The military regulations are to unconditionally obey orders, regardless of whether the superior's commands are right or wrong; they must be followed.
This is the best way to ensure military discipline; otherwise, if a soldier can casually challenge authority, chaos will ensue.
Of course, if the superiors are unable to control the soldiers, even with strict military discipline, it cannot prevent the unit from becoming disorganized.
Cen Huai'an was punished.
His mistake wasn't serious enough for the little black room, as he didn't directly confront a superior. So, he was punished with running laps around the training ground—ten laps, to be precise.
Moreover, the instructor stated that he must complete the run tonight before being allowed to sleep.
Usually, Cen Huai'an and his friends run in the morning for half an hour. Initially, running for such a long time was tiring, but gradually, everyone got used to it.
Ten laps were indeed a lot, but for Cen Huai'an, it wasn't a big deal. He nodded without any negotiation, turned around, and left, preparing to run on the training ground.
Several teenagers, including Hu Pandeng, were uneasy after Cen Huai'an left. They couldn't lie down in the dormitory and followed him.
Only Cen Huaize remained lying on the bed, unwilling to move at all.
When Cen Huai'an went to find the instructor, Cen Huaize sneered inwardly, thinking that Cen Huai'an was a fool. He anticipated Cen Huai'an being confined by the instructor.
Seeing Hu Pandeng and the others go down, he hoped they would all be confined, experiencing the suffering he endured before.
The military training did not make Cen Huaize better; instead, it made his mentality more narrow. He was not a young child; as a high school student, it was challenging to change his selfish and self-centered nature in just a month of training.
When Cen Huai'an came out of the instructor's dormitory, Hu Pandeng, Xiao He, and others who had been anxiously waiting surrounded him.
"An'an, did you talk to the instructor?"
"I did," Cen Huai'an nodded.
The expressions on Hu Pandeng and Xiao He's faces became even more worried.
"Is the instructor angry?"
"Will you be punished?"
"Earlier, when Cen Huaize challenged the instructor, he got confined to the black room. An'an, you won't be confined to the black room too, right?"
The teenagers were so anxious that they even considered approaching the instructor.
Cen Huai'an looked at the genuine concern on their faces, feeling a warm sensation rising in his heart. A smile played on his lips but was quickly suppressed.
"No, the instructor just asked me to run ten laps around the training ground."
"Ten laps?!" The teenagers exclaimed, "That's too much!"
Hu Pandeng immediately turned to find the instructor, saying, "You went to talk to the instructor for us. I'll run the ten laps with you."
"Right."
Xiao He and the others shared the same idea. In any case, Cen Huai'an shouldn't run those ten laps alone.
Cen Huai'an reached out and stopped Hu Pandeng and Xiao He. With a strong grip, the two couldn't break free.
"If you go, you'll also be punished. The matter has been resolved; don't trouble yourselves anymore."
At this moment, the group had already reached the training ground. Cen Huai'an directly took off his jacket and handed it to Hu Pandeng. He stretched to warm up his body and started running on the training ground.
Hu Pandeng and the others exchanged glances and also took off their jackets, placing them on the side of the road before joining Cen Huai'an.
"An'an! Good brothers run together!" Hu Pandeng caught up and shouted.
The remaining teenagers also joined in.
"Yes! An'an, let's run together!"
"We're good brothers!"
"Good brothers!"
Cen Huai'an heard the voices around him, as if they were trying to shout off his ears. He couldn't help but let a smile play on his lips.
On the training ground, the teenagers laughed heartily while running. The cold winter wind couldn't match the warmth in the hearts of these young people.
The instructor, hearing the shouts, came out of the dormitory and stood on the corridor, observing Cen Huai'an and the others running on the training ground.
"Are those the new recruits you've taken on?"
At some point, a few military personnel with the same uniform and similar demeanor as the instructor had joined him.
One of them, obviously on good terms with the instructor, draped his arm over the instructor's shoulder and asked, "Hmm?"
"Yeah," the instructor's gaze remained on the training ground, expressing admiration.
"These recruits are quite promising, but weren't there supposed to be eleven? Why is one missing?"
The instructor replied casually, "One's in the dormitory."
He was referring to Cen Huaize. The instructor knew much more about this troublemaker than the children did.
Although Cen Huaize seemed troublesome, he was actually someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. He couldn't accomplish anything. Even after a month of training, he hadn't changed.
