Chapter 148
The cold wind was biting, and with the Spring Festival just around the corner, the train station was packed with people.
Looking around, one sees people carrying luggage, about to embark on a long journey, or seeing off relatives and friends. The place is bustling with noise and activity.
Gu Xi held her three-year-old son's hand as she listened to Shen Mingzheng's tireless admonitions.
"...Be careful when getting on and off the train, pay attention to safety, and be aware of any human traffickers or thieves on board. Keep a close eye on Zhuzhu and don't let him get kidnapped. Keep a close eye on your belongings, and if anything is lost, ask the train conductor for help. When you arrive in Beijing, remember to call me to let me know you've arrived safely. I'll come back to see you all after I get some vacation time..."
Holding her mother's hand, Chen Zhuzhu looked up at her father with her chubby, fair face and said earnestly, "Dad, I won't be kidnapped."
Although he is young, he can already express himself accurately, but his voice is still childish and doesn't carry much weight.
Shen Mingzheng looked down at the child, and seeing the child's well-behaved and pretty face, he seemed to see Gu Xi as a child. A surge of indescribable tenderness and affection welled up in his heart. He patted the child's head and said, "I know you won't be kidnapped, because you will deliberately follow bad people."
I don't know who this child takes after. He usually seems well-behaved and quiet, and very easy to take care of, but when something unexpected happens, he is frighteningly brave.
Gu Xi often took him to the county town to buy things. A few months ago, they went to the department store in the county town, and before they knew it, he had disappeared.
Gu Xi was terrified. She and the mall staff searched for more than half an hour but couldn't find the missing person. She rushed to the police station to report the case, but to her surprise, she found the missing child right there at the police station.
The little boy sat there obediently, drinking the malted milk powder that the policewoman from the police station had made for him. He was incredibly well-behaved and adorable, and his clothes were perfectly in place, as if he had simply gotten lost.
It was later discovered that human traffickers had tricked the child away with candy while Gu Xi was shopping and not paying attention.
The child had gone with the traffickers on his own, which is why it didn't cause any commotion, and even his mother didn't notice. After all, the child was usually so well-behaved and obedient; whenever they were outside, he would obediently hold onto his mother's clothes. This was why Gu Xi felt comfortable taking him out to buy things.
If someone were to snatch a child in the street, Gu Xi could react immediately and cripple the person who dared to snatch the child. The problem was that if the child followed the bad guy on his own, the people around would think that the bad guy was the child's relative and wouldn't realize what was going on.
What broke Gu Xi's heart was that after arriving at the police station, she learned from the police that the human trafficker had been brought to the police station by her son. She didn't know what her son had done, but the human trafficker had obediently walked into the trap.
This human trafficker doesn't seem very bright.
It was later proven that the trafficker was indeed not very smart, but it was also possible that Shen Zhuzhu was too smart and, being young, was deceptive, which led to this bizarre scene. The trafficker was taken to the police station by the child he was about to abduct and was caught on the spot by the police.
This incident terrified Gu Xi, and she didn't recover for several days.
When Shen Mingzheng found out, he was also terrified. He felt that this was not right and that the audacious child should be taught a lesson. However, he could not hit him. Just seeing that face that resembled his mother's made him reluctant to hit him. As for scolding, Commander Shen was not good at it, and the child was so young that scolding him would be useless.
Finally, Commander Shen decided to have a man-to-man conversation with the child, which finally made the child realize his mistake and apologize to Gu Xi.
Gu Xi was also very curious at the time, wondering how he made his son realize his mistake.
Although the child is young, he has his own logic. On the surface, it may not be obvious, but once you get to know him better, you can sense it from his words and actions.
He didn't think there was anything wrong with following bad guys, because he eventually took the bad guys to the police station, which proved to be a good outcome.
The process is not important; the result is what matters.
This is how little Shen Zhuzhu understands things.
Shen Mingzheng said casually, "It's nothing. We just had a manly contest. We fought and proved to him that an adult's strength and fighting ability are not something a child's intelligence can contend with."
Gu Xi: "...You got into a fight? You mean it?"
