Siheyuan: I, Shazhu, started out as an army and became a general.

In the afternoon, He Yuzhu returned to the courtyard house.

The courtyard was quiet. Everyone had gone to work during the day, except for a few elderly women who didn't work, who sat under the shade of the trees picking vegetables.

When they saw He Yuzhu return, their eyes darted around, and they whispered something to each other.

He Yuzhu ignored him and went straight back into the house.

He pulled an old leather suitcase from under the bed and packed all his valuables and important items inside.

Clothes, bedding, a few books, and a kitchen knife left by my father.

After tidying up, he took out the six hundred yuan from his pocket, carefully counted out three hundred yuan, wrapped it in newspaper, and stuffed it into his pillowcase.

This 300 yuan was left for his sister, He Yushui.

He had to keep the remaining three hundred yuan on him, just in case.

As I was tidying up, I heard footsteps outside the door.

"elder brother?"

He Yushui pushed the door open and came in, carrying a lunchbox in her hand.

She was a pretty girl, with features somewhat resembling He Yuzhu's, but her expression was much gentler than her brother's.

"Rain, you're back?" He Yuzhu looked up, a rare smile appearing on his face.

"Brother, are you... going on a long trip?" He Yushui's heart tightened when she saw the luggage all over the floor.

"Yes, I'm going to join the army," He Yuzhu said directly, without hiding anything from her.

He Yushui was stunned.

"Joining the army? When did that happen?"

"In the next couple of days."

He Yuzhu stood up, took the bag of money from under his pillow, and stuffed it into He Yushui's hand.

"Here's three hundred yuan, take it."

"From now on, when you live alone in the dormitory, don't mistreat yourself."

"I've already sold the yard to the factory, so you don't need to come back anymore."

He Yushui clutched the wad of money, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Brother, is it because of what happened yesterday...?"

"That has nothing to do with it," He Yuzhu interrupted her.

"I've long since figured it out; keeping this courtyard will only cause trouble."

"Your brother is going to do something big, and I can't let this lousy place hold me back."

He ruffled He Yushui's hair.

"Don't worry, once I've established myself in the army, I'll bring you to live in the military family compound."

"Then, let those who look down on us open their eyes wide and see whether the He family's offspring are truly capable or not."

He Yushui wiped away her tears and nodded vigorously.

"Brother, I believe you."

The brother and sister talked for a while longer before He Yushui left with her lunchbox.

He Yuzhu watched her walk away, the tenderness in his eyes fading, replaced by calm.

He closed the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to study the system that had suddenly appeared in his mind.

[National Fortune Check-in System]

[Host: He Yuzhu]

Current Status: Activated

[System Description: When the host is at the site or key juncture of a major historical event concerning the fate of the nation, they can sign in and receive corresponding rewards.]

[Check-in location: Office of the Deputy Director of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill]

[Next check-in location: ???]

He Yuzhu carefully considered this information.

A location that determines the fate of the nation?

Does the recruitment office he's going to next count?

He felt a faint sense of anticipation.

……

The next morning.

He Yuzhu, carrying simple luggage and a letter of recommendation from Director Li, arrived at the Beijing conscription office.

The conscription office was located in an old military camp, with two armed soldiers standing at the gate.

He Yuzhu stepped forward and took out a letter of recommendation.

"Comrade, I'm here to enlist in the army."

The soldier took the letter, glanced at it, and nodded.

"Go in, it's the second office on the left."

He Yuzhu thanked him and strode inside.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard of the conscription office, that mechanical voice echoed in his mind again.

[Available check-in location detected]

Location: Conscription Office in the capital city

[Significance: The starting point for the nation to recruit brave young men to defend their country]

[Have you checked in?]

"Sign in!" He Yuzhu silently repeated to himself.

[Check-in successful!]

[Reward: King of Soldiers Engine (Passive)]

[Effect: The host's physical fitness, reaction time, combat instincts, and learning ability are all enhanced to the level of elite special forces soldiers, and the learning speed of any military skill is increased by 300%]

boom!

An even stronger warm current than before instantly surged through my entire body.

He Yuzhu felt his muscles remodeling, his bones strengthening, and his five senses becoming more acute than ever before.

He could even hear conversations in an office twenty meters away and smell the faint scent of gun oil in the air.

This feeling is fucking awesome!

"Hey, what are you standing there for?"

A rough voice interrupted He Yuzhu's thoughts.

He looked up and saw a middle-aged man in military uniform standing at the office door, frowning at him.

"Report! I'm here to enlist in the army!" He Yuzhu instinctively stood at attention and saluted.

The man was stunned by the precision of his movement.

"Come in."

In the office, a middle-aged man sat behind his desk, took He Yuzhu's letter of recommendation and household registration certificate, and examined them carefully.

"He Yuzhu, 23 years old, cook at the steel mill canteen..."

He raised his head and looked He Yuzhu up and down.

"He's in good physical condition, just a bit old."

Why do you want to join the army?

Without thinking, He Yuzhu blurted out:

"Defend our homeland!"

The middle-aged man smiled.

"Good, that's ambitious."

He stood up and took a wooden stick off the wall.

"But enthusiasm alone is not enough; soldiers need real skills."

"Come on, let me see your physical fitness."

"Do fifty push-ups first."

Without saying a word, He Yuzhu immediately lay down.

"One, two, three, four..."

His movements were standard and fluid, his breathing was even and powerful, and he completed fifty push-ups in one go without turning red or panting.

The middle-aged man's eyes lit up.

"Fifty more, please!"

"yes!"

Another fifty.

"Do 100 sit-ups!"

"yes!"

"Complete a 5km cross-country run in half an hour, carrying 20 pounds of weight!"

"yes!"

After a full set of tests, He Yuzhu's performance far exceeded the level of ordinary recruits.

The middle-aged man's gaze shifted from scrutiny to surprise.

"Good prospect! He's a fucking good prospect!"

He slammed his hand on the table and made the decision on the spot.

"He Yuzhu, I accept you on behalf of the military!"

"Report here in three days, and we'll send you straight to basic training!"

He Yuzhu stood at attention and saluted.

"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"

As He Yuzhu walked out of the recruitment office, he took a deep breath.

The sky over Beijing has never been so blue.

He knew that his new life truly began from this moment.