Chapter 13 Leaving Linjiagou
Daylight broke.
The blizzard finally stopped, and the long-awaited sun peeked out from the mountain valley, shining on the white snow-covered ground, its rays stinging the eyes.
Linjiagou was in an uproar.
The huge roar last night, and the "big iron bird" that fell from the sky, had already woken up the whole village.
But at this moment, no one dared to approach the Lin family's dilapidated cave dwelling.
Because at the village entrance and road intersection, there were PLA soldiers with live ammunition standing everywhere.
Those cold, stern faces were enough to make your legs tremble at the mere sight of them.
The villagers could only peer out from afar, perched on the walls or rooftops of their homes, craning their necks to see what was happening.
"Good heavens, what a huge machine that is! It's much bigger than the commune's tractor!"
"I heard they're here to pick up Lin Jianguo!"
"What? Pick up that cripple? Why should we?"
"Haven't you heard? Last night, Lai Tou Li tried to rob the Lin family, but he was caught red-handed! I heard that the Lin family's girl is a celestial maiden descended to earth, and the government specially sent people to take her away to enjoy a life of luxury!"
Rumors in the village spread like wildfire.
But no matter what they guessed, one thing was certain—the Lin family was about to rise to prominence.
Inside the cave dwelling.
The medic has already re-bandaged Lin Jianguo's wound.
Although it looked scary, thanks to Zhao Di's bottle of "soda", the wound healed incredibly quickly, and now it's mostly healed.
Even his energy level has improved significantly compared to before.
"Comrade Lin, your physical condition is really good, you recovered very quickly."
The medic sighed as he packed up his medicine kit.
Lin Jianguo smiled憨厚ly, but his eyes never left Zhao Di, who was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) eating biscuits.
He knew that it was his daughter who had saved him.
"Old squad leader, let's pack up."
Commander Wang walked in and saluted.
"The commander has ordered that we should not stay here any longer."
"We need to move to a safe place immediately."
Lin Jianguo nodded.
He looked around at the dilapidated cave dwelling where he had lived for decades.
The paint was peeling off the walls, the stove was blackened, and there was that tattered kang mat that Da Bao had peed on countless times.
This place is poor, dilapidated, and filled with memories of suffering.
But this is also home.
It is the place where Zhaodi and Dabao were born, and the place where he lived with his deceased wife.
"There's not much to tidy up."
Lin Jianguo sighed.
He asked Da Bao to find an iron box under the cabinet.
Inside were several military medals and a faded black-and-white photograph.
The photo shows a gentle woman with two braids.
"My dear wife, we're leaving now."
Lin Jianguo stroked the photo with his rough, large hands, his eyes a little red.
"The country has come to pick us up."
"The children will be able to have enough to eat and go to school from now on."
"Don't worry, you're over there."
He carefully tucked the metal box into his bosom, placing it close to his heart.
This is all the Lin family's possessions.
"Dad, where are we going?"
Zhao Di had a candy stuffed in her mouth, and her cheeks were bulging out, making her look like a little hamster.
She looked at Commander Wang's green military uniform with curiosity and thought it looked really good.
"Let's go somewhere nice."
Lin Jianguo picked up Zhaodi and kissed her on the cheek.
"Go to a place where you can eat meat buns every day and live in a big house."
"Really?"
Zhao Di's eyes lit up.
"Can we bring Grandpa Chen from next door? And Brother Dabao too?"
"Bring them! Bring them all!"
Chen Zhiyuan had changed into a clean cotton overcoat (given to him by the soldiers). Although he was still thin, his spirit and energy were completely different.
He walked over and patted Zhao Di's head.
"From now on, Grandpa will play with you every day."
The group walked out of the cave dwelling.
The sunlight outside was blinding.
The helicopter's rotors had begun to spin slowly, creating gusts of air.
Commander Wang escorted them onto the plane.
Just then, the village chief, along with a few braver villagers, tremblingly approached the cordon.
"Jianguo... is he leaving?"
The village chief looked at the imposing helicopter with envy and awe in his eyes.
Lin Jianguo stopped in his tracks.
He looked at these once-familiar faces.
When he broke his leg and his family was starving, some of these people stood by indifferently, while others, like Lai Tou Li, took advantage of his misfortune.
But there are also kind people like the aunt next door who secretly slipped half a cornbread into someone's hand.
Lin Jianguo took a deep breath.
He didn't say anything, but simply bowed deeply to the crowd.
This bow is a farewell to the past.
They are also grateful to this land for nurturing them.
"Let's go!"
Lin Jianguo straightened up and never looked back.
He carried Zhao Di and strode onto the helicopter.
The cripple who was once looked down upon by the entire village now stands tall and straight like a pine tree.
"Boom!"
The helicopter took off.
Huge waves blew the snow off the ground into the air.
Zhao Di leaned against the porthole, watching the people on the ground grow smaller and smaller, and the houses shrink into matchboxes.
Wow! It's flying! Just like a little bird!
The little girl shouted excitedly.
This was the first time she had seen the world from the sky.
Wow, the world is so big.
It turns out that the mountains that trapped them were just small mounds of earth from the sky.
The system hummed in Zhao Di's mind:
[Tch, you country bumpkin.]
[This is nothing! Later, this system will help you build a space carrier and take you to the moon to grow sweet potatoes!]
That's when you'll understand what it means to be lonely at the top!
Although it acted arrogantly, the system quietly adjusted Zhao Di's eardrum pressure so that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable due to changes in air pressure.
Lin Jianguo held his two children tightly, looking out the window at the rolling snow-capped mountains.
His palms were sweaty.
He knew that from this moment on, the fate of the Lin family had been completely changed.
A completely unfamiliar world awaits them.
That was a top state secret.
That is the glory that countless people dream of.
It is also a heavy responsibility.
Are you scared?
Chen Zhiyuan sat opposite him and asked loudly.
Lin Jianguo glanced at Zhao Di, who was laughing carefree in his arms, and shook his head.
"I'm not afraid."
"As long as I can protect this girl, I, Lin Jianguo, wouldn't even blink an eye, even if it meant going through fire and water!"
The helicopter adjusted its course and flew northwest.
There, lies the vast Gobi Desert.
There is a mysterious base there, codenamed 091.
That place is where China's rise to prominence began.
And all of this will change completely because of this three-year-old who still has a runny nose.
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