People like Cen Huai'an, who seemed compliant on the surface and even behaved well in every aspect, were the real troublemakers. Even if he was the instructor, if he did something wrong or didn't meet expectations, Cen Huai'an would immediately step forward to correct him. He wasn't afraid just because he was the instructor.
The instructor wasn't bothered by Cen Huai'an; it was Cen Huaize who gave him a headache. The tasks assigned by the higher-ups were too difficult, and he needed to figure out how to accomplish them.
Inside the dormitory, Cen Huaize listened to the deafening shouts from the training ground, feeling annoyed, and covered his ears.
No matter how he tried to block it, the sound kept coming in. Cen Huaize sat up abruptly, looking displeased as he went to see from behind the window.
He saw Cen Huai'an and the others running on the training ground, with Hu Pandeng and the rest surrounding Cen Huai'an, all following his lead.
Cen Huaize clenched his teeth, feeling jealousy rising as he watched Cen Huai'an.
This cousin of his was so annoying—smaller in age yet fond of stealing the limelight. If it weren't for Cen Huai'an, he and Xin Xin might not have ended up enduring hardships here.
The more Cen Huaize watched, the angrier he became, especially seeing the smiling faces of Hu Pandeng and the others, which he found extremely irritating.
He angrily pulled the curtains, wanting to turn back and lie down to sleep. However, he couldn't completely let go and not watch. In the end, he pulled open the curtains again and continued watching, seething with anger.
After completing ten laps, everyone was exhausted, lying on the ground unwilling to move.
Only Cen Huai'an stood there, his breath slightly disheveled but not as exaggerated as Hu Pandeng and the others.
"Don't lie on the ground, stand up and walk."
Cen Huai'an went to pull Hu Pandeng and Xiao He, and the two obediently got up. The others gritted their teeth and stood up, following Cen Huai'an for another lap around the training ground before heading back.
This time, everyone was truly too tired to do anything. They didn't even bother with washing up; they just lay on their beds and fell asleep.
Except for Cen Huai'an, who had some energy left to wash his face and feet before lying down, the others didn't care at all, accepting the dirtiness.
The next day, the instructor indeed reduced the intensity and specifically mentioned that it was thanks to Cen Huai'an enduring the punishment.
"Cen Huaize!"
"Here!" Cen Huaize had developed a reflex; as soon as he heard the instructor call him, he would straighten his chest, lift his head, and respond loudly.
"Cen Huai'an is helping to secure benefits for your squad. You are also a member of this squad, what do you think?"
Cen Huaixin was actually training in the same squad as them, but she was in a different dormitory from the boys, so she didn't know about what happened yesterday.
Cen Huaize was stunned for a while before responding awkwardly, "Tha... thank him."
The instructor asked again, "Last night, everyone in your dormitory except you accompanied Cen Huai'an in enduring the punishment. What were you thinking?"
Cen Huaize's mind raced with profanity, what was he thinking? He wanted Cen Huai'an not to attract so much attention, and he wanted to replace Cen Huai'an in the hearts of Hu Pandeng and the others.
But he couldn't say any of those words. He stammered for a long time, his mind frantically trying to figure out how to answer the instructor.
The instructor was patient, waiting until Cen Huaize awkwardly finished expressing his "thoughts."
The instructor nodded, "You say you want to thank him, but you're not even willing to endure punishment with him. You are comrades now, you need to stand together in battle. Cen Huaize, do you understand the meaning of comrades?"
Cen Huaize looked at the instructor, his face wrinkled, not knowing what to say to satisfy the instructor. He was afraid of being punished, so he could only nod randomly.
"Instructor, I understand."
"Then tell me."
The instructor looked at him, and Cen Huaize replied hesitantly, "Uh... that... comrades..."
After a long time, he still couldn't explain.
"It seems your concept of comrades is not clear yet, that's okay. You will understand soon. From today, we won't be training in the camp; we'll be heading to the wilderness. Attention! Left face, quick march!"
Cen Huai'an and the others stiffened, quickly following the command. Cen Huaize, lost in thought, made a wrong turn and got a kick from the instructor, prompting him to correct his direction.
Cen Huai'an and the others followed the instructor back to the dormitory, packed their belongings as the instructor had taught, and then followed behind the new recruits who had recently joined the military for outdoor training.
The current outdoor training was quite challenging; the wind was cold and sharp, feeling like knives cutting into their faces.
Cen Huai'an was finding it difficult to endure, let alone Hu Pandeng, Xiao He, and the other boys who had never learned martial arts.
Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin were on the verge of breaking down, crying as they walked but not daring to insist on going home.
The instructor was right beside them, and they were afraid of the instructor.
