Chapter 10#

The Huo Family’s Daughter-in-law#

Chu Xun and Chuanwu found their brothers at the barracks training ground behind their compound.

Those two masters were having a one-on-one showdown on the training ground.

Boys who grew up in military compounds were all fierce, straight-tempered, born and raised in the barracks, strong-willed, conceited, and even a bit chauvinistic, thinking they were number one in the world.

For compound kids, going out to arrange fights, duels, and gang fights was the most common thing. Children were beaten into shape and grew up wild like this, and parents didn’t manage them much. Parents back then were different from later ones. Nowadays, if a child suffers a tiny bit of loss, the two sets of parents can’t wait to roll up their sleeves and fight first; but parents at that time raised boys roughly, letting them run free. If kids from two families had a conflict, they solved it themselves. Parents didn’t get involved. At most, when you came home covered in dirt after a fight, your father would pick up a broom handle and give you another beating.

So in this matter, neither Commander Huo nor Commander Chu made a direct appearance.

Huo Chuanjun stood on the playground, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, hands clenched into hard fists, hand bones strong and fingers calloused, looking like he had practiced.

Chu Yu held an iron shovel, tilting his head: “What the hell do you want?”

Huo Chuanjun said: “I don’t want to fight, you put down the shovel.”

Chu Yu sneered disdainfully: “You don’t want to fight me but you called me out? I don’t have time to play with you. And what’s with your ’nin, nin’, ’leng, leng’, you can’t even speak Mandarin properly, what are you?!”

When Chu Yu spoke, it was a very authentic military compound Beijing dialect, very arrogant, and he was proud of it.

Compared to Chu Yu, Huo Chuanjun had inch-long stiff hair, handsome features but with a slight rustic air, dressed rustically too, like some squad leader from the countryside in the barracks. His speech was even more rustic, revealing his background as soon as he opened his mouth, full of a heavy accent.

Huo Chuanjun said: “I’m not fighting, let’s compete in something else.”

Huo Chuanjun raised his hand and pointed to the training ground, a four-hundred-meter track with various obstacles lying horizontally and vertically. This was the field where their troops’ young soldiers usually trained for obstacle courses, crawling, and other subjects.

“I’ll compete with you in this.”

“Three thousand meters, obstacle course, seven and a half laps, do you dare to compete?”

“My brother’s face is broken, my brother was beaten by you. Let’s compete. If I can’t beat you, we’ll pack up and go back to our hometown. If you lose, don’t mess with our brothers in the future.”

Chu Yu was stunned for a moment, not expecting Huo Chuanjun to want to compete in this, and felt uncertain in his heart.

Huo Chuanjun’s face was angular, staring at Chu Yu.

“I’m fifteen, you’re fifteen too.”

“I’m in first year of high school, you’re in first year of high school too.”

“I’ve grown this tall, you’ve grown this tall too.”

“My dad is a division commander, your old man is also a division commander. I’m not taking advantage of you, dare not compete?!”

…

Huo’s eldest brother had put it this way. If Chu Yu didn’t dare to accept the challenge, then he would be a coward, and he would have to crawl back like a turtle tonight. Your father is a division commander, my father is also a division commander. A son cannot lose face for his father. Chu Yu’s eyes also turned red…

Two heads poked out from behind the stack of wooden boxes by the playground, Chu Xun and Chuanwu.

Chuanwu threw the iron hook to the ground, expressionless, very calm: “Don’t be afraid, no fight.”

Chu Xun pointed to the situation on the field: “Who said no fight? They are doing it! Running laps!”

The two competitors on the drill ground rushed out from the starting line like arrows from a bow, neck and neck, vaulting over obstacles with one hand, then leaping onto the single-plank bridge one after another, flying over as if their feet didn’t need to touch the ground, then jumping into the water pit, water and mud splashing up to a person’s height, splashing all over their bodies, like two madmen…

When Huo Chuanjun ran, his figure seemed to swing, and at certain moments flying over the obstacle hurdles, it seemed as if both feet left the ground directly, floating up. His face was calm, his gaze steady, and his skill was really unambiguous.

Chu Yu didn’t run slowly either, or rather, was led by Huo Chuanjun to not be slow, chasing closely. In this kind of occasion, he absolutely could not admit defeat. After all, he was a kid from a military background. He had practiced forced marches, he had run obstacle courses, and he had practiced a few moves in grappling and fighting, only he wasn’t proficient in any of them.

Chu Xun opened his mouth slightly, watching nervously from the sidelines. Occasionally he turned his head to look at the boy beside him, finding that Huo Chuanwu had no expression on his face, very calm, with heroic eyebrows and eyes, resembling the Huo family’s eldest brother in form and spirit, clearly a small version of Wu Song…

Huo Chuanwu watched expressionless for a while, and said faintly: “My older brother runs very fast. In our military region’s new recruit elimination training, he ran in the top three.”

