Chapter 146: The Farewell Banquet
As soon as Qin Yu arrived, Commander Qin called him over to talk to several generals.
Su Qing did not follow. Seeing that there was no familiar face in the hall, and an opera was being performed in the side hall, he simply went to find a corner to sit down and listen to the opera.
Not long after, there was a noise at the door, and the people watching the show inside stood up to greet them. Su Qing turned around curiously, and saw Lu Chen and Xia Qingge, whom he had met before, walking slowly in, supporting a gray-haired old man on the left and right.
Although the old man was old, his back was straight, his eyes were sharp, and there was an aura of majesty in his every move.
As Xia Qingge entered the side hall, she saw Su Qing sitting upright in her seat, watching them. She couldn't help but remind Lu Chen beside her, "Ah Chen, it's Miss Su."
Lu Chen looked over and saw that everyone in the room stood up to greet Mr. Lu. Only she was sitting in a chair, looking at them curiously. When she saw him looking at her, she smiled and waved at him to say hello.
He nodded at Su Qing with a smile. She was the only one who didn't care about the identities of people like them.
Lu Chen helped Old Man Lu walk to the middle seat in the first row and sat down. Soon someone came over with tea and cakes and placed them on the table.
Su Qing sat at the back and listened to the crowd complimenting the old man. Only then did she realize that he was Lu Chen's grandfather, the former president.
The noise of those people talking almost drowned out the sound of the opera. Su Qing was forced to take a class in the art of speaking. Although he was deliberately trying to please and flatter, it made people feel refreshed when listening to him. He couldn't help but sigh at the profoundness of the Chinese language.
At this moment, someone suddenly changed the subject and asked with a smile, "The Xia family girl looks really pretty today. How old is she this year?"
Xia Qingge was wearing a black and white off-shoulder fishtail dress today. Her long hair was tied up with a strand falling on her cheek. Her skin was smooth, white and glowing. She wore a set of diamond jewelry on her ears and neck, which sparkled under the light.
Mr. Lu patted her hand and asked, "Qingge is twenty-four this year, right?"
Xia Qingge pursed her lips and smiled, "Grandpa Lu, how can you just tell a girl's age?" Her face flushed and she stamped her feet lightly, looking very coquettish.
Old Master Lu laughed heartily, clearly liking her little girl's coquettish behavior. "You were once just a little baby in my arms, and now you've grown up so big. I think it's time to put your marriage with that kid Lu Chen on the agenda."
Lu Chen's eyes were cold, but his words were calm and respectful. "Grandpa, please don't ruin the girl's reputation in public."
A hint of displeasure flashed across Mr. Lu's face, and his tone hardened, a hint of command in his voice, "You're not a child anymore, what's the point of dragging it out? Get it settled sooner rather than later. Besides, you've been engaged since childhood. Who here doesn't know what it means to have a bad reputation?"
As he spoke, Mr. Lu's cold eyes swept towards where Su Qing was sitting in the back. When he came in, he saw this little girl, who had no manners at all...
Su Qing was originally watching the fun quietly, and was a little confused when she was glanced at for no apparent reason. This was the first time she met Mr. Lu today, and it seemed that she had not offended him before, right?
The situation outside was unclear, and the military was on high alert. However, on the eve of departure, the government held a banquet with people chatting and laughing, and some were even discussing marriage. Su Qing felt irritated for no reason, and with a silent sigh, she stood up and left this place of trouble.
Lu Chen had obviously seen it too. He stepped forward to block his grandfather's sight and lowered his voice, "Grandpa, if you have anything to say, let's talk about it when we get home. Don't let others laugh at you."
Mr. Lu's face turned even uglier. Seeing this, Xia Qingge quickly poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him, "Grandpa Lu, have a cup of tea. I remember the next play is your favorite. It's about to start. Let's listen carefully."
Mr. Lu snorted, took the teacup and said nothing.
Seeing this, the people around did not dare to say anything more and returned to their seats to listen to the opera.
Lu Chen glanced behind him, turned around and was about to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"Grandpa, I'm going out for a while and will be back soon."
Mr. Lu slammed the teacup on the table and said sternly, "Let's not talk about the girl's family background being unworthy of you. Now she's already entangled with that kid from the Qin family. Are you still trying to snatch her away? Our Lu family will never allow such a scandal to happen! I advise you to change your mind and get married to Qingge as soon as possible."
"Grandpa, we're just friends. After all, she saved my life. I don't have any other thoughts." Lu Chen explained helplessly, "Besides, I've treated Miss Xia as my sister since I was a child. Why do you have to force us together? She won't be happy with me."
"Is this your business? The Lu and Xia families have complex ties and interests, so how can we allow you to act so recklessly?"
Lu Chen stood up and said calmly, "Grandpa, times have changed..." Then he turned and left.
"You! Come back here! You bastard, cough cough cough..." Old Master Lu's chest was heaving violently with anger.
As Su Qing walked out of the side hall, a figure rushed out and grabbed her hand.
"I've been looking for you." Qin Yu took her hand and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Su Qing asked puzzledly.
"Take you to meet some uncles."
Lu Chen came out a step too late. Seeing Su Qing being taken away by Qin Yu, he laughed at himself and wanted to turn back. Just then, the people in the front hall saw him and came over to chat with him.
Su Qing was led by him through the corridor and came to the door of a room. Several senior generals were sitting in the main hall chatting with Commander Qin. When they saw them come in, they stood up and greeted them.
"Chief Su."
"Hello, Chief Su."
Su Qing felt a little embarrassed to be warmly welcomed by a room full of generals and leaders. Qin Yu gently scratched her palm with his fingers, indicating that she should be at ease.
The tips of Su Qing's ears turned slightly red, and she quietly held Qin Yu's fingers and squeezed them gently, as if responding to his thoughtfulness.
