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The Lucky Star Control Corporation in the 70s (47)
Yin Xu laughed at Fatty’s appearance and introduced him to Chu Xiang, “This is Li Dong, he used to be in the same unit as me. We’ve known each other for a long time.” He also said to Li Dong, “My wife, Chu Xiang. I didn’t expect you to be her instructor. What a coincidence.”
Chu Xiang was a little surprised. “A member of the army? Go, talk inside the house. What did you mean, Teacher? Can Yin Xu return to the army?”
Li Dong walked toward the house with the couple and replied, “That’s what the Regiment Commander said when I called the unit last night. Brother Xu, that place is dangerous, and it’s a feat that you came back with all your limbs intact. It’s even harder to change troops. When the Regiment Commander knew that you fractured your legs before, he spent the whole afternoon alone in the office, feeling sorry for you. Hey, Brother Xu, are your legs both healed now?”
Yin Xu patted his leg a couple of times. “Yeah, I didn’t expect it either. It turns out that mission was put on hold. Haven’t anybody gone there yet?”
“Everything is still in the preparatory stage, just to be cautious. They will go when they are ready. But Brother Xu, if you go back, you can solve a big problem. By the way, I haven’t changed jobs. I was transferred by the Commander to select elite soldiers, and I will return to the unit after a period. If you return, Brother Xu, I will apply to be transferred back in advance and accompany you on the mission.” Li Dong looked at Chu Xiang and smiled at Yin Xu. “Brother Xu, you’re really something, ah. You got married so soon, and Sister-in-law is so awesome. She thoroughly dominated all freshmen, too powerful!”
Chu Xiang calmly accepted the fact that her instructor became a “Little Brother”, and said humbly, “It’s all about the daily academic performance. No one really got serious about it.”
Yin Xu said smilingly, “Yes, if they had gotten serious, they would have been abused even more severely.”
Yang Yuelan walked out of the house, and when she heard that their visitor was Yin Xu’s comrade-in-arms and Chu Xiang’s instructor, she immediately welcomed Li Dong into the house enthusiastically and poured warm water for him.
Li Dong heard Yin Xu say that his mother was in poor health before, and he was discharged from the army because of this. He didn’t expect to see that Yang Yuelan didn’t look sick at all. He couldn’t help but say, “Brother Xu, you’re not swindling the Commander, right? T-This is all different from what you said, ah!”
Yin Xu slapped him on the back, “What are you thinking? I’m just fortunate, and everything is all good now. Don’t blindly guess. I’ll contact the Commander later. If you want to be transferred back, you should write an application as soon as possible.”
Li Dong jumped up excitedly. “Brother Xu, are you serious? Then I’ll go back and write!”
“Hey, wait.” Chu Xiang stopped him and said, “Instructor, how do you choose the elite soldiers? Am I included? If so, can I apply for a special application to join the army in advance?”
Li Dong expressed his surprise, “What? Isn’t it a tad too early? Sister-in-law, I would pick you, but joining the army is not a child’s play, so you can’t do this. Besides, why are you entering early?”
“You said something about a dangerous mission, did I hear it right? I also want to help.” Chu Xiang looked at Yin Xu and said, “Can you ask for me? I promise to help not make trouble. You know my learning progress is faster than my peers. No sweat.”
Chu Xiang didn’t live in school, and went home every day. Whenever she encountered doubts, she would consult Yin Xu, so he knew her strength best. Li Dong and Shou Hou’er combined were no match for her, and she could beat them whether in intelligence or physical skills.
So Yin Xu did not say she was fooling around right away, but seriously thought about the possibility. He had been to that place, so he knew how difficult the task was, so fatal that the Commander shelved it for so long without sending people. They couldn’t just send someone to death.
He has decided to go back to the army to take this mission. If Chu Xiang helped him, the success rate would greatly increase. Rules are dead, while people are alive. Moreover, completing the mission was the priority.
Seeing that he was seriously considering it, Li Dong was surprised: “Brother Xu, don’t tell me you really want to bring Sister-in-law? It’s too dangerous. The military school is different from the army.”
Yin Xu waved his hand. “I have a sense of discretion. I will apply to the Commander for this matter, and he will make the decision. When you come, Fatty, let’s have lunch before you leave. Shou Hou’er will be coming later too. You haven’t seen each other for a long time. Let’s have a nice get-together.”
“Is Shou Hou’er here too? Okay, I’m not leaving yet, I have a lot to catch up with.” Li Dong smilingly sat down and chatted with Yin Xu, exactly like a little fanboy seeing his idol; his eyes were glowing.
It was the first time that Chu Xiang learned about Yin Xu’s past. She found that he was more important in the army than she thought, and his strength was stronger than she thought. It was quite interesting to hear Li Dong recount their days in the army.
The house wasn’t spacious enough. Yang Yuelan heard them in the kitchen, and she couldn’t help calling Chu Xiang out to accompany her to buy food. When they were outside, she asked in a whisper, “Are you both going to the army? The mission sounds dangerous, isn’t it? What exactly are you going to do there?”
Chu Xiang hugged her with a smile and said, “I don’t know what the specific mission is. These are all confidential and can’t be divulged. However, Yin Xu got discharged properly from the army, which means he is capable enough. Mom, don’t worry too much.”
Yang Yuelan sighed. “How can I not be worried? How many soldiers haven’t made it back? Their families waited in vain.”
“Mom, if you don’t want Yin Xu to go…”
Yang Yuelan shook her head and interrupted Chu Xiang, “No, it is an honor to be a soldier, and Yin Xu’s mission is for the country. Since the army needs him, of course, he has to go. I understand everything. You are both children with your own thoughts. You can go and do whatever you want. I’m in good health now, and Xiao Wen is doing well at school, so you don’t need to worry about our home.”
Chu Xiang smiled and remarked, “It’s great to have an open-minded mother like you!”
Chu Xiang and Yang Yuelan chatted amidst laughter and went to buy food, the picture of a mother and daughter, intimate and warm. As soon as Chu Lan looked up across the road, she saw this scene, and it instantly felt like she was stabbed by a needle.
Chu Xiang was dressed in decent clothes, particularly valiant and heroic in bearing and in good spirits. Chu Lan looked down at herself. Her old clothes were gray. She was carrying large to small bags of goods. Her hair was disheveled, like an aunt.