Chapter 3

Chapter 3 : Transformation

Wang Chong was filled with guilt.

Wang Chong saw his mother’s reaction. Just by admitting his mistake, apologizing, and sitting at the table quietly could make mother so happy just showed how pathetic he was in the past.

In his past life, he refused to accept the situation after being forcefully transported to this world. Although Father and Mother treated him as their biological son, deep down, Wang Chong did not accept them as his biological parents.

Therefore, Wang Chong had a sense of alienation towards them in his heart.

This was also the reason that Wang Chong ignored all punishments, beatings, and teachings in his past life. Wang Chong always thought that this isn’t his world and he’s just a bystander.

He thought that, all these people, all these things… were just superficial events in his life. But reality proved to him how wrong he was.

Only people who have experienced loss know how to cherish; only people who have nothing know how precious everything is.

After a major event that caused the family’s downfall in his previous life, his poor behaviors would normally make Father, Mother and the entire family to give up on him.

But it was actually them who still took care of him even during these most bitter, difficult, and troubling times.

As long as there was food to eat, he would always the first one to eat.

Reflecting on it, mother who was not even fifty years old yet already had a head full of white hair, like a sixty or seventy years old senior, Wang Chong was filled with remorse.

At the very end, mother died in his arms. At the moment when her dignified body collapsed, Wang Chong finally realized that her body was so fragile.

Wang Chong’s heart was bleeding.

At that instant, Wang Chong’s heart was broken, crumbled, became completely dead. For the next thirty years, Wang Chong was only a living doll; a shell of his former self.

Mother! Why were you so good to me?

Weeping in his heart, Wang Chong let out a cry of despair in the heavy rain. This was his first time crying in this world. At that point, his whole world collapsed!

Although Wang Chong woke up to reality, it was all too late! Much too late!

Maybe God heard his prayer and gave him a second chance to start all over again. Seeing Mother dining beside him, Wang Chong’s heart ached.

Mother, you can rest assured. In this life, I will never let you down again and never let anyone hurt you. No one!

Wang Chong clenched his fist under the table and swore.

“Eat! Eat! We can talk later.”

Madam Wang, Zhao Shuhua, was in a good mood. She grabbed her chopsticks, picked up a piece of crispy roasted chicken, and put it onto Wang Chong’s plate.

“Mother, you eat too!”

Wang Chong also picked up his chopsticks and put a big piece into his mother’s bowl.

Madam Wang was greatly pleased by this. Also, the father’s stiffened face loosened, and his discontent towards Wang Chong lessened. Out of the five virtues, filial piety placed first. To grab food for his mother, this was a big step forward.[1]

Presumably, the big fuss this time had reformed him. Thinking of this, Wang Yan trusted his assumption even more.

“Father, Mother, I want to take advantage of this opportunity to discuss with you about a matter that I hope you can approve.” When everyone was getting ready to eat, Wang Chong put down his chopstick and inquired after contemplating a bit.

“What do you want to do this time?”

It was better if Wang Chong didn’t say this. With this sentence, Father’s face immediately sank, and his eyes turned cold. This bastard, after doing such a thing, I thought he really amended his ways, but one’s true character was hard to change after all.

After saying so much and acting so well-behaved, it was to negotiate after all. I would like to see what this disobedient son is up to.

“Chong’er, what do you want to say?”

Madam Wang, unlike the father, was fascinated by this and replied with anticipation. Probably, those who believe in their children the most will always be mothers. In this situation, Madam Wang didn’t think as much as the father.

“Father, Mother, I have contemplated for a long time…”

Wang Chong had his head down with a thoughtful expression on his face. Whether he could regain the approval of his parents would depend on this. Wang Chong knew his next words would be very important to his future.

“I want to join the military!”

Wang Chong proclaimed.

Everyone in the great hall was dumbfounded by his declaration. Even all of the things that Wang Chong said and done before combined were incomparable to the shock that this declaration had brought to everyone.

Madam Wang stared at her son wanting to say something but was speechless instead. The impact from this news was too big; she needed time to digest all of this.

Even Father, who was harsh and cold towards Wang Chong refusing to look at him, revealed astonishment on his previously steadfast face.

He is an esteemed army general. Even if Mount Tai would collapse in front of him, he would not even blink an eye, but Wang Chong’s declaration was way too shocking even for him.

This son of his was a slacker and a good-for-nothing who hanged around a bunch of scoundrels. He even kidnapped females on the street causing the whole Wang family to lose face and become a laughingstock.

After much consideration, he finally decided to send Wang Chong into the military earlier than expected. Military life was the best way to toughen up a person. Perhaps, only a military life could reform this disobedient son.

Even if Wang Chong did not speak of this matter, he would have announced it during dinner. It was already decided. Regardless of whether or not Zha Shuhua and Wang Chong object, this decision would not be overturned.

Unexpectedly, Wang Chong offered himself to the demon god.

[TL: RIP Wang Chong. We will remember you!]

Because Father precisely knew what kind of person this disobedient son usually was, he was deeply moved by his declaration. Also, he knew that this kind of determination was praiseworthy for someone like Wang Chong.

The military was not a dinner party. The dangers involved were needless to be said. If his behavior previously was a little scheme of his, then this matter of joining the military was no joke.

Could it be that he really saw the error in his ways and started to repent after accumulating some life experience?

Father became extremely delighted deep inside. He began to believe that his child had really changed for the better.

Wang Chong observed his expressions and understood that his words were starting to have an effect.

