"Congratulations! You're back on active duty!"

  "What?" Roan couldn't believe his ears.

  "Exactly. You have a military position now, and you’ll have a salary to collect," a tall officer, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old with sun-tanned skin, explained with a smile.

  "Really? Is it true, Second Brother? That’s great!" Sofia, who was walking at the very back holding hands with Lucy, couldn't find where her second brother was at the moment.

  Marco was very afraid of soldiers and stood far away. He had always heard that their family lived so miserably precisely because his father had a bad relationship with these military people.

  But because Sofia asked, he had no choice but to answer from a distance.

  "It’s true, Sofia."

  "Oh, so this is the child? Her eyes are sick, indeed!" Another sturdy soldier, also around forty, walked over and leaned down to Sofia. "Come, let Uncle have a look. Uncle is a military doctor, you know!"

  "Sofia, this is the best ophthalmologist from the Provincial Military Hospital. Roan, hurry and tell your sister to let the doctor look at her eyes," the officer shaking Roan’s hand added.

  By this time, Sofia was already standing still in front of the doctor. She had been to big hospitals for treatment before; she knew she had to open her eyes and stand without moving.

  The doctor looked at her left eye and then her right:

  "Ah, very good! What an obedient little sister."

  "How is it?"

  "Yes, exactly how is it?"

  The other soldiers, who clearly weren't doctors, were all concerned about whether there was a chance to cure Sofia’s eyes.

  "Congenital cataracts. The period before age 6 is the golden window for surgery. She’s 8 now, which is still okay; surgery can cure it. The key is that the recovery period lasts several years, and she needs long-term care. Luckily, she has two brothers. For the specifics, I’ll have to go back and consult with several experts. The most troublesome part is the ultrasound; it has to be done in the Capital. The provincial city doesn't have an ultrasound machine right now."

  The several officers nodded to each other, appearing satisfied with this conclusion.

  Sofia couldn't see these expressions and thought the military doctor uncle wasn't going to help her anymore. She asked very timidly, "Uncle, can't I just buy a ticket and go to the Capital for the ultrasound myself?"

  The military doctor uncle cupped her small face and said, "You can. An uncle will take you there, so don't worry. Besides, you have two brothers."

  However, Sofia lowered her head sadly: "I haven't saved enough money yet. I still need a few more years."

  The military doctor uncle squatted down in front of Sofia:

  "Uncle won't hide it from you. There is a charity eye project that helps patients with free treatment. We are applying for you right now. If the application passes, you can have the surgery immediately. If the application doesn't pass, we’ll think of another way, okay?"

  Actually, Sofia didn't dare to dream about any charity projects. She didn't even quite understand what a charity project was; she only knew that treating an illness required spending money. What she valued more was the sentence: "If the application doesn't pass, we’ll think of another way." This sentence carried too much weight for Sofia.

  Her eldest brother had been trying everything for her since he was sixteen. If this military doctor uncle helped think of ways, wouldn't her eldest brother be able to reduce one part of his burden? "Really? That’s great! Thank you, Uncle."

  "You just stay at home and wait for our news, got it?"

  "Mhm!" Sofia nodded very forcefully.

  At this time, the first officer who had shaken hands with Roan pulled the tall, tanned officer in front of Roan.

  This man was half a head taller than Roan.

  "Roan, this is Ryker. He’s 27, eight years older than you. From now on, he’ll be your superior and the new Battalion Commander of Solana."

  Roan wanted to shake hands with the new Commander, but the Commander wouldn't reach out. He tilted his head slightly, pretending to be unhappy: "Hmm? Have you already forgotten the military salute?"

  "Sir!" Roan stamped his foot and gave a standard military salute.

  Only after the Commander returned the salute did he finally shake Roan’s hand.

  At this moment, the several soldiers finally realized there was another child: "Sofia, you have another brother, right? I think his name is Marco?"

  "Where is Marco?"

  Oh my god, they're looking for me?

  I’m not sick, and I don't want to be a soldier like my big brother.

  Being a soldier means going to the battlefield, and that means people die.

  Marco took off running, his two legs spinning faster than bicycle axles.

  Ryker quickly chased after him. Even though he had long legs and a long stride, he couldn't catch the "oiled-feet" Marco instantly.

  After about seven or eight minutes, Ryker finally brought Marco back, tucked under his arm and held with one hand.

  "That'll teach you to run! What are you running for? We’re not going to eat you." Ryker talked while swatting Marco’s butt three times.