Cen Huaixin stumbled and was about to collapse forward when Hu Pandeng, beside her, quickly pulled her up.
As soon as she stabilized, Hu Pandeng immediately let go of her, saying, "Walk properly." His tone was fast and urgent, and after speaking, he hurriedly caught up with the rest of the group.
Cen Huaixin wiped her face, feeling even more like crying. When she was at home, she never experienced such hardship. Her feet felt like they were walking on razor blades, and her face was numb from the freezing cold. She decided she never wanted to come to the northwest again.
The training was not only physically exhausting but also psychologically painful.
Finally, when the instructor said to take a break, Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin, without caring about being dirty, sat directly on the ground.
Cen Huaixin carefully took off her shoes, and indeed, she saw blisters on her feet. Cen Huaize had the same situation.
Hu Pandeng and a few other sports enthusiasts didn't have such problems, but Xiao He had blisters on his feet.
Cen Huai'an was appointed as the squad leader for their squad, responsible for the affairs of these teenagers during the training.
He squatted down in front of Xiao He, looked at the blisters on his feet, took out the first aid kit he had with him, and asked Xiao He, "Did you pop these blisters yourself, or should I do it for you?"
Xiao He reached out to him and said, "I'll do it myself."
He frowned, holding a disinfected needle, and gritted his teeth as he pricked the blisters on his feet.
Cen Huai'an handed him gauze and medicine, saying, "Wipe the water off with gauze, and apply the medicine yourself."
Cen Huai'an's first aid kit was prepared by Chu Xia during early summer, and many of the ointments inside were made by Chu Xia herself.
She knew that An'an was going for training, so besides common medications, there were also many medicines for treating external injuries. For example, the one Xiao He was using could prevent wound inflammation and promote rapid healing.
While Xiao He was tending to his wound, Cen Huai'an walked over to Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin, asking the same question.
Although he didn't like the temperaments of Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin, Cen Huai'an was the squad leader and couldn't ignore them. Moreover, classmates in the same squad must unite; that's what the instructor wanted to see.
Hearing Cen Huai'an's words, Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin looked at the needle in his hand and involuntarily swallowed.
At this moment, Cen Huaixin completely lost her previous arrogance. With a mournful voice, she asked, "Can you not pop it?"
Cen Huai'an replied, "You can, but if you pop it, it will heal quickly, and walking won't be painful. If you don't pop it, walking will be very painful, and the blister might rub against the sock..."
"I'll pop it, I'll pop it." Thinking about that scene, Cen Huaixin felt her feet hurting even more. She decided to pop it now.
Cen Huaize also chose to pop it.
Holding the needles, the two hesitated for a while without taking any action. Cen Huai'an couldn't stand it anymore, if they dawdled any longer the rest time would be over..
He reached out to Cen Huaixin, "Give me the needle."
Cen Huaixin was somewhat afraid of Cen Huai'an, so she quickly handed him the needle.
Cen Huai'an squatted down, holding Cen Huaixin's ankle.
Cen Huaixin's pupils instantly dilated, looking at him in shock. "What... what are you doing?"
She even pulled her foot backward.
"Don't move!" Cen Huai'an frowned and reprimanded her, holding her foot and quickly pricking the blister. Cen Huaixin didn't even feel the pain.
"Is it... is it done?"
"Not yet." Cen Huai'an handed her a small tin box of medicine. "Can you apply the medicine yourself?"
"Yes, yes!" Cen Huaixin quickly took the medicine, carefully wiping away the water that flowed from the blister on her foot with a handkerchief, and applied the medicine.
Cen Huai'an then walked over to Cen Huaize. He had been watching Cen Huai'an and Cen Huaixin, and the astonishment on his face hadn't faded.
"Do you want me to help too?"
Cen Huaize still had the pride of being a male, and he was the older brother. It would be embarrassing for his younger cousin to pop blisters for him.
"No need."
With determination, he pricked all the blisters himself.
"Cen..." Cen Huaixin looked towards Cen Huai'an, but immediately stopped after uttering just one word.
"Uh... cousin, your ointment."
Even as she spoke these words, Cen Huaixin felt her face turning red. She knew she had a difficult personality, and she hadn't been on good terms with Cen Huai'an.
Accepting his help now felt awkward, and she couldn't even look at Cen Huai'an.
"Let your brother use it too."
Cen Huaize simply put on his socks. "I don't need it."
Cen Huai'an frowned at him. "The wounds might get infected, and then you'll slow down the entire squad's progress."