Experiencing two lifetimes, Wang Chong deeply understood that even if he did not bring this matter up on the dinner table. Father would mention about making him join the military as a punishment.

In his past life, even though he resisted for a long time, it was completely useless. When Father made up his mind, it was impossible to change it. This time, since he knew this decision cannot be changed, he would just volunteer instead.

This would also help change Father’s impression of him and win back his trust!

Also, after reevaluating, it was in fact not a bad thing. However, just exactly what to do needed some planning.

“Chong’er, you are still a little young to join the military, but that isn’t a big deal anyway. However, this is not a big deal. Have you thought about which section you want to join? I can introduce you to them in advance.”

Father affirmed.

Before he always called Wang Chong “disobedient son”, but this time he started calling him “Chong’er”. Wang Chong’s decision had obviously made him very satisfied.

“Father, I have decided already. I would like to start in training camp first. I have to learn the basics. I want to join the Kun Wu Training Camp to honed my skills, then transfer to the regular army.”

Wang Chong explained his plans.

“Kun Wu Training Camp?”

Father was really surprised because he had just received news from the imperial court that His Majesty had decided to establish three camps. Kun Wu, Shen Wei, and Long Wei, in order to train young men.

How did this disobedient son find out about such a recent and confidential news?

However, after pondering a while, he thought that this disobedient son had previously hung out with some lowlifes, so he could have heard of this news from these unofficial sources.

“Why did you choose the Kun Wu Training Camp?”

Father quickly calmed down and advised:

“There are also two other large training camps, Shen Wei and Long Wei. Kun Wu is mostly meant for the children of ordinary generals. Shen Wei and Long Wei are at a level higher than Kun Wu. They are specifically designed for children of nobles and powerful figures. The training at those two camps should be more optimized and at a higher level than at Kun Wu.”

“If you join either of those two camps, it may help with your career in the future. If you want, I can use your grandfather’s influence to place you into either of these two big camps.”

Father was a general of an army at the border, not a noble. From this point, Wang Chong could only be regarded as the son of an ordinary general.

On the other hand, Wang Chong’s grandfather was different. He aided His Majesty in a successful ascension to the throne. As a result, he was promoted to the rank of left prime minister with students scattered throughout the imperial court.

Although he is now retired, his influence still remains.

Father suggested using the influence of Wang Chong’s grandfather to get admitted into one of the two big camps, Shen Wei or Long Wei, which could be easily done without a problem.

Wang Chong fell silent. Although Father meant well, Wang Chong knew perfectly well that on the contrary, Kun Wu was the best choice out of the three camps.

The Emperor was brilliant. It was also during this time in the past life when capable children of nobles and powerful figures in the capital were selected to form an army of young men. Thus, Kun Wu, Shen Wei, and Long Wei training camps were formed.

Currently, the three camps were still in the experimental phase. Everything was still uncertain. Everyone believes that Shen Wei and Long Wei were ranked much higher than Kun Wu and were the best options.

For a long time, there would be a lot of people who would do whatever it takes to get assigned into those two camps. However, Wang Chong knew that it would be proven in time that Kun Wu was the best choice after all.

During the days when the calamity struck, generals from the older generation would fall and almost ninety percent of the rising-star generals who would replace them would come from the Kun Wu Training Camp.

However, it would be difficult to tell Father this information.

“Father, I have thought it through and I believe that Kun Wu Training Camp is the one that is the most suitable for me. After being in the capital for all these years, I know most of the sons of the important people. If Father wanted to send me to Shen Wei and Long Wei, others must also have the same idea too. If I enter these two camps, wouldn’t I encounter Ma Zhou and the others?”

Wang Chong could only make up some bullshit excuses.

Father was opposed to the idea at first, but after thinking it over, Wang Chong and his lowlife friends recently just caused an incident. Wang Chong finally corrected his character. If he were to hang out with people like Ma Zhou again and returned to how he was before, it would be regrettable; it would lose the purpose of sending him to the military.

“Since you have already thought this through, we will go with your plan.”

Father frowned.

Although he did not completely agree with Wang Chong’s decision, but what Wang Chong said was justified, so he grudgingly accepted Wang Chong’s explanation.

“You two can discuss these matters after dinner. Chong’er, ignore your father and eat! Eat!”

Beside them, Madam Wang heard their discussion clearly and was ecstatic.

When she first heard of Wang Chong wanting to join the military, she was startled and full of worry. Only after she heard that he was only joining a training camp, she let out a sigh of relief.

The Wang family was a military family. Although Wang Chong was only fifteen years old, Madam Wang could still accept it if he first attended training camp then joined the official army.

Among the capital’s military families, this was almost always the case. As children of military families, they must step on the battlefield sooner or later.

This was what the mothers in the capital must come to terms with from the outset.

Wang Chong said no more and started digging in.

“I don’t know if Father will listen to what I have to say later on.”

Wang Chong was worried.

Though he successfully changed his parent’s inherent impressions of him, but Wang Chong understood that this was just the first step. The next was the most important one!

[1] Filial Piety generally means “to be good to one’s parents; to take care of one’s parents; to engage in good conduct not just towards parents but also outside the home so as to bring a good name to one’s parents and ancestors” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filial_piety. “The five virtues are fundamental qualities which one should develop in order to reach Mukti, or to reunite or merge with God. and these includes Sat (truth), Daya (compassion), Santokh (contentment), Nimrata (humility), and Pyaar (love).” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Virtues