Chapter 59

Hu Hao drove the three people towards the base. On the way, there were many soldiers and civilians pushing carts loaded with food and ammunition heading to the base as well.

"Still, it's more comfortable for Er Lengzi to drive. He drives so comfortably and can carry more than we can!" an old soldier said as he saw Hu Hao driving by.

"Why don't you learn to drive, then, Sergeant?" a new soldier asked while pushing a cart.

"Do you think it's that easy to learn? Besides, even if I wanted to learn, where would I find a car?" the old soldier replied.

Hu Hao ignored them, holding a cigarette in one hand and the steering wheel and gearshift in the other.

"Bro, can you drive more responsibly? In the Nationalist Army, I saw people drive very carefully, both hands on the steering wheel. We don't feel safe with you driving like this!" Monkey said, standing outside the car door.

"If you don't want to sit, get out and follow the convoy to the base!" Hu Hao glanced at him and continued smoking.

"Ahem," Chen Yndie was choked by the smoke.

"See, you're standing by the window, blocking the ventilation, making her choke. Get out and run alongside!" Hu Hao said.

"Bro, that's not fair. Is it my fault for blocking the window? If you didn't smoke, there wouldn't be a problem!" Monkey complained.

"Bullshit, how am I being unfair? I smoke while driving, and that's just how I am. Get out!" Hu Hao said.

"Forget it, big bro, it's fine. I was just not used to it. I'm better now. Besides, with them blocking the window, no cold air comes in!" Chen Yndie said.

"Right, that makes sense. Block the window better. Don't you see I'm only wearing one layer?" Hu Hao said.

Monkey was on the verge of tears. He couldn't fight back; if he could, he would have killed Hu Hao long ago. What kind of person is this! First, he says I'm blocking the window and makes me get out, then he says to block it better to stop the wind. I'm not made of glass!

When they arrived at the base, Hu Hao parked the car below the village and saw that some people had already made one trip and were now on their second.

Hu Hao got out of the car and stopped a few soldiers.

"Don't rush to the city yet. Help me unload this first," Hu Hao said, then led Monkey and the others to the regimental mess hall.

"Who is this guy, so arrogant? He can't even carry his own stuff. We're exhausted, and now we have to go to the city again. He drives back comfortably and doesn't even unload it himself," a new soldier complained.

"You're talking nonsense. If he tells you to carry it, you carry it. What's with all the complaints? If you can, try driving a car back loaded with stuff!" an old soldier said.

"I can't drive, can I? If I could, I wouldn't be pushing a cart," the soldier said.

"If you can't drive, just carry it up. If the regiment commander and political commissar hear you, they'll beat you up," the squad leader said.

"Who is he?" the soldier asked cautiously.

"Who is he? He's Er Lengzi. Got it? If he tells you to do something, you do it. If you say no, I'll break your legs," the squad leader said.

"He's Er Lengzi!" the soldier exclaimed.

"You damn fool, you can't call him that. Do you want a beating?" the squad leader kicked the soldier down.

Hu Hao and Monkey arrived at the mess hall, where the old soldier who survived the battle was now a squad leader.

"Xiao Liu, bring out the good stuff!" Hu Hao shouted before even entering the mess hall.

"Who is it, looking for trouble? Shouting in the kitchen," Xiao Liu came out with a spoon in one hand and a knife in the other, cursing, "Don't you know who stays in the kitchen?"

"Xiao Liu, why are you here? Aren't you cooking a special meal tonight?" Xiao Liu was surprised to see Hu Hao. He was so arrogant now because Hu Hao had a position in the kitchen.

"What's wrong? Who pissed you off? Let's go beat him up!" Hu Hao said. Xiao Liu was good; he always called Hu Hao when there was good food.

"Ah! Nothing, I thought someone was causing trouble," he put down the knife and spoon.

"Oh, hurry up and make some good dishes. I'm starving. These are guests. Make her food a bit better; she's a girl and needs to be taken care of. Just give these two something to eat," Hu Hao pointed at the three people.

"Wait, why does she get better food, and we just get something to eat?" Monkey shouted.

"Damn, looking for a beating? She's our Eighth Route Army family, one of us. What are you? I don't even know what you do. You blocked the window in the car, and I haven't settled that with you yet. You still dare to complain? Wait until I finish eating, and I'll beat you up," Hu Hao said.

"Didn't you tell me to block it?" Monkey said softly.

"Did I tell you to block it?" Hu Hao's fist flew out, and they started fighting.

"Bro, wait, didn't you say after eating? Ah, wait," Monkey started dodging.

"Bullshit, I'll beat you whenever I want. If I beat you now, I can eat more later!" Hu Hao cursed.

After about two minutes, Hu Hao stopped, feeling a bit hungry.

"Bro, you've beaten me three times today. You're too much!" Monkey rubbed his arms and elbows. Hu Hao had hit his hands, and now they were very sore.

"Bro, you talk too much!" Da Xiong said from the side.

"Ah!" Monkey stared at Da Xiong, then slapped himself. "That's for not learning your lesson!"

When Xiao Liu brought out the food, Hu Hao and Chen Yndie had rice and three dishes with one soup, two meat dishes, and one vegetable. Monkey and Da Xiong only had steamed buns and a bowl of soup.

"Xiao Liu, do we have a lot of white flour now?" Hu Hao asked, looking at Monkey and Da Xiong's buns.

"Plenty, enough for us to eat for a year or two. With what we brought back today, it will last even longer!" Xiao Liu looked at Hu Hao strangely.

"No sweet potatoes?"

"Yes, why do you want sweet potatoes? Don't you usually avoid them?" Xiao Liu asked.

"I don't want them. Give him sweet potatoes and take back the buns," Hu Hao pointed at Monkey.

Monkey, hearing he would only get sweet potatoes, quickly grabbed the buns and ran, standing at the kitchen door, eating while watching Hu Hao.

"Alright, not tonight. Give them sweet potatoes tomorrow!" Xiao Liu smiled. "Try it, see how it is!"

Hu Hao picked up his chopsticks and started eating, nodding. "Mm, it's better. Much better than before. It's cooked well and not too salty!"

"That's good, hehe, that's good!" Xiao Liu wiped the sweat from his forehead. Previously, when he cooked for Hu Hao, he often got beaten, either for being too salty or not cooked enough. Hu Hao would beat him every time he ate such food, and now he had improved quickly. Xiao Liu's cooking skills had rapidly improved under these conditions.