Chapter 46

After Hu Hao helped the regiment catch a few nets of fish in the afternoon, he returned home to find that Colonel Zhang had already prepared the food.

"Good job, I'll praise you! Now our regiment's soldiers can have a good New Year," Colonel Zhang said as he brought out two bowls of dishes from the kitchen.

"Bro, give me some money, don't just praise me with words!" Hu Hao said with little enthusiasm.

Upon hearing this, Colonel Zhang put the dishes heavily on the table and said, "You little brat, you still want to go to the city, right! If you go to the city to do something proper, it would be fine, but what are you going to do there? There's nothing to see with the Japanese around, and you haven't killed enough of them yet!"

"There's nothing to do at home every day!" Hu Hao said.

"Then find something to do. Like today, catch some fish for the soldiers. If that doesn't work, go up the mountain and find some game," Colonel Zhang said.

"Hao, I'm telling you, don't go to the city. Let me have a good New Year, okay? This is the most abundant New Year I've had since I joined the army. If you mess it up, I'll break your legs, and I'll take care of you for the rest of my life!" Colonel Zhang said.

"Also, we can't provoke the Japanese now. Last time, the Japanese came, and we lost many of our veteran soldiers. The new recruits haven't finished training yet. If you go and bring the Japanese here now, you'll have to let the new recruits block the bullets for you!"

Hu Hao thought for a moment at the dining table and said, "Alright, I won't go before the New Year, but I'll go after the New Year!"

"That's right. After the New Year, even if you don't go, the Japanese will probably come to attack us. We've already threatened their supply lines, and they won't let us off. If you want to fight the Japanese, there will be plenty of opportunities!" Colonel Zhang said.

"Then you mean the Japanese will come back after the New Year?" Hu Hao asked.

"Of course! Our regiment is like a thorn in the throat of the Japanese. If you were in their shoes, wouldn't you want to remove it?" Colonel Zhang said as he served the food and handed it to Hu Hao, who took it and started eating.

"Alright, I won't go," Hu Hao said.

Not going to the city, Hu Hao could only stay in the yard, feeling listless, lying on the kang (a traditional Chinese bed) every day. There were no novels to read, let alone a TV.

Today was New Year's Eve, and Colonel Zhang got Hu Hao up early.

"Today is New Year's Eve. Come help me. I'm inviting the officers for a meal today, and you need to help!" Colonel Zhang said.

"What? Invite them for a meal? Didn't I send a lot of meat and fish to the regiment? This is for us to eat," Hu Hao said as he sat up.

"Stop talking nonsense. I've fought alongside them for so many years and haven't invited them for a meal. It's New Year's Eve, and we should have a good gathering. Alas, many people who wanted to have a meal together didn't get the chance!" Colonel Zhang said.

"Alright, I'll go for a walk in the mountains!" Hu Hao got up, put on his clothes, took a few steamed buns from the table, and went out. Colonel Zhang didn't bother with him and went into the kitchen.

Soon, the political commissar and the chief of staff arrived.

"Old Zhang, where's Hao? What's he doing?" the political commissar asked, not seeing Hu Hao in the room.

"He went up the mountain. What do you expect him to do?" Colonel Zhang said.

"You can't always look at Hao like that. I think Hao is quite good. Every time he goes out, he brings back some food for the regiment," the political commissar said.

"But to be fair, if I had a brother like Hao, I'd keep a close eye on him too," the political commissar smiled.

"Indeed, our village is down to just the two of us. If he's gone, I'll have no family left in this world. I don't expect much from him; I just want him to live, even if he's a fool or disabled. As long as I have food, I'll take care of him!" Colonel Zhang said as he stir-fried the dishes.

"That's why you decided to carry him through the Long March! Alas, it's better to be a dog in peace than a man in chaos!" the political commissar said.

"Ha, I can't say much about other things, but if anyone wants to kill him, I'll kill them first," Colonel Zhang said.

"Let's not talk about that. He's not a fool anymore, just a bit reckless. Keep an eye on him. If it doesn't work, don't let him be a soldier; let him be a civilian!" the political commissar said.

"He should still be a soldier. In these chaotic times, being a soldier is the only way to survive. Unless I die and can't protect him, as long as I'm in the army, he should be in the army too. With his current contributions, it's not too much for our regiment to take care of him for life," Colonel Zhang said.

Hu Hao wandered in the mountains for over two hours and only managed to catch a few wild rabbits. The heavy snow had sealed the mountains, and there was no sign of anything else. Hu Hao returned with the rabbits.

"Bro, is it ready?" Hu Hao asked as he entered the door.

"Almost. What did you catch?" Colonel Zhang asked. "Just a few rabbits. Keep one, and send the rest to the kitchen," Colonel Zhang said as he took one rabbit from Hu Hao.

Hu Hao didn't bother to argue, not wanting to get a beating on New Year's Eve.

On the way back, he saw a soldier.

"Hey, hey, you, come here!" Hu Hao called out.

"What's up, Sergeant!" The soldier was a new recruit who knew about Hu Hao but didn't dare call him "Hao" and instead called him "Sergeant."

"Sergeant, what's up?" the soldier said.

"Sergeant? Call me Hao," Hu Hao said.

"Oh, Hao, what's up?" the soldier said.

"Take these to the kitchen," Hu Hao said as he handed the rabbits to the soldier and turned back to the yard.

"Did you send them back?" Colonel Zhang asked when he saw Hu Hao return.

"No, I gave them to a soldier to take there," Hu Hao said.

"You little rascal, no one can match your laziness," Colonel Zhang said.

"Hehe, that's one of my few strengths, and even you noticed it!" Hu Hao said with a grin.

"Alright, just stay here. Wait for someone to come, and entertain them. I'll be in the kitchen with the political commissar and the chief of staff," Colonel Zhang said.

"Okay," Hu Hao replied.

"By the way, bring out your popcorn and the peanuts I fried. We'll use them to entertain them!" Colonel Zhang said.

"Ah!" Hu Hao was unhappy.

"What 'ah'? Go quickly, you're so protective of your food even as a grown man!" Colonel Zhang said. "It's not like the army will starve without your food!"

"Bro, the army doesn't lack my food, but they've taken a lot from me!" Hu Hao said unhappily.

"Can you stop being so stingy?" Colonel Zhang said.

"Why can't I speak the truth?" Hu Hao grumbled as he went to the inner room and brought out the food, placing it on the table.

Soon, a few people came in.

"Hao, why are you sitting so obediently here? Where's the colonel?" the second battalion commander asked. He was familiar with Hu Hao and had helped him a lot in the past.

"He's inside preparing a feast for you," Hu Hao said.

"Oh, then we'll have a good time today. By the way, Hao, your way of entertaining guests is wrong. I know you bought a lot of cigarettes in the city a few days ago. Bring some over for us to try!" the second battalion commander said.

"Isn't there food here? You all smoke cigarettes and aren't used to them, so don't waste them!" Hu Hao pointed to the peanuts and popcorn on the table.

"..."