Chapter 85 Zhao Di's Fourth Birthday
The days flew by in the sea breeze.
The climate in the south is indeed very nourishing. Zhao Di has only been here for a few months, but her little face has become rosy, like a ripe peach, and she has also grown a little taller.
She completely shed the sickly appearance she had in the Northwest and was full of energy every day. She would either follow Professor Liang to the shipyard to "supervise the work" or pester Commander Zhao to "patrol" the seaside, becoming the veritable little tyrant of the entire southern base.
Today is Zhao Di's fourth birthday.
This was also her first real birthday in her life.
Back in Linjiagou, we were so hungry we couldn't even get enough to eat, let alone remember birthdays.
But things are different now.
The entire Southern Base, from top to bottom, treated today as a festival even more important than the Lunar New Year.
Early in the morning, the canteen's cooking team was already busy.
A large table of delicious food was prepared, including Zhao Di's favorite braised pork, freshly baked white steamed buns, and fresh sea fish specially caught from the sea.
In the very center was a large cake made of flour and eggs, which, although somewhat clumsy in appearance, was piled high.
This was something the cook had been working on for several days. It was topped with red jam and the words "Happy Birthday Zhaodi" were written crookedly on it.
The entire base was filled with a festive atmosphere.
When the soldiers met, they didn't ask "Have you eaten?" but rather "What gift did you prepare for Xiao Zhaodi tonight?"
The birthday party officially began in the evening.
The small auditorium of the sanatorium was packed with people.
There were high-ranking generals like Zhao Tiezhu, top experts like Professor Liang, and many ordinary soldiers and workers.
Everyone put down their work and, with their most sincere smiles, came to celebrate the birthday of their shared "little darling".
Zhao Di was wearing a brand new pink dress, which the women at the base had worked overnight to sew for her.
She had two pigtails tied up in the air with red ribbons. When she ran, the pigtails swung back and forth, making her incredibly cute.
She sat in the main seat, her short legs swinging under the chair, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she looked at the table full of delicious food.
"Come on, our little birthday star, blow out the candles!"
Commander Zhao Tiezhu personally lit the four red candles that represented his four years of age.
The candlelight reflected in Zhao Di's bright eyes, making them look like two tiny flames dancing.
"Make a wish, girl."
Lin Jianguo squatted down next to his daughter and gently patted her head.
Zhao Di closed her eyes as if she understood, clasped her hands together, and moved her little mouth slightly.
Her thoughts were very simple.
I hope Dad can smile every day.
I hope my brother can come soon.
I hope the fairy uncle can always stay with her.
Of course, most importantly, I hope to be able to eat meat every day!
"call--"
She puffed out her cheeks and blew out all the candles in one breath.
"good!"
A thunderous applause and cheers erupted in the auditorium.
"Time for cake!"
Zhao Di picked up a small plastic knife, clumsily cut off the first piece of cake, and carefully handed it to Lin Jianguo's mouth.
"Father, you eat first."
Lin Jianguo's eyes welled up with tears. He opened his mouth and ate the cream that was still on his daughter's fingers.
So sweet.
It was sweeter than anything he had ever eaten in his life.
Next, it's time for the gift-giving segment.
Lin Jianguo took out the gift he had prepared over several days.
It was a small pistol, hand-carved from the finest boxwood.
The gun body was polished smooth and shiny, and every part was made to look incredibly realistic; even the trigger could be pulled.
"A gun given to me by my father!"
Zhao Di's eyes lit up instantly when she saw this.
She took the little wooden gun and imitated her father, mimicking his movements and making "biubiu" sounds.
This is much more fun than those dolls!
Lin Jianguo looked at his daughter's delighted expression and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
He was a soldier and didn't know what to give his daughter.
He only hoped that this gun, like himself, would forever protect his daughter and prevent her from being bullied again.
The second person to give a gift was Chen Zhiyuan.
The old professor, with a mysterious expression, took something wrapped in red cloth from his precious canvas bag.
"Zhaodi, Grandpa Chen wishes you a happy birthday and academic success!"
He smiled and unwrapped the red cloth, revealing the gift inside.