She sized up the tall, muscular man, then compared him to the three-year-old toddler, and thought to herself, "Don't you feel guilty about this fight?"
Commander Shen had no qualms about dealing with his son, a special child who appeared well-behaved and quiet but was actually daring, reckless, and exceptionally intelligent. His strategy was to crush him with force and make him understand that he was still a child and that he should leave things to adults to handle instead of taking risks on his own.
As a father, he may not have much else, but he's really good at fighting.
As for the consequences—such as making the child realize that he can't even beat his father with one hand, starting to reflect on his own weakness, and then having the idea of wanting to learn martial arts—it's hard to say whether it's a blessing or a curse.
Moreover, given the child's stubborn nature, he never considered giving up and practiced for decades...
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At this moment, upon hearing her father's words, little Chen Zhuzhu frowned and promised, "Dad, I won't do it again."
"Yes, Dad believes you." Shen Mingzheng smiled at him. "With Dad gone, Zhuzhu, you must take good care of Mom, okay?"
Shen Zhuzhu nodded. "Dad, when can I see you again?"
Knowing that his father wouldn't be going back with them this time, he's already starting to miss his dad.
Shen Mingzheng assured him, "Next month, Dad will come back to Beijing to see you."
Gu Xi was also very reluctant to part with him. The two had been married for five years and had never been separated except when he was on a mission.
This time, she took the child back to Beijing. He was transferred to another post and couldn't leave because of some matters here. He could only go back with them after he finished dealing with things here.
He will be transferred to the south this time, and will become a brigade commander.
Shen Mingzheng felt a slight pang in his heart when he saw her eyes redden.
She was going back to Beijing to attend university, and the two would be separated for four years. Although he was reluctant, he never thought of letting her give up her dream. After the college entrance examination was reinstated, he supported her from the moment she decided to take the exam and received her university admission notice.
Shen Mingzheng said, "Xixi, don't be sad. I'll come back to see you when I have time."
Gu Xi suppressed the tears welling up in her eyes and forced a smile. "When I have my vacation, I'll bring Zhuzhu to see you. In four years at most, Zhuzhu and I will be able to come and be with you."
He nodded with a smile.
Just then, the train's arrival announcement came on, and Xiang Changchuan reminded him, "Mingzheng, the train has arrived. We need to get on."
Xiang Changchuan was carrying large and small bags, while Xu Yuansheng was holding their child beside him.
Xu Huaisheng, Xiang Zhao, and Xiang Yun were also there. Knowing that the couple had parted ways and must have a lot to talk about, they wisely refrained from disturbing them.
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzheng bent down, picked up his son, and carried the mother and son's luggage in his other hand, and helped them into the car.
Gu Xi smiled as she saw him carrying his son in one arm and his luggage in the other. She then gathered her own belongings, grabbed his clothes with one hand, and followed the crowd.
After boarding the train and finding their carriage, Shen Mingzheng put the child down and put away the luggage.
Xiang Changchuan and Xu Huaisheng also came with their luggage and put it away together.
Gu Xi took out an old piece of clothing, spread it on the seat, lifted her son up to sit on it, gave him a piece of cut apple, and let him hold it and eat it to pass the time.
Then she turned around, shielding Xu Yuansheng who was holding the child, and let her sit down to rest.
Xu Yuansheng smiled at her and said, "Big sister, I'm not tired."
This time, in addition to the three Gu sisters, Xiang Changchuan, Xiang Zhao, and Xiang Yun also went back to Beijing. They bought sleeper berths, and there were six seats in one carriage. They all bought berths together so that they could look after each other.
At the beginning of last year, Xiang Changchuan's parents were exonerated. However, Xu Yuansheng had just given birth and the child was still young. In addition, Xiang Changchuan's parents had just been reinstated and had many things to do, so it was inconvenient for them to take the two children back. Therefore, Xiang Zhao and Xiang Yun remained in the army until they returned together this year.
Shen Mingzheng hugged the child, gave instructions to his wife and children, and asked Xiang Changchuan to take good care of them.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of your sister-in-law and nephew." Xiang Changchuan patted him to reassure him. "When you come back to Beijing next time, let's get together and have a drink."
