The voice on the other end of the phone chattered on and on, like a gentle spring rain, slowly seeping into Chu Yan's heart.

He tightened his grip on the receiver slightly, his fingertips rubbing against the cold metal surface, and even his breathing became softer.

I couldn't bear to say a word, I just listened quietly.

Listen to her joy, her radiant expression, her happiness, her voice...

Since arriving at the military region and being reinstated, there has been no moment of happiness that can compare to this one.

He never regretted wearing this military uniform; the star on his shoulder was both a responsibility and an honor.

I have lived up to the expectations of the people, my family, and the national flag on my chest.

But who says that tough soldiers can't have feelings for their children?

Without these attachments, wouldn't it just become a cold, lifeless stone?

Why aren't you saying anything?

Ye Nian'an's voice suddenly lowered, with a slightly aggrieved nasal tone, like a neglected kitten: "It's so boring that I'm the only one talking..."

"Brother Yan, you didn't find me nagging, so you deliberately took the receiver away because you didn't want to hear me talk, did you?"

Chu Yan's heart clenched instantly.

"Niannian, how could this be..."

Chu Yan suddenly became anxious and quickly explained, "I just haven't heard your voice for a long time, and I didn't want to interrupt. Listening to you talk about these things at home, I always felt like you were always by my side and never left."

Ye Nian'an knew that Chu Yancai didn't have the guts, so she said it on purpose to make the man anxious. Suppressing her laughter, she deliberately dragged out her words: "Then tell me about your situation. I can't be the only one talking."

"Over here..."

Chu Yan paused, then tried to keep the tone light: "We've been doing winter training lately, getting up at five in the morning to run five kilometers, and the steamed buns in the canteen are fluffier than before; yesterday I even got an excellent score in target practice..."

Chu Yan could only try to choose the good points to discuss.

Those nights when training resulted in muscle strains and the pain kept me awake at night.

Those were the days when we ate frozen, hard buns in the jungle and swallowed them with snow water.

Those people who were bitten all over by mosquitoes and scratched until they bled from the itching.

He didn't mention a word.

His wife, with ten children, takes care of the entire family's needs, making her work much harder than him.

What are these hardships compared to this?

As long as it puts her at ease.

At least he earned a lot of military merits, which made his family proud, and his wife and children proud.

That's enough.

"Now, when my comrades in the regiment see me, they all call me 'Regiment Commander Chu,' and the admiration in their tone is genuine."

Chu Yan's voice finally carried a hint of pride, like a young man showing off an award to his sweetheart, with a joyful tone at the end.

"When we get back, I'll show you my medals."

This "Chu Tuan" was not the perfunctory, two-faced kind of address from before, nor was it a polite, evasive gesture.

It is a title of utmost respect, from the bottom of one's heart.

The military region is different from the bureaucracy; there aren't as many hidden agendas. Anyone who's dissatisfied wears their temper on their sleeve.

No matter whose child you are, if you don't have real skills, people will still talk behind your back.

Want to convince people? It's simple, let your military achievements speak for themselves.

That's how Chu Yan got to where he is today, step by step.

While others trained for five kilometers, he added weight training.

While others practiced shooting a hundred times, he stayed at the shooting range with his gun until dark.

During the last border exercise, he led his team to lie in the snow for three days and three nights, and managed to destroy the "enemy's" command post.

He didn't care about empty titles like "Army God of War"; his mind was focused on training plans and mission deployments.

But people always bring up his age, saying that he only got the position of regimental commander because of the Chu family's reputation.

It seems that during the years he was sent to the countryside, many people in the military region forgot how he fought his way up from a raw recruit.

"Yes, yes, Commander Chu, Chief Chu~"

Ye Nian'an drew out her tone on the other end, her voice laced with laughter, as if she were teasing a docile wolfhound.

Chu Yan's ears burned slightly: "Niannian, the reason I worked so hard and was happy with this title wasn't just to eat a steamed bun and prove myself, but also for you and for the babies."

“I want your eyes to light up when you mention me; I want your children to grow up and say ‘My dad is a hero’; I want to be your support so that you will never have to suffer injustice in your lives… That’s what I want to do most.”

""OK,"

Ye Nian'an's voice was soft as, "From now on, our whole family will rely on Commander Chu."

...

The rambling on the phone was like tea being slowly brewed in lukewarm water; before I knew it, an hour had passed.

"Cough cough."

Aunt Zhang tiptoed in, winked at Ye Nian'an, and pointed to the wall clock: "Comrade Ye Nian'an, keep an eye on the time."

This is all money! Money!

The call lasted an hour, yet it reached a military region thousands of miles away.

How much does a domestic long-distance call cost?

And this is still charged at full price.

The charge is 1.3 yuan per minute.

Ye Nian'an didn't feel sorry for her, but Aunt Zhang felt extremely sorry for her.

This one phone call costs 70 yuan.

That's enough to buy fifty kilograms of wheat flour!

"Okay, that's all for now. Phone calls are expensive. I'll wait for you to come back."

Ye Nian'an also belatedly realized what was happening.

Although she now has space and is a little rich woman.

But spending 70 yuan just to make a phone call is really painful.

Even the richest person can't afford to spend money like this.

Thinking about this, I couldn't help but recall how convenient it was to make phone calls in my past life.

By then, we already had cell phones, mobile phones, and telephones at home.

You won't need to go to the post office to make long-distance calls, which is troublesome and expensive.

The times need to develop faster.

She gazed at the slogan "Building the Four Modernizations" on the post office wall, silently hoping—

Hurry up and let her have the freedom to talk on the phone for hours!

Otherwise, being separated by thousands of miles, unable to see each other or have anything to say, is truly agonizing.

"good."

Chu Yan was also reluctant to part.

He originally wanted to tell Ye Nian'an about his plan.

In the end, I held back.

Once he's completed the formalities, he can give her a real surprise; that's better than making empty promises now.

"I love you, take good care of yourself, I miss you a thousand times over."

Finally, blushing, Ye Nian'an blurted out all the things she had kept hidden for so long.

He hurriedly hung up the phone as soon as he finished speaking.

The receiver clicked back into place. She covered her burning cheeks, her heart pounding like a rabbit's.

Oh dear, that's so cheesy! Doesn't Chu Yan think she's shameless?

Her fingertips traced circles on the cool surface of the phone, but she couldn't help but smile, even her eyebrows seemed to be tinged with sweetness.

(????)

Chu Yan, still holding the receiver on the other end of the phone, was stunned by the constant dial tone.

Ye Nian'an's shy confession was like a pebble thrown into a lake, instantly creating ripples that shook even the soul.