Chapter 41

  The end of June is approaching, and the sea exercise is about to begin. The days are passing like a white horse galloping by, fleeting in an instant. Fortunately, their work has also become increasingly tense day by day, even to the point where they can't distinguish between day and night, morning and evening.

  A few young people in the technical department scolded their mothers every day behind their backs, but that old man led the way and worked hard, you had to keep up, not even resting for a minute.

  At this time of darkness and confusion, Gong Xi arrived on board the ship.

  He came and had a fight with the old man who just arrived, wearing big black-rimmed glasses. Looking at this old man, he was furious, his face turned white with anger, his eyes were black as if possessed by a ghost, and he almost wanted to take action and kill that old guy.

  But as people get older, they become more refined. Rong Gongxi jumped up and down in front of him, shouting loudly, but he remained expressionless, only gazing at Gongxi calmly. Until Gongxi was speechless, standing there with wide eyes, a pair of small eyes staring like a cow's eyes.

  The old man glared at Gong Xi, rolling his eyes, and with a cold tone said: "What are you doing? Do you know what it means to be a soldier? A soldier's duty is to obey orders. If you want to sleep early and wake up early to stay healthy, then submit a report and go back to being a civilian. The army isn't a place for idlers."

  "I'm not a soldier, I graduated from the naval academy..." Gong Xi didn't dare to say the word "graduated", he quickly changed the subject: "Yes, yes, soldiers, what's wrong with being a soldier? Soldiers are also human beings, how can you exhaust people to death? He is a person, not a machine, how can he work 24 hours a day?" Gong Xi said indignantly, while shaking his fist at Xing Yun, and turning back to shout: "What are you pulling me for! He's just a week of skinning, you have to fight!"

  Jiayu said one sentence and all those people outside who were surrounding and watching the commotion were amused.

  "Hmm!" Gong Xi took one look and knew that this guy's relationships with the people around him weren't great either. Everyone was supporting his words, but his mouth was curled up like a ladle, and his expression was arrogant.

  That big black-rimmed glasses, can see everyone's attitude, but still not warm or cold, calm tone: "As a soldier, you must not be afraid of sacrifice. Do you think sitting in the rear can live a comfortable life? Is that still a soldier? Afraid of hardship, afraid of tiredness, afraid of death, don't say whether you are worthy of being a soldier, do you even deserve to be a man? You should feel ashamed! The country is now in need of us, not to mention you're a soldier, or an officer, even if you're just a civilian, shouldn't you know what national honor and shame are? Wanting a comfortable life? Who doesn't want a comfortable life? But if we all seek comfort, who will defend the country? If a country is despised or insulted by other countries, can its people still live a comfortable life?"

  "Young man, you said you're also a graduate of the military academy, so you should know what it means to be a soldier. I'm not saying we don't treat them as human beings or that we don't care about their well-being. But we are soldiers! We have to do the toughest work and complete the most difficult tasks."

  "Wait until that day, our navy will show its prowess in the South China Sea, and our army will make a declaration to the world. The sea of China does not tolerate any insult. You can all go home and rest well now, because we have fully completed the task entrusted by the country."

  "Right?"

  These words came out, and the people inside and outside the house all quieted down. Gong Xi was asked to be speechless, standing there in shame.

  "Qin Gong, I'm sorry. My friend, he didn't mean to offend you, he just doesn't understand the situation." Xingyun stepped forward and said with great apology.

  "There's nothing to say." Engineer Qin waved his hand at Lucky and continued, "As family and friends of soldiers, it's understandable that you don't support or understand our work, and have emotions about it. But I hope that after understanding the efforts we're making now, you can give us more support instead of complaints." As he said this, he glanced up at Gong Xi, who immediately looked embarrassed, realizing how narrow-minded and selfish his previous behavior had been.

  Gong Xi didn't say a word and stood awkwardly on one side, while Yong also looked embarrassed.

  Qin engineer looked at everyone again and said calmly: "Fortunately, you have friends coming over, rest first today, others do what they should do." Then he lowered his eyes again and continued to work on his hands.

  Lucky was persuaded by Qin Gong's words and didn't want to leave, but Wang Xi rarely came, and he didn't want to leave him there either, so he continued working. Just as he was in a dilemma, Yu Su walked over and whispered to Qin Engineer: "He's my classmate, I'll go out for a while too."

  Qin Gong nodded.

  This finally solved the trouble of good fortune, and the three people went to the entertainment room together.

  Yu Su called for three glasses of black beer, and the three sat down on the sofa. The cool sea breeze blew in through the round portholes.

  This is not a break time, in the entertainment room there are only three of them. Yu Su said: "It's really too tiring, I feel like my brain can't even turn anymore, taking a rest is good."

  Then let out a long sigh.

  Gong Xi looked at the two of them, feeling a wave of helplessness in her heart. She furrowed her brow and leaned against the single-person sofa. After thinking for a moment, she asked: "Then how many warships do you still have that haven't left?"

