Chapter 1: Go Enlist and Live Your Own Life Anew!

You dog thing!

When I was in school, I tricked my dad saying I was going to Xinhua Bookstore to buy study guides, but I bought this kind of thing instead!

I let you read novels, I let you read novels, and later I'll just sell all these books as junk!

Lu Yang's body jolted, and he woke up with a start.

He looked at the familiar house and the man in front of him tearing books in a frenzy, his eyes full of confusion.

He clearly remembered that just a second ago he was on an assembly line screwing bolts, and then when he opened his eyes again he was here.

Soon, Lu Yang suddenly realized that he seemed to have been reborn?

He had returned to twenty years ago, that summer after failing the college entrance exam.

At this moment, he was secretly reading a novel in his bedroom when his father burst in angrily.

I gave you food, drink, and even borrowed money to send you to high school, hoping you'd get into a good university!

But you didn't study properly; all you do is read these crappy novels, novel after novel!

I'm telling you, Lu Yang, your good days are over. Now I give you two choices: either work in a factory or go to a technical school to learn a trade, you choose yourself.

Father Lu YongQiang's roar was deafening, and spittle sprayed all over Lu Yang's face.

But Lu Yang's nose went sour; besides guilt, he felt even more upset.

Because in his previous life, his father, though strict, always kept him in his thoughts.

To save money for Lu Yang's house and marriage, he worked overtime at his job during the day, and after work he secretly delivered takeout behind his family's back.

Eventually, overwork made him ill, and on a cold winter evening he collapsed on an electric scooter seat...

At that moment, the sound of a tricycle stopping came from outside; mother Yuan AiQin, who was running a stall at the night market, had just returned when she heard the commotion inside.

She couldn't waste time; before she could even remove her sleeves, she rushed in, saw the mess everywhere, and thought something terrible had happened.

Yuan AiQin instinctively shoved her husband aside, shielding Lu Yang behind her, like an enraged mother lion: "What are you doing in the middle of the night!?"

Lu YongQiang, furious beyond measure: "I just got off the night shift, came back and saw this little Xiao Paozi staying up late, reading novels by flashlight, it made me so angry I tore his books..."

Lu Yang quickly promised: "Dad, I won't read those messy novels anymore; at first light tomorrow I'll return the books."

Lu YongQiang stared: "The books, were they borrowed?"

Lu Yang nodded: "Three mao a day, deposit twenty."

He looked down at the two books on the floor and said awkwardly: "The deposit for these two is probably non‑refundable; later I'll just sell them as scrap."

Lu YongQiang was so angry he could barely contain himself; had he known the deposit could be returned, he wouldn't have torn them!

The mother felt more relief; realizing his mistake and being willing to correct it is a good thing.

She comforted Lu Yang: "Son, actually your dad and I have discussed it, we plan to find someone to pay for you to repeat a year of study."

"Your previous grades were always good; if you study properly, you can definitely get into a good university."

But Lu Yang shook his head and refused; it's not that he doesn't want to repeat.

It's because too much time has passed; he already returned what he had learned to the teacher long ago.

Even if he repeated a year, he probably wouldn't achieve good results.

Instead of wasting a year, it's better to choose a new path.

Lu Yang recalled that a few days after failing, the village chief had visited, asking whether he wanted to enlist.

The village committee, responsible for cooperating with the People's Armed Forces Department's recruitment propaganda, naturally visited eligible youths; plus the village chief was Lu Yang's great‑uncle, so he cared even more.

But at that time Lu Yang strongly resisted enlistment, so he refused without a second thought.

After enduring society's harsh blows and hardships, Lu Yang changed his mind.

Military service is hard on the body; entering society is a double torment of mind and flesh, full of deceit and scheming.

In comparison, the army's environment is much better; with effort, you can reap rewards.

We've all been reborn; who would still repeat? Just go enlist!

"Dad, I don't want to repeat, nor go to a technical school."

Hearing this, Lu YongQiang instinctively thought he was talking back.

