Jiang Ruyu didn't tell her maternal grandfather's family about Jiang Lin joining the army. Only her second cousin knew. Hu Bei also knew that her grandfather was getting old and his health was deteriorating year by year. The sacrifice of her uncle and the early death of her aunt had been a huge blow to him. If he knew that Jiang Lin had joined the army, he would probably be worried. It was better to wait until things calmed down before telling him.

After a few months, they gradually got used to Jiang Lin's departure. Grandma Jiang no longer habitually called Da Linzi to eat, and Jiang Ruyu no longer suddenly said things like "what if that brat Jiang Lin were here?" when talking to Jiang Hui.

Time is the best healer; it can soothe all wounds. After three months of basic training, Jiang Lin, due to his excellent physical condition, hard work in training, quick reflexes, and sharp mind, was officially assigned to the East China Sea Fleet and became a glorious naval soldier.

"Comrade Jiang Lin, you are excellent and hardworking. I hope that next time I see you, you will have been promoted to officer. Keep up the good work, young comrade. The future belongs to young people like you." Jiang Lin's instructor had high hopes for him.

This kid is quick-witted, has a fierce fighting spirit, and is also very clever. He's a good prospect for an investigator, and given time, he will definitely become more than just a soldier.

After three months of basic training, Jiang Lin underwent a complete transformation. He used to be quite fair-skinned, but now he has a wheat-colored complexion. His hair has been cut into a buzz cut, and his eyes no longer have the clear, innocent look they once had. Instead, they are like a knife, and he seems to be showing off his sharp edge, not yet understanding the meaning of restraint.

After several twists and turns, he followed some comrades from the recruit training camp to the island fleet. He couldn't wait to write to his family. He hadn't contacted his family for three months. His previous training had been in a closed base deep in the mountains and forests, and he didn't even know where he was.

Jiang Ruyu, having calculated the time, finally received a letter four months after Jiang Lin left, back in the tenement.

"Grandma, Jiang Hui, come quick! That brat Jiang Lin finally wrote a letter!" She went to the post office after work to ask, having gone there every day for the past few days. Finally, her letter arrived.

"Quick, read it aloud, let me hear it." Grandma Jiang jogged out of the kitchen, and Jiang Jianguo and Jiang Kai, who had just returned from next door, also ran over when they heard this.

Jiang Ruyu opened the letter, glanced at it once, and then began to read it aloud.

"Grandma, sister, and Jiang Hui, are you all doing well at home? I've already joined a new unit, and I'll be a proud naval soldier from now on. Aren't you proud of me?"

The specific address is confidential and cannot be disclosed, so please don't ask. If you want a reply, just use the address on the envelope; I will receive it.

“Being a soldier is really great. We can eat meat every day and have plenty of rice. It’s just that the cooks aren’t very good. They’re stingy with oil, so the food isn’t as fragrant as my sister’s.”

"Grandma, you need to take good care of your health. Don't do the laundry or cook anymore. Let Jiang Hui do it. He's capable of it."

"Sis, I miss you. I miss your meat sauce, pickled radish, and pickled cucumber. The ones you sent me before were all eaten up by my comrades in basic training. I really miss your cooking."

“Jiang Hui, while I’m away, you’re the only man in the house. I’m leaving Grandma and my sister in your care. You have to take good care of them for me. If they’ve lost weight when I get back, we can switch. You can call me brother.”

"In the end, I'm really doing well. My unit is on an island now, with an endless supply of fish. I feel like I've really grown up. You guys used to always say I was stupid. When I have my leave and go back to see you, you definitely won't recognize me. I'm all muscular now, and I look really cool. You'll miss me, right? Okay, that's all for now. You have to write back to me, or send me some photos so I can see them too."

After reading the letter, Jiang Ruyu's nose was already red and her voice was choked with sobs. Old Mrs. Jiang also turned away and wiped her tears. Jiang Jianguo and the other men were alright, but they also felt a strange unease in their hearts.

"Mom, don't be sad. Isn't this great? Dalinzi has grown up. You can rest assured now." This was the only way Jiang Jianguo could comfort his mother.

Grandma Jiang sighed, "I'm just worried that this child is too honest. Joining the army inevitably involves fighting, and what if this child is recklessly brave?"

"Grandma, don't worry about these things. He's just a greenhorn. Even if there were to be a battle, it wouldn't be his turn. He just needs to obey orders and do his job properly."

Jiang Ruyu and the others were afraid that Jiang Lin would follow in Jiang Jianjun's footsteps. Jiang Ruyu didn't want her grandmother to be worried every day: "We'll write back to him later and remind him a few more times. He's not stupid; he won't be foolish enough to stick his head out and rush in."

"That would be for the best. We don't even know where he is. If he really goes to war, we can't stop him." The old lady understood, but she couldn't help worrying. "Forget it, never mind. It seems that this brat hasn't adapted to the army food yet. Let's send him more pickled vegetables and meat sauce. He needs to eat well to stay healthy. Health is the foundation of everything."

“Okay, I’ll go get some meat and stuff tomorrow. Jiang Hui, you should go to Grandpa’s house tomorrow. Cucumbers and green beans are growing like crazy there right now. Ask your aunt to help get some cucumbers from the brigade. I’ll pickle a lot and send some to him every two months. Oh, and see if there are any salted duck eggs. Get some too. Salted duck eggs go well with porridge.” Jiang Ruyu said to Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui nodded: "Okay, I'll go first thing tomorrow morning."

The next day, Jiang Hui went to his maternal grandfather's house. He no longer kept Jiang Lin's enlistment a secret from him. When the old man learned that his grandson had joined the army, he just silently smoked a few cigarettes without saying anything. He himself was a veteran of the Red Army, and he felt proud that one of his descendants had joined the army. However, he couldn't help but worry.

"Being a navy officer is pretty good. There's no shortage of meat on the islands. I just don't know if I can get used to eating fish every day." The old man said this after a long while.

“I just can’t get used to it. I wrote back saying I missed my sister’s cooking, and my sister told me to come over to our house and get some cucumbers and green beans to pickle at home, so that they would go well with rice.”

The old man perked up upon hearing this: "No need to wait for your aunt, I'll take you. We also need to get some pickled mustard greens to stir-fry with pork belly when we get back. It'll be oily and delicious with rice. It won't spoil easily either."

With the old man involved, he had enough face to show. He went to two different places and got quite a few green beans, cucumbers, and eggplants. As for duck eggs, there were few duck farmers in the village, so the old man went to several places and got more than twenty large duck eggs.

Jiang Hui had lunch at his maternal grandfather's house before returning home. Once home, the old lady started ordering him around to wash and dry the vegetables, and then pickle them when Jiang Ruyu returned.

After several busy days, Jiang Ruyu asked Zheng Yang to help her get a lot of glass jars. She put the pickled cucumbers and leftover pickled radish pieces into the jars and had Jiang Hui, who had a strong hand, tighten them to prevent them from leaking air and spoiling.