Chapter Eleven: Brothers Do Not Need Flesh and Blood Ties

  Everyone saw that Liu Yuan was still struggling and had no intention of letting him go. This group of scoundrels never had the mercy to spare people, but instead they were always serious about implementing the great leader's instructions "to pursue the remaining courage and defeat the exhausted enemy". They were used to hitting the stone and breaking the bottom of the boat, and beating the fallen dog. Zhu Shijun was about to speak when he was stopped by Xue Xiang waving his hand: "Yuan, you're going to be a soldier, this is a great joy. You should treat us to dinner, but you can't leave out San Ge (third brother) me, I and Xiao Wan agreed that after school, we would go buy clothes for them. You have to keep your promise to her, if not, she will make trouble and I won't be able to take it."

  Liu Yuan Chao knew that Xue Xiang was giving himself an excuse, so he naturally went along with it without any embarrassment. Liu Yuan Chao shook his head and sighed, as if he had suffered a great loss, and pretended to be regretful, saying: "Alas, what a pity! Alright, let's accommodate the third brother for now, I'll make it up another day."

  His lazy appearance, which was unbearable to watch, made everyone feel angry. There was no way out, so Xue spoke up, and they couldn't continue to pester him, but in their hearts, they were secretly grinding their teeth: This matter is not over, next time you will definitely make him tremble with fear and be chilled to the bone.

  Seven people were eating and drinking, chatting and laughing, in high spirits, until Xiao Wan and Xiao Yi came to call Xiao Shi to get up and go to school. The little guy was sleeping soundly, with a peaceful expression, and small bubbles kept coming out of his nose from time to time. The little guy was suddenly woken up by Xue Xiang, and he was very unhappy in his heart, humming and refusing to get up, his body twisting back and forth in Xue Xiang's arms, throwing a tantrum for a while, then forcing Xue Xiang to sign several unequal treaties and promising to sleep with him tonight, before finally smiling and skipping off to school with his brother and sister.

  The wine has been drunk, the dishes have been eaten up. The three small plates were completely cleaned out, leaving only crumbs behind. These crumbs couldn't be used to mix with rice like soup could. It was impossible to pick them up with chopsticks, and it wouldn't do to lift the plate to one's mouth and pour them in. On the table were four or five empty bottles of liquor - not just the Maotai brought by Li Hongjun had been drunk dry, but also the other wines brought by Lei Xiaotian and others, as well as those bought by Xue Xiangqing that morning.

  Wine enough, rice full, words finished. Several guys lifted their feet and wanted to slip away, Xue Xiang knew their habits early, called out to stop them, and nodded towards the messy table. The several guys had no choice but to stop and help Xue Xiang clean up the battlefield. Many hands make light work, it's suitable here, in a few minutes, the battlefield was cleaned up. Several guys shook their shoulders and left Xue Xiang's house, went home to take a nap, only Kang Tong stayed behind.

  Xue Xiang and the six of them were all top-notch brothers, with a deep understanding of each other. However, if one had to say who was most loyal to Xue Xiang, it would have to be Kang Tong. Kang Tong's father, Kang Tiezhu, was originally from the 215th Division and was the commander of the main force during the War of Resistance against Japan. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1955. Kang Tiezhu had a smooth military career, thanks to his superior's influence, and became the commander of a major military region by 1965. However, good times do not last long. Following his superior's downfall, the military underwent a thorough rectification, and Kang Tiezhu was stripped of his position. Later, with a single order from the leader, Kang Tiezhu was suddenly brought down to earth and suffered imprisonment. After entering prison, there was no news of him for two years, until his family was notified to come collect his remains. Kang Tong's mother could not withstand the blow and took her own life.

