Chapter 61 What a Big Deal?

Cao Zhengde's body shuddered slightly as he looked with a trace of dread at Zhang Qun, who was striding toward them.

Zhang Qun's face was as dark as ink by the time he reached Ye Yuan. "Old commander, are you alright?"

Ye Yuan shook his head slightly without a word, his deep gaze fixed quietly on Cao Zhengde.

Initially, upon seeing Ye Yuan's appearance and attire, Cao Zhengde had simply assumed he was a veteran of the War of Resistance, invited here merely for a photo-op—after all, such occurrences were not unheard of. Because of this, he had completely disregarded Ye Yuan.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Ye Yuan to be Zhang Qun's old commander!

He had previously caught wind that the commander of the Independent Regiment, whom Zhang Qun had served under during the war, had resurfaced, but he had failed entirely to connect this elderly man with that legendary and mysterious former commander.

"I... I..."

Cao Zhengde's voice trembled.

Zhang Qun took a deep breath, finally managing to suppress his boiling rage. He said coldly, "Commander Cao, I won't waste words with you. Save whatever you have to say for the inspection team."

At these words, Cao Zhengde's legs turned to jelly, and he nearly collapsed to the floor.

He rushed toward Zhang Qun, his face a mask of desperate pleading. "Chief! Chief! I beg you, give me one more chance! I know I was wrong, please..."

"Commander Cao, you are a veteran yourself. You made significant contributions during the Sino-Vietnamese Self-Defense Counterattack, but... you have lost your way."

Grief mingled with disappointment in Zhang Qun's eyes as he looked at Cao Zhengde. "Ever since you assumed the post of corps commander, you know better than anyone what kind of things you have been doing all this time."

Cao Zhengde felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He stood frozen on the spot, utterly speechless.

Ye Yuan's gaze then shifted to Cao Yue, who was equally pale and silent. "A mere corps commander's son dares to be this arrogant and domineering? Calling yourself 'Young Marshal'? Do you even have the right?"

"Back in my day, if you had dared to act so lawlessly, I would have been the first to draw my pistol and put a bullet through you!"

Thud!

Cao Yue's legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground.

In an instant, all his previous arrogance vanished completely.

He looked pleadingly at Zhang Qun. "Uncle Zhang, Uncle Zhang... please..."

"Young Marshal?"

Zhang Qun glanced sideways at Cao Yue. "I've watched you grow up, and I've caught wind of the things you've been up to over the years. But... you have provoked someone you simply shouldn't have."

Cao Zhengde snapped his head up and looked straight at Zhang Qun. "Chief... as long as you are willing to show mercy and spare me, I guarantee that from this day forward I will keep myself in check and strictly discipline this unfilial son. I swear the same mistake will never happen again!"

"It's too late."

Zhang Qun waved a hand. "The inspection team is already on their way."

Cao Zhengde's eyes lit up with a spark of hope. He spoke eagerly, "Chief, I have already made arrangements with the inspection team in advance. As long as you are willing to look the other way this once, nothing will happen!"

Zhang Qun frowned deeply, just about to speak, when Ye Yuan suddenly interrupted, "Very well, little Zhang. Grant him this chance and show him leniency. I'd like to see for myself whether this inspection team truly turns a blind eye for him!"

Though Ye Yuan's voice was calm, it carried a potent undercurrent of fury.

Zhang Qun paused, instantly grasping Ye Yuan's intent.

Ye Yuan clearly wanted to test whether this inspection team operated in compliance with regulations and the law.

"Understood."

Not daring to defy Ye Yuan, Zhang Qun could only nod. "Cao Zhengde, you are driving yourself down a dead end."

Cao Zhengde looked bewildered, completely failing to grasp the meaning behind Ye Yuan's words.

However, seeing that Zhang Qun had seemingly agreed to his request, a look of wild elation swept across Cao Zhengde's face.

He turned his head toward Cao Yue.

"Dad, don't worry."

Although still terrified, Cao Yue had recovered his composure somewhat. "I've already arranged everything with Brother Wu!"

Brother Wu?

Ye Yuan was momentarily taken aback.

Could the inspection team member Zhang Qun mentioned be that young man?

Yet that young man had seemed far too young, looking barely older than Cao Yue himself. How could someone like that hold a position in an office as vital as the inspection team?

As they spoke, Cao Yue's phone rang.

Energized, Cao Yue pulled out his phone, and upon seeing the caller ID, a look of ecstatic joy flooded his features.

"It's Brother Wu."

Answering the call immediately, Cao Yue gushed, "Hello, hello, Brother Wu! We're currently in the military district cafeteria. Have you finished eating already? Why so fast? Were the dishes not to your liking?"

"Oh, oh, oh! Alright, alright, I'll come find you right away..."

As he spoke and made to leave, Ye Yuan's calm voice rang out, "Tell him to come here."

"You!"

Cao Yue glared at Ye Yuan with a hostile expression, appalled that this old veteran was so utterly unappreciative of the situation, showing complete disregard even for someone from the inspection team.

Did this old man not realize how immense the power of the inspection team was?

Even a single word from them could reduce an old veteran like him to an ordinary nobody on the street.

"Fine, fine! You wait right here!"

Covering the mouthpiece, Cao Yue spat a harsh threat before restoring a beaming smile to his face and speaking back into the phone, "Brother Wu, something's come up on our end, we need you to personally take a trip over here..."

Hanging up, Cao Yue cast a sarcastic sneer at Ye Yuan. "Old man, you have no idea whose toes you've stepped on, do you? You actually had the nerve to ask someone from the inspection team to come here and see you! Do you really think you're somebody special?"

Zhang Qun let out a helpless sigh, casting a profound and meaningful look at the father and son pair.

It seemed these two were utterly oblivious to the current political climate.

If either of them had watched even a little bit of television, they would have instantly recognized who this globally revered old man truly was.

"Let's eat."

Leaving behind those simple words, Ye Yuan seated himself at the table and resumed eating.

Sun Ting followed suit and continued her meal.

"You people still have the nerve to sit there and eat like nothing's happened?!"

Incredulous, Cao Yue took a stride forward, attempting to knock over Ye Yuan's food tray.

"Audacious!"

Zhang Qun's face turned livid.

Stopping Cao Yue in his tracks with a stern reprimand, he turned back to Cao Zhengde. "Commander Cao, you're just going to stand there and watch?"

Cao Zhengde blinked, then gave a slight, dismissive shake of his head toward Cao Yue.

Having convinced themselves they were in no real danger, the father and son had relaxed considerably.

Cao Yue shot a venomous glare at Ye Yuan, mentally resolving to exact his revenge the moment an opportunity arose.

Half an hour later.

A young man, accompanied by several military officers, walked over with a slight swagger, reeking faintly of alcohol.

This young man was none other than the very same Brother Wu whom Cao Yue had gone out of his way to pick up at the railway station.

"Brother Wu!"

Wearing a wide smile, Cao Yue hurried forward. "You're here."

Brother Wu glanced dismissively at Cao Yue.

"What is it? What kind of big deal warrants making me run all the way over here?"