Chapter Thirty-Three: Are You Resigned to This?

Zhao Ming’s voice, carried by the cameras, reached television sets in households everywhere.

Everyone was stunned.

A Senior Colonel?

Was this some kind of joke?

Given Ye Yuan’s credentials and that massive box of medals, awarding him the rank of Lieutenant General would not have been excessive. And yet, they only gave him a Senior Colonel?

"A cover-up! This is an insult to the old hero, Elder Ye!"

"If it’s only a Senior Colonel, they might as well have given nothing at all!"

"How dare you treat an old hero of the War of Resistance like this! How dare you!"

Countless netizens were filled with righteous indignation, all realizing what a grave humiliation this rank was for Ye Yuan.

Of course, comments from internet trolls were interspersed among the public outcry.

"A Senior Colonel is good enough. Old man Ye is so old now, at least he has something to rely on in his twilight years."

"Exactly, not satisfied with being a Senior Colonel? There are so many people who dream of being a Senior Colonel and can’t even reach it!"

"If he doesn't want it, give it to someone who needs it."

"I’ll say something fair: the organization has considered everything quite thoroughly. The old hero should just enjoy his retirement."

Inside the studio, Sun Weiguo turned his head, his gaze piercing as he glared at the director.

The director naturally understood what Sun Weiguo meant. Since this episode was nearly over, he gave a signal to Sun Ting on stage.

Sun Ting understood and quickly said, "Everyone, this concludes today's episode. Next Thursday, let us listen together to the stories of that battle from the old hero himself. We look forward to seeing you then."

The cameras stopped recording.

Although the audience on site was reluctant to leave, they still walked out of the studio, looking back every few steps. Even the director and the crew left the premises.

Once everyone had cleared out, Sun Weiguo finally could not hold it in any longer.

"Bullshit!"

The usually mild-tempered Sun Weiguo cursed aloud. "Zhao the Lame, are you even speaking like a human being! Our old regimental commander was a key commander during the War of Resistance! Based on his seniority and military merits, he should be at least a Lieutenant General! You give him a Senior Colonel? Who are you trying to insult?!"

Zhang Qun was also furious, gritting his teeth as he spoke. "Zhao the Lame, oh Zhao the Lame, you really have calculated everything to your own advantage, don't you?"

"You granted yourself the rank of Lieutenant General, but only gave our old commander a Senior Colonel? You really think you’re something, don't you!"

Zhao Ming’s voice on the phone still carried a hint of a smile. "These decisions were made after careful deliberation by the organization. If you are dissatisfied, you can file an appeal with the higher-ups. But Old Zhang, you’re from the Southern Theater Command—why are you concerning yourself with our Eastern Theater Command? Are you that bored?"

"Do you believe I’ll come over there and beat you right now?!"

Zhang Qun shouted, feeling his blood boil. Even at eighty years old, he was still as fiery as a young man.

"Dazhu."

Ye Yuan spoke calmly.

Zhang Qun froze, instinctively standing at attention. "Yes, sir!"

"Forget it."

Ye Yuan waved his hand. "It’s not worth it."

"But..."

Zhang Qun’s tone was filled with grievance. "Senior Colonel... they only gave you a Senior Colonel! Several of the soldiers I trained have already attained the rank of Senior Colonel!"

"It doesn't matter."

Ye Yuan shook his head, clutching a medal tightly in his hand. He had seen too many brothers turn against each other over trivial matters.

"Being alive is better than anything else."

Zhang Qun was stunned. He took a deep breath, deciding to follow Ye Yuan’s instructions. He hung up the phone fiercely, as if the device in his hand were Zhao Ming himself. Then, he tossed the phone onto Liu Debao. "Get lost! If I ever see you bothering my old commander again, I’ll chop you to pieces!"

Liu Debao left. He truly did not dare to stay a moment longer. Looking at the murderous glint in Zhang Qun’s eyes, he had no doubt that if Zhang Qun had a gun, he would have already pulled the trigger.

Sun Weiguo frowned as he looked at Ye Yuan. "Old Commander, are you really going to swallow this insult? It’s clear that Zhao the Lame is settling a personal vendetta!"

"You’re all getting on in years, why are you still acting like children?"

Ye Yuan laughed helplessly. "It’s just an empty title; why care so much? A Senior Colonel’s pension from the state is enough to put Yan'an through college."

Sun Weiguo and Zhang Qun exchanged glances and nodded silently in unison.

"Let’s go, let’s go. After rushing here, I’m starving," Zhang Qun said, changing the subject. "Since we’ve seen the old commander today, let’s not talk about that piece of trash anymore."

The group left the studio.

At the dinner table, Zhang Qun kept talking about events from the old days, tearing up several times. Ye Yan'an and Sun Ting listened with great interest, while Ye Yuan and Sun Weiguo were filled with deep emotion.

Time flew by like a white horse passing a crack in the wall, vanishing in an instant. Looking back, everything felt as if it had happened just yesterday.

At this meal, the three old men, whose combined ages exceeded two hundred years, drank four catties of white liquor. Ye Yuan’s face was flushed, and he remained cheerful throughout. Nothing made him happier than seeing his old comrades doing well.

The meal finally ended late into the night. After sending Ye Yuan and Ye Yan'an home, Zhang Qun got into Sun Weiguo’s car to head back into the city.

On the road, both remained silent, smoking without saying a word.

Just as they were about to reach the city, Zhang Qun finally broke the deadlock. "Are you willing to let this go?"

Sun Weiguo naturally knew what Zhang Qun was referring to. He let out a bitter laugh and said nothing.

"Fifteen years ago, he used underhanded methods to steal the position that should have been yours. You left the army in a rage and have lived a quiet life ever since."

Zhang Qun crushed his cigarette butt into the ashtray. "And now, he has used such tactics to insult the old commander with the rank of Senior Colonel. Can you still stand for this?"

"What else can I do if I can't stand it?" Sun Weiguo exhaled a cloud of smoke out the window. "I’m just a civilian now. Those who respect me call me 'Old Chief,' and those who don't call me 'Old Man Sun.' Don't I just have to take it?"

"If I had known back then that the old commander was still alive, I would never have yielded the position of Eastern Theater Commander to him, even if it meant fighting Zhao the Lame until we were both broken!"

Although he spoke calmly, Sun Weiguo’s tone still carried a faint trace of anger.

"Zhao the Lame cannot cover the sky with one hand!" Zhang Qun’s eyes were cold as he looked out the window. "The old commander is indifferent because he doesn't care about these things at all. His spiritual level is far beyond ours, and his pursuits are different from ours. But I cannot swallow this."

"After I leave you, I won’t return to the Southern Theater Command yet. I’m going to the capital! I don't believe that those old guys will be able to sit still once they hear what happened to the old commander!"

After speaking, Zhang Qun stared straight at Sun Weiguo, waiting for an answer.

Sun Weiguo remained silent for a long time. Suddenly, he took a fierce drag of his cigarette butt, flicked his finger, and sent it flying out the car window.

"Count me in!"