Chapter 209

That night, Meng Jiusi slept on his own bed, with his two sons nestled beside him.

Jingmo's eyes rolled around, looking at the roof beams and the furnishings in the room, his eyes full of novelty.

"Dad, I like it here."

Meng Jiusi hugged his son, "I like it too."

Jingmo grinned as if he had received approval.

"It feels like returning to my own home." He said.

When they were in the capital, the Meng family ancestral home also had a room for Dad, but they didn't go often, and the uncles and aunts didn't welcome them.

Jingmo used to feel uncomfortable every time he went, and he couldn't say why. After experiencing some things, he realized it was because the people in the Meng family ancestral home were very polite and distant, only welcoming them on the surface, but not treating them as family.

The Lin family was different, he could feel...

Dad was liked by Gu Laoyezi and Grandma, and he and his brother were welcomed and accepted by Dadan and the others.

Jingmo shook his legs a few times, buried his face in the pillow full of the smell of sunshine, and laughed wantonly and happily.

Meng Jiusi's eyes were gentle, "This is our own home."

He rubbed his son's head, "This house belongs to me, and it also belongs to you and Bai Bai. No matter when, you have a place to go, this is the meaning of home."

Jingmo leaned towards his father, his eyes curving, as if there were a galaxy in them, "Dad, I like it here, I like it even more than our home."

The home he was talking about was... the family building where he grew up.

Ever since the Yuan family forcibly moved in, Jingmo never regarded that place as his home again.

Dad said home is a warm place, a place that makes people feel at ease when they think of it, and that place was not.

Meng Jiusi heard the subtext in his son's words, complexity flashed in his eyes, and he promised him, "We will have our own home in the future."

Jingmo raised his smiling face, "Where Dad is, is home."

He sniffed the fragrant pillow again, "This is also home."

Meng Jiusi's heart softened, his expression gentle, "Yes, this is also home."

Jingmo was delicate and thought a lot, a little worried about going to the military region, "Dad, are the people in the military region hospital easy to get along with?"

"That is a place that values discipline very much." Meng Jiusi's voice was light and slow, "Just like your aunt said, it is relatively peaceful there, and peace is the most important thing in this world."

He didn't treat his sons as children who didn't understand anything. No matter what they asked, he would answer them very seriously.

Jingmo was silent for a long while, not knowing if it was intentional or unintentional, and said: "I like peace."

The always quiet little Guangbai suddenly spoke, "I like it too."

He had a soft heart and didn't forget the other Lin family members he had only spent a short time with, "Gu Laoyezi and Grandma... Little Aunt, all need peace."

Meng Jiusi's brows and eyes were gentle, "Do you know what peace is?"

Xiaobai nodded, "I know."

He explained seriously, "Peace is, no one will suddenly take Dad away, and it is also that Dad doesn't have to work hard to raise pigs, and my brother and I can eat sponge cake."

After hearing this, Meng Jiusi's eyes felt sore.

He hugged his two sons tightly, his voice tight, and said firmly: "No one will be able to take me away again. I will accompany you as you grow up, we will live in a big house, and you will have sponge cake that you can never finish."

Xiaobai didn't know what he thought of, nestled in his father's neck, and started to cry. The crying was silent, only the constantly heaving shoulders showed that the little guy was crying secretly.

Jingmo knew why his brother was crying.

Xiaobai was afraid of having a stepmother when they got to the military region.

He looked up at Meng Jiusi, only seeing his father's superior jaw.

"Dad, when we get to the military region, will you get married again?"

"Will my brother and I have a stepmother?!"

Jingmo was a stubborn little boy in his bones. Whether his heart was soft or not, he didn't know, but his mouth was very hard.

He pretended to be calm, glanced at his father, and emphasized: "You can get married if you want, I can raise myself and my brother."

Xiaobai stopped crying, moved his head away from Meng Jiusi's shoulder, held his breath and looked at him, his eyes full of panic.

He didn't want Dad to get married.

He and his brother only had Dad left...

Thinking that Dad would have a younger brother with a new mother, and that he and his brother would no longer be the children Dad liked, those eyes were covered with water mist again, and his heart felt stuffy and uncomfortable.

"Who told you that I would get married again when I get to the military region?"

Meng Jiusi brushed away the wet broken hair on Xiaobai's forehead and looked at his two sons intently.

"I can't guarantee that I won't get married in the future. Who knows what will happen in the future, right?"

"What I can guarantee is that my attitude towards you will never change. Also, if I get married again, the person must be someone you like. Only if you two agree will I take the next step. If you two are not happy, I will consider it again and again."

He could certainly lie to his sons, but lies couldn't be told for a lifetime.

Still the same sentence, he was not a god and didn't know the future direction. What if there were changes?!

Jingmo lowered his head, falling into a dead end.

He didn't want Dad to get married again, didn't want a stepmother, only wanted to be with Dad and his brother, and didn't hope for strangers to appear in the family.

"... Stepmothers hit children." Jingmo's heart sank instantly.

"I won't bring people who hit children in front of you." Meng Jiusi said patiently.

He smiled helplessly, "Have a little confidence in me, okay?"