He first reached for his waist, only to realize he hadn't fastened his belt.

Then his eyes scanned the room left and right, looking for any handy weapon.

"Dad, what are you looking for? I'll help you find it?"

"I'm looking for a stick to beat that little Xiao Paozi to death!"

Lu YongQiang shouted: "If you won't repeat nor go to a technical school, then what are you going to do, fly to the heavens? Dropping out at eighteen or nineteen to work, can you endure that hardship, can you discard this person?"

Lu Yang, with spittle on his face, spoke firmly: "Dad, I've decided, I want to enlist."

Mother was very surprised: "A few days ago when your great‑uncle came, didn't you say you didn't want to enlist? You even said that after serving you'd still have to find a job, so it's better to go to a technical school?"

Lu Yang said frankly: "The army's benefits are good; after discharge there's a severance, and being a veteran makes job hunting easier."

The couple clearly hadn't expected Lu Yang to flip his stance so quickly, like turning a page.

But their first reaction wasn't about whether their son would suffer after enlisting.

Instead they wondered, could the army accept our son?

Skinny as a bamboo pole, spends all day reading novels, doesn't train, doesn't play ball?

You should know that before age ten, Lu Yang was basically a medicine bottle, having to go to the hospital for IVs and injections every few days.

This also made Lu Yang's complexion perpetually unhealthy pale, frail as if a gust of wind could topple him, a delicate scholar.

"How about tomorrow I take you to see the village chief and register your name first?"

"Alright!"

"Are you hungry? Want something to eat?"

"I still want to eat the skewers you fried."

"Huh? You've been eating them since childhood, still not enough?"

"Never enough; a lifetime won't be enough."

Yuan AiQin hadn't laughed this heartily in a long time.

When the paper mill closed that year, she became a laid‑off worker.

After many setbacks, she learned to set up a stall by following others, selling fried skewers at the school gate.

Business was erratic, and she was often chased away by the city‑management, coming and going through wind and rain; after a long time, Yuan AiQin's overwork made her look far older than her years.

Through the window, she watched her mother in the courtyard reignite the oil pot, dumping the night‑market leftovers into it in one go.

The sizzle and crackle of frying rose, accompanied by a burst of aroma, and Lu Yang felt an indescribable excitement.

In his previous life, his grades were decent, but his obsession with online novels caused them to plummet.

Titles like "The Neighborhood Girl Growing Up", "The Legend of Ah Bing", and "Very Pure, Very Ambiguous" were the most classic novels of the time.

After failing the college entrance exam, Lu Yang didn't choose to repeat a year; he went to a technical school instead.

Skipping classes to surf the net, arriving late to sleep, fighting and brawling—that was the basic routine.

Even during his studies, the school made the news because its restroom gave birth to a child.

In such a terrible environment, Lu Yang became increasingly degenerate.

Not only did he sink deeper into novels, his morals and worldview also gradually twisted.

After graduating, moving north, reality dealt him countless harsh slaps.

Lacking both skills and a diploma, he kept hitting walls on the job‑search road.

So he could only deliver food, drive for Didi, courier packages, do sales, sell insurance, give foot massages…

Because his appearance and temperament were decent, Lu Yang even set aside his dignity and worked as a "model brother" in a bar for a while.

I have to say, when you drop your moral bottom line, the money comes fast, but your back can't quite handle it.

But the good times didn't last; a failed investment sent Lu Yang back to square one overnight.

In the end, he could only, like most drifters in the north, lug his luggage back to his tiny hometown, dejected.

Watching the classmates in his friend circle who stayed local, each building a family, career, car, house, and happy life, Lu Yang, who achieved nothing, could only feel envy.

If back then he hadn't attended that lousy technical school, hadn't picked up those bad habits, perhaps he wouldn't be like this now.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; never mock a poor youth."

This was Lu Yang's teenage motto; back then he believed there would always be a day to turn the tide.

Later he learned that after "never mock a poor youth" comes "never mock a poor middle‑aged" and "never mock a poor elder."

