At 10:00 a.m., the Shi family, accompanied by Li Minjun, arrived in front of Political Commissar Zhang Shun's car.
They were still exchanging pleasantries when the clock struck 10:30. Li Minjun said goodbye to each of them one by one. Even after the car had pulled away from the gate, he stood there watching them disappear into the distance.
At that very moment, Shi Kai had just finished two hours of standing at attention. Now, accompanied by the soldiers of Squad Two, he began his run. He had no idea that his parents had come to see him. Completely immersed in the excitement of his first day of military training, he never could have imagined that this short separation would become their final farewell.
Later, when his young heart could no longer bear the weight of this tragedy, Shi Kai's personality began to change drastically. That change would set him on a path of no return—the path of a strongman. Yet ironically, it was a path that led him further and further away from the life of a soldier, and toward something he never could have imagined: the life of a killer.
In Shi Kai's heart, his father had always been his idol and role model. He was proud to be training alongside the soldiers, even if it was just for two months. He knew that in every summer to come, his father would send him back again—because that was a father's duty and promise to his son.
After a full morning of military drills, Shi Kai was completely exhausted. Accompanied by the soldiers of Squad Two, he dragged his tired body into the mess hall.
He never would have guessed that real military training would be so grueling—it had nearly claimed his young life.
The moment he flopped down on a bench in the mess hall, he collapsed like a marshmallow, unable to speak a single word. At that moment, even if someone had tried to drag him away, he wouldn't have let his butt leave that seat.
Soon, trays of food were placed on the table. The moment the smell hit his nose, Shi Kai perked up. A wave of hunger he had never felt before surged through him. He was just about to grab a steamed bun and devour it, when he noticed all the soldiers around him sitting perfectly upright, not even blinking.
Only then did Shi Kai slowly withdraw his outstretched hand. He swallowed his saliva and fixed his eyes on the food, trying to restrain himself.
Inside, he felt like a storm was raging. Compared to these disciplined soldiers, he felt completely out of place. He couldn't help but feel ashamed. Straightening his back, he quickly adjusted his posture to match theirs.
Finally, the command to eat was given. Shi Kai immediately grabbed two buns with both hands and started wolfing them down. He couldn't believe how delicious they were—he had never tasted steamed buns this good in his life. After finishing the first two in no time, he picked up two more and dove in again.
His way of eating could only be described as a prehistoric crocodile—or a caveman who had never seen steamed buns before.
The soldiers of Squad Two exchanged amused glances as they watched him devour his meal.
They understood this feeling all too well. When they first joined the army, their eating manners had probably been even worse. Watching Shi Kai, they saw a reflection of their younger selves.
After finishing the main course, Shi Kai wished he could lick the plate clean. But with so many people around, he held back, though he couldn't help but feel it was a pity.
Finally done, Shi Kai leaned back in his seat and let out a full belch. He blinked in satisfaction—this was the most he had ever eaten in one sitting. Thinking back on the way he had just eaten, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. If his mother had seen him just now, she probably would've been horrified.
Dragging his exhausted body, Shi Kai returned to the dormitory.
Finally, it was time for the midday break. He no longer cared about whether he took off his clothes or shoes—he simply collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep.
At that moment, his eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. In the end, he couldn't resist the pull of sleep and decided to surrender himself to a game of chess with the God of Dreams.
Shi Kai slept deeply—he was truly worn out. More grueling training awaited him in the afternoon.
---
Around five in the afternoon, the Shi family arrived in W City, Z Province.
The mayor of W City personally came to receive Zhang Shun, the Political Commissar of the Huaxia Military District. But to his surprise, three additional people stepped out of the car. Assuming they were friends of Commissar Zhang, the mayor didn't dare show any neglect and quietly instructed his female secretary, "Quick, go to the Grand Hotel and book three more of the most luxurious suites."
After everyone got out of the car, Zhang Shun made the introductions. Only then did the mayor realize that the three unexpected guests were none other than the family of Shi Tianqun, the Commander of the Huaxia Military District. He quickly reached out for a handshake, repeating enthusiastically, "What an honor! What an honor!"
"Mayor Zhao, there's no need for such formality," Shi Tianqun said with a smile, shaking hands with him. "I'm just taking my family on a trip this time and hitched a ride with Commissar Zhang. Please don't go out of your way for us."
This Mayor Zhao—yes, the mayor of W City, Z Province—was the one who had just come to greet the car. Internally, he sighed with relief. He had thought these three were merely friends of Commissar Zhang, but they turned out to be the family of the top military commander. Thankfully, he had instructed his secretary to book the best hotel suites—if he had slighted such people, he wouldn't have been able to explain it. A cold sweat broke out on his back.
Forcing a smile, Mayor Zhao quickly said, "No, no, Commander Shi, it is an absolute honor to have you here. I must apologize for not preparing better. Please, allow me to host a welcome dinner for your whole family. You can rest at the hotel first, and tonight we'll dine at the Sea Palace Restaurant."
"There's really no need, Mayor Zhao," Shi Tianqun replied. "I'm here purely for leisure with my family—there's no need for any special arrangements. Just go along with Commissar Zhang. My family and I will take a stroll on our own. We truly appreciate your hospitality."
Mayor Zhao's eyes lit up. He thought to himself: How can I possibly let such an opportunity slip away? After all, the Commander of the Huaxia Military District outranked even the Commissar. Now that he was here, Zhao had to seize the chance to win favor—this was too valuable to pass up.
"Oh, no, Commander Shi, you're going to make me look bad if you refuse! You must honor me by letting me play host tonight," Mayor Zhao said, quickly grasping Shi Tianqun's hand again.
With Zhang Shun chiming in to support Zhao's invitation, Shi Tianqun eventually gave in and nodded, though a bit reluctantly.
Mayor Zhao then personally drove them straight to the Grand Hotel.
After arriving at the Grand Hotel, the family took relaxing showers to ease the fatigue from the long car ride.
Once dressed, they sat in their rooms chatting. Meanwhile, Mayor Zhao had gone off to prepare the welcome banquet for the evening.
After her shower, Shi Ting came into her parents' room with a grin. "I didn't expect Mayor Zhao to be so generous—he booked us such spacious rooms!"
Shi Tianqun lit a cigarette and took a drag. "Generous? He's just looking out for his own interests. Of course he's going to try to curry favor. People like him... I really can't stand dealing with them. So fake."
Having spent over thirty years in the Huaxia Military District, Shi Tianqun was a man of integrity and decisiveness.
If it were up to me, I'd rather eat steamed buns with the lower-ranked soldiers than attend some lavish welcome banquet.
But there was no avoiding it—this was the way of the world. No one can remain pure while everyone else is corrupt. Social obligations often leave you with no choice.
Wang Xiuzhen had been by her husband's side for more than twenty years—she knew his heart well.
In a gentle voice, she said, "Don't overthink it. We're on vacation, we should enjoy ourselves. Since the arrangements have already been made, let's just settle in. We'll leave early tomorrow morning."
Shi Tianqun stubbed out his cigarette with a frown, then got changed and headed down to the hotel lobby with his wife and daughter.
There, they found Commissar Zhang chatting with Mayor Zhao's female secretary on a sofa.
As soon as they saw Shi Tianqun's family arrive, they both stood up to greet them and invited them to sit.
"Hello, everyone," the secretary said politely. "Please take a seat and rest for a bit. The mayor will be here shortly."
Shi Tianqun sat down first and began chatting with Zhang Shunmin; Wang Xiuzhen struck up a casual conversation with the secretary; and Shi Ting, bored, could only sit on the lobby couch and play with her phone.
---
After a full day of military training, Shi Kai was completely drained.
But there was no getting around it—after sweating all day, he had to take a shower, and his clothes needed washing too.
The summer heat was intense. In the bathhouse, Shi Kai scrubbed at his clothes as hard as he could while rinsing himself off.
I've never done this in my life, he thought. If Mom were here, she'd definitely be washing these for me. I'm really exhausted. Being a soldier is way tougher than I thought… Sigh.
After cleaning up, Shi Kai walked back to his dorm in large plastic sandals, the sound of his steps echoing: swish, swish. All he wanted now was to rest.
Back in the dorm, after hanging up his washed clothes, Shi Kai turned to see Tian Jiang walking in. Instinctively, he stood at attention and gave a somewhat sloppy salute.
"Good evening, Company Commander!"