  Kang Tong had two sisters, the elder sister Kang Mei Feng was married to a military leader in Hainan Island 60 years ago. After Kang Tiezhu's death, Kang Mei Feng repeatedly asked Kang Tong and his siblings to move to Hainan Island, but Kang Tong stubbornly refused to live under someone else's roof. Kang Mei Feng had no choice but to give up on her younger brother. Since Kang Tong wouldn't go, his second sister Kang Mei Zhi also couldn't go. Kang Mei Feng could only visit Kang Tong and his siblings in Beijing every year. Kang Mei Zhi now works at a textile mill, and Kang Tong's home is in the dormitory building of the textile mill's residential area.

  Xue Xiang and Kang Tong's encounter was also coincidental. It was two years ago, when Xue Xiang and several others were playing at the Beihai Ice Rink, sliding with great enthusiasm, when suddenly a commotion broke out not far away. Xue Xiang and the others slid over to take a look and saw several big guys surrounding a small guy, punching and kicking him. This kind of thing happens every day at the Beihai Ice Rink, so he didn't have the heart to intervene. After watching the commotion for a while, he gradually made out what was happening - the small guy being beaten up had his hands covering his head, curled up in a ball, and refused to make a sound, not resisting, not crying out in pain, not begging for mercy. Xue Xiang saw that this little guy was someone special, quite matching his own temperament, so he stepped in. As soon as Xue Xiang intervened, the others were done for - several big guys rolled on the ground, each with a bruised face and swollen nose.

  The little one who was rescued is naturally Kang Tong. Kang Tong's family encountered a huge change when he was young, and he developed a silent and taciturn personality. Except for Xue Xiang, he could hardly say a few words to anyone else, including Lei Xiao Tian and the others. Later, Xue Xiang brought Kang Tong into their little circle, and Kang Tong's personality gradually became more open, but still seemed a bit cold and hard. Lei Xiao Tian and the others also got used to Kang Tong's icy personality, and they would joke with him as usual, whether he responded or not was another matter. Fortunately, although Kang Tong's personality was cold, he was extremely loyal and would always charge forward in fights and retreat last, which made Lei Xiao Tian and the others very impressed with him.

  The Xue family had no adults at home, and with its large area and many houses, it gradually became a gathering place for this group of rascals. Whoever was scolded by their family and didn't want to go home would stay overnight at the Xue's house. Whoever had nothing to eat would also come to the Xue's house to scrape together a meal. Kang Tong was most fond of the Xue household, and as long as his second sister Kang Mei Zhi worked the night shift, he would sleep over at the Xue's house. Compared to that cramped tube-like apartment building, this place made him feel warmer. When Xue Xiao "hid" from Xiaowan for three days, Kang Tong was even more like an older brother in this household, taking on all the heavy and dirty chores without ever letting Xiaowan lift a finger. Until today, Kang Tong had been the fourth member of this household, ranking above Xue Xiao.

  "Xiao Kang, what are you planning to do? You can't just drift along like this forever." Xue asked, taking a drag on his cigarette.

  Kang Tong leaned on the chair, holding two wine cups in his hand, turning them over and over, as if grasping two iron gallbladders. Without looking back, he said: "Where you go, I'll go. If you're going to college, I'll take care of the house." Kang Tong's words were brief, but firm.

  Xue Xiang saw Kang Tong's attitude and knew it was no use advising him. In fact, Xue Xiang himself didn't know how to arrange for Kang Tong either. Kang Tong wasn't like Zhu Shijun, who had excellent grades and a great hope of getting into university, nor was he like Lei Xiaotian, who had an outgoing personality and knew what choices to make.

  Kang Tong is more like a child who has not grown up, with a fragile heart. In his heart, Xue Xiang is his elder brother. Since Xue Xiang saved him, he has recognized this slightly older "man" in his heart. Xue Xiang also takes special care of him, protecting him every time they fight, so although Kang Tong fights fiercely, he gets hurt very little.

  "Why don't you join the army too, I can help arrange it for you." Xue Xiang spat out a mouthful of smoke. Although his uncle had been demoted, he was still the commander of the Beijing Garrison District, so how could he not have any connections or old friends? It wouldn't be difficult for Xue Xiang to use his connections to get someone into the army.

