NCCnovel Chapter 2 Grandfather and Grandson Talk
Chapter 2 Grandfather and Grandson Talk
The morning sunlight filtered through the dense sycamore leaves of the sanatorium, casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone path. Lin Zhe followed behind his mother, Su Wan, but his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the surrounding environment.
The Jinghua Military Sanatorium is nestled at the foot of the Western Hills, a vast yet discreet site. The red brick walls are covered in vines, and there are no prominent signs at the entrance, only two guards standing ramrod straight. Only after a rigorous identity check was their vehicle allowed to enter the sanatorium.
"Your grandfather moved here three years ago, saying it's quiet," Su Wan said softly, her profile showing some worry in the light and shadow of the car window. "But his health isn't really suited to living in such a remote place. Although the medical facilities are good, it's too far from the city center, making it inconvenient for us to visit him."
Lin Zhe nodded silently, his gaze sweeping over the buildings along the way. Most of the buildings in the sanatorium were in the Soviet style from the 1950s and 60s, heavy and simple. In the courtyard, one could often see elderly people wearing old military uniforms taking a walk, mostly accompanied by caregivers or guards.
The car stopped in front of a two-story building. There was a small courtyard in front of the building, with several rows of vegetables and flowers, all neatly arranged. A man in his fifties, dressed in a neat Zhongshan suit, was waiting at the door. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with sharp eyes like an eagle. Although he was smiling, he exuded a special aura of someone who had experienced life and death on the battlefield.
"Uncle Zhang," Lin Zhe blurted out. Memories of his predecessor flooded back—Zhang Jian, his grandfather's personal assistant and bodyguard captain, who had participated in the self-defense counterattack in southern Xinjiang and was said to have been an ace in a special forces unit. After being wounded and forced to retire from the front line, he voluntarily followed Lin Weiguo.
"Xiao Zhe is here." Zhang Jian's voice was deep and strong. He first nodded to Su Wan, "President Su." Then he carefully looked Lin Zhe over, "I heard you fainted a few days ago? How are you feeling now?"
"I'm all better now, Uncle Zhang," Lin Zhe said, straightening his body instinctively. His years in the military in his previous life had made him extremely sensitive to the unique military bearing Zhang Jian possessed—an aura only soldiers who had truly seen battle and bloodshed could exude.
"The commander is waiting for you inside." Zhang Jian pushed open the door and gestured for you to enter.
The interior was simply and neatly furnished. A large map of China and some old black-and-white photographs hung on the living room wall. An elderly man with white hair sat in a wicker chair by the window, carefully reading a newspaper while wearing reading glasses. He only slowly raised his head when he heard a noise.
Lin Zhe met his grandfather, Lin Weiguo, for the first time.
The old man was over eighty years old, his face etched with the marks of time and war, but his eyes remained clear and sharp. He wore a faded old military shirt and a thin jacket draped over his shoulders, and even sitting in a wicker chair, his back was ramrod straight.
"Grandpa," Lin Zhe called out, his voice unconsciously carrying a hint of respect. This was not only out of respect for an elder, but also out of respect for a true soldier—in his previous life, he had met many old generals at the research institute and knew that this kind of temperament could not be faked.
"Xiao Zhe's here." Lin Weiguo put down his newspaper, a kind smile spreading across his face. "Come here and let Grandpa see you. Your mother said you fainted a few days ago? Studying is important, but health is the foundation of everything."
Lin Zhe approached and sat down on the chair next to the old man. Su Wan then skillfully went to the kitchen to make tea, clearly familiar with the place.
"I'm fine, Grandpa. I just have a little low blood sugar," Lin Zhe said carefully.
Lin Weiguo carefully examined his grandson's face and suddenly asked, "His eyes look different."
Lin Zhe was startled.
"When you came to see me before, you were respectful, but there was always a bit of... restraint," the old man said slowly, his gaze piercing. "Today is different. There's something in your eyes."
Zhang Jian added softly from the side, "Xiao Zhe's posture was also particularly upright today, as if he had been trained."
Lin Zhe inwardly cursed, realizing he had subconsciously adopted a habit from his previous life in the military. He quickly explained, "It's probably because I've been working out lately and paying attention to my posture."
"Exercising is good for your health." Lin Weiguo nodded, not pressing the matter further, and instead asked, "The college entrance exam is coming up soon. Have you decided which university to apply to? Your dad said you want to apply to the Political Science Department of Peking University, following in his footsteps?"
Lin Zhe took a deep breath, knowing that the opportunity was right in front of him.
"Grandpa, I actually...have other ideas."