Tian Jiang glanced over him, noting the disheveled appearance, and returned the salute mechanically. "What were you just doing?"
"Reporting, sir! I was just showering and washing my clothes!" Shi Kai answered loudly.
"Look at yourself—uniform a mess, completely out of military order. You have three minutes. Get properly dressed and report to the training field to join your squad."
Only then did Shi Kai realize he was the only one left in the dorm. The rest of Squad Two had already headed to the field to form up. He instantly remembered the company commander's words: Three minutes.
By then, Tian Jiang had already walked out the door.
Shi Kai scrambled to get dressed, practically rolling and crawling as he fumbled with his uniform, then bolted out the door and sprinted toward the field.
When he arrived, panting and out of breath, Tian Jiang looked down at his watch, then slowly shifted his gaze to Shi Kai and shouted, "Shi Kai!"
Shi Kai instinctively stood at attention.
"Reporting, sir! Private Shi Kai of Squad Two, reporting to the company commander!"
As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance toward his fellow Squad Two soldiers, already standing in perfect formation.
"Shi Kai, do you know how late you are?" Tian Jiang roared.
"Reporting, Company Commander. I don't know."
"You're twenty seconds late. That's twenty laps around the field. Squad Two—run with him. Don't stop until all twenty laps are done."
"Yes, sir!"
The unified roar of the squad startled Shi Kai.
What the hell... Twenty laps? When will that even end? I just took a shower!
Even though a thousand thoughts of resistance raced through his mind, there was nothing he could do. This wasn't home—it was the military. And in the military, obedience comes before everything. Left with no choice, Shi Kai fell in line behind the others, following their footprints around the track, step by step.
From a building not far away, Li Minjun stood silently watching Shi Kai's every move.
Seeing this, he nodded in satisfaction.
---
Meanwhile, the Shi family didn't wait long before Mayor Zhao arrived to pick them up.
After they got into the car, they headed straight to the seafood restaurant.
At the dining table, Mayor Zhao stood up, lifting his wine glass high, his large round belly puffed out proudly as he chuckled,
"It was already a great honor to have Commissar Zhang visiting for the conference, but I never expected him to bring such distinguished guests! I'm truly overwhelmed. Let me offer a toast to all of you—this glass is bottom-up!"
With that, Mayor Zhao tilted his head back and drained the glass in one gulp, then held the empty glass upside down in a dramatic display of his boldness.
The others stood up too, smiling politely as they raised their glasses and drank. Wang Xiuzhen and Shi Ting used soft drinks instead, sipping only symbolically.
---
After the meal and a fair amount of wine, Mayor Zhao, now red-faced and burping, was being supported by his female secretary as they walked out.
With a toothpick in his left hand picking at his teeth, and his right hand gripping Shi Tianqun's hand tightly, he stumbled along, belly swaying, slurring slightly as he said:
"Commander Shi, it's such a rare honor for you to visit. Tomorrow, I'll have my secretary accompany your family around the city. I'll cover all the expenses. And if your daughter sees something she likes—just buy it, no need to be polite!"
Hic!
His chest suddenly jolted as he burped again. "Now... I'll have my secretary drive you back to the hotel. I've had a bit too much myself, so…"
Seeing that the mayor was now barely coherent, Shi Tianqun quickly cut him off, "Thank you, Mayor Zhao, for the generous hospitality. We're leaving town tomorrow for the next stop of our trip. We can return to the hotel ourselves—no need to trouble your secretary. You should get some rest too."
"How could I allow that?" Mayor Zhao protested, half-drunk but persistent. "Xiao Li! You must personally drive Commander Shi's family and Commissar Zhang back to the hotel tonight!"
The secretary, standing nearby, nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."
Mayor Zhao mumbled a few more lines, but by now the alcohol was hitting him hard. His stomach was churning, and he was clearly uncomfortable. Without saying more, he bid them farewell, got into his car, and was driven away.
Watching the taillights disappear into the distance, Secretary Xiao Li quickly composed herself.
With a courteous gesture, she said, "Commander Shi, Commissar Zhang—please, the car is ready."
Shi Tianqun had also had some strong baijiu during the meal, and the alcohol was starting to take effect. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, gathered himself, and saw Xiao Li inviting him into the car. Then he looked at Commissar Zhang, who gave him a subtle signal to go ahead.
