Chapter 17 Old Friends, Former Friends

The same day in the world may be the birthday or anniversary of some people, or it may be the death anniversary or memorial day of others.

April 8th is the anniversary of the death of Yang Huchang, the former commander-in-chief of the North 1 Base.

In the apocalypse, people who die don't even have tombs, but those who reach the position of Commander-in-Chief are still entitled to have a white stone tombstone in the only small park on the north side of the base.

The hillsides in spring are covered with pure white wildflowers, which serve as the bedding for the deceased.

The important figures' worship has ended, and the numerous branches of the Yang family's relatives have all burned paper money and offered flowers.

High-ranking officials left with a large entourage of guards and secretaries, and relatives also left the cemetery in twos and threes.

Peace has returned to the tombstone, with only a few close relatives remaining.

Yang Yuzhi was wearing a formal military uniform, looking both upright and solemn.

However, he had a smile on his face and said to the young man beside him, "You've come all this way back to your grandfather, he'll definitely be happy."

"He was happy afterward. He must have scolded me for 'using my position for personal gain' first, and only felt happy behind my back," Yang Yuning said with a nostalgic smile.

He also returned under the guise of a mission.

The goods to be transported were originally supposed to be loaded in two more days, but because he kept urging us morning and night, we were able to set off half a week earlier and arrive today.

However, this time he brought back enriched uranium and lithium ore.

The construction of the large nuclear power plant and the small modular nuclear fusion device at the North 1 site is progressing smoothly.

Everything is fine. Two of the Ash Priests have died. It seems that humanity's long-cherished wish to end the apocalypse and rebuild civilization has a glimmer of hope. If his grandfather were still alive, he would probably be smiling every day.

So Grandpa isn't really alive, which makes it all the more regrettable.

We can't burn too much paper and waste resources. Yang Yuzhi watched the fire gradually die down and said, "Dad, then I'll take Xiaoyu home for dinner. He's been in the Northwest for a year, and I'm afraid he hasn't had a decent meal."

The wind answered, and the two of them, along with Yang Ying who was a little further away, all turned around.

"You'll be able to have a family reunion dinner as soon as you come back!" Yang Ying snorted at Yang Yuning.

How many days has she been back? She arrived home on the 4th, and the house was empty. She waited until late at night, taking countless naps on the sofa, before her father finally came home.

The night was so deep. The father and daughter, one draped in the cold starlight outside and the other in the icy moonlight inside, looked at each other with exhaustion and resentment. Where could they be reunited?

"I just happened to arrive when my second uncle wasn't busy, and you'll also have a share of the family reunion dinner." Yang Yuning ruffled Yang Ying's hair.

Yang Ying turned her head away, her face grim and she remained silent.

The three of them went down the mountain and out of the small park, where they waited for Yao Du'an at the gate.

Every time Yao Du'an comes to this park, he walks along the river and sits alone for a while under an old elm tree.

His wife had passed away several years ago, and many memories of him and his wife remained under the tree by the river.

Yao Du'an once loved his wife dearly, but the sad events of the past are many years in the past, and those who remember her find themselves growing increasingly at peace.

He calmly walked out of the park and apologized to the three for keeping him waiting.

Their car was parked by the roadside. Yang Yuning insisted on driving, and as she fastened her seatbelt, she turned back and smiled:

"The scent of incense and candles on Uncle Yao... it seems to be sandalwood, but why is it stronger than ours?"

Yao Du'an was slightly taken aback, then raised his hand and sniffed himself: "Is there?"

"You definitely can't smell it, you're practically pickled in it," Yang Yuzhi joked as he sat in the back seat.

“Your Uncle Yao is becoming more and more devout in serving the gods now, burning incense morning and night. I’m afraid that one day he will completely renounce the world and leave me only with a resignation letter.”

Yao Du'an chuckled.

Before Yang Yuning could speak, Yang Ying said, "Dad, do you believe in that stuff now? I saw incense ash on your clothes once."

Yang Yuning and Yang Yuzhi raised their similar eyebrows simultaneously, and Yang Yuzhi asked, "When?"