It was a brand new, hardcover edition of the "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry," still smelling of fresh ink.
From first grade to twelfth grade, the complete set!
"..."
The atmosphere in the auditorium froze instantly.
Everyone looked at Chen Zhiyuan with the eyes of someone looking at a warrior.
Is this a gift for a four-year-old?
Grandpa Chen, are you serious?
The smile on Zhao Di's face gradually disappeared.
She looked at the pile of books, which was thicker than bricks, and pouted.
"I don't want to read books."
"The books are covered with ants; they give me a headache."
She shook her head vigorously, hiding directly behind Lin Jianguo, refusing to answer no matter what.
Chen Zhiyuan stood there awkwardly, holding the "Ladder of Knowledge" set in his hands, unsure whether to leave or stay.
He just felt that geniuses also need guidance, and such great talent shouldn't be wasted.
"Ahem! Well... Old Chen, the thought is what counts, the thought is what counts!"
Zhao Tiezhu quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
He waved his hand, and the guards brought up a large wooden crate.
It was put on the ground with a "bang".
"Zhaodi, look what good things Uncle Zhao brought you!"
Zhao Tiezhu boldly pried open the box.
Instantly, a rich aroma of meat wafted out of the box.
Inside the box, rows of yellow tin cans were neatly stacked.
There's a picture of a running pig on the can.
It's the ultimate luxury item of this era—Merlin brand luncheon meat!
And a whole case! A full twenty-four cans!
Wow—! So juicy!
Zhao Di's eyes lit up instantly. The fear she had just felt, dominated by math, physics, and chemistry, was instantly dispelled by the aroma of meat.
She immediately crawled out from behind Lin Jianguo, rushed to the box, picked up a can, and wouldn't let go.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhao!"
She thanked him in a childish voice, then looked at Lin Jianguo with longing eyes.
The meaning was clear: Father, open it for me now!
"Hahaha! You little glutton!"
Zhao Tiezhu was amused and burst into laughter.
In his opinion, nothing is more practical than giving food.
This girl has made so many contributions to the country, she deserves to eat meat every meal!
The birthday party proceeded amidst laughter and joy.
Zhao Di, holding her can of luncheon meat and her little wooden toy gun, ate a sweet cake and felt that today was the happiest day in the world.
However, just when she was having the most fun...
Suddenly, that familiar voice rang in my mind.
His voice lacked its usual languidness, instead carrying an unprecedented seriousness and coldness.
[Ding!]
[The host has been detected to be four years old or older, and their physical functions and brain development have reached the first stage standard.]
The new player protection period has officially ended.
Zhao Di was stunned for a moment.
Newbie protection period? Ended?
What does this mean?
She hadn't had a chance to ask yet.
The system's voice sounded again.
[Warning! The next phase of the mission will be significantly more difficult.]
The path to a strong nation is like rowing against the current; if you don't move forward, you fall behind.
[Host, are you ready for the real challenge?]
The system's voice was like a bucket of ice water poured over Zhao Di's fiery little heart.
Although she didn't understand much, she could sense that the fairy uncle seemed unhappy.
challenge?
What challenge?
Is it a game that's harder than building blocks?
Just as Zhao Di felt a little uneasy.
Thousands of kilometers away, on the other side of the ocean.
Inside that enormous pentagonal building, a secret meeting was being held.
"The shame of the 'Seawolf' must be washed away with blood!"
A general with four stars on his shoulder slammed his fist hard on the table.
"I don't care what that Eastern monster is! Whether it's an alien or a devil!"
"This time, I'm going to show the whole world who the true master of this planet is!"
"Order!"
"The USS Kitty Hawk and USS Enterprise carrier strike groups, set sail immediately!"
"Target—Eastern Sea Area!"
"The enemy is at the city gates!"
"I want to see if their 'sea monster' can still conjure up any tricks in the face of absolute power!"
An unprecedented and massive storm is quietly brewing on the distant horizon.
Meanwhile, the little birthday boy at the center of the storm is still agonizing over whether to eat luncheon meat first or play with his toy gun first.
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