Shi Tianqun pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, offered one to Zhang, then lit one for himself. He took a deep drag and exhaled.
"Miss Xiao Li," he said calmly, "there's no need to trouble you. Please just take Commissar Zhang back to the hotel—he has meetings tomorrow morning. As for my family, we'd like to stroll around and enjoy the night scenery of your beautiful city. We'll grab a taxi back to the hotel ourselves. Let's leave it at that."
Shi Tianqun had always been a heavy smoker.
Now, he took another drag, exhaled a cloud of smoke laced with the scent of alcohol, and quietly looked at Xiao Li, waiting for her response.
The secretary forced a slightly awkward smile.
"Commander Shi… this isn't really appropriate, is it? Mayor Zhao gave me clear instructions to take good care of you, and now…"
Xiao Li was clearly caught in a tough spot. Disobeying a superior's order was never easy. Suddenly, an idea flashed in her mind.
"How about this," she suggested, "we get in the car, drop Commissar Zhang off at the hotel first, and then I can serve as your tour guide and show your family around the night market. How does that sound?"
Typical secretary, Shi Tianqun thought. Quick-witted and fast on her feet.
But truthfully, he didn't want anyone tagging along.
He didn't want his family trip disrupted, nor did he want someone watching over them. He just wanted to spend a quiet evening walking with his wife and daughter.
Unfortunately, this pretty secretary had misunderstood his intentions entirely—so much so that he unconsciously began to frown.
The moment Xiao Li noticed the shift in his expression, she realized something was off and quickly tried to recover with a smile:
"But, Commander Shi, our mayor—"
Before she could finish, Shi Tianqun cut her off, suddenly understanding the situation.
"Don't worry about your mayor," he said firmly. "I'll explain it to him myself tomorrow. It has nothing to do with you. Just take Commissar Zhang back to the hotel."
Xiao Li let out a quiet breath of relief.
Well, if the Commander himself says so, then I'm off the hook.
After all, he was the Commander of the Huaxia Military District—who was she to argue?
Quick to adapt, Xiao Li flagged down a taxi and handed the driver a thick stack of bills—1,000 yuan in cash.
"Here," she said. "This is your fare. Take this gentleman and his family on a proper night tour of the city. When they're tired, drop them off at the Grand Hotel."
The driver's eyes lit up at the sight of the cash. Grinning from ear to ear, he took the money eagerly while counting it.
"Understood! Even if they want to tour until sunrise, it's no problem at all. Don't worry, miss—I'll take good care of them!"
Shi Tianqun understood.
She's just doing her job. Being responsible. Nothing more to say.
Without another word, he and his family got into the taxi and left.
Xiao Li took a moment to jot down the taxi's license plate number before turning to escort Commissar Zhang back to the hotel.
---
Inside the taxi, Shi Tianqun and his family gazed out at the night view, occasionally listening to the driver's lively narration.
W City truly lived up to its status as the capital of Z Province—it was beautiful. Even late at night, the streets were bustling with people, lively and bright.
The night grew deeper.
Shi Tianqun checked his watch—it was nearly midnight.
"Take us back to the hotel now," he said to the driver.
The driver responded with a nod and stepped on the gas, heading straight toward the hotel.
By now, Shi Ting was already nodding off, leaning into her mother's arms.
Wang Xiuzhen held her husband's hand tightly, feeling a sense of peace and warmth in that simple gesture.
There were fewer and fewer cars on the road now.
They had gone quite far, and it would still take some time to get back.
At this hour, there was nothing left to do but sit back and wait.
---
After a while, the car entered a long tunnel.
The sounds of passing cars echoed as other vehicles roared by in the adjacent lanes.
Suddenly, a blinding light appeared ahead.
The driver, momentarily blinded by the glare, shouted in pain as his eyes were pierced by the brightness. The startled cry jerked Shi Tianqun's family out of their drowsy slumber.
The light ahead grew brighter and closer, rushing toward them.
Shi Ting screamed in terror.
But Shi Tianqun's instincts as a soldier kicked in immediately.
He turned without hesitation and shielded his wife and daughter with his body, pressing them down firmly against the seats to protect them.