Chapter 69: Criticism

Lin Dahai had been eyeing the Type 56 assault rifle with intense yearning for a long time, though his pride had kept him from asking his son for it outright.

The father and son huddled together, turning their full attention to examining the rifle.

Although it was a modern weapon, many of the fundamental principles of firearms remained the same. Relying on his experience with guns from his youth, Lin Dahai effortlessly stripped the rifle down into its individual components, laying them neatly out across the table.

As he meticulously wiped down each part, Lin Dahai offered some sage advice to Linyang in a deep, earnest tone: "Let me tell you, son, the finer the weapon, the more care it demands. Just like people—treat it right, and it won't fail you when it matters most."

"When the dead of winter sets in, the cold gets brutally bitter, and tung oil tends to freeze up. If you use tung oil for maintenance, the gun's mechanism can easily jam."

"Bear fat is a different story altogether. Bear fat withstands the cold; old hunters from the past always preferred using bear fat to oil their firearms, and the results were exceptional."

Linyang listened attentively to his father's instruction. Although he knew some of his father's technical details weren't entirely accurate, he offered no correction.

In the past, he could only hear such patient nagging and words of wisdom from his father in his dreams. Now, with his father right here beside him, speaking to him in the flesh, his heart was overflowing with warmth and a deep sense of appreciation, utterly devoid of any impatience.

He felt that such an ordinary life was incomparably sweet, a sense of contentment swelling like a sail filled with wind—fulfilling and complete.

Yet, human joys and sorrows do not always align.

Over at the Sun household at this very moment, a heavy pall of gloom hung in the air, oppressive enough to choke the breath from one's lungs.

Sun Fugui sat in the dim room, smoking rolled cigarettes made with old newspaper one after another. The room was thick with smoke, stinging the eyes with its acrid bite.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his face a mask of anxiety and rage. He kept clawing at his hair, turning his already disheveled locks into a bird's nest.

When the forestry team had first come to investigate, he had been struck dumb, frozen in place as if hit by a bolt of lightning.

Upon learning that his son Sun Daqiang had both arms broken, he had shaken with fury, slamming his hand down on the table as he prepared to storm out and settle the score with Linyang.

Only to be mercilessly and severely reprimanded by Zhou Haiming.

Lost in his seething rage, Sun Fugui suddenly felt a sharp sting in his fingers and snapped back to reality, realizing the burning ember of his homemade cigarette had scorched his skin.

He burst into a string of vicious curses: "The damned little bastard, daring to break both my son's arms with such ruthless brutality—I'm not finished with you!"

"Hmph! You think just because you joined the forestry team and have someone backing you up, I wouldn't dare touch you?! You bastard surnamed Lin, from this day forward, it's you or me!"

Zhou Haiming had left with a cold warning to Sun Fugui: his son had committed a grave and severe offense and would be taken directly to the county seat to face justice.

As for the final outcome, no one could say for sure.

The more Sun Fugui thought about it, the more he realized he could not simply sit back and wait for doom.

If he didn't blow the matter wide open, his son's future would be utterly ruined.

Driven to distraction by this thought, he hastily packed a few garments and wheeled out the family's dilapidated bicycle.

Just as he reached the doorway, he saw his wife returning with a basket, her face wreathed in smiles.

She had just come back from her maiden home, the basket brimming with various goods her family had given her.

There were fresh vegetables grown in their own plot, farm-fresh eggs gifted by her relatives, and even a small slab of cured pork weighing a little over a pound.

Seeing Sun Fugui wheeling out the bicycle as if preparing for a long journey, the smile froze on her face. She asked with a puzzled frown, "Old Sun, where are you off to? Why are you in such a frantic rush?"

Sun Fugui had no desire to tell his wife the truth, fearing her rash temperament would not only fail to help but make matters worse. With a dark, impatient expression, he snapped, "That little scoundrel is in trouble, and I need to go into the county town to see what's going on. Never mind that, just stay put at home and behave."

"What kind of trouble? What happened to Daqiang? At least tell me clearly!" Hearing that her son was in trouble, his wife panicked instantly. Her eyes widened as she pressed him with anxious urgency.

"Oh, stop asking! You wouldn't understand even if I told you. I'll be right back, just watch the house."

Sun Fugui waved an impatient hand, straddled the bicycle, and pedaled off in a hurried blur, leaving his wife standing at the threshold, gazing after his retreating figure with deep apprehension.

By afternoon, the Third Forestry Team was the talk of the town, every member's face radiating proud smiles.

Not only had they received public commendation from their superiors, but they had also been granted tangible rewards.

More than a dozen team members were allotted provisions such as rice, flour, grain, and cooking oil, leaving members of the other teams consumed with envy.

Against this backdrop, Zhou Haiming's proposal to officially admit Linyang as a resident mountain patroller sailed through without a hitch.

The bullets deeply embedded in the skull of that big black bear provided irrefutable proof of Linyang's extraordinary marksmanship and uncommon courage, making everything fall naturally into place.

That very day, higher-ups issued a direct approval: Linyang was officially recognized as a mountain patroller, with his salary retroactive from that day forward, along with all associated subsidies and benefits.

The leaders were in exceptionally high spirits, sparing no praise for the Third Team during the meeting.

That monstrous bear, which had kept everyone on edge for so long, had finally been successfully hunted, and the heavy boulder that had weighed on everyone's minds for ages was finally lifted.

As for Sun Daqiang's situation, the leaders dismissed it lightly with a single phrase: "He deserved it."

After all, since no irreparable tragedy had occurred, no one was inclined to take the matter very seriously.

Taking advantage of the presence of the entire leadership panel, Zhou Haiming seized the opportunity to detail Linyang's family background and upbringing, giving everyone a comprehensive understanding of the young man.

Then, the unexpected happened—someone was about to face a reckoning.

Sun Xiaorong had just finished her classes for the day and was packing her things to head home.

At that moment, a student came running over, breathless and panting. "Teacher Sun, the principal wants you to come to his office."

A gentle smile gracing her lips, Sun Xiaorong lightly patted the student's head and said, "Alright, Teacher knows. Go play outside first!"

She thought to herself that just a few days ago, the principal had mentioned giving her more responsibilities and letting her take charge of a class. Perhaps today was the day he would officially break the good news to her!

At this thought, Sun Xiaorong's steps grew much lighter, her face brimming with eager anticipation.

She arrived at the principal's office door and gave a soft knock.

Hearing a voice from within bid her enter, she pushed the door open cautiously, wearing a radiant smile as she asked, "Principal, did you want to see me?"

Sun Xiaorong had always been mindful of her public image and enjoyed an exemplary reputation at the school.

With delicate features, a gentle and kind temperament, and a patient, meticulous approach toward her pupils, she was deeply cherished by both students and colleagues alike.

However, upon seeing her enter, the principal's normally affable countenance suddenly turned grave and severe, a trace of displeasure and disappointment flashing in his eyes.

Clearing his throat, the principal spoke in a heavy, solemn tone: "Comrade Sun Xiaorong, I am now here to convey an official reprimand from the leadership!"