Chapter 15

As the helicopter landed in the remote border town, the military doctor at the base had already been waiting on standby.

Translation: As the helicopter landed in the remote border town, the military doctor at the base had already been waiting on standby.

As the helicopter landed in the remote border town, the military doctor at the base had already been waiting on standby.

Lu Xiu Bai's lips were tinged with cyanosis; he spiked a high fever, his consciousness grew hazy, and he gripped a piece of cloth, refusing to let go.

Translation: Lu Xiu Bai's lips were tinged purple, he ran a high fever, his consciousness was blurry, he grabbed a piece of cloth in his hand and refused to let go.

Lu Xiu Bai's lips showed cyanosis.

Mom, sis.

Translation: "Mom, sister."

Let go.

Translation: "Let go."

Jiang Ye frowned; he despised being touched, and in the unit he was notorious for his cleanliness.

Translation: Jiang Ye frowned; he hated others touching him, and in the troops he was famous for his cleanliness obsession.

If it weren't for the fact that this guy was his longtime bunkmate and comrade, he would have broken his hand!

Translation: If it weren't for the fact that this person was his longtime bunkmate and comrade, he would really have broken the other's hand!

Gangzi's arm was still draped over his chest, but to protect his teammate's life, he forced himself to say:

Translation: Gangzi himself still had his arm slung across his chest; for the teammate's safety, he forced himself to say:

Commander Jiang, Lu Ying's gone fuzzy; don't hold it against him—I'll pry his hand open right now.

Translation: "Regiment Commander Jiang, Battalion Commander Lu is muddle-headed, don't argue with him, I'll pry his hand open right now."

After saying that, seeing Commander Jiang hadn't backed off, he quickly tickled Lu Xiu Bai's armpit.

Translation: After saying that, seeing Regiment Commander Jiang not responding, he quickly scratched Lu Xiu Bai's armpit.

Soon, he released his grip.

Translation: Soon, it loosened.

Unconscious, Lu Xiu Bai didn't know what he was doing; it seemed he saw his grandmother.

Translation: The unconscious Lu Xiu Bai had no idea what he was doing; he seemed to see his grandmother.

His grandmother held his mother's hand, smiled, and waved at him, telling him to go back.

Translation: His grandmother held his mother's hand, smiling and waving at him, telling him to go back.

Where should he go back to?

Translation: Where to go back?

Where is his sister?

Translation: What about his sister?

Where is his sister.

Translation: Where is his sister?

When he came to, he was in the military district hospital; his head felt foggy for a few seconds, and then he caught a whiff of foot odor...

Translation: When he woke up, what came into view was the Military Region Hospital; his brain shut down for a few seconds, then he smelled a foul foot odor...

"Gangzi, take your feet away!"

Translation: "Gang, Gangzi, feet, take them away!"

Damn, what kind of good teammate takes off his shoes to look after someone!

Translation: Damn, whose good teammate takes off his shoes to tend to someone!

"Lu Ying, you're awake."

Translation: "Battalion Commander Lu, you're awake."

Gangzi was sleeping soundly, his arm wound had been re-bandaged; he was just exhausted and fell asleep with his shoes off on the neighboring bed.

Translation: Gangzi had just been sleeping soundly; his arm wound had been re-bandaged, he was just too tired, took off his shoes and fell asleep on the neighboring hospital bed.

"Ugh~"

Translation: "Urgh~"

Lu Xiu Bai gagged; the foot odor was too much, he couldn't bear it at all.

Translation: Lu Xiu Bai gagged; the foot odor was too much, he couldn't bear it, completely couldn't bear it.

"All right, Lu Ying, I've put my shoes on—it's not that smelly anymore."

Translation: "All right, Battalion Commander Lu, I've put my shoes on, it's not that smelly now."

Gangzi looked unfazed; it's normal for a real man to have smelly feet, and he's not embarrassed.

Translation: Gangzi wore a frank expression; a real man's foot odor is normal, he's not ashamed.

"Open the window a crack."

Translation: "Open a crack in the window."

Lu Xiu Bai covered his mouth and nose, breathing hard through his mouth; he felt he might not die from a snake bite, but possibly from his comrades' foot odor.