She raised her head slightly, followed Qin Yu gracefully and listened to his introduction, and stepped forward to shake hands one by one.
The people in the room were all important figures in the military. Su Qing often saw them at meetings in the capital, but he had never formally introduced himself to them like today.
The two of them got to know the others. Commander Qin, who was sitting in the main seat, said with a hearty smile, "Don't be so reserved, Chief Su. We don't have to follow so many rules. Come and sit down."
When they sat down, everyone in the room was discussing the action plan for the evening. Now that the key figures in the plan had arrived, they talked endlessly. Everyone discussed each detail over and over again, and passed on their years of practical experience to Su Qing, which benefited her a lot.
The conversation lasted until there were no more omissions and then it finally ended.
The banquet outside was about to begin, and someone came in to invite them to go to the banquet hall.
Su Qing did not go to the main table with Qin Yu, but sat with the people from the Dawn Base.
"So... after the banquet, are you going to take action?" Fang Qing asked in a low voice with her head down.
Su Qingzheng tasted the stew in front of her with a spoon. The delicious taste made her raise her eyebrows unconsciously. After hearing Fang Qing's words, she put down the spoon and replied, "Well, the vanguard troops have been deployed in batches over the past few days. The rest of the people will leave tonight."
"Then..." Fang Qing looked at Su Qing with a complicated expression, "Will you come back?"
Su Qing was stunned by the question, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and then she smiled, "I will be back, remember to prepare a celebration banquet for me."
Fang Qing looked at the glint in her eyes, relaxed her brows, and said in a solemn and gentle voice, "Okay! I'll wait for you at the base."
"Wow, this soup is so delicious!" An exaggerated exclamation came from the side. Su Qing and the others looked over and saw that it was Li Xing holding the stewed Gu and drinking the soup spoonful by spoonful.
"Be more restrained. You represent our Dawn Base. Don't look like you have never seen the world." Fang Qing reminded him helplessly.
"Two sisters, please try it. It's really delicious. It's worthy of being a state banquet."
Su Qing nodded. She had just taken a sip and it was indeed delicious. "Everyone in the base says that Li Xing is very mature and capable despite his young age. He can only relax in front of us and show his true age. Don't restrict him."
"I'm not trying to restrict him. Dong Wen is gone. Although Commander Liang and a few others are still in charge of the base, they are not our own people. Li Xing is a talented kid with great potential. I want to give him more experience."
This was the first time Su Qing heard Fang Qing mention him since Dong Wen's death. Seeing that there was nothing unusual on Fang Qing's face, she secretly sighed that fate was playing tricks on her. The two of them, one was strategizing in the base, and the other was commanding the armed forces to defend against external enemies. They had a tacit understanding and complemented each other. Now that one of them was missing, it was a huge loss to the Dawn Base.
The banquet was boring and lasted for a long time. After Su Qing had eaten, she couldn't sit still and seeing that there was nothing for them to do, she simply pulled Fang Qing away.
Su Qing drove into the guesthouse in the military compound. The two of them found an open space downstairs. She took out a set of tables and chairs and set them up, then took out two bottles of beer and handed one to Fang Qing.
The two of them huddled in camp chairs, drinking and chatting quietly.
"I have secretly built a large military factory in the desert southwest of the base and deployed a military base around it, which will be stationed by military troops. I have already discussed this with Commander Qin, and the Dawn Base will be incorporated into the military and protected by the military."
Fang Qing looked up in surprise. "You're no longer keeping the base neutral because you're afraid...?"
"In China, it's not that easy to remain neutral. The political forces are intertwined. What's the point of relying on the friendship with Lu Chen? It's better to choose one side and lean on a big tree for shade." Su Qing looked at the dark sky. The weather suddenly changed at night, and it seemed that a storm was coming.
"Then... you chose the military because of Qin Yu?" Fang Qing hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Maybe on one hand, but more importantly it's because of my faith. Compared to these politicians, I still trust the responsibility behind the military green to protect the people."
Yes, on this planet, no people of any other country trust soldiers and the solemn military uniforms they wear as unconditionally as the Chinese do.
And this trust is mutual. Soldiers are selected from the people, and their blood naturally carries the attachment to their compatriots. They are not tools of those high and mighty rulers, but flesh and blood from the fields and ordinary families. Soldiers will not raise their guns and cannons against their fellow villagers for the sake of power...
The weapons in their hands will only be directed at enemies who threaten the lives and property of the people.
"No matter what, protect yourself! You promised me that you wouldn't leave quietly and that you would give us time to say goodbye."
Su Qing raised the wine bottle and gently touched it with the bottle in Fang Qing's hand.
"Yes, I will."
One hour before departure, Su Qing went to the military airport alone.
In front of the huge airport runway, the lights were on and hundreds of soldiers were transporting weapons and equipment into the cabin of the transport plane.
Su Qing saw Qin Yu standing in the crowd at a glance. He was standing among a group of officers, half a head taller than the people around him. Even through the distance and the crowd, she could feel the unique aura emanating from him.
Qin Yu was talking to someone with a serious expression, nodding occasionally. He suddenly turned his head and looked straight in the direction of Su Qing through the crowd. He waved at her.
Su Qing walked over quickly, and when she got closer, the people around Qin Yu had already dispersed.
He looked at Su Wei's blushing face and asked, "Did you drink?"
Su Qing looked clear-headed and serious, "I just drank a little beer. My mind is clear now and it won't affect my actions."
Qin Yu's gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, and he sighed with a smile, "Why are you so serious? Even if you were really drunk, no one would say anything to you. I'll fly a helicopter myself later, and you can have a good sleep on the plane."
At midnight, at the capital's military airport, planes took off one after another and flew into the dark distance.
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