Chapter 14: A Father's Pride — A Tiger Father Has No Cowardly Son

Evening.

602nd Division headquarters office.

Division Commander Lü Qingsong was on the phone: "Old Commander, I only just found out myself — your son actually ended up in the 602nd, and he's already standing out so much in the Recruit Company."

"A tiger father truly has no cowardly son!"

Lin Guangyao allowed a rare smile to cross his face. This kid — he'd finally made some progress.

His tone remained cool as he replied: "It's only natural for a man to change once he enters the military. Nothing worth praising yet. When the Recruit Company training is done, find me a tough posting — somewhere that'll really grind him down."

Lü Qingsong nodded. "The Tiger Regiment's Vanguard Sixth Company is the hardest, most grueling unit in our division. The Sixth Company's commander happens to be the same officer running their current Recruit Company."

"With his scores, there's absolutely no problem placing him in the Sixth Company. We can transfer him over directly when the time comes."

Lin Guangyao gave a slight nod.

The Tiger Regiment's Vanguard Sixth Company — he seemed to have heard of it.

Back in the days of war, they had annihilated countless enemies, but suffered devastating losses in return.

By the end, they had nearly been wiped out entirely as a unit — a true veteran outfit with a glorious history!

"Let him go there and be forged properly. The Recruit Company is only the beginning. It's only after joining a line unit that a soldier can truly shine and show his worth!"

Lü Qingsong smiled warmly. "Rest assured, old commander. If Lin Hui maintains his current level, he'll receive special attention once he's in the Sixth Company."

"As long as he delivers results, I can push for his Officer Promotion within a year."

Lin Guangyao let out a cold snort. "Don't you dare go easy on him out of respect for me. Hold him to the strictest standards."

"The military is a place that demands combat effectiveness — not a place for personal favors. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" Lü Qingsong responded immediately.

The call ended, and a rare smile settled on Lin Guangyao's face.

His son had only been in the military for two months, yet had already changed so much.

To say he wasn't proud would be a lie.

Lin Rui sat on the sofa across from him and smiled. "Dad, it's been a long time since I've seen you smile like that. It's about Third Brother, isn't it?"

Lin Guangyao chuckled. "The kid really didn't disappoint me. He's only just joined up and he's already performing brilliantly — top marks across the board!"

Lin Rui laughed. "Little Hui has always had good instincts, and he's sharp too. Honestly, sometimes I think I can't even match him."

"Even though he spent his time fooling around before, once he found something worth fighting for, he was always going to turn things around."

Lin Guangyao's tone grew serious. "What reason does a man need to live? In the days of war, so many of our forebears threw their lives away in battle — what reason did they need?"

"Wasn't it simply to defend their homes and their country, so they wouldn't be pushed around?"

"A lot of people are just spoiled. They grew up in a honeypot, never knowing hardship. This generation has forgotten how the good life they enjoy came to be — all they think about is eating, drinking, and having fun."

Lin Rui laughed. "Dad, you can't put it quite like that. Every generation has its own way of thinking. Young people simply haven't lived through the brutality of that era."

"They were born under the red flag and raised in the spring breeze — they came into a world that was already beautiful."

"But isn't that exactly what our forebears wanted to see?"

Lin Guangyao gave a slow nod. "You're not wrong. Our forebears shed their blood and laid down their lives precisely so that future generations would never have to suffer through war again — so they could live well."

"If they could see people today, well-fed and clothed, no longer pushed around, they would surely be glad."

He spoke gravely. "But Little Hui is different from others — he is a son of the Lin family. Others may indulge in pleasure and live carefree lives, but you cannot!"

"Soldiers' blood runs in your veins from birth. So from the moment you came into this world, you were meant to pick up the rifles your fathers carried, raise the banners your fathers raised, and continue to protect the people."

"Every comfort he has enjoyed from childhood to now was bought with the blood and lives of those who came before. So I must make him understand just how hard-won this good life truly is!"

"That said, the brat is at least obedient. His performance since joining the military has been solid. He hasn't let his old man down."

