Chen Muye shot a glance at Wen Qimo.
Wen Qimo spoke earnestly, "Madam, the thing is, Lin Qiyue initially applied to go to Qiqihar, but later obeyed the deployment and went to Ulumuchi."
Auntie listened with skepticism, "What about his documents?"
Wen Qimo took out a thick stack of documents from his briefcase and placed them on the table in front of Auntie.
"All of Lin Qiyue's procedures are here for you to keep." Wen Qimo paused for a moment, then continued, "There may be some more documents coming later, and we'll visit again when they arrive."
Auntie squinted, taking the documents cautiously and scrutinizing them word by word, afraid of missing any crucial information.
After a while, she finally set the documents down, heaving a long sigh.
"That child, his eyes have just recovered. I fear there might be further complications during his time in the military…"
"Please rest assured, we have conducted detailed examinations of Lin Qiyue's eyes. There won't be any other issues, he's perfectly healthy." Wen Qimo's voice softened gradually. "Moreover, as children grow up, they need to break free from the family's wings and toughen up, don't they?"
Auntie opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately could only sigh helplessly.
"Madam, here is the subsidy for Lin Qiyue's military service, please accept it." Chen Muye took out a thick envelope and pushed it toward Auntie.
Auntie lifted the corner of the envelope, trembling all over, looking at the two in shock.
"This… isn't this too much?"
"The country's welfare for soldiers is very good nowadays, and the unit where Lin Qiyue is stationed is quite special, so the subsidy is relatively higher compared to other places," explained Wen Qimo.
"Special? There won't be any danger, will there?" Auntie's expression changed.
"No, the 'special' here means… he's stationed quite far away," Wen Qimo elaborated earnestly, "After all, it takes a long time to travel from here to Ulumuchi."
"I see." Auntie held the envelope, feeling uneasy.
It was the first time she had seen so much money.
"Comrade, can you help me send these to him?" Auntie worriedly asked, "He's going to such a distant place alone, what if he doesn't have any money? And I'm also worried about keeping so much money at home…"
"In the army, he won't need this much money, and we have regulations. This money is for family members, so please, do take it." Wen Qimo narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "As for safety… rest assured, as long as we are here, no one can harm you."
"When will he come back after he leaves?"
"Ten years." Chen Muye suddenly spoke up, his eyes filled with seriousness. "After ten years, he will definitely come back."
"Ten years…" Auntie muttered those two words, then glanced back at Yang Jin, murmuring to herself, "In ten years, Ah Jin should be going to university…"
Wen Qimo and Chen Muye chatted with Auntie for a while longer, then bid farewell as the time drew near.
"Oh, can you make phone calls from where you are?" Auntie suddenly remembered something.
"Of course." Wen Qimo nodded. "I'll give you a number, you can contact him as long as it's not during training hours."
"Alright, good."
Auntie saw the two off, then stood alone at the door for a while before slowly returning to her room and sitting down, staring blankly at Lin Qiyue's room.
Her eyes gradually reddened.
"Mom… Brother joining the army is a good thing," Yang Jin approached with Little Black Spot in his arms, trying to console her.
"Mom knows." Auntie wiped her eyes. "Children grow up, they always have to go out and see the world, going to the army to toughen up is indeed a good thing.
When he comes back, having served in the army, when it's time for me to find a wife for him, there will surely be many contenders!"
Yang Jin: …
"Mom just… can't help but worry." Auntie looked out the window, lost in thought.
…
"It's time to go."
Chen Muye walked downstairs and patted Lin Qiyue, who had been secretly watching from the window, saying.
Lin Qiyue, eyes fixed on Auntie on the balcony, spoke softly, "How did it go?"
"She believes it."
"That's good… Did you give her the money?"
"I did." Chen Muye paused. "That's all your subsidy and a year's salary advance. What will you do?"
"I've saved some money over the years, I'll manage for a year."
Seeing this, Chen Muye remained silent for a moment before adding, "If you're free, you can come to the office for meals."
"Temporary members don't have free board and lodging, right?"
"Temporary members don't, but…" Chen Muye patted his shoulder and headed towards the van not far away. "Except for the meals I cook myself."