Cen Huaize began putting on his shoes, still indifferent. "Just a few blisters, it's not as serious as you say! I'm not a delicate girl; I don't need it."
Cen Huai'an gave him a deep look, took the ointment from Cen Huaixin's hand, and left without saying another word.
Cen Huaixin whispered to Cen Huaize, "Brother, I think the ointment our cousin brought can be useful. My feet don't hurt now."
"What do you call him?"
"Cousin!"
Cen Huaixin justified herself, "He's my cousin, what's wrong with calling him that?"
Cen Huaize pointed at her head with his finger, "Just a tube of ointment, and he has conquered you?"
Cen Huaixin shrugged, "There's also blister-popping. He's still my brother; he hasn't done anything to earn the title of cousin."
Cen Huaize was annoyed by Cen Huaixin once again.
Rest time was over, and everyone continued their journey.
At the beginning of the march, a few energetic ones like Hu Pandeng would sing military songs along with the soldiers. As they progressed, they didn't even want to talk, let alone sing. From childhood to adulthood, they had never been this exhausted. The bedding and luggage on their backs felt like a thousand pounds, making it impossible to stand up straight.
Even the boys with good stamina were struggling, not to mention Cen Huaixin, whose stamina was not as robust. She had long been worn out.
Her luggage was now carried by Cen Huai'an, along with Xiao He's. Cen Huaize was also exhausted, but he didn't want to embarrass himself, so he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Several children holding out until now surprised the instructor. However, he attributed it to his wisdom in appointing Cen Huai'an as the squad leader.
Midway through the journey, Cen Huaixin and Cen Huaize almost collapsed on the road. Cen Huai'an suggested sharing the load of Cen Huaixin's luggage, and Xiao He's, with both of them carrying it together.
He also encouraged others who still had energy to help each other, saying, "We're all in the same squad. Regardless of past conflicts, our current goal is to reach the destination together! No one is left behind!"
Hu Pandeng and the others echoed, "No one left behind!"
Cen Huai'an looked at Cen Huaize and said, "If you really can't carry it anymore, just speak up. We will help you."
When he said this, it was like addressing a true subordinate, devoid of any personal emotions.
The instructor was particularly pleased and told his comrades, "See that? I picked the squad leader well. If he joins the army, he'll definitely be a great leader!"
Comrades nodded in agreement, "Your judgment is spot on. The siblings clearly had conflicts, but he managed to resolve them and lead everyone forward. He's quite capable."
In fact, Cen Huai'an didn't use anything special; he just employed motivational tactics on Cen Huaize.
Cen Huaize, with his proud, arrogant, and selfish personality, was most afraid of losing face in front of peers, especially those he considered rivals and couldn't beat. That feeling was more unbearable than death.
As for Cen Huaixin, because Cen Huai'an helped her and she feared him, coupled with the fact that her luggage was now shared, if she continued to be difficult, Cen Huai'an would use other methods and wouldn't blindly indulge her.
At night, everyone camped in the wilderness and began learning how to pitch tents from the soldiers who were skilled at it. The instructor also demonstrated once to teach them.
By the time they finally had the dehydrated military rations brought during the march for dinner and settled into their tents, it was already very late.
The taste of the dehydrated rations couldn't compare to home-cooked meals, but it ensured they were well-fed. They even received canned pork and rice.
The teenagers were already stomach-growling hungry, paying no attention to the taste of military rations. They ate heartily first.
Other soldiers had to stay on watch, but since Cen Huai'an and the others were quite young, the instructor, considering Cen Huai'an's composed and intelligent nature and his martial arts training, chose him as the squad leader despite his age.
Therefore, they weren't assigned watch duties tonight, and they could sleep peacefully. It wasn't a one-person-one-tent situation; one tent could accommodate more than ten people.
Cen Huaixin, being a girl, slept with the female soldiers who participated in the march. The boot camp also had female soldiers who underwent rigorous training.
At night, Cen Huai'an was sleeping soundly when suddenly someone woke him up. He opened his eyes, looked at the person squatting in front of him, sat up, and recognized it was Xiao He.
"What's wrong?"
Xiao He hurriedly said, "An'an, quickly go check on Cen Huaize. He seems to have a fever."
Xiao He and Cen Huaize slept next to each other. Since he was sleeping outside, he couldn't sleep soundly. He heard Cen Huaize moaning softly all night, appearing in pain. He couldn't be awakened, and when touched, he was covered in sweat and felt scorching hot.
"I'll go take a look. You go outside and inform the soldier on duty."
