“What!”

Fang Shizhong only had suspicions, but Gao Fei gave him a definitive conclusion.

Leader Li’s words meant Zhou Cheng was being promoted to deputy battalion commander!

Fang Shizhong couldn’t accept this reality. He’d been expecting this for so long, believing the deputy commander position was surely his. Now Zhou Cheng returns early from training and snatches his opportunity – how could Fang Shizhong possibly accept this?

“On what grounds? I’m going to ask Leader Li for clarity!”

“Stop! Why are you rushing off? Come back here!”

Gao Fei knew the truth about Zhou Cheng’s previous “assault” incident better than anyone.

Zhou Cheng refused to apologize and left for two years of academy training. With him gone from her sight, she’d felt relieved. Besides, the matchmaker who introduced her to Fang Shizhong had warned her not to dwell on that incident.

The implications were clear – she shouldn’t stir up trouble.

Gao Fei wondered if Zhou Cheng had powerful connections.

Hearing about his early graduation and return, she had a bad feeling.

For women, motherhood seems to be a watershed moment. Some women’s thinking seems affected after giving birth, losing their former shrewdness and becoming slower to react.

Others mature instantly upon becoming mothers.

It’s not that their intelligence suddenly improves overnight, but rather all their instincts activate when considering their child and its father.

What good would come from Fang Shizhong making trouble? The higher-ups would only develop a negative opinion of him.

If they wanted to confirm Zhou Cheng’s promotion, they could just ask… Gao Fei felt uneasy. Fang Shizhong was stuck at squad leader level – being a 30-year-old squad leader was promising, but being one in his mid-thirties would be ordinary.

Zhou Cheng was different – he was only 23, almost 10 years younger than Fang Shizhong. Why such a hurry?

“Just wait another half year and graduate normally with the other students!”

If he wanted a promotion, did he have to compete with her husband?

Would it kill him to wait another six months?

Gao Fei stopped Fang Shizhong, using the excuse of showing their child to the matchmaker to ask that leader.

The leader had received the news and advised Gao Fei to be open-minded and take a long-term view: “About Shizhong’s situation, there might be new changes in half a year. You don’t have any major grudge with Zhou Cheng – in a normal unit, colleagues might quarrel but can reconcile. Life is long – why hold grudges forever?”

So Zhou Cheng’s promotion was certain?

Fang Shizhong was so angry his stomach flattened!

Gao Fei pulled at him, “Uncle means there’ll be opportunities in half a year, but there’s only one deputy commander position. Is Fang Shizhong being transferred to another unit?”

The uncle wouldn’t say more.

Both were gloomy after saying goodbye.

“Are we supposed to curry favor with Zhou Cheng?”

After such tense previous relations, trying to get close now made Gao Fei’s ears burn.

Fang Shizhong couldn’t swallow his pride either. He was still Zhou Cheng’s equal in rank and older, despite past conflicts. Being able to speak civilly to Zhou Cheng showed his progress this past year, but he’d never learned to curry favor!

For two days after Zhou Cheng’s return, the couple hesitated.

On the third day, Zhou Cheng’s promotion order came down.

Battalion Commander Zhou returned from academy training and was promoted to deputy commander!

He’d received new uniforms – the squad leader and deputy commander had different shoulder badges. With Deputy Commander Zhou fresh out of the oven, unit members couldn’t understand.

Why was Zhou Cheng promoted so quickly?

The Jiang Wu incident couldn’t be disclosed, but Zhou Cheng’s academy performance could be public – his anti-smuggling training showed real merit.

Who else could do Coast Guard work while in academy training?

“What kind of luck is this? He gets all the good opportunities!”

Fortunately, Zhou Cheng didn’t hear Fang Shizhong’s words. What good opportunity? He earned his promotion, but Shi Kai had sacrificed his life!

With the official notice issued, they couldn’t delay mending relations with Zhou Cheng. Gao Fei bought fruit, planning to visit his room with Fang Shizhong, but Zhou Cheng had already left the unit.

He’d just returned but had another assignment from above to prepare for.

Couldn’t ask too much about assignments – when leaders specifically requested Zhou Cheng, how could he refuse? After their failed visit, Fang Shizhong looked in the mirror thinking: So what if he’s handsome – what’s so great about that?

…

“Zhou Cheng’s been promoted to deputy commander!”

Zhou Wenband shared the news with Jiang Hong upon returning home.

Jiang Hong put down her Pekingese, “Wow, so fast! Wasn’t he supposed to finish training at year’s end? Usually, promotion comes after completing training.”

Previously, Jiang Hong would’ve been bitter about such news – the higher Zhou Cheng climbed, the more proud Guan Hue would be, diminishing her status as elder sister-in-law. But Jiang Hong wasn’t as extreme now. Since Zhou Yi was unreliable, Zhou Cheng’s success could be good.

He was Zhou Wenband’s nephew after all.

Zhou Wenband was also pleased – Zhou Cheng brought honor to the Zhou family:

“He graduated early with excellent performance – of course, he’d be promoted!”

Zhou Wenband had discussed with Zhou Guobin that this might be a two-level jump, but for now, it was one level. The second wasn’t confirmed, so he wouldn’t boast too much to Jiang Hong.

Even just the deputy commander’s promotion surprised Jiang Hong.

Zhou Cheng was only 23!

Looking at her troublesome child, she thought if she’d known Zhou Yi would turn out this way, she should have sent her to Zhou Cheng’s unit as a teenager. Under unit discipline, she’d have suffered but wouldn’t have gotten involved with Yuan Han!

“Zhou Cheng seems to be home already. Call later to see if we can meet up. We should let the elders enjoy this news too – the family should gather.”

Zhou Wenband prompted Jiang Hong.

As the Zhou family’s eldest daughter-in-law, she should organize such celebrations.

Jiang Hong agreed readily.

“I’ll ask Mom and Dad first, see what they think.”

Zhou Wenband snorted, “Be clear – don’t notify Zhou Yi. Her grandfather said not to let her and that Yuan fellow visit.”

Truthfully, Zhou Yi had been behaving well lately, working while seven months pregnant, with two months until delivery. Though swollen all over, she daren’t take leave.

Just as Zhou Wenband thought she showed some progress, considering cousin Zhou Cheng’s promotion to deputy commander at 23, did Zhou Yi’s small improvement deserve special praise?

“I’d be crazy to invite her. She keeps coming home, always speaking up for Yuan. Initially agreed to stay home properly through pregnancy and childbirth, but with two months till birth, Yuan can’t sit still!”

Just hearing Yuan Han’s name made Jiang Hong physically disgusted.

When Zhou Yi spoke up for Yuan Han, Jiang Hong disliked them both.

Why notify Zhou Yi just to anger the elders and shorten their lives?