Chapter 159: 「Boom」

"Don't worry about the house you built; I'll keep an eye on it for you and absolutely won't let those newcomers take it."

An Yinan nodded silently. Although she had only stayed here for a year and a half, it was the place where she had developed the deepest feelings.

The people and events here were all etched into the bottom of her heart, that most beautiful place.

"Is there anything else you want to entrust to us?" The Battalion Commander looked at her. A majestic eagle must always spread its wings and fly high; it could not be trapped in this one patch of land. They had long been prepared for this in their hearts.

It was just that she had grown too fast, so fast that they were caught off guard.

"Nothing else." An Yinan shook her head. The Battalion Commander had already anticipated everything.

After receiving her introduction letter, An Yinan returned to her room, packed up her things, and then moved the ingredients to the courtyard next door.

"Oh? So much meat? Why did you move it all over here?" Zhao Qiu Hua asked.

An Yinan smiled, "I'm making a feast tonight; I have something to say."

"Sure thing, leave it to us." Zhao Qiu Hua agreed immediately.

That evening, there was a table full of meat dishes, along with bowl after bowl of hawthorn juice, its bright red color very enticing.

Yun Shu and Yun Mo did not attend this gathering.

They left this time for the Educated Youth who had come to the countryside.

Halfway through the meal, Xie Yuanyuan rubbed her stuffed stomach; it really was best to eat in Quanshui Village.

"Nan Nan, what is it?" Li Xiu'e asked.

An Yinan looked at everyone, "I'm married."

Everyone was already aware of this news. Last time, when Er Gouzi and Sun Xiaoqin were plotting against An Yinan, An Yinan had already said she was married, and that it was a military marriage.

"My application to join my spouse has been approved, and I might be heading to the Northeast Camp in a couple of days." An Yinan smiled, looking at the friends and partners she had spent over a year with.

When she first arrived, there were only three of them: Xie Yuanyuan, Zhang Qian, and herself.

And since Zhang Qian had returned to the military after his mission ended, and she was now leaving to join her spouse, An Yinan was mostly worried about Xie Yuanyuan.

Uncharacteristically, Xie Yuanyuan did not shed any tears, "I wish you happiness."

An Yinan looked at the young girl. She had always protected her like a little sister before, but now it seemed she had grown up too.

"You too."

The two looked at each other and smiled, not mentioning the subject again.

Although Li Xiue and Zhao Qiu Hua felt a lot of reluctance, this was An Yinan's own choice, and they chose to support her.

"Is it very cold over there? If you're missing anything, write us a letter."

"Right, I heard you can't grow vegetables there. I'll mail you dried vegetables later. You love vegetables so much, how will you stand it if you go there?"

"Do you need a cotton-padded coat? I'll ask Lao Xie to find me some cotton ration coupons."

"..."

Each question and every bit of nagging represented the bond they had formed for a lifetime.

"Alright, I will take good care of myself. You mustn't let your studies slide. Perhaps we will meet again soon, maybe in Beijing. In any case, the future is full of promise." An Yinan reached out her hand.

Xie Yuanyuan quickly followed, then Li Xiue, and then Zhao Qiu Hua.

The four girls' hands were tightly clasped together, and they all shouted together, "The future is full of promise!"

Even as the four of them achieved their own successes, they would never forget this night.

On the thirtieth day of the first lunar month, An Yinan boarded the train to the Northeast Camp. On that mountain ridge in Quanshui Village, there were the smiling faces of a group of lovely people, and groups of villagers crowded together to see her off.

"I will come back again." An Yinan waved her hand and got onto the ox cart.

Just like when she arrived, the old ox did not look any older, but the state of mind of the person riding the cart had changed.

Aunt Li wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, watching the departing ox cart and shouting, "Come back and visit when you have time; this place is your maiden home."

"Alright!" An Yinan waved her hand, watching the crowd become increasingly blurred.

Uncle Niu was as silent as ever today. Even when they reached the Railway Station, he only said faintly, "If you are wronged, I will come to pick you up."

An Yinan held back her tears and smiled, "I won't be wronged, but you still have to come pick me up."

The honest and straightforward Uncle Niu nodded and said only one word, "Good."

The further north they went, the heavier the snow became. The train rattled and swayed, stirring up a feeling called the sorrow of parting.

Northeast Camp.

"Battalion Commander, is your wife arriving soon?" Zhang Qian patted Chen Xun on the shoulder and asked.

Chen Xun squinted at the gloomy weather, "Should be soon. She wrote in her last letter that she was leaving in these few days."

"The Xiao Yuan I applied for has been approved; it's right next to yours. I'm going to come over for meals then," Zhang Qian announced immediately.

Chen Xun gave a cold snort, "If you want to eat, go find yourself a wife. My wife isn't here to cook for you."

He couldn't even bear to let his wife cook for him, and he wanted to come over for free meals? In his dreams!

"I say, Chen Xun, have you forgotten that I was the one protecting your wife back then?" Zhang Qian said, extremely unconvinced.

Chen Xun gave him a cold look, "Let's go, let's spar."

Zhang Qian quickly begged for mercy, "No, no, no, this is what I should have done. How can I claim credit for protecting the people?"

But Chen Xun dragged him away directly toward the training ground.

It had been quite a few days since he had given these boys extra training; they seemed to have been living a bit too comfortably.

An Yinan rubbed her lower back and raised her hand to check her watch, "We should be there in two more hours."

Yun Shu nodded, "Yes."

After swaying for these few days, even a healthy person would be losing their spirit. Ever since the last robbery, Yun Shu and Yun Mo had not dared to relax for a single moment these days. Someone was watching her the whole time; even when she went to the restroom, Yun Shu had to follow closely.

"Finally, we're almost there." An Yinan sighed. Chen Xun was outside of her plans.

But sometimes, when that person appears, he naturally becomes part of the plan.

Calculating the days until the universities open, the time she can spend by his side doesn't seem to be too long after all.

The train stopped, all the luggage was hanging on Yun Mo, and An Yinan stepped off the train.

She saw that man standing tall like a poplar; he stood right there, his tiger-like eyes sparking as if they could scorch her heart.

"Chen Xun." An Yinan curled her lips slightly, surprise flashing in her eyes.

Chen Xun strode forward, then pulled An Yinan steadily into his embrace, unafraid of any strange looks from those around them.

"You've come."

An Yinan shifted in his arms, and Chen Xun released her.

"Comrade Chen Xun, this isn't good."

People all around were watching; in this era, their embrace was considered a bit too bold.

She hadn't expected a response from Chen Xun, but soft words rang in her ears, "As long as it's you, everything is good."

Her heart pounded violently, the little deer inside seeming to grow excited in an instant, darting about wildly; from the top of her head down to the soles of her feet, not a single place was quiet.

Even her breathing became rapid.

Like a spark, "Boom—" it burst open.

Like a glacier, it suddenly melted.

And like the snow on a high mountain, it suddenly fell all at once.

In short, besides the shock, it was still shock.