We couldn't drink alcohol in the army, but once we got back to Beijing, we were all able to get together and have a good drink.
As the train was about to depart, Shen Mingzheng finally got off.
Gu Xi and Shen Zhuzhu leaned against the car window, waving to him. The children's innocent voices rang out in the wind: "Goodbye, Daddy~~"
Shen Mingzheng stood on the platform and waved to them.
Once the train had gone far away and the people on the platform were no longer in sight, Gu Xi carried the sullen child to the lower berth and asked, "Does Zhuzhu want some cookies?"
Chen Zhuzhu buried her face in her mother's arms and shook her head.
Although he usually acts like a little adult and doesn't need anyone to worry about him, he is still young and will feel lost when he is suddenly separated from his father.
Seeing this, Xiang Zhao and Xiang Yun hurriedly went to coax him, and soon they managed to get Shen Zhuzhu to play checkers with them.
Seeing their child's attention diverted, the worried adults breathed a sigh of relief.
Holding her sleeping son in her arms, Xu Yuansheng glanced at Shen Zhuzhu, who was playing chess with her older siblings across the room, and suddenly sighed, "Time flies so fast. Zhuzhu is already three years old."
Xiang Changchuan took a few kettles to the water dispenser and brought them back. He took the child from his wife's arms and said to her, "Yuansheng, are you tired? You didn't get much rest last night. Go and get some sleep first. I'll wake you up for lunch."
Xu Yuansheng was indeed exhausted. He yawned, greeted Gu Xi, and climbed up to the top bunk to sleep.
Xiang Changchuan turned to Gu Xi and asked if she wanted to rest, but Gu Xi shook her head and said no.
A little while later, Cheng Yuanyuan and Gan Dongliang came over.
Cheng Yuanyuan and Gan Dongliang were also going back to the provincial capital, and they had booked train tickets for the same day. They would arrive in the provincial capital in the afternoon, so they did not buy sleeper tickets.
"Zhuzhu, I've missed you so much, Auntie!"
Cheng Yuanyuan rushed to the child, hugged him tightly, and pressed her face against his.
Shen Zhuzhu remained calm, her face turning red from the adults rubbing against her, but she didn't say anything. She obediently called out, "Aunt Yuanyuan, Uncle Liang."
Upon hearing "Uncle Liang," Gan Dongliang adjusted his glasses and said, "You can call me Uncle Gan."
Those who don't know the situation might think his surname is Liang, which is not good.
Cheng Yuanyuan exclaimed happily, "It's been a month since we last met, and I didn't expect Zhuzhu to still remember us. Zhuzhu is so smart and has such a good memory. She's just like your mother, both smart and beautiful."
She touched the child's face with affection, finding it endlessly fascinating.
The child looks more like Gu Xi, with only his eyebrows and eyes showing resemblance to his father. He was destined to be a beautiful child, especially since he had a bob haircut. His fine, soft, straight black hair framed his small face, making him look like a cute little girl at first glance.
Cheng Yuanyuan was a sucker for good looks and especially liked pretty people. The moment she saw the adorable Shen Zhuzhu, she was captivated by him and wished she could steal the child and take him home to raise.
Cheng Yuanyuan stuffed all the candies and cookies she brought into the child's hands, saying, "Zhuzhu, these are from Auntie. Ask Auntie for more after you finish them."
Chen Zhuzhu glanced at her and said in a childish voice, "Thank you, Aunt Yuanyuan."
"Ahhh... Our Zhuzhu is so well-behaved and adorable!"
Seeing that she was about to kiss the other person's child, Xiang Zhao and his sister were on high alert. Gan Dongliang had no choice but to reach out and grab Cheng Yuanyuan's collar, telling her to let the other person's child go.
Cheng Yuanyuan was feeling a little embarrassed that she hadn't been able to see the adorable child in person, but then she saw Xiang Zhao and Xiang Yun protectively shielding the child behind them, and she quickly said, "I'm really not a weird auntie, I just like Zhuzhu."
The brother and sister stared at her, clearly not believing her.
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