Chapter 479 Go, Dad is waiting for you at home.

"Okay, I understand!"

Bai Nuo hung up the phone and turned to look at the bustling dining table.

Everyone's face was filled with warm smiles. Fang Meng sat between his aunt and Madam Zhu, with his own seat between them.

Grandma and eldest aunt kept putting food into Fang Meng's bowl, while second aunt, third aunt, and fourth aunt all looked at him with loving eyes and gently urged him to eat more.

It's clear that the troubles in the Fang family haven't affected him. He's relaxed and happy at the Zhu family's house.

Because... this is their home now too.

Although my third and fourth uncles and several cousins ​​were not home, they all called before the New Year's Eve dinner. On the other end of the line, their voices were full of anticipation and joy—for the family reunion, for this belated reunion.

Although they couldn't come back in time, they are soldiers, and they bear a greater responsibility.

As long as the mountains and rivers remain, our home remains.

So I don't feel much regret!

Grandpa and Grandma had been looking forward to this reunion dinner for countless years.

pity……

Bai Nuo took a deep breath and walked over slowly. When she came between Grandpa Zhu and Grandma Zhu, she bent down, put one arm around Grandpa and the other around Grandma, and gently rubbed her face against Grandma's soft cheek.

The once lively dining table fell silent instantly, and everyone felt a slight tremor in their heart, but quickly suppressed that emotion.

This family has no shortage of soldiers.

They were all too familiar with this feeling!

really--

"I'm sorry, Fang Meng and I received an urgent mission and have to return to the military region immediately!"

Fang Meng immediately got up and rushed to the second-floor room to retrieve their military uniforms and sidearms.

Military uniforms are not required for missions, but it is inconvenient to leave the active duty uniform and sidearm at the Zhu family's house; they must be brought back to the military compound.

When they visited the Fang family, he and Bai Nuo changed out of not only their military uniforms, but also their sidearms.

Ultimately, it's just a family matter. He's not afraid to fight, as long as the old man and woman are still alive, Fang Guoqiang wouldn't dare to really break ties with Fang Meng and the others for the sake of that mother and son. But bringing a gun is inappropriate.

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhu's eyes instantly reddened.

She was a soldier herself, and knew she shouldn't stop her, much less have any pent-up emotions. But she was getting old, and she didn't expect her only precious granddaughter to amount to much; she only wished for her to be safe, healthy, happy, and well.

With so many uncles and brothers leading the way, how could she, the only precious granddaughter, possibly have the trouble of bringing glory to the family and expanding its power?

"Bao Niu, you must be careful, okay?" All the words in the world can only be summed up in this one most powerless piece of advice.

Bai Nuo smiled and nodded, then buried her face in her grandmother's shoulder and rubbed it gently: "Don't worry, Grandma, your granddaughter is amazing! I wouldn't even flinch in front of a thousand troops, I can easily handle a whole battalion of soldiers, don't worry!"

With tears in her eyes, Grandma Zhu nodded and gently stroked her granddaughter's hair: "Okay, Grandma's precious girl is the best. Grandma will stay home and wait for you and Xiaomeng to come back."

"good!"

Just as Bai Nuo stood up, Fang Meng came downstairs and handed her his sidearm.

Bai Nuo took it, bent down, checked the gun and bullets, and moved so fast that it was only a blink of an eye. Then he neatly put the pistol into the holster, lifted the hem of his coat, and steadily fastened the holster to his lower back.

Watching his niece's fluid and graceful movements, Zhu Kaize couldn't help but smile and praise, "Beautiful! No wonder she's a daughter of the Zhu family, a born female soldier!"

Bai Nuo looked up, her smile growing even brighter.

Finally, her gaze fell on Zhu Kaixuan, who remained silent throughout.

The next second—

Bai Nuo and Fang Meng took two steps back at the same time, their postures as upright as pine trees, exuding a dignified and righteous aura, and gave a standard military salute to the elders.

Zhu Kaixuan, with red-rimmed eyes, gently smiled and nodded: "Dad's home, waiting for you to come back."

Bai Nuo and Fang Meng both smiled and replied, "Okay."

They then turned around, and just as they reached the door, they stopped and turned back in unison.

They looked at their family members standing in a row in the living room, their faces beaming with bright smiles, and waved goodbye.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Uncle, Second Uncle, Aunt, Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, Seventh Brother, Eighth Brother—Happy New Year!"

The two vehicles, one after the other, quickly drove out of the No. 1 Military Region compound.

At the entrance of the Zhu family's residence, the crowd remained standing quietly, gazing in the direction where the vehicle had disappeared, motionless for a long time.

"Alright, let's go inside and eat." Grandpa Zhu turned around slowly and walked into the house with his hands behind his back. "The two children are soldiers, they have their duties and missions. We, the older generation, have fought all the battles that needed to be fought, and the rest... should be handed over to them."

His tone was free and dignified, still bearing the bearing of a soldier, but his always straight back seemed to be slightly bent on this night.

"Mom, let's go inside too, it's windy outside." The four daughters-in-law surrounded Madam Zhu and gently coaxed her, afraid that the old lady would worry too much and fall ill on New Year's Eve.

"It's alright. I was a soldier too. Even though I'm retired, I'm still a soldier. I understand." Madam Zhu waved her hand, her tone firm. "Let's go eat."

Zhu Kaize gave her two nephews a wink, and Zhu Bao and Zhu Guo followed their grandmother, each taking one of her hands and coaxing her, "Grandma, we'll eat dumplings with you," as they walked with her into the house.

The three Zhu brothers remained standing at the door, silently gazing at the moonlit courtyard.

On New Year's Eve, every household was brightly lit and filled with warmth and celebration, but in this military compound, an inexplicable loneliness lingered. Faintly, one could almost hear suppressed sobs coming from somewhere—

I guess it's some mother who's thinking about her child who can no longer come home.

Zhu Kaige raised his hand and gently patted his younger brother Zhu Kaixuan's shoulder.

Although his older brothers all have children in the military, some even stationed on the border, facing the possibility of war at any moment, what father wouldn't worry? But they were already prepared; from the day they sent their children into military uniforms, they understood what it meant.

Even if that day really comes, no matter how painful it is, we have to accept it.

Because... they are soldiers.

Wishing you a triumphant return is different.

During the sixteen years of arduous closed-off missions, he survived by relying on the belief that "someone is waiting for him" time and time again, escaping death and enduring the ordeal.

But when they finally returned, the person who had promised to stay with them for life was no longer there.

Zhu Kaige always remembered the day his father summoned them back. His younger brother seemed to have lost all his life in an instant, his eyes filled with death. He even suspected that if Kaixuan had had a gun with him at that time, he would have ended his own life without hesitation.

Now, he places all his will to live on his daughter.

Bai Nuo will be his only light from now on.

[No update yet. My back pain flared up again around noon, though it's a bit better than last time, so I can still manage to write. I just can't sit for too long; it's already starting to go numb. I'll make up for the chapter I missed a couple of days ago once I'm better. I'll try my best to keep updating these next few days. Best regards.]