Chapter 197: Chapter 140: She Wants to Follow Her Youngest Uncle’s Example

Shu Yao’s tone suddenly brimmed with confidence. "Well, isn’t that perfect? I’m a pretty good fighter, you know. I think the Agricultural College is missing a well-rounded talent like me."

Realizing his words had backfired yet again, the old dean let out a pained sigh. "You really are... even more resolute than your uncle was when he turned me down!"

Gan, still not giving up, said, "Shu Yao, don’t you think you’d be completely wasting your talent at the Agricultural College?"

"How could someone as exceptional as me be talented in only one thing?" Shu Yao said, slipping into a narcissistic mood, which earned her a snort from Gan. She could have been even more shameless, really. ’I’m a hidden gem, you know!’

"Farming and clearing land! Farming and clearing land!" The old dean was getting frantic. "How can that possibly compare to shedding blood on the battlefield to defend the Federation! You’re young! You should have the fire and passion of youth, a grander, nobler ambition!"

Gan nodded in agreement.

But Shu Yao just shook her head with a faint smile.

Gan said, "So you finally admit how ridiculous you are!"

Shu Yao ignored him, asking the old dean instead, "Do you know why my uncle turned you down all those years ago?"

The old dean sighed regretfully. "If I’d known, I would’ve found the right way to convince him and brought him into my fold! Such a terrible shame!"

Back then, Shu Chao Yu had given up on his plans for the Imperial University Military Academy, choosing the Police Academy instead. The dean had always considered it a great loss.

"Exactly. It’s because you don’t understand him," Shu Yao said slowly. "Among Purebreds, my uncle could be considered a genius. You could even say that in some respects, his abilities surpass those of a Beastman."

Does he lack the fire of youth? Does he lack grand, noble ambitions? He has all of those things.

"I’ve never asked him, but I’d guess he chose the Police Academy so he could eventually join the police force. It would make it easier for him to search for his missing niece—me."

He didn’t go to Imperial University or the Military Academy. Did that stop him from becoming a warrior defending the Federation?

He’s a heroic volunteer soldier and a competent district officer now. He can still rush to the front lines without a second thought whenever the Federation needs him.

He’s also a good man who takes care of his family. All that talk about how you can’t serve both your family and your country, how you can’t be both loyal and filial? To him, that’s just bullshit.

"You’re always trying to mold young people today into carbon copies of yourselves when you were young. But my uncle’s way of life... that’s probably the kind of life that you veteran military men often find yourselves longing for now, isn’t it?"

"..." The old dean and Gan were both silent.

"He had already planned out his future. When you presented him with the path to the Military Academy, it was just another option he could take or leave."

"You say it’s a shame, but you don’t really mean it. You’re just bitter that he managed to become a success without following the path you laid out for him."

The old dean fell silent.

He had always brooded over his failure to recruit Shu Chao Yu. But after hearing what Shu Yao said, he felt a sense of release.

「Outside the warehouse door.」

Shu Chao Yu was leaning against the doorframe, while Wei Jin was squatting beside him.

One was sniffling, the other was silent.

Shu Yao glanced toward the door, then looked away and continued in a steady, unhurried voice:

"So, you see, the path you think is best isn’t necessarily the one that’s right for us. And don’t assume we’re turning you down out of youthful ignorance. We know exactly what we’re doing."

Seeing the old dean’s resolve wavering, Shu Yao suddenly grew nervous.

’Crap. Did I overdo it?’

Just as she was trying to figure out how to salvage the situation, she was startled by a sudden bellow from the old dean!

"You young people get to talk about freedom and dreams, but us old folks don’t get to have them?! My one wish is to train an outstanding Female Commander for the Federation before I retire! After all these years, you’re the only promising candidate I’ve found! I will not let you slip through my fingers!"

Shu Yao: "..." ’Oh, good. This is perfect.’

"I’m determined to get into the Agricultural College! My uncle endured years of hardship just to be chosen for the volunteer army!" She would follow her uncle’s example!

’So... whether they could meet in the future depended on her getting into the Agricultural College?’

Gan suddenly detected a hint of a scheme in her words.

"Dean, what if... we go to the Agricultural College and get her a spot?" He watched Shu Yao’s reaction and, just as he’d expected, saw her ears prick up.

’Heh, you little rascal. So this was what you were waiting for!’

Shu Yao declared righteously, "It’s just the Agricultural College! I’ll work hard, and I’m sure I can get in within a few years! Dean, I’m sure we’ll still see each other at Imperial University in the future!"

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