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"I’m sorry, Commander, please send someone else to the capital to take on this mission. I voluntarily withdraw from the parade," He Teng said in a muffled voice.

"You little scoundrel! Do you realize how great and rare an opportunity this is for others? You say you won’t do it and you just won’t do it?

You think you own the army? Have you lost all sense of being a soldier?

He Teng, don’t forget, you are a soldier!

Not a hooligan who does whatever he pleases, and not whatever he doesn’t wish to do!

" The Commander was so angry that he slammed the table.

"Commander..." He Teng fell silent, his gaze fixed on He Zhilan, who stood some ten meters away, looking at him.

In the crowd, she looked so delicate and pitiable.

In her eyes, which were full of trust and reliance on him, how could he possibly leave her alone and return to his post when the whole world seemed to be against her?

"Commander..." Unlike his earlier tone, this time He Teng’s address was very solemn, "He Teng apologizes to the Commander for the years of cultivation and promotion. I request to be discharged from the military, and from now on, I will no longer be a soldier."

Without waiting for any response from the Commander, He Teng hung up the phone.

This decision indeed cost him everything—his future, years of hard work, and even, he was sorry to his green military uniform.

From then on, he was no longer a soldier, no longer the respected Deputy Regimental Commander He.

He became a penniless man, with only his wife, He Zhilan, who could not leave his side.

He Teng thought that after he had become sensible, he had dedicated a dozen years to the army, but with the rest of his life ahead of him, if it’s not possible to have it both ways, then he should choose He Zhilan, his wife. She needed him more than the army, more than the people of the country.

"Brother, how did it go? Did the leadership grant you leave?" He Zhilan asked eagerly as she saw He Teng come back, "Brother, perhaps you should go back, I can handle being alone, don’t worry, I’m strong!"

"The military approved it, a half-month leave. However, after this leave, there definitely won’t be any leave for the rest of the year," He Teng said, curling the corner of his lips and patting He Zhilan’s head, "It’s about time, let’s board the train."

"Really?" He Zhilan was overjoyed, "We were planning to go back to see Dad and the second brother anyway. It’s just a pity that Dongxue can’t come back now. A family reunion is likely to be missing Dongxue!"

"There will be plenty of opportunities in the future." He Teng, carrying their luggage in one hand and holding He Zhilan with the other, turned to thank the driver, then bought some food and drink for the train ride, and boarded the train, starting their journey back to their hometown.

In the capital, He Zhilan was completely unaware of how things had unfolded overnight, but He Teng was filled with a bit more concern. In just one night, even the army Commander had become informed; the capital must really be in turmoil.

However, He Teng did not let He Zhilan see any of this. Not to mention, He Zhilan could be quite naive and a bit of a simpleton at times.

Perhaps it was because He Teng was with her, that while she was worried, she wasn’t scared. On the trip back to her hometown, she could still laugh and play with He Teng without showing any sign of concern.

And on the train, the journey of several days and nights seemed to isolate them from the world; at least on the train, they heard not a whisper of rumor or speculation.