Chapter Eighty: Xu Zhengyong’s Promotion

Hearing footsteps and seeing Wei Ruo enter, the nursemaid hurriedly wiped away her tears.

"Ruor, little sister!" Xu Zhengyong greeted her with a bright grin.

Wei Ruo did not respond immediately, instead scrutinizing him from head to toe, front and back, with great care.

"Stop staring, Ruor! I’m fine, not a scratch on me. I’m really something, you know! All those childhood brawls weren’t for nothing, and neither was Master’s training. And that crossbow you gave me—let me tell you, it’s incredible!

"Our crossbowmen kept firing volley after volley, arrows raining down thick as a storm. That gang never even got close before most of them were dead. By the time we clashed in close combat, they could barely hold their ground. Plus, I’m quick—those short, scrawny pirates couldn’t so much as touch a hair on me!"

To prove just how unharmed he was, Xu Zhengyong demonstrated a few moves right on the spot, finishing with a backflip.

"Alright, enough! Stop showing off. Careful, you managed not to get hurt on the battlefield, don’t go injuring yourself fooling around at home!" Xiumei interrupted him with a reproachful glare.

"Heh heh… Meimei, are you going to have to call me Senior Brother now?" Xu Zhengyong hadn’t forgotten about this.

"In your dreams! This is just the beginning. It was only one battle. At the very least, you’d have to stay safe for three or five years before I’ll consider it," Xiumei retorted quickly.

"Three or five years? Isn’t that a bit much?" Xu Zhengyong pouted.

"Not at all. Did you think being a soldier was a matter of a day or two? When you chose this path, you should have realized it’s a near-lifetime commitment. Asking for three or five years’ safety is the bare minimum!"

"Alright, alright, I’m a man, I won’t argue. Three or five years it is. Sooner or later, you’ll willingly call me Senior Brother!" Xu Zhengyong replied confidently.

Then, eager to boast, he launched into a recounting of his recent exploits for Wei Ruo.

"Ruor, I’m about to get promoted!"

"Really?"

"Absolutely! His Highness the Seventh said so himself!" Xu Zhengyong replied, then dropped his voice conspiratorially, "They told us not to call him the Seventh Prince, but I’m telling you in secret—don’t tell anyone else!"

At this, both Wei Ruo and Xiumei couldn’t help rolling their eyes.

"Brother Yong, next time don’t share secrets like that. If you’re told not to speak of something, don’t tell anyone," Wei Ruo admonished.

"But you’re not outsiders! You’re my sister, and you’re my junior apprentice. There’s nothing I can’t share with you," Xu Zhengyong said, unconcerned.

"That’s not the point. The army is different—rules must be followed, and military orders are absolute, even over your closest family," Wei Ruo said sternly.

"Miss is right. Listen to her!" the nursemaid chimed in.

"Alright, alright, I’ll keep it in mind," Xu Zhengyong agreed hastily. With his mother joining in, he knew his father’s fists would be next if he didn’t comply.

"So, what position did the Seventh Prince promise you?" Wei Ruo asked.

"Didn’t you just tell me not to say?"

"It’s his identity that’s secret, not the promotion. You’ve already spilled the most sensitive part—why hide the rest?"

"Oh, true." Realizing the sense in her words, Xu Zhengyong replied, "He said I’d be promoted to Deputy Company Commander!"

A Company Commander was equivalent to a company captain, and a Deputy Company Commander was akin to a lieutenant.

Last time, according to Wei Mingtin, the plan was to promote Brother Yong to the rank of Section Leader. Unexpectedly, Chu Lan promised him the higher position of Deputy Company Commander.

Normally, a regular soldier would first be promoted to Squad Leader, then Section Leader, and only then to Deputy Company Commander. Xu Zhengyong had just leaped three ranks in one go.

Although he was still far below Wei Mingtin in rank, Xu Zhengyong was only a new recruit. To rise from an ordinary soldier to Deputy Company Commander in such a short time was truly impressive.

"Really? You’re going to be Deputy Company Commander?" Xiumei cheered with delight.

"Heh, the Prince promised, but whether it happens, I can’t say for sure yet."

"If His Highness gave his word, it’s as good as done. If he wants to appoint someone Deputy Company Commander, it’s just a matter of a few words. Besides, you earned it, Brother Yong—you really distinguished yourself this time. The promotion is well deserved and justified, there won’t be any issue!" Xiumei beamed.

"Meimei is absolutely right," Wei Ruo agreed.

If it had only been Wei Mingtin pushing for the promotion, Wei Ruo wouldn’t be so certain. But since Chu Lan himself had spoken, there was a near one-hundred-percent guarantee.

Though she disliked Chu Lan as a person, she could not deny that he was a man of his word.

The nursemaid turned to Xu Zhengyong. "Shouldn’t you thank Miss? If it weren’t for the repeating crossbow she made for you, how could you have earned such a promotion?"

The nursemaid knew very well—it was the weapon Wei Ruo had given her son that secured him such a leap. If it had been just bravery, he might have become a Squad Leader at most, but this had propelled him three ranks up.

"You’re right!" Xu Zhengyong suddenly straightened, adjusted his clothes, and bowed respectfully to Wei Ruo.

"Thank you, Ruor," he said.

He managed to be perfectly solemn—until the end, when his mischievous, impish smile crept back in.

"The repeating crossbow was part of it, but you also earned their praise through your own abilities, Brother Yong. I heard you were a force to be reckoned with—holding your own against several opponents at once, and charging at the front during close combat," Wei Ruo said.

"Still, it was Miss who found him a good master, and had the foresight to hire a teacher for the two of them early on. Otherwise, how would Yong have such skills now?" the nursemaid interjected.

"That’s right, my mother is right. It’s my Ruor who’s been good to me—all thanks to your foresight!" Xu Zhengyong replied with a goofy grin.

As he laughed, something occurred to him. "Oh, Ruor, I’ve run out of that wound medicine you gave me. Do you have any more?"

"Where are you hurt?" Wei Ruo asked.

"No, no, it’s not me," Xu Zhengyong quickly explained. "My comrades were wounded. Medicine is scarce in the camp, and what little there is goes to those most seriously hurt. My two friends weren’t considered badly injured, so they didn’t get any. I gave them the wound medicine you gave me."

The nursemaid gave Xu Zhengyong a light slap. "You rascal! Don’t you know how precious Miss’s medicine is? That was for saving your life!"

Wei Ruo quickly intervened, "It’s all right, Nurse. I can afford it, and it’s worth it for his friends. I’ll prepare more wound medicine for Brother Yong over the next few days. If you face this situation again, Brother Yong, just use it—don’t worry about saving it."