Chapter 101 Meeting
Gao Hang abruptly put down what he was holding and strode over in a few steps.
He looked at Xie Jingchen, his smile turning sly, "And this gentleman is...?"
"Comrade Xia Fanxing." Xie Jingchen's introduction was concise and his tone was indifferent.
But Gao Hang could detect a tension in Xie Jingchen that shouldn't have been there.
Gao Hang immediately understood and extended his hand to warmly shake hands with Xia Fanxing.
But he was also very measured, never crossing the line.
"Hello, Comrade Xia, my name is Gao Hang. I'm Lao Xie's comrade-in-arms. I used to sleep in the bunk above him." He spoke to Xia Fanxing, but his eyes glanced at Xie Jingchen.
He exclaimed dramatically, "Old Xie, oh Old Xie, so that's why you suddenly contacted me—turns out you're pregnant!"
Xie Jingchen frowned slightly and interrupted him in time: "The items have been brought; test them as soon as possible."
As he spoke, he carefully handed over the ink bottle, which he had wrapped in cloth, his expression serious and his movements solemn.
Gao Hang took the ink bottle, his expression becoming more serious.
But he still wouldn't let it go: "Don't worry, this is something Commander Xie personally instructed me to do. How could I dare not do my best?"
He then looked at Xia Fanxing, his smile becoming much more sincere. "Comrade Xia, don't let my joking demeanor fool you, I'll definitely get this done. Old Xie, this is the first time in so many years he's asked for a favor, so for that reason alone, I'll make sure you get it done perfectly!"
When Gao Hang said, "This is the first time I've ever asked someone for a favor," Xia Fanxing keenly noticed that Xie Jingchen's body seemed to stiffen for a moment.
His eyes lowered, obscuring the expression in them, making it impossible to see what he was thinking.
But he quickly returned to normal, simply giving a faint "hmm".
"How long will it take?" Xie Jingchen asked.
"Well, it depends on the specific situation. I'll try my best to give you a result today." Gao Hang pushed up his glasses. "Don't you still have to report to the operations department? Go ahead and do your work. Comrade Xia will be waiting for me here. I'll make sure you're well taken care of."
Gao Hang patted his chest and assured him.
Xie Jingchen looked at Xia Fanxing, his eyes full of questions.
Xia Fanxing nodded, not taking it to heart, and said, "Go ahead and do your work. I'll just wait here for the results."
Xie Jingchen then looked at Gao Hang, his gaze carrying a subtle warning.
Gao Hang made a gesture of zipping up his mouth with his hand to indicate that he would never say anything nonsense.
"I'll be back as soon as possible," Xie Jingchen said in a low voice.
"Hmm." Xia Fanxing was both amused and exasperated.
Xie Jingchen's repeated and cautious explanations made her seem like an unweaned child.
Once Xie Jingchen's footsteps disappeared at the end of the corridor, Gao Hang suddenly moved closer to Xia Fanxing.
His face was filled with barely suppressed curiosity and excitement as he lowered his voice and said, "Comrade Xia, you really are him!"
He gave a thumbs up.
"I've known Lao Xie for so many years, and I've never seen him care about anyone like this. Not only did he specially deliver it to my door, but the look in his eyes just now, tsk tsk..."
As Gao Hang skillfully began preparing the testing equipment, he couldn't help but continue muttering, "You know what? When he contacted me yesterday, I almost thought someone was playing a prank on me! He's Xie Jingchen! Xie Jingchen actually asked me for help? It's unbelievable!"
At this point, Gao Hang seemed to let out a soft sigh.
If Xia Fanxing hadn't had exceptional hearing, she wouldn't have been able to detect such a faint sound.
Gao Hang continued, "Old Xie is undeniably capable, but he's just too selfish. He was like that back in the army, as if he didn't need anything and nobody could get close to him. But now it seems that it's not that nobody can get close to him, it's just that he hasn't met the right person yet."
After saying that, Gao Hang looked at Xia Fanxing with a mocking gaze.
Xia Fanxing was slightly taken aback, then lowered her eyes, letting a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
Gao Hang's words filled her heart with warmth and a sense of fullness.
She saw from another perspective the changes and exceptions Xie Jingchen made for her.
That cold and powerful man is using his clumsy yet incredibly sincere methods to gradually open up her closed world.
·
High-speed navigation is very efficient.
A few hours later, the preliminary test results came back.
Holding the report, he walked up to Xia Fanxing with a serious expression.
"Comrade Xia, the results are in." He pointed to the contents of the report and explained to Xia Fanxing, "It's confirmed. The degree of oxidation and the form of the residue in the squid ink indicate that it was added three days ago. At this point in time, before the ink was delivered to Comrade Chen Xiangyang, we can basically rule out the possibility that someone tampered with it later."
