Let you be a great man, not a scumbag

Chapter 1716 The Motherland Has Never Forgotten You

The two walked along the cement road in the military camp.

The early spring breeze still carried a chill, the poplar trees along the roadside were just sprouting new green leaves, and the shouts of soldiers training could be heard in the distance, exuding a vibrant energy.

They soon arrived at the kitchen.

It was a little past ten o'clock, and it was clear that the kitchen staff had already begun preparing lunch.

The people in the backyard all looked very busy, but everyone was working in an orderly manner, and no one was chatting while they were working together.

All that could be heard was the clanging and banging of preparations.

Chen Ping first walked to the front and said a few words to an elderly kitchen manager before returning to Jiang Cheng's side.

Then he led Jiang Cheng toward the stove in the courtyard.

As you get closer, you see an elderly man with gray hair bending over and wiping the stove.

The dark blue training uniforms were faded from washing, but they were still worn neatly.

The sleeves were rolled up to the forearms, revealing several old scars of varying depths on the wrists.

It was Zhao Anning.

Jiang Cheng slowed his pace and didn't speak first.

Chen Ping was the first to call out, "Old Zhao, are you busy?"

When Zhao Anning turned around and saw who was standing next to Chen Ping, her eyes widened suddenly, and the rag in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

He stood there stunned for a full three seconds before speaking in a trembling voice, "Jiang Cheng... Young Master Jiang? What brings you here?"

Jiang Cheng bent down and picked up the rag from the ground.

His tone was calm and unpretentious: "I was just passing by and thought I'd drop by to see you. I brought some local specialties from Shanghai; please try them."

Zhao Anning hurriedly wiped his still-movable left hand with his apron.

One hand took the bag.

It was clear that Zhao Anning was somewhat agitated.

My fingertips were still trembling slightly when they touched the bag.

"You...you're too kind," Zhao Anning said, her voice choked with emotion, but she quickly suppressed it, afraid of losing face as a veteran. "I'm already very grateful that you helped me arrange this job, and I feel really bad that you had to come all the way to see me."

Do you think Zhao Anning is grateful to Jiang Cheng?

The answer would definitely be gratitude.

If it weren't for Jiang Cheng, he would still be living alone and miserable in a public rental apartment.

However, the difference in status between Jiang Cheng and Chen Anning is simply too great.

You might remember a favor a superior does casually for a lifetime.

But for these people in positions of power, it might be as insignificant as picking up a fallen bucket.

When Jiang Cheng helped him get into the army last time, he noticed that the supercar was unusual and vaguely guessed that Jiang Cheng's identity was not ordinary.

Seeing Jiang Cheng "condescend" to visit him like this, he couldn't help but feel excited.

Jiang Cheng glanced at the stove; the tiles were polished to a shine, and there wasn't a speck of grease even in the crevices of the stove.

Although Zhao Anning's left hand is more dexterous now, he was still quite efficient when he came in.

He asked, "Are you settling in well here? Are your hands still capable of this kind of work?"

At this point, Zhao Anning immediately nodded happily: "I'm doing great here. I wipe the stove and pick vegetables every day. It's not tiring. This is the first time in so many years that I feel like I'm still useful. And I can talk to the young men when I have nothing to do. It's much better than staying at home. Everyone takes good care of me because they see that my hands are not convenient."

"I'm glad you're comfortable. Qingming Festival is coming soon. If you want to go out for a walk, just tell Chen Ping and he will make arrangements."

“No, no,” Zhao Anning quickly waved her hand. “I’m too old for that. It’s you who, despite being so busy, still thinks of me… Back then, I was just an ordinary soldier, with only a third-class merit award. You’ve treated me so well, I…”

Before he could finish speaking, his Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke, and his right hand, which could only move one finger, instinctively shrank to his side.

It was as if they were afraid that their "useless" hands would ruin the sentiment in front of them.

Looking at him like this, Jiang Cheng felt a pang in his heart, and his tone unconsciously became more serious, losing its previous casualness.

"Old Zhao, when you held the line on the battlefield back then, you didn't think about any merit, did you? What you protected is what deserves to be remembered the most. I came to see you not because I remember you, but because the motherland has never forgotten you. What we, the younger generation, are doing now is simply to restore the peace that the motherland gained with your life back then."

No sooner had these words been spoken than the obese figure standing at the corner of the corridor outside the kitchen visibly moved.

