After rushing around for two whole days, Paige really wanted to take a good bath. But in the military camp, there wasn't even a washbasin, let alone a bathtub.
Even if there was one, it would be shared, and Paige didn't like that.
So, she told a young soldier to boil some water and then ran straight into town herself.
Waiter Erin said he would help her buy a bathtub, so she went back to check.
When she arrived at the shop, it was already empty, but the bathtub was still there.
Paige happily took the bathtub and was about to leave. After thinking about it, she took a newer one too.
She planned to give the other three one to use, so they wouldn't keep trying to use hers.
By the time she returned, the water had already boiled.
Paige told the other three to help carry the water, then brought out two bathtubs and filled them halfway with cold water.
That way, they wouldn't have to waste time filling them slowly. Paige didn't like wasting time.
"Paige, you're amazing. You even found bathtubs in the military camp." Ely looked at his sister with admiration.
"No big deal. Quickly pour the hot water in and keep boiling more.
Tonight, we'll all take a good bath and have a proper rest." Paige placed the tub in her own room and had them pour in the water.
They ran back and forth twice. Two tubs were left, one as backup, and the other was given to Winn and the others.
Winn and his group poured the rest of the hot water into the tub. With the warm water, the three of them helped each other scrub their backs.
They didn't get into the tub since they were dirty. That would just waste the whole tub of water.
Instead, they scooped the water out and poured it over each other.
As for clothes, they had picked up a new set that day. After bathing, they would change into fresh clothes the next morning.
For the night, they would wear the combat uniforms Paige gave them.
Paige had spare clothes in her space. They weren't thick, but she didn't feel cold.
If needed, she'd get an extra coat from them the next day.
After her bath, she called out from the doorway, "I'm going to sleep. Don't disturb me."
Then she lay down on the bed.
As for the bathwater, she stored the tub back into her space. Later, she would pour it out in a quiet spot outside.
"Is Paige not going to dump her bathwater?" Ely asked quietly.
"She must be tired. She'll do it tomorrow." The three of them carefully got dressed.
The water in Paige's tub was already almost gone, just enough left to rinse the tub.
Then the three quietly went to their own rooms to sleep.
Early the next morning, all the townspeople had already evacuated and gone into hiding.
Every house had its windows and doors tightly shut. It looked like an empty city.
But inside many of the seemingly ordinary homes, soldiers disguised as civilians were hiding.
They were armed and hiding in the basements of the homes.
Part of it was to avoid the upcoming air raids. The other reason was to wait for the order to attack.
Although the intel said the airstrike wouldn't come until the evening, it wasn't like they could wait until then to get into position.
Early in the morning, the Commander stood on the training field and gave a long motivational speech that fired everyone up.
After eating a big breakfast, everyone headed to their assigned areas.
They carried dry rations with them. That would be their lunch for the day.
To boost morale, Commander Ye ordered that every two people share one can of meat and each squad get one can of fruit for an extra treat.
A full belly gives the strength to fight the PN soldiers.
As long as they could return alive, there would be a celebration banquet waiting for everyone.
"Why did you join the army?" The four of them were hiding in the cellar and started chatting out of boredom.
Two of them were old soldiers, and the other two had just been recruited a couple of days ago.
"My wife is pregnant. I want to join the army, drive out the PN Soldiers, and give my wife and our unborn child a safe home," one man answered.
He was one of the new recruits.
"Your wife is pregnant and you still dared to come? Why aren't you staying by her side to take care of her?" a short man asked.
"Everyone has a reason not to join. I'm afraid that if everyone hesitates like that, when the PN Soldiers invade, I won't have any place to take my wife and child.
Besides, I have my mother. She can help take care of my wife for now. After we drive out the PN Soldiers, I'll return and reunite with them.
By then, I'll be there when my wife gives birth, and we'll never be apart again." The tall man said with a silly smile.
"That's nice. I don't have a wife, or a mother." The short man said sourly.
"Then why did you join the army?" the tall man asked him.
"Because I was starving. My family has no money and I couldn't afford food.
I heard the army provides meals, so I came right away.
I'm not afraid of dying, I'm just afraid of being hungry. That feeling is unbearable," the short man said.
He had no family, no attachments. If he died, so be it.
If he died as a soldier, maybe someone would collect his body, maybe he'd even earn the title of a hero.
"I miss my mother too. I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to see her again." One of the old soldiers said.
These men were all the same, fighting to protect the families they couldn't be with, people they missed but couldn't see.
"Don't worry. We'll definitely have the chance. Everyone has to survive and go back.
Let's wipe out the PN Soldiers, make sure they never dare return." They encouraged each other.
Scenes like this were everywhere.
Some fought to protect their families. Some fought to protect their country.
No matter the reason, they stood up and fought. They were all worthy of respect.
Paige personally brought three people to a hidden high ground.
After disguising their location, they ensured it couldn't be spotted even by a sniper rifle. They could safely fire from behind.
Paige wouldn't stay with them. She had more important things to do.
She needed to control the whole area at the city gate and make sure it could be closed in time.
At dusk, the roar of airplanes came as expected.
People in the streets scattered and took cover nearby.
Then came the sounds of bombs exploding, buildings collapsing, gunfire, and screams.
Outside Guanghua Gate and Zhonghua Gate were moats, defense structures, and plenty of weapons and ammunition. The enemy couldn't break through quickly.
The defenders near the main road outside Zhongshan Gate had to retreat into the city under PN air raids and heavy artillery.
Just as the gate was opened to let them in, the PN Soldiers charged through the gunfire, forcing a bloody path and stopping the gate from closing.
Our army was low on ammunition and had to fight while retreating.
"Go back and call for reinforcements. We're out of bullets. Requesting supplies."
"If we keep the green hills, we'll never run out of firewood. Everyone retreat, grab weapons, and we'll take it back."
Seeing the gate lost, the troops left behind a small unit to suppress enemy fire while the rest fled in chaos.
From the sky, people in the aircraft saw their troops had broken through and quickly reported the good news to the others.