Roommates

"When you were lying on the ground just now, I didn't think much of it. But hearing you speak like this, I truly believe your backbone snapped long ago." The one speaking was Zhu Shiqing, standing directly across from the pampered young master. Every word struck deep into the young man's heart and resonated through the minds of the onlookers. Perhaps the bystanders were already murmuring that Zhu Shiqing had no idea just how immense the man's influence was, wondering if he was throwing an egg against a rock. To Zhu Shiqing, though, who here wasn't well-connected? A barefoot man feared no one with shoes! Ming Quan had been wondering how best to teach this unit their first lesson, and he hadn't expected the perfect opportunity to land right in his lap. Nothing established authority better than making an example of a privileged second-generation brat. Yet Ming Quan was a man who preferred taking the scenic route. "Gentlemen, young masters," Ming Quan said with a gentle smile and an equally soft voice. Turning his head, he let his gaze sweep across the entire circle, distributing his attention almost equally among them all, before finally letting it rest on the young master playing shameless on the ground. "I know that compared to all of you, my own prospects aren't particularly bright. So in the future, once you've all made it big, don't forget to look out for me, Ming Quan." "Wh—what is Officer Ming talking about?" Fang Wenjian listened in dazed confusion. Zhu Shiqing's expression also tightened slightly. Like everyone else, they were left utterly bewildered by Ming Quan's performance. "Brother Ming, please don't joke around with us. You graduated top of your class in Germany, and Minister He thinks the world of you..." "Zhong Yifeng, we're old acquaintances. Whether Minister He values me or not, I wouldn't know. But you—your uncle certainly thinks very highly of you. I wouldn't dare cross you. If you have any demands, make them right now. I'll grant every single one." "How could that be, Brother Ming? That's not what I meant at all! Of course I'll follow your lead." "Splendid, Zhong Yifeng. You withdraw from the training corps right now." Ming Quan finally revealed the dagger at the end of the scroll. Looking down at the young master on the ground, he enunciated every syllable with crystal clarity, loud enough for every ear to catch: "Let me tell you this: under Ming Quan, there are no high officials or noble elites, and there are no quick promotions or fortunes to be made. "Here, you are a soldier first! Only then are you a staff officer! "I know you all come from prominent families. If you truly cannot endure the discipline of this training camp, submit a report and withdraw. If you think what I, Ming Quan, do is out of line, turn right out the gate, walk to the end of the road, and report me to the military law department! But if you have no objections, then if anyone refuses to follow discipline again in the future, you can all fucking get lost!" Zhu Shiqing broke into applause with a sharp slap of his hands, his eyes full of respect as he looked at Ming Quan. Applause soon rippled all around. Only Zhong Yifeng, his face flushed crimson, slowly picked himself up off the ground, dragged his luggage behind him, and slipped into the building, disappearing from sight. Ming Quan knew full well that a single speech was far from enough to change the tone of this team. A true transformation would require months and years of tempering. "Pass the word: assemble at the drill grounds after lunch. Anyone late will be expelled." Ming Quan walked with brisk, sweeping strides, leaving only that single order behind before swiftly departing. Only then did the crowd disperse. Each gathered their luggage and, guided by the orderlies, moved into their assigned dormitories one by one. Zhu Shiqing and Fang Wenjian had been assigned to the same room. As they went back to retrieve their packs, that little squirt caught up with them again. Looking closely, Zhu Shiqing realized it was the very same fellow who had been filling him in earlier. Looking at the boy's face, he nearly laughed, but pressed down the corners of his mouth and asked, "Little brother, just how old are you?" Fang Wenjian picked up his pack and turned around, catching sight of the scene as well. He grinned. "There are actually kids here?" "You two brothers misunderstand. I am Lai