Translation: Lu Xiu Bai covered his mouth and nose, breathing with difficulty through his mouth; he felt he might not die from a snake bite, but possibly from his comrades' athlete's foot.

"Who's coming to meet us?"

Translation: "Who's coming to meet us?"

"It's Commander Jiang."

Translation: "It's Regiment Commander Jiang."

"Jiang Ye, you damn bastard, how did you get promoted again?!"

Translation: "Jiang Ye, damn it, how did he get promoted again!"

"Don't get worked up, Lu Ying; the doctor said your injury needs a month to heal, so try not to get angry."

Translation: "Don't get worked up, Battalion Commander Lu, the doctor said your injury needs a month to heal, better not get angry."

Can Lu Xiu Bai avoid getting angry?

Translation: Can Lu Xiu Bai avoid getting angry?

They enlisted around the same time, joined the party and the combat team at about the same time, started from the same point, and their abilities are evenly matched.

Translation: The two enlisted at about the same time, joined the regiment and combat team at about the same time, starting from the same point, their abilities are evenly matched.

They've been stuck at the battalion level for three years; watching his counterpart repeatedly pull off excellent, near‑suicidal missions, he's getting frustrated!

Translation: They had been stuck at the battalion level for three years; seeing the other repeatedly complete near-death missions excellently, he became anxious!

So he ignored his superiors' objections and signed up for this tropical rainforest mission.

Translation: Thus he disregarded his superiors' opposition and signed up for this tropical rainforest mission.

Unexpectedly, his rival still got there first and won!

Translation: Unexpectedly, the other still got ahead, and he lost!

This time there was only one slot for promotion to regiment commander, and it went to Jiang Ye, so he'll have to wait for the next chance!

Translation: This time there was only one slot for promotion to regiment commander, it went to Jiang Ye, he'll have to wait for the next chance!

Damn it!

Translation: Damn it!

"Hiss~"

Translation: "Hiss~"

His legs—why are they numb no matter what?

Translation: His legs, why are they numb no matter what?

"Lu Ying, conserve your strength; the snake venom hasn't cleared yet. If it weren't for Commander Jiang arranging the medical team to bring antivenom, you'd probably have already seen your great‑grandmother."

Translation: "Battalion Commander Lu, conserve your strength; the snake venom hasn't cleared, if it weren't for Regiment Commander Jiang arranging the medical team to bring serum, you'd probably have already seen your great-grandmother."

In Gangzi's eyes there was schadenfreude, as well as the relief of having survived the ordeal.

Translation: In Gangzi's eyes was schadenfreude, also the relief of having survived the disaster.

Since he and Lu Xiu Bai are on the same team—shared honor, shared loss—only Lu Xiu Bai's promotion would allow him to get a promotion himself.

Translation: Since he and Lu Xiu Bai are in the same combat team, sharing honor and shame, only Lu Xiu Bai's promotion would let him move his butt a bit.

Although they both got wounded this time, they still earned the collective third‑class merit.

Translation: Although they both got wounded this time, the collective third-class merit is unavoidable.

Several brothers figure it out: if they can't stay in the service due to age or rank, they can rely on their merits to make their résumés look good and still be assigned decent posts.

Translation: They and their brothers all see it that way; if they can't stay in service due to age and rank and have to change careers, relying on their achievements, a good-looking resume file can also get them a decent position.

"Knock knock knock."

Translation: "Knock knock knock."

"Come in."

Translation: "Come in."

The visitor was a signal corps soldier who happened to be passing by, delivered a telegram, left the document, saluted, and left.

Translation: The visitor was a signal soldier, just happened to pass by, and along the way delivered a telegram message; after leaving the letter, he saluted and left.

"Ah~"

Translation: "Whoa~"

"My little sister is coming to the island to join me!"

Translation: "My sister is coming to Sea Island to join me!"

Lu Xiu Bai was startled then delighted, laughing brightly; even the lingering foot odor in the ward didn't bother him.

Translation: Lu Xiu Bai was startled, then laughed brightly; even the lingering athlete's foot in the ward didn't bother him.

"What? Lu Ying, you have a sister? How old is she? Does she have a boyfriend?"

