On the second day of the New Year, many married won return to their parents’ ho for the holiday, and Xia Xiao’s aunts had all co. Eldest Aunt Xia ca with her son Liu Yuanchao; her daughter, Liu Kangi, married into another family and is pregnant again this year, so she didn’t co ho for New Year’s. Therefore, Eldest Aunt Xia and her son could spend the entire day at the Xia Family’s ho without any issues.
"This is Xiaoxiao’s sweetheart, huh?" Eldest Aunt Xia said as she eyed Gao Jiaxing.
Upon seeing so many pairs of eyes looking over at him, Gao Jiaxing imdiately straightened up and openly welcod everyone’s scrutiny.
Having stayed at the Xia Family’s for a few days now, Gao Jiaxing had gotten much more familiar with everyone and no longer felt as reserved as when he first arrived.
Everyone nodded in approval, and Liu Yuanchao directly said to Gao Jiaxing, "Co on, let’s have a match."
Eldest Aunt Xia glared, "What kind of behavior is this, kid? It’s the New Year, why are you fighting?"
"Mom, we’re just sparring," Liu Yuanchao had indeed co to duel with Gao Jiaxing, so he got straight to the point.
Gao Jiaxing’s eyes also showed a smile. Following Liu Yuanchao into the yard, Eldest Aunt Xia shook her head with a helpless look, "This boy, I can’t control him."
At this mont, Xia Xiao and the others all went out to watch Liu Yuanchao and Gao Jiaxing duel, and the two had already started to fight.
Aunt Xia exclaid in shock, "Oh my, they’re really fighting."
"They’re fighting too hard, striking so forcefully. What if soone gets hurt?" Li Wenjuan also looked worried.
Eldest Aunt Xia reassured, "It’s fine, they know their limits, and their boxing styles are similar." She turned to Xiaoxiao and inquired, "Xiaoxiao, how did you find this boyfriend of yours?"
Now, all the aunts looked over, and Xia Xiao replied, "I found him in the production team. Our team leader is his father, who is also a retired serviceman."
Upon hearing Xia Xiao’s comnt, everyone nodded. Li Wenjuan added, "Gao Jiaxing is also a high school senior, preparing for university. It’s a sha that the college entrance exam has been canceled."
Wang Jinying comnted, "No worries. A high school graduate is well-educated and won’t struggle to find work. He could even stay in the city. The only issue is that Xiaoxiao’s household registration isn’t in the city, which complicates things."
"It just depends on whether there’s a chance to move back to the city," said Li Wenjuan. Having a boyfriend in the city is useless if her daughter isn’t there.
Xiaoxiao’s household registration wasn’t in the city either, so the Xia Family was quick to accept Gao Jiaxing, and they thought he seed quite decent. They simply hoped Xiaoxiao would have soone to look after her there.
Liu Yuanchao and Gao Jiaxing were evenly matched in their battle, both very excited. Although Liu Yuanchao was an experienced soldier, often sparring in military school and the army, Gao Jiaxing fought with a blend of military boxing and freestyle, which included so wild and unpredictable moves, making it hard to pin him to any particular style.
In the end, Liu Yuanchao defeated Gao Jiaxing, but it was no easy task.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that there were no injuries or disabilities; no one liked the sight of blood during the New Year.
Having finished without incident, everyone returned inside. Liu Yuanchao then said to Gao Jiaxing, "After the New Year, I’m being transferred to train new recruits in area Y. Do you want to join?"
"Can I?" asked Gao Jiaxing, primarily concerned that his rural household registration didn’t et the requirents for military enlistnt.
"With your outstanding qualifications, we could recruit you specially, but once you’re in the army, you’ll need to work hard and show your worth."
As soon as Liu Yuanchao finished speaking, Gao Jiaxing’s eyes lit up, and without a second thought, he responded eagerly, "I’ll join! I’ll work hard and not let Brother Yuanchao down."
At that mont, Gao Jiaxing’s heart was racing with excitent. Becoming a soldier was his dream, and now he had this fantastic opportunity, especially since the college entrance exam was canceled. Moreover, military recruitnt was not taking anyone from rural areas, so if he didn’t seize this chance, he might never get another opportunity.
Hearing this, Xia Xiao felt happy for Gao Jiaxing, "Brother Yuanchao, you’re not planning to have Brother Gao report for duty with you after the New Year, are you? Or should Brother Gao go ho first and then head there later?"
Gao Jiaxing also looked at Liu Yuanchao, who replied, "Of course, it’s better to go with . As a new recruit, training together with everyone from the start, you can integrate into the group sooner."
Xia Xiao agreed, as joining later might lead to exclusion. If Gao Jiaxing went back to the production team with her and then reported for duty, he might be delayed by half a month. Furthermore, if Zheng Xianghong disagreed, he might not end up going at all.
Gao Jiaxing nodded, and Liu Yuanchao went back inside. He had yet to greet their grandparents since he went straight to spar with Gao Jiaxing; naturally, he now had to sit inside for a while.
Xia Xiao turned to Gao Jiaxing and asked, "Brother Gao, what do you think?"
Gao Jiaxing looked at Xia Xiao and said, "Xiaoxiao, I want to go."
Xia Xiao nodded, "Sure, you should go. A man’s ambition should span the four corners of the world; while you’re young, you should strive hard and do what you desire, without leaving any regrets."
"Xiaoxiao, thank you. Without you, I would never have had such a chance," Gao Jiaxing said, his chest swelling with joy. He had given up hope only to find a glimr of opportunity.
"What’s there to thank for? I believe you have the fate of a soldier, even without , you might still have beco one, sooner or later," Xia Xiao said with a faint smile, genuinely happy for Gao Jiaxing.
Gao Jiaxing, however, felt that if not for coming here with Xia Xiao, he would never have had such an opportunity, perhaps his last. He did not want to have regrets, knowing he would be remorseful if he missed it.
"I’ll send another telegram to my family," Gao Jiaxing said.
"That’s fine, but you could also write a letter, and I’ll take it back for you," suggested Xia Xiao.
Gao Jiaxing shook his head and said to Xia Xiao, "Don’t tell my family or anyone in the production team that I’m joining the army with your cousin."
"Why not?" asked Xia Xiao.
Gao Jiaxing looked deeply into Xia Xiao’s eyes and replied, "If anything happens to , I don’t want my family to bla you, nor do I want the people from the production team to make trouble for you or my grandmother to bother you."
Xia Xiao slapped Gao Jiaxing’s shoulder and said, "What are you talking about? You haven’t even started yet, and you’re already saying such unlucky things. Think like this—if you don’t want to die, beco stronger. Strive to make yourself stronger, and by being strong, you can ensure your own safety and the safety of the people."
Xia Xiao knew Gao Jiaxing ant well, but life is unpredictable. If sothing really happened, she figured she might be branded a jinx.
Then, rembering Gao Jiaxing’s close brush with death, a chill went down Xia Xiao’s spine, and she said to him, "If you’re injured, I’m willing to take care of you, but if you die, I’ll marry soone else imdiately."
Gao Jiaxing’s eyes narrowed, and Xia Xiao added, "Don’t worry, I’ll bring my husband and children to your grave every year to offer incense for you."
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