Searching for someone in northern Myanmar, and you call that earning tuition fees?

The sound of a nurse pushing a trolley could be heard outside the ward door.

Su Ming lowered his head, his palm covering the water stains on the document, his fingertips lingering for a moment next to his parents' names. He didn't wipe it, but gently laid the document flat, as if afraid of creases in the pages.

The old general stood by the door, his back to the sickbed, giving him ample time.

After a long while, Su Ming raised his hand and wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve.

The door was suddenly pushed open when the action was only halfway completed.

The nurse on duty walked in carrying a record folder. Seeing his movements, she immediately frowned: "Su Ming, did you bump your face again?"

Su Ming's hand froze in mid-air: "Something got in your eye."

The nurse glanced at the closed window, then at his newly changed hospital gown: "What can go into a ward?"

Su Ming hesitated for two seconds: "Some family matters came up."

The nurse opened her mouth, but her gaze fell on the red-headed document on the bed, and she didn't ask any further questions. She went closer to check the IV line and quickly noticed a small patch of blood next to the needle.

"You just clenched your fist?"

"I used a little force."

"You mean 'slightly'? The kind of 'slightly' that involves bending an IV stand?"

Su Ming followed her gaze.

The top of the IV stand is indeed a bit off.

The old general turned around and glanced at it, his lips twitching slightly: "The quality of this hospital needs improvement."

The nurse immediately closed the file folder: "Sir, this frame is made of stainless steel."

The old general coughed lightly and looked back at the doorway: "Then strengthen management and prevent the wounded from being broken at will."

Su Ming silently released his grip.

After the nurse finished treating the injection site and put away the folder, she added before leaving, "Don't move around too much, don't worry too much. Your most important task right now is to rest."

Su Ming nodded: "Received."

The nurse pushed open the door and bumped into Li Changfeng and Lao Zhao with their ears pressed against the door. Before they could recover, they both stumbled forward.

The nurse glanced at them: "Are you two researching soundproofing in the ward?"

Li Changfeng quickly stood up straight: "Check the fire exits."

Old Zhao added, "While you're at it, check if the door is sturdy."

"And what were the test results?"

Old Zhao touched the door frame: "It's quite sturdy, but the sound insulation is so-so."

The nurse pointed to the other end of the corridor: "Go over there for your checkup."

Li Changfeng pulled Lao Zhao away.

After the door closed again, the old general returned to the bedside, put the official document into a file bag, and then took out a dark blue hard-shell folder from the inner compartment of his briefcase.

Su Ming's eyelids twitched slightly when he saw the gold emblem on the folder cover.

"besides?"

"This is specially for you today."

The old general opened the folder, revealing an appointment letter stamped with multiple seals.

Su Ming didn't reach out his hand; he first glanced at the thickness of the document: "Does it require a lot of signatures?"

"Read the contents first."

Su Ming took the document and read it from the first line down.

Decision on Appointing Comrade Su Ming as Special Strategic Defense Advisor

The employer's name was not disclosed, and the scope of work covered a variety of areas, including protection of special facilities, survival in complex environments, reverse osmosis design, and emergency response plan evaluation. An access control document was also attached, with the table of contents alone spanning two pages.

Su Ming turned to the second page, his eyebrows gradually rising.

"Highest level temporary access permission?"

"You can look up the mission-related information."

"Prioritize military transportation?"

"It can be used in special circumstances."

"A veto power over action plan recommendations?"

"Only in your area of ​​expertise."

Su Ming continued flipping through: "Not subject to office hours, not bound by regular attendance records, and assigned tasks according to schedule..."

The old general sat up straighter, finally regaining some of the comfort of being a leader.

This appointment was jointly reviewed by multiple departments; the number of positions was unprecedented, and the authority involved was repeatedly debated. Several older men argued for two whole hours at the conference table about the age limit for consultants.

Finally, the old general asked them only one question.

"Who among you can take down an armed hideout of over eighty people with just a knife?"

The meeting quickly moved on to the next item on the agenda.

The old general watched Su Ming turn the pages, already prepared to accept the gratitude. The young man had just experienced the revelation of his origins and received official national recognition; now, to offer him a position that would allow countless people to strive for half a lifetime, he should at least have some reaction.

Su Ming did indeed react.

He frowned and turned two pages forward.

Then I flipped to the last page.

The old general waited for half a minute: "Finished reading?"