  Smack! Smack! Smack!

  "Ouch! Big brother, save me!"

  "Big brother, help me!"

  Roan was already a soldier now; how would he dare save him? He said with a bitter smile, "Can't you just behave a little?"

  The doctor used a stick to draw a circle on the ground. Marco was placed inside the circle by Ryker and had to keep his arms and legs straight.

  "Stand properly. If you go outside the circle, you’ll get a spanking!" Ryker commanded fiercely.

  "You must listen to us talk without moving a muscle!" another soldier was just as fierce.

  Marco pursed his lips, and tears were almost about to burst out.

  "..."

  The six soldiers all bent down and circled around Marco, looking left and right, looking up and down.

  "He's almost 11. Now what?"

  "He's at least a head taller than others."

  "A bit too old."

  "And mischievous!"

  Marco thought he had encountered man-eating monsters from a dream. What on earth were these people doing?

  How old could I possibly be? Am I older than you guys?

  Only monsters say a person is too old when they’re eating them! But that usually refers to the person's skin being too rough and not tasting good.

  Is my skin rough? No!

  Ah! Ptuí, ptuí, ptuí!

  I don't want to be eaten. My luck is bad today; tomorrow I must find someone to practice magic with.

  Can magic deal with soldiers?

  Before Marco could finish his wild thoughts, Ryker suddenly ordered:

  "Get your butt to school tomorrow! I'll arrange for someone else to take care of your sister!"

  Ah, so it was all just to send me to school!

  You should've said so earlier! Then I wouldn't have run.

  ......

  Matthew was also beaten until his face was swollen and red. If the new Battalion Commander hadn't suddenly arrived at the camp and several officers hadn't pulled away the crazed Elias, Matthew felt he would have been beaten to death by Elias right then.

  This man usually looked cultured and weak; he hadn't expected that when he went mad, his strength would be so great.

  Matthew felt he had miscalculated disastrously.

  Because the two of them fought and the right and wrong couldn't be distinguished, both received punishment. Matthew was sentenced to shovel cow dung for 7 days, and Elias was sentenced to carry cow dung for 7 days.

  Ryker had heard that Elias was originally the one punished to shovel cow dung, so he simply gave this order.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  This punishment could be said to be not too bad; it was just suffering some physical labor and wouldn't stay on their records.

  It gave both of them some leeway.

  When Juana saw the new Commander had arrived, wouldn't that mean her Battalion Commander uncle had really rebelled? She went back home crying to report the news to the old lady.

  After the incident, Matthew went to the cemetery by himself.

  He sat before his father’s tombstone, wiping his tears. Each wipe stung his swollen face—he didn't dare use any force.

  "Dad, you died and I couldn't even find your body. I don't even know if you can hear me in heaven when I speak."

  "This country you risked your life to help fight for—they don't appreciate your kindness at all now. You died for nothing. Sob."

  "They say Second Uncle rebelled and they’re going to strip him of his rank."

  "For someone like me, there won't be any chance to enter a state-owned unit in the future."

  "Dad, why did you help this country fight in the beginning?"

  "Sob, look at me, Dad."

  "Where exactly are you in heaven?"

  ......

  Several high-end military vehicles stopped at the side of the street. Dozens of soldiers with guns stood around.

  The old general in his sixties, who got out of the car, walked into the psychiatric hospital accompanied by Bruno.

  Just about to step inside, he suddenly stopped. Turning back to the followers, he said, "Stay out, Bruno accompanying me is enough."

  Bruno pointed out the door threshold to the old general, and the two entered in sync.

  Being fed spoonful by spoonful by a nurse, Leo pretended not to see them. A quick spin of the wheelchair, and he turned away.

  "Leo, do you really not want to see your uncle that much?"

  The old general asked toward Leo’s back.

  Leo turned his head, giving them a crooked, lopsided grin: "Hehe, Uncle Valerius..."

  "Stop acting. I know you haven't really lost your mind, Leo. You should go back and see your father and mother. It's been three years; their white hair has increased a lot." Valerius took off his military cap as he spoke. "Look, I have a lot more white hair too."

  Leo pushed away the spoon, stood up with a woosh, and said coldly, "Since you know I’m faking, why bother coming here just to get the cold shoulder?"

  "Leo, listen to me. Your father really misses you. He’s been drinking constantly this year. I’m really afraid he’ll drink himself into some kind of trouble."