Lin Rui smiled. "The younger generation has its own ideas. Once Little Hui got into the military and felt the atmosphere there, it must have awakened the soldier's blood that runs in our Lin family's veins."

"He's only going to get better from here."

Lin Guangyao nodded, smiling quietly to himself.

He had enlisted from a young age and devoted his entire life to his country and its people.

Sometimes, when things got busy, he wouldn't come home for half a year at a stretch — as though he had taken root in the military itself.

Though he felt he had let down his wife and children, watching his nation grow prosperous and strong, he had no regrets.

Lin Guangyao drew a deep breath. "As long as Little Hui serves well in the military and makes something of himself, I'll swallow my pride and call in every favor I have to pave the way for him — to give him the best possible future!"

Bang. The kitchen door suddenly swung open.

Jiang Lanying walked into the living room with a cold expression, set a fruit plate on the coffee table without ceremony, and said: "You old fool — all you ever do is plan the children's futures according to your own wishes. The eldest joined the military, the second joined the military — can't the third be allowed to live his own life?"

Lin Guangyao looked thoroughly embarrassed. "Dear, let me explain — I'm doing this for his own good…"

Jiang Lanying glared at him. "Nonsense. You threw him into the military to suffer and toil, and you call that for his own good? If you truly wanted what's best for him, you'd let him live the life he wants."

"You and your old warlord ways — always making things so complicated!"

Lin Rui's face flushed with awkwardness. He seized on an excuse and made a quick exit: "Right, well — Mom, Dad — there's something I need to take care of back at the base. I'll be heading off."

Seeing the storm about to break, he had no intention of getting caught in the crossfire.

After Lin Rui left, Lin Guangyao's face reddened. "Having Little Hui follow in my footsteps is perfectly reasonable. And what's wrong with the military, anyway?"

"A bit of tempering will do him good in the long run."

"Besides, the Lin family has soldiers' blood in our bones — in the military, he can put his talents to better use. He'll have far better prospects there than out in the civilian world!"

"Rubbish!" Jiang Lanying crossed her arms, dropped onto the sofa, and said heatedly: "Why can't he come and take over my business — learn how to run a company properly?"

"Little Hui may love to play around, but he's always been sensible. I quietly handed him two business ventures, and he handled them brilliantly."

"With proper grooming, he'd be a business elite in the future — no question about it."

She fumed: "What — does he only count as successful if he's in the military? Can't he make something of himself in society? Can't he contribute to the country that way?"

"Look at the taxes the group has paid over the years, the charity work, the poverty relief, the donations — not one of them has been skimped on. We're giving back to society with everything we have!"

"Every time the country has needed money or effort, haven't I always been at the front of the line? If Little Hui followed me, wouldn't that be just as successful?"

Lin Guangyao was completely stumped — not a single word to say in reply.

He was good at fighting wars. Arguing with his wife? Not even close.

He smiled ruefully. "Alright, alright — I can't out-argue you. You're right about everything. Happy now?"

Jiang Lanying rolled her eyes. "Don't try to brush me off. I went along with your wishes this time and let you push Little Hui into the military. But when he's discharged in two years, if you dare stand in his way — I, your wife, will divorce you and be done with it!"

Lin Guangyao's face was a picture of helpless misery.

At their age, talking about divorce.

He placated her with whatever words he could muster, coaxing and cajoling until he finally managed to get her back to the bedroom.

Lin Guangyao stood at the window, gazing at the row of white poplar trees standing as straight as rifles, his face full of anticipation. "You little brat — let me see just how much potential you have, and what kind of name you can make for yourself in the military!"

He turned and walked into the study, closing the door behind him.

He pulled open a drawer and took out an old, yellowed photograph.

As he looked at it, his eyes filled with fond remembrance.

It was a group photo — ten people arranged in two rows. The five in front were half-bent forward; the five behind stood straight. Every one of them wore an old-style military uniform.

Lin Guangyao gently stroked the faded photograph, his smile brimming with pride. "Old comrades — my third boy has finally made something of himself…"