Mercenary’s War

Chapter 2333 - 2309: A Thorn in the Heart

When Gao Yang was helping Liang Dong move things, it was actually about time for dinner.

Salim didn’t show up; he was probably still discussing some matters with Jim. However, once a task is assigned, someone will definitely take care of it.

A vehicle came specifically to deliver dinner, which consisted of freshly roasted meat, flatbread, and for Yemen, the more precious fresh vegetables, chopped into a salad. That’s all there was to dinner, though there was certainly enough quantity.

Gao Yang hoped to completely separate their lives from the Houthis Armed Forces so as to avoid leaking information that shouldn’t be known. With this approach, although it would greatly impact living conditions, such a price was absolutely worth it for safety.

The place was too small, so naturally, there was no cafeteria or anyone specifically tasked with taking care of Satan and the others’ meals and daily life. Simply put, everyone had to wash their own dishes after eating.

However, in Yemen, eating rarely requires the use of bowls.

"Time to eat!"

Gao Yang was busy moving things with Liang Dong. After shouting, those who usually had to stay in their rooms came out to grab their allocated trays and collect food.

Seeing Gao Yang moving things, several people came to help, quickly moving everything into the kitchen.

After a few people delivered things to the kitchen, Li Jinfang casually said, "Boss, when can we start cooking for ourselves?"

"Tomorrow, we can start tomorrow. Tonight, Liang Dong can clean up, and tomorrow we’ll cook for ourselves."

It was the first time Li Jinfang and Liang Dong had the chance to talk, as well as Cui Bo. Upon hearing that they could start cooking for themselves the next day, Cui Bo chimed in, "I’ll help tomorrow. You know, I used to be a chef at a restaurant."

Liang Dong immediately responded with interest, "Oh? Really! Where was that?"

Cui Bo replied rather boldly, "Libya, Huaxia City Restaurant."

Liang Dong was quite surprised, saying, "Just from the name, it sounds like a pretty big restaurant. Tomorrow, I have to see your skills, brother!"

Li Jinfang dismissed this disdainfully, "Don’t listen to his nonsense. Haven’t you heard others talk about the stuff he made when in Somalia?"

"No, actually I haven’t."

Cui Bo hastily retorted to Li Jinfang, "How am I talking nonsense? How is it nonsense? Don’t you know I was a head chef there?"

Gao Yang laughed, "Yes, a restaurant where noodles and flatbread count as the main dishes, and you dare to call yourself a head chef. Do you know what being a head chef means?"

After teasing Cui Bo, Gao Yang then said to Liang Dong, "Actually, what he makes is quite good, honestly, it’s just too monotonous. I enjoyed the staple food, the steamed buns were quite good, but you can’t just eat buns, right?"

Li Jinfang stopped bothering with Cui Bo, but after glancing around the kitchen, he nodded and said, "You’ve cleaned up, haven’t you? Nice, although the conditions are a bit basic, it feels like being back in the army."

Liang Dong came and cleaned the kitchen by himself; this was his battlefield, so the kitchen was now sparkling clean, neatly organized, and comfortable to look at.

When Liang Dong heard Li Jinfang’s words, he immediately said, "Oh, you were in the army back home too?"

Li Jinfang proudly responded, "Of course, and let me tell you, I even helped out in the cooking squad! I was there for at least a month. In our unit, if you weren’t top-notch, you couldn’t even get into the kitchen. Not to brag, but when I was in the army, everything I did was top-notch!"

Gao Yang said, "I’ve never heard you mention that, you were in the cooking squad?"

Li Jinfang looked smug, "Absolutely, our unit was a field army, you know, not a single soldier could be cowardly, anyone pulled from any post had to be especially capable in battle. If you weren’t top-notch, you were out. Before I got picked, I went several times, though just to help out, I wasn’t cooking. Didn’t really develop any culinary skills."

Liang Dong got excited, thrilled to meet a kindred spirit. He immediately asked, "Comrade, which unit were you in? Where did you get selected to go?"

Upon being asked which unit, Li Jinfang immediately went silent.

He paused for a moment and then said listlessly, "Let’s not talk about that unit."

Gao Yang promptly said, "You can talk about it! What you did wasn’t anything disgraceful, remember what I told you, your honor will definitely be restored! There’s nothing you can’t say."

Gao Yang knew that Li Jinfang had a thorn in his heart, but he wanted to help extract it!

Li Jinfang perked up upon hearing this, stroked his chin and chuckled a few times, then furrowed his brow again, saying quietly, "Brother Yang, you see, I had already been selected, but was still in training and hadn’t moved on to the new unit. If I hadn’t been selected, I’d have had to return to the original unit. But the incident happened during the selection, so where exactly do I get my reputation restored? In the original company or the special forces team? Where do I belong? I’ve been afraid to ask you about this, so since it’s brought up, tell me now, I’ve mentally prepared myself."

Gao Yang reassuringly said, "You don’t trust your brother to handle things? Let me tell you, listen up! All disciplinary actions against you have been rescinded; it’s treated as if you heroically sacrificed yourself during righteous deeds. Solving this is a bit difficult, but it’s handled specially. Although it’s processed secretly, very soon you won’t be... mmm, your ties will go back to the original company; overall, your matters are settled!"

What is Li Jinfang’s current status? Strictly speaking, he is a deserter, but Gao Yang doesn’t want to mention the term deserter.

Li Jinfang rubbed his head, though it wouldn’t take long to resolve, he felt all enthusiasm had left him.

Li Jinfang looked despondently at Liang Dong, saying, "I better not say anything for now, until I stop being whatever, then I’ll say. Which unit are you with? Can you say it?"

Liang Dong smiled and revealed which unit he was in, then reflectively remarked, "My situation entering the cooking squad was similar to yours. I was also a top trainee and ended up in the cooking squad. In the end, I stuck there, two years as a duty soldier and then continued, transitioning to a first-class non-commissioned officer."

Liang Dong extended a hand toward Li Jinfang and smiled, "I served for five years, almost four and a half of those years in the cooking squad. In the last year, our division selected the best for the division’s special warfare team, I was selected, but during the selection, Curtis!"

Unable to help but privately curse, Liang Dong looked vexed and reflectively said, "During those few days of selection training, in the field survival training, I got diarrhea..."

Feeling incredibly vexed, resentful, and remorseful, Liang Dong said softly, "Something just happened, diarrhea, wasn’t selected, and then I retired, couldn’t stay any longer..."

Li Jinfang immediately said, "Wait a year and try again! How can you just retire from one failed selection? You! You!"

Li Jinfang was genuinely anxious; he had a thorn in his heart and felt that Liang Dong shouldn’t just give up on the opportunity he had lost forever.

Liang Dong sighed and said softly, "Brother, our division hadn’t had many selections, and during my tenure, I coincidentally caught three selections, all three I participated in. The first time, honestly, wasn’t capable enough, accepted it. The second time, I felt I couldn’t possibly have a problem, but then twisted my ankle on the 400-meter obstacle course, couldn’t even walk. The third time, even the division captain knew my name, our company commander, battalion commander, regimental commander thought I was a sure candidate, in the end, I got diarrhea..."