Chapter 1: With a Family This Impressive, Isn't It Normal for Me to Give Up?

Chapter 1: With a Family This Impressive, Isn't It Normal for Me to Give Up?

Year 2000, Yan Nation.

Suhang New District Bus Terminal.

The waiting hall was packed with noise and bustle.

Many new recruits in green military uniforms, each wearing a large red flower pinned to their chest, were sharing tearful farewells with their families.

Amid the crowd, one figure suddenly jolted — and snapped awake.

Lin Hui shook his head, looking around in a daze. "What the hell is going on here?"

He clearly remembered sitting at the office just moments ago, grinding away at code during overtime. How had he ended up here?

Lin Hui looked down and saw the brand-new military uniform on his body. The large red flower pinned to his chest nearly blinded him. "What the — what am I wearing? A big red flower? Am I the groom or something?"

"Lin Hui, I'm talking to you. Do you hear me?"

Lin Hui looked up in bewilderment. A Colonel with a stern, no-nonsense face was staring him down.

"You — who are you?" Lin Hui asked, genuinely puzzled.

Zhao Yuanming rolled his eyes and snapped, "Don't play amnesia with me. Even if you fake being crazy, you're still going to the army. This is The Old Man's order — he's not joking around!"

Lin Hui furrowed his brow. Damn it, I genuinely don't know who you are!

Just then, a massive flood of memories surged into him and rapidly merged with his own.

Only then did he realize — he had transmigrated.

And he had become a bona fide Military Second-Generation.

His father was a Military Region Commander. His older brothers held no small positions in the military either.

His mother was the chairwoman of a corporate group, and his uncle was the CEO of another.

Last night, the original owner of this body had drunk himself into a stupor — and that had given Lin Hui the opening to transmigrate in.

With a family this impressive, wasn't it perfectly fine for him to give up and coast through life?

But the moment he arrived, the original body's father had forcibly shipped him off to the army for "tempering."

Lin Hui wanted to cry but had no tears. Couldn't he have waited even two more days?

At least let him live it up for a bit — experience what it truly meant to be a Pampered Young Master!

Just thinking about yesterday, when the original owner had shouted in a bar that Young Master Lin was picking up the tab for the entire venue, and all the Young Ladies had screamed in excitement — Lin Hui felt a surge of vicarious thrill.

All the good stuff went to that bastard, and all the suffering gets left to me. That's seriously not fair!

Soon, Lin Hui fully merged with the memories and completely replaced the original owner.

He grumbled, "Can I go two days later?"

"You think this is a market stall where you can haggle?" Zhao Yuanming glared at him. "You're going whether you want to or not. Your name's already been submitted. If you dare run, that's desertion!"

"On a battlefield, it wouldn't matter whose son you are — you'd still catch a bullet!"

Lin Hui's throat bobbed hard. So there's really no getting out of this?

Zhao Yuanming smiled pleasantly. "I know you're full of clever tricks, but let me give you some advice — don't even think about running. Your father has already made it clear: if you dare bolt, they'll drag you back and beat you senseless. Run again, drag you back again, beat you again!"

"Medicinal wine, a cane, and a wheelchair — all prepared and ready for you!"

Lin Hui's whole body clenched. Holy shit, they've cut off every escape route!

"However!" Zhao Yuanming's tone shifted. "The Old Man said — as long as you serve your full two years like a good soldier, when you're discharged, you can do whatever you want. He won't interfere."

"Really?" Lin Hui's eyes lit up, as if he'd spotted a ray of hope on the horizon.

"Of course it's real!" Zhao Yuanming nodded. "Your father is a Commander, after all — his word is his bond!"

Hearing that, Lin Hui's resistance melted considerably.

In his previous life, he'd grown up poor and suffered for years.

Though he was a little reluctant, it was just serving in the army, wasn't it?

Only two years. Close your eyes, open them again, and it's done.

After discharge, he'd go right back to living the high life and finding himself some Young Ladies!

And who knows — the "soldier boy" identity might even come with a buff. Young Ladies would go weak in the knees the moment they saw him, unable to walk straight.

"Then it's settled! I'll be like Tang Sanzang heading west — when I come back, I'll have earned my true reward!"

"But!" Zhao Yuanming fixed him with a look. "Same as I said — you must serve the full two years. If you find some way to get yourself discharged early, or if you desert, everything I just said is void…"

Lin Hui cut him off with a grin. "Uncle Zhao, don't worry. For the sake of living happily ever after, I'll definitely stay the full two years! Let's go!"

He slung his pack over his shoulder and jogged cheerfully toward the column of new recruits.

Zhao Yuanming watched his retreating figure and smiled faintly. "Join the army and regret it for two years; don't join and regret it for a lifetime. By the end, I doubt even a stick could chase you away."

He turned around and pulled out his phone. "Commander, it's me. Yes — he's on the vehicle."

On the other end of the line, Southeast Military Region Commander Lin Guangyao asked with concern, "How did the little brat react? Did he try to run?"

Zhao Yuanming chuckled. "How could he, Commander? I passed on your words exactly as you gave them. He agreed to serve his two years properly."

Lin Guangyao let out a small sigh of relief. Getting that little rascal into the army — that was no easy feat!

He said seriously, "Even though he's in the army now, keep a close eye on him. That kid's got a head full of schemes. If he pulls something and runs, I won't be able to show my face!"

Zhao Yuanming laughed heartily. "Commander, Little Hui may be a handful, but compared to those Pampered Young Masters out there who do nothing but leech off their families, he's in a completely different league."

"Since he's promised to stay, he'll put in the work."

"I believe that with his ability, as long as he's willing, he'll definitely make something of himself in the army — and become a remarkable soldier, just like you!"

