"Mom, keep this money for household expenses. Don't worry about my issues, I have a plan, and I'll take care of little sister's schooling too. I rember it should be ti for her college entrance exams. With her grades, she's certain to be admitted. So, tell , where did she apply?" Luo Zheng said with a bitter smile, his nose tingling with emotion, feeling choked up inside.
"Ah." Mrs. Luo sighed, her face filled with guilt, and said, "It's our fault for not having the money for her education. Little sister is a thoughtful child. She definitely could have passed the exams, but she was afraid of making us sad, especially right after your dad got injured. She probably told you, right? She didn't tell us her scores, and when pressed, she would just say she didn't get in. I think she must have destroyed her admission letter. We're the ones who have wronged her."
Upon hearing this, Luo Zheng's guess was confird. His face burned with sha, and he said solemnly, "Mom, I'll handle this situation. Don't worry, I've got everything under control."
"You're not getting any younger either, it's ti for you to settle down and start a family. It's been three years, shouldn't you have been discharged by now? I heard that nowadays the military service is only two years, why has it been so long? Did the army assign you a job?" Mrs. Luo asked, looking at Luo Zheng, her eyes brimming with hope and expectation.
"Uh?" Luo Zheng said awkwardly, "Mom, I haven't been discharged yet."
"It's been that long? If I had known, I wouldn't have let you enlist. I don't understand military matters, just be careful out there. Your father and I are still strong; don't worry about us," Mrs. Luo said helplessly, not prying further.
Luo Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. Military matters were a matter of discipline and could not be disclosed. Looking at his mother, whose body was slightly stooped, Luo Zheng sank into deep self-reproach and silently vowed to quickly resolve the family's pressing difficulties, to ensure his parents could have a better life, to get his little sister back to school as soon as possible, and to uphold the Luo family.
After so idle talk, Luo Hu ca over with washed and chopped chicken and lamb, placing them on the chopping board. He glanced at Luo Zheng, who nodded in understanding. Luo Zheng put down the fire tongs and, seeing Ghost Hand coming over, quickly said, "Co, help with the fire." After Ghost Hand agreed and ca over, Luo Zheng walked out.
At the door, Luo Zheng saw his father, Luo Hu, squatting outside in the sun-drenched threshing ground smoking. He quickly grabbed two wooden stools and walked over. The two of them sat on a stool each. Luo Zheng knew his father had sothing to say. Though father and son rarely talked, they had an understanding. Luo Hu took two harsh drags of his tobacco pipe and said in a low voice, "There's a heavy killing aura on you, and the few who ca with you are no simple folk. Can you talk about your situation?"
"Dad, they are my current comrades-in-arms. I can't give specifics; there are regulations," Luo Zheng said, feeling guilty as he looked at his increasingly aged father, visibly depleted in vitality, and felt a painful blockage in his heart.
"I feel reassured if they're your comrades. I understand about the discipline, so I won't ask. Little sister must have told you about my situation, right?" Luo Hu said, looking at his son, who was sharp and brimming with masculine energy. He continued with relief upon seeing Luo Zheng nod, "You need not bla yourself. The ways of the world are unpredictable, and who can claim to understand them? Their influence is substantial; supposedly, so governnt leader is backing them, and the trouble isn't over yet. If you can, stay and help out. This is a critical matter for our entire clan; you have a duty to it. If you can't manage, leave as soon as possible to avoid trouble."
"Dad, I know you're worried about and looking out for . If I hadn't known about this, it would be fine to avoid it, but knowing and still running away would an I don't deserve to be your son. I'll take care of this," Luo Zheng said earnestly, his gaze growing sharp with a frightening hint of bloodlust while an overwhelming fighting spirit burst forth from him.
"Hiss?" Luo Hu didn't expect his son to have developed such a ferocious, battle-hardened presence. He smiled with pride and said, "Good, the Luo family has never feared trouble. I am Little Houtou, and you are Little Houtou. Brothers in battle, father and son on the field, we'll face those scoundrels together. You haven't forgotten what I taught you, have you?"
"Don't worry, Dad, you definitely couldn't beat now," Luo Zheng said with a smile, his spirits rising. He saw Mountain Eagle and Snow Leopard co out of the room and said in a low voice, "Dad, there's also them. They'll help. We are brothers who've been through life and death together, and they can be trusted."
"That's good to see. I can tell they're not ordinary people. Just had a brief chat with them, and they seem decent—worth making a deeper connection with. That girl has calluses on her index finger. Since she's from the military, she must be an expert in handling guns, right? Don't forget your dad was a soldier too when he was young. Just, won't we be a bother to them?" Luo Hu asked worriedly.
"Don't worry," Luo Zheng said, laughing when he thought about Lan Xue and the others' backgrounds.
"That's good. I've been holding the little sister back. You're the man of the house, the backbone of the future. You need to take good care of her," Luo Hu said as he stood up and walked towards the room.
"Brother, the environnt here is really good," Ghost Hand ca over laughing, sat down on a wooden stool, and seeing Little Houtou coming back with Lan Xue, he couldn't help but laugh, "Your little sister is so sensible. She's taken on the responsibility of the household at such a young age, not easy. Compared to your sister, mine is just soone who knows how to spend money."
"The environnt makes the man," Luo Zheng sighed. Seeing Lan Xue coming over happily and getting along quite well with Little Houtou, he breathed a sigh of relief, waved to Lan Xue to co over, but then saw a six or seven-year-old kid running over in a hurry, shouting from afar, "Uncle Tiger Head, those bastards are here again."
"What's this kid yelling about?" Ghost Hand asked, startled, as Little Houtou's face suddenly changed dramatically.
Before Luo Zheng could answer, Luo Hu, holding a machete, rushed out of the room. Looking at Luo Zheng, Luo Zheng nodded and went forward. Hearing Lan Xue shouting from behind, he thought for a mont and said, "We're encountering so trouble in the village. I need to handle it. You all wait here for a while."
"Brother, that's not fair. Look at this situation, it's going to be a fight, and you know what's my favorite thing to do," Ghost Hand complained. Turning to Little Houtou, he asked amicably, "Little sister, can you tell your big brother what exactly is going on?"
"So bad guys want to develop our sacred land for tourism. We didn't agree, and they started hitting people. They injured my dad last ti," Little Houtou said angrily.
"Oh, hell, law and order are gone. I'll take care of this. Guys, let's go," Ghost Hand beca cheerful at once, shouting loudly. Looking at Little Houtou, he asked, "Dare to lead the way?"
Seeing that Little Houtou was the fastest in telling the truth, Luo Zheng thought for a mont and said, "Follow if you wish, but if you're late, there will be no part for you." With that, he walked toward the village outskirts.
"Uncle Luo, they're just a bunch of scoundrels. Please calm down, sir, and leave it to us younger folks. Rest assured, we'll definitely satisfy you without any mistakes," Ghost Hand said cheerfully as he rushed to Luo Hu.
Luo Hu looked at Ghost Hand seriously, then smiled with satisfaction, "When have you ever seen hosts not taking care of their guests? I'm also a soldier. Have you ever seen a soldier back down?"
"Never," Ghost Hand quickly replied, with a show of respect.
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