Xia Fanxing took the seemingly thin but actually heavy report paper, carefully looked at the professional terms and conclusions on it, and finally felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.
She carefully folded the report and solemnly put it into her pocket, or rather, into her storage space.
"Thank you, Comrade Gao, this report is very important."
"Hey, don't be so polite with me." Gao Hang waved his hand, glanced at the wall clock, and suggested to Xia Fanxing, "It's still early, Lao Xie will probably be busy for a while. How about it, since you've come all this way to the division headquarters, shall I show you around? The division headquarters compound is a completely different place from your regiment."
Xia Fanxing really wanted to see what Xie Jingchen's other workplace was like, and what the bigger world was like.
She readily nodded in agreement: "Okay, then I'll trouble Comrade Gao."
The two walked out of the laboratory.
The division headquarters compound was very well planned, with wide and straight roads lined with tall poplar trees on both sides.
Everywhere you look, you see officers and soldiers in crisp uniforms, walking briskly, each with a serious and efficient expression on their face.
Commands and drill sounds could be faintly heard from the training ground in the distance, and a solemn and tense sense of pressure filled the air.
Various military vehicles entered and exited in an orderly manner, everything was so well-organized and disciplined.
As Gao Hang walked, he introduced the buildings to Xia Fanxing, listing them off as if they were his own treasures: "That's the operations building over there; Lao Xie is probably getting a scolding in there. That's the logistics department, my territory. That's the communications hub; no unauthorized personnel allowed..."
As they walked, Gao Hang's conversation naturally circled back to Xie Jingchen.
Even though several years have passed, his tone still conveyed pride and deep admiration.
"Speaking of which, Lao Xie is truly the most awesome person I've ever met, bar none. Don't let his current cold and aloof demeanor fool you; back in recruit training, he was like an ever-burning flame, a daredevil! He was always the most dedicated during training. While others ran five kilometers, he secretly added ten. If he didn't master a tactical maneuver after one repetition, he would practice it a hundred times. He was covered in bruises but never uttered a sound. If his wounds hadn't become infected and he hadn't collapsed, no one would have known about his physical condition!"
Gao Hang pointed to a training ground in the distance and said, "See that 400-meter obstacle course? The record he set back then is still unbroken by many. Later, when we were assigned to a company, we encountered some tough opponents on our first border patrol mission. Old Xie, with his ruthlessness and resourcefulness, single-handedly led the whole squad around the enemy's ambush and even took out one of their sentries. He was commended for his bravery when he returned."
Recalling this past, Gao Hang couldn't help but feel nostalgic and emotional: "Old Xie fought his way up like this, making merits and getting promoted at an astonishing speed. But he was fierce in taking credit, which also caused a lot of trouble. He was too independent and stubborn, offended people, and... suffered losses."
At this point, Gao Hang's tone lowered slightly, as if he had thought of something.
But he quickly rallied and said with a grin, "Gold always shines. He's now the youngest regimental commander in our division, earned through sheer hard work!"
Xia Fanxing listened quietly the whole time.
According to Gao Hang, she pictured Xie Jingchen in her mind as a young, stubborn man covered in wounds but with eyes as sharp as a wolf.
They fight tooth and nail on the training field and battle on the battlefield.
She gained a more concrete understanding of Xie Jingchen's past loneliness and strength, and a subtle tenderness and unparalleled pride welled up in her heart.
As the two walked and talked, they passed an office building when they suddenly heard a loud argument coming from the side.
There was an old soldier in an old military uniform, who was arguing angrily with a young man who looked like a staff officer, while several other people stood around trying to mediate.
"Why won't you approve my application? My son made a contribution on the front lines, and I just wanted to send him some melons from our hometown to try. How is that against the rules?" The veteran's face was flushed, and his voice was loud and clear, filled with grievance and anger.
The young staff officer looked troubled: "Old comrade, it's not that we don't want you to send it, it's just that your package is way overweight, and the procedures for mailing fresh fruit are complicated, requiring special approval and registration, which we can't handle directly here..."
"Register, register, by the time you finish registering, the melons will be rotten! This is my only wish, and you office workers only know how to follow the rules and regulations, you don't understand the feelings of us old guys at all!" The veteran became more and more agitated as he spoke, almost shouting.
Those around who tried to persuade them seemed helpless as well.
Gao Hang frowned and whispered to Xia Fanxing, "Sigh, it's this kind of thing again. Old revolutionaries can be stubborn sometimes, it's hard to handle them..."
Xia Fanxing looked at the old soldier's trembling hands and his reddened eyes, and suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She didn't step forward immediately, but calmly observed for a moment, then gently tugged at Gao Hang's sleeve and asked quickly in a low voice, "Comrade Gao, according to regulations, special condolence gifts are mailed. If the circumstances are special, can we apply to the political department for special handling? After the political department issues a certificate, can the logistics department release the package?"