The sentry had just reported to him that "Chen Ping brought a young man to the kitchen," and he immediately guessed that it was Jiang Cheng.

So I made a special trip around to take a look, but I didn't expect to hear Jiang Cheng's words as soon as I got close.

At this moment, he was dressed in a crisp military officer's uniform, the general's stars on his shoulders gleaming pale gold in the warm light.

Jiang Cheng was talking to Zhao Anning and didn't pay attention to the commotion.

But Chen Ping noticed the figure as soon as it appeared.

Just as he was about to salute and speak, the man quickly raised his hand, his fingertips touching his lips, silently signaling him to be quiet.

Upon seeing this, Chen Ping's heart skipped a beat.

Although she didn't say anything, she glanced nervously at Jiang Cheng.

After all, they're not one of our own.

This is Kyoto, after all. If I accidentally let slip something I shouldn't have, it could be a serious matter.

He clenched his fists, wondering to himself: Should he quietly remind Young Master Jiang?

But after thinking about it, Jiang Cheng didn't say anything else; in fact, he only said the most honest things from the bottom of his heart.

Fortunately, he remained silent and quietly observed the situation.

Thinking about what happened on the battlefield back then, and how people still remember it, his eyes welled up with tears, and moisture seeped into his wrinkles.

He wiped his face with his hand, straightened his back, and bowed solemnly to Jiang Cheng, just as he had saluted on the battlefield back then.

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang. Thank you for remembering us old folks."

Jiang Cheng quickly helped him up: "Please don't do this. Take good care of yourself, that's more important than anything else."

After Jiang Cheng finished speaking, not only Zhao Anning, but even Chen Ping behind him had tears in his eyes.

He was also a soldier, and those who had worn military uniforms understood best how much untold dedication Zhao Anning had made behind his "unassuming" life.

With this in mind, Chen Ping became even more certain.

Jiang Cheng is now showing such consideration and humility towards these veterans from the lower ranks.

If Jiang Cheng really does rise to a higher position in the future, he will certainly not forget to care for ordinary people and will be a good leader who cares about the grassroots and does not covet vanity.

Seeing himself so moved, Chen Ping couldn't help but glance at the youngest general standing in the corner.

His shoulders were still straight, but he no longer had the aloofness he used to show when facing others.

The hand that had just gestured for quiet now hung gently at her side, her knuckles relaxed.

The smile he had been deliberately putting on was gone from his face.

Jiang Cheng's words even made her eyes instantly become solemn, and there was even a hint of emotion that was hard to detect.

Zhao Anning tightened her grip on the bag of local specialties, but finally couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Young Master Jiang, I've been too embarrassed to ask... what exactly does your family do?"

Jiang Cheng could clearly see the awkwardness in Zhao Anning's eyes and actions during this meeting.

He smiled and softened his tone: "It's just an ordinary family doing business, with a little spare money. I'm friends with Squad Leader Li from the kitchen. Last time I heard him say that the army needed someone to help out, and knowing that you're a veteran and a reliable person, I asked him to do me a favor."

These words, though only half true, struck a chord with Zhao Anning.

He was simple and honest, without many hidden agendas.

Now that Jiang Cheng said it was "through a friend," most of the previous speculations that "Jiang Cheng's identity is unusual" immediately dissipated, and people felt that they had been overthinking it.

He raised his hand and scratched his head, a simple and honest smile on his face: "So that's how it is... Well, I have to thank you, Young Master Jiang. If it weren't for you, I don't know where this lonely old man would be living."

“Don’t call me ‘Young Master Jiang’ anymore,” Jiang Cheng interrupted him, his tone slightly joking. “It sounds too formal. Just call me Xiao Cheng.”

"This...this isn't appropriate, is it?" Zhao Anning paused, feeling a little embarrassed.

"There's nothing inappropriate about it. You're an elder, so it's more affectionate to call you that."

Zhao Anning felt a warmth in her heart, and her eyes welled up with tears. She nodded emphatically, "Alright! Xiao Cheng, I'll take the liberty of calling you that. Come on, I'll show you my dorm; it's just up ahead, only a few steps away!"

After saying these words, the figure standing to the side couldn't help but smile, and laughed out loud.

The Jiang family held a very important position in Kyoto, yet he described them as just an ordinary business family.