Without hesitation, she turned and headed towards the brigade office.

Suddenly remembering that Lu Ze was about to leave, she stopped and turned back to look at him, pleading pitifully, "Come with me."

Lu Ze walked over to Yu Yao's side.

The usually composed and calm Commander Lu quickly glanced around, and seeing that no one was around, he took his lover's hand and said, "Let's go."

Yu Yao smiled sweetly at him and said, "Mmm."

When they arrived at the brigade office, Yu Yao told Li Yuanqing about Lu Ze's deduction and her own thoughts.

Li Yuanqing's eyes lit up as he listened, and he slapped his thigh, "As expected of Consultant Yu, you are a great benefactor to our Clearwater Bay. I will arrange for someone to check it out right away."

"Captain Li, wait a minute." Yu Yao called out to him and continued, "Be careful when collecting them. Also, pick a few poisonous mangoes and bring them back to the unit for testing."

"Okay, Comrade Yu."

Once everyone else left, only Yu Yao and Lu Ze remained in the office.

Yu Yao took Lu Ze's hand and walked out of the office, sharing with him as they went: "Qingshui Bay is named so because there is a bay that winds its way into the village. There are rows of coconut trees and seabirds circling around there. The scenery is beautiful. Shall we go for a walk together?"

Lu Ze took her hand and gently hummed in agreement.

A few hundred meters west of the village, you can see tall coconut trees in the distance. Some of the coconut trees stand tall and straight, while others have been blown down by typhoons, yet they still exude vitality.

Flocks of seabirds fly over the shimmering bay, occasionally landing in the bay and catching an unidentified small fish.

If you have plenty of time, it would be perfect to set up a beach chair and coffee table, along with an iced mojito.

Yu Yao and Lu Ze strolled along the bay, enjoying the beautiful scenery.

After walking for a while, Lu Ze stopped, took Yu Yao's hands, and looked at her with reluctance and worry in his eyes.

This mission is arduous, and Lu Ze is unsure when he will be able to return.

Although there are two mothers at home taking care of Ayao, Lu Ze still couldn't help but worry that she might get leg cramps at night and he wouldn't be there to massage her.

I'm also worried that she might be alone at night, waking up from nightmares with no one to talk to.

...

No matter how reluctant he was, he still had to leave. This land and the people he loved needed his protection.

When Yu Yao saw him stop and stare at her silently, she already guessed what had happened.

She looked up at Lu Ze and asked, "Are you leaving?"

Lu Ze nodded: "The car will be here soon, I should go."

Yu Yao was reluctant to part with him, but she knew it was his duty. She took his hand and said, "It's okay, the mission is more important. I'll see you off."

Lu Zehui grasped her hand. "Okay."

On the dirt road outside Qingshuiwan Brigade.

The green jeep slowly pulled up in front of Lu Ze. Song Yiming leaned out of the window and said, "Hello, sister-in-law. Commander, it's time to go."

Lu Ze squeezed Yu Yao's hand. "Take care of yourself."

Yu Yao's nose tingled, and tears welled up in her peach blossom eyes. "I will. You must come back safely."

She wanted to tell Lu Ze that his birthday was in a little over a month, and she had prepared a surprise for him.

But she was also afraid that if she told him, Lu Ze would keep it in mind.

If something happens to him while he's rushing back to complete his mission, Yu Yao will never forgive herself.

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Yu Yao chose to keep them to herself.

"I'm leaving."

"Okay, you can go now." Yu Yao said, but her hand was tightly holding Lu Ze's hand.

Lu Ze tried to pull it out but couldn't, and his helpless gaze fell on the hand that Yu Yao was holding.

Yu Yao then realized what was happening and quickly let go of her hand, saying, "You can go now."

Lu Ze opened the passenger door, and as soon as he stepped in with his left foot, he quickly turned around, ran to Yu Yao, cupped her face, and kissed her forehead.

Song Yiming craned his neck to watch with great interest.

Wow, getting married really makes a difference; they're kissing in public like that.

The world is going to the dogs; people's hearts are no longer what they used to be.

Song Yiming spoke from the heart, and he swore that it was absolutely not out of jealousy.

Lu Ze pressed his forehead against Yu Yao's, his deep voice filled with deep affection, "A Yao, wait for me to come back!"

Then he turned around, got into the car immediately, closed the door, and instructed Song Yiming, "Drive."

He was afraid that if he didn't leave soon, he wouldn't want to leave.

When he decided not to get married, he never imagined that one day he would meet a vibrant and radiant woman like Yu Yao, who would make him so enamored with the warmth of home.

As Yu Yao watched the jeep drive away, she put her hands to her mouth like a megaphone and shouted, "Lu Ze, you must come back safely! The children and I are waiting for you at home! You must be safe!"

Hearing the sound, Lu Ze leaned out of the car window and waved to Yu Yao, "A Yao, let's go back!"

Yu Yao didn't leave. She watched the jeep disappear into the distance before turning back to the Qingshuiwan Brigade to continue her work.

The thought that every penny earned from her side business could potentially be used to improve the equipment of the troops filled her with enthusiasm.

Every effort she makes now will bring her loved one home safely in the future.

Following Lu Ze's investigation method, Li Yuanqing quickly found the suspicious plant. "Advisor Yu, we found a large number of these plants around the mango grove and around the house where Old Yu lives. I can confirm that the mango grove was not here last year; it must have been planted by Old Yu."

Yu Yao didn't dare get too close and asked, "Does anyone know what kind of plant this is?"

Li Yuanqing shook his head. "I asked the barefoot doctor, but he didn't know either."

Yu Yao thought for a moment and said to Li Yuanqing, "Captain Li, could you please find a sealed glass jar, put the mango and this plant in it, and I'll try to find someone to analyze it?"

"Then I'll have to trouble Consultant Yu."

Li Yuanqing is now completely convinced by Yu Yao and diligently completes all the tasks Yu Yao assigns, unlike before when he would give her official answers.

Without delay, Yu Yao handed over the matter of Qingshui Bay to Yin Susu and Sister-in-law Sun Yu, and together with Su Meihua, rode bicycles to bring the problematic mangoes and suspicious plants back to the compound.

In the Women's Director's office, after listening to Yu Yao's words, Zhu Xiudan picked up the sealed jar and said, "There's no time to lose, I'll take it to be tested right away. It's getting late, you should all go home and rest."

Yu Yao told Su Meihua to go back first, as she needed to check on the drying of the dried mangoes.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Wang Xiu, who was there to report for duty.

Wang Xiu smiled gently and harmlessly, and greeted Yu Yao, "Hello, Consultant Yu."

"Hello, Comrade Wang!" Yu Yao replied politely, and then carefully checked the drying of the dried mangoes.

Wang Xiu, however, did not intend to let her off so easily. In order to prevent Yu Yao from making things difficult for her in the future, she had to point out in advance that there was a grudge between the two of them.

She glanced at the others around her who were busy turning over mangoes to dry, and said with a forced smile, "Comrade Yu, Sister Dan told me that I was able to join the side business group this time thanks to your approval. Thank you for separating public and private matters and not having any prejudice against me because of what happened before."