Jiang Lin was currently deep in the back mountains of the base, conducting a simulated combat exercise. His clothes were completely covered in soot that their original color was no longer visible. His attention was focused on several Blue Team members lying in ambush not far away. His goal was to eliminate them and then carry out the final step of his plan: a decapitation strike.
Jiang Lin was doing his best to complete the mission, and all his actions were reported to the leaders at the command post.
Fang Chenggong, the division commander of the East China Sea Navy's elite division, and Lin Jianzhong, the political commissar, were listening to the reconnaissance officer's report.
"Jiang Lin is a promising talent. With some more training, he could become an elite soldier. He's even bolder than Ren Yong from the previous cohort. More importantly, this kid is incredibly clever. He's got one scheme after another. Li Tao and the others can't outsmart him," Political Commissar Lin Jianzhong said with a smile, stating his conclusion.
“Yes, this kid is just like his dad, he’s incredibly hardworking. You probably don’t know, but his dad, Jiang Jianjun, was my old comrade-in-arms. We came back alive from the battlefield supporting South Korea together, but he later sacrificed his life during a top-secret mission.” Fang Chenggong couldn’t help but sigh as he spoke of his old comrade-in-arms.
"Oh? So he and you two have quite a history. He's a good prospect, we should nurture him well."
"Haha, definitely! This kid will be our ace soldier sooner or later."
After a train journey of more than twenty hours, Jiang Ruyu finally arrived at Jiang Lin's military base. However, to enter the island's border defense area, she had to contact Jiang Lin and ask him to pick her up. Otherwise, outsiders could not enter unless they were fishermen from the island. But fishermen generally wouldn't bring strangers in, as they all knew that the eastern side of the island was occupied by the military and that people couldn't be brought in casually.
After arriving on the island, Jiang Ruyu and the others went to the post office and called the number Jiang Lin had left behind.
"Hello, this is the East China Sea Naval Logistics Office. Who are you looking for?"
Jiang Ruyu quickly said, "I'm looking for Jiang Lin, Jiang Lin from the Second Battalion of the First Regiment. I'm his sister, and I'm here to visit him."
The officer on the other end frowned slightly: "Please wait a moment, I need to check it out. I'll call you back in a bit. Just wait by the phone."
"Okay, thank you for your help."
Jiang Ruyu hung up the phone, and Zheng Yang looked at her: "What's wrong? Didn't you find it?"
"I don't know what's going on. They said they need to check, but I don't know what they're checking?"
"There are probably too many people in the military, and it's impossible for them to know everyone."
After waiting at the post office for about ten minutes, the phone finally rang. The post office staff took it, said a few words, and handed it to Jiang Ruyu, who was waiting.
"Hello."
"Sister, it's me, Jiang Lin. Where are you? I just finished my training and I'm coming out to pick you up." Jiang Lin's excited voice made Jiang Ruyu's eyes redden.
"My sister is at the post office on the island. Zheng Yang and I came together. When are you arriving?"
"Wait for me for twenty minutes, sis, I'll be there soon."
"Okay, be careful, we're not in a hurry."
After hanging up the phone and paying the ridiculously expensive phone bill, Jiang Ruyu looked up and smiled at Zheng Yang, saying, "Let's go get something to eat first, Da Linzi won't be here for a while."
"Great, perfect timing. The state-run restaurant isn't far from here, let's go grab something to eat."
Jiang Ruyu and her brother didn't waste any time. They hadn't eaten well on the train, but they were about to see their younger brother, so they wanted to fill their stomachs first.
The two of them went to eat local seafood noodles. The thin noodles were filled with various seafood, including shrimp, clams, razor clams, and other small seafood. The taste was very good and fresh.
Two bowls of noodles cost four ounces of grain coupons plus two cents. The seafood inside didn't require coupons, so it was quite a good deal. I was both full and satisfied.
After finishing their meal, the two waited for Jiang Lin across from the post office. Jiang Lin arrived just a few minutes later. If Jiang Lin hadn't excitedly called out "Sister!" from afar, Jiang Ruyu was sure she wouldn't have recognized her younger brother.
Upon seeing Jiang Lin for the first time, Jiang Ruyu didn't dare to recognize him. She blinked and rubbed her eyes until Jiang Lin ran to her side and said, "Sister, sister, why aren't you paying attention to me?"
Jiang Ruyu is such a strong-willed person, she never wants to show her vulnerable side in front of others, but when she saw Jiang Lindu, she couldn't hold back her tears for the first time, which startled Jiang Lindu and Zheng Yang, who had never seen her like this before.
"Sis, what's wrong, sis?" Jiang Lin looked at his sister with a helpless expression, like a child who had done something wrong.
Zheng Yang patted Jiang Lin on the shoulder and then comforted her: "Ruyu, you scared Da Linzi. Okay, I know you're upset, but look how heroic Da Linzi is, you should be happy."
Jiang Ruyu lowered her head and wiped away her tears, suppressing the heartache and sadness in her heart. She smiled and looked up: "It's nothing, Da Linzi. I just miss you so much. Besides, you look more and more like our dad."
Jiang Lin was still as naive as ever in front of his family, believing whatever they said: "Really? Hehe, it's good that he looks like our dad. I saw photos of our dad at home, and he looks so handsome."
Jiang Ruyu felt a tightness in her throat, as if it were stuffed with cotton. Her younger brother had changed so much: his dark skin, his occasional sharp eyes, the scars on his face that hadn't fully healed, and the thick calluses on his hands—all of which spoke of the hardships he had endured.
She told herself that this was a good thing. With Da Linzi like this, she would have the ability to protect herself if she really went to the battlefield. She should be happy.
"Sister, come on, I'll take you to our unit. We have a guesthouse there, it's quite nice, clean and hygienic, and it's free. But you can't go to the barracks, we're a combat unit, and many places are classified and outsiders aren't allowed to enter. But you can visit our dormitories and canteen, that's logistics, I can take you there."
"Are you busy? Do you need to train or anything? Will we be bothering you?"
Jiang Lin grinned and said, "Isn't this a coincidence? When the logistics department contacted me, I had just returned from a training mission. Our leader also knew you were here, so he gave me a few days off to spend with you on the island. By the way, sis, our leader is Dad's old comrade-in-arms."
Jiang Ruyu knew that her father had several close comrades-in-arms, and they were still in contact when her mother was still alive. Later, when she was still young, the contact was gradually lost. She never expected that one of her younger brother's comrades-in-arms was here.
"Really? What a coincidence! You'd better do your best and not embarrass your dad."
"Then don't worry, I was the best trained among our batch of new recruits. Although our instructor often called me a troublemaker, the old sergeant told me that 'troublemaker' is usually a compliment."
Looking at her younger brother, Jiang Ruyu felt less distressed: "Dalinzi, is joining the army a good idea? Do you like it?"
"It's great, I like it. Sister, you don't know, our country is still very weak. My goal is to train hard and become a useful person to the country. When the country needs me, I will do my best to protect our country and people." Jiang Lin knew that no soldier would go to the battlefield. If he were to die one day, it would be his own choice.
Jiang Ruyu hid her tears behind her smile, looking proudly at her younger brother who used to only know how to eat: "Dalinzi, you've really grown up. Your sister is so proud of you."
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