

(End of this chapter)