"I knitted you a sweater, and I put it at the bottom. It's humid and hot there, but it might get cool at night..."
Xiao Che walked to her side and took her slightly trembling hand. "Jing, don't worry. Our Ministry of State Security is here to maintain order, to prevent anyone from colluding with the enemy, betraying the country, or passing on information. We may not actually be going to the front lines."
Bai Yajing raised her head and looked at his resolute face.
She knew he was comforting her; the newspapers had been reporting on border tensions for days, and everyone understood what the scale of this mobilization meant.
Even if they don't go to the battlefield, their efforts to prevent or recover important information are no better than those on the battlefield.
"I know." She forced a smile. "You're a soldier, it's your responsibility to protect our country. I...I'm proud of you."
Besides, this isn't your first time on the battlefield. I believe in you!
Xiao Che gazed at his wife, whose body seemed to contain boundless power.
Through all these years, through wind and rain, she has silently accompanied and supported me.
He knew that his wife understood the mission and responsibility of a soldier.
"Jingjing, I promise you, I will come back safely." Xiao Che cupped his wife's face and gently wiped away the moisture from the corner of her eyes with his thumb.
Bai Yajing nodded, threw herself into her husband's arms, and hugged his strong waist tightly. She greedily inhaled his scent, wanting to remember this feeling forever. A whistle sounded outside the window signaling assembly, and both of them jolted.
"It's time to go," Xiao Che said softly.
The train station was packed with people.
The green military uniforms formed a small sea as the families who came to see them off crowded the platform, some sobbing softly, others forcing smiles.
The loudspeakers blared a stirring march, but it couldn't mask the sorrow of parting.
Bai Yajing straightened his collar, her fingers lingering on his lapel insignia for a moment. To outsiders, his position as Minister of State Security seemed incredibly prestigious, but it also meant he bore immense responsibility and danger.
"Don't worry about things at home, I'll take good care of myself and my family," she said, pulling a small black-and-white photo from her pocket. It was a family portrait they had taken at a photo studio last Chinese New Year, with paper-mache plum blossoms in the background. "Take this with you, and look at it whenever you miss home."
Xiao Che solemnly placed the photo into his breast pocket, right next to his heart. "When I get back, we'll take a color one," he said, trying to sound lighthearted.
The train whistle blew a long farewell, urging on the final departure.
Xiao Che suddenly pulled an envelope from the side pocket of his backpack and stuffed it into Bai Yajing's hand. "Keep this safe, in case... I mean, in case something happens..."
Bai Yajing shook her head violently before he could finish speaking, pushing the envelope back. "I don't want to hear this! You have to come back safely, do you hear me?" Her voice choked, but she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.
She originally wanted to go this time, but with her whole family to take care of, who would look after them if she went too?
Xiao Che took a deep breath, suddenly stood at attention, and gave his wife a perfect military salute. This gesture silenced the noisy crowd around him for a moment.
Bai Yajing was stunned, then slowly raised her right hand and returned a standard greeting.
"Salute!" A soldier on the platform shouted spontaneously, and all the soldiers about to board the train saluted their departing loved ones in unison. At that moment, Bai Yajing felt an indescribable mix of pride and heartache.
The train slowly started moving, and she jogged a few steps along the moving window until she reached the end of the platform. She saw Xiao Che's face pressed against the glass, his lips moving. Although she couldn't hear him, she knew what he was saying: "Wait for me to come back."
The train pulled further and further away, eventually disappearing into the morning mist. The crowd on the platform began to disperse; some cried out loud, while others wept silently.
Bai Yajing stood there, clutching the envelope Xiao Che had finally given her, feeling as if the whole world had become empty.
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