Zhang Cishu...is gone?
Xu Xinghe stood there, stunned, not knowing what to say.
Because she never imagined that the two sides wouldn't even say goodbye.
Lian Xiao plopped down in a chair, placing the local specialty next to him like a precious treasure. "His grandfather's health has improved, and he can fly back now. He'll probably continue his training at the military headquarters there."
Xu Xinghe took a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, "This is good too. That's Zhang family's territory. He will definitely live better there, and his future will be easier."
Since everyone had left, she decided not to think about it anymore.
If there's a chance in the future, we can meet again.
Transportation is inconvenient now, but it won't be like this in the future.
After chatting for a few minutes, Lian Xiao's stomach started growling. He immediately looked at Xu Xinghe and asked, "Xinghe, is it okay if I have lunch here for free?"
Xu Xinghe smiled and nodded, "Of course, no problem. I just got back and haven't had time to clean the kitchen yet. Wait here, I'll go see what ingredients we have."
"No, no, no, sit down and rest!" Lian Xiao quickly stopped her, patting his chest and saying, "You just came back from out of town, you must be exhausted, just rest well. Leave the cooking to me, I've learned a lot from the chefs in the mess hall recently, I guarantee you'll get to taste my cooking!"
Without waiting for Xu Xinghe's rebuttal, he walked straight to the kitchen.
When he saw the bag full of things that Xu Xinghe had brought back from Liaoning Province, including eggs, wild mushrooms, and dried goods given by villagers, his eyes lit up immediately, and he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
He chopped vegetables, started a fire, and put things in the pot with surprising speed and efficiency, unlike the young master who couldn't even wash a dish properly before.
On the other side.
Political Commissar Wang's office.
Jiang Linchuan handed over the prepared mission report, then stood in front of the desk and gave a clear and organized oral account of the details of his trip to Liaoning Province.
Political Commissar Wang listened attentively, nodding occasionally. When Jiang Linchuan finished speaking, he put down the report in his hand and a gratified smile appeared on his face. "Good! Excellent! You completed this mission brilliantly! To be able to take down such a large spy network in one fell swoop, capture hundreds of spies, and seize so much classified information, you deserve great credit! I will report this achievement truthfully, and the higher-ups will definitely commend you. You might even get a promotion."
Jiang Linchuan remained silent for a moment before looking up at Political Commissar Wang. "Political Commissar Wang, no need. I want to... apply for retirement."
"What?!" Political Commissar Wang jumped up from his chair, staring at him in shock. "What nonsense are you spouting! Why do you suddenly want to retire? Were you injured during a mission? Or did you suffer some kind of trauma and develop psychological issues?"
"If you have psychological problems, don't try to tough it out. Our military has specially brought in psychologists from abroad to help comrades like you who are carrying out dangerous missions to manage their emotions. I can help you contact them right now."
“Neither.” Jiang Linchuan shook his head gently, his tone carrying a hint of weariness. “It’s because of Xinghe. During this mission, she risked her life to go to Shiwa Village and even went deep into Black Wind Ridge to help me. Those places are dangerous areas where spies are entrenched, and you could lose your life if you’re not careful. She was also injured in the end, and the injury on her shoulder has only just healed.”
His eyes were filled with lingering fear. "I can't let her be in danger because of me again. I'm a soldier, and my job is destined to be full of risks. I don't want my identity to implicate her."
After listening, Political Commissar Wang fell silent.
He took out a cigarette case from the drawer, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and through the swirling smoke, looked at the usually decisive young man in front of him and slowly said, "Lin Chuan, to be honest, I really don't want you to retire. You are a rare talent, young and promising, with outstanding abilities. I've told you before that you have a bright future, and you might even rise to a position as a commander in a major military region. You might even have the opportunity to personally command the military exercises at Tiananmen Square."
“I know,” Jiang Linchuan said in a low voice. “I love this uniform too, and I don’t want to leave like this. But Xinghe is more important than any of that. What’s the point of climbing any higher if I don’t have her?”
Political Commissar Wang exhaled a smoke ring, sighed softly, and smiled helplessly. "I really didn't expect you to be such a romantic. Fine, I won't try to persuade you any further, but I have to ask you one question: do you think Comrade Xu wants you to retire?"
Jiang Linchuan was stunned and looked at Political Commissar Wang. "This is my decision. It has nothing to do with her. I just didn't want to implicate her."
"Wrong!" Political Commissar Wang interrupted him, his tone stern. "This isn't just about you! Think about it carefully. What does Comrade Xu like about you? Besides you as a person, your military uniform, the responsibilities you bear, and the things you've done for the country—aren't those plus points?"
He continued, "And I can tell that Comrade Xu is not a girl who is content with the status quo. She has an adventurous spirit, ability, and courage, and she does many things that even men can't match. Do you think she would be willing to let you retire from the army for her and then live an ordinary life with you, filled with the mundane details of daily life?"
"Moreover, don't forget that Comrade Xu was once the daughter of the richest man in Shanghai. Even if her family has fallen on hard times, she still has those precious prescriptions and the ability to heal and save lives. The country will definitely give her an important position and generous treatment. She will definitely become extremely wealthy in the future."
Political Commissar Wang gave several examples: "In the past, there were a few comrades in the military who gave up promotion opportunities and went home to live ordinary lives for their wives. What happened? The women became more and more outstanding, the gap between them widened, and they eventually broke up. Marriage is not like dating; it requires equality. Once the two sides are not equal in status, it is difficult for the relationship to last."
“You’re a soldier. If you move up the ranks, you can provide her with ample protection. She’s capable and can shine in her field. The best outcome is for the two of you to walk side by side. If you give up your future for the sake of so-called protection, it might end up hurting your relationship.”
Commissar Wang's words made a lot of sense. Jiang Linchuan had never thought of it in this way before, and for a moment he fell silent.
On the battlefield, he was decisive and ruthless, but when it came to matters of the heart, he was still naive and didn't quite know how to balance each other's needs.
Political Commissar Wang finished his cigarette, stubbed it out in the ashtray, stood up, walked over to Jiang Linchuan, patted him on the shoulder, and softened his tone, "Listen to me, go back and have a good talk with Comrade Xu. I personally think that she most likely doesn't want you to retire."
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