Starting from the camp, it took Shen Qingyun three and a half hours to reach the regiment, and it was almost noon.

He trotted all the way into the regiment headquarters, just wanting to be quick so as not to miss the meal time. It would be inappropriate to delay the comrades in the staff department from eating.

As a result, he lowered his head and hurried on his way, and almost bumped into the deputy head of the group, Qiao Linheng, who was walking hurriedly outside.

Without waiting for him to say hello, Qiao Linheng pointed inside and said, "Hurry up and go. Chengtuan has been waiting for you for a long time and is about to get mad."

Shen Qingyun was stunned - why did the group look for him?

He received a call from the regiment's staff department yesterday, saying that he would be seconded to the military industry institute to help.

The staff officer who informed him did not tell him to report to the regiment commander after his arrival.

Seeing that he was a little dazed, Qiao Lin slapped him on the back and said, "Hurry up and catch the afternoon train! We'll be in a hurry to form a group soon."

"Oh, okay." Shen Qingyun agreed quickly, but he felt even more confused.

The cluster of offices is at the end of the corridor.

As he walked in, Shen Qingyun began to ponder in his mind.

Before coming here, he just treated this as an ordinary secondment.

After all, as a grassroots cadre of the navy, he has always known that the country has invested a lot of financial and material resources and is secretly developing our own submarines.

To this end, military factories often second some experienced cadres and soldiers on the front line to understand the situation and participate in research.

Last year, he was seconded two or three times.

The longest one was almost two months, and the shortest was only two weeks.

When the General Staff Department called him yesterday, they specifically reminded him to remember to bring his cotton jacket.

Shen Qingyun knew at that moment that this was the same military institute he had visited before.

He had stayed in that place for about a month and was familiar with the place, so he didn't think of it as a big deal.

But now, he suddenly felt that things were not as simple as he thought.

Shen Qingyun actually has a very good relationship with their team leader Cheng Baohe. It was Chengtuan who tried his best to protect Dabao's father Du Changyu, and finally insisted on giving him the military academy place against all odds.

But in today’s world, it’s hard to understand people’s hearts. No one can tell who will stab you and when.

So even though Chengtuan was grateful to him for meeting him, the two of them acted indifferent when they were outside.

Even Cheng Baohe was not as close to Shen Qingyun in front of outsiders as he was to the battalion commanders of other battalions.

But today, he actually asked to see me specifically, and did it openly in front of other cadres in the group.

What is going on?

Shen Qingyun knocked on the door of the team leader's office with doubts.

"Report!"

"Come in."

Shen Qingyun pushed open the door and saw Captain Cheng standing by the window looking out.

From his direction, he could only see a silhouette, but Cheng Baohe looked relatively calm, not as angry as Deputy Captain Qiao said.

Seeing him come in, Cheng Baohe returned to his desk and pointed to the chair opposite: "Sit down."

Shen Qingyun sat down as he was told.

There were no outsiders present, so Cheng Baohe did not speak official language or nonsense with him.

Instead, he said bluntly: "I arranged for you to be seconded to the military factory this time. The content of your work is similar to before, just participating in research. I don't think it will take long, maybe a week or so.

It is said that they just need to ask some detailed questions, and will let you come back after that. Those engineers are very busy right now and don't have time to chat with you. ”

Having said that, Cheng Baohe paused for a moment, looked at Shen Qingyun and didn't continue.

Shen Qingyun looked at him calmly, neither humble nor arrogant, not curious, and not talkative.

Seeing that he was obviously waiting for her to express herself, she simply replied after a moment: "Yes."

This "yes" actually made Cheng Baohe laugh, and his face no longer had the serious look it had before.

He even winked at Shen Qingyun.

"Why don't you ask me why I want you here?"

Shen Qingyun pursed her lips and said, "You would tell me even if I didn't ask.

Cheng Baohe: “…”

He cleared his throat and glared at his beloved general.

"Of course I didn't ask you to go just to participate in a survey. If it was just for this, I would have sent an officer. You're also delaying your participation in the competition... I know you must be scolding me in your heart!"

"I don't dare."

Cheng Baohe waved his hand at him and said impatiently: "Don't fool me. The main reason I asked you to go this time is..."

At this point, he suddenly lowered his voice and leaned towards Shen Qingyun: "The main thing is that I want you to give me back the trial rights of the latest submarine!"

Shen Qingyun's pupils suddenly shrank and his body immediately straightened!

"The research was successful? Is this news reliable?!"

Seeing that he finally lost his composure, Cheng Baohe was immediately satisfied.

He even stood up from his seat, walked to his side, and patted him on the shoulder, with a show-off expression in his eyes.

"Of course it's reliable! Shen Qingyun, I'm leaving this matter to you, you must ensure that you complete the task!"

"No, Captain, if you want me to complete the mission, you have to tell me how to do it first!"

