Chapter 285: The Sky Is Collapsing, Truly the Sky Is Collapsing

"Did you see? Your son has distinguished himself in the troops, earned a second‑class merit and a third‑class merit, was promoted exceptionally and has already become an officer, and he's about to enter the military academy."

"If you jump now, his future will be affected because of you; will the superiors still dare to keep using him?"

Ding Tengfei immediately reacted, clutching his uniform and pleading desperately: "Dad, I finally managed to achieve something in the troops, finally have my own career."

"Who knows, maybe in two years he'll pick a spicy female soldier as a wife, get married and have kids, and then you'll be a grandfather."

"The day I boarded the train with a big red flower, you already missed it; will you keep making mistake after mistake?"

Ding Yongxin slowly squatted down, his eyes completely reddened.

These words struck the soft spot of his being a father.

He has already missed his son's enlistment; does he have to keep missing his future important moments as well?

Ding's mother also slowly approached: "Old Ding, whatever it is, the three of us will face it together. The Yuanbao case has already been filed by the police; the money will definitely be recovered."

"The usury matter, the troops have also intervened; our son is now an officer in the troops, his words carry weight, he can help share the burden with you."

"Dad, if the money is gone we can earn more, but if you're gone the family will fall apart; we can't let the bad guys get away, we can't let those who harmed you roam free!"

The mother and son kept striking Ding Yongxin's tender heart, just as he finally relaxed.

The firefighter hiding under the eaves of the rooftop finally found a chance and shoved him to the ground.

The police surged forward, dragging Ding Yongxin to a safe area and restraining him.

This middle‑aged man also clutched his wife and child tightly, wailing and crying.

Lu Yang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead; after all, he had prevented this tragedy.

Next, Ding Tengfei's father may be administratively detained for a few days for disturbing social order.

However, considering there are reasons behind it, the time should be greatly shortened, but anyway at least a life was saved.

Living brings hope; living is better than anything!

The next morning, Lu Yang and Ding Tengfei went together to the local Armed Forces Department.

The Armed Forces Department Head personally received them and disclosed the investigation results after the troops' intervention.

"The current situation is as follows: the thug Liu Dazhuang named the boss as Zhao Xiong, a well‑known plumbing equipment merchant locally."

"But in fact, this guy also runs underground gambling and usury behind the scenes."

"It is said that in recent years the number of bosses scammed by them is countless, almost all have been ruined financially."

"The person has already fled, whereabouts unknown; but the few friends who often hung out with him have all been caught."

"However, the police have no direct evidence to prove that his friends also participated in the extortion case against Ding Yongxin."

"Furthermore, there is no direct evidence to show that the fleeing Zhao Xiong has any direct connection with the scandalous Yuanbao Liquor Industry…"

Lu Yang frowned as he listened: "So that means Zhao Xiong can't be caught, and the case progress is cut off? After all that work, not a single fish caught, just a few petty thugs?"

The Armed Forces Department Head nodded helplessly: "At present, that's the situation."

Ding Tengfei was very angry: "Aren't there so many victims who were swindled into ruin? Why don't they come forward with evidence, at least have all the fraud participants arrested?"

"They refuse."

"What does 'refuse' mean? They must have been forced into ruin, how could they refuse?"

"Little Ding, I know you're angry, but some things aren't as simple as you imagine."

The Armed Forces Department Head's hint was already clear enough.

The world is not simply black or white; more often it's a shade of gray.

Those whose families were ruined by fraud, how could they not want revenge?

But they don't dare, nor can they; because of an unstoppable force in a certain system, they choose to stay silent collectively.

Ding Tengfei, being young and inexperienced, simply cannot understand why such a thing would happen.

"Then we'll find them one by one, persuade them to unite; even if we can't catch Zhao Xiong, we must at least convict those accomplices!"

"It's useless; I've already sent people to find several victims, none are willing to step forward."

"Why won't they step forward?!"