Chu Xun was startled: “Ah?”

Chuanwu said indifferently: “Many young soldiers in our military region can’t outrun my brother.”

Chu Xun immediately bristled: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier that your brother can run so well?!”

Chu Xun thought, if you told me earlier, I could have at least reminded my brother, let’s not compete in this.

This kid Huo Chuanwu was quiet and dull, not speaking. Chu Xun suddenly had the feeling that the other party had sold him by the pound without making a sound! Who is the smart one here, and who is the fool?!

The outcome of this contest was self-evident.

Chu Xun saw that after the two had run three laps, it was already clear that his brother was bound to lose today. In fact, there was no chance of winning from the beginning.

From the fourth lap, the two began to pull apart, and the gap became wider and wider. Chu Yu chased desperately, his breathing becoming heavy, only able to look at Huo Chuanjun’s back as he ran. Moreover, that back was running faster and faster, becoming more and more blurred. He couldn’t even touch a hair on the other guy’s ass!

Someone in the barracks heard the commotion and ran over to look. Small groups of young soldiers gathered around the playground, discussing. Some began to howl and cheer, making a fuss.

The shouts reached Chu Xun’s ears, and he felt uncomfortable and sad in his heart.

No matter what a jerk Chu Yu was, that was his own brother. Except for occasionally pinching him at home, his brother wasn’t a bad person. Seeing his brother lose face and make a fool of himself in front of so many people, losing a competition, could he feel good about it?

It wasn’t the first time his brother had caused trouble outside. Chu Xun had seen a lot and was used to it. Whose family didn’t have a troublemaking brother?

Sometimes he also felt that his brother needed to be taught a lesson, but the person to teach his brother shouldn’t be Huo Xiaoer’s brother… Chu Xun silently glanced at Huo Chuanwu’s focused face, lowered his eyes, and stopped talking. He and Chuanwu were peers, half-grown boys. They also had self-esteem and wanted to save face in front of their peers! Subconsciously, for some reason, Chu Xun didn’t want to lose face in front of Huo Chuanwu, didn’t want the other party to look down on him.

As for Chu Yu, he was usually a tough character, otherwise would he dare to follow Huo Chuanjun with an iron shovel? Chu Yu thought he had some skills and was very awesome among his group of scoundrel friends, very prominent. He always took the lead in causing trouble and fighting when going out. From childhood to adulthood, he had never lost a fight, never stumbled so badly. Today, he really stumbled.

The more he wanted to be fast, the more flustered his hands and feet became. Obstacle running is not like ordinary long-distance running; it is a comprehensive test of physical strength, willpower, flexible reaction ability, and various military skill indicators. When he stepped on the single-plank bridge, he exerted too much force and sprained his ankle severely. It hurt immediately, like being pricked by needles. When crossing the next hurdle, his leg strength couldn’t hold up. Immediately after the hurdle was a three-meter-long water pit. He couldn’t stand firm, splash, and fell headfirst into the muddy water pit…

The eldest son of the Chu family had always looked down on outsiders. Today he tasted the severity, learning that there is always a sky beyond the sky, and people beyond people.

This contest later became known to everyone in the compound.

Everyone knew that Commander Chu’s eldest son had a fight with Commander Huo’s eldest son, and Chu Yu lost to the new Little Shandong, losing everything including his underwear.

Chu Xun ran over and pulled his brother out of the mud pit. Chu Yu had swallowed a mouthful of dirty water, his face covered in mud, extremely embarrassed.

Huo Chuanjun ran easily across the finish line, stopped, his black hard hair flinging a string of sweat drops. He turned his head, extended a finger towards Young Master Chu from afar, and pointed forcefully.

Many young soldiers on the sidelines howled and laughed, making a fuss.

Chu Yu had lost face big time. He flung his brother away with a backhand force. His eyes were scarlet, he didn’t say a word, turned his head and left, still limping on one foot, swaying. A man’s self-esteem had never been hurt like this, never been so humiliated. Chu Yu would remember this battle with Huo Chuanjun—he would remember Huo Chuanjun for a lifetime!

Chu Xun was flung away by his brother, pouting and following behind. There were some words he didn’t say, calculating silently in his heart. He actually didn’t care how bad his brother’s foot injury was. He was thinking that if Huo Xiaoer dared to publicize this matter at school tomorrow and make the dignified two-stripe squad leader unable to lift his head in front of his classmates, he would never pay attention to Huo Chuanwu again!

Anyone who hurts the young master’s self-esteem and makes him lose face, break off friendship.

