Chapter 15: Not Spicy, You Look Like a Soldier!

Inside the house.

Only Jiang Anguo and Xiao Si are left; this empty house really can't house anyone.

Outside it's very lively; even though they just got a good scolding from Jiang Anguo, everyone is happy, mainly because they haven't had such a prosperous life in a long time.

For the current troops, having even a single mouthful to eat is already good; they are all alternating between hunger and satiety.

The Expeditionary Force is relatively better; local troops are even worse.

"Young Master, we're really staying here tonight; I'm afraid you might not be used to it," Xiao Si asked, puzzled.

"What's there to be unaccustomed to? In a bit I'll go fetch some sheets, Xiao Si you find some bricks and build a bed; we'll cobble together a simple night, lay straw on top, and make sure they don't all burn," Jiang Anguo instructed.

Later he realized that laying straw was a mistake.

After waiting a long time without seeing Xiao Zui arrive, Jiang Anguo took Meng Fanle and prepared to go over together.

Along the way, everyone called Jiang Anguo "Officer"; Jiang Anguo responded with a nod and then asked for their names and where they were from.

He knocked on the door to enter; the sign at the doorway was taken away as Jiang Anguo left and was thrown into the fire.

"Xiao Zui, we agreed you'd come to Big Brother's courtyard for dinner tonight; why didn't you come?" Jiang Anguo said, pretending to be angry.

Xiao Zui fidgeted with the edge of his clothes, embarrassed, "I, I, I…"

"Alright, from now on call me Big Brother. Meng Fanle, why don't you invite Xiao Zui over?"

Jiang Anguo tried to set up Xiao Zui and Meng Fanle; Meng Fanle glanced at Xiao Zui, and Xiao Zui glanced back, both turning away embarrassedly.

Neither Meng Fanle nor Xiao Zui said anything, then, "Xiao Zui, let's go."

"Hmm." softer than a mosquito's buzz.

Finally Xiao Zui was invited back home; before leaving, Xiao Zui locked the door, fearing the house's contents might be stolen.

This surrounding wall now only protects gentlemen, not scoundrels.

"It's ready!" She Pigu said happily.

"So fragrant!"

"This porridge is really thick."

"In a bit I'll have two bowls."

Ten jin of rice was split into two pots with over a hundred jin of water; even so, the troops still found the porridge extremely viscous.

They haven't seen such good rice in a long time.

"Officer, could you spare some salt?" the veterinarian knocked at Jiang Anguo's door.

Only Xiao Si was there; being a good kid, Xiao Si immediately found some salt among the food and gave it to the veterinarian.

"Thank you, Officer. Thank you, Officer."

Plain porridge doesn't actually need salt; it's just that everyone's bodies haven't had salt for a long time, so they crave something salty to replenish their strength.

The veterinarian was frugal: one pot had some salt, the other none; the pot without salt was reserved for Jiang Anguo. They were very orderly, each taking only half.

At this moment, Jiang Anguo happened to bring Xiao Zui back.

"Hey, you're all about to eat; let me introduce my newly adopted sister, Chen Xiaozui. If you ever see anyone bullying her, tell me and I'll kill them," Jiang Anguo introduced Chen Xiaozui to everyone.

"Yes, Officer." Under the sugar-coated shell of the plain porridge, everyone straightened their backs voluntarily and said loudly.

Jiang Anguo nodded, as if his presence made everyone reluctant to loosen up.

"Alright, eat. Don't stand. Here, this jar of pickled vegetables for you." Jiang Anguo pulled a can of pickled vegetables from his backpack; plain porridge naturally needs a bit of pickles, these are dried bamboo‑shoot pickles.

The system is still humane; the cans are all Huaxia‑style, after all foreigners, besides pickled cucumbers, can't find decent pickles.

"Xiao Si, come out and eat," Jiang Anguo said, pleased to see a pot of plain porridge untouched by everyone.

This group still has a chance of salvation.

Even if the mysterious dragon came over, ladled a bowl of porridge, the jar of pickles was divided equally among everyone, yet a third still remained.

It wasn't the veterinarian being greedy; everyone knows this jar of pickles can be used next time, and the veterinarian is the most fair among them.

Jiang Anguo had Xiao Si bring out the bowls and chopsticks; fortunately many household items had been taken out when they left.

"Here, one bowl each, take your own chopsticks, Xiao Zui, this bowl is yours." Jiang Anguo took a large bowl and filled it to the brim for Xiao Zui, the water level almost full, all rice grains.

Xiao Si's, Meng Fanle's, and finally his own.

Meng Fanle took the porridge back to his own unit and sat beside the veterinarian.

With that huge pot of plain porridge, Jiang Anguo said, "Veterinarian, you're the oldest, so you must be fair. Then, with the remaining porridge, you distribute it to everyone."

Looking at the full pot, everyone's mouths almost curled into smiles; that way, maybe they could each have three bowls.

Seeing their expressions, the veterinarian said, "Save some for tomorrow morning; we've gotten used to this affluent life, we won't be poor."

Everyone thought the same and carefully tasted the porridge in their own bowls.

"If you ever get a chance to join our th Division, I'll bring you meat every day. Right now your intestines are too light; if you eat something too heavy at once, you'll get diarrhea and it won't be worth it," Jiang Anguo continued his speech.

While listening and sipping the warm porridge, they finally could sleep well tonight without a hungry stomach tossing them.

A hungry stomach really makes it impossible to fall asleep.

"Officer, may I join the th Division?" Yao Ma was the first to stand up.

Li Sifu only wanted to eat his fill; he had been starving for too long.

Everyone had been starving for too long.

Jiang Anguo waved his hand, "You all are still early; wait until you look like proper soldiers, then I'll recruit you into the th Division."

"You now are just a bunch of bandits about to starve to death."

"Next." Jiang Anguo tossed something toward Bu La.

Bu La caught it; on it was a picture of luncheon meat. Bu La had seen it but never eaten it, because he saw it inside a mysterious dragon's canned box.

Bu La stared at the luncheon meat, believing it was real, and it felt heavy.

"Officer, this is for me," Bu La said with a doubtful look at Jiang Anguo.

Jiang Anguo nodded and said, "Next time remember to call, Company Commander."

"Yes, Company Commander." Bu La set down the can, lifted his head and straightened his chest, *Clack—*, and the rifle behind him was also aligned.

"Right, what's your name?" Jiang Anguo asked.

"Sir, no, Company Commander, I'm Deng Bao, Hunan native, Seventh Infantry Company, Private First Class, everyone calls me Bu La." Deng Bao shouted with unprecedented force.

"Good, that's how a soldier should be. Work hard and strive to become a member of the th Division." Jiang Anguo said.

"Yes, Company Commander."

"Take a seat."

Looking around, Jiang Anguo said slowly, "Do you know why I gave Bu La a can? Because he's the only one among you who has a gun."

Everyone knows Bu La has a gun, everyone also knows Bu La's gun has no bullets, but Bu La is one of the few in this group who has a gun; the other is Mi Long.

Ps: Adding one, a chapter was censored for a typo correction!