Chapter 276: Having a promising son is truly a blessing

No, you little brat, are you for real?

In the kitchen, Lu Yang raised his knife and chopped the vegetables with a pat-pat-pat.

Stir-frying over high heat, flames licked the oil up the pot's side, shooting up very high.

Father Lu YongQiang watched Lu Yang's efficient manner; he cooked several dishes in just a few moves, far more surprising than knowing his son had been promoted in the army.

Because in the past, Lu Yang never set foot in the kitchen, his cooking limited to instant noodles; but after just a year in the army, he was practically a professionally trained chef.

This made him recall how, after Lu Yang failed the college entrance exam, he had considered sending him to New Oriental to study cooking.

Besides, the army is great—food, clothing, housing, and transportation are free, skills training is free, getting a driver's license is free, and there's a monthly stipend.

Soon, several hot dishes were placed on the table; Mother helped fetch the bowls and chopsticks, and seeing how capable her son now was, her smile never faded.

Besides the hot stir-fries, there was a bowl of pickled mustard greens and shredded pork soup; plus the salted duck, soy-braised beef, old goose claws and wings, and pork head meat that Father bought from the deli—all of Lu Yang's favorite dishes.

"Come on, let's start, let's start."

Father brought out two bottles of Snowflake beer, opened them, and poured a glass each.

Then he proactively raised his glass and said the opening line he was worst at.

"Let's raise a glass to Yangyang, congratulating you on your meritorious service in the army and your promotion to officer!"

"Our Lu family has finally produced an official; among the younger generation, you're the most promising, hahaha!"

"Come, cheers!"

Lu Yang laughed as he clinked glasses with his parents and downed the drink in one gulp.

Although the weather was quite cold, the beer felt refreshing to the core.

But this drink still warmed him all over, making him feel extremely comfortable.

Because he finally made good on his earlier words, achieving some modest recognition in the army.

To speak frankly, the achievements Lu Yang attained in just one year are merely the starting point for the majority of military academy graduates after graduation.

Although many enlisted soldiers saw Lu Yang as already outstanding and eye-catching, he constantly reminded himself that he had merely taken the first step from non-commissioned officer to officer.

Next, there are still many more trials awaiting him.

He needs to attend the military academy for further study to earn a degree, and if possible, he even wants to pursue graduate studies.

Because as time goes on, talent becomes more abundant and academic credentials lose value more sharply; but for now, a graduate degree is still relatively rare.

Especially in the army, a master's degree in a popular military specialty will definitely be sought after by all units; promotion will be faster and opportunities to perform will increase.

At the dinner table, Lu Yang briefly mentioned his plan to go on to the military academy and expressed his determination to try for graduate school.

"If you want to take the exam, take it—I'll support you; nowadays, how important a degree is—having a graduate diploma makes everything you do valuable."

"In your father's workplace, there's a young guy who is a graduate student and was promoted to a management position in less than a year; Mom also supports you—keep it up, son."

Parental support gave Lu Yang great encouragement.

This way, he can also move forward with greater freedom.

Actually, every year during the military discharge season, a batch of soldiers are forced by their parents to retire.

Aside from those who simply lack ability, some soldiers who are clearly doing well in the army, deeply valued by their leaders, also have promising futures.

But there are always killjoy parents who worry their children will go too far, worry about their own future eldercare, and force their kids to come back for blind dates, marriage, and job hunting.

As a result, those veteran non-commissioned officers who should have had bright futures are forced to give up their stable monthly income of seven to eight thousand in the army and reluctantly return home to work jobs paying over three thousand.

So Lu Yang feels fortunate to have open-minded parents; they don't bring up those discouraging topics, nor do they indulge in idle speculation—they simply wholeheartedly wish for their child's well-being.

"Eat, eat, this old goose—you definitely won't get to eat it in the army, so have some more."

Father placed the duck leg into Lu Yang's bowl; from childhood to adulthood, the chicken and duck legs on the table have always been Lu Yang's.

Even though he is now an adult and has grown up, in his family's eyes he is still a child.

"Mom, Dad, you should eat too; don't just keep putting food on my plate."

"Hehe, eating, eating—isn't it because we're happy to see you back?"

At the dinner table, the family of three chatted pleasantly and talked happily.

Midway through, nearby neighbors who had previously shared a meal came over to visit and chat.

Lu Yang also politely greeted them, and then received a wave of praise.

"Goodness gracious, you've made all these dishes—is it New Year? What, all of them cooked by your son?"

"Oh my, I can hardly recognize him—after joining the army, Lu Yang has become so muscular that I didn't even recognize him at first glance!"

"Being in the army is just different; using today's slang, he's straight-up handsome and cool—there's definitely some girls in the army who like him!"

"Old Lu, your son is promising—you two truly have good fortune!"

Lu YongQiang and Yuan AiQin laughed from start to finish, yet kept being modest.

Lu Yang focused on his meal, his face always wearing a faint smile.

At this moment, with glory on their parents' faces, all their sweat and hardship felt worthwhile.

After finishing the meal, Lu Yang helped clear the table, and Second Uncle also made a special trip over.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he kept staring at Lu Yang, seemingly coming specifically to confirm the reason for his son's— that is, Lu Yang's cousin's—sudden emotional instability after returning home.

Upon seeing the military uniform hanging in the house with his own eyes, Second Uncle's worried heart finally eased.