Huo’s eldest brother was soaked in sweat. He took off his shirt, revealing a white tank top and a layer of lean muscles on his body.

Chu Xun looked up and saw such a scene: Huo Chuanjun grabbed his younger brother, rubbed his head, completely subconsciously, lowered his head and leaned his lips close, planting a kiss on Huo Chuanwu’s forehead which was painted with red potion.

Chuanwu was expressionless. He wasn’t excited or thrilled by his brother’s kiss, accustomed to it. Only after his brother moved his lips away, the two exchanged a faint glance. The scar on his face couldn’t hide his handsome features. Chuanwu’s mouth corner raised into a very manly smile.

Chu Xun saw it silently, and his eyes suddenly turned red, feeling sour…

He also wanted a brother to rub his head and kiss him.

He had a brother, but his brother had never kissed him or pampered him like this.

This matter wasn’t over. Huo Chuanjun looked at that face full of red potion, still unwilling: “Originally a very handsome boy, disfigured by you guys. If my brother can’t find a wife in the future, who will be responsible?!”

Chuanwu walked with his eyes downcast, not caring, having no urgent desire for “finding a wife”.

Huo Chuanjun swept a glance at Chu Xiaoer, biting a cigarette, and suddenly grinned: “Your family only has sons. If your family had a daughter, it would be just right to compensate my brother as a wife!”

Chu Xun looked up inexplicably. He had never heard of compensating a person for a fight.

Huo Chuanjun explained: “That’s the rule in my hometown. Your family beat up my family’s son, so you give your family’s daughter to us as compensation, to carry on the family line.”

“You look quite handsome too, like a little sister. If you were a girl, you’d be just right for my brother as a wife.”

“I am not a little sister!”

Chu Xun put his hands in his pockets, wearing a dashing small suit, walking with his chest out. Hearing this, he was unhappy. He looked eye to eye with Chuanwu for a while, and said seriously to Huo’s eldest brother: “Your Xiaoer looks okay. If he is really disfigured and ruined, and if I were a girl, asking him to be my wife, I would still have to think about it.”

“Oh my…”

Huo Chuanjun laughed hearing this, took a deep drag of the cigarette, and exhaled. He didn’t expect Chu Xiaoer to be small but articulate, not suffering a loss.

Who is my brother? My brother being a wife to your family?

Humph…

The person involved had been silent, and finally couldn’t help but speak quietly: “I didn’t want to find a wife. What’s the use of a wife? Trouble.”

Huo Chuanjun laughed loudly: “Silly boy, you haven’t opened your mind yet. You’ll want one later.”

Huo Chuanjun glanced at Chu Xun with a meaningful look, mischievous, and winked at a young soldier beside him…

The two of them acted together, four hands giving Chu Xun a “crotch lift”, crossing their wrists under Chu Xun’s crotch, and lifting him up at once!

“Wu…”

Chu Xun was directly suspended in the air, bumped left and right by the other party, his face flushing red.

Huo Chuanjun saw that Chu Xiaoer was alone and weak at this moment, wanted to play a trick on him, with no malice, just teasing a child.

“Getting a wife!”

“Come sit in the sedan chair!”

It was Huo Chuanwu who pulled his brother: “Stop teasing him, you made his face red.”

Chuanwu glanced sideways at Chu Xun, and saw the striking and beautiful red mole on Little Xun’s eyebrow. It was really beautiful…

What was Huo Chuanwu thinking in his heart?

At this time, he was thinking, just Chu family’s Xiaoer? With red lips and white teeth, he indeed looked like a little sister. But this delicate skin and tender meat, small arms and legs, can he go to the fields? Can he climb onto the roof? Can he climb trees to pick peaches with me? Can he fight? Can he steam big buns and make big dumplings with shepherd’s purse filling for me? If he can’t steam big buns and make big dumplings, the young master won’t even look at him. If you were a girl, so handsome, I would paint you into a New Year picture and hang it on the wall to look at every day—who finds a wife like you?!

Behind this group of people followed two tails, Shen Bowen and Shao Jun, watching the excitement all the way, but ended up watching gloomily, both feeling ashamed for their buddy.

Shen Bowen curled his lips and whispered: “Fuck, what is this? Who does he think he is? Our Little Xun being a wife to his family?”

“Our Little Xun won’t look for a big bumpkin from outside even when he marries a wife!”

Shao Jun pouted, feeling unhappy in his heart too. It wasn’t about being a bumpkin. Shao Jun felt that Little Xun was so good with him, how close they were. How could Little Xun marry a wife one day and be close with someone else?

Hearing about this on the phone, Commander Chu was silent for a long while, and said heavily: “Serves him right!”