  Actually, the young man had always been torn about whether or not to join the army. Firstly, he couldn't bear to part with his younger siblings, even though he was cold towards them, but in his heart, he still cared about them and many things were done for their sake by Kang Tong's hands. Secondly, he didn't want to leave his brothers behind, as he was a man who valued loyalty and brotherhood, adhering to the simplest of heroic sentiments, which emphasized sharing fortune and misfortune together.

  Therefore, the young man had no answer in his heart about whether or not to join the army. The young man's dilemma would not reoccur on Xue Xiang's body, as he had clarified his goals when he was reborn, and for this, all his efforts were striving towards it.

  "If I didn't have to join the army, I would have gone to Hainan long ago." Kang Tong's words were still brief.

  Xue Xiang didn't persuade him anymore. This matter had to be resolved somehow. Xiao Kang was unwilling to join the army, and in retrospect, he could only ask Ma Lei Zi, who should be very happy about it.

  No more thinking about these annoying things, Xue decided to go to sleep. He hadn't slept well last night and was really sleepy. Kang Tong also followed Xue into the main room, his room was next to Xue's, just opposite Xiao Yi's. This room was originally a guest room, but since Kang Tong slept there often, Xue gave him the key, it almost became his private room. Except for Lei Xiao Tian and a few others who could sleep here, other guests had to sleep in the wing room.

  Xue Xiang woke up at 5:30, and the three Xiao Wan would be dismissed from school at 6 o'clock. When he arrived in the courtyard, Kang Tong was washing his face by the pool, apparently just waking up. Xue Xiang walked over to get some water to wipe his face, greeted Kang Tong, and then drove to pick up the three Xiao Wan after school.

  Two people drove, speeding all the way, and arrived at the entrance of Yu Ying School's junior high school department in five minutes. Yu Ying School covers an extremely large area, nearly 1,300 mu, and is the largest comprehensive school in Dongcheng District. The school has four divisions: kindergarten, primary school, junior high school, and senior high school, with a one-stop promotion system. Xue Xiang graduated from this school. There are more than 5,000 students in the school, and due to its large area and numerous students, each department of the school has set up a large gate for convenient entry and exit of students and pick-up by parents.

  At this moment, Xue Xiang was waiting at the entrance of the junior high school department. He had agreed with Xiao Wan to let her bring her younger siblings and wait here. The gate in front of him was extremely grand, about three meters high and six meters wide, enough to accommodate dozens of students entering and exiting in a row. On either side of the gate, there were flower beds, but since it was early spring, there were no colors in the flower beds. Xue Xiang and Kang Tong each had one foot on the flower bed on the left side of the gate, sitting in the car smoking.

  On the flowerbed on the right, a group of young people gathered, about seven or eight in total. Each person wore an olive green uniform and a yellow five-pointed star military cap. Except for two or three who had a military bag slung over their shoulders, they were all dressed very uniformly. Every one of these young people had an expression on their face that was disdainful of the world, with eyes full of provocation and contempt, occasionally casting sideways glances at Xue Xiang and Kang Tong.

  Xue Xiang couldn't be bothered to care about them, but in his heart, he actually admired the group's uniform attire. He silently criticized those who wore backpacks, thinking that only a unified appearance could give people a sense of oppression. Even if you had a hidden knife in your bag, it was better to have a consistent outfit to show more fighting spirit and intimidation. This idea was consistent with the later generations' black society wearing black suits. He didn't know where this group of young people came from, but they were so bold and had the potential to be great gangsters. However, no matter how well they mixed, they couldn't escape the fate of being shot in 1983... Xue Xiang was extremely bored and his mind wandered to their attire, even thinking about their possible execution by firing squad.

  Xue had just smoked half a cigarette when he heard the bell ringing, signaling the end of school.