Chapter 221 Walking Side by Side, A Lifetime of Glory
"Report!" The sentry ran to the training ground. "Commander Xie, someone's looking for you at the gate."
Xie Yunze frowned: "Who is it?"
“They are your family members.” The sentry said with a mysterious smile.
Xie Yunze's heart skipped a beat. Had something happened at home? He quickly ran out of the training field.
When he ran to the gate of the military camp and saw the five people standing there, he could hardly believe his eyes.
"Ah Li? Mother? An An?" He stood there, stunned. "And Grandpa and Grandma, what brings you all here?"
Xu Zhili smiled and stepped forward, handing him the approval documents for accompanying him to the military: "We've come to reunite with you!"
Xie Yunze took the document, quickly glanced through it, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face: "They've been exonerated? You can join the army now?"
"Yes!" Xu Zhili nodded vigorously, tears welling up in her eyes. "We can be together forever!"
Xie Yunze hugged Xu Zhili tightly, his voice choked with emotion, "That's wonderful...that's really wonderful..."
After a while, he remembered his mother-in-law, maternal grandparents, and An'an beside him. He quickly released Xu Zhili and saluted Xu Nuoyan: "Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, thank you for your hard work on this journey."
Xu Nuoyan wiped away her tears and smiled, "It's not hard at all. Being able to reunite with my family is better than anything else."
Grandma smiled gently and said softly, "What a good child."
Grandpa, who was standing nearby, also smiled, but didn't say much. His smile was full of tenderness.
An'an has grown quite a bit taller and is now over eight years old. He straightened his back and said to Xie Yunze, "Brother-in-law, I can help you take care of my sister now!"
Xie Yunze patted his head: "Good lad, you've grown so tall!"
The news spread quickly throughout the army. The soldiers were all happy for Xie Yunze when they heard that his company commander's family had come to join him.
The political commissar even came personally to arrange accommodation.
"Xiao Xie, the organization has already arranged houses for you in the family compound," the political commissar said with a smile. "Take your family and settle in quickly."
The houses in the family compound are not big, but they are clean and tidy.
As soon as Xu Zhili entered the house, she started to get busy, trying to make the new home warm and comfortable.
"Ah Li, stop working so hard," Xie Yunze pulled her back. "Take a rest first, you've had a tiring journey."
"I'm not tired," Xu Zhili said with a smile, shaking her head. "I'm overjoyed to have been able to settle our home properly."
Xu Nuoyan also helped tidy up, and seeing his daughter and son-in-law's loving relationship, a gratified smile appeared on his face.
The two elderly people held hands tightly, the warmth of their fingertips passing between them. The lines etched by time on their hands overlapped, as if silently telling a story of the tenderness and tacit understanding they had shared for many years.
In the evening, Xie Yunze specially bought several good dishes from the cafeteria, and the family sat down together for a reunion dinner.
"These past two years, while I was on missions out there, you were the people I missed the most," Xie Yuance said with emotion. "Now that you're here, I can see you every day."
Xu Zhili placed a piece of food on his plate: "You need to focus on your mission and don't worry about us. I'll take good care of Mom and An'an."
An'an quickly said, "I will take good care of Mom and my sister too!"
Everyone laughed, and the room was filled with a long-lost warm atmosphere.
After dinner, Xie Yunze and Xu Zhili took a walk in the courtyard.
The nights were quiet in the military base, with only the occasional commands heard in the distance.
"Zhi Li, thank you," Xie Yunze suddenly said.
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for coming all this way to find me," Xie Yunze said, holding her hand. "Thank you for waiting for me all these years."
Xu Zhili leaned on his shoulder: "We're family, no need for thanks."
Under the moonlight, their figures clung tightly together. The days of separation were finally over, and every day of reunion awaited them.
In the days that followed, Xu Zhili quickly adapted to life in the military.
She not only set up a small sewing class in the family compound to teach military spouses needlework, but also often helped the troops repair some mechanical equipment.
Her talent quickly spread throughout the army, and everyone praised Company Commander Xie for marrying such a capable wife.
One day, Xu Zhili was repairing a generator for the army when Xie Yunze came to find her.
"Zhi Li, the political commissar said he wants to ask you to help out in the technical department," Xie Yunze said with a proud smile. "They said your skills are better than many professional technicians."
Xu Zhili wiped the grease off her hands and smiled, "Of course I'm willing to help if it helps."
And so, Xu Zhili found a new place to use her talents in the army.
What makes her happiest is that every day after get off work, she can go home with Xie Yunze and have dinner with her mother and younger brother.
This kind of ordinary happiness is exactly what she has been dreaming of for many years.
On weekends, Xu Zhili often takes An'an for walks around the military base, telling him about every plant and tree there.
Sometimes when Xie Yunce wasn't busy, he would spend time with them.
“Sister, this place is so nice,” An’an said. “I can see my brother-in-law every day.”
Xu Zhili patted her younger brother's head: "Yes, it's really nice here."
She gazed at Xie Yunce's figure on the training field in the distance, her heart filled with gratitude.
After so many years of separation and waiting, they finally reunited.
She knew that no matter how many challenges lay ahead, as long as the family was together, there was no difficulty that could not be overcome.
As the sun set, the bugle call signaling the end of training sounded.
Xie Yunce walked towards them with a warm smile on his face.
Xu Zhili stepped forward, knowing that this was the happiness she had always longed for—simple, real, yet incredibly precious.
After joining the army, Xu Zhili quickly found her place in the military.
She was specially appointed as a technical consultant, not only to assist in the maintenance of equipment, but also to participate in the research and development of new equipment.
Xie Yunze continues to shine in the field of military command, repeatedly making contributions in major exercises and missions with his outstanding tactical skills and command abilities.
The couple shone brightly in their respective fields, becoming a celebrated story in the military.
The reconnaissance company led by Xie Yunze was rated as an advanced company for three consecutive years, and the portable communication equipment designed by Xu Zhili also played an important role in border patrols.
"Commander Xie, your wife is truly remarkable!" his comrades often joked. "You two are aiming for meritorious service together!"
Xie Yunze always smiled proudly and said, "That's right, my wife is very capable."
Time flies, and for the next sixty years, Xu Zhili has always been at the forefront of scientific research. She started with a small mechanical improvement and later presided over the design of countless major scientific research projects, covering fields ranging from people's livelihood to national defense, and from the micro to the macro.
The precision watches she spearheaded broke the foreign technological monopoly, allowing ordinary people to wear high-quality domestically made watches.
The fighter jets she helped design significantly enhanced the strength of the Chinese Air Force.
The aircraft carrier development project she led in her later years enabled the Chinese Navy to venture into the deep blue sea.
From watches to aircraft carriers, from consumer technology to national defense equipment, Xu Zhili has witnessed and promoted the development of science and technology in China throughout her life.
She and Xie Yunze also walked hand in hand through their golden wedding anniversary and their diamond wedding anniversary, always supporting and cherishing each other.
On their golden wedding anniversary, Xie Yunze looked at Xu Zhili, whose hair was now completely white, and whispered, "The proudest thing in my life is not how many achievements I've made, but being able to walk side by side with you."
Xu Zhili smiled and took his hand, just like that winter many years ago in Xiangyang Brigade, warm and firm.
They dedicated their lives to demonstrating what love, ideals, and the responsibility of an era truly mean.
Their story became the most touching footnote to that vibrant era.
(over)
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