Chapter 007: Father's Resume

Uncle Lai, please go ahead, I am listening

The unit's designation and some other details, your father did not mention, nor did I inquire

Uncle Lai, I thank you. I want to know what my father actually does. I am serious; if there are things you are unwilling to discuss, you can simply say that you cannot speak about them, but do not lie to me. As I listen, I am making my own plans. If I cannot hear the truth, that is fine; I can search for it slowly on my own. However, if I hear lies, those lies will significantly affect my thinking, leading me to misunderstandings and causing delays in many matters. As I make my own plans, if I cannot hear the truth, that is fine; I can search for it slowly on my own. However, if I hear lies, those lies will significantly affect my thinking, leading me to misunderstandings and causing delays in many matters.

"Xiaotong, I cannot deny that you are a very intelligent person, and this trait is inherited from your father," Uncle Lai said with a self-deprecating smile. "I don't know how to lie, so I just say what needs to be said directly. However, I want to clarify something with you in advance. For example, your father is the overall commander of a battle, while I am merely a combat advisor. I will assist him in winning this battle and will do my best to fulfill my duties, but the true grand strategy is known only to your father."

If I say that the matter he is dealing with is related to ghostly curses, would you believe it

"Uncle Lai, is this my father's resume?" I couldn't help but ask, "As for the situation with the Xihai River, you might say you don't know, but what about in the geological team? You were colleagues with him; why did he leave? You don't know that either?"

That was many years ago, Uncle Lai said. My father enlisted in the army early on. His initial aspiration was to become a reconnaissance soldier, as the situation with Vietnam was quite tense at the time, with the possibility of war breaking out at any moment. My father's original intention was to be an outstanding reconnaissance soldier, using his own strength to strive to ensure the success of the entire combat plan. He had a solid foundation before enlisting, which was a significant advantage. My father's original intention was to be an outstanding reconnaissance soldier, using his own strength to strive to ensure the success of the entire combat plan. He had a solid foundation before enlisting, which was a significant advantage.

Four years later, the entire troop withdrew from the West Sea River, and the withdrawal was quite sudden. However, my father still sensed some signs, because about a month before the retreat order was issued, there had been devastating destruction actions on the West Sea River side. Some buildings that had been painstakingly constructed were completely destroyed, and trucks loaded with explosives piled up, flattening certain areas.

After that, my father was demobilized, returning as a volunteer soldier. In the vast sea of demobilized military personnel each year, he was merely a grain of insignificant sand. After his demobilization, he began working in the geological department, and it was during this time that Uncle Lai became acquainted with my father

Are you implying that there are certain matters you are unaware of, and therefore unable to convey to me

"There is nothing much; I just want to tell you that some matters are destined to be known only by a very few people. The more you know, the more you must bear. If this burden exceeds your capacity to endure, you will collapse." Uncle Lai gently patted his chest and said, "The truth lies here; do you want to hear it?"

Uncle Lai, I beg you, can you please finish your words in one go? Stop being so evasive. I felt a bit impatient, as if I were listening to a storytelling program on the radio, and every time it reached the most critical moment, I was always met with the nonsensical phrase, "To know what happens next, tune in next time." That feeling made me unable to resist the urge to smash the radio.

Clearly, they came here to carry out a mission. The natural conditions of the Xihai River are very poor; however, at that time, those people, including my father, did not think much of it, as the work of the engineers involved such arduous tasks. What the specific mission was, Uncle Lai could not clarify, but judging by the duration of their stay at the Xihai River, it was indeed a very important task

Uncle Lai and I sat side by side by the fish pond. He did not answer my question immediately, silently smoking a cigarette. He was certainly contemplating how to respond to me, as I already knew some things. If he were to lie through his teeth, he would not be able to deceive me, so he had to think about how to speak to me and how much to say. I did not urge him; I also lit a cigarette and began to smoke. He was certainly contemplating how to respond to me, as I already knew some things. If he were to lie through his teeth, he would not be able to deceive me, so he had to think about how to speak to me and how much to say. I did not urge him; I also lit a cigarette and began to smoke.

After joining this unit, my father and some other personnel underwent intensive training for nearly six months. Subsequently, they were ordered to a location. It was a little-known area at the border of Gansu and Xinjiang, which the people in the unit referred to as Xihai River.