After being excited, Shen Qingyun finally calmed down.

This matter is really too big.

He did not think that as a small battalion-level officer, he had the ability to obtain the airworthiness rights that were of great concern to the entire army.

How many people are thinking about this! Can you agree to it casually?

"Now there is a particularly good opportunity. I tell you, you must not miss it..."

Chengtuan did not immediately tell Shen Qingyun what the opportunity was, but instead tried desperately to paint a rosy picture for him.

In fact, without him saying anything, everyone understands——

There are simply too many troops eyeing this trial voyage right.

After all, we have obtained the right to conduct sea trials. When the ship is successfully tested in the future and consideration is given to deploying troops, the chance of being selected will be much higher than other troops.

These days, which military unit doesn’t lack hardware?

With the latest submarines, the prospect of becoming an ace regiment and an ace division is just around the corner.

"Oh, and your vanguard battalion will become the ace battalion in the future."

Having said that, Chengtuan glanced at Shen Qingyun.

The group was promising that if they could obtain the trial voyage rights, and if they really got the submarine in the future, their battalion would be the first to board the ship!

Shen Qingyun could no longer control his excitement: "Don't beat around the bush, just tell me what the opportunity is."

Seeing him like this, Cheng Baohe laughed out loud.

"Comrade Ning Haocheng, the chief engineer in charge of ship development, is in our regiment now. He came here to inspect the sea trial troops. It's just that I found out too late. They are going back to the military factory today."

If he had known earlier that Engineer Ning was here to select the sea area and troops for the trial voyage, Cheng Baohe would have done nothing but stick to him every day to get close to him!

But he just treated it as a very ordinary investigation and didn't even meet with Mr. Ning Gao from beginning to end.

Thinking of this, Cheng Baohe regretted so much that he wished time could go back.

"Now,"

His expression became serious. "The only thing I can do is to send you to follow the car for protection, on the pretext that Ning Gaogong and the other two are carrying important documents. Anyway, you, as an expatriate, are supposed to report to the Arsenal anyway, so it's just on the way."

As for how to get close to Engineer Ning along the way and how to make him think that our group is the best testing point, it depends on you to find a way to achieve it. ”

At this point, he suddenly shouted: "Shen Qingyun!"

"Here!" Shen Qingyun stood up from the chair quickly as a reflex.

“Do you have confidence?!”

"have!"

After answering, he looked at his leader with a depressed look on his face.

Is this the "best opportunity" that the team leader mentioned?

He didn't even know Senior Engineer Ning Haocheng.

How can you be so confident that you can capture someone just by following him on a train?

Thinking of this, Shen Qingyun felt a throbbing pain on his forehead.

But as a soldier, military orders are as heavy as mountains.

Since he has accepted the task, he will naturally try his best to complete it!

But why does the name "Ning Gaogong" sound so familiar?

Shen Qingyun thought about it for a long time but couldn't remember.

In the end, I thought that I might have heard it at the military factory when I was on secondment.

Sitting on the train, Shen Qingyun felt more and more powerless, and he felt that his chances of completing the task were getting lower and lower.

They set out from the regiment headquarters at three o'clock in the afternoon and rushed to Haicheng Railway Station. They had a quick bite at the state-owned restaurant outside the station and then boarded the train.

Not long after getting on the bus, Engineer Ning fell asleep and did not open his eyes until almost nine o'clock the next morning, without even having breakfast.

After finally waking up and washing up, he lay on the upper bunk reading a thick book without saying a word. This meant that Shen Qingyun, who had been waiting for more than ten hours trying to get close to him, didn't even have a chance to talk to him.

This is not something I can actively approach, after all, we are not that close.

Shen Qingyun understood that these great intellectuals were inherently aloof and were not used to interacting too much with others.

If there is no suitable reason, it is likely to backfire and turn the pleasing attitude into an annoying one.

Extremely depressed, Shen Qingyun could only decide to let things take their course.

There was really nothing to do, so I took out the paper and pen I brought with me and started writing a letter to my wife.

Although I can't tell her where I'm going, I now know when I'll be back, so I should be able to tell her about it.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but recall the look the girl gave him the night before when he told his wife that he was going to be seconded.

Thinking of this made Shen Qingyun feel warm and swollen in the heart. He just wished that everything could end right now and go home early.

"Senior, it's eleven o'clock now. The dining car should be open. What would you like to eat for lunch? I'll go get it for you."

As we were getting closer to Province C, this business trip was about to end.

Liu Chuang, who had been following him out for quite some time, was in a much better mood than before and looked more relaxed.

He looked at the watch on his wrist and said to the upper bunk with a smile.

Ning Gaogong put down the book in his hand and poked his head out from the upper bunk: "Just buy some, it's up to you."

At this point, he seemed to remember that Shen Qingyun, who was sitting on the lower bunk opposite him, was also with them, and smiled at him in a friendly manner.

Then he said to Liu Chuang, "Take Comrade Shen with you to buy some. I'll treat you at noon today. Let's see if there are any meat dishes."

When he heard his name mentioned, Shen Qingyun quickly stood up and waved his hand: "No, no, I have my own dry food, just ask Comrade Liu to buy it for you."

After saying that, he looked at Ning Gaogong again: "I have a mission to complete. I can't leave while you are in the carriage."

After hearing what he said, Engineer Ning Gao naturally didn't say anything more. He waved at Liu Chuang and let him go by himself.

Then he sighed to Shen Qingyun, "Your team leader is really cautious. I have been to the lower units for research so many times, but this is the first time that someone has escorted me personally the entire time. It makes me nervous."

After saying this he started laughing himself.

Shen Qingyun did not laugh with him, but answered seriously: "It should be. The struggle between the enemy and us is still severe. For a pillar of the country like you, it is never too careful."

These words made Ning Gong stunned for a moment.

Even though he is a person who is given special attention by the state, Ning Gong is not oblivious to what is happening outside.

His situation is special, and no one will treat him unfairly in material life.

But the social status...is no longer the same as before.

Let’s not talk about anything else, just talk about his assistant Liu Chuang who accompanied him all the way. Although it can’t be seen on the surface, the perfunctory and impatient look in his expression can’t be concealed.

Ning Gong even often thought to himself with self-mockery:

If it weren't for the fact that he could enjoy free meals at work and get more food subsidies by following him, this person would have already lost the patience to put on a smile with an old man like him, right?

But the young man in front of him didn't sound insincere when he spoke to him. His tone was sincere and his attitude was respectful. It was obvious that he spoke from his heart.

This touched Ning Gong a lot.

For the first time, he looked at the young man seriously.

The young man looked to be in his twenties at most. But he is many times more stable than the average young man in his twenties.

Just sitting there, one can feel an indescribable sense of peace and security.

It should be a pleasure to work with such a person, right? Ning Gong couldn't help but feel moved.

He got down from the upper bunk and sat down opposite Shen Qingyun across the small table.

I started chatting with him about family matters as if I was just having a small talk.

"Comrade Xiao Shen, how old are you this year? You look very young! I heard that you are already a battalion commander. What battles have you participated in?..."

Shen Qingyun was neither humble nor arrogant, and answered Mr. Ning's questions truthfully one by one.

When he asked about the situation in his camp, she quietly embellished it without making any expression.

The two of them chatted very happily, and before they knew it, more than half an hour had passed. When Liu Chuang brought the food back, the two of them seemed to be very familiar with each other.

Liu Chuang was a little surprised.

He thought about it, and pushed the food he bought to the center of the small table: “Comrade Shen, let’s eat together, I bought a lot.”

Anyway, he didn't spend his own money, but he did buy a lot.

Hearing him say this, Shen Qingyun quickly waved his hand and reached for his military backpack.

He took out a large can and a stack of corn tortillas wrapped in tar paper from his schoolbag.

This was prepared by his wife yesterday, who got up early in the morning.

I don't know what was added in it, but it's not only soft, but it also doesn't become hard when I touch it overnight.

Just a little less.

After all, at that time I just said that I might not be able to make it to the group for lunch, but I didn’t think about having to eat for several days.

Looking at the stack of pancakes, Shen Qingyun felt a little regretful.

He placed the can on the small table, took out a cake from the oil paper bag, and smiled at the two people opposite him: "My wife prepared some food for me when I went out. I have to eat it quickly."

Taking a look at the yellow whole-grain pancake, Liu Chuang curled his lips slightly.

Although he thought the man was a little silly for refusing to eat meat, he also knew that the army had strict discipline and insisted on not taking even a single needle or thread from the masses, so he did not try to persuade him any further.

Ning Gong's eyes fell on the slightly familiar canning bottle.

Looking at the fried mustard greens, he looked up at Shen Qingyun and asked hesitantly, "Are you from Province C as well?"

"Yes." Shen Qingyun nodded, but was not surprised.

Although he has been in the army for many years, his tone still has a bit of the C Province accent, which can be heard.

But he didn't expect that Ning Gong would suddenly pay attention to this.

"Then... do you have a pair of children named Dabao and Erniu?"

Shen Qingyun's hand, which was about to twist the bottle cap, suddenly stopped in mid-air.

"No way, I actually guessed it right?! Oh my god, I really didn't expect that, Comrade Xiao Shen, you are really Dabao and the others' father?

How come you have two children that big when you are so young? Hey, come to think of it, your lover is also young, why did you get married so early? ”

Looking at his actions, Ning Gong, who was unable to answer, knew that he had guessed correctly and immediately became excited.

