Chapter 254: Fack, is this guy standing on a rocket?

"So this is the special service you mentioned?"

When they entered the foot‑massage shop, Kang Changyi was stunned.

Lu Yang also wore a puzzled expression, seeing no special feature in this street‑side little shop.

The shop was small, only about a dozen square meters; seven foot‑massage beds, no second floor, and you could see the whole place at a glance.

At the back a curtain was drawn, revealing some pots, bowls and daily items, and soon a man wearing sunglasses walked out.

"Do you want a foot massage?"

"Yes, three of us."

"Zhou Kaidong?"

The man tilted his ear, recognized Zhou Kaidong's voice, and his smile instantly lit up his face.

Lu Yang then realized that this man, wearing glasses and looking about forty, was blind.

So this is a blind massage shop?

Soon, three basins of hot water infused with herbal packets were brought out.

Besides the middle‑aged man, the other two were elderly aunties.

First they soaked the feet in hot water, while the middle‑aged man massaged Zhou Kaidong's shoulders and neck, laughing as he spoke.

"It's been years since we last met; how's the Regiment lately, busy or not?"

"Same as always, day after day."

"Pretty good, pretty fulfilling."

From their conversation, Lu Yang, surprised, caught the key point.

"Squad Leader, is he also a veteran?"

"Hmm, but he's far more capable than us."

"You're also from the Special Third Regiment?"

Kang Changyi looked very surprised.

Since he's a retired veteran and came from the Special Third Regiment, how did it end up like this?

The man called Lao Fang grinned, showing two rows of tobacco‑stained yellowed teeth, and introduced himself.

"I used to be, but later I wasn't. I enlisted very early; I joined in '88, and back then Old Wang was still a Company Commander."

"Sss......"

The 'Old Wang' mentioned here is, of course, Regiment Commander Wang Zhongxi.

Such a soldier is definitely a living fossil in the troops.

Having gone through several major reforms, he also knows the troops' development process best.

Lu Yang asked, "You said you were once in the Special Third Regiment, then you were transferred?"

Lao Fang nodded, "Later, I joined the Division's Zhencha Daitui."

"Then your eyes......"

Lao Fang casually took off his sunglasses, revealing two cloudy eyes.

On the eyelids, distinct vicious scars and the marks left from surgical sutures were visible.

"During a mission, shrapnel from a grenade hit me; being alive is already good."

"But I'm not completely blind; I just see things very hazily, and can recognize people up close; I wear sunglasses so as not to scare the customers."

Lu Yang wondered what kind of mission could turn a reconnaissance scout into this, almost losing his life.

But due to confidentiality, even though the other side retired years ago and is past the declassification period, they still couldn't say.

Yet Kang Changyi's curiosity was piqued, especially about some combat matters.

"Could you give a slight hint about what kind of enemy it was?"

"Drug dealers, drug lords, mercenaries, pirates, or robbery murderers?"

Lao Fang put his sunglasses back on, grinned with his two rows of big yellow teeth, and chuckled, "Your guess?"

Seeing Kang Changyi's frantic, pale face, scratching his ears and chin, Lu Yang noticed that Lao Fang seemed to enjoy this.

He would stop halfway and stubbornly refuse to tell the rest, leaving you scratching your ears and heart.

To be blunt, it's 'playful', a bit 'cheeky'.

"Why don't you guess?"

Lao Fang seemed to notice Lu Yang observing him, so he turned his head and asked.

Lu Yang, being elbowed on the shoulder by an old aunt, comfortably replied, "Not interested."

Lao Fang stopped, brought his face close to Lu Yang, almost face‑to‑face, as if using a 'scanner' to read his appearance data.

"Are they tall and handsome? Are today's soldiers all this delicate?"

"Zhou Kaidong, this can't be a soldier you brought out, can it?"

