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Old Master Huo understood; they were all old rivals, who didn't know water? He chuckled ruthlessly.

"You're so cunning," Old Master Huo chuckled. "But you've hit the nail on the head, hahaha..."

"You old bastard, you're full of bad intentions, and you put on a brave but foolish face. You can fool others, but you can't fool me," said Old Master Tang. To be able to escape unscathed from that catastrophe and even plan ahead to reach a higher level is not something a roughneck who only knows how to shout for war can control.

It's absolutely impossible to do without meticulous thinking.

"Haha, lucky, lucky!" Old Master Huo started to smooth things over again. "Come on, come on, it's such a happy occasion, let's go to your house for a drink tonight and celebrate!"

"Then you must come," said Old Master Tang. "I have a few bottles of good wine. If you come, my wife will let me have a couple of drinks for your sake. It's so annoying that she won't let me drink if no one else comes."

"I've been eyeing your fine wine for a while now," said Old Master Huo. "Today, I've finally gotten you to willingly bring it out and drink it."

Old Master Huo loves wine, and he's already finished all that good wine.

The wine the children offered was very expensive, but it didn't taste right.

The two old men were in a good mood and went home.

Old Master Huo misses Huo Yingjun's youngest son, as well as the children in Huo Yingjie's family.

As for Huo Ruixiang, he's grown up and I see him every day, so I don't worry about him anymore.

As for Huo Yingjie, he was so busy at the base that he didn't even have time to think about home.

"Engineer Huo, why aren't you going to eat?" asked Engineer Li, who usually works with him. "The food in the cafeteria is pretty good today, it tastes quite good."

Huo Yingjie shook his head and said, "I have no appetite!"

No matter how delicious it is, it can't compare to home-cooked meals.

Huo Yingjie didn't look up, but instead looked at the photo frame in his hand, which was their family portrait.

He was not worried because his parents were in good health.

He was worried about his three children at home. He thought it must be very tiring for He Tiantian to go to training and discipline the children all by herself.

Huo Yingjie is still unaware that the little tortoise has transformed into human form, and that it has become a little girl, their daughter.

Seeing that Huo Yingjie kept looking at the photos, Engineer Li also took out his own family photo from the drawer and said, "Missing home, huh? I miss home too. This is my wife and daughter."

After saying that, Engineer Li showed the photos to Huo Yingjie.

Huo Yingjie looked at it and nodded, saying, "Your daughter is very cute."

“It is very cute,” said Engineer Li. “It’s just too young. I got married late and had a child when I was thirty-five. When I left, the child was only a little over one year old. I was so reluctant to leave him.”

“I also miss home,” Huo Yingjie said, reaching out to stroke the children’s faces.

When Li Gong saw Huo Yingjie's photo, he said enviously, "You're so lucky to have three children."

"Hehe, yes, we got married early, in 1976. When we had our third child, it coincided with the one-child policy. Luckily, we got pregnant before the policy was implemented," Huo Yingjie said. "If it had happened later, we might not have been able to keep the baby. Even if we had, there would probably have been a lot of trouble."

“Yes, it seems I’ll only have one daughter in my life,” Engineer Li said. “But it doesn’t matter. I think it’s already pretty good that I can get married and have a daughter. After all, I’m a researcher, and I’m surrounded by data and experimental equipment every day. I’m not very outgoing, so it’s hard for me to find a partner.”

"Contentment brings happiness," Huo Yingjie said. "I have two sons, but I love my daughter the most; she's so well-behaved!"

“Daughters are indeed more well-behaved than sons,” said Engineer Li. “Back in my old workplace, a colleague had twin sons, and everyone was very envious. But once the children could walk, they would chase dogs and chickens, and cause all sorts of trouble, often prompting complaints from the neighbors. Even after being beaten, the little rascals didn’t learn their lesson and continued to be naughty.”

"Hehe, boys are indeed very mischievous," Huo Yingjie said. "Sigh, we've been here for almost three months now, and we don't know when we'll be done. Let's go home soon!"

Engineer Li sighed, saying, "Yes, it's almost Chinese New Year. My parents passed away early, and my wife's parents are gone too. I'm not home, and it's just my wife and child. It's heartbreaking to think about. This project is so big, they won't give us any special treatment. We can only work hard and hope to finish it as soon as possible."

"I hope so too." Huo Yingjie liked this colleague and roommate. He felt that having someone to talk to about his family here made him less homesick than before.

The two remained silent. Li took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and thought it would ease his worries.

Huo Yingjie used to be a non-smoker, but now he wants to smoke.

"Engineer Li, give me a cigarette," Huo Yingjie said. He wanted to smoke, but he didn't have any.

Li Gong was taken aback, then handed Huo Yingjie a cigarette, saying, "Hehe, I've got you smoking too."

"Hehe, I'm very sleepy, but I can't fall asleep," Huo Yingjie said. "You guys seem to enjoy smoking so much, I'll give it a try too."

"It's okay for you to smoke one or two cigarettes, but you can't get addicted, otherwise it will be hard to quit later." Engineer Li kindly reminded Huo Yingjie that smoking is harmful to health, everyone knows that, but very few people can successfully quit smoking, so Engineer Li did not want Huo Yingjie to become addicted.

Huo Yingjie smiled and said, "It's okay, I'll just have one."

Engineer Li handed the matchbox and cigarette case to Huo Yingjie.

Huo Yingjie took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff, coughing repeatedly.

Although he smoked in his past life, he stopped smoking in this life because He Tiantian didn't like it. Also, there are many children in the family, and he can't let them be exposed to secondhand smoke!

"You're not used to it, are you?" Engineer Li said. "If you're not used to it, then don't smoke. It's not a good thing anyway."

Huo Yingjie smiled and said, "It's nothing, I'll just have one."

He realized things were getting more complicated. This project would take at least two or three years to complete. Although he had some good ideas, he couldn't share them because he wasn't in charge of that area.

Everyone here is a top expert in the current science and technology bureau. Huo Yingjie is well-known in the field, but only in materials science. In other areas, he is not recognized.

Huo Yingjie knew he was insignificant and didn't bother to say anything. He figured it out was just a matter of time.

I just can't go home.

Huo Yingjie tried to use his clone to return, but he was surprised to find that there were cultivators nearby.

He might not be able to find out if he leaves these people, but they will probably discover the problem with the clone. To be on the safe side, Huo Yingjie has no choice but to stay here obediently.

Although it's a field I love, it's no different from being in prison.

After smoking, Huo Yingjie went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and then went back to sleep.

I don't want to think about it anymore; even if I did, I couldn't go home.

I only wish my family is well!

******

I recommend Yuan Gua's book "The Second Uncle of the Red Chamber," in which the protagonist transmigrates into the body of Lin Ruhai's half-brother. As Cao Xueqin's chosen man to die, Lin Ruhai suffers deep malice from the vast universe.