There were far fewer people at the Ninth Army combat training base after the graduation. As Old Little Peach, the man in charge of guarding the gate over at the living quarters, put it in his home dialect, both the soldiers and the instructors went off to be soldiers. One batch came and one went, and just like that a year passed. 

The base felt a little empty because of it. Apart from some veterans back on leave, plus the base officers and the garrison, there was hardly anybody left save for some new platoons still in their preparation period.

The instructors’ building was nearly empty too.

Lao Jian brewed a cup of Longjing tea[1] from west of Linzhou City in his issued celadon cup, lifted the lid to smell it, and strolled over to the window with a feigned casualness. “Platoon Leader Mira, when you have a moment, send someone to call Han Qingyu to the office. It wouldn’t hurt to let him sit in while we discuss this business of picking platoon members.”

This was a man who wanted Han Qingyu’s opinion but couldn’t bring himself to let go of his pride as a platoon leader. 

Mira kept her head down over her writing, forming Chinese characters with her left hand. Holding back a laugh, she said, “He’s out on a mission.”

“Oh… What?” Platoon Leader Lao croaked out, then tried to rein in his reaction. “All of a sudden? Why didn’t it come through me for approval?”

“There probably...