"almost."

"What are your thoughts?"

Su Ming didn't answer immediately. He stared at the appointment letter, tapping the paper lightly with his fingertips, then looked up and asked, "Sir, what exactly does this special strategic defense advisor do?"

"You will continue attending school as usual. If you encounter defense vulnerabilities, penetration risks, or special operations that cannot be resolved through conventional means, we will consult you. You can refuse tasks that are beyond your scope of duties, and someone will be responsible for ensuring your safety."

Su Ming then asked, "Is there a probationary period?"

The old general was taken aback: "No."

How are performance bonuses calculated?

"Assessment based on task."

"Do I need to write a weekly report?"

"What kind of weekly reports do special advisors write?"

Su Ming visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as the old general thought the young man had finally grasped the key point, Su Ming opened the access-enabled attachments again: "Are there many meetings?"

"We only notify you of important meetings."

Can I participate online?

The old general's eye twitched.

He raised his hand and pressed it against the employment contract: "Kid, do you know what this employment contract means?"

"It means that there are some places I can enter, some documents I can view, and there are things I need to do."

"Anything else?"

"Keep it a secret."

"Anything else?"

Su Ming thought for a moment: "Can't I post it on WeChat Moments?"

The old general withdrew his hand and took a deep breath.

Outside the ward door, Old Zhao pressed his ear against the door panel again. Li Changfeng stood beside him and tugged at him.

Old Zhao lowered his voice: "Don't pull that, we're getting to the heart of the matter."

Li Changfeng glanced at the nurses' station: "If you get caught again, you'll have to explain the fire exit yourself."

Inside the hospital room, the old general pointed to the appointment letter and said, "This is a high-level position within the military. You don't need to work regular hours, and your benefits will be in accordance with the highest advisor standards. You'll also receive special support during missions. So many experts want to be on this list; the application forms could fill a whole cabinet."

Su Ming finally put the document down.

The old general leaned forward slightly: "Do you understand now?"

"Understood."

"Are you willing to accept?"

Su Ming hesitated.

His hand moved from the edge of the employment contract to the bedsheet, then from the bedsheet to the bed rail, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing against it twice. After a while, he scratched his head.

"Sir, does this consultant position have a base salary? Also, will it interfere with my going back to school to take the CET-6 (College English Test Band 6)? I'm already a freshman, and if I fail another course, I'll have to extend my graduation."

A muffled thud came from outside the door.

Old Zhao laughed so hard his shoulders shook, and his forehead hit the door. Li Changfeng quickly covered his mouth and dragged him away from the doorway.

The old general looked up and stared at the ceiling for several seconds.

He mobilized the military police last night, coordinated with multiple departments this morning, and personally delivered the appointment letter to the hospital. Everyone along the way assumed that the conversation would touch on national security, youth responsibility, and the passing down of heroes.

It turns out this kid was calculating the CET-6 (College English Test Band 6).

The old general pointed to the letter of appointment: "The Level 6 exam will not be affected. The school will coordinate, make-up classes will be provided for missed classes, and the exam will still be taken. The consultant will receive a fixed allowance; the details are written on the last page."

Su Ming immediately flipped to the end.

The old general's face darkened: "You spent so much time looking around, didn't you see the treatment?"

"I'll look at the scope of responsibility first."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old general paused his raised hand.

Su Ming was still looking at the documents, his face expressionless. He asked about work first, then courses, and only lastly about the allowance. Behind those seemingly infuriating questions, he was actually confirming one thing.

Will this identity force him to leave his original life?

The old general leaned back in his chair, slowly releasing his hands from his knees: "You can continue being a student. The country gives you status and choices. No one is forcing you to wear a military uniform, and no one is forcing you to give up your life."

Su Ming raised his eyes, his gaze lingering on the old man's gray hair.

"Then I'll take it."

The old general's expression softened slightly: "Sign."

Su Ming picked up his pen, asked no more questions, and turned directly to the last page of the document. He carefully wrote his name in the "Employee" section. His handwriting wasn't particularly beautiful, but his strokes were steady and without the slightest hesitation.

After finishing writing, he pushed the document back.

The old general picked up his copy, confirmed that the signature was correct, and stood up.

He didn't say another word, only glanced at Su Ming, then turned and strode out of the ward. The door closed behind him, leaving the new identity and the responsibilities it carried to the young man in the hospital bed.