Chapter 78: The Cycle of Cause and Effect

Chapter 78: The Cycle of Cause and Effect

With a look of guilt on his face, Gu Changgeng looked at Old Lu and said solemnly, "Commander Lu, I am truly ashamed of what happened back then. I am unworthy of being a soldier."

You are not worthy.

Gu Changgeng lowered his head and accepted Old Master Lu's criticism.

"Do you know who Bai Zhi is?" Old Lu stared at him coldly for a long time before slowly speaking, "She is the granddaughter of Squad Leader Bai."

"What?" Gu Changgeng was stunned by the answer and couldn't speak.

Bai Zhi is actually Bai Squad Leader's granddaughter?

"You still have the nerve to ask her to treat your granddaughter's illness?"

"I......."

Upon learning Bai Zhi's identity, Gu Changgeng was first stunned, then shocked and panicked. He hurriedly pleaded, "Commander Lu, I did desert back then, I admit I was a coward, but my granddaughter is innocent. All of this has nothing to do with her, a mere child. I hope you..."

His first thought was that he couldn't let Bai Zhi know about his cowardly behavior back then.

He was afraid that Bai Zhi would look down on him because of this, and like Commander Lu, harbor resentment towards him and be unwilling to continue treating Niu Niu.

Old Lu angrily interrupted him, "Don't judge a gentleman by your own petty standards. I'm not as despicable as you."

"Commander Lu, I admit that I was scared during that battle, and I ran away. I don't deserve to be a soldier. But I was only sixteen years old at the time. I was just a new recruit with no combat experience. Under the circumstances, my running away was just because I lacked courage. I don't agree with calling me despicable."

Old Master Lu's expression was serious, and he did not want to continue this topic. "Gu Changgeng, I'm not going to discuss this issue with you. You are not qualified."

Gu Changgeng had no choice but to remain silent.

After a long silence, Gu Changgeng couldn't help but speak again, "Commander Lu, all these years I've been thinking about Sergeant Bai and all my comrades. I've lost contact with everyone and I'm ashamed to face you. How are you?"

"Very good."

Old Master Lu didn't want to talk to him anymore, and he didn't want to stay under the same roof as Gu Changgeng, so he simply walked to a shoe repair stall by the roadside and squatted down to wait for Bai Zhi to get off work.

Gu Changgeng stood awkwardly behind Old Master Lu, trying to continue the conversation.

After not seeing each other for many years, he felt both warm and ashamed when he saw his old comrade-in-arms and elder brother.

He was only sixteen when he joined the army, and the older soldiers who were more than ten years older than him took good care of him.

Unfortunately, he was a disappointment and deserted on his first battlefield out of fear.

I've dragged everyone down.

He remembered... during that fierce battle with the enemy, his comrades were fighting on the front lines, while he was assigned to the rear.

As the battle reached its climax, Sergeant Bai called for him to resupply bullets, but he was too afraid to go.

Because of his cowardice, he failed to provide timely backup for Squad Leader Bai, resulting in Squad Leader Bai running out of bullets when rescuing everyone. He had no choice but to fight the enemy hand-to-hand and was seriously injured in the end.

After the battle, Squad Leader Bai did not criticize or blame him for his cowardice, but only said that he needed to be trained.

He said he would ask everyone to mentor him and help him grow into a true warrior.

Squad Leader Bai suffered a severe leg injury and was unable to continue fighting in the army, so he had to retire and return to his hometown.

Naturally, everyone blamed Bai, the squad leader, for leaving.

Of course, he admitted that he bore an unshirkable responsibility for Squad Leader Bai's injury.

He became a thorn in everyone's side, and what's worse, he would tremble and his legs would go weak as soon as he went to the battlefield, making it impossible for him to fight.

Unable to face the disdainful and sarcastic attitude of his comrades, he chose to desert.

Through family connections, he left the army directly.

He later achieved considerable success in the field of education, but there remained an insurmountable obstacle within him...

He missed his squad leader and comrades who had taken care of him, but he was too ashamed to appear in front of them.

He had also inquired about their situation.

Unfortunately, most of the older brothers from back then sacrificed their lives on the battlefield.

Only Brother Lu and Brother Xie were lucky enough to live to see a peaceful era.

Twenty years ago, he had met Xie Lao Nian at a conference and wanted to chat with him, but Xie Lao Nian ignored him and publicly stated in front of everyone that he did not know him.

From then on, even if we bumped into each other, we could only pretend to be strangers.

"Go inside and see your granddaughter. Don't get in my way. I don't know you."

Old Master Lu turned his face away, unwilling to pay him any attention. Gu Changgeng hesitated for a few seconds, then had no choice but to turn around and go back to the pharmacy.

When Bai Zhi saw Old Master Gu come in, she smiled and asked him, "Old Master Gu, is my Grandpa Lu outside?"

Gu Changgeng concealed the unusual emotion on his face and said, "Yes, outside."

When Bai Zhi performed acupuncture on Niu Niu, she used a very gentle technique, afraid that the child would feel pain.

She gently comforted her, "Niu Niu, do you feel a little heavy? It's okay, the magic is working, let's hang in there a little longer, okay?"

"good."

Niu Niu sat in the chair with her eyes closed, obedient and focused. "Auntie Xiaobai, please don't talk. I'm not in pain. I want to hear a story."

Bai Zhi, "!!!"

Niu Niu listened with such fascination and enjoyment that it further encouraged Dr. Zhou.

His voice became even louder, and his speech became even more captivating.

Angelica dahurica has even been incorporated into the world of martial arts.

Half an hour later, with Doctor Zhou's words, "To find out what happens next, please listen to the next episode," Bai Zhi also had her last needle removed.

Niu Niu opened her eyes, still looking on with a lingering, wistful expression, gazing longingly at Doctor Zhou.

"Niu Niu, the magic is over for today. We'll tell you a story next time."

Niu Niu looked at Gu Changgeng with a wronged expression, "Grandpa, why don't you tell the stories that Uncle Daxia told? I really want to hear them."

She tugged at Gu Changgeng's sleeve and pleaded, "Grandpa, please learn from Uncle the Great Hero and tell me stories about him when we get home. I want to hear tales of great heroes."

When Gu Changgeng heard the word "great hero," he felt it was jarring and his face burned with embarrassment.

He just thought of something.

Last time they encountered Lu Shan coming to Jishengtang looking for Bai Zhi.

Lu Shan, Old Master Lu...

So, their relationship...

No wonder his second son suddenly asked him out of the blue if he had ever deserted from the battlefield...

Gu Changgeng considered a possibility, and his refined face turned ugly.

What a small world.

The consequences of her own actions have ultimately fallen on her son.