Chapter 4 Reunion

  Unexpectedly, Professor Qin Aoxue took a day off and didn't go to work at the hospital.

  Thirty-eight years ago, when she married Ji Youkui, Qin Ao was still a Ph.D. student at the Capital Medical University. On their wedding day, Qin Ao and her husband made an agreement that they would not interfere with each other's work. Thirty years after marriage, as the First Lady of the Republic, Qin Ao remained the director of neurosurgery at the General Hospital of the Capital Military Region. Except for participating in state activities as the First Lady, Qin Ao never asked about her husband's work and was not interested in politics. She still went to work on time every day, performing three to five surgeries a week, just like before. To outsiders, Qin Ao seemed more like a skilled surgeon than the First Lady of the Republic.

  Two years ago, Qin Aoxue officially retired and was then rehired by the hospital.

  Life is still the same as before, going to work on time every day, getting off work on time, diagnosing illnesses for 15 patients every day, and performing three surgeries a week. For the first time in two years, Qin Aoxiang took a leave of absence.

  Not for anything else, but because our daughter who has been working abroad for five years is back.

  Although her daughter was only at home for a few hours and would be leaving by plane in the afternoon, Qin Aoxue was satisfied. After her daughter grew up, this house had fewer gatherings and more separations, with her husband, wife, and daughter all busy with their own careers. As a successful woman but an unsuccessful mother, Qin Aoxue just wanted to make up for her past neglect and let her daughter feel the warmth of home. A greeting, some care, and a few simple home-cooked dishes could make this usually cold and quiet house warm and cozy.

  "Xiao Wang, Xiao Wang—"

  "Here, Aunt Qin, what's up?" Wang Yuanqing rushed into the kitchen in a hurry.

  "What time is it now, and why hasn't Uncle Ji come back yet?" Qin Aoxue said while putting the stir-fried green vegetables from the pot into a plate. "Go make a phone call and tell him not to be too busy. Xiaoji comes back once every five years, his father should also come back on time after work."

  "I'll go make a phone call now." Wang Yuanqing turned around and secretly stuck out his tongue.

  The head of state is also a human being, and the head of state's home is also a home, which is not much different from ordinary people's homes.

  Qin Aoxue had just brought the stir-fried dishes into the dining hall when footsteps were heard outside the door. She quickly put down the plates and walked towards the door.

  "Mom, I'm back." The door opened and Ji Xiaoji walked in with big and small bags. "It smells so good, green pepper meat shreds and braised pork ribs with winter melon. Mom, I miss you so much, especially your home cooking."

  "Mom misses you too." Seeing her thinner daughter, Qin Aoshuang's eyes suddenly became moist. "Xiao Ji, you've lost weight again. Is life over there particularly difficult? I got some supplements from the old Chinese doctor, remember to bring them with you."

  "Mom, the experimental center isn't like what you imagined, it has everything." Ji Xiaojie put the gift on the sofa. "I specifically bought this for you, a specialty of the northwest region, with beauty and skin nourishing effects."

  "What's the point of still caring about your looks and complexion, you're already an old lady."

  "Not at all, you are the most powerful woman of knowledge in our family and my role model. Mom, you're still young."

  Qin Aoxue smiled and shook her head, looking at her daughter now, she thought of herself thirty years ago.

  At this time, the door was pushed open again. Wang Yuanqing walked to the door first and took over the briefcase from Ji Youguo's hand.

  "I was wondering why the atmosphere at home became so lively all of a sudden, it turns out Xiao Ji is back."

  "Dad, just got off work?" Ji Xiaojie immediately went up to greet him.

  "Yeah, I ran into some trouble and was delayed for a few minutes." Ji Youguo chuckled, "Luckily we didn't miss lunchtime, or your mom would have nagged us for several weeks."

  "If you come back any later, there will be nothing left but scraps. Qin Aoxue glared at her husband, "Go wash your hands first, then we'll eat. Little Wang, don't leave, stay and have dinner with us."

  "Qin Yi, I still have something..."

  "Something's up this afternoon, I'll go busy then." Ji Youguo also called out to Wang Yuanqing, "Xiao Ji rarely comes back, you've been busy all morning too, stay and have lunch together."

  Wang Yuanqing didn't say anything else. In order to prepare this lunch, he spent the whole morning helping Qin Aoxiang with household chores.

  A family enjoying themselves together at the dinner table.

  Ji Xiaojie has been talking about her work all the time, but rarely mentions the famous scenic spots in the northwest. It seems that for five years, apart from working, she is still working and has hardly done anything else.

  Several home-cooked dishes were highly praised. In Ji Xiaojun's words, the food at home is a million times better than "big pot rice".

  After dinner, Qin Aoxue called Wang Yuanqing to clean up the bowls and chopsticks. The father-daughter pair sat down on the sofa.

  "The environment in the northwest is very harsh, your mom keeps nagging every day to find time to visit you. You also know your mom's personality, after retirement, if she doesn't get rehired, this family will be turned upside down."

  "Dad, I know you're busy and don't have time to visit me, I'm not blaming you." Ji Xiaojie took out a gift, "This is frog oil, it's said to help with quitting smoking. You have an old stomach problem, so try to smoke less in your daily life."

  "I quit smoking long ago." Ji Youguo chuckled and said with a serious tone, "I never smoke in front of your mom, otherwise my ears would never be at peace. By the way, how's your work going?"