He seemed to have suddenly become much closer to Shen Qingyun, and he spoke without too many reservations.

I was so excited that I blurted out all the questions that had been lingering in my mind.

After asking, he realized his slip of the tongue and immediately felt embarrassed.

"Hey, Xiao Shen, am I asking too much?"

You know, he was struggling for a long time at the station that day, and until they finally parted, he didn't have the courage to ask the girl which unit she was going to and who her husband was.

He regretted this for a long time.

She thought she would never have the chance to meet him again, but unexpectedly it was such a coincidence that Xiao Shen, who escorted her back, turned out to be her husband!

Shen Qingyun finally remembered who Ning Gong was!

Before, when they were at the station, Lin Hui and Gao Chong had clearly mentioned this name when they were talking.

It's just that he didn't make the connection at the moment.

He also didn't expect it to be such a coincidence.

Hearing Engineer Ning asking this, he quickly shook his hand and said, "It's okay."

He thought for a moment and said with a wry smile: "Actually, there is nothing wrong with telling you. Dabao and Erniu are my adopted son and daughter. Their father died while he was stationed on the island."

Ning Gaogong had never expected Shen Qingyun's explanation, and he was deeply shocked.

There was even more respect in the eyes when he looked at him again.

"I didn't expect it, Xiao Shen, I really didn't expect it."

He sighed and shook his head: "To be honest, when we went to Haicheng, your wife, the child and I sat in the same compartment and stayed together for several days on the road.

If you hadn't said it now, I would never have believed that she was not the biological mother of those two children! She couldn't fake her kindness to the children. ”

At this point, he raised his head and looked at Shen Qingyun meaningfully: "Xiao Shen, you are going to the military factory to help, right?"

Shen Qingyun felt his heart suddenly skip a beat.

Although he didn't quite understand why Ning Gaogong suddenly asked this question, he still nodded: "Yes."

"Well, do you mind changing places? I'm also short of people over there, and I need a comrade who is familiar with the frontline situation to help me. If you're willing, I'll say hello to the military factory, and after you get off the car, you can go back to the design institute with me for a while?"

Although his tone was inquiring, Ning Gong's expression was very serious.

No longer as approachable as before.

It can be seen that he said this after careful consideration.

Shen Qingyun's heart was pounding uncontrollably.

He felt like his head was about to explode!

I could only pretend to be calm and try hard not to show my facial expressions.

"Of course!" He answered with the same serious expression.

"Before I came here, our team leader specifically told me that my most important mission this time is to escort you, and the second is to report to the military factory. As long as you need me, no matter where I go or what I do, I will definitely follow your command and ensure that I complete the mission!"

It was not yet eleven o'clock when Yin Xiaoman came back from the cafeteria. From a distance, he saw Cui Yan and a few children busy in the newly opened vegetable garden in their yard.

She hurriedly took a few steps, came up to him and said anxiously: "Sister-in-law, didn't we agree that I would do it myself? Why are you busying yourself again? I already know how to do the work in the field."

Seeing her coming back, Cui Yan stood up from the field and said nonchalantly, "I know you can do it, but don't you have time? It's hot now, and the grass will grow very tall if you don't pull it out in one day. I just did it for the convenience of doing it."

At this point, Cui Yan suddenly remembered and couldn't help asking, "Hasn't Xiao Shen sent a letter yet? Didn't he say he would be back in half a month? How come he's been gone for almost two months, the weather is hot, and there's still no news?"

"No, there has been no letter since then."

Hearing his sister-in-law's question, Yin Xiaoman answered uneasily, with unconcealable worry in his eyes.

She received his letter almost a week after Shen Qingyun left.

In the letter he said that he met Mr. Ning and they had a very pleasant conversation. He also said that the secondment period would not be too long and he would be back in about two weeks.

But now two months have passed, and not only has there been no return of the person, there has not even been a single letter from him.

As the day got hotter, the memories of the past kept echoing in Yin Xiaoman's head like a curse, making her uneasy.

But in that letter, Shen Qingyun didn't even leave an address, so she couldn't write a letter to ask about the situation.

How can this not make people worry?

Seeing her uneasiness, Cui Yan realized that she had said something wrong and quickly comforted her: "Oh, I just asked casually, don't think too much. It's common for people like them to go on business trips. Before, Lao Qi went to study and was away for half a year. He will be fine..."

At this point, her eyes were suddenly attracted by the man at the door, and she couldn't help but change the subject in surprise: "Hey, why did you come back so early today? I haven't had time to cook yet!"

Qi Feng was sweating profusely and his face was red, and it was obvious that he had just run over here.

He ignored his wife's words and didn't even look at her. Instead, he tried to hide his nervousness and said to Yin Xiaoman calmly, "Wife Qingyun, someone from the regiment has come and asked to see you. Come with me to the camp!"

Yin Xiaoman's heart suddenly sank.