"They don't dare."

"Don't dare what? What are they afraid of?"

"Afraid of an invisible pair of big hands behind them."

At this point, even Ding Tengfei, no matter how foolish, should understand.

His face flushed red, his nails dug into his flesh, so angry he could not speak.

The Armed Forces Department Head helplessly massaged his forehead, feeling powerless.

He could save Ding Yongxin, but due to limited ability, cannot uphold justice for more people.

"This matter will not end here."

"What?"

The two turned their heads together, looking at the cold‑faced Lu Yang.

"I say, this isn't over."

"But the water here is too deep; a slight misstep could lead to endless disaster."

"Deep? Then just drain the water out!"

Seeing Lu Yang's profound gaze and a spirit far beyond his years, the Armed Forces Department Head felt curiosity about this handsome, elegant young man for the first time.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Pierce a hole in the sky! I'd like to see whether, when two skies collapse together, those hands can hold up!"

"Two skies??"

Nanjing, Army Eastern Theater Command, Headquarters.

The conference room doors opened, and a line of senior officers streamed out.

The majority are Army officers in dark‑green service uniforms, followed by those in white Navy service uniforms.

But one can also see a few senior Air Force officers in blue‑gray Air Force service uniforms.

Division Commander Luo of the 17th Division, bearing the General Star, walked downstairs together with Division Chief of Staff Xiong Yao.

"It seems this time they're really going to make sweeping changes; in past meetings, how could we see so many Navy personnel?"

"The trend is inevitable; for a long period ahead, the focus of force construction will shift from the Army to the Navy and the Air Force."

"That may be so, but regardless, our Army will always be the big brother."

The two kept chatting and eventually turned to recent amusing incidents.

Xiong Yao had previously heard that in neighboring Guangling a gang of thugs had brazenly attacked an active‑duty officer in broad daylight.

Because the incident happened suddenly, Wang Zhongxi did not have time to report it, and the division is still unclear about Lu Yang and Ding Tengfei's situation.

Division Commander Luo, upon hearing the news, was greatly shocked: "Public order has deteriorated to this level—people dare to commit murder in broad daylight? If even soldiers can be attacked, how can the civilians live in peace?"

Xiong Yao replied, "Who says it isn't? But it is said the perpetrator has been subdued, the local militia has intervened, and it's unclear which unit the soldiers belong to."

"I heard the newly promoted officer was granted leave to visit family after being wounded in the line of merit, only to suffer such a great grievance right after returning."

Division Commander Luo, filled with righteous indignation, said, "If it were my soldier, I would see this through to the end; a hero must not be disgraced!"

Just as the two were descending the stairs to go out, they saw many people hurrying toward the military district's main gate.

Out of curiosity, they followed, only to see on the street opposite the gate a woman carrying a door panel covered with cloth.

She hunched over, pulling a little girl wearing a knit cap whose pallid face showed visible veins, as they crossed the zebra crossing step by step toward them.

The officer on duty at the gate, accompanied by a sentry, frowned and stepped forward as soon as the woman approached the restricted area.

"Hello comrade, this is a military exclusion zone, please…"

Before the words could finish, the woman went "thud", her knee slamming onto the cement, and the girl beside her knelt down as well.

Under the stunned gazes of everyone, the woman lifted the cloth covering the "door panel" and slowly raised it.

The "door panel" was very heavy, heavy enough to strain her back, yet at this moment she, following Lu Yang's teachings, raised it over her head with both hands without hesitation.

Because at this moment she was lifting her daughter's life, the hope for future living, and the honor once belonging to her husband.

Seeing the gilded characters 【First‑Class Hero's Home】 on the plaque glittering in the sunlight, everyone—including Division Commander Luo and Xiong Yao—felt a chill run through their scalp and drew a cold breath.

The duty officer and all the gate sentries in front stood with feet together, solemnly facing the plaque.

"Salute!!"