C6 Reward

At noon, Xue Lang's hospital room buzzed with the chatter of a large group gathered for a meal. Xue Lang was especially comforted by the thoughtfulness of Liu Zhong and a young girl named Zhang Yuhong. Despite their youth, they knew exactly what to order for someone in his condition—nothing spicy or fishy, just light and tasty dishes.

In the midst of the lively atmosphere, Xue Lang quickly warmed up to his contemporaries, exchanging names and sharing amusing tales of mountain hunting adventures, which added to the meal's cheerful spirit.

A nurse popped in for her rounds and, despite the crowded room, she simply advised everyone to keep the noise down. After the meal and cleanup, she removed the IV drip and left without further ado.

The unsavory characters who had been lurking around didn't dare to return, seemingly aware that the room was too full to cause any trouble—or perhaps they were biding their time.

Once the pleasant lunch was over, Cui Ying and a few other young ladies tidied up and departed, leaving Liu Zhong and Fatty Shao alone in the ward.

They had barely been gone for two minutes when Lee Wenming made his entrance. He gave a nod to Fatty Shao, approached the bed, and announced, "Xue Lang, after the leadership team met, they decided to give you a substantial reward. Since you'll be staying in the hospital a bit longer, I've brought the reward directly to you." He then handed Xue Lang an envelope.

Xue Lang accepted the envelope without hesitation and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Chief Lee, for going out of your way."

Before Lee Wenming could respond, Fatty Shao, eyeing the envelope's thickness, chimed in with a chuckle, "Section Chief Lee, the bosses sure are tight-fisted. Xue Lang's clothes are in tatters, and he's practically bare. They give a bonus but can't spring for a new set of clothes?"

Lee Wenming glanced at Xue Lang's bandaged torso and agreed, "The doctor mentioned thirty-seven stitches and over sixty minor wounds; his clothes are definitely ruined. Since Xue Lang's family isn't here, Fatty Shao, I'll need you two to take on the task of buying him some clothes."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Liu Zhong said with a casual grin, "Sure thing, Section Chief Lee, it's just an errand, no sweat."

Fatty Shao glanced at Xue Lang, then at the envelope in his hand, and chuckled, "Section Chief Lee, Xue Lang's modest bonus hardly covers his expenses. Surely you're not suggesting we use his hard-earned reward to make the purchase, are you?"

Lee Wenming paused momentarily before nodding in agreement, "Fatty Shao, you two handle the shopping. Just make sure to get a receipt. The expense will be covered by the treasury."

With the go-ahead, Liu Zhong eagerly grabbed the down jacket and assured, "Rest easy, Section Chief Lee. We're not splurging on ermine or Adidas for Xue Lang. Just a decent coat, a down jacket, and maybe some Nine Shepherd King trousers..."

Section Chief Lee, taken aback, cut him off quickly, "That should be enough. We don't want the hassle of getting the director's signature. Aim for three or four thousand."

"Haha! Three or four thousand, got it. Don't worry, Section Chief Lee, we won't go over seven thousand," Liu Zhong quipped.

Before Lee Wenming could respond, Fatty Shao added with a grin, "Once Xue Lang's stitches are out, he should treat you to a good meal. He's been hunting for ages, you know. His family has been hunters for generations."

Lee Wenming blinked, looked at Xue Lang, and said sternly, "What's this about a meal? You're getting off track. This is serious business. Xue Lang is a hero; his clothes were torn while he was saving lives. What's that got to do with eating? Just go buy what's needed and don't forget the receipt."

"Roger that!"

Liu Zhong acknowledged and headed out, musing aloud, "I'll find a female secretary to join me for the shopping trip."

Xue Lang had been silently observing the exchange. It dawned on him that life outside the military was something he truly needed to learn. As Liu Zhong made his exit, he expressed his gratitude, "Section Chief, thank you."

Lee Wenming didn't linger, exchanging a few courteous words before departing.

After Lee Wenming had left, Xue Lang brandished the envelope in his hand and said, "Thanks, Fatty Shao. I've got it covered tonight."

Fatty Shao glanced at the envelope Xue Lang was holding and remarked, "It's all government business, no need for formalities. How much did they give you?"

Xue Lang pulled out the cash from the envelope, gave it a quick once-over, and, holding the withdrawal slip from the accounting department, announced, "Eight thousand."

"That's tight-fisted."

Fatty Shao shook his head, "Just short two thousand. Couldn't they round it up?"

"It's plenty, who needs a bicycle anyway!"

Xue Lang was quite content. After all, it was at least half a year's worth of his salary, and by no means a small sum.

In the midst of their conversation, Liu Zhong burst into the ward with a bevy of beauties in tow.

Xue Lang noticed that aside from Cui Ying and Zhang Yuhong, the rest were new faces.

Knowing that Xue Lang was without underwear, Fatty Shao, upon the arrival of the ladies, quickly stepped in to spare him any embarrassment, helping to measure his waist and leg length. After the women had taken their notes amidst a flurry of chatter, he pulled Liu Zhong aside to whisper a few words.

Shortly after, Liu Zhong departed the ward with Zhang Yuhong and two other girls Xue Lang didn't recognize, while Cui Ying led the remaining group back to her own ward.

With the ward now quiet, Xue Lang finally asked, "Fatty Shao, do we have any oil silk rope in storage?"

"Oil silk rope?" Fatty Shao asked, puzzled. "What do you need that for?"

"In a couple of days, I'm heading to the mountains to catch some game. The snow's just fallen, and the roe deer, rabbits, and pheasants are all fattening up nicely."