“With that bear temper, he will suffer sooner or later when he goes out. Suffering early is better than suffering late.”

“Let him learn a lesson.”

Chu Huaizhi instructed his wife, “Manage our two sons well. Don’t let them provoke the Huo family kids. Clearly they can’t beat them, yet they go to provoke them every few days, losing my face!”

Chu Yu lost a battle, unconvinced in his heart, and aggrieved. He felt how could his dad be so cowardly at the critical moment, letting people ride on his head for nothing, not daring to say a word. Is the one named Chu afraid of the one named Huo?!

At that time, he completely didn’t understand why his dad “avoided” Commander Huo.

Also because of this battle, Huo Chuanjun vented a breath of anger for their Shandong gang in the compound. The guard company regained face, straightened their backs in this compound, and the matter of collective transfer and demobilization was suppressed.

The conflict between the older children in the yard temporarily died down, but new conflicts were brewing among the younger children. In short, fights are endless; this is the memory of childhood life.

The children in this compound usually formed groups and played in separate factions. Like Chu Yu and Huo Chuanjun’s age, fifteen or sixteen years old in high school, they had their own small groups, all high school kids of about the same age, drawing lines based on their background and region. Chu Xun and his two childhood friends were in the bracket of eight, nine, or ten years old in elementary school. They usually played together and were also divided into several groups: the Little Beijingers, the ones from Shenyang, the ones from Shandong…

In that group of older children, there were children of the military region commander, several corps commanders and deputy corps commanders. They were almost twenty and mixing in society.

In this group of younger children, fathers were division commanders, which was considered quite a high rank. Chu Xun and his two friends’ grandfathers were all old cadres of the army, respected by people. Therefore, the three of them were considered to have very awesome backgrounds among the kids. When children gathered to play, it also depended on rank and family background; children of division commanders were naturally the leaders, giving orders. Children of the transport company commander, the canteen cook, and the vegetable station manager stood on the periphery watching, generally not daring to make a sound, listening to commands and running blindly behind.

A relatively closed small society, suddenly intruded by a fresh force, breaking the original structural balance, inevitably brought a burst of restlessness. This was also true for the children in the compound.

Huo’s eldest brother gained status in front of Young Master Chu, the young soldiers of the guard company gained face, and the foreign monks suppressed the locals. The old natives who had mixed in the compound for so many years were not happy.

These days, small frictions between the two sides continued. Who grabbed whose milk in the breakfast cafeteria line, who occupied whose table in the dinner cafeteria, who blocked whose way on the way home from school, who cheated together in school exams and another group informed the teacher, who went to steal steel pipes from the chassis of the guard company’s cars and was found out and reported by another group, etc., etc. Various tricks emerged one after another.

Children fighting and making trouble were actually not big deals. Kids didn’t have much scheming; it was purely a moment of spirit and loyalty.

In this large group of children, it was Chu family’s Xiaoer who seemed more mature and quiet than the other children, always hiding ideas in his heart, and very calm when things happened.

Commander Chu’s Xiaoer was the king of this group of Little Beijingers, so he also had a temper and face.

One day, Chu Xun was lying on the bed in his room, reading a comic book, when Shen Bowen ran in.

Young Master Shen never knocked when coming to the Chu family, knowing the way well. The Chu family didn’t lock the door either; the main door was open, only latched by a screen door. Shen Bowen ran until he was sweating, kicked open the screen door and shouted “Hello Auntie, Hello Grandpa and Grandma”, then dived into Chu Xun’s room, fiddling and whispering.

“Xun’er, quick, a fight started!”

Shen Bowen’s face was flushed, his eyes shining, very excited.

Chu Xun stuffed the comic book under the pillow: “Who started fighting?”

Shen Bowen described vividly, his voice quite loud: “Our people and the Little Shandongs!”

“Right over by the coal yard, our people surrounded them. We have more people, they have fewer!”

Chu Xun asked hurriedly: “Who do they have?”

Shen Bowen glared and shook his head: “It’s that kid named Huo. Usually he looks so arrogant. This time we blocked him. We’ll teach him a good lesson!”

Chu Xun: “…”

Shen Bowen added anxiously: “What a good opportunity. His brother is not here today. We’ll suffocate him. Revenge, collective revenge!”

Chu Xun was anxious: “His brother is not here today, won’t he be back tomorrow?”

Shen Bowen held something like pliers in his hand: “Beat them first. We have more than thirty people, they only have seven or eight.”

“Wang Xinxin and the others have already surrounded them. Little Jun is guarding with a weapon. They can’t run. Just waiting for you!”

Shen Bowen waved his hand, valiantly.

“Commander Chu, if you don’t come, we can’t start the fight. Just waiting for your order!”