Xiao He immediately went out, and Cen Huai'an took out his small flashlight, shining it on Cen Huaize. Now he looked flushed, and a touch to his forehead confirmed a high fever.
Soon, the soldier on watch brought the accompanying military doctor into the tent. Other people who were sleeping in the tent also woke up due to the commotion.
"He's indeed running a fever." The military doctor used a thermometer to measure Cen Huaize's temperature, and it had reached 38.5°C.
Cen Huai'an added, "Doctor, during the day, he got blisters on his feet, and we popped them but didn't apply any ointment."
The military doctor took off Cen Huaize's socks to assess the situation on his feet. The blisters on the soles of his feet had a mixture of water, blood, and sock fibers sticking together, making it a sight one couldn't bear to look at.
"It seems the injury here is infected. Let's start with medication. Is he allergic to any drugs?"
Cen Huai'an and the others shook their heads.
The military doctor had to wake up Cen Huaize to inquire, but his mind was currently foggy. In the end, he also summoned Cen Huaixin, the only person familiar with his condition.
With all the commotion, the instructor woke up and entered the tent.
"My brother isn't allergic to any medication."
Only after hearing this assurance did the military doctor administer treatment for the foot injury.
After giving Cen Huaize a fever-reducing medication, the military doctor told Cen Huai'an, "Observe if his fever subsides in two hours. If it doesn't, come find me."
The military doctor left, and the others also exited the tent.
Cen Huaixin was worried, after all, he was her real brother. The person she was most familiar with here was Cen Huai'an. For the first time, she softened her tone and asked him, "Cousin, my brother will be okay, right?" There was a look of concern on her face.
Despite her usual capricious behavior, she hadn't reached the point of callousness to remain indifferent when her own brother fell ill.
Cen Huai'an responded, "You have to trust the military doctor."
Cen Huaixin couldn't linger in the tent. The instructor also urged her to go back, saying, "Your brother has us to take care of him. You don't need to stay here; go get some rest."
Cen Huaixin had no choice but to leave.
Inside the tent, Cen Huai'an and Xiao He switched places, with Cen Huai'an sleeping next to Cen Huaize, and the instructor on the other side of Cen Huaize.
Neither Cen Huai'an nor the instructor slept soundly; they would wake up intermittently to check Cen Huaize's body temperature.
The instructor said to Cen Huaize, "Go to sleep quickly; I'm here. If you don't rest well, how will you participate in the training tomorrow?"
Cen Huaize replied, "Coach, I'm fine."
Fortunately, two hours later, Cen Huaize's body temperature had dropped, and Cen Huai'an could finally rest assured and go to sleep. Since he took on the role of squad leader, he felt the responsibility on his shoulders.
Due to his biological clock, Cen Huai'an woke up early. The instructor was no longer in the tent.
Cen Huai'an sat up and reached out to check Cen Huaize's temperature. As soon as his hand touched his forehead, Cen Huaize opened his eyes.
Initially, he was still groggy, but as he recognized Cen Huai'an and observed his actions, his eyes widened. The scenes from the previous night slowly replayed in his mind.
Cen Huai'an showed no emotion on his face, calmly withdrew his hand, and said, "The fever is gone. I hope you'll listen to your squad leader from now on and not cause trouble for the entire squad."
After saying this, he got up to pack his things, paying no attention to whatever Cen Huaize was contemplating in a daze.
Cen Huaize's face was flushed, and his eyes reflected confusion. If it were him, he wouldn't help someone he had conflicts with. How did Cen Huai'an manage to help him without any reservations?
He looked at Cen Huai'an, furrowing his brows and staring at him, completely unable to understand his younger cousin. Clearly, he didn't like him, so why did he do this?
Cen Huai'an noticed his gaze, directly met his eyes, and Cen Huaize quickly and awkwardly averted his gaze.
In front of Cen Huai'an, Cen Huaize no longer had the confidence he had before.
The following training was not only exhausting but also relatively smooth.
During the three-day training, the soldiers felt that it was quite easy, attributing their success to Cen Huai'an and his group of young recruits.
"Normally, we wouldn't come out for ten days or half a month. But you guys definitely can't endure that. If you're too tired and encounter problems, it'll be troublesome."
The soldiers teased Cen Huai'an, enjoying banter with Hu Pandeng, Xiao He, and others.
Hu Pandeng said, "We can endure!"
The soldiers burst into laughter, saying, "Saying you can endure doesn't matter; the leaders have decided to go back!"
Though Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin had thought about giