After listening to Mo Chuan’s analysis, Yang Xiaodong reread the police captain’s report. Then, he cast a look of approval over Mo Chuan again and said with a smile, “As expected of the outstanding individual from the previous bank robbery case. Your insight and knowledge are quite impressive. Young man Mo Chuan, what major do you plan to pursue?”
Upon hearing this, Mo Chuan thought that this military officer likely felt favorably towards him, so he replied, “Team support. I’ll choose specific electives after enrolling.”
Yang Xiaodong laughed heartily and put an arm around Mo Chuan’s shoulder, whispering, “I heard you’re from the Jibei Public Security Bureau. Are you interested in coming to the Northern Theater Command? When you graduate, I’ll take you to the front lines.”
Damn it, openly poaching talent.
Zhao Qingfeng couldn’t listen anymore and interjected, “Comrade Yang Xiaodong, rest assured. If Mo Chuan wants to go to the front lines, it will be in the Eastern Theater Command. You can talk about it when your Northern Theater Command produces such a talent.”
“Hey?! What’s wrong? Am I not allowed to recruit talented individuals? Here, we have giant monster hides and giant monster stones, what rare items can’t we get? What’s so great about your Eastern Theater Command, with nothing but ghosts and demons?”
“Hey, you…”
Seeing that the two were about to argue, Mo Chuan quickly said, “Well… I don’t have any plans to go to the front lines for now…”
…
When Zhao Qingfeng heard that Mo Chuan and the other two were going to Shengjing, he thought that since he wasn’t in command this time, Shengjing was only a four or five-hour drive away. He personally flagged down a military jeep and planned to take Mo Chuan to Shengjing.
On the road.
Zhao Qingfeng was driving, and from the rearview mirror, he observed the two women in the back seat who were locked in a silent battle of stares. He then subtly glanced at Mo Chuan, who was pretending to look at the scenery but was actually contemplating how to deal with Abe Haruko. Finally, he decided to break the somewhat awkward silence:
“Mo Chuan, what do your parents do?”
Both Mo Chuan and Mo Fei’s expressions dimmed. Mo Chuan replied, “They were both soldiers in the Eastern Theater Command. They sacrificed their lives two years ago during the fight against the monster invasion.”
“…” Zhao Qingfeng hadn’t expected to hit a sore spot right away. But he couldn’t change the subject, so he continued with a stiff upper lip, “I’m sorry… Which unit were they in? Do you know their unit number?”
“Eastern Theater Command First Division, Third Independent Regiment, First Battalion, Third Company, First Platoon leader and political commissar.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingfeng nearly lost control of the steering wheel. He first found a place to pull over and then, with a shocked expression, asked, “What did you say?! Say that again!”
“Eastern Theater Command First Division, Third Independent Regiment, First Battalion, Third Company, First Platoon…”
“The Third Independent Regiment?!” Zhao Qingfeng excitedly grabbed Mo Chuan’s shoulder and said, “I was the commander of the Third Independent Regiment back then! Two years ago? Was it during the East Sea Monster Calamity?”
Zhao Qingfeng was so excited about finding the descendants of his subordinates that his hands trembled. He took out his phone, dialed a number, and as soon as the other side answered, he said, “Zhang Fenyan, help me look up two people. From the Third Independent Regiment two years ago, one named…” Zhao Qingfeng glanced at Mo Chuan, signaling him to say his parents’ names.
“Mo Zihui, Qin Xiao.”
Zhao Qingfeng nodded, and after saying the names, the other party hesitated for a moment and said, “Brother Zhao… I can’t find them… Insufficient authority…”
“???” Zhao Qingfeng was stunned for a moment and said, “Use my name to search.”
After a while, the other party spoke again, “Only Mo Zihui’s information is available.”
“???… Tell me.” Zhao Qingfeng already felt that something was amiss.
“Mo Zihui, male, Hu nationality, born in 2178. Graduated from Qingzhou Military Academy in 2202 and enlisted. He was assigned to the Eastern Theater Command First Division, Third Independent Regiment, First Battalion, Third Company, First Platoon. Later, he was transferred to platoon leader due to meritorious service.
In 2196, he married Qin Xiao, the political commissar of the First Platoon. In 2205, during the Yellow River disaster relief, they adopted an orphan.
Two years ago, during the East Sea Monster Calamity, Comrade Mo Zihui, while protecting the retreat of the First Platoon soldiers, was surrounded by a sea monster swarm and died at the age of 37.”
“…” Zhao Qingfeng’s brow furrowed, as if he had realized something. He then said, “Alright, I understand.”
Seeing Zhao Qingfeng’s expression, Mo Chuan and the other two felt that something was not right.
A moment later, Zhao Qingfeng started driving again.
“I know your parents’ information. Have you received the government’s annual subsidies?”
“We have… but because of the mortgage, we’ve been relying on odd jobs to make a living these past few years… It only improved a bit this year.”
“How about this, I’ll help you apply for hardship subsidies for martyrs’ families. If you siblings need anything, just come to me directly. Is that okay? Oh, and Mo Chuan, didn’t you get into trouble with the Tang and Ye families? Don’t worry, the Zhang and He families have started suppressing the Ye family because of your situation, so you basically don’t have to worry.”
“Okay, thank you, Uncle Zhao.”
“Ah, don’t mention it. You’ve helped me out twice now.”
…
Watching the three enter the inn, Zhao Qingfeng didn’t rush back. Instead, he lit a cigarette and gazed at the receding figures of the Mo Chuan siblings, lost in thought.
“Which one… is that orphan?”
On the other side, Mo Chuan glanced at the phone number on his phone and sighed, “The world is truly small.”
“Two rooms! One double and one single!” the two women said simultaneously, then pointed at each other and added, “She sleeps in the single room, give her the key!”
No… I need to settle these two first…
Mo Chuan separated the two from the middle and said to the young lady at the front desk, “Three single rooms, preferably connecting ones.” Then, he subdued the restless two with a look.
…
Evening, Room 202
Mo Chuan lay on the bed, looking at the photos on his phone.
To be honest, the current Mo Chuan didn’t have much emotional attachment to parents he had never met. But after the hardships of the past two years, the yearning for family deep in his soul made him desperately want to unearth their images from his memories.
A moment later, the door to the room knocked.
Mo Chuan got out of bed, checked through the peephole, and found Mo Fei wrapped in her pajamas. He let her in.
“Can’t sleep? Thinking about Mom and Dad?”
“Mmm…” Mo Fei took the instant coffee Mo Chuan offered and said, “I miss Mom and Dad a little…”
“Sigh…” It was hard on Mo Fei. When she learned about these things, they were only in their first year of high school. As a young girl, she shut herself in her room for a whole day and then cried in his arms all night, her eyes swollen like peaches.
They sat together, one absently reminiscing about the past while looking at his phone, the other absentmindedly smelling the shower gel on her brother’s body while holding her coffee.
Having experienced too much on the road, Mo Fei yawned and quietly fell asleep.
Mo Chuan heard the girl’s faint snoring, smiled slightly, and shook his head, intending to carry her to the bed and sleep on the sofa himself.
However, before he could move, Abe Haruko climbed in through the window.
“No…” Mo Chuan frantically gestured for her to leave with his eyes and pointed at Mo Fei beside him.
But Abe Haruko chuckled and said, “What do you think made her fall asleep?”
“???”