Chapter Six Looking Back

  "I think, Dad, we can consider this matter from another angle," Lin Hongfei finally said the reason he had been thinking about for a long time after Lin Weiguo decided to listen to his wife and child's opinions. "No mistake, Uncle Pei's suggestion is very reasonable, if it succeeds, you will be able to reach that position. But what if we turn this problem around, what would be the result?"

  Lin Weiguo's face suddenly changed as he thought about the consequences of offending his old leader by giving him a gift!

  Although he sneered at his son's words, Lin Weiguo still took them seriously. It was one thing that his son was his own flesh and blood, but Lin Weiguo also knew that his son had a good head on his shoulders; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to get into a top-tier university among thousands of candidates.

  Not only did Lin Weiguo's face change greatly, but also Duan Yuzhen, who was standing at the door without knowing when, looked ugly.

  "The worst-case scenario is that Mr. Xu will think you're not up to the task, and this army with guiding and strategic significance for the Republic absolutely cannot be handed over to someone who takes shortcuts and goes through the back door. With Mr. Xu's personality of hating evil like an enemy and being unable to tolerate any injustice, it's possible that not only will he block your path to advancement but also suppress you," Lin Hongfei said slowly, his tone somewhat melancholic because what he was saying was something his own family had personally experienced. "Compared to the outcome you previously guessed, I think this possibility is more likely."

  "Lao Lin, I think Hong Fei makes sense," said Duan Yuzhen with a very serious expression. "Given Lao Lianzhang's temperament, it's highly likely... This old Pei guy is usually quite clever, how come he's not thinking clearly at this time?"

  Lin Weiguo didn't speak, but lit a cigarette and furrowed his brow as he smoked continuously. Lin Hongfei's words had awakened him, and over the past few days, he seemed to have been somewhat delirious, only thinking about following in Old Lian's footsteps, yet forgetting what kind of consequences failure would bring upon himself.

  "It's probably not that Uncle Pei's brain isn't working well, but rather that Uncle Pei has some thoughts in his heart." Lin Hongfei took over from Duan Yuzhen and said.

  "What?"

  Duan Yuzhen and Lin Weiguo were both shocked at the same time, Duan Yuzhen's face was even more incredulous. "Hongfei, what are you talking about? How could your Uncle Pei be that kind of person? What benefit would he gain from doing such a thing?"

  Lin Weiguo was even more blunt, raising his hand as if he wanted to give Lin Hongfei a slap in the face. In the end, he had no choice but to put down his hand under Duan Yuzhen's unfriendly gaze, his expression still very unpleasant. "Hongfei, I'll pretend I didn't hear that. If you dare to spout nonsense again..."

  "Dad, you're also quick to use your hands, am I talking nonsense? Let the facts speak for themselves." Lin Hongfei was not afraid of his father's slap in the face, and the facts that had already occurred gave him the courage to say these words.

  Lin Weiguo was amused by Lin Hongfei's words, gritted his teeth and nodded, "Alright, you show me the facts, let me see how you're not talking nonsense. But remember, kid, if you can't give me a clear explanation, don't blame your old man for being ruthless."

  Lin Hongfei, who had long recognized the sinister nature of the Pei family, nodded and said, "Firstly, let's talk about one thing. Let's not say whether Uncle Pei is genuinely kind-hearted in helping you or not. Let's just say that if you were to be ruined by Xu Bo and lose all hope for advancement, who would be the biggest beneficiary?"

  As soon as these words came out, Lin Weiguo and Duan Yuzhen, who were slightly impatient and worried respectively, changed their colors at the same time!

  They almost simultaneously thought that, according to the situation previously envisioned by their son, after his own (family man) path of advancement was cut off, the one most likely to get that position in the entire Beijun City Military Sub-district would be Pei Guangrong, who was only slightly inferior to Lin Weiguo in the military skills competition and was also famous for his military skills and leadership abilities throughout the sub-district!

  "This means what, I don't need to say it, right? To speak a little villain's words, if Uncle Pei had his eyes on that position from the start, then my dad would be the biggest obstacle standing in his way. What does that position mean? Not just my dad, even I myself understand, as long as you do your job well, this is a position where you can become a general in the future, to become a general! I don't think many people can resist this temptation."

  "And, Dad, be honest with yourself, do you really think Uncle Pei is much worse than you? Would Uncle Pei be so selfless as to help you come up with a plan and push you into that position when he himself has no interest in it?"

