The Beautiful Boss's Personal Bodyguard-Chapter 419 - 418

Ye Tian wanted a cigarette, but was too embarrassed to ask for one.

"Kid, what brought you to Mutuo? Surely you didn’t come just for the garrison duty?"

Ye Tian shook his head, "I’m a journalist, sent here by my unit."

"Delving into the grassroots, perceiving public sentiment?"

"Umm... It’s kind of that, yes."

The old soldier looked at him with disdain, "You’re not being honest, not honest at all."

Knowing he’d been seen through, Ye Tian didn’t say much, and the old soldier didn’t ask any further. After all, they had been specifically instructed by their superiors to ensure the safety of this young man. They didn’t have to pamper him with the finest food and clothing, but they were to make sure he stayed in one piece.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out ahead, and the crowd started scattering. People holding torches and flashlights moved away, as if troops were approaching.

Ye Tian had no experience in quelling unrest. He only remembered seeing United Nations peacekeeping troops maintain post-war order in troubled small countries like Africa. Back then, he’d witnessed some things firsthand as a participant ─ like village slaughters, beheadings, and blood plasma an inch thick swarming with dense black flies. However, the current scene was obviously much better than those.

The old soldier knew that the bright lights of the approaching flashlights meant the military was coming.

Unlike the Armed Police in domestic cities, soldiers in vast border areas are mostly from field armies, with few Armed Police because the political situation here is too complex for the Armed Police to handle. Although there are border Armed Police, they are not enough to stop terrorists from field armies if they create trouble. In these cases, the field army must be mobilized.

"Old bro, which unit is this?"

Ye Tian saw some people in white clothing approaching, and judging by their tense but orderly steps, there was no doubt they were military; those not in the military couldn’t march like that.

It was rare to see an army in white clothing. Ye Tian had only seen a few people in the Northeast Defense Army wearing such clothes, because they were patrolling Changbai Mountain, where the white camouflage uniforms provided the best concealment. He hadn’t expected to see it in Tibet.

The old soldier seemed much more relaxed upon seeing these individuals, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and offered one to Ye Tian, "Want one?"

Ye Tian took it and bent over to light it with the old soldier’s lighter.

The two slowly walked out from the corner and made their way to the side of a vehicle. There were already two people in white guarding there; clearly, they knew the old soldier. Both soldiers snapped to attention and saluted, the old soldier saluted back, and Ye Tian instinctively wanted to return the salute, but seeing they didn’t even spare a glance at him, he decided against it.

"You guys worked hard. Where’s your platoon leader?"

"The platoon leader’s at home; the Military Supervisor came instead."

The old soldier nodded thoughtfully, then waved his hand holding the cigarette, "Alright, you guys go on with your duties. Want a smoke?"

The two politely declined and walked away with their rifles.

"Is there live ammo in there?"

"Sometimes there is, sometimes there isn’t," the old soldier said casually, leaning against the car, "There’s no live ammo when the Military Supervisor leads, but if the platoon leader is leading, they’re loaded with live rounds."

The temper of military leaders is fiery, especially those military supervisors who lead at the grassroots level. For something heavily charged with political implications like this, it’s more appropriate to send a civil servant like a Military Supervisor to talk about principles and national righteousness. It’s more effective than resorting to fighting. As for those who are intentionally causing trouble, they are secretly taken away for investigation. Most of the people are ordinary masses confused by unclear narratives – it’s not worth using force with them.

The situation wasn’t severe. From the arrival of the troops to the end, it all happened in about ten minutes. During this time, no one disturbed the old soldier, but he also didn’t look to leave, either. Initially, Ye Tian thought the old soldier was concerned about the people here, but later realized he just wanted to hitch a ride back.

The situation had resolved, and dawn had begun to break. Although the sun wasn’t fully shining yet, one could faintly make out the faces of pedestrians on the street and the sun nestled halfway up the mountain.

"Mr. Tong, we must thank you for promptly sharing information with the outside, otherwise the situation could have spun out of control," a refined, tall gentleman approached, followed by two soldiers carrying guns – not rifles, but pistols tucked at their waists, resembling bodyguards.

This must be the leading Military Supervisor.

The old soldier politely exchanged formalities, claiming no credit for himself, attributing it all to the young man’s phone which made it possible to contact the unit. If there was anyone to thank, it was this young journalist. These words brought Ye Tian into the conversation.

"Comrade, thank you for your tremendous contribution to the unity and construction of our motherland. On behalf of the unit, I express our gratitude to you."

Those large hands firmly grasped Ye Tian’s own, a thick callus enveloping Ye Tian’s hand. Only then did Ye Tian realize that this seemingly well-mannered Military Supervisor was no pushover. Those calluses on his palms must have come from firing countless rounds!

Ye Tian politely reciprocated the pleasantries, saying something about the military and civilians being one family and everyone having a responsibility for the rise and fall of the country. The Military Supervisor spoke of the harmony between the military and civilians, the mutual dependence as building blocks of a harmonious society. This made the old soldier unhappy for being left out of the conversation, who bluntly said that Ye Tian was originally heading to his unit anyway. The car was broken down and wouldn’t arrive until the afternoon, so he suggested the Military Supervisor take Ye Tian with him on his return.

Even though he was not particularly keen on the idea of journalists experiencing life at the grassroots level, it didn’t seem right to refuse immediately after he had said so many thankful words, so he simply agreed to take Ye Tian with him.

After bidding farewell to the old soldier, Ye Tian followed the soldiers on two trucks to a stationed unit in Mutuo. Along the way, the cold wind sliced at the skin on his face and hands like a knife. Despite layering thick clothes, the fierce wind here penetrated to the bones, rendering any amount of clothing ineffective. Upon reaching the destination, when Ye Tian got off the truck and jumped down from the vehicle’s side, his ankles almost gave way, and he nearly tumbled to the ground.

The attitude of the Military Supervisor who emerged from the cabin was much better towards Ye Tian. Ye Tian had voluntarily chosen to sit in the back under a plastic canopy. Even though it provided some shelter, it was practically negligible in the Tibetan climate with its sub-zero temperatures. By the end of the journey, he was not exactly frozen solid, but his fingers were so stiff they could hardly move.