Lin Qiyue was taken aback, a smile playing on his lips.
Ding Ling Ling—!
Just then, Lin Qiyue's newly issued phone rang in his pocket.
"Hello?"
"Xiao Qi? Is this Xiao Qi?"
"It's me, Auntie."
"You child, going to the army on your own, why didn't you tell me? If you wanted to go… I wouldn't have stopped you! Do you not see me as your aunt anymore? Hmm?"
"I'm sorry, Auntie… I, I was wrong."
"Sigh… Are you on the train now?"
"Yes."
"How long will it take?"
"I heard it will take two days, the little green one is a bit slow."
"After you arrive at the military camp, make sure to eat more, don't exhaust yourself!"
"I understand, Auntie."
"Also, Auntie has received your subsidy, Auntie will keep it for you, and when you come back, it will be for your wedding."
"Auntie, the benefits in our unit are very good, we have a lot of money every year, you should use that money first."
"You child, you don't know how to save at all. Keep your money safe, make sure to live better, understood?"
"Understood, Auntie."
"Well, nothing much, Auntie will hang up first."
"Okay, goodbye, Auntie."
"By the way… after you arrive in Qiqihar, remember to let Auntie know you're safe."
"I will, goodbye, Auntie."
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time, and Auntie's slightly hoarse voice spoke again.
"Well, goodbye…"
Beep, beep, beep…
Auntie tightly held onto her phone, sitting there like a statue, unmoving.
Then, two lines of hot tears flowed from her eyes.
She slowly leaned on the table, burying her face in her shoulders, silently weeping…
Beside her, Yang Jin let out a soft sigh.
Turning to look out
the window, he murmured to himself:
"Brother, you fool…"
…
Outside the old residential area.
"Qiyue, it's time to go." Chen Muye turned back, calmly saying.
Lin Qiyue put away his phone, took one last look at the low buildings in the distance, and nodded.
The wind picked up.
Lin Qiyue's black hair was gently lifted by the breeze, he tightened his collar and turned to walk into the wind.
Their clothes rustled in the wind!
Chen Muye shot a glance at Wen Qimo.
Wen Qimo spoke earnestly, "Madam, the thing is, Lin Qiyue initially applied to go to Qiqihar, but later obeyed the deployment and went to Ulumuchi."
Auntie listened with skepticism, "What about his documents?"
Wen Qimo took out a thick stack of documents from his briefcase and placed them on the table in front of Auntie.
"All of Lin Qiyue's procedures are here for you to keep." Wen Qimo paused for a moment, then continued, "There may be some more documents coming later, and we'll visit again when they arrive."
Auntie squinted, taking the documents cautiously and scrutinizing them word by word, afraid of missing any crucial information.
After a while, she finally set the documents down, heaving a long sigh.
"That child, his eyes have just recovered. I fear there might be further complications during his time in the military…"
"Please rest assured, we have conducted detailed examinations of Lin Qiyue's eyes. There won't be any other issues, he's perfectly healthy." Wen Qimo's voice softened gradually. "Moreover, as children grow up, they need to break free from the family's wings and toughen up, don't they?"
Auntie opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately could only sigh helplessly.
"Madam, here is the subsidy for Lin Qiyue's military service, please accept it." Chen Muye took out a thick envelope and pushed it toward Auntie.
Auntie lifted the corner of the envelope, trembling all over, looking at the two in shock.
"This… isn't this too much?"
"The country's welfare for soldiers is very good nowadays, and the unit where Lin Qiyue is stationed is quite special, so the subsidy is relatively higher compared to other places," explained Wen Qimo.
"Special? There won't be any danger, will there?" Auntie's expression changed.
"No, the 'special' here means… he's stationed quite far away," Wen Qimo elaborated earnestly, "After all, it takes a long time to travel from here to Ulumuchi."
"I see." Auntie held the envelope, feeling uneasy.
It was the first time she had seen so much money.
"Comrade, can you help me send these to him?" Auntie worriedly asked, "He's going to such a distant place alone, what if he doesn't have any money? And I'm also worried about keeping so much money at home…"
"In the army, he won't need this much money, and we have regulations. This money is for family members, so please, do take it." Wen Qimo narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "As for safety… rest assured, as long as we are here, no one can harm you."