"Last year, before I left."

One morning you came home, you must have pulled another all-nighter at work, you fell asleep on the sofa without eating, and your coat was lying on the coffee table. I found it when I was folding it for you.

There was only a small amount of smudge in the seam of the pocket, which was actually hard to notice. Yang Ying couldn't help but feel proud and saddened by her keen observation and thoughtfulness towards her family.

Yang Yuzhi thought for a moment, seemingly unable to recall which day it was: "It must have been at your Uncle Yao's house, or at their little shrine."

I've visited their little shrine a few times in the early morning when it's less crowded. Sitting quietly inside is very calming.

Yang Ying said "Oh," indicating that she had seen that small shrine before.

Yang Yuning also went there; it was in a residential building and was open to the public.

Anyone passing by who is interested can go in and take a look, or offer a prayer, or chat with the lay Buddhists, where they can confide their troubles and have their questions answered.

That's a good place; even stray dogs can get a bite of leftovers if they go in.

Yang Yuning started the car and casually said, "That's good, but Uncle can't become a monk."

Yang Yuzhi chuckled, "I can't escape."

The car drove through the quiet path, the pine and cypress trees along the road receding into the distance, and also receding from Yang Yuzhi's gaze.

"Whether to flee or not depends on whether it's worth it." No one heard these words clearly as they were spoken.

......

Yang Ying left after the family reunion dinner.

There were two meals. The lunch was the main one, where all of Yang's relatives who could attend were present. They toasted and chatted warmly, exchanging feelings and benefits. They also used their eyes and words as scales to categorize everyone into different classes based on their potential, making them worthy of praise or criticism.

The lunch left everyone exhausted, but a small family dinner with only four people in the evening brought Yang Ying comfort and made her trip home feel a little more fulfilling.

However, it's time to leave after we finish eating. The long-distance escort team No. 6 from the Western Regions Base No. 1 should be leaving soon, and it's really not good to delay any longer.

Qi An saw the escort team off when they left.

Upon seeing Yang Ying again, the two still disliked each other.

Yang Ying knew the inside story of the "White Tower" project. She was torn between hoping that Qi An would overpower everyone and become the top leader, never to return to the new base, or hoping that Qi An would suffer a crushing defeat and slink back to the new base in disgrace.

However, after meeting with her former purification colleagues and hearing about Qi An's impressive performance in the two tests, her heart still leaned towards the conclusion that "Qi An suffered a major defeat."

If Qi An wins, her prestige will be too high. What if she becomes universally supported in Yang Ying's hometown, at the alliance headquarters...?

Yang Ying couldn't accept it! She still hoped that Qi An would lose miserably!

Therefore, before getting into the car, she glanced at Xu Hui, who was once considered a friend, and asked her with her eyes to keep her informed of the test progress.

Xu Hui smiled, nodded, and waved goodbye.

But after giving her a look, Yang Ying didn't pay much attention to her waving. She only looked back at Yang Yuning and Yao Du'an, who had come to see her off, and felt a little reluctant to part.

However, both Sunlight and Changfeng were urging them on, so the convoy set off on time.

Some part ways, some reunite.

After the convoy left, Yang Yuning rushed to Qi An.

The light in his eyes, gleaming with excitement, joy, and deep longing, was so bright and intense that it almost made anyone who met him dizzy.

Qi An instinctively lowered his head to avoid eye contact, touching his cheek with his slightly cool hand before meeting his gaze again and greeting him with a smile:

"haven't seen you for a long time."

It's been such a long time. The last time they met was last July, almost a year ago.

Yang Yuning knows that Qi An has come to the North 1 Base, and he has been keeping in touch with Qi An online.

Seeing Qi An was a major motivation for him to hurry home! However, on the way home, he had prepared a lot of things to say last night, but when he actually saw Qi An, he seemed to be speechless and couldn't utter a single word.

The two looked like a pair of fools staring at each other from the side of the road.

Qi An spoke up again: "I want to buy some things and go for a walk in the street. How about we go together?"