"Holy crap! You actually know how to hunt?" Fatty Shao exclaimed, astonished. "Here I thought you were all talk!"

Xue Lang chuckled, "I've been traipsing through the mountains setting traps with my grandpa since I learned to walk. It's second nature to me. Whether it's choosing a hen or a rooster, it's as easy as picking from my own flock."

"Holy smokes! That's some royal treatment!"

Fatty Shao couldn't contain his excitement.

Before Xue Lang could even get a word in, Shao blurted out, "With your skills, you should get out of logistics and into something more active. That place is just for the old-timers."

"Out of logistics?"

Xue Lang asked, puzzled: "Then where to?"

Fatty Shao grinned, "Join the convoy. You'll make good money and have more freedom."

The convoy?

Xue Lang hesitated, rifling through his memories. His predecessor hadn't been certified, hadn't even touched a car, let alone a bicycle, but he himself could drive.

After a moment, he said, "I can drive, but I'm not licensed. I'd need to take the test right away."

"No worries about the license. No one around here checks, and besides, long hauls are the only ones that really need one. Most don't even have a ticket. We've got a Northwest King truck sitting idle in the convoy since the driver got transferred back to the county. Even if you can't handle it, you can start at the bottom and work your way up. We've got an opening."

Looking at Fatty Shao's eager face, Xue Lang inquired, "Is the Northwest King the one that's 7.2 meters long?"

Fatty Shao nodded, "That's the one, though it's seen better days—been around for five years."

"I can handle it. I've driven an AUTO MAN twelve meters long, even did long hauls."

"Is that so?"

Fatty Shao pressed earnestly: "Don't kid me. If you're up for it, I'll talk to the captain, introduce you around, and you can handle the rest. Maybe rustle up some game instead of cash, it's more persuasive."

Xue Lang nodded seriously, "No issues with my driving skills, and getting game is easy. I'll have it sorted in a few days."

As he spoke, he wondered why Fatty Shao, whom he'd just met, would go out of his way to help him secure benefits and a department transfer. The motive was unclear.

Regardless, the kindness wasn't lost on him.

So, he eagerly sought guidance, learning about the granary's layout and social dynamics, ready to switch to a job that suited him better and eventually bring his grandfather down from the mountains to care for him in his old age.

Fatty Shao was an open book, sharing all the goings-on with Xue Lang without reservation. Xue Lang, now better informed, grasped the intricate web of relationships within the unit. He learned that joining the convoy, even as a driver, required some connections. The convoy was considered one of the better departments at the grain depot.

Their conversation made time fly, and before they knew it, the nurse had set up the afternoon IV drip. Liu Zhong and the others returned, arms laden with bags of all sizes.

Bursting through the door, Liu Zhong exclaimed, "Xue Lang, check it out—a mink coat, blue fox scarf, Adidas snow boots. I've got you covered, brother!"

"You've got to be kidding me..."

Xue Lang eyed the bags and said, dumbfounded, "I might have to relearn how to walk in all this gear."

Liu Zhong winked and teased, "What, you're saying a poor man who strikes it rich forgets how to walk?"

The room erupted in laughter.

Fatty Shao grabbed two large bags from Liu Zhong and challenged, "Mink? Do you even have that much cash on your card? I'm skeptical."

Unfazed, Liu Zhong retorted, "Who says I don't? I've still got fifty cents left."

Amidst the laughter, they unpacked the clothes and pants. Xue Lang hadn't shopped for such items in years; he was used to issued clothing and had no idea of their cost.

Fatty Shao, curious, inquired, "How much did all this set you back?"

Liu Zhong dropped the joking tone and replied, "I was careful with the spending. The whole kit—underwear, undershirts, pants, belt, and all—came to a total of 5,400 yuan."

5,400 yuan...

Xue Lang was taken aback by Liu Zhong's lavish spending. Could there be issues with reimbursement?

Before he could voice his concern, Liu Zhong went on, "Section Chief Lee didn't bat an eye. We showed up with our haul, and he signed off on it without even checking the contents. Now that I think about it, we bought too little..."

Zhang Yuhong unfolded a jacket and chimed in, "Exactly! I said we should've gotten two sets of underwear and two coats at least. But you wouldn't listen."

And just like that, everything was reimbursed?

Xue Lang was taken aback, but he didn't dwell on it, chuckling as he spoke: "I'm already pleasantly surprised. You've put in a lot of effort. Tonight, dinner's on me. Let's not stick to just light fare this time. A couple of light dishes are fine, but feel free to order whatever else you fancy—let's include some drinks and wine too."

"No, no, I just started working. How could I let you treat me? I'll handle it tonight..."

Liu Zhong was cut off mid-sentence as Fatty Shao gestured dismissively and interjected, "Let Xue Lang do the planning. Daxuan, run an errand for us and pick up some hearty dishes."

"Sure thing."

Liu Zhong didn't push further and accepted the plan.

As dusk fell, the aroma of cooking enveloped Xue Lang's hospital room, wafting down the corridors with the tantalizing scent of restaurant fare.

The room was lively with six or seven young women, Xue Lang, and two other men. Apart from Fatty Shao, who was a bit older and married, they were all peers, which naturally added to the convivial atmosphere.

The shift change was due, and the on-duty nurse turned a blind eye, having not returned since removing the IV drip, until the nurse from the previous night's shift came in and scolded them, bringing the sumptuous dinner to a close.

Xue Lang cherished this feeling, one he couldn't find in Snow Wolf. It was distinct from the warmth of home, different from the camaraderie of brotherhood, yet just as comforting.

This might just be the life he had been yearning for subconsciously. Even with a new identity, he found immense enjoyment in it.