"Go..." Henry Clark had already made up his mind, and without thinking, he said directly, "I just suddenly remembered last night that Kevin West once mentioned he had some military connections in his family, so I wanted to ask him for help, see if there's any way to find a way in... Dad, Mom, I've thought it through, I still want to join the army."

"Ah?! Really?!" His honest parents, upon hearing this news, almost jumped for joy.

As for Kevin West, their son's best friend throughout his four years of high school, George Clark and Jessica Bolton had always been familiar with him. Hearing this, they had no doubts at all and immediately became excited.

"Yeah, that's what he said, so I want to go early and ask around... Judging by how he sounded back then, maybe it really can be done."

Since it was a sure thing, Henry Clark didn't mind sounding a bit more certain.

Seeing the joy and pride shining in his parents' eyes, he felt happy as well. No matter what, at least there was finally something that could let his parents feel relieved, happy, and proud for a while.

In fact, Henry Clark was indeed planning to find Kevin West, but not to ask for connections. Instead, he was preparing to entrust his best brother in life with something. He had already thought through what he would say when they met:

I'm going to join the army, and they say it's to the border, so there will be some risks. I can't help but overthink, and I'm afraid that if, by some unlucky chance, one day I'm suddenly gone... It's just in case, but if that really happens, if you have the time and ability in the future, remember to look after my family.

Chapter 6 Discovery

The rice was fragrant, and so were the pickles. Henry Clark finished a simple breakfast, then, under his parents' eager gaze, pushed the family's only old bicycle out the door.

George Clark and Jessica Bolton chased after him to give him an umbrella, stuffed some change into their son's pocket, and stood at the gate giving instructions, saying that even though Kevin West is your friend and brother, this time he's still helping by asking someone else, so in the end, the proper etiquette and the money that needs to be spent, we can't skip any of it ourselves... You need to ask around, and once you know, come home and tell us.

Henry Clark knew very well that none of this was actually necessary this time. The reality was that he had no choice but to join the army, but since he couldn't say it outright, he could only agree for now.

He swung his leg over the bike and just went down the small slope at the village entrance.

At the door, his parents had already started discussing where to borrow money. In these times, rural families had few ways to get cash. Even in the past few years, part of Henry Clark's school fees had always been borrowed.

George Clark was a simple but tough rural man. His toughness wasn't about never bowing his head or asking for help, but that even if he had to bow his head and ask for help no matter how hard it was, he was willing to grit his teeth and do it for his family and children.

"It's not certain, can't say it outright, this money will be hard to borrow," Jessica Bolton muttered.

"Yeah, even if we say it, they probably won't believe it. Everyone knows there are no spots left, it's hard to join the army," George Clark nodded.

That's what they said, but he still went out right after.

...

There was no rain on the road.

The back seat of the old bike had broken and been removed last year, so it couldn't carry anyone, nor could it hold the big black umbrella. Besides, the mountain road was bumpy, and it was hard to hold the umbrella while riding.

Henry Clark slung the umbrella over his back, threading the strap through the first buttonhole of his shirt collar, then looping it back and fastening the umbrella securely. It was very steady.

So he rode out of the village on the bumpy path with the big black umbrella on his back, looking quite imposing, as if he were carrying a big machete to rob travelers, or simply to storm the execution ground.

Storm the execution ground—to save whom? Henry Clark wondered why he would make such an association, and in the end, the person to be saved was, of course, himself.

Then why was the knife hidden in the umbrella? Maybe to prevent it from rusting. Or maybe it was a disguise, to cover it up, to go assassinate the King of Qin.

And then, the wind whistles...

Thinking about all these random things along the way, his mood seemed to change too, becoming a bit more heroic. Henry Clark rode off the small path and then pedaled harder on the gravel road of the provincial highway.

The wind, heavy with dampness, roared past his ears.

It took at least three and a half hours to ride from Fenglong'ao to the county seat, as Henry Clark had measured through years of riding to school. There were countless steep and gentle slopes along the way, and unless you were a strong young man, you'd have to stop and rest two or three times on the way.

After about half the journey, Henry Clark stopped out of habit at the big turn at the ridge, in front of the old shop where truck drivers stopped to eat and use the restroom.

He glanced at the counter, didn't feel thirsty, and under the disappointed gaze of the shopkeeper's wife, got back on his bike and continued forward.

After riding less than a hundred meters, he suddenly realized something seemed off, quickly braked and stopped... Did I just see it wrong?

Henry Clark shook his head, then turned around and went back.

The shopkeeper's wife was sitting behind the counter, her eyes lighting up happily as she saw him return to the shop door.

But Henry Clark didn't look at her. What he was carefully looking at was the clock hanging behind her.

"Ma'am..."

"Hey, want some water?" If you didn't buy anything else, water and herbal tea still cost money, though not much.

Henry Clark said, "Is your clock right?"