In the kitchen, Su Wan paused slightly, her hand holding the tea tray still. The living room fell silent instantly, even Zhang Jian turned to look at her with concern.
Lin Weiguo picked up his teacup and blew on it to cool it down. "Oh? Tell me about it."
"I want to join the army," Lin Zhe said, looking directly into his grandfather's eyes.
The teacup gently clinked against the tray, making a soft sound. Su Wan hurried out of the kitchen, her face showing barely concealed anxiety: "Xiao Zhe, didn't we agree to talk about this later?"
Lin Weiguo raised his hand to stop his daughter-in-law, his gaze still fixed on his grandson's face: "Why do you suddenly want to join the army? Because I'm a soldier?"
"Not entirely." Lin Zhe carefully crafted his words, trying to convey both youthful sincerity and the reflections he had accumulated over the past thirty-five years. "I've studied the current international environment of our Dragon Kingdom and I understand the current state of the military. Grandpa, our country's military needs change; it needs more people who understand technology and science. And I want to become that kind of person."
These words were clearly beyond the comprehension of an average high school student. A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Weiguo's eyes, but he quickly turned to deep thought.
"Go on."
"Military transformations are accelerating worldwide, with informatization and high technology becoming the trend. But in our Dragon Country, many aspects still remain stuck in traditional models." Lin Zhe spoke more and more fluently, his professional knowledge from his previous life gradually merging with the information he had acquired in this life. "The military needs more than just soldiers who can fire a gun; it needs commanders and experts who understand tactics, technology, and the future of warfare. I want to become that kind of person."
Zhang Jian couldn't help but interject, "Xiao Zhe, where did you learn all this from?"
"The school library, and some military magazines," Lin Zhe said, already prepared. "Grandpa's study also has a lot of related materials, which I look at every time I come."
That's true. My predecessor was indeed interested in military affairs and often browsed through my grandfather's collection of books.
Lin Weiguo remained silent for a long time, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the rattan chair. This was a habitual gesture of his, something he would do whenever he was deep in thought.
"Does your dad know what you're thinking?" he finally asked.
Su Wan immediately chimed in, "Dad, Guodong and I both think Xiaozhe is still young and should focus on his studies right now. Even if he wants to join the army, he can consider it after graduating from university."
"Mom, if I wait until I graduate from university, it will be at least four years before I can join the army." Lin Zhe turned to his mother, his tone sincere but firm. "And by then I will be twenty-two or twenty-three years old, and I will have missed a lot of the golden period for military training and development. Grandpa, you know best how much the army values age."
Lin Weiguo nodded slightly; this was indeed a real problem.
"So what specific plans do you have?" the old man asked.
Lin Zhe knew this was a crucial step: "I want to complete my university studies in a year and then join the army directly. During this year, I will not only study university courses, but also undergo military training in advance to lay a foundation."
"Complete university studies in one year?" Su Wan exclaimed incredulously. "Xiao Zhe, how is that possible? No matter how good your grades are, university courses are far more demanding than high school courses."
"Mom, I've already taught myself a lot of university-level material." Lin Zhe wasn't entirely lying; his knowledge from his previous life was as clear as yesterday. "I can take the school's exemption exams, and if I pass, I can complete my credits early. Several universities in China have similar policies."
Lin Weiguo suddenly laughed, his voice a little hoarse but full of energy: "You have guts. Just like me when I was young."
"Dad!" Su Wan cried out anxiously.
The old man waved his hand: "Su Wan, let the child finish. Xiao Zhe, you continue. How do you plan to train him this year?"
"I'll have to ask Grandpa and Uncle Zhang for help with this," Lin Zhe said, looking at Zhang Jian. "I know Uncle Zhang and your bodyguards are top-notch in the military. If possible, I'd like to ask them to guide me in basic military training during my free time. I don't need any special treatment; just train me like a new recruit."
Zhang Jian raised an eyebrow and looked at Lin Weiguo. The old man didn't immediately respond, but instead asked, "Do you know how tough basic training is?"
"I know," Lin Zhe answered without hesitation, "but I'm not afraid of hardship. Grandpa, you often said that to build a strong army, we need a new generation of soldiers who can endure hardship and are knowledgeable. I want to become that kind of person."
Silence fell over the living room again. The birdsong outside the window was clearly audible, and the distant sounds of other elderly people playing chess and chatting drifted over.
After a long silence, Lin Weiguo slowly spoke: "Su Wan, I know you and Guodong are worried. But Xiao Zhe didn't act on impulse; he's thought it through very clearly and has his own ideas and plans."
"Dad, he's only seventeen..." Su Wan's voice carried the worry typical of a mother.