  Lin Hongfei's words were like a series of heavy hammers, pounding heavily on Lin Weiguo's heart. But Lin Hongfei's words had not yet finished, "Napoleon once said that a soldier who does not want to be a general is not a good soldier. For military personnel, the greatest honor is to become a general one day. Whether you say I have a petty mind or say other things about me, I don't believe that such a great opportunity for both fame and fortune would be placed in front of everyone, and no one would be tempted? Those who are not tempted, I think, except for those vegetarians who are mediocre and have the self-awareness to know they are not the right material... anyone with some real ability..."

  "Hongfei, don't say any more." Duan Yuzhen suddenly interrupted Lin Hongfei's words, her pale face gazing at Lin Weiguo, "Old Lin, what do you think..."

  It's embarrassing to say this, but after living together for over 20 years, how could Lin Weiguo not know what Duan Yuzhen wants to say?

  Lin Weiguo's heart was in a state of turmoil, and the emotions he had accumulated over more than ten years with Pei Guangrong told him that Old Pei wasn't that kind of person. However, Lin Weiguo also sadly discovered that every word his son spoke, every single character, made it impossible for him to refute. As for Pei Guangrong's abilities, Lin Weiguo acknowledged that he had a relatively good understanding of them. If he were to really put him in the deputy commander position of this newly formed battalion, speaking from the heart, Old Pei was capable of shouldering this responsibility.

  So the question is, no soldier can resist the temptation of this newly formed unit, nor can I myself, with my understanding of Pei Guangrong, Old Pei cannot either. Since he also cannot resist this temptation that comes from the bones of a soldier, why is he so enthusiastic about helping me?

  There is only one conclusion, which is that his own son did not say it, but the meaning between the lines is already very clear: Lao Pei wants that position, but he has no confidence in defeating himself to take over, so he can only think of a way from another angle. As for what this "other angle" is, isn't it already obvious?

  A moment later, Lin Weiguo didn't say a word, but painfully closed his eyes and nodded. At this point, although the feelings of many years still told Lin Weiguo that his good friend Pei Guangrong couldn't do such a thing, ...but... his son's words made sense.

  Lin Hongfei understood in his heart that no matter what he said, the feelings between his father and Pei Guangrong, who had been pretending to be a good person for so many years, were not something that could be easily changed. His old man completely believed in his own words, which was also unlikely. "Actually, I think that no matter what Uncle Pei thinks in his heart, maybe he didn't even think about it at all, and we're just being overly cautious. But this time, for Dad, it's a great opportunity, and everyone knows that Dad is a hot candidate. Who knows how many eyes are watching us, waiting for us to make a mistake? In any case, Dad should be careful... Hmm, Dad, you don't want to miss this opportunity, do you?"

  This remark struck a chord in Lin Weiguo's heart, and Duan Yuzhen also nodded repeatedly in agreement. "Right, no matter what Old Pei has in mind, we should be careful ourselves and not let those jealous people grasp our weakness. It's better to cancel this trip to Old Lian's house."

  "Hmm." Lin Weiguo furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before nodding: It's right to be cautious.

  "No, Dad, I think you should go."

  Lin Hongfei's words made Lin Weiguo and Duan Yuzhen, who had just been scared by Lin Hongfei, widen their eyes in an instant. Duan Yuzhen was quick-tempered and, upon hearing this, glared at him, "You little brat, what are you saying? You just said not to let your dad go, how come now you're encouraging your dad to take a shortcut?"

  Duan Yuzhen still thought Lin Hongfei was an ignorant child, but just now her son's clear and logical analysis made Lin Weiguo look at Lin Hongfei in a new light. He waved his hand to signal Duan Yuzhen not to speak, "Son, what do you mean by this?"

  "Dad, you're also a veteran who has been in the army for over twenty years. So I'll ask you, what do you think is most important for a true soldier?" Lin Hongfei didn't answer Lin Weiguo's question, but instead asked one himself, hmm, for Lin Weiguo's generation of soldiers, it was almost a question they had been answering since the first day they enlisted.

  "Protect the family and defend the country!" Lin Weiguo almost answered without thinking, as soon as he said it, Lin Weiguo laughed, "Good kid, you still ask me such a question?"

  "It's just that your dad has been a veteran for over 20 years, and you still don't know this?" Duan Yuzhen also laughed and poked Lin Hongfei's forehead with her finger, "I've heard this so many times from your mom that my ears are numb."