His smile was a bit forced, and his words carried a hint of sourness.

Although Second Uncle and Father are blood brothers, human nature always enjoys making comparisons.

Second Uncle's job is better than Father's, his income higher, so he has always carried a sense of superiority.

A few years ago, the family specially spent a lot of money to tile the house, did up the interior, and even added the trendiest sunroom, which made Lu YongQiang envy it terribly.

Since then, Father has constantly muttered that, once he has money, he too wants to renovate the house and add a sunroom.

But each time it's just talk—he can't actually come up with that much money; after all, he still needs to save for Lu Yang's future marriage and home purchase.

He has spent half his life in mediocrity at the factory, always being ordered around.

He, who had always only heard others brag and boast, finally got a chance to puff out his chest and feel proud thanks to his son.

Watching his father sit upright and speak confidently before his second uncle, even his demeanor while speaking exuded a calm confidence.

Lu Yang wipes the table, exchanges a glance with his mother washing dishes in the kitchen, and can't help but want to laugh.

I'm just a lowly Lieutenant; when your son later carries the rank of General, won't you have to stand on the roof?

"Maybe, the military policy has changed now, there are more promotion opportunities."

"If Xiao Linlin had joined the army a few years later, he would have only gotten a half‑post in the ranks; sigh, missed the good timing."

"But in the end, Lu Yang serves in the Army, which can't be compared with the Air Force or Navy; there's no basis for comparison."

His second uncle, after justifying himself, shifted the topic, even giving himself an excuse, then steered the conversation elsewhere.

"Did you see the recent news? Boss Yuanbao fled, and a lot of people's hard‑earned money got sucked in; they're in trouble!"

"Huh, some people in our unit also invested, but I really don't know the details."

"Oh, you don't know; the nephew of my aunt's aunt also invested; they say he put in over 300,000, secretly behind his family's back, now the family is fighting, his wife is demanding a divorce…"

Lu Yang perked up his ears and listened carefully.

After all, this matter concerns Ding Tengfei's family, so he needs to keep an eye on the latest developments.

When the second uncle left, Lu YongQiang said with a sigh, "The richer they are, the more they want to be richer; people like us who have no money never even think about it; such high returns can't possibly be real."

"If it were really like that, you could deposit a few ten‑thousands and get two or three thousand each month, even a case of wine; then the bank might as well shut down and workers stop working?"

Yuan AiQin also sighed, "These bosses are truly unscrupulous, they swindle people's hard‑earned money. I don't even know if the money can be recovered."

Lu YongQiang waved his hand, "Hardly! You didn't hear what the second brother said; people have taken the money abroad, how can you get it back? Even if you did, the money's probably already spent."

"By the way, Yangyang, you mentioned at dinner that a comrade of yours also invested there?"

Lu Yang gave a concise account of Ding Tengfei's family's plight, which made everyone feel distressed.

Lu YongQiang frowned and asked, "The comrade who came back with you, is his surname Ding?"

"Yes, his name is Ding Tengfei, lives in the north of the city."

"What business does his father do?"

"I heard he deals in building‑material wholesale; he used to be a carpenter, then gradually built up the business, called…"

"Ding Yongxin!"

Before Lu Yang could finish, the couple spoke in unison.

Lu Yang paused, "Mom, dad, you know each other?"

Lu YongQiang slapped his thigh, excited, "His dad and I were middle‑school classmates; in the third year of junior high he dropped out and we never saw each other again."

"The day we sent you off on the train, on the way back we ran into him; he was also there to send his child to enlist, but something delayed him a step."

"He's a decent guy; that big boss speaks politely and even offered me a cigarette."

Lu Yang was a bit surprised; the coincidence was striking.

But thinking carefully, Guangling isn't that big, the floating population isn't that large.

He and Ding Tengfei are from the same county, so it's normal that the elders know each other.

Moreover, his father and he were only middle‑school classmates and hadn't met for decades; they merely knew each other, not close.

"I really didn't expect it; a perfectly fine family turned like this. How is his grandfather now?"

"Not good; he's already been brought home and dressed in mourning clothes."

"Sigh, Ding Yongxin is a pretty honest guy, doesn't look like a gambler; most likely he was set up, otherwise how could he lose so much?"

"I don't know the details; anyway, they can't be reached now, they say he went to ask Boss Yuanbao for money."

"How could you get it back? They've gone abroad. The business world is truly deep; one foot introduces deals, at the dinner table they act like brothers, but behind the scenes you can't tell who's a person or a ghost."

"Yangyang, these next two days go over there more often and see if there's anything you can help with. If the troops can lend a hand, maybe they can get through this; otherwise, sigh…"

His father's demeanor now gave Lu Yang an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

It was as if he had experienced a similar scene before, the same thing.

He thought carefully and finally recalled why it felt familiar, as if he'd seen it somewhere before.

In a previous life, Lu Yang was a rebellious teenager at a technical school; one weekend holiday, also at the dinner table after dinner, his father sighed and spoke of an old classmate.

That classmate's family once had wealth worth ten thousand strings, limitless glory, but ultimately, buried in massive debt, he leapt from the top of a high building.

Realizing the timeline seemed to match the present, Lu Yang broke out in a cold sweat.

Could the boss who died jumping from a building in his past life due to debt be Ding Tengfei's father??