"When will he come back after he leaves?"
"Ten years." Chen Muye suddenly spoke up, his eyes filled with seriousness. "After ten years, he will definitely come back."
"Ten years…" Auntie muttered those two words, then glanced back at Yang Jin, murmuring to herself, "In ten years, Ah Jin should be going to university…"
Wen Qimo and Chen Muye chatted with Auntie for a while longer, then bid farewell as the time drew near.
"Oh, can you make phone calls from where you are?" Auntie suddenly remembered something.
"Of course." Wen Qimo nodded. "I'll give you a number, you can contact him as long as it's not during training hours."
"Alright, good."
Auntie saw the two off, then stood alone at the door for a while before slowly returning to her room and sitting down, staring blankly at Lin Qiyue's room.
Her eyes gradually reddened.
"Mom… Brother joining the army is a good thing," Yang Jin approached with Little Black Spot in his arms, trying to console her.
"Mom knows." Auntie wiped her eyes. "Children grow up, they always have to go out and see the world, going to the army to toughen up is indeed a good thing.
When he comes back, having served in the army, when it's time for me to find a wife for him, there will surely be many contenders!"
Yang Jin: …
"Mom just… can't help but worry." Auntie looked out the window, lost in thought.
…
"It's time to go."
Chen Muye walked downstairs and patted Lin Qiyue, who had been secretly watching from the window, saying.
Lin Qiyue, eyes fixed on Auntie on the balcony, spoke softly, "How did it go?"
"She believes it."
"That's good… Did you give her the money?"
"I did." Chen Muye paused. "That's all your subsidy and a year's salary advance. What will you do?"
"I've saved some money over the years, I'll manage for a year."
Seeing this, Chen Muye remained silent for a moment before adding, "If you're free, you can come to the office for meals."
"Temporary members don't have free board and lodging, right?"
"Temporary members don't, but…" Chen Muye patted his shoulder and headed towards the van not far away. "Except for the meals I cook myself."
Lin Qiyue was taken aback, a smile playing on his lips.
Ding Ling Ling—!
Just then, Lin Qiyue's newly issued phone rang in his pocket.
"Hello?"
"Xiao Qi? Is this Xiao Qi?"
"It's me, Auntie."
"You child, going to the army on your own, why didn't you tell me? If you wanted to go… I wouldn't have stopped you! Do you not see me as your aunt anymore? Hmm?"
"I'm sorry, Auntie… I, I was wrong."
"Sigh… Are you on the train now?"
"Yes."
"How long will it take?"
"I heard it will take two days, the little green one is a bit slow."
"After you arrive at the military camp, make sure to eat more, don't exhaust yourself!"
"I understand, Auntie."
"Also, Auntie has received your subsidy, Auntie will keep it for you, and when you come back, it will be for your wedding."
"Auntie, the benefits in our unit are very good, we have a lot of money every year, you should use that money first."
"You child, you don't know how to save at all. Keep your money safe, make sure to live better, understood?"
"Understood, Auntie."
"Well, nothing much, Auntie will hang up first."
"Okay, goodbye, Auntie."
"By the way… after you arrive in Qiqihar, remember to let Auntie know you're safe."
"I will, goodbye, Auntie."
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time, and Auntie's slightly hoarse voice spoke again.
"Well, goodbye…"
Beep, beep, beep…
Auntie tightly held onto her phone, sitting there like a statue, unmoving.
Then, two lines of hot tears flowed from her eyes.
She slowly leaned on the table, burying her face in her shoulders, silently weeping…
Beside her, Yang Jin let out a soft sigh.
Turning to look out
the window, he murmured to himself:
"Brother, you fool…"
…
Outside the old residential area.
"Qiyue, it's time to go." Chen Muye turned back, calmly saying.
Lin Qiyue put away his phone, took one last look at the low buildings in the distance, and nodded.
The wind picked up.
Lin Qiyue's black hair was gently lifted by the breeze, he tightened his collar and turned to walk into the wind.
Their clothes rustled in the wind!
