"You two, be careful, don't let the old lady fall."
Lan Tian tidied up Bai Ruozhu's tombstone and hurried over to help the old lady. If the old lady was really injured, he would be guilty of a great sin.
"Mom, let me take you home."
"No need. My useless grandson has no merits except that he drives well. Otherwise, your uncle wouldn't have asked him to come and pick me up."
Old Mrs. Bai held Lan Xiaolan's hand tightly again and looked at her again and again. Over the years, whenever she saw her, she felt that her daughter was still alive.
But her granddaughter was about to go abroad and would be gone for several years, and Old Mrs. Bai was really reluctant to let her go.
"Lanlan, when is your flight?"
"The morning after tomorrow."
"So fast. Oh... okay, okay..." As she spoke, Old Mrs. Bai put the string of agarwood Buddhist beads carved with Buddhist scriptures on Lan Xiaolan's hand.
"Lanlan, this is too expensive... I can't..."
"You are also a savvy child. Whether this bead is valuable or not, grandma can't really cheat you."
The string of Buddhist beads that Mrs. Bai had was of excellent quality. It felt cool to the hand and had a faint fragrance.
However, this is a string of real sunken wood beads, so the price on the market is not outrageously expensive. It cannot be compared with the diamonds, gemstones and jade that my grandma usually wears.
"This bead itself is not very expensive, but I went to a Buddhist temple and had it blessed by a master. It can bless the wearer with peace."
Old Mrs. Bai spoke earnestly.
"Go safely, and come back safely. Is that okay?"
Lan Xiaolan looked at her kind grandmother and then at her father. Her father had taught her since she was a child that she should not accept expensive gifts from others casually, especially gifts from the Bai family.
But this time, my father smiled and nodded to show his agreement.
Only then did Lan Xiaolan smile and thank the old lady.
"It's getting late. You and your daughter should hurry back. Lanlan is going on a long journey, and you should have a lot to talk about."
"I am an old woman, so I won't disturb you and your daughter anymore."
On the way home, Lan Xiaolan was driving and Lan Tian was sitting in the passenger seat. Both of them were silent.
If the old lady hadn't reminded them, neither the father nor the daughter would have dared to bring up the topic of Lan Xiaolan going abroad.
She knew her father's worries and concerns, as well as his helplessness and reluctance. She was going to travel far away from home and didn't know how to comfort her father, let alone how to say goodbye to him.
Lan Tian’s sorrow is self-evident.
These days, I have been silently counting the days in my heart, afraid that my daughter will worry and be sad, and I have not dared to say goodbye to her.
Only when Lan Xiaolan was not around would he check her packed luggage again and again, and keep buying clothes and medicine for her.
Lan Tian also kept asking his connections at the research institute and the embassy to inquire about the situation. He found out everything about his daughter's situation in Country E and kept confirming it before he felt relieved.
If they didn't know that he was Dr. Lan's father, the staff would almost suspect that he was an international spy, as why he wanted to know so much about every detail.
It’s so pitiful to see the love of parents all over the world.
Only Capital Airport in China has flights to Country E, and there is only one such flight per month.
It was a country that had just experienced a civil war and had no tourism industry to speak of. Naturally, no tourists would want to go to such a country for no reason.
Lan Tian accompanied Lan Xiaolan all the way to the customs terminal at Capital Airport.
Looking at his daughter, he seemed reluctant to leave.
"You promised me that you would call me at least twice a month."
"Yeah, I got it, Dad."
"The conditions there are very difficult, not like home..."
"It's okay, I can take care of myself."
“…” Lan Tian stared at his daughter intently, unable to speak for a long time.
"Okay, Dad, I have to say goodbye after sending you a thousand miles away. I'm going to study, not to march and fight."
Lan Tian looked at the meticulously dressed soldiers standing beside his daughter and walking with her, who were also preparing to board the plane.
It really feels like I'm about 70% ready to go to the battlefield to fight.
Lan Tian looked at it and felt even more worried.
As Lan Xiaolan spoke, she picked up her bag and prepared to go through the customs.
"When I have learned enough, I will come back safely."
"Goodbye, Dad."
Just as Lan Xiaolan was about to walk into the terminal, Lan Tian pulled her back with one hand.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute, I almost forgot about this."
Lan Tian took out three or four small cowhide bags filled with all kinds of sandy things and stuffed them into Lan Xiaolan's bag.
"What is this?"
“Vegetable seeds!”
"Huh? Why are you giving me this?"
"I looked up the climate in the city you live in. It's similar to our northwest region."
"These seeds were developed by a fertility research institute that my dad's friend has. I heard they'll survive as long as there's water! If you can find a place to grow them, at least you won't starve when you're abroad."
"Ah? Dad! The research topic I'm going to do is archaeology and ancient tombs, not agriculture and forestry. Why are you giving me these?" Lan Xiaolan pouted.
"Alright, alright, let's get on the plane. Let's go, let's go."
Lan Xiaolan returned and gave Lan Tian a big hug: "Goodbye, Dad. Take good care of yourself too."
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