Zhou Kaidong proudly shook his head, "You got it right; don't underestimate him. He enlisted only a year ago and is already a Non‑commissioned Officer; now he's our Company's Acting Platoon Leader."

"So impressive? I said when you three came in, why couldn't my right hand stay still, always wanting to lift toward the head?"

Lao Fang is a very talkative and humorous person, carefree in nature, and enjoys smoking.

Even though his eyesight is far worse than before, his enthusiastic love for life has never ceased.

Lao Fang turned his head toward Kang Changyi and asked, "What about him, could he also be some kind of leader?"

Zhou Kaidong laughed, "He? He used to be a Platoon Leader, now he's just a grunt."

Lao Fang laughed even louder: "Hahaha, looks like you made a mistake and got your hat pulled off. What mistake did you make? Tell me."

Kang Changyi rolled his eyes and, in his own style, said, "Your guess?"

"Hahaha......"

At this moment, everyone in the foot‑massage shop burst into laughter.

Because dinner time hadn't arrived yet, only the three of them were in the shop.

These elderly ladies have known Lao Fang for quite a while, and the atmosphere is really pleasant.

As for this shop, Lao Fang bought it with part of his discharge money, and business is fairly good.

Being a disabled veteran has its pros and cons; besides having blurry vision, there is an extra annual subsidy.

Their child got extra points on the high‑school entrance exam and entered the desired high school, and the wife's workplace gives an additional family allowance each year.

During festivals, both the unit and the local area send people to visit, showing concern and greetings.

Occasionally, on military holidays, they can hang a medal on a local plaque, and overall life is passable.

After a quick foot soak, the three lie down to enjoy foot kneading, and Zhou Kaidong proactively suggests:

"Lao Fang's skill is unparalleled; every time I came before, he was the one kneading. Who wants to try a veteran's foot kneading?"

"Me, me, me!"

Kang Changyi, eager to try, raised his hand very high.

Lao Fang also didn't hold back, thinking that, after all, he came from the Iron Foot Company, so it should be relatively tough.

As a result, after only a slight effort, Kang Changyi let out a howl, pulling his foot back.

"Kid, do you often have vivid dreams, night sweats, a thick tongue coating, and wake up with a dry mouth?"

"You know all that?"

"I spent some time with the Medical Team, taught myself some medical theory; your kidneys aren't great, huh?"

"Can it be cured?"

"I'll give you a treatment; it might hurt a bit—if you can't stand it, just say so."

"Alright!"

Then, Lao Fang launched a fierce attack on Kang Changyi's kidney reflex zone on the sole.

The pain was so intense he nearly died several times, his mouth almost foaming with white bubbles.

Lu Yang smacked his lips: "Kang Da Niang, you're way too weak; you can't stand this, can you?"

Kang Changyi bit the towel, eyes blazing: "Y‑you're lying down talking, not feeling pain? Lao Fang's grip is too strong; if you don't believe it, try it!"

"If it's a test, then it's a test!"

After tormenting Kang Changyi, Lao Fang, smiling, came over to Lu Yang's side.

First he relaxed his foot, then he forcefully dug into the sole.

"How's it feel, any sensation?"

"It's okay… I guess?"

Lu Yang appeared calm on the surface, but his complexion turned a bit pale.

Fortunately, the incandescent lamp illuminated it, so it wasn't obvious.

Lao Fang was also surprised: "I just used such force, and you say it's okay? Looks like you're in good shape."

Then he unleashed all his skill, attacking Lu Yang's kidney reflex zone on the sole as if confronting an enemy.

That piercing, heart‑splitting pain made his whole body stiff, almost taking Lu Yang's life.

But to preserve the dignity of the Acting Platoon Leader and a man's honor, he forced himself not to utter a single sound.

Lao Fang, after pressing for a while, finally said admiringly: "Zhou Kaidong, it seems the soldier you brought out is indeed remarkable. Your soles are so thick with calluses; every time you ask me for a foot massage, it hurts to death."

