He Daqing, do you know how I've lived these past years?

"Haha, let's keep drinking,"

"Lou Shiye, you truly deserve the title of Steel King! We're all thanks to you; our steel orders for this year are all ready."

Lou Zhenhua took a sip of the rice wine in his glass and said:

"I've given you everything I can today, but next year it might be half as much. I've already reached a cooperation agreement with Boss Le from Beijing."

Several businessmen nearby also raised their glasses and said:

"Then we congratulate Lou Shiye on his promotion and wish him great fortune!"

"Haha, bottoms up!"

……

After the meal, Lou Zhenhua called over his housekeeper and learned that the chef today could cook Tan family dishes; no wonder the taste was so similar.

Thinking of Tanya Li, he said to Butler Lou:

"Then let him be the canteen manager. From now on, besides the occasional large-batch meals, he'll also be responsible for cooking for guests. He'll be allowed to take two dishes home. The original manager can continue buying groceries, but he doesn't need to manage canteen affairs."

Butler Lou nodded and bowed as he left the restaurant. He went to the kitchen and saw He Daqing wiping the stove with a rag. He said:

"Great Qing, come here,"

"The others came over too."

Butler Lou saw that everyone had put down their work and gathered around, and said:

"From now on, He Daqing will be in charge of the cafeteria. You all need to cooperate. The most capable person will be promoted. Don't think about anything else."

"Yes, Head Steward."

"Understood, Chief Steward."

A tall woman at the very back of the crowd murmured:

"He Daqing? He Daqing!"

"Is it He Daqing that my cousin mentioned?"

……

After taking Butler Lou away, He Daqing threw down the rag he was holding and said to everyone:

"Alright, my name is He Daqing. I'll be making a living here from now on. I'm not afraid of you causing trouble. Chief Jia Gui of the Beijing Municipal Police Headquarters is my brother. Think twice before you cause any trouble."

"Everyone get to work. Someone come and clean this stove."

The white widow, standing at the back of the crowd, immediately recognized the man as the one her cousin had mentioned. She grabbed a rag and stepped out of the crowd to wipe the stove.

He Daqing sniffed the fragrance wafting from the side, his eyes fixed intently on the white widow's retreating figure.

Some women nearby, seeing this, also muttered curses under their breath:

"Look at this white widow, she's a vixen. The moment the new manager arrived, she immediately clung to him, her body practically soaked in rouge and powder."

Upon hearing this, He Daqing quickly turned and glared at the woman who had spoken. The crowd then dispersed, each going back to their work.

Da Qing nodded in satisfaction, walked to the threshold, sat down, took out a cigarette, and quietly watched the white widow working. His heart was also burning with enthusiasm, his eyes bloodshot.

……

Le Mansion

"Sir, this is an urgent report from General Song. Please take a look."

Leyou nodded, gesturing for the communications officer to place it on the table, and then continued looking at the vacant judicial positions and the distribution of some ruins for reconstruction.

A moment later, Leyou rubbed his temples, picked up the telegram beside him, and took a look.

After a long silence, a heavy sigh echoed in the empty office.

It wasn't until evening, when Huang Ying came to call for dinner, that she found Le You lost in thought amidst a cloud of smoke. She quickly opened the window and called out:

"Senior brother, what are you doing? If you hadn't made a sound, I would have thought there was a fire. Look at this smoke!"

Leyou nodded and said:

"Huang Ying, could you please go and call Fatty Bai over for me? You guys eat dinner first, just leave some for me."

Huang Ying nodded and left the room.

A moment later, the chubby man walked in, fanning himself, but upon smelling the strong odor of smoke, he immediately shrank back and stood at attention to the side, not daring to utter a word.

"Leyou opened her reddened eyes and said:"

"Old Bai, give me the map of Beijing that you and Jia Gui compiled before."

"Jia Gui, bring him back first, then call back all the remaining officers of company commander rank and above."

The chubby man quickly saluted and said:

"Yes"

Then he rushed out in a panic, his eyes glancing inadvertently at the table. The words on the telegram nearly made him spit out his saliva.

"Our party has been completely wiped out in the east, and other war zones are suffering successive defeats. Our troops are also overwhelmed. Some generals have already gone to the United States. You must take care of yourself in Beijing and prioritize your own safety. If there is no way to retreat, you may go to Guangxi."

……

After an incense stick had burned for a while, Leyou walked out of the office and onto the playground.

Looking at the densely packed soldiers standing in perfect order before me, I was filled with mixed emotions.

He had already reached the rank of major general, and although he was a member of the People's Party, his status was now ambiguous and unclear.

After slowly lighting a cigarette, he hesitated for a moment before uttering a hoarse sound:

"I enjoy traveling and defending my country. From fighting the cherry blossoms in 42 to participating in the Yunnan-Burma Expedition in 44, I have fought in battles large and small, rising to the rank of major general. Today, I have learned some news that concerns our lives: our Party has suffered repeated defeats in various war zones, and we may soon become isolated cities. Since we are all people of Great Xia, I am giving you two choices. Besides the new recruits, you should go back and explain this to your soldiers."

"After returning, clarify the family situations of your subordinates: whether they are only children, have multiple children, or are there fathers and sons involved."

"Firstly, they can be stationed in Hung Heung Lu Harbour, Kowloon, and their descendants can remain there for generations."

"Secondly, those who remain with me to guard Beijing, but whose fate is unknown, I will arrange for highly educated soldiers, but I do not know what the outcome will be."

As soon as the words were spoken, the densely packed soldiers stood at attention and roared:

"I am willing to follow the general, to the death and to the end. As long as I live, the city stands; if the city falls, I will perish."

As the roars grew louder, the master and others upstairs also came to the window to look down.

More and more people from the surrounding area came out of their homes and came to the vicinity of the Le Mansion to see the scene inside.

Looking at his subordinate, whose face was flushed and who was yelling in front of him, Le You couldn't help but shed two lines of tears.

"Alright, everyone return to your posts and inform your soldiers that tomorrow, each regimental commander should give me the list of those going south to garrison and the list of those with higher education who will stay behind."

None of the officers retreated; they continued shouting.

"I am willing to follow the general, to the death and to the end. As long as I live, the city stands; if the city falls, I will perish."

Leyou drew his Browning pistol from his waist and fired a bullet into the air.

He roared:

"All regimental commanders, battalion commanders, and company commanders, get back to your camps and relay my orders! Get the hell out of here!"

The officers also shed tears and ran out of the Le Mansion in unison.

Leyou suddenly felt weak and sat down on the steps.

Jia Gui, who was standing nearby, hurriedly took out a cigarette and lit a match.

Leyou chuckled and said:

"You can choose either Jia Gui or the chubby guy. Since you've become my subordinates, I'll treat you both equally."

Jia Gui glanced at the chubby man and said:

"Boss, Lao Bai and I cheated on Xia, but although my body is in Yinghua, my heart is in Xia."

But no matter what we did to make amends, it was useless. Although our lives were not in danger, we suffered endless scorn and hardship.

It was the boss who lifted us up from our humble beginnings and pulled us out of that living hell. You gave us our lives; if you asked us to die now, we wouldn't hesitate.

Leyou gave Jia Gui a deep look and slowly said:

"Then go ahead and die right now!"

……