Chapter 122: The Job Interview

To serve as an instructor for the Flame Dragon unit is to occupy a position of terrifying authority. Both in terms of personal combat prowess and social standing, such a person exists far beyond the reach of anyone like him. Even the grandson of the Military God, the captain of the Flame Dragon, showed such profound deference to Instructor Lu that his own meager abilities seemed utterly insignificant by comparison.

At that moment, Lu Ming spoke calmly.

"I made this call because I believe you are still worth saving. Let this be a warning: a soldier should act like a soldier. Engaging in street brawls is not what a soldier should do. Regardless of what identity you think you are using, remember that first and foremost, you are an active-duty soldier."

Chishui lowered his head in shame. Although he had participated in this affair as an individual, the military held strict regulations; while on active duty, one is absolutely forbidden from interfering in civilian disputes.

After saying this, Lu Ming glanced at Chimu. Sensing that the tide had turned against him, Chimu shuddered violently.

Lu Ming continued, "The state abolished the position of village chieftain, but out of respect for your traditions, they did not strip you of the title. It was a painstaking effort to maintain that balance. Yet, you use this title to run rampant and behave with total impunity. It is truly detestable."

After a brief pause, Lu Ming added, "Today, I will give you a chance. Settle this matter yourselves."

With a cold gaze, Lu Ming stared at Chishui. Chishui felt a jolt of alarm. After a moment of hesitation, he hardened his resolve, walked up to Chimu, and said, "Cousin, I am sorry."

"What?"

Before Chimu could react, Chishui kicked him twice in the shins. With two sickening cracks, Chimu collapsed in a scream of agony. His lower legs were shattered, revealing jagged bone fragments and bleeding profusely. Chimu writhed on the ground in torment, while his henchmen watched in stunned silence.

Chishui then announced in a loud voice, "From today on, all of you are to return to your families. Go farm your land or find honest work. If anyone dares to use the family's influence or my name to stir up trouble again, Chimu’s fate will be their own."

Chishui knew that his cousin’s arrogance was fueled in no small part by his own status. Although he had never supported Chimu’s actions, others perceived it differently. Those with a bit of power were afraid to offend Chimu, which only made him more brazen, using Chishui as his shield. In the past, he could not bring himself to be this ruthless, as his cousin had once done him a favor. But things were different now. A figure of such immense stature had taken notice of them; if he did not act decisively to crush his cousin’s delusions, they and their entire family would soon face catastrophe. In a way, his actions were a form of salvation.

Chimu’s henchmen looked at Chishui, their faces pale and their minds reeling from the sudden turn of events. However, they dared not disobey him, not with the sight of Chimu’s broken legs before them.

Chishui walked to Lu Ming’s side and offered a crisp military salute.

"Instructor Lu, I guarantee that from this day forward, I will not engage in any civilian disputes. I will perform my duties as a soldier with diligence and strictly supervise my family members. If I fail to do so, I am prepared to face military justice."

Lu Ming returned the salute slowly and said, "I hope you and your family learn a lesson from this. Go."

"Yes, Instructor."

Chishui turned, ordered Chimu’s men to help him up, and the group vanished as quickly as they had come.

Wang Zeyan and the others were left completely stunned. They had thought it natural for the master to make Chishui vomit blood with a single punch—after all, a master’s techniques are beyond the ordinary—but the revelation that he was an instructor for the Flame Dragon unit left them in shock once more.

However, the person most stunned of all was A-Duo. Her mouth remained wide open in disbelief. Chimu had run rampant through the seven towns of Danzou County for a long time, and no one had ever dared to challenge him. Yet, Lu Ming had nearly killed his cousin with a single punch, and then, after a single phone call, that same cousin had personally shattered his own brother’s legs. This series of events felt impossible to her.

Lu Ming felt his stomach growl, placed a hundred-yuan note on the table, smiled at A-Duo, and stood up. He turned to Wang Zeyan and the others, saying, "None of you are exactly saints, so you’d better conduct yourselves well from now on."

With that, Lu Ming walked away, leaving Wang Zeyan and his men standing there in shame.

At the Huishan Town long-distance bus station, Lu Ming bought a ticket to the capital and waited for his bus. Once he reached the capital, he could take the high-speed rail home. Since there was still time before departure, he fell asleep while waiting. He didn’t know how long had passed before a voice woke him.

"Brother Lu?"

A-Duo stood beside him, calling out with joy. Lu Ming rubbed his eyes and looked at her. She was wearing a dress made of coarse cloth, and the silver ornaments in her hair had been replaced by a simple headscarf.

"Why are you here?" Lu Ming asked, puzzled.

A-Duo looked at the ticket in her hand, sat down beside him, and said with a dejected expression, "My boss fired me."

"Why?" Lu Ming was even more surprised.

"The boss said I caused too much trouble and he couldn't afford to keep me," A-Duo said, sounding aggrieved.

Lu Ming paused. It seemed the two incidents at the noodle shop had truly frightened the owner, and A-Duo’s dismissal was largely due to his own involvement. "What happened to your silver ornaments?" he asked.

A-Duo shook her head. "They weren't mine. The boss made me wear them to attract customers. I don't have that kind of money to wear something so expensive."

Lu Ming nodded. Those ornaments had looked quite heavy; they must have been costly.

The bus began to pull out of the station. Lu Ming looked at A-Duo beside him. Without makeup, she looked like a songbird from the mountains—full of spirit, pure, and charming. Yet, that songbird now wore a look of sorrow.

"A-Duo, do you have any plans?" Lu Ming asked again.

A-Duo shook her head. "I didn't study much and don't have much education, so it's hard to find work. Since I was fired, I decided to go to the capital to see if I could find a job. I heard the wages there are quite high."

As the bus drove toward the capital, Lu Ming and A-Duo chatted. Through their conversation, Lu Ming learned that A-Duo was a girl from the mountains with a difficult family background; she had two younger brothers who were still in school. To support them, A-Duo had dropped out of school early to work. For the past two years, she had sent all her earnings home, never even buying herself a decent set of clothes. This firing had pushed her to decide to try her luck in the big city. The capital, known as the "Land of Abundance," was a prosperous provincial hub that rivaled any first- or second-tier city in the interior. She had always wanted to see it, and this seemed as good a time as any.

Lu Ming thought to himself that since A-Duo’s firing was connected to him, and their meeting was a matter of fate, he decided to help her.

Three hours later, the bus arrived at the terminal. They stepped off and walked out of the station, and A-Duo was immediately overwhelmed by the bustling crowds.

"So many people?" she murmured. Coming to the provincial capital for the first time, she was truly intimidated.

Lu Ming sighed. A-Duo was so innocent; coming to the city all by herself was a reckless decision. Fortunately, she had bumped into him—it had to be fate.

"A-Duo, have you thought about what you want to do?" Lu Ming asked.

A-Duo shook her head blankly. "I don't have much education. Other than being a waitress at a restaurant, I can't imagine what else I could do."

Lu Ming sighed again. "Let's go. I'll take you to get something to eat first, and we can talk about work later."

A-Duo nodded. She was genuinely frightened, and had Lu Ming not been there, she wouldn't have known what to do.

After leaving the station, they found themselves on a bustling street lined with shops. Lu Ming spotted a "Jiamei Supermarket" sign and smiled to himself, having formed a plan.

After they finished eating, Lu Ming said, "That Jiamei Supermarket seems to be hiring. You could try applying there."

"Oh, a supermarket? I've never done that before," A-Duo said nervously.

Lu Ming smiled. "I saw a sign for a sales assistant. It doesn't require a degree or special skills. You’ll get the hang of it in a couple of days. Don't be afraid."