Tianyou, an office clerk in the Second Bureau of the General Staff. I'm just on the shorter side, so forgive me if I gave you a laugh." Lai Tianyou? Zhu Shiqing recalled the roster from earlier. Lai Tianyou was his roommate. The young man must have heard their names during the commotion and come looking for them. Zhu Shiqing looked Lai Tianyou up and down. He had a round baby face, probably stood under one meter seventy, and spoke with a soft, gentle voice. "I'm Fang Wenjian, and this is my brother Zhu Shiqing. Look after us in the days ahead!" Fang Wenjian thrust out a hand to give Lai Tianyou a firm, revolutionary handshake, only to squeeze so hard that Lai Tianyou cried out in pain, "Ow! Ow!" and yanked his hand back at once. "This brother of mine is a martial artist—he's just got too much grip strength. Don't take offense, haha." The three got along quite cordially. But Fang Wenjian was restless and impetuous by nature, so he blurted out an improper question: "Tianyou, what kind of connections does your family have?" Hearing that, Zhu Shiqing felt like digging a hole to crawl into. Of all the things to ask, why ask something so awkward? "Brother Wenjian, my father is a merchant from Jiangsu and Zhejiang who does business with the Nationalist government. I've been sickly and frail since childhood, and small-framed too. My father worried about me and wanted a stable life for me, so he had someone pull strings to get me into the General Staff. Usually I just handle files, receiving and dispatching documents, but I didn't like it. I wanted to do something meaningful." "So you signed up yourself, right?" "Yes." Zhu Shiqing nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that among these hundred recruits, it wasn't just military connections at play—the political and merchant circles had also claimed a piece of the pie. When the three arrived at the dormitory, a fellow was already lying on a bunk inside, having tidied up his area well ahead of time. Along one side of the room stood two sets of bunk beds, while against the opposite wall were four desks, each with a wooden stool tucked beneath it. Seeing Zhu Shiqing and the others push the door open, the man poked his head out from the top bunk of the second bed, a broad smile plastered across his face. "So it's you fine heroes! Are you Zhu Shiqing?" Fang Wenjian was somewhat taken aback, as the man was staring straight at him. Realizing the fellow had mistaken his identity, he shook his head hurriedly and replied, "I'm Fang Wenjian. He's Zhu Shiqing." "Oh~ Fang Wenjian doesn't sound very nice. Zhu Shiqing has a much better ring to it. I'm Song Mingyang from Chengdu. Please take good care of me from now on." Beside them, Zhu Shiqing could no longer hold back his laughter. Fang Wenjian felt rather helpless and deeply offended. To make matters worse, Lai Tianyou added fuel to the fire: "Brother Wenjian, your name really is a bit plain. Why not have Brother Shiqing change it for you?" "Get out of here! Piss off, my name is perfectly fine!" Fang Wenjian cursed as he hurled his luggage onto the wooden bed and hollered, "Hey, what's-your-name—Song Mingyang, right? I'm taking the bunk under yours." "Hey, brother, don't be in such a rush. Tell me your Eight Characters of birth, and I'll do a reading for you." As Song Mingyang spoke, he pulled out a geomantic compass, astonishing everyone in the room. Zhu Shiqing was amazed as well and asked, "Brother Song, don't tell me you're a feng shui master?" "See? An expert who knows his stuff!" Looking validated, Song Mingyang grinned even wider and added, "I calculated it before coming: our room has cross ventilation from north to south, with the Dragon Deity in its proper place. It's a land of supreme auspiciousness! And this spot of mine is even better yet~" Naturally, Zhu Shiqing didn't believe in such nonsense. He quickly turned his head away and went about unpacking his pack. As he unpacked, he listened to Song Mingyang ramble on about the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, and the mysteries of heaven and earth. By the end of it, Fang Wenjian threw up his hands in resignation: "Even if sleeping in this bed is an omen of terrible misfortune, I'll take it!" Song Mingyang hastily cut him off. "You can't go saying things like that! Brother, tell me about your background, and I'll take another look for you." "I fucking sprang out of a rock!" ...