Principal Chen pondered over Ye Jian’s words for a while before he nodded and smiled, “Well, you’d better work harder. I still have other things to attend to, so tonight’s training has ended in advance. Go and get changed in the hot-bath room.”
Ye Jian was exposed to the rain for an hour. The excessive training might be detrimental to her, considering that she was still a teenager.
After taking a hot shower, Ye Jian entered the training room. She saw Principal Chen having a conversation with a middle-aged man. The man was in his forties. He was wearing a sports t-shirt and a pair of well-ironed trousers.
“Come here, girl, let me introduce you to an uncle,” Principal Chen waved at Ye Jian who had changed into her school uniform. “I need to ask your opinion on something.”
At a glance, Ye Jian could tell that the middle-aged man had served in the army. Smiling, he looked at Ye Jian and then said to Principal Chen, “I have been observing her during this period. This child can indeed endure hardships.”
“Uncle.” Ye Jian walked over to him briskly and greeted him politely.
“Principal Chen has just told me that it’s inconvenient for you to live in the dorm. You may disturb your roommates if you return to your dorm after 11 o’clock every night. Can you consider living off the campus?”
Moving out of the campus? Ye Jian was a bit bewildered.
Indeed, she had been considering moving out, especially when she saw Ye Ying today.
But she hadn’t figured out a plan. So, she felt nice and warm when she learned that Principal Chen had arranged her accommodations.
“I have been thinking of moving out, but I’m still considering…” before finishing her sentence, Ye Jian raised her head to look at Principal Chen and Uncle Yang. Her eyes were filled with joy.
Principal Chen could tell that Ye Jian had discerned his intention. Laughing, he patted on the hand of the middle-aged man and said, “Battalion Commander Yang, please take care of this child for the next 18 months.”
“No problem. It’s a pleasure that our army can help. You can rest assured that we will take care of her, as long as she is willing to stay with us.”
Battalion Commander Yang waved his hands repeatedly, suggesting that it was unnecessary for Principal Chen to thank him. He said, “She will have a single room with a restroom and a balcony. Since she is still a student, I will add a shelf and a desk lamp to her room tomorrow. What do you think?”
“I will leave it to you,” said Principal Chen. The thoroughly considerate Battalion Commander Yang made him feel more comfortable to let Ye Jian live on her own in the New Recruit Camp, which was not only safe but inconspicuous.
Ye Jian had no idea how many times her tears had threatened to leave her eyes. She leaned over, trying to bow to Battalion Commander Yang. She said, “Thank you, Uncle Yang, I will definitely not cause any trouble for you.”
Before she bent her back, Battalion Commander Yang had reached out his dignified hands to stop her. He said in a deep voice, “That would be too much, kid. Remember, as soldiers, we are unyielding. So, straighten your back!”
More than one person has told Ye Jian to keep her back straight at all times and never bend easily.
It was 11 pm. when she was back at school. Ye Jian pushed the door to her dorm gently. She frowned.
To facilitate the supervisors to check the dormitories, the school had forbidden students to lock their doors from the inside. But tonight, her dorm was locked from the inside.
Every night, with no exception, when she returned to her dormitory after her training, it was already 11 o’clock.