Chapter 5 Chatting

  Before long, the first short holiday of university came, National Day! Xiao Tian, Qi Xiaonan and Xiang Ruyu couple all returned home, but today there was a guest at home.

  Qī Xiǎo Nán and Shěn Dān were busy in the kitchen, a small round table in the courtyard. Four people sat around it, including Xiǎo Huá's elderly couple, Xiǎo Yù, and an old man with tortoiseshell glasses, white hair, who looked about the same age as Xiǎo Huá but was unusually robust, occasionally bursting into hearty laughter.

  Outside the door, a camouflage-painted off-road vehicle with white license plates was parked, which is a general-purpose vehicle of the military. A young man with a strong spirit and slender figure stood by the car door, wearing casual clothes but his eyes revealed that he was extraordinary in martial arts, standing upright and robust. In sharp contrast to this scene was Xiang Xiaotian, who was leaning against the side of the car with his back slumped.

  "Brother Li, how long did it take you to build this physique? I'm worried that with my current appearance and figure, I'll be worn out just by joining the new recruit regiment," said a worried-looking Xiaotian to someone called "Brother Li".

  "Haha, no way! I'm a martial arts family from a young age. Moreover, I'm a special forces soldier, if you were to join an ordinary army unit, it would be easy to handle, and since I've been by the captain's side for a long time, I often get to meet some big shots. Xiao Tian, the feeling you give me is very different, although we just met for the first time, but the feeling I get from you is that you're extremely suitable for the army, and in the future, you'll definitely achieve something in the army." Li Ge replied straightforwardly.

  "It's still uncertain whether I can survive the new recruit camp! It's driving me crazy! I haven't slept well for several days." Xiang Xiao Tian seemed to have forgotten his previous promise to Qi Xiao Nan, and continued to reveal his true nature.

  At this time, he walked towards Ruyu and said: "Alright, you all stop chatting. Xiao Tian, go in, your grandfather wants to talk to you for a bit. Little comrade, you come in too, dinner is almost ready."

  "No need, Uncle! I can just stand here, going in might affect your meeting with the leader!"

  "What are you talking about? You're family as soon as you arrive. Don't worry about what others think, just don't look down on my humble home."

  "It doesn't matter! I'm used to it, and we also need to ensure the safety of our leaders"

  "Alright, I'll come get you after dinner!" Xiang Ruyu didn't bother with politeness and followed behind Xiang Xiaotian back to the courtyard.

  He walked into the yard, to the table, and even if the sky fell, he wouldn't bother opening his eyes to look at the situation. He just stood there, staring at the old man in front of him. What was strange was that he was very afraid of the gaze before him, as if it could penetrate everything, directly seeing into the deepest part of his heart. No matter how hard he struggled, his gaze couldn't be moved away. Xiang Xiao Tian didn't know what was meant by "pressure", but at this moment, he could feel an inexplicable discomfort all over his body.

  "Haha, boys grow up so fast! You've grown so tall all of a sudden. Your sister Siyu is two years older than you and still half a head shorter than you. Haha!" The laughter was bright and cheerful, but the tone of voice was very kind and gentle, although it could give people an inexplicable sense of pressure, just like Dad, he indeed had a scholarly air about him. This was Xiaotian's new evaluation of this old man who stood before her, separated by nearly twenty years.

  "Hehe, Mr. Wen, you're laughing at me, he's just a bit taller than me, and even now, he can't even turn on the gas stove." Xiang Ruyu said with a smile, being modest.

  "Hey! You can't say that, if he does laundry and cooking, what's the point of marrying a wife in the future!" This old man seemed very relaxed, feeling like he could easily handle any situation.

  "Haha, Little Tian, sit down and let me take a good look at you! I'm telling you, Shao Hua, in front of you, I dare to boast that this child's future achievements will not be inferior to yours!" Shao Hua proudly talked about his grandson in front of his old comrade-in-arms.

  "Never mind, Master Wen! I'll just stand here and listen to you instead. Sitting down makes me feel uneasy." Xiaotian said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

  "Hehe, never mind! The young man is still shy. Let me tell you this way, you should know why I came here, first to see your grandfather and grandmother, secondly it's you! Now I'm formally asking you a question: do you want to be a soldier?" Wen Jiuyu suddenly changed his gentle tone from earlier, looking at Xiao Tian with a serious expression.

  He fell silent in front of Xiaotian, fearing that if he gave a perfunctory answer to appease his grandfather and family, he would be immediately exposed. Although he had discussed this issue with Qiao Xiannan countless times, every time it was seriously mentioned, he couldn't help but escape from within.

  At this moment, he saw Qi Xiaonan standing at the door with a dish in her hand, ready to serve. Countless times of facing hesitation, Qi Xiaonan seemed to understand the boy's gradual psychological change, and gave him countless encouragement, stimulation, anger, and motivation. But at this time, Qi Xiaonan faced Xiang Xiao Tian without any of those hints, their eyes met, and she smiled.