They stayed at the West Sea River for a full four years. The events that occurred during these four years are completely a mystery to outsiders

After much consideration, I have finally made up my mind. I cannot understand my father without * pictures * and * books *; I must know what kind of person he is.

"Your father has indeed gone to handle an important matter." Uncle Lai gazed at the water's surface under the moonlight and let out a slight sigh: "He cannot guarantee his success, Xiao Tong. You must understand that what we are facing is something no one can assure..."

If I only wanted to receive an answer, I might nod immediately, but Uncle Lai's words made me experience a different kind of feeling. He was clear enough; to hear the truth, one must certainly bear some burdens, and the burdens to be borne are unknown. I am contemplating whether I can shoulder these responsibilities.

Uncle Lai did not blush with embarrassment when I exposed his lies; his psychological resilience is commendable. After I said these words, he did not refute me but simply gazed at me. After a while, he picked up a stone and threw it into the water: "This stone sinks to the bottom, making it difficult to find, as the water flow is ever-changing"

"Uncle Lai, I won't ask you anymore, nor do I wish to expose your lies." I tossed away the cigarette butt, already calculating in my mind: "The things you won't tell me, I will seek the answers myself. In the ancient tomb on the southern bank of the Peacock River, there is a corpse; in a small notebook on the corpse is written my father's name. Could it be this simple? Did he really go in search of a way to lift the curse of the ghostly shadow?"

I am retreating to advance, but I genuinely think that if there is truly no other way, I will personally go to the Peacock River to take a look wwwhetushucomcom, as that is currently the only place where I can find clues.

I have always remembered what Uncle Lai said, that my father is one of the few who has remained safe and sound since being afflicted by the curse of the ghostly shadow, and that a complete solution to lift the curse has yet to be found. A thought crossed my mind: could it be that my father is searching for a way to break the curse of the ghostly shadow?

However, it is regrettable that this dream fell through; he did not become a scout nor did he participate in the subsequent counter-offensive against Vietnam, but was instead transferred to an engineering unit. There must have been a convoluted backstory in between, as Uncle Lai mentioned that the group of personnel entering this engineering unit at that time was selected.

What matter are you attending to

More importantly, every word and sentence in the letter he left behind indicates that he departed with a determination to face death, and he had no intention of returning after he left

Your father's past has always been a mystery to you; you might think he has always worked in the geology department. Uncle Lai turned back to glance at Qiu the Taoist and Zhang Qiao, who were still in the room. Uncle Lai seemed to want to ensure that the following words could be heard by only me: "Your father was once a soldier"

From today's perspective, the engineering corps at that time may have had some elements that seemed unusual. However, my father did not think much of it back then. He has always been a serious person when it comes to work. Coupled with the era and environmental context he was in, when a command came down from above, even if it meant jumping into a fire pit ahead, he would do so.

Because... Uncle Lai raised his head and looked at me: "I made a mistake, a very serious mistake"

This is exactly what it means; it is not a deliberate concealment, because your father does not want me to bear so much burden

However, this time, my father did not stay long; after about two or three years, he left the geological department. Uncle Lai left with him, and the two of them partnered to start a small business, with Uncle Lai generally handling the specific matters.

Uncle Lai said that this is a part of the past that my father is very reluctant to mention. In his mind, he may have always felt averse to or resistant to these memories

What do you want to express

This error is also related to the Xihai River. Uncle Lai exhaled a large puff of smoke, as if venting emotions that had been pent up for a long time: "An error that cost three lives."

I am not clear when my father fell under the shadow curse, nor how he came to be afflicted by it. However, I know for certain that it was not within the past year or two. He is aware of the curse he bears, and if he were seeking a way to lift it, he would not have waited until now.

Why was I dismissed

In fact, I do not wish to speak so specifically about your father's reputation. Uncle Lai asked me for a cigarette: "He was dismissed."

Uncle Lai nodded, not denying my thought. As I smoked, Uncle Lai's expression appeared calm in the moonlight and the reflection of the water, yet I could still sense his fluctuations. It was an intuition, without any basis, but I felt that he was lying, at least, not telling the whole truth.