  They tested one by one, and after this one passed, they replaced it with another one.

  "Six warships, three cruisers, but the time is too tight now, and some of the weapons imported from France are not fully qualified. The German-imported torpedo equipment tested yesterday doesn't match a single word with its manual."

  "Yes, I don't know who was in charge of procurement." Yu Su also complained, with even more resentment in his heart. Corruption is not a new thing in the army, but to dare to pass off shoddy goods as good ones and cheat on the numbers, this is just too much! This concerns the lives of soldiers, how can it not make people angry?

  Military affairs are more complicated than the palace drama you watch, and not everyone can get involved. So three people just vented their frustrations and complained a bit.

  What can be done? After all, it's just a small deputy regimental officer, in the military politics, the smaller one is like a sesame seed.

  "Never mind, let's not mention this anymore. By the way, Yu Su, why aren't you married yet? I remember when we were in school, you said that you and your girlfriend grew up together since childhood, what happened? Is it because you're too busy at sea every day, so she dumped you?" Gong Xi teased.

  "Get out, you're the one who got dumped!" Yu Su said, immediately turning his head to take a glance at the triangular relationship between Lucky, Gong Xi and Ming Lang. Yu Su had never quite figured out who was with whom. After taking a look, he felt like his action was too obvious, so he quickly turned back around and smiled at Gong Xi: "My girlfriend, that's set in stone. During Chinese New Year break this year, our two families have already met to discuss the engagement. They said after we're done with this military exercise, we'll go back and get everything settled. Before we came here, the two of us had already picked up our marriage certificates."

  "Really!"

  "You're too awesome, congratulations, congratulations!" Although it's someone else's happy event, but the lucky one seems to be more excited and happier than the person involved.

  "Damn it, you little rascal, you've got the certificate, did you get on the car first and then buy the ticket later?" Gong Xi teased.

  "Go away. Who wants you." Yu Su said with a smile.

  "What the...?! Is that a fact? Alright, alright! Men, uh..." Gong Xi caught a glimpse of Xing Yun's gaze and immediately shut up.

  Yu Su looked around and took a glance at the two people's situation, roughly guessing what was going on.

  Xingyun glanced at Gong Xi and ignored him, turning to ask Yu Su: "Then notify me when you get married, I'll definitely attend."

  Gong Xi also hastily nodded along: "Right, right, you have to tell me a few days in advance so I can apply for leave. You're the first classmate to get married, at least that's what I've heard. I definitely have to go."

  "Alright, alright, the military exercise is over, let's wrap it up. You two can prepare the red envelopes now. Haha", Yu Su chuckled and rubbed his head with a smile, his face filled with happy anticipation.

  "No problem, I'll get you a big one later. I'll take 1,000 yuan and exchange it for steel rings. Damn, that will be enough for the two of you to count for half a night."

  Hahaha...

  Three people burst out laughing.

  Yu Su followed and sat for a while, everyone chatted again about Lao Wu, Wu Zuoyu, and Gan Hou. These classmates had good relationships at the time, but all three tacitly avoided mentioning Ming Lang. After sitting for a while, Yu Su left first.

  Gong Xi and Yong were left behind, both of them put down their cups and walked out of the entertainment room one after another.

  Back in the cabin, Gong Xi's eyes immediately landed on the pot of flowers and the two small fish she had given to Lucky, which were placed on the table in the sunniest spot.

  "You really did raise them all?" Gong Xi said with a smile, feeling grateful for the good things that luck had brought to her.

  "Lucky looked at him with a self-satisfied expression and said casually, 'Yeah, they're all very good at living, even if you don't take care of them for a long time, they'll still be alive. I don't know how, but their vitality is so strong.'"

  Jiayu knew that Xingyun was just a proud and arrogant little thing, pretending to be strong on the surface, and didn't bother with him.

  Walk over to the table and tease the fish.

  "Take off your jacket, let me see," said Lucky from behind him.

  Jiuyue knew he wanted to take a look at his injuries and see how they were healing, but he was deliberately teasing him.

  "What's wrong? You're thinking of me, you're too impatient, just entering the door and taking off your clothes. We haven't even kissed or had any foreplay?" Gong Xi teased.

  Lucky saw him teasing himself and didn't respond, turned around and walked over, hooked up with Gong Xi's neck and gave her a passionate kiss.

  Kyoko was taken aback by the sudden passion, but after a moment's pause, she immediately reacted and tightly wrapped her arms around Kōji. The two of them were now embracing each other, Kyoko's breathing becoming increasingly urgent as her desire burned fiercely like a wildfire. Her hands moved up and down, caressing Kōji's slender back while frantically tugging at his shirt, which was tucked into his pants. As her hand reached the front, Kōji tried to stop her, but Kyoko became even more agitated, desperately trying to unfasten his belt and strip away the encumbrances covering the beautiful body she had longed for.