Chapter 248 Children are the Future
Deputy Commander Qiu slammed his hand on the table, the loud sound making the teacup on the table jump slightly.
His eyes lit up, as if they had been parched for a long time and now they were greeted with rain. "Comrade Qiao Wanyin, your idea is not only thoughtful, it's truly visionary!"
His speech quickened, brimming with barely concealed excitement: "This isn't just a simple upgrade of the daycare center; it's laying the foundation and building the soul for the next generation of our factory workers!"
"I've approved it!"
He said it with absolute certainty, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
He stood up and walked firmly to Qiao Wanyin, standing just a step away from her.
His voice lowered, yet remained remarkably clear, as if flowing slowly from the depths of his heart: "When I was young, I risked my life on the front lines, fighting every few days, sometimes for months at a time. The thing I regret most is not being able to properly discipline my children."
He paused, a barely perceptible hint of pain flashing in his eyes, "When the war is over and I go home, my son will no longer call me 'Dad'."
"Now that life is better and conditions have improved, we should make room for the children of the factory to grow up in peace."
He looked at her with a solemn gaze, "The plan you proposed is not just about setting up a kindergarten; it's about filling a void in the hearts of us soldiers."
Qiao Wanyin's eyes immediately reddened, and her throat felt like it was blocked by something. She could only blink hard to clear her vision.
"So... the commander has agreed?"
Her voice trembled slightly, filled with unbelievable hope.
Deputy Commander Qiu smiled and nodded, his expression gentle yet authoritative: "The general direction is correct. However, we'll need the logistics team's help to get things off the ground. Site repairs, material procurement, and personnel allocation are all serious matters that require coordinated planning."
“Okay,” he said, turning to pick up the phone, his voice decisive, “I’ll have my secretary call a meeting immediately, bringing together all the heads of the relevant departments—the Logistics Department, the Political Department, the Infrastructure Department, and the Finance Department—no one can be left out. You will speak in person, and they will listen. You will lead the plan, and I will coordinate the resources.”
"That's great! Thank you, sir!"
Her voice trembled, and a tear finally rolled down her cheek, but she didn't bother to wipe it away. She just bowed deeply and said, "I will definitely live up to your trust."
As I walked out of the headquarters gate, the afternoon sun shone warmly on the stone steps.
Qiu Zishu was already waiting at the door. When she saw her come out, she immediately ran up to her, put her arm around Qiao Wanyin's shoulder, and was so excited that she almost jumped up: "Sister Wanyin, you are amazing! I can't believe it! My dad usually doesn't give anyone a good look and thinks ten minutes in a meeting is too long, but today he listened to you for almost half an hour and didn't interrupt at all!"
Qiao Wanyin was also infected by her emotions and couldn't help but laugh out loud. She raised her hand and gently pinched her cheek: "Thanks to you for bringing me in. If you hadn't helped me pass on the message and find the opportunity, how would I have had the chance to report directly to the leader?"
She looked at Qiu Zishu earnestly, her voice gentle and sincere, "Zishu, thank you so much. I will remember this kindness."
"No need to thank me!"
She chuckled and tightened her arm around Qiao Wanyin's, gently squeezing her arm with her fingertips. Her tone was affectionate and playful, "We're comrades-in-arms, we're like brothers! There's no need for you to say 'thank you' to me."
“Oh, right—” She suddenly remembered something, blinked, and leaned close to Qiao Wanyin’s ear to whisper, “The coordination meeting needs to prepare materials, and what we have isn’t enough to make it stand out. I know Officer Zhang from the publicity department. He’s very reliable, and more importantly, he’s incredibly good at making PPTs. His animations, color schemes, and layouts are all top-notch. He’s done presentations for the political department before, and even the leaders praised him! With his help, we can definitely create a few pages of visually striking images.”
*
Qiao Wanyin pushed open the ward door and walked in with light steps. She immediately saw Fu Lian leaning against the headboard, looking down attentively at a book.
The afternoon sun slanted in through the window, passing through the glass and drawing a golden band of light on the floor of the ward.
The light fell perfectly on his slender profile, outlining a soft contour, as if gilding him with a gentle golden edge, even his eyelashes trembled slightly in the light and shadow.
"Li An!"
She practically ran to the bedside, her cheeks flushed with excitement, her breathing a little rapid. "Vice Commander Qiu nodded! He really agreed!"
Upon hearing this, Fu Lian immediately put down the book in his hand, his eyes lighting up instantly like stars suddenly illuminating the night sky. "Really? That's wonderful!"
He patted the seat next to him, "Sit down, don't stand, catch your breath."
He shifted his body further in, making room for half of the bed. Though his movements were careful, he tried to appear natural, afraid that she might get tired standing.
Qiao Wanyin plopped down, not even bothering to catch her breath, and rattled off the whole story of meeting her colleagues that day, speaking at a rapid-fire pace.
When she got excited, she gestured wildly, her fingers moving in the air, her eyes shining like light bulbs, sparkling with undisguised excitement and pride.
"...Finally, Deputy Commander Qiu slammed his fist on the table and said, 'This is worth doing!' He said that a coordination meeting would be held next week, and all relevant units—personnel, logistics, infrastructure, education—must send representatives to attend!"
As she spoke, she suddenly grasped Fu Lian'an's hand, her palm slightly sweaty, her voice trembling slightly: "Lian, our kindergarten is really going to open! It's not a dream, it's really going to happen!"
Fu Li'an looked into the light in her eyes, a light that was both intense and pure, like a flame igniting the softest spot in his heart.
He felt a warm current slowly seeping into his chest, like drinking a sip of hot tea on a winter's day, warming him from his throat all the way to his fingertips.
He raised his hand and gently brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe, causing a barely perceptible tickle. "I knew you could do it."
His voice was deep, yet firm and unwavering.
Qiao Wanyin suddenly stopped what she was doing, her eyes flickered, and her voice lowered, as if she were talking to herself: "Don't you think I'm... taking too much risks? Using that money to start a kindergarten, what if it fails...?"
"There's no 'what if'."
He interrupted her directly, his tone as steady as a weathered stone, unwavering in the slightest, "A child's future is more valuable than anything else. Education is not a transaction, it's sowing seeds. The seed we plant today will grow into a tree, providing shelter from the wind and rain."
He paused, gazing intently at her. "Let others say what they want, it's none of our business. As long as you have a clear conscience and walk the straight path, you have nothing to fear."
Qiao Wanyin felt a lump in her throat, her eyes instantly reddened, and her throat felt like it was blocked by something.
She didn't say anything, but silently rested her head on his shoulder, her forehead gently touching his strong shoulder.
"Thank you, Li An."
Her voice was very soft, like the rustling of leaves in the wind.
He gently embraced her, his arms holding her just right—neither too tight nor too loose—as if he were protecting a fragile dream.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