"When I was seventeen, I had already led a platoon through three tough battles." Lin Weiguo's tone was gentle but undeniable. "Times have changed, but the ambition and sense of responsibility of young people should not diminish just because times have changed. What our Dragon Nation's army lacks most right now is not the number of soldiers, but new types of military talent with strategic vision and expertise in high technology."
He turned to Lin Zhe, his gaze intense: "Xiao Zhe, you said you want to become that kind of person. I ask you, if you were asked to do a hundred push-ups right now, could you do them?"
Without a word, Lin Zhe got up and walked to the living room floor, where he lay down and began doing push-ups. His movements were precise, his rhythm even, one, two, three...
Su Wan was about to say something when Zhang Jian gently shook his head to stop her.
After doing more than seventy, Lin Zhe's arms began to tremble, and sweat beaded on his forehead. But he gritted his teeth and persevered. Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!
After finishing, he stood up, his breathing a little rapid, but his posture remained upright.
A hint of approval flashed in Lin Weiguo's eyes: "When did you start practicing?"
"Recently... every morning and evening," Lin Zhe said truthfully. After transmigrating, he did indeed begin to systematically train this young body, and was surprised to find that his recovery ability and speed of progress far exceeded his expectations.
Zhang Jian suddenly stepped forward, reached out and squeezed Lin Zhe's shoulder and arm muscles: "You have a foundation, but you lack systematic training. If you really want to train, I can transform you in three months."
This sounds like some kind of promise.
Lin Weiguo nodded, finally making a decision: "Alright then. Xiao Zhe, I can support your idea, but on two conditions."
"Please say so." Hope welled up in Lin Zhe's heart.
"First, you must get into a top-tier university in the country and actually complete the main courses within a year. That depends on your own ability; no one can help you."
"I can definitely do it."
"Second, before deciding on your final destination, you will undergo three months of basic military training. If you can't make it through, then you should honestly follow the normal path and consider joining the military after graduating from university."
Lin Zhe answered without hesitation: "I accept."
"Dad!" Su Wan still wanted to plead.
Lin Weiguo looked at his daughter-in-law gently: "Su Wan, I know you're worried about the child's safety. But it's a good thing that the child has ambition. And..." He paused, "Our Lin family has three generations involved in politics and business. The military lineage cannot be severed. Xiao Zhe has such ambition, and as his grandfather, I should support him."
These words were spoken with such sincerity that Su Wan opened her mouth, but ultimately did not object, though her eyes reddened slightly.
"As for your father..." Lin Weiguo pondered for a moment, "I'll talk to Guodong. Su Wan, don't worry too much. The child has his own path to walk. We, as elders, can guide him, but we can't walk it for him."
The matter was thus tentatively settled. Lin Zhe suppressed his excitement, knowing that this was only the first step.
Next, Lin Weiguo inquired in detail about Lin Zhe's views on military reform, becoming increasingly surprised as they talked. This grandson not only had an understanding of the current state of the Chinese military, but could even offer some rather forward-thinking insights—although some of his ideas seemed too advanced for the old man, the depth of his thinking was completely unlike that of a high school student.
The conversation lasted for more than an hour until a caregiver came in to remind Lin Weiguo to take his medication and rest.
Before parting, Lin Weiguo asked Zhang Jian to see them to the gate. Under the sycamore tree in the courtyard, Zhang Jianguo suddenly called out to Lin Zhe:
"Xiao Zhe, starting next Saturday, if you really want to train, it'll be at the East Suburbs training ground at 5 a.m. every day. This is a one-time opportunity, so don't bother if you're late."
"I will definitely be there on time, Uncle Zhang," Lin Zhe solemnly promised.
On the way back, Su Wan remained silent. It wasn't until the car entered the city that she spoke softly:
"Xiao Zhe, have you really thought this through? Life in the army is much tougher than you imagine. And... it's dangerous."
Looking at his mother's worried profile, Lin Zhe felt a surge of warmth and remorse. "Mom, I've thought it through. Some things just have to be done. And Grandpa is right, our Dragon Kingdom needs a new generation of soldiers. I want to be that kind of person."
"What about your dad..."
"I will explain to Dad myself," Lin Zhe said earnestly. "But Mom, please believe me. I didn't act on impulse; I have a complete plan."
Su Wan sighed deeply, finally managing a bitter smile: "You've grown up. You're even more opinionated than your brother was back then. Since your grandfather supports you... Mom can only support you too. But," she turned to look at her son, her eyes serious, "you must protect yourself, understand?"
"Understood," Lin Zhe solemnly promised.