Chapter 272: Hello, PLA Uncle!

The scenery outside the window rushed backward.

Lu Yang, sitting on the high-speed train, felt his heart racing home like an arrow.

When he arrived, after a ten‑to‑twenty‑hour train ride with a Men Guan Zi, he felt the time had been terribly long.

Everything after joining the troops was fresh and unknown; he was like an explorer, constantly probing and unlocking a map he had never traversed before.

Looking back, that year truly passed in the blink of an eye, as if just a second ago he had put on the big red flower and said goodbye to his parents on the platform.

The half‑cooked dumplings that leaked filling, and the image of his parents covering their faces in tears while waving goodbye, remained vivid.

Including Zhou Kaidong's: "That soldier, that soldier, I'm talking about you......"

During that year, he met many people and experienced many events; his spiritual world became richer and more solid, and his physical condition underwent a radical improvement.

In his previous life, Lu Yang was single‑mindedly focused on making money, getting rich, and bringing glory to his family.

But material desires could never satisfy his heart, and those desires were amplified by worldly comparison.

When he first took a part‑time job and earned an intern's salary, he looked forward to the day he could earn three thousand; after reaching three thousand, he already wondered when he could reach five thousand.

Then came seven thousand, eight thousand, ten thousand; after that he envied those who earned thirty or forty thousand a month, or even a million‑yuan annual salary.

Without rest, daring not to admit illness, he was like a beast tethered tightly by money and materialism, forever living in a world of vain materialism.

Only after entering the troops in this second life did Lu Yang realize that happiness does not necessarily have to be bought with money.

Friendship between people does not necessarily have to rely on treating each other to meals.

The sense of achievement that honor brings is far beyond what material life can compare to.

Inner satisfaction and a strong core should be the driving force that propels you forward.

In this life, Lu Yang chose to enlist, using his own actions to devote himself to the development of national defense.

Contributing within his ability to social stability and national security, he felt this life was very meaningful.

More importantly, Lu Yang had witnessed the future strength of Longguo's military and also saw the tragic displacement of civilians as war flames raged outside.

This made him understand more deeply the meaning behind the words: "We do not live in a peaceful world, only in a peaceful country."

Therefore, he was more than willing to use his abilities to give his all to the strong armed forces and to add bricks and tiles to the national defense cause!

He withdrew his gaze from the window, and his tangled thoughts drifted away with the wind toward the distance.

"Don't overthink it; Dad will definitely be fine."

Lu Yang patted Ding Tengfei's arm and comforted him in his hometown dialect.

In Guangling, uncles are usually called "Da Da"; grandfathers are called "Dad."

Lu Yang could no longer recall how many times he had said the same words along the way.

Even though he knew such comfort did little, he still felt he had to say it.

Ding Tengfei still felt uneasy, his mood low as he said, "My dad raised me from childhood; my father used to beat me, but he always protected me. When I was in elementary school, our family was poor; my dad worked as a carpenter outside, and my mom worked at a cotton mill."

"No one looked after me; it was he who rode a tricycle to pick me up at the school gate."

"Back then, going home required passing a long steep slope, and Dad rode up without any trouble."

"How could it become like this with just a turn of the head? I was perfectly fine before I enlisted, able to run and move......"

Watching Ding Tengfei speak, his eyes grew redder and tears kept swirling in his sockets; Lu Yang felt a pang in his heart as well.

Birth, aging, illness, and death are natural laws that everyone eventually experiences; one by one, loved ones around you slowly depart, until you yourself become the one who leaves.

Lu Yang patted his arm: "Don't scare yourself here; any elderly person who goes to the hospital will be listed as critical. Who knows, when you return, they might already be gradually improving?"

Ding Tengfei knew in his heart that the chance was slim.

Because when he received his mother's call, she was crying intensely on the other end.

The elderly had been sick and hospitalized before, but never as severe as this time.

Yet even so, he still clung to great hope in his heart, hoping to turn danger into safety.

While the high‑speed train was moving, time seemed to flow very slowly.

Passengers in the carriage were drowsy, Lu Yang also slept for a while, and only Ding Tengfei remained worried.

On a seat slightly ahead, a four‑ or five‑year‑old boy occasionally perched on the chair, peeking toward this side; Lu Yang saw him and returned a gentle smile.

The seat beside him was likely the boy's mother, who also glanced this way twice, bent over and whispered something into the child's ear.

The little boy then mustered the courage to leave his seat, nervously tugging at his hem as he came to the seat beside Lu Yang and Ding Tengfei.

"Hello, PLA uncle!"

A voice like a grandma's came from the boy's mouth as he raised his right hand.

Lu Yang was amused by the boy's gesture; although he was only nineteen, he was already an uncle.

Ding Tengfei quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve; a soldier's emotions must not be displayed, especially when facing civilians.

At any time, they must be the people's reliance; the troops taught him this.

The boy's action caused many passengers in the carriage to show affectionate smiles.

Lu Yang even got up, crouched down and said, "Hello, little friend, you're so cute, how old are you?"

"Uncle, I'm four years old."

"Four years old and already riding the train with Mom, you're great~"

"Uncle, may I, may I touch your hat?"

Lu Yang lowered his head, allowing the boy to reach out and touch the insignia on his cap.

Sunlight, like white salt, scattered across the carriage, shining on Lu Yang's handsome, gentle profile, making the boy's eyes sparkle.

This scene made everyone share a knowing smile; it swept away travel fatigue while giving each person a deep sense of peace.

It seemed that as long as there were Longguo soldiers, danger and difficulty would never come knocking; even if the sky fell, there would be no fear.

"Mom, how's Dad? Which ward is he in?"

"Your dad is near the end; he's already been taken home by your Da Da and the others. I stayed behind to handle the paperwork."

At the hospital entrance, Ding Tengfei felt as if struck by lightning; even the last hope was shattered.

According to local custom, when an elderly person is near death, they must be taken home to change clothes, which is what is called a shroud.

By the time they followed him to Ding Tengfei's grandfather's house, the place was already crowded with neighbors.

On the bedroom bed, a withered old man had already been dressed in bright, splendid clothes.

Judging by his condition, running out of oil and wick is only a matter of time; at this point, even an immortal would find it hard to save him.

"Father, father, look at me, I'm Tengfei, I'm Tengfei!"

"I'm back, I've returned from the army!"

Ding Tengfei knelt beside the bed, weeping bitterly.

A hand slowly moved out from under the blanket and rested on his hand.

"My dear grandson, you've returned..."

"Father, it's me, I'm back! Look, I've returned in my military uniform—you've always wanted to see me in uniform, haven't you? Look!"

Ding Tengfei quickly rose and stepped back, letting his grandfather see his spirited, heroic bearing in uniform.

On the grandfather's sunken, aged face, a faint smile appeared: "Good boy, well done!"

After saying just a few words, the old man fell asleep again.

In theory, at this state he should have lost all ability to speak; earlier it was merely a terminal rally.

Lu Yang understood this, but Ding Tengfei did not, and his emotions became unusually agitated: "Who says Father is about to die? He can still speak, he can still reach out—if not, let's find a better hospital, a better doctor; maybe it could still help!"

"Mom, where's Dad? He's well-connected—where did he go?"

Ding's mother covered her face with tears, merely saying, "Your father is away on business, he hasn't returned yet."

But Lu Yang sensed something odd in Ding's mother's expression and in the uneasy demeanor of the people around her.

It seemed as if everyone was tacitly concealing something.

Ding Tengfei stayed constantly by his grandfather's side, while Ding's mother called Lu Yang outside to speak privately.

"You must be Tengfei's leader, right? He's been causing trouble for you in the unit."

"No, Auntie, your son is outstanding in the unit, truly excellent."

"I still don't know—what's your name?"

"Just call me Lu Yang."

Lu Yang returned wearing his lieutenant's insignia; being mistaken for a superior officer is quite normal.

Now is not the time to explain, because these things aren't important.

What matters is what Ding's mother is about to say to me, why this matter can't be told directly to Ding Tengfei but must be discussed privately with me.

"Lu Yang, Auntie has something she doesn't know how to tell Tengfei; I'm afraid saying it would upset him. But secrets can't stay hidden forever, so I wanted to ask you—what should we do?"

"What do you say?"

"Tengfei's father has also met with misfortune..."