"When have I ever let you down?!"

The brothers thought carefully, searched their brains, but couldn't think of any.

Dad was very, very good to them.

They shook their heads at the same time.

"No."

"No!"

Xiaobai's eyes, washed by water, were like stars, "Dad is the best."

When the cubs were sweet, they were really sweet. Meng Jiusi was praised into a silly dad and tucked the quilt for the two sons.

"So what is there to worry about? Isn't this just worrying about nothing."

"Go to sleep quickly. Didn't Dadan and Lin Er Dan say they would take you two to catch fish tomorrow morning? Do you still want to go?!"

"Go, go, go." Jingmo said "go" three times in a row, hurriedly lay flat, and closed his eyes to sleep.

No matter how sensible the child was, they were very excited when it came to playing.

Xiaobai was afraid that his brother would leave him behind, so he hurriedly lay down too.

Meng Jiusi was about to go to the military region hospital to take up his post, and time was tight. When Lin Zhao went home that day, he and his two sons stayed at the Lin family. Lin Heling and Song Xiwei's retention was one aspect, and Meng Jiusi also wanted to spend more time with his parents.

Once he went to the military region, the opportunities would be fewer!

Lin Zhao was eager for it, didn't even persuade him, and took Gu Laoyezi Meng away.

Gu Laoyezi Meng had a good temperament and had no dissatisfaction with Meng Jiusi and his two sons being close to the Lin family. After knowing that the Lin family couple treated Jiusi sincerely, he was very happy for him.

He left without saying a word.

Lin Zhao waved to her family and called the four cubs to leave.

Lin Shichang was also off today. Not at ease with his sister and his nephew and nieces, he took the initiative to send them off.

Carrying Yaobao in front and Qian Bao on his back, he walked with wind and could even chat with Gu Laoyezi Meng for a few sentences.

"..."

Lin Zhao held the twins and followed closely.

In front, Lin Shichang and Gu Laoyezi Meng walked side by side and sincerely thanked him: "Gu Laoyezi Meng, thank you for agreeing to let my fourth brother stay at home. I will always remember your fulfillment. If you need any help, write to me. If I can help, I will definitely help."

He promised.

Gu Laoyezi Meng didn't take it to heart, "What's there to thank. I listen to Jiusi. If he wants to stay, he stays; if he wants to leave, he leaves. It all depends on his heart."

Just like when Jiusi didn't want to live in the ancestral home, he didn't live there. As long as he lived a good life, he wouldn't interfere.

Lin Shichang smiled and only said: "What I said is always valid."

Gu Laoyezi Meng saw his seriousness, "Okay, I've noted it down."

The Lin family, especially Jiusi's biological father, the first time he saw him... he felt that this person had an extraordinary temperament and didn't look like a countryman.

After coming into contact with the Lin family's children, this feeling became even more obvious.

Meng Jiusi stayed at the Lin family for nearly half a month, and soon it was time to leave.

This day.

Learning that his good friend was leaving, the twins were very reluctant, holding Maodan tightly, their mouths pouting enough to hang an IV bottle.

"Maodan, you must write to us." Xiang Yubao said reluctantly.

Gu Hangbao wished he could go with Maodan and sighed heavily, "Maodan, do you have money and coupons? Sending letters requires money and coupons. You can't send them if you lack one. If you don't have any, I'll give you some."

Maodan glanced at the adults who were also saying goodbye and whispered: "No need, my dad will give them to me."

Commander Ning was listening to his mother and the brigade people exchanging greetings, his attention mostly on his son's side. Hearing Maodan's "my dad," his deep eyes flashed with light, and he looked at Maodan in surprise.

Maodan noticed his gaze, his eyes flickered, and he turned his head away.

Answering the twins' question: "I will write to you. I'll write when I get to the military region. I'll write about what I see along the way, write about where I live, write about my school, I'll write about everything. You have to write back to me..."

He chattered a lot, clutching Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao's hands, his eyes full of reluctance.

"Don't forget me." Maodan's expression was expectant.

"We won't forget." Xiang Yubao gave Maodan his favorite little picture book.

Gu Hangbao gave him his favorite slingshot, "When Mom takes us to follow the army, we can play together again. Maodan, you wait for us."

Hearing this, Maodan nodded seriously.

"I will."

Knowing that the twins would also follow the army, the reluctance that kept pouring out of his heart finally had a place to settle.

He reached out and hugged the twins' necks.

"It's a deal, you have to write back to me." Maodan emphasized again.

After Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao, he had made other friends, but in his heart, they were the best, best friends.

"Hmm!"

After setting it with Maodan, Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao went to say goodbye to the brothers Jingmo and Guangbai.

The little brothers gave them the candies they had saved and the eggs they had kept.

"Momo, Bai Bai, this is food. If you are hungry on the road, remember to eat." Xiang Yubao urged seriously.

Gu Hangbao said: "My brother and I will also write to you, don't forget to write back."

"Okay." The Meng brothers agreed.

Jingmo was very expectant about the upcoming journey. Knowing that there was a chance to see the twins again, he wasn't so reluctant and a smile appeared on his face.