Novels are just for reading; don't take them too seriously.

You think you're the protagonist, but in reality you're just a small fish among ten thousand souls.

Realizing this, Lu Yang resolved to walk steadily this life, one step at a time.

Having witnessed Longguo's future formidable military strength, Lu Yang felt excited and proud to soon become a glorious Longguo soldier.

Soon, a tray of steaming fried skewers was placed on the table, coated in secret sauce and sprinkled with cumin chili powder.

Just the smell made mouths water and appetites stir.

Lu YongQiang made a bowl of noodles and ate a bit too, but there was no trace of anger left on his face.

He was genuinely happy; even the 1.5‑yuan portion of robust flavor smelled richer than usual.

The son decided to enlist; that's a good thing.

For families like theirs that aren't wealthy, even getting into university means tuition and living costs are a sizable expense.

Even after graduating, with today's harsh job market, it's uncertain whether they can find suitable work.

But Lu Yang chose to enlist, instantly easing the family's burden; after discharge, finding a job will be easier.

Lu YongQiang's third brother's child had served, and upon discharge, the timing matched a state‑owned enterprise recruiting veterans, securing a secure job.

So Lu YongQiang thought, once his son returns from service, using connections to find a position—if he can arrange such a comfortable, respectable job, that would be good.

At least a secure job ensures harvests even through droughts and floods.

Over the years, the couple could also save more, later buying a house for the son's marriage.

Lu Yang solemnly said, "Dad, Mom, I will serve faithfully, make a name for myself in the troops, and show you!"

"Alright!"

Lu YongQiang grinned broadly, smiling beyond happiness.

Mother Yuan AiQin, under the pretense of pouring water, turned with her lips twisted and eyes reddened.

The child showed his own mind and became sensible; she was very pleased.

But thinking of not seeing him for two years and the hardships ahead, her heart was filled with countless reluctance, an uneasy feeling.

Parents never demand great wealth or fame for their children; they just wish for safety and a simple, peaceful life.

But this life, Lu Yang doesn't want to stay muddled; he wants to make a name for himself in the troops.

For himself, and for his family.

"Go in, I'll wait for you outside."

A week later in the morning, his father rode a small electric moped, taking Lu Yang to the City People's Hospital Physical Examination Center.

Lu Yang's registration had been approved, and the recruitment officer had visited the home; essentially, once the physical passes, they can await the Military Affairs Department's enlistment notice.

But this was also Lu YongQiang's biggest worry, because he knew his child's physical condition best.

If the physical fails, the troops won't take him—then it's over?

Yet his father's worry was unnecessary; Lu Yang had been binge‑eating these days, gaining a few pounds.

Combined with some running, his fitness should have improved; what difficulty could a simple recruitment physical pose?

Lu Yang walked into the examination center; inside were many young people like him, all there for the conscription physical.

The conscription physical examination date is usually within one to two weeks after formal registration, with the specific time arranged and coordinated by the People's Armed Forces Department.

As long as there is no major physical defect, serious illness, tattoo, or obvious scar, most can pass.

Interestingly, while Lu Yang was waiting for the examination, he suddenly smelled a fragrant aroma of grilled lamb skewers in the hallway.

After inquiring, he learned that a buddy had bromhidrosis; before the examination even started, the conscription office forcibly advised him to withdraw.

Indeed, if he were really allowed to join the unit, his bunkmates would suffer even more each day.

On the battlefield, enemies wouldn't need eyes; just by smell they could precisely locate his hiding place.

"Inhale, exhale, blow hard."

"Okay, take the slip and go over there."

After measuring his vital capacity, Lu Yang then went to the color blindness and color weakness testing area.

He had liked drawing since childhood and was quite good at using and controlling colors.

Earlier, due to declining grades, his family had even prepared for him to pursue art, but the art exam fees were too high, so they gave up.

"What number is this?"

"This is......"

Lu Yang froze for a moment, because he discovered that he could actually not see clearly the numbers on the card...