"It's time for the child to go to sleep." Jiang Mingjing understood from Lu Chen's brief words that Lu Chen was giving him a way out.

"Old brothers, I'm heading back now, you guys keep going!" Jiang Mingjing greeted the big shots with a smile.

"Go back and get some rest. We're both over sixty!" Bai Qingtan couldn't help but tease.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lu Chen wanted to hug Guo Da Nian, but Jiang Mingjing refused to let Lu Chen hug him.

Jin Chengwei followed behind, noticing that the commander really liked children.

When the commander came, he was so happy, giving the impression that he had a lot to say to Commander Lu. But after they met, he was so cold that he didn't seem like a father and son at all.

On second thought, that makes sense. The father and son had only recently recognized each other, and they didn't know each other before, so there was no real bond between them.

They don't even live together, how can they have a good relationship?

On the way back, Jiang Mingjing said, still unwilling to give up, "So, you really don't want to go to Beijing?"

“If you don’t want to, staying here is fine too,” Lu Chen replied without hesitation.

Jiang Mingjing glanced at Lu Chen but said nothing.

No one spoke again on the way. Jin Chengwei escorted Jiang Mingjing to the entrance of the family compound.

"Chengwei, you should go back and rest. We don't need you here anymore," Jiang Mingjing said to Jin Chengwei.

"Commander, no, I must stay by your side at all times," Jin Chengwei said earnestly.

Jiang Mingjing stopped, turned to look at Jin Chengwei, pointed at the two soldiers on guard, and said to Jin Chengwei, "They're always by our side. What danger could there be here? Or do you doubt their abilities?"

Jin Chengwei hurriedly explained, "Commander, that's not how it is, I just..."

"What do you mean? I need to sleep, even if you don't." Jiang Mingjing glanced at him helplessly, then turned and went into the family compound.

Jin Chengwei was still worried, so he went in anyway.

Jiang Mingjing turned to look at him, speechless.

"There's a cot at home, and plenty of blankets too. Comrade Jin Chengwei can sleep here." Seeing how dutiful Jin Chengwei was, Lu Chen had no choice but to do so.

"Then thank you, Commander Lu," Jin Chengwei replied with a smile.

"You're welcome." Lu Chen said outwardly, but inwardly he thought, "You're something else, they're just having a family reunion!"

You've gone this far, yet you have absolutely no tact.

Jiang Mingjing glared angrily at Jin Chengwei.

"Never mind, I'll go back to the guesthouse and stay there. I'll come visit you again tomorrow morning." Jin Chengwei sensed that the leader was about to lose his temper, so he compromised.

"You rascal..." Jiang Mingjing complained helplessly, "You're from Fucheng, so I'll give you a few days off to go back and visit your family."

"Commander..."

"It's settled then." Jiang Mingjing walked towards the family compound without waiting for Jin Chengwei to refuse.

Lu Chen glanced at Jin Chengwei but said nothing.

"I'll have someone take you home tomorrow. Your home isn't far from here," Jiang Mingjing said, then added, "That's an order."

"I will obey orders without question," Jin Chengwei said.

Jiang Mingjing looked at Lu Chen and said, "Tomorrow, borrow a car from the army and send him back. There probably aren't any cars left at this time of year; that kid hasn't been home for years."

“Okay, I’ll have Duan Jiahe take him back tomorrow. You can’t be without anyone by your side, so I’ll have Li Jiasheng stay with you to protect you.” I thought it wouldn’t be appropriate for Jiang Mingjing to be without anyone by his side.

Jiang Mingjing didn't say anything, and carried Da Nian home.

Shen Qiaoyue was adding charcoal to the fire in the living room when she heard footsteps slowly approaching outside.

"Dad, you're back?" Looking out into the yard, I saw that they had all returned.

"Yes, you're back. It's so late, Qiaoyue, aren't you asleep yet?"

Shen Qiaoyue put down the pliers in her hand and reached out to hug Da Nian.

"Dad, everyone's excited for the New Year and can't sleep," Shen Qiaoyue replied to Jiang Mingjing, hugging Da Nian.

Lu Chen poured hot water for Jiang Mingjing and placed it in front of him.

Jiang Mingjing looked up at Shen Qiaoyue and asked, "By the way, Qiaoyue, I saw a girl during the day, I think her name was Xiaoli. Is she single?"

"Are you planning to act as matchmaker?" Lu Chen asked, frowning.

Shen Qiaoyue also cast a curious glance at her.

"I think that girl is pretty. Chengwei has been by my side for several years, but he still doesn't have a girlfriend. Would it be nice to introduce us?"

“Chengwei was a deputy platoon leader before, and his monthly salary was sixty yuan, which is not bad.” Jiang Mingjing treated Jin Chengwei like his own child and was also anxious about his marriage.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiaoyue realized that the salary was indeed quite good.

"Dad, you're wrong. Xiaoli went to study in another city. She took the train to the island after lunch and may not be back for half a year." Zhang Dali and Xiang Shulan hadn't considered getting Xia Xiaoli married yet.

"Oh, I see!" Jiang Mingjing felt regretful when he heard that Jiang Mingjing wasn't home.

Shen Qiaoyue continued, "Dad, in our family compound, many girls don't want to get married yet. They want to learn a lot. Xiaoli injured her leg before, and it took Brother Zhang and Sister-in-law Shulan nearly a thousand yuan to cure it."

"Then this brother and sister-in-law are really good, their kindness is very deep, right?" Jiang Mingjing understood the implication; these were high expectations.

More than a thousand yuan is no small amount!

Jin Chengwei earns 60 yuan a month, which is only a little over 700 yuan a year. 1,000 yuan would be two years' salary.

Lu Chen couldn't stand it anymore and said, "You shouldn't always think about others. At your age, you can find another companion to take care of you."

"You brat, what nonsense are you talking about? I'm perfectly fine on my own, why would I need to find someone!" Jiang Mingjing also became anxious, staring at Lu Chen and saying, "I'm already old, and in a few years I might be going to see your mother. Why would I need to find a companion? How am I going to explain this to your mother when I'm gone?"

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