"Look at him, silent from start to finish; his kidney function is flawless—maybe he could be a Platoon Leader even at a young age."

"Come on, kid, turn over, I'll press your back."

"Kid, kid? Hey, wake up."

"Damn, Lu Yang passed out!"

"Lao Fang, you kneaded him to death; this time you owe us a discount, the kind that breaks bones!"

"Ha, hahahaha!"

"Ha, hahahaha!"

Coming out of the foot‑massage shop, Lu Yang felt his legs were no longer his own.

He couldn't even stand straight; each step felt like being pricked by needles.

Zhou Kaidong and Kang Changyi, carefree, slapped their thighs hard, laughing so hard they couldn't straighten their waists.

"You forced yourself to hold on, feeling good, feeling numb, right?"

"Old Fang, who used to be in the Zhencha Daitui, broke bricks as easily as snapping a peach crisp, twisted rebar like twisting a twisted pastry; his grip was something I couldn't handle!"

Lu Yang wanted to find a crack to crawl into—a true Chinese man who strives to be strong all his life.

He could lose in everything else, but not in this; even if it means dying for pride and suffering in life, he must hold on.

But Lao Fang's grip truly shocked him, making him sigh that the Division's Zhencha Daitui really hides hidden talents.

"Let me help you walk; after a few steps you'll get used to it."

"It's fine; soon we'll all get in the car."

"On the way back, we still need to stop at the supermarket, pick up some things."

"I'll do the shopping; we're all about to be discharged, buying something for the Company Commander and Instructor, leaving a memory. Lu Yang, your legs can't move, so don't come with us; go sit at the tea shop across the street."

With that, Zhou Kaidong casually pulled out ten yuan.

Like coaxing a child, they let Lu Yang sit and wait at the tea shop across the street while the two went to the supermarket.

Lu Yang's main trait was obedience; dragging his stiff legs to the other side, he ordered a taro‑flavored pearl milk tea.

The tea shop was busy, and not far away stood a military office building, where soldiers often came to buy milk tea and fried chicken strips.

So when Lu Yang entered, the shop owner instantly recognized his military status and added extra pearls for him.

Short hair, dark skin, a straight back, walking on the street likes to look around in all directions; about eighty to ninety percent are soldiers.

Lu Yang sits at the doorway, sipping milk tea, watching the bustling street scene outside, sighing that the years are peaceful, but that's about it.

Suddenly, his gaze is drawn to a black Toyota off‑road vehicle parked by the street.

The rear is covered with black reflective film, obscuring the person inside, but a long camera lens sticks out of the rolled‑down window.

The direction the lens points at is precisely the nearby military building.

Lu Yang realizes something's wrong, disregarding his sore foot, rushes out to stop it: "Hey, what are you doing?"

The camera snaps back quickly, and the Toyota off‑road vehicle, looking guilty as a thief, hurriedly starts up to leave.

This sprint immediately confirms Lu Yang's suspicion!

He briskly catches up: "Stop the car, stop immediately!"

The Toyota accelerates again, trying to shake off Lu Yang.

Seeing a furry middle finger protruding from the rear window, Lu Yang's temper flares instantly.

Daily weighted off‑road training, combined with repeated activation of the "Break and Then Rise" effect, makes his speed surge dramatically.

Watching Lu Yang draw nearer, the Toyota keeps revving, and the two foreign drivers trying to flee are stunned.

"OMG! Is this man standing on a rocket? How can he run so fast?"

"Accelerate, accelerate quickly, get away from him!"

The white driver stomps his foot into the fuel tank, and the engine erupts with a roar.

Lu Yang pours all his newborn vigor into his legs, pushing speed to the limit, so fast that afterimages appear.

Spicy neighbor, I'm a Motorized Infantry; my skill is all leg work—how could you run away right under my eyes?

【The scene everyone wants to see, he's arrived! Quickly use your love to power me to death, thanks~】