"My dad said he will write to Aunt every month, and Xiaobai and I will write to you."

The twins were very satisfied, their eyes looking at Xiaobai at the same time.

Your brother has agreed, what about you?

Little Guangbai curled his fingers shyly, his voice small and soft, "I'll write too."

Xiang Yubao urged: "Use Pinyin for characters you don't know, don't draw crosses, I'm afraid I won't be able to guess what you mean."

Xiaobai blushed instantly, his little hands shaking quickly, "No, no crosses."

He only drew one once!

Xiang Yubao touched Bai Bai's head like a little adult and praised: "Xiaobai is really obedient."

The little friend's cheeks were even redder.

At this time, the jeep specially transferred to receive Ning Mingde appeared not far away.

The guard spoke: "Commander, it's time to set off!"

Ning Mingde looked at his mother.

"What are you looking at me for? If it's time to set off, then go." Old Lady Ning scolded.

She planned to return here to retire after Maodan grew up, so she wasn't reluctant; anyway, she would be back sooner or later.

Ning Mingde's gaze swept over Maodan, Meng Jiusi, and others. Seeing that they had finished saying what they needed to say, he said: "Set off."

There were many people, so they had to squeeze and make do. The children sat on the adults' laps to save space.

In the car.

Commander Ning, who was decisive and brave in the army, didn't know where to put his hands and feet when he held his son's soft body.

Old Lady Ning glanced at her son, "What a waste."

Commander Ning turned a deaf ear and was not discouraged at all.

He had never held a child before, so it was normal to be stiff.

"Are you uncomfortable?" Commander Ning looked at his son with gentle eyes.

Maodan kept a straight face, his whole body stiff, "Not uncomfortable."

In fact, it was uncomfortable. His dad's sitting posture was upright, and his muscles were harder than the stones at the entrance of the village, so sitting was very hard on the butt.

Maodan was uncomfortable, but Maodan didn't say.

"If you are uncomfortable, adjust your sitting posture, don't endure it." Commander Ning had always been patient with his son.

Maodan grabbed the back of the front seat to stabilize himself and nodded to express his answer.

Old Lady Ning felt uncomfortable for these two.

She couldn't watch anymore and patted Maodan's back.

"Why are you sitting so straight! You are sitting in your dad's arms, he's not a tiger, relax. Being so tense, your hands and feet will definitely be stiff by the time you get to the train station. Lean back, what's there to be formal about with your father."

This was the first time Old Lady Ning intervened in the interaction between father and son, and Ning Mingde cast a grateful look at her.

Maodan wasn't used to it and looked troubled.

Not wanting to make his grandmother embarrassed, he closed his eyes and leaned back, his thin back against the hard, warm chest.

... It was Dad's embrace.

He was stunned for a moment, his expression a bit trance-like. Dad's embrace was different from Mom's. Mom's was fragrant and soft, Dad's... was very solid, and also... safe.

Maodan looked at Ning Mingde and met a pair of deep, smiling eyes.

He closed his eyes subconsciously, buried his head in his father's shoulder, his ears red.

On the surface, he avoided getting close to this person, but after really getting close, bubbles of joy floated in his heart, quite happy.

Jingmo and Xiaobai were both sitting in this car for the first time. The brothers looked at the interior and looked at the people outside through the car window. Seeing their aunt, they waved their arms at her.

"Aunt!"

Lin Zhao waved, "Sit tight, have a safe journey."

The twins took a few steps forward and said in unison: "Maodan, Momo, Bai Bai, have a safe journey."

The brigade members also said blessings.

"Arrive at the destination safely."

"Come back and see us often when you have time."

After everyone got in the car, the car door closed.

The car started slowly and drove forward.

Dust flew on the dirt road.

Slowly, the jeep drove out of the village entrance and then accelerated away.

It soon disappeared from the sight of Lin Zhao and the others.

"Mom, why didn't we go to the train station to see them off?" Gu Hangbao lowered his head. The little friend, who was usually full of energy, was like a wilted eggplant at this moment.

"This is called... seeing someone off for a thousand miles, there must be a parting. No matter where we see them off to, we have to separate." Lin Zhao's words were light and slow.

When she saw his dad off before, once the train left, the two cubs cried so much, she didn't want to do it again!

Xiang Yubao looked up, "So that's why Gu Laoyezi and Grandma didn't come, right?"

"... Not really." Lin Zhao said, "Your Gu Laoyezi and Grandma are adults, it's convenient for them to go anywhere. If they miss your fourth uncle, they can go to the military region to see them."

"Then why can't we go to the military region to see Dad?" Gu Hangbao asked immediately.

Lin Zhao didn't answer but asked: "Why do you think?"

Was it that she didn't want to?! (? _? 。)

Xiang Yubao pulled his brother's sleeve, "Because we are too young, Mom has to take care of us, we can't go to places too far away."

Lin Zhao: Uh-huh～!

Gu Hangbao touched the tip of his nose and didn't dare to make a sound again.

Returning to the village, seeing Lin Zhao's mood improve, he said: "It's great to grow up."

Lin Zhao remained silent.

Not necessarily.

Every stage has its troubles.