  Leo’s lips curled into a mocking smirk, his eyes full of contempt. "He doesn't miss me. He misses the person who can make him an Emperor."

  "Leo, what nonsense are you talking?" Valerius cried out in shock. If an outsider heard this kind of talk and reported it, the Party organization would punish it severely.

  Leo pressed his nose almost against the general's eyebrows, speaking in a tone of utter contempt. "Is it not? You think of yourselves as founding generals, so you want us children to take over your positions. If we don't take over, if we aren't obedient, that’s being treacherous and unfilial, right?"

  "General Valerius, forgive me for being blunt. If every general’s son were as obedient as yours—a general’s son becoming a general and an emperor’s son continuing to be an emperor—wouldn't the sons of us dozen or so generals have to fight each other to the death?"

  Taking a step back from General Valerius, Leo now stared at the general’s face, which had turned a deep, boiling red. "Hmph. You’re sworn brothers with my father; don't tell me you didn't know he wanted a dictatorship? I’d say you’re looking to be a dictator yourself, aren't you?"

  "You..." General Valerius was so angry his hands were shaking. He pointed at Leo but couldn't speak.

  In the twenty years since the founding of the country, when had he ever been insulted like this to his face?

  Beside him, Bruno kept shaking his head. He didn't know how to advise Leo; his speaking would only add fuel to Leo’s fire.

  "Are you angry? Did I say something wrong?"

  Leo became more and more agitated as he spoke.

  "You shut the young people from the city up at the border to farm. Are they really cut out to be farmers? They want to go home; can you agree to that? Is this not the style of a feudal emperor?"

  "You know my father—oh, right, right, that General Benedict you mentioned, of equal rank with you... do you know what he was thinking when he put me here? He wanted me to be a local emperor. In fact, it’s him who wants to be the Emperor."

  "Absurd!" Valerius was not good at debating.

  "General Valerius, take a good look. What was the original name of this psychiatric hospital where I live? The Ancient Kingdom of Cassian. This place was the Capital. My room was the Prince’s bedroom. You didn't expect that, did you? Hahahaha..."

  Leo actually burst into wild laughter, completely ignoring how General Valerius’s face turned from pale to red.

  "General Benedict arranged for his mentally ill son to live in the Prince’s bedroom of an ancient palace, and you guys actually don't think he has the ambition to be an emperor. It makes me laugh to death."

  "Have you said enough?" Valerius finally roared: "What ancient palace? What prince? Now is the new Socialist era, not the feudal era. It's absolute nonsense!"

  "You think I’m talking nonsense?" Leo almost leaned into Valerius’s nose, his eyes wide. "Let me tell you, it’s really not nonsense. There’s even a tunnel under my bed that leads straight out of the city. This is a secret passage specifically dug for the Prince to escape in ancient times."

  Valerius certainly knew this was the site of an ancient palace, but he hadn't expected that Leo really slept on top of a secret tunnel every day.

  Valerius had originally wanted to cover for Leo, but Leo clearly didn't give a damn about his own life. All that was left was a long, heavy sigh.

  "Sigh..."

  "What are you sighing for? You’re already a founding general; what’s there to sigh about?" Leo continued to mock with full force. "You people became founding generals yourselves and want your sons to continue being founding generals. Unfortunately, a country can only have one batch of founding generals. Unless you want to smash this country and start a new one again?"

  "Or a restoration of a feudal monarchy would work too!"

  "Enough! You madman!" Valerius rebuked Leo righteously. "The country has many things it hasn't done well, but that’s also because there’s no other choice. Moving people here to farm is currently the best way to solve the famine. You can't be like the opposite shore, shouting about freedom all day, yet freely allowing rich people to hoard farmland and grain, and then letting the common people starve to death, can you?"

  "Wake up. Don't be so extreme. The country has its own difficulties."

  "The country will have economic reforms soon. It’s not as rotten as you think!"

  "Anyway, I’ve delivered the message today. Whether you go back to see your father is your business! Bruno, let’s go!"

  After Valerius finished scolding, he turned to leave.

  Suddenly, he stopped again.

  "Don't wait until your mother is dead to be filled with late regrets. She constantly suffers from high blood pressure now, and the doctor says she’s at risk of a cerebral infarction."

  As soon as Leo heard the news about his mother, the face that had been as angry as a lion's just now suddenly went limp.

  As Valerius and Bruno left, Leo faced the breeze, tears streaming down his face.