At this mont, the door was suddenly opened, and Mo Junhua walked in, glancing at everyone in the room, "Everyone’s here."
"I’m back, everything’s settled." Seeing Mo Junhua co in, Lan Tian pursed her lips and smiled. Mo Junhua nodded, "It’s all taken care of."
Lan Tian stood up and walked outside, "You guys chat first, I’m going out for a walk."
"Don’t go too far," Mo Junhua said. Lan Tian waved her hand, indicating she understood, and considerately closed the door for them.
After Mo Junhua arrived, the office door was closed all afternoon; no one knew what they talked about. When they ca out, everyone’s expressions were the sa as before, it was hard to tell if it was good or bad. Lan Tian noticed right away that Mo Junhua was in a good mood, like how he was now rubbing his head, which was a sign he was feeling good.
"After I leave, no slacking off, you need to continue training as usual. If the sky falls, there will be taller people holding it up. Su Qing, you too, don’t rush things, speak less and listen more, heed the words of Ding Lei and Zhang Tian. You all keep a close watch, don’t get sold without even realizing it."
Ding Lei and the others wanted to drive Mo Junhua and another person, but Mo Junhua declined; he was no longer a soldier from the third battalion, using military resources might give people a reason to sar him.
After the two left the military, they caught a ride in a military vehicle going out to procure supplies. Lan Tian did not want to sit, as the front had only two seats, one for the driver and one for the quartermaster. Since Lan Tian was a woman, they wanted to give up the front seat to her and sit in the back of the vehicle, but Lan Tian refused. She’d rather sit in the back with Mo Junhua than sit at the front where the sll was unbearable.
They arrived ho around seven or eight in the evening, Grandma Sun and the others had already eaten dinner, and were enjoying the cooler evening air in the yard. Suddenly, they saw Lan Tian push open the door and enter, followed by Mo Junhua.
"Grandma, we’re back." Lan Tian entered and ran towards Grandma Sun in the yard with open arms, jumping joyfully, "Uncle, Aunt, it’s been such a long ti, did you miss ?"
"Grandma, Uncle, Aunt," Mo Junhua moved forward, acting playfully charming to Grandma Sun and the others, "I’m back, sorry for making you worry."
"It’s good you’re back, you haven’t had dinner yet, right? Your aunt and I will go prepare sothing for you." Grandma Sun was so happy to see Mo Junhua and Lan Tian returning together, she even forgot about Lan Tian for the mont. Lan Tian pouted, feeling inwardly disdainful towards Mo Junhua.
Zhao Li saw Lan Tian rolling her eyes, pinched her, and cheerfully went to the kitchen to cook, "Aunt, you don’t need to go, I’ll do it. I’ll just stir-fry two dishes, it will be quick. Hua Zi, are you hungry? Have a peach to tide you over."
Zhao Li saw Yuangle washing peaches, took them over and handed them to him. Lan Tian felt like she was treated like a stepdaughter; no one had asked about her since she entered. She moved over to stand beside Yuangle.
Yuanle picked a ripe peach for her. Lan Tian hugged his arm, nibbled on the peach, and cooed, "Uncle, grandma and aunt don’t cherish anymore. Now that they have a grand son-in-law, they don’t need a granddaughter. You have to cherish more, otherwise, I might run away from ho."
Grandma Sun scolded Lan Tian lightly, "It’s so late, why didn’t you stay in the military for one night and co back tomorrow? It’s so dark and dangerous in the mountains, what if you step on a snake?"
She did want to stay, but there needed to be a place for them to stay.
"Grandma, I was eager to co back and see you all. I’ve been married to this girl for so many years, I barely spent any ti with her, nor with you. We will have to leave again in a few days, so I thought about coming back sooner to spend more ti with you all."
"Where are you going?"
"Grandma, you may not know, Mo Junhua is no longer in the army," Lan Tian ntioned with a touch of schadenfreude, fearing the world might not be chaotic enough, "so he can only sneak back since the army has no place for him. Where else can he stay?"
"What happened?" Not only was Grandma Sun shocked, but Mo Yuanle was also startled.
"Who knows, you guys ask him yourself, I’m going to clean up the room." After starting the fire, Lan Tian hurriedly left.
"You stop right there," Grandma Sun shouted, and Lan Tian obediently returned, muttering, "It’s not my fault," seeing that grandma was about to get angry, he didn’t dare to speak carelessly and sat next to Mo Yuanle, hugging his arm and leaning his head towards him, just in case grandma got angry, his uncle’s broad shoulders could provide so cover.
Mo Yuanle glanced at his niece, curved his lips slightly, and then took on the authoritative tone of the head of the family, his expression serious, "Hua Zi, what’s going on? Tell us clearly."
Lan Tian lowered her head and chuckled silently, afraid that Mo Yuanle would notice, and turned her head away to the back. It was dark at night, so no one saw her smile.
"Grandma, uncle, don’t worry," Mo Junhua, not knowing how to explain to his family, found that the playful way the girl revealed it actually helped him organize his thoughts, "I am still a soldier in the army, that will not change, just not in my current unit."
Mo Yuanle nodded, indicating for him to continue, as Grandma Sun listened but didn’t fully understand.
"I’ve been a soldier for over a decade. It took this long to beco a battalion commander, and it was only because of past rits that I was promoted. It’s unlikely for to climb any higher. In a few more years, without any significant achievents, I’ll have to transfer to civilian work. I’ve grown accustod to military life over the years and don’t want to leave. The brigadier privately told that the military academy is recruiting students, and active-duty soldiers can also apply. After graduating, the position would be higher than my current one. I thought about it for a long ti and saw it as an opportunity, so I applied to transfer to the military academy for two years. After graduation, I’ll be assigned to whichever unit, usually returning to the original unit is quite likely."
Grandma Sun ’oh-ed’ and said after a while, "Reading more is always good, it will be useful. The army also needs educated people."
Grandma Sun thought quite simply. Compared with the outside world, educated people have more opportunities and it’s easier to find jobs; the sa goes for the military.
Having been in the military, Mo Yuanle knew things weren’t as simple as Mo Junhua had described, but since the two younger ones didn’t ntion more, he didn’t inquire further. It’s enough that the young ones know what they are doing.
Zhao Li prepared a big pot of noodles, fried four sunny-side-up eggs, and added vegetables, at, sausages, etc., the aroma wafting out from the window. Mo Junhua, who hadn’t eaten all day, felt even hungrier upon slling the food, capable of devouring an entire cow.
After a short while, Zhao Li ca out holding the pot.
"Aunt, let ." Mo Junhua saw her and swiftly went over to take the pot from her hands. Zhao Li didn’t refuse, placing it on the table in the hall. Seeing Mo Junhua about to grab the hot pot bare-handed, she hurriedly stopped him, giving him a potholder, "It’s hot, use this."
"It’s okay." Mo Junhua carried the pot out, and Zhao Li went to the kitchen to fetch bowls and chopsticks.
Mo Junhua might have been really hungry as he ate quickly, "gulping" down his food without fearing the heat, while Lan Tian ate her noodles more elegantly, one small bite at a ti. Watching Mo Junhua eat, Zhao Li felt a sense of satisfaction - the worst fear for those who cook is their food not being appreciated by others.
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