  "I do!" Facing Little Tian, this old hero who had been through countless life-and-death battles on the battlefield gave a firm answer, accompanied by a smiling expression.

  "Ah, great! Haha! You're indeed the grandson of Wen Jiyu!" Then came a burst of hearty laughter from the table.

  "Grandpa Wen, the dishes are ready! This dish was made by me, you must have a few more bites!" As she spoke, Qi Xiaonan had already placed the dish on the table and lifted her head to exchange a smile with him.

  "Wow, I've long heard that your daughter-in-law is very sensible, and now that I've met her, it's indeed true! Haha! Unlike my own precious granddaughter, who's always talking about economic data and computer knowledge, we can't even have a conversation! Hehe! Alright, Xiaotian, you sit down, let me also try some of your future wife's cooking!"

  After Wen Jiyu finished speaking, at this time, the faces of Xiao Tian and Qi Xiaonan simultaneously turned red, as if they had discussed it beforehand, and they were very red.

  "Look, you're still shy about it~~~~"

  The family dinner ended in laughter and conversation.

  After dinner, taking advantage of the warm October sun, the whole family sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting with each other. The warmth is only known by experiencing it personally.

  He still sat in a corner, watching the laughter-filled courtyard, continuing to be dazed. As if he had forgotten everything that happened earlier and what would happen next, living only in his own world. It seemed as though he never thought of changing this world or letting it change him. Or perhaps, just like Qi Xiaonan said, there wasn't even room for multiplication tables in his brain.

  "Xiao Tian, come here! Let's have a chat!" Wen Ji Yu spoke up.

  "Good!" As he spoke, his butt didn't leave the stool and instead scooted forward a bit.

  "Look at you! You're about to go into the army, how can you still be so lazy!" The speaker was Shen Dan, who seemed to always play the role of a mother in front of anyone.

  Xiang Xiao Tian pouted at her and then looked at Wen Ji Yu.

  Wen Jiyu said to Xiaotian, "This can also be considered my advance home visit, and it's a necessary procedure for conscription. Xiaotian, I'm asking you, why do you want to join the army?"

  He made an ugly face at Little Tian and replied, "This... I don't know the specifics either, didn't think that much about it, actually I originally didn't want to go. But now what I'm thinking is that I don't want others to be disappointed!"

  "En... but you're a university student, if you go to be a soldier, you might give up on your dreams. I don't know what your dreams are, but I should think it's related to mental work, right? But in the army, the first priority is to have a good physical body, and you'll be away from Xiaomei for a long time, who takes care of you and tolerates you. The army is all men, with your personality, if you can't fit in, when you're feeling wronged, there's no one to talk to. As time goes by, your beloved grandfather and grandmother might pass away at any moment, and if you're on a mission, you won't be able to return. All the things that worry you will become reality, even death. The high-intensity training in the army has a mortality rate, when natural disasters occur, no matter what you're doing, you'll have to rush to the scene to rescue people immediately. There are also special tasks with complex conditions, where you might be alone for hundreds of miles around. That feeling of loneliness and insignificance can't be described by words. What I'm saying is just one millionth of the difficulties you'll face in the future... are you prepared to take on all this?" Wēn Jìyǔ's eyes seemed to see through Xiǎo Tiān's innermost concerns, and every word he spoke kept pounding at Xiǎo Tiān's heart.

  But after hearing these words, Xiao Tian smiled unusually and laughed very happily: "Grandpa Wen, to be honest, every word you just said is deeply hurting me, and it's indeed the reason I wanted to escape joining the army. But just before you asked me if I wanted to join the army this morning, I was still hesitant, and now that I've heard your words, I'm even more certain that my choice is correct. Maybe I'll lose everything I have now, but maybe in the army, I'll gain something that I'll cherish for a lifetime, like our friendship with Grandpa. Although I didn't inherit your military physique, I did inherit your military temperament. If I retreat from this little difficulty, how can I still call myself your grandson?"

  Haha!! You said it well, your ordinary mindset makes me very satisfied. Nowadays, every young person's purpose is too strong, even going to the army is just for finding a way out for themselves, learning a skill, and using connections to get into military school, so that they can earn high wages in the future. This has actually lost the essential meaning of being a soldier. Letting you go to the army was something your grandfather and I had already discussed when you were born, we just never told you because we knew you would eventually discover all this, because you have a soldier's blood flowing through your bones.

  Nodding towards Xiao Tian: "En, Xiao Tian understands, I guarantee you. In the future, in the troops, I will definitely make you re-recognize me in a different way."

  As the brief day was about to end with the arrival of sunset, a speeding camouflage vehicle whizzed by on a certain highway heading towards the capital.

  "Commander, I have a special feeling that Xiaotian is very suitable for the team. His future achievements will be absolutely immeasurable."

  "It depends on whether he can persist, how many proud sons have fallen and cannot get up after a few setbacks! Or they don't even have the courage to move forward on this bumpy road. The universality of only children, the prevalence of education, and the broadening of social horizons. In fact, it's not just Xiaotian who is special, whether the troops can be passed down through this generation is still an unknown number..."