Chapter 37: Apology
Page (1/3)
Chapter 37: An Apology
Cheng Yifei’s reaction made Xu Qiao laugh even more brightly.
She had already guessed that Cheng Yifei would make things difficult for her, so she could not let herself be led by Cheng’s rhythm. She had to settle the matter right from the start.
As expected, they had exchanged a show of strength.
It was not that Xu Qiao was more formidable. Cheng Yifei simply had too many scruples and did not dare confront her head-on.
What Cheng Yifei did not know was that Xu Qiao actually had even more to worry about than she did. She had made mistakes in the past, and although she had now earned merit, that merit was not a shield. It had merely given her one chance to redeem herself.
So she could afford no further mistakes. Still, over something this minor, she was willing to take a gamble.
Sure enough, Cheng Yifei was hot-tempered and wore every thought plainly on her face. She did not dare test whether Xu Qiao’s words were true.
Seeing her reaction, Xu Qiao asked with a smile, “Then what should I call you? I remember Xiaoyu and the others all call you that.”
“That’s their business. Anyway, you’re not to call me that…” Cheng Yifei rejected the idea outright. “Just call me by my name.”
Hearing their exchange, Guan Yuqi burst out laughing. “Looks like the two of you are getting along quite well. I’ll leave her in your hands, then.”
After all, Guan Yuqi had been allowed to return to the communications company because of her performance during that exercise. Those achievements had been real and tangible; no one could simply smear them.
And it was true. All those things had been done by the Xu Qiao of the past. Even if she wanted to argue, she had nothing to say.
“Wasn’t she the one who secretly went home after joining the communications company, costing the entire company its eligibility for outstanding-unit honors this year?”
Before Cheng Yifei could say anything more, Xu Qiao spoke directly. “Come on. There’s still time today, so let’s go through another one.”
“Is that Xu Qiao?” someone asked softly.
At first, that transceiver had merely been for recruits to practice with, and she had been the only one using it. Later, however, it became a mandatory subject for everyone in the communications company.
“Bang!”
A palm slammed down on the table.
Cheng Yifei was somewhat helpless, but she still nodded and led Xu Qiao directly to the next training area.
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
“They say she earned merit during the exercise, but who knows whether she actually did it herself, or whether she was simply lucky.” Cheng Yifei spoke without hesitation. “You can say there was no problem with the things she really did, but spreading rumors about other matters is going too far, isn’t it?”
But since Cheng Yifei had stood up for her, Xu Qiao could not simply hide behind her. Before she could speak, however, someone across from them said, “What do you mean, spreading rumors? We’re only telling the truth. Wasn’t she the one who caused chaos in recruit training and nearly delayed this entire batch from being assigned to their units?”
The moment those words were spoken, everyone across from them froze. No one had expected Xu Qiao to threaten to take such a minor matter all the way to the regimental commander.
It was not only them. Cheng Yifei also came to her senses and hurried forward to seize Xu Qiao’s arm. She wanted to say something, but then realized that trying to dissuade Xu Qiao would amount to helping the other side, and swallowed her words.
The others also reacted at last. The squad leader finally stepped forward. “You’re Xu Qiao, right? What they just said was indeed somewhat exaggerated, but surely this little matter doesn’t need to be taken to the squad leader?”
“Yes, that’s her—the Xu Qiao who turned recruit training upside down as soon as she arrived, then sneaked out of the communications company to go street racing,” someone immediately answered.
But as they continued, the tone began to change.
Xu Qiao was somewhat surprised to see Cheng Yifei stand up for her.
After several days, Xu Qiao’s training gradually progressed.
No one had expected a bit of ordinary gossip to suddenly turn sour when someone gave a cold snort. “She’s really putting on a complete act, even finding someone to help her. I wonder who came up with that idea.”
That was not what angered Xu Qiao. What infuriated her was that they actually doubted what she had accomplished during the exercise. It had not been her achievement alone—Squad Leader Wu had contributed as well. How could Xu Qiao not be furious when they questioned it?
The moment she heard that, the person who had asked the question immediately said unhappily, “Isn’t it because of her that our communications company lost the title of outstanding company this year?”
“But I was punished for it, and I’m also making amends little by little. You’re free to say whatever you like about that.”
“But if you doubt what I accomplished during the exercise, then you can’t just say it here.”
She suddenly stepped forward, leaving the female soldiers opposite her stunned. They stared at her blankly. “What… what do you mean? I’ll say it wherever I please.”
Xu Qiao was something of a celebrity—not only in the communications company, but throughout the entire regiment. The moment she appeared here, she immediately drew the attention of everyone else.
It was not only Xu Qiao. Even Cheng Yifei’s expression changed.
The two forcibly bound master and disciple exchanged an odd glance, both rendered helpless for a moment.
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
But it was not Xu Qiao who reacted. It was Cheng Yifei, who glared at them and demanded, “Yang Xiaohan, can’t you control your soldiers? You’re soldiers. Since when did you learn to wag your tongues?”
Xu Qiao gave a cold snort. “It may be a small matter in your eyes, but it isn’t one in mine.”
More and more people gathered in the training room. Sometimes other squads organized training there, and some people used their free time to come back for refresher training.
Several of them whispered among themselves, their looks toward Xu Qiao growing increasingly hostile.
Instead of becoming angry, Xu Qiao laughed. “Perfect. We’ll go to the company commander right now. You can report me for falsifying the exercise results, deceiving the army with fabricated data to obtain a commendation, and then using that commendation to return to Communications Squad One.”
“I…” Cheng Yifei was rendered both amused and exasperated.
Xu Qiao’s goal was simply to master the material and keep pace with everyone else in the unit. Who her teacher was did not matter, as long as that person could teach her.
“What? If she did it, are we not allowed to talk about it?” Several of the recruits grew frightened, but the veteran soldiers were not intimidated. One of them challenged her directly.
Seeing their expressions—as if they believed she could do nothing to them—Xu Qiao did not waste a single word. She walked straight up to the female soldier who had spoken moments earlier.
“What happened in recruit training and in the communications company was indeed done by me, and I won’t deny it.”
Several of them had truly not expected Cheng Yifei to stand up for Xu Qiao. The person who had been named had not taken part in the exchange, but she had not stopped it either. Now that she had suddenly been singled out, her expression became awkward.
“It’s true that I was at fault. But I was punished, and I am doing my best to make amends. You can criticize me for that.”
“However, this commendation from the exercise was not only for me. It also belongs to Squad Leader Wu of the mess squad. He devoted his entire youth to the army and is about to leave this place, yet you still have to slander him here?”
The faces of several people changed at once. Yang Xiaohan also realized that they had truly gone too far this time.
She glanced at the female soldier Xu Qiao had stopped. “Xu Yang, apologize!”
“Squad leader?” Xu Yang looked toward her in disbelief.
End of Chapter
Page (3/3)