Chapter 323: Chapter 315: I’m Not Here for a Vacation
Tian Xinhua and Lei Gang tumbled and scrambled their way to Shangguan Qing, pushing him aside with a flop. Shangguan Qing glared fiercely, cursing internally—these disrespectful, audacious fools! He was about to berate them when he noticed his two new recruits trembling with excitement beside him.
What a disgrace, it’s just a pretty girl, what’s there to be excited about? Shangguan Qing was scornful, but he still held back his anger. Mainly because he quite liked these two fellows; despite their noteworthy backgrounds, they proved to be commendable fighters in battle, not a single coward among them.
Moreover, Tian Xinhua had brought plenty of good medicine, and many of his soldiers survived thanks to Tian Xinhua’s medicinal contributions. These soldiers were like his own children, trained from dawn till dusk – losing any of them felt like cutting a piece from his own heart. Now, with Tian Xinhua’s life-saving medicine, he was spared much pain. This great kindness, Shangguan Qing could not forget.
"Brother Xin Hua, I brought the medicine for you," Sisi said shyly, not daring to mention she was there to help kill.
"Gangzi, look at the state you’re in! Watch how I avenge you later!"
Zhang Jie, equally domineering and imposing as her statement, would have been as convincing as Shangguan if she hadn’t been slightly shorter, which took away some of her fierceness.
Lei Gang and Tian Xinhua simultaneously dragged their respective wives aside.
"Dear, what are you doing here? Please just go back home! I’m begging you!" Lei Gang pleaded.
"My dad agreed, why are you making a fuss? Besides, you’re not any better than me. If you can fight the enemy, why can’t I?" Zhang Jie retorted with a piercing look. Usually, Lei Gang would have stayed silent but today, he spoke up.
"Honey, please, just go back. This isn’t a place to show off. People really die here. Go back, and I’ll be home to join you in a few days, ah!"
"I know it’s dangerous here. How could I let you face it alone? If we must die, we die together. I don’t want to be a widow."
"Wife, ...you’re really wonderful!" Lei Gang’s eyes brimmed with tears.
"Of course, could there be a better wife in the world? Be more obedient in the future!"
"Yes!"
And so, a loyal "big dog" was born.
On the other hand, Tian Xinhua was easier to handle. Sisi whispered to him, "That person came along too. If I’m in danger, he’ll help me." Xinhua’s starry eyes flickered, and he felt somewhat reassured.
"Ah Nan, even if that person is here to help, you’re still being reckless. What if something happens?"
"Brother Xin Hua, nothing will happen. I’m here to deliver medicine to you guys. I know you’re running out." Sisi pointed to the seven or eight jars of Qiong Wine on her back.
Although still worried, seeing these medicines, Tian Xinhua was still very happy. He left a pot of medicinal wine on Sisi’s body for her, and gave the rest to Luo Jun to apply to the wounded soldiers. Since Luo Jun had medical training, he would take care of the wounded during his free time.
"Stay by my side later, don’t run around anywhere, understand?" Tian Xinhua instructed Sisi.
"No need, I’ll be fine with Shangguan and the others. You can rest assured, someone will protect me!"
Following you around, how can I fight? Sisi silently complained to herself. With Tian Xinhua’s domineering temperament, he would definitely keep a close watch on her. She was not here for a holiday.
Tian Xinhua thought for a bit, then did not insist further, reminding Sisi to be careful and stay hidden in the trench, not to stick her head out.
Sisi obediently agreed, and then Tian Xinhua went to help move supplies. He Chengsi ran excitedly to Sisi’s side and exclaimed joyfully, "Sister Sisi, don’t be afraid, I’ll protect you!"
"Okay, I’m not scared, Brother He. Here, take this medicine, you be careful too. After the battle is over, we’ll go home together."
Sisi took the water canteen He Chengsi was carrying on his back, added some Qiong Wine to it, and also poured a good amount for Tian Qinghua’s share. Seeing the tense atmosphere of the unit, it seemed like the battle signal would be blown soon.
The arrival of the three girls only caused a temporary commotion among the unit. Soon, everyone calmed down, checked their ammunition and firearms, hastened to eat and rest, preparing for the upcoming battle.
The early spring night was chillingly cold. Sisi wrapped herself tightly in a military coat. She, along with Shangguan, Zhang Jie, and Tang Mianhua, guarded a relatively hidden spot arranged by Shangguan Qing, which was also unanimously agreed upon by all the soldiers in the company. Everyone was willing to give the best positions to these girls.
The sky was beginning to lighten, with a semi-circle of red sun hanging in the sky—it was almost dawn. All the soldiers were lying in their positions in the trench, waiting for the Company Commander’s order.
Sisi also tightly gripped her rifle, not daring to relax even a little. She had already determined to not be soft-hearted later, aiming to kill an enemy with each bullet, not wasting any. At this moment, her heart felt only excitement; whatever psychological barriers one might have about killing for the first time, Sisi felt she would definitely not experience them.
"They’re coming!"
Shangguan said quietly. As soon as her words fell, the sound of gunfire erupted, as dense as firecrackers, but louder than fifty thousand firecrackers combined. Sisi’s eardrums felt painfully shaken; she tried to open her mouth wide to relieve the pressure inside her ears.
What a real battle was like, Sisi did not know. Previously, in movies, Sisi just thought war was too cruel. But now on the battlefield, Sisi realized that reality is a hundred times more cruel than art. Soldiers around her fell one after another, and the medical staff calmly and quickly used the medicinal wine brought by Sisi to save people. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood, but at that moment, people seemed to lose their sense of smell; Sisi didn’t smell these at all, she was only thinking about killing more Vietnamese soldiers.
She hit a Vietnamese soldier with her first shot, watching as the soldier fell, Sisi was momentarily stunned. She really killed someone! But she wasn’t scared at all. Under the praise of Shangguan and Zhang Jie, she even felt a bit delighted. These bastards were too hateful, killing them was revenge for our sacrificed soldiers.
With this morale, Sisi became more composed, each shot hitting an enemy.
"Thunk," not far away, a soldier operating a machine gun was shot. Blood gushed from his chest. The medics couldn’t reach him in time. Sisi quickly dropped her gun and helped the wounded soldier to a safe area, poured some medicinal wine on his wound, and even forced him to drink several mouthfuls. Seeing that the bleeding had stopped, she then bandaged his wound with a bandage.
"Damn it, grandma will kill you bastards!" Shangguan took over the position of the injured soldier as the machine gunner, like a vengeful goddess, firing bullets one after another, and waves of enemies fell down.