  "It's okay, everything is going according to plan." Ji Xiaojie hesitated for a moment and said, "Dad, do you know? The materials given to us by the military for research, we still haven't fully grasped them until now. I'm afraid it will take another twenty years to figure out their molecular structure. It's really hard to understand where the military got this from."

  "You'd better ask your Uncle Peng about this."

  "Uncle Peng Maobang?"

  Ji Youguo nodded. "He's in charge of this matter, I didn't ask about it. Letting you lead this project was also his decision, and has nothing to do with me."

  "Really?" Ji Xiaojie smiled and said, "Then I must thank Uncle Peng properly, otherwise my rice bowl won't be guaranteed."

  "Little doll, you're not serious, is your Uncle Peng that kind of person?"

  "I was just joking."

  At this time, Wang Yuanqing came to the kitchen door and deliberately looked at his watch.

  "Dad, do you have anything else to do this afternoon?"

  "What's going on? You've been cooped up in the study all day. Don't think I don't know, I heard everything." Qin Aoxue walked out of the kitchen, "You old stubborn man, at your age, you still love smoking so much. Go ahead and keep smoking behind my back, see who'll take care of you when you fall ill later."

  "I told you so, your mom won't let me live in peace."

  "Am I caring for you or harming you?"

  Ji Youguo smiled and didn't argue with his wife.

  "Mom, Dad is reasonable." Ji Xiaojie immediately stood up, "Let's go to school this afternoon to see Niu Niu, it's been a few years, I'm afraid she won't recognize me anymore."

  Niu Niu is Ji Xiaoji's daughter. She attends a full-time elementary school under the State Council and usually lives in the school, only returning home on weekends.

  "It's time to go, Xiao Ji should go." Ji Youguo quickly stood up, "Xiao Ji doesn't have to leave today, Dad is treating us to dinner tonight."

  "It's all set for later, the General Staff has arranged a special plane, we'll leave in the evening."

  "What's the hurry?" Ji Youguo slightly furrowed his brow, "Since it's work-related, I won't stop you. Accompany Niu Niu and have a good time this afternoon, she was still throwing a tantrum about going to the ocean park last time."

  "Niang niang is already so big, but she has never received motherly love." Thinking of her granddaughter, Qin Aoshuang thought of her own daughter back then, and her emotions became agitated.

  "Mom, am I not busy with work?"

  "As a wife and mother, you can't just know about work. Now mom regrets it, if she could have spent more time with you back then, you wouldn't be like this now."

  "What's wrong with me? Mom, you are the greatest mother in my heart."

  "Go, go! This oily mouth and glib tongue skill must have been learned from your dad."

  ……

  Taking advantage of the mother and daughter's gossip, Ji Youguo called Wang Yuanqing and slipped out quietly.

  From Dongqingyuan where Ji Youguo lives to Xiyuan Garden where he works, it only takes a five-minute walk.

  "Comrade Commander, General Peng just called and said there has been a major breakthrough in the investigation."

  "When did you make the call?" Ji Youguo glanced at Wang Yuanqing.

  "When you're chatting, just call me directly, probably don't want to disturb you."

  "So soon?" Ji Youguo rubbed his chin, "It seems that things are not simple."

  "General Peng didn't explicitly say it over the phone, but he's coming at three thirty."

  "Help me adjust this afternoon's work. After General Peng Maobang arrives, don't let anyone disturb us."

  "I've already made arrangements. The government work meeting will end at 3 pm, and the 4 pm standing committee meeting has been postponed until tomorrow morning. Also, I haven't cancelled tonight's emergency meeting."

  "We'll decide again before dinner; if it doesn't go well, we might have to cancel tonight's emergency meeting too."

  As they spoke, Ji Youguo and Wang Yuanqing walked into Xiyuan Garden.

  At 3:25, Peng Maobang arrived on time. Ji Youguo had just attended a government work meeting and lay down on the sofa for a 15-minute rest.

  "Related to America?"

  "The military intelligence agency has confirmed that the bomb was detonated by a CIA operative and we have sufficient evidence in our hands."

  Ji Youguo habitually rubbed his chin. "Don't make a fuss for the time being. We're not clear what the US is up to, and if things get any more out of hand, we'll take action. The General Staff must formulate various countermeasures in advance. With such a big commotion, the US must have some unmentionable secrets, and it's very likely that they will create even greater trouble in South Asia."

  "You're saying there will be clashes between India and Pakistan?"

  "It's not that simple."

  Peng Maobang was startled and immediately asked: "Is it necessary to raise the strategic alert level?"

  "For the time being, even if India and Pakistan want to fight, they won't be able to start a war in a short while." Ji Youguo fell into thought again, then said, "However, we can put the newly formed experimental troops on combat alert. If war breaks out suddenly, at least we'll have some emergency measures in place."

  "I'll give the order right away."

  "Also, pay close attention to Japan's movements. If Ozawa and Gandhi sign the treaty, I'm afraid Japan will take advantage of the opportunity to stir up trouble, leaving us no time to look west."

  Peng Maobang didn't say another word and immediately stood up to bid farewell.

  Ji Youguo's strategic vision has always been sharp, and his grasp of the strategic situation is also very accurate.

  Will war really break out on the South Asian subcontinent?!