Gao Hang paused for a moment, then nodded. "Theoretically, that's how it is, but the process is very complicated, and usually no one—"
Before he could finish speaking, Xia Fanxing took a deep breath and stepped into this "war" without gunpowder.
She did not directly intervene in the argument.
Instead, he first nodded politely to the young staff officer, then turned to the veteran, his voice carrying a gentle strength that could calm people down.
"Old comrade, please don't rush. Your wish to send your son, who has made meritorious contributions, the taste of your hometown is very precious, and we can all understand it."
The veteran's agitated emotions subsided slightly.
But looking at this strange woman who had suddenly appeared, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Xia Fanxing continued calmly, "The regulations are for ensuring safety and order, and we must abide by them. But given your special circumstances, the regulations also stipulate other channels that can be followed. How about this—"
Xia Fanxing turned to the young staff officer, "Staff officer, could you please tell this old comrade which comrade in the Political Department he needs to apply to for a special expedited certificate? What materials are required? I'll accompany him to find out the details and get things done according to the proper procedures. This way, we won't violate any regulations and we can get the old comrade's good wishes to his son at the front as soon as possible. What do you think?"
Her words not only calmed the veteran's emotions and acknowledged the legitimacy of his demands, but also firmly upheld the seriousness of the regulations and offered a practical solution.
In this way, the conflict was redirected from pointless arguments to the right path of resolving the problem.
The young staff officer visibly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately provided a department and contact person.
The veteran's anger had subsided considerably.
Although he still found it troublesome, his attitude softened considerably, muttering, "If only you had said that earlier, it would have been fine."
A conflict that was about to escalate was cleverly resolved by Xia Fanxing with just a few words.
Just then, a deep and authoritative voice rang out from the side: "Well said!"
Everyone turned around and saw a ruddy-faced, vigorous old man walking towards them.
He had clearly witnessed the entire process, and as he looked at Xia Fanxing, his eyes were filled with undisguised admiration.
He walked up to Xia Fanxing and carefully examined her from head to toe, his eyes looking as if he had discovered some rare talent.
"It demonstrates both principle and flexibility, and what's even more commendable is its concern for the people. With just a few words, it hits the nail on the head, resolves the conflict, and steers the situation back on track. Excellent, truly excellent!"
Lei Ming laughed heartily, his words of praise revealing undisguised admiration.
He asked Xia Fanxing, "Which department are you from? What's your name? I see that you have a strong sense of ideology and excellent problem-solving skills. A comrade like you should go to a better place to shine and contribute to the Legion!"
Lei Ming's admiration for Xia Fanxing was evident; otherwise, he wouldn't have been in such a hurry to poach her to work for him.
Xia Fanxing had no idea that the imposing leader in front of her was Lei Ming.
She bowed slightly and replied politely and calmly, "You flatter me, sir. I am merely a—"
However, before she could finish speaking, an urgent voice suddenly interrupted her: "Reporting to the commander!"
Xie Jingchen strode over and saluted Lei Ming with his upright posture.
He positioned himself perfectly between Xia Fanxing and Lei Ming, blocking Lei Ming's probing gaze.
Xie Jingchen's expression tightened, and he quickly exchanged glances with Xia Fanxing, signaling her to be quiet.
Lei Ming's attention was drawn to Xie Jingchen, and he raised an eyebrow. "Commander Xie? Finished your report?"
"Yes, sir." Xie Jingchen's voice was steady, but his speech was slightly faster than usual. "Regarding the unusual border reconnaissance situation mentioned in the report just now, I have some additional details that I need to report to you privately immediately, as the situation may be quite urgent."
He deliberately emphasized "alone" and "urgent".
Upon hearing that it concerned border military affairs, Lei Ming's expression immediately turned serious.
He didn't bother to ask Xia Fanxing any more questions, but simply gave her an appreciative look and nodded in affirmation.
Then he looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "Come on, let's talk in my office."
Xie Jingchen gave Gao Hang a wink, signaling him to take good care of Xia Fanxing, and then hurriedly left with Lei Ming.
After the two men had walked away, Gao Hang finally breathed a sigh of relief, patted his chest, and said with lingering fear, "Goodness, Lao Xie came just in time..."
Xia Fanxing watched Xie Jingchen and Lei Ming's departing figures, lost in thought.
After a while, Xie Jingchen returned.
He walked up to Xia Fanxing and said to Gao Hang in a deep voice, "Gao Hang, please excuse me for a moment."
Gao Hang wisely walked away.
Xie Jingchen looked at Xia Fanxing with a complicated expression and sighed slightly, "That person just now was Director Lei Ming."
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