Translation: "What? Battalion Commander Lu, you have a sister? How old is she? Does she have a lover?"

Gangzi had just poured water into the tea pot; hearing this, he immediately became eager to help.

Translation: Gangzi had just poured water into the teapot; hearing this, he immediately became eager.

"Go away, go away—my sister just came of age, stop hitting on her."

Translation: "Go away, my sister just came of age, don't have designs on her."

After reading the telegram, Lu Xiu Bai's face went from happy to grim.

Translation: After reading the telegram, Lu Xiu Bai's expression changed from joy to gloom.

Something's off.

Translation: Something's off.

After their parents divorced, Mom decisively took the sister away; fifteen years later there's been no word—how could the sister suddenly show up in the capital?

Translation: After Mom and Dad divorced, Mom resolutely took the sister away; fifteen years with no word, how did she suddenly return to the Capital?

What about Mom?

Translation: What about Mom?

Moreover, the sister is engaged by family arrangement to Gu Tingchen; although the Gu family has been low‑key these years, they still exchange letters on holidays—so why did the grandfather's final telegram instruct him, while in the unit, to find a reliable match for the sister?

Translation: Moreover, the sister has a childhood betrothal with Gu Tingchen; although the Gu Family has been relocated these years, they still exchange letters during holidays, so why did the telegram's end have Grandfather instruct him, while in the army, to find a reliable match for the sister?

Besides the joy, there were all kinds of suspicions and guesses; unconsciously, he crumpled the letter.

Translation: Besides joy, there were all kinds of doubts and speculations; unconsciously, he crumpled the letter.

Gangzi saw that Luying's expression was not good, thought he had gone too far with the joke, hurriedly shut up, placed the tea jar on the bedside table, silently took the lunch box, and went to get food.

Knock knock knock~

Come in.

Lu Xiu Bai's complexion, upon seeing the visitor, was like an overturned paint box—spectacular.

What are you here for? Want to see me make a fool of myself? Jiang Tuan

He admitted, he was just a little envious and jealous!

Jiang Ye's face was expressionless, hands in his pockets, leaning against the door, he retorted sharply:

Hmph, let's see if you're dead, you defeated underling!

You,

Lu Xiu Bai gritted his back teeth, glaring hatefully at his opponent; he knew that even though they had shared six years of dormitory camaraderie, this person's dog mouth could never utter anything decent.

Suddenly, taking a glance at his own right foot, bandaged like a zongzi, a plan came to mind.

Jiang Ye, there's something I need you to help me with; besides you, I don't trust anyone else to do it.

Huh? The sun rising from the west? You'd ask me for help?

Jiang Ye eyed the miserable-looking Lu Xiu Bai on the sickbed with suspicion, his face guarded.

Lu Xiu Bai nodded, speaking in a weakened tone:

Yes, I'm asking you; look at how injured I am—there's something I must have you help with.

First tell me what the favor is; I'll decide whether to help after hearing it.

Jiang Ye didn't readily agree; he and Lu Xiu Bai had been wits and courage opponents for many years, and their grudges couldn't be cleared up in a few words.

It's like this: just now I saw my grandfather send me a telegram saying my sister will come to Sea Island in five days to rely on me, asking me to pick her up and settle her.

But my sister has been somewhat chubby since childhood; if I let others help pick her up, she'd inevitably attract odd looks.

After thinking it over, you're the most suitable; you go pick up my sister, and I'll be most relieved.

Lu Xiu Bai's words were half true, half false, putting on the act of a caring brother worrying about his sister.

After thinking, he added another sentence:

Don't worry, my sister just came of age this year; even if I were to find her a match, I'd pick someone around her age, and I would never try to set you two up.

Jiang Ye's wary expression dissipated after the other party said that.

He is discerning in his tastes and sharp-tongued; many have tried to set him up, but he's refused them all.

Lu Xiu Bai's sister sounds like a young girl with ordinary looks.

Putting it that way, he isn't unwilling to help.

Alright, tell me the pickup time and your sister's name.

Thanks a lot; although we used to not get along, adversity reveals true feelings—thanks, bro~

Lu Xiu Bai showed a sincere smile, but in his heart the little villain was hands on hips, laughing loudly.