Lin Guangyao beamed with pride, his face creasing into a wide smile. "Of course! No matter what a son of the Lin family sets his mind to, he'll succeed! But still — a sharp sword is forged through grinding. You can't keep him soaking in a jar of honey forever. It's time he tasted some hardship and tempered his character."

"Alright, keep watch at all times and report to me immediately if anything comes up."

Zhao Yuanming straightened. "Yes, Commander!"

The call ended. He gazed at the convoy disappearing into the distance and murmured meaningfully, "Little Hui, I hope you can truly settle into army life — and come to understand The Old Man's good intentions."

* * *

The trucks roared down the asphalt road at full speed.

The scenery outside the windows blurred and rushed backward.

Inside the truck bed, the new recruits were crammed together, the long journey lulling most of them into drowsiness.

Lin Hui, however, was full of energy. "Just two years. Close your eyes, open them again, and it's over. Easy!"

He'd already mapped out his plans for after discharge.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays — clubs and Young Ladies!

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays — hot celebrities!

Sundays off to rest and recharge.

Just imagining that kind of life was enough to wear out his Kidneys!

Lin Hui daydreamed about the good life two years from now, unable to suppress a grin.

Suddenly, a hand appeared right in front of his face.

Lin Hui startled. "Holy shit, what the—!"

He followed the arm to its owner: a dark-skinned, charmingly simple-looking young man was grinning at him from ear to ear.

"Big Bro, have an egg. My mom made 'em — still warm!"

Lin Hui's mouth twitched. This guy had been eating since the moment they boarded, and his big white teeth were still smeared with egg yolk.

Just how long had it been since this guy had eaten an egg to be going at them this hard?

"No thanks, I'm not hungry."

Chen Erhu grinned. "Don't be shy! These are from our own chickens — you can't buy 'em anywhere!"

Lin Hui gave an awkward smile. "You can lay eggs? Then I really can't buy those anywhere!"

Chen Erhu blinked, then burst out laughing. "What are you saying — people are born from their moms, eggs are laid by chickens. How would I lay one? Besides, I'm a male."

Lin Hui cracked up. The army really was a melting pot — you could run into all kinds of people. This one was a genuine character.

"Thanks," Lin Hui said with a smile. "I'm not hungry. And don't eat too many yourself — too many eggs aren't good for you."

Chen Erhu scratched his head in confusion. "But aren't eggs supposed to be good for you? If I wasn't joining the army and everyone in the village hadn't sent our family eggs as a gift, I wouldn't even have any to eat!"

"Heh. City boy's used to the good life — of course he can't be bothered with your eggs."

Lin Hui frowned and glanced to the side. A thick-browed young man was staring at him with a provocative look.

From the look of him, he was probably from the outskirts of some city.

Lin Hui could tell the guy had misread the situation, but he had no interest in explaining himself.

They weren't going to be friends anyway.

Lin Hui turned away indifferently, not bothering to engage.

"What are you so high and mighty about? Think being from a big city makes you something special?" The young man let out a cold snort, grabbed one of Chen Erhu's eggs, cracked it on his own head, and said, "He doesn't want it, I'll eat it. I'm Wang Yong — what's your name?"

"I'm Chen Erhu — just call me Erhu!" the simple-looking young man said with a beaming smile.

Just then, the truck began to slow.

Everyone craned their necks curiously toward the windows. Most of them were leaving home for the first time.

Arriving somewhere new, their hearts were buzzing with excitement.

The truck came to a stop. A harsh shout rang out from outside.

"Get off! Everyone off, now! Move it!"

A dark-faced veteran slapped the side of the truck hard. "Grab all your gear and get the hell out!"

The recruits poured out like a flock of sheep being herded, stumbling off the truck one by one with blank expressions.

The wide parade ground instantly erupted into chaos, new recruits gawking in every direction.

Not far away, beneath the unit's flag, Recruit Company Commander Zhang Jiantao furrowed his brow slightly. "Straggling all over the place. The quality of soldiers gets worse every year."

Political Instructor Wang Hai laughed. "Old Zhang, society's developing fast. These young people today were raised in honey jars — you've got to be more understanding!"

Zhang Jiantao snorted. "This is the army, not a daycare. Once you're here, you'd better be mentally prepared. Look at them — what do they look like?"

He said coldly, "I heard there's someone in this batch who got in through the back door. No physical exam, no background check — just shoved right in. What kind of nonsense is that?"

Wang Hai looked genuinely surprised. "Really? Someone got in through connections?"

Zhang Jiantao nodded. "The information is solid. I don't care who this person is or who pulled the strings — if their scores don't meet the standard, I'm sending them back. I won't let one bad egg ruin the rules we've built here!"

Wang Hai nodded in agreement. The army wasn't a shelter.

If everyone could just pull strings to get people in, wouldn't the whole thing fall apart?

Just then, a commotion broke out nearby.

"Get down! Get down right now!"

"Who the hell told you to climb up there?! That's the 602nd Division's monument — get your ass down!"

Zhang Jiantao spun around, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

A new recruit was standing atop the iconic landmark, waving grandly at the crowd below as if he owned the place.

"Brothers! Thank you all for coming to dedicate your youth. From here on out — work hard!"

Most people stood there stunned. But a handful of rural recruits who had never seen much of the world mistook him for some important figure and immediately snapped to attention, bellowing, "Yes, sir!"

Pfft…

Zhang Jiantao and the Political Instructor looked ready to breathe fire, nearly spitting blood on the spot.

He'd seen bold people before, but never anyone this bold.

"What are you all standing around for?!" Zhang Jiantao roared. "Get him down from there!"