Chapter 2: Life Should Not Be Cut Short

  Suddenly, I felt like I was in the clouds, everything around me was soft and my body swayed back and forth, the pain wasn't so bad anymore, this must be heaven, mom had told me before that good people wouldn't go to hell to suffer.

  My throat felt like it was on fire, I wanted to drink water, and just as I couldn't bear the thirst anymore, I felt something appear at my mouth, and then water flowed into my throat, greedily sucking it in, I slowly opened my eyes. Then I saw something completely unexpected, a bloody pig's head was staring dead at my face. I didn't make any sound before passing out again.

  When I woke up again and looked around carefully, I found myself in a car, surrounded by slabs of pork, lying on top of the meat. The pig's head that had almost scared me to death was moved under my feet. Then I saw a big face smiling at me gently. A deep voice came out of the man's mouth: "You're quite resilient, I thought you wouldn't wake up."

  Then another voice said: "I knew this little thing wouldn't die, he's as sturdy as a small calf".

  I looked hard at the person speaking and was startled again by his appearance. A body that was fat to an extreme degree led a horse in front of him, with a face that was more than half as large as the one I had just seen.

  I saw this person's two small eyes laughing and looking at me, saying: "Haven't seen someone as fat as me before, right? Nothing special, just can eat a bit more."

  I was surprised again to find that the person was actually a woman. The fat woman continued to say: "My husband's surname is Zhu, you can call me Mrs. Zhu."

  I was thinking of Zhu Damao and Pig Damao. At this time, another person spoke up: "My name is Zheng Xiong, the heroic Xiong".

  I stared at him blankly and asked: "The 'hero' you mentioned, which 'hero' are you referring to?"

  In front of me, a silvery laughter sounded, and then Zhu Danni asked me: "Are you illiterate or are you angry with him? The thing that makes him most proud in this life is his male character. Alright, lie down well, the wound on your body will fester if it's not taken care of."

  I unwillingly smiled and fell asleep again.

  This time after waking up, I felt much better on my body. I don't know when I got off the horse cart and lay in a tent. The clothes on my body were also changed to clean ones. When I struggled to get out of bed, Zheng Xiong came in.

  I smiled at him and said: "Zheng Xiong, thank you for saving my life, I'll kowtow to you." As I spoke, I bent down to kowtow.

  That man grabbed me like a chicken and pressed me back onto the bed, then said: "Don't worry about it for now, just rest and recover from your injuries first, we can talk later. You shouldn't get out of bed easily right now, if you need anything just shout, this is the infirmary, there are people in charge here. Zhu Dama asked me to ask what you'd like to eat, she'll make it and have someone bring it over."

  I looked at the sturdy man in front of me and suddenly tears welled up. Zheng Xiong glared at me and cursed: "Look at you, what are you crying for? Quickly wipe it away, I can't stand seeing men cry, if you keep crying I'll throw you out and dunk your head in the latrine."

  I stopped crying and gave him a sly smile. Zheng Xiong said: "This still has the style of an old man, but you have to practice how to smile well, your smile is even uglier than when you cry. I'll bring you a bowl of noodles first, and then give you something better to eat when you're feeling a bit better. I'm leaving now." After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked towards the door.

  I hastily asked: "Where is this?" Zheng Xiong said without turning his head: "This is the barracks."

  After a big bowl of noodles went down my stomach, my spirit lifted up and the years' worth of stored-up energy in my belly also rose to the surface. Holding back the strong urge to relieve myself, I rushed out the door and shouted: "I need to use the restroom!" The curtain was lifted and a person came in, holding a chamber pot. To my surprise, it was a big girl around 20 years old who had entered. I stared blankly at her, dumbfounded.

  That big girl wasn't stupid, after putting down the bucket she said to me: "You undo your pants yourself, I'll help you sit on it".

  I weakly said: "I'm fine, don't worry about it."

  Saying that, he slowly got out of bed, his two hands slowly untying his pants, his two eyes desperately pleading with the big girl.

  The big girl frowned, picked me up with one hand, pulled my pants down with the other, and put me on the toilet. She said: "You little brat is still particular about smells, call me when you're done." Then she left.

  I quickly finished and used the toilet paper she had thrown down to wipe myself, pulled up my pants and returned to bed, shouting towards the door: "I'm done!" Then I curled up in bed and didn't move.

  The big girl came in and took a look at me, picked up the chamber pot and said: "If you have anything to do with me in the future, just call my name, I'm San Pang." After finishing speaking, she left.

  A month has passed and my body has recovered, the wound on my leg is almost healed. From their mouths, I learned that when I was about to be killed that day, they saved me, and the rest of the thieves were killed by Zheng Xiong's men.

  At that time, they were also going to chase those Goryeo soldiers, but they saw the continuous appearance of Goryeo soldier corpses, and a half-grown child with a thief's eyes and a murderous aura chasing after the troops, so they decided to finish watching the play and make their move at the last moment.

  Now I can move around, so I spend the whole day helping Zhu Dama in the kitchen and go back to sleep in that wounded tent at night. This barracks is not big, with only 300 soldiers. And also, no matter how many times I look, Zhu Dama, Zheng Xiong, and San Biao don't seem like soldiers either.

  I asked many people about the situation here, but no one told me. The barracks are strictly managed, and without orders, it's not allowed to casually leave the camp, but I'm different, I often sneak out to pick a big bunch of fruits and bring them back for everyone to eat, and days just slowly passed by like this.

  Two months later one morning, I was eating with a big bowl in my arms when Zheng Xiong walked up to me, put several pieces of silver at my feet and said: "Today we are leaving, take this little money back home. From now on, we may not see each other again, you young man take care." After finishing speaking, he left, throwing me into a daze.

  I held my rice bowl and looked at the silver under my feet, feeling unbearably distressed. I quickly finished eating and grabbed the silver, rushing towards the large tent in the middle. When I arrived at the entrance of the tent, I imitated the actions of others who had entered before me and stood with my hands clasped together, shouting loudly: "Report to General, Yan Jiulang requests an audience!"

  The orderly at the entrance of the tent smiled and looked at me, then turned around and went in. Before long, he came out and said to me: "Go in, the general seems to know you're coming."

  The two of us walked in with trembling legs, and after entering, we immediately knelt down on the ground, then knocked our heads and said: "I, Yan Jiulang, have come to join the army, I hope the general will accept me."

  A frighteningly quiet atmosphere, heavy breathing sounds right above my head, a pair of big feet circling around me. I anxiously waited, but the person just wouldn't speak, only circling around me. I spoke again: "Please, General, accept this." Astonishingly, still no response, I secretly lifted my head to look up and saw Zheng Xiong solemnly staring at me.

  My heart suddenly relaxed: "General, it's you, why didn't you tell me earlier, I was almost scared to death"; As I spoke, I was about to get up.

  Zheng Xiong shouted: "Inside the military camp, you must not be presumptuous, those who disobey orders will be beheaded! If you want to be a soldier, you must follow the rules here. I know your family has no one left, if you want to stay, just stay, but my place is not like others, think carefully for yourself. If you can bear this hardship, go find Zhu Dajie to get your uniform."

  I gladly said: "Thank you General Zheng"; after finishing speaking, I turned around and ran out.

  Zheng Xiong shouted again: "You'd better listen well, if you can't bear the hardship and want to escape halfway, don't blame the military law for being ruthless and beheading you, go!"

  I nodded and went out, standing outside the account to wipe the sweat on my head, turned around and ran towards Zhu Dama's place. When I arrived, before I could even open my mouth, Zhu Dama had already laid out a set of clothes there.

  I couldn't help but ask: "Do you all know?"

  Madam Zhu threw a pair of boots over to me while saying: "I knew you wouldn't leave, this set of clothes was prepared for you long ago. The officials here have already been notified that the people from your village have all been buried, from now on you are one of us. Tomorrow you will receive the first training as a new recruit, now help me pack up and we'll break camp and head home."

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