Chapter 8#

The Conflict Between Chu and Huo#

In the spring and summer of this year, a group of newly appointed commanders and fighters from other places were transferred to the compound to enrich the young cadre team of the military region and the construction of the new mechanized division.

Commander Chu also received a transfer order, transferring him away from the capital to a certain artillery mechanized division of the 27th Army stationed in a certain place in Hebei, serving as the division commander and acting as the deputy commander of the army with partial authority.

This was also a normal job transfer within the military region, happening every few years. The 27th Army and the 38th Army were both ace troops of the Imperial Guard, guarding the capital in a pincer formation. Although Chu Huaizhi left Beijing temporarily, he still held an important position, and his real power and treatment in all aspects were not downgraded. People around him analyzed that the higher-ups intended to promote him. Rotating and transferring within the military region to accumulate experience, when Commander Chu was transferred back to Beijing in the next round, he would definitely be promoted, maybe becoming the commander of the 38th Army in five years.

Commander Chu was transferred to Shijiazhuang. He went home to prepare and pack these days. His wife and children were actually not very happy.

This father was usually busy with work, but at least he could come home often when he was in the local area. Once he left Beijing, they would see him even less.

Chu Huaizhi had two sons at home. The second was Little Xun, and the eldest was named Chu Yu, fifteen years old at the time. He was tall and big, almost as tall as his father when standing straight, with stubble growing on his lips. When he went out, he looked like a proper young man.

Chu Yu, tall and lanky, leaned against the door frame of the living room, hands in pockets, watching his mother pack his father’s suitcase.

His mother took out good things one by one from the study cabinet and stuffed them into the luggage. Good cigarettes, good wine, high-end biscuits, tea, and coffee issued by the army, as if afraid that he wouldn’t be able to eat these good things when he arrived at the 27th Army station, wishing she could move half the house there.

Commander Chu said: “No need to bring these, I don’t need them.”

Chu Yu’s mother buried her head in stuffing the bag: “Aren’t these the Good Companion and Hilton given to you by others? If you don’t bring them, what cigarettes will you smoke there?”

Commander Chu didn’t care: “If there are any, I’ll smoke. If not, I won’t smoke.”

Chu Yu’s mother was unhappy in her heart: “Why do you have to be transferred out? Can’t you not go?!”

Commander Chu raised his hand and pointed: “Bring that big stack of books of mine.”

Chu Yu’s mother said: “I’m busy with work until so late every day. Our compound’s service agency is going to be restructured next year. Going to work now is different from before… I can’t handle two sons.”

Chu Yu snorted from the side and interrupted: “Dad, you really are something. Others are desperately trying to transfer to Beijing, but you are transferring out.”

Commander Chu looked at his son coldly: “Normal transfer.”

Chu Yu snorted again: “Why didn’t they transfer others, but transferred your position? Are they bullying you? You just don’t know how to deal with the higher-ups!”

Commander Chu frowned and said seriously: “Didn’t I guard Xinjiang before? Didn’t I go to Tibet? Isn’t it the same wherever I’m transferred?!”

Chu Yu said disdainfully: “The new one, the commander of the 113th Division who replaced you, what kind of person is he? What kind of shady bunch are they, daring to transfer into our compound.”

Hearing this, Commander Chu’s face immediately darkened: “Nonsense. You kid know shit!”

Downstairs in the compound, a few soldiers under Commander Chu were carrying luggage out, and the new people were coming in.

Little Second Chu was playing in the yard downstairs, playing dodgeball with Shen Bowen, Shao Jun, and a few other kids. Dodgeball involved two groups of people standing at two ends, more than ten meters apart, with one or two people standing in the middle. The people at the two ends threw sandbags to hit whoever was in the middle to get them out. The people in the middle tried hard to dodge. If they could catch the sandbag, they would gain a life. Kids at that time loved playing this simple, happy, and low-cost game.

Chu Xun and Shao Jun were experts at playing dodgeball. Once they were in the middle, they wouldn’t come down. Others couldn’t hit them.

Chu Xun had long arms and legs, was extremely agile, and moved fast. Not only could people not hit him, but he could also catch the sandbag every time, sharp-eyed and quick-handed, catching it with two fingers!

At that time, the kids couldn’t understand how Little Second Chu was so agile, always smarter and more clever than kids of the same age. This person’s eyes were faster than the sandbag, and his hands were faster than his eyes.

Shen Bowen said: “You two are endless, still not coming down? Xunxun, you’ve saved nine lives!”

Chu Xun was smug, pursing his lips and flipping his bangs at Bowen.

Shen Bowen muttered: “Your family doesn’t need a flyswatter to hit flies, right? You two pinch with your little fingers, and the fly is pinched to death by you.”

Shao Jun was once grazed by a sandbag on his clothes.

A group of people jeered: “Get down, get down!”

Shao Jun pouted unconvinced: “Only touched the clothes, didn’t touch me!”

Chu Xun tilted his head at Shao Jun: “I have many lives, I’ll lend you one.”

Everyone protested: “No lending lives! …You two are cheating!”

A new team passed through the yard, walking past the children.

Some kids whispered: “Hey, look at that big guy, I heard he’s the new division commander.”

“They were transferred from Jinan.”

“I know, that man’s surname is Huo.”

“Heard he’s very fierce, very strict with the soldiers, scolded the soldiers to tears.”

A Jiefang truck drove into the compound gate, and a group of young soldiers jumped off the truck to move things down. Every time a general with a relatively prominent rank was transferred to the military region, they generally had to move into the compound with their families, bringing their spouses, children, and even former guards. The army allocated housing.

This new division commander was the “shady” character Chu Yu mentioned, surnamed Huo, named Huo Yunshan.

Commander Huo was tall, with a straight back and tough features. His eyes under the military cap were torch-like, possessing the unique temperament and demeanor of a tough guy in the military camp. Chu Xun couldn’t help but look a few more times.

Commander Huo carried a large army green canvas luggage bag in one hand.

Behind him followed two boys. One looked tall and strong, about the same age as Chu Xun’s big brother. The other was shorter and thinner, looking about the same age as himself. The two boys also carried luggage, quiet and silent, walking strictly and neatly, looking like they had been specially trained in the army.

At this moment, a sandbag flew across, passing between Chu Xun and Shao Jun. It didn’t hit them but flew diagonally towards the top of the new boy’s head!

Commander Huo’s little boy caught a glimpse of the sandbag attack out of the corner of his eye, blocked it with one hand in the air, and neatly grabbed the sandbag in his hand, holding it firmly.

The boy had black eyebrows and handsome eyes, not very old, with distinctive looks. A pair of sword eyebrows gave his whole face a heroic spirit.

The one throwing the sandbag wildly here was the thorn in the compound, the famous little troublemaker named Wang Xinxin.

Wang Xinxin shouted: “Hey, throw the sandbag to us!”

“Hey, talking to you, our sandbag!”

The boy paused, a tiny expression floating in his bright black eyes, and suddenly raised his hand.

This child stood still, without a run-up, just suddenly withdrew one leg backward, leaned back 45 degrees sideways, and assumed an absolutely standard grenade-throwing posture!

Chu Xun occasionally had the chance to play with the soldiers in the barracks and had seen their grenade-throwing training, so he recognized that soldiers threw grenades like this, usually adding a four-step run-up. That boy with beautiful eyebrows swung his arm as if swinging in the air, his movement dashing, and the sandbag whistled towards them!

Chu Xun hurriedly reached out to catch it. The sandbag flew past the side of his neck like a living thing, with the sound of wind, too fast, no chance to grab it at all.

Shao Jun didn’t even dare to catch it, dodging directly, covering his face and running out of the battlefield. His face was the most precious.

Bang.

“Ouch—”

Wang Xinxin behind him was hit, struck in the chest by the sandbag grenade, with great force. Wang Xinxin staggered back two steps and sat directly on his butt, very embarrassed.

Chu Xun subconsciously touched his neck. The sandbag grazed the fuzzy part of the back of his neck, actually giving a burning sensation like being singed.

He looked up and met the gaze of the Huo family boy. The corner of that kid’s mouth moved, and a shallow dimple actually appeared on his slightly red and sweaty face. After all, he was a child, and his move inevitably had a hint of showing off.

The eldest of the Huo family tilted his head lightly, sweeping his eyes: “Second brother, let’s go.”

The boy hurriedly lowered his head and followed, specially looking back before entering the building door, silently glancing at this group of children…

Commander Huo’s family also had two sons, the eldest named Huo Chuanjun, and the second named Huo Chuanwu.

When military cadres were transferred, logically, family members could accompany the army. But the two boys of the Chu family were at school age. The eldest was in high school, and the second was in elementary school, both studying in very good schools. The family was unwilling to let the two children leave Beijing.

Commander Chu set off that day, specially instructing before leaving: “Eldest, don’t mess around. Watch your mouth when you go out, don’t babble nonsense, don’t embarrass your father.”

Chu Yu shrugged nonchalantly, his voice ruffian-like: “Dad—I know.”

It would be strange if Commander Chu believed his son wouldn’t mess around. He had scolded and beaten this bear child many times. Since childhood, he was energetic, tough, and hard to manage.

Commander Chu said: “Learn from your brother, look how obedient your brother is.”

Chu Yu said unconvinced: “Yes, our Little Xun is the most obedient, loved by everyone! I can’t compare with him!”

Chu Yu said as he entered the room, dragging his brother over and throwing him on the sofa, pouncing on him to pin his hands and tickle his armpits, then pulled down Chu Xun’s pants and slapped his butt a few times. Chu Xun was bullied inexplicably, covering his butt and humming. Chu Huaizhi stood at the door, pointing fiercely from a distance, throwing a deterrent look at his eldest son, simply too outrageous.

Chu Xun climbed up from the sofa, pulled up his pants, and didn’t forget to turn around, standing at attention with a “snap”, and saluted his father properly: “Dad, goodbye! Set off!”

Commander Chu immediately put away his expression, also stood at attention seriously, returned a proper military salute, feeling warm in his heart. He liked this youngest son, truly lovable…

The eldest of the Chu family had such an outrageous and unreliable character, always bad-tempered and reckless, famous for being domineering in the compound.

When his father was at home, he could still be suppressed; when his father wasn’t around to watch, he dared to run wild.

The two brothers of the Chu family didn’t play together often.

Chu Yu was more than six years older than Chu Xun, so the two kids couldn’t play together. However, the six-year gap didn’t make Chu Yu mature enough to know how to love and take care of his younger brother.

Chu Yu rarely went home after school every day, running wild outside, having his own circle of fair-weather friends, a group of idle young men from the nearby compound “Chariot Team”. Young Master Chu and a group of people rode bikes every day, shouting and calling at the foot of the Western Hills. In summer, wearing striped shirts, military pants, and black loafer shoes; in winter, a large dashing scarf and military overcoat, a pair of Warrior sneakers.

The shearling hat he wore was a round hat covering the ears made from a piece of shearling cut from a sheepskin, which was extremely expensive and fashionable wear in that era. A hat cost more than ten yuan, ordinary families couldn’t bear to buy it, only military children could get it. The loafer shoes he wore, commonly known as “pian’er shoes”, were obtained from Shanghai through connections, higher grade than those produced in Beijing. The pian’er shoes produced in Beijing were corduroy, worn by people all over the street. High-ranking cadres’ children disliked that as particularly rustic; the ones produced in Shanghai were made of black heavy woolen cloth, with white edges and white plastic soles, different from others. This was called showing off!

The bicycles they rode were all 28-inch Flying Pigeon or Forever brand bikes with large chain covers and rotary bells, whistling back and forth between the city and the suburbs, from Fuxingmen and Lishi Road towards Changqiao. Such a complete set of equipment represented the superiority bred from the inside out and the social status enjoyed since childhood by that generation of compound children.

A half-grown boy like Chu Yu, living in clover and running wild, it would be strange if he didn’t cause trouble.

One evening, he drank a few bottles of beer while eating outside, smelling of alcohol, and drove into the compound with his group of “Chariot Team” hooligan friends.

There were guards at the compound gate, not just anyone could enter randomly.

Usually, if two or three students said at the gate, “We are looking for Commander Chu’s child”, the sentries would recognize them and be accommodating, nodding to let them in.

But on this day, firstly, it was dark and they were alert; secondly, Young Master Chu was drunk, babbling nonsense, and got into an argument with a few words; thirdly, there were too many hooligans in this group, more than ten, and the guards dared not let them in no matter what, afraid of trouble.

Chu Yu’s eyes were red, his shirt front open revealing a chest red from drunkenness: “Is there something wrong with you? Why don’t you let me in?!”

The young soldier blocked him and said: “You can enter, others can’t.”

Chu Yu said: “My friends are my people. If I say they can enter, they can enter.”

The young soldier said: “It’s against the regulations, no.”

Chu Yu cursed: “Fuck your mother, you dare to control me? I’ve been in this compound for so many years, I was here before you were born! Let me tell you, the rules in this yard are for you, not for me!”

Chu Yu was arrogant, and indeed had the capital to be arrogant. He had lived in this military compound for more than ten years. He was practically a child born in this compound, who didn’t know him?

If it were an acquaintance on duty that day, having been in the compound for a long time, they would be old soldiers who knew Young Master Chu was a tough and rash master, wouldn’t lower themselves to his level, and would let him in. But on this day, it happened to be a new squad on duty, new for a few days. In fact, they were transferred from other places with Commander Huo a while ago.

The new ones were young soldiers transferred from the Jinan Military Region, occupying half of the guard company, all tall and heroic Shandong men, most suitable for standing guard at the agency gate, very handsome.

Chu Yu had always disliked the newcomers. Being soldiers from the same compound, it was inevitable to divide into factions, each with their own turf. He was a local, had a sense of superiority, and looked down on those from outside.

The two sides quickly got into an argument, neither compromising nor backing down. With many people, hands and feet got involved, and shoving started.

It soon developed into a fight. Chu Yu grabbed a weapon and fought with several people from the other side.

The two sides had a history of grievances. Young Master Chu was not a fuel-efficient lamp. Usually, he would knock off soldiers’ hats, puncture their tires, pull out their valve cores, doing plenty of such damaging things.

Chu Yu casually shouldered his 28-inch Flying Pigeon bicycle, a heavy and big thing, and smashed it down on the opponent’s face…

Chu Xun was doing homework at home and heard someone shouting to his mother downstairs, “Your eldest is fighting with the guard company at the gate!”

Hearing this, Chu Xun dropped his textbook and ran down quickly.

To be honest, it wasn’t the first time his brother fought with people inside and outside the compound. Chu Xun was young but mature, guessing what happened as soon as he heard it.

Coincidentally, among the people in the reception room that night, besides that squad of guards, there was also Commander Huo’s second son.

Huo Chuanwu was playing with a gun in the reception room, asked for a cowhide holster from a few fellow villagers, tucked it into his belt, very proud, kicking steps and walking back and forth with hands behind his back.

Chu Yu threw the bicycle once, then grabbed a wooden stick and smacked it down.

That smack was heavy and ruthless, hitting a young soldier on the right forearm. With that one hit, the stick actually broke, and the cracking sound of bones was heard on the spot.

That young soldier was quite young, looking not much older than Young Master Chu. Tears came down from the pain—his right forearm bone was smashed broken.

The broken half of the wooden stick bounced up, flew out, splashing a few wood chips.

One sharp wood chip, fully three inches long, flew up and hit Huo Chuanwu standing nearby. The boy was short, and the wood chip hit him right in the face, poking near the brow bone. Blood gushed out with a “whoosh”…

Chu Xun ran over and saw this scene exactly. The second son of the Huo family stood there motionless with arms open, half of his face quickly dyed with blood.

The circle of people fighting nearby were all stunned, and the young soldiers were also frightened. This was the division commander’s son.

“Little Wu!!!”

“Where are you hurt?!”

Chu Xun was also a bit scared at that moment, never having seen so much blood.

He grabbed one of the boy’s arms, his mind still clear: “Quick, go to the health station.”

Huo Chuanwu’s face was covered in blood. The wood chip mixed with blood, making it unclear where it stabbed. It could be the brow bone, the eyelid, or even the eyeball! Chu Xun saw Little Huo’s lips tightly pursed into a line, then bitten by teeth. Blood flowed all over his face, but he actually didn’t cry out.

The boy calmly reached out and wiped his face, wiping a hand full of blood, looking at his own palm.

Commander Huo had only been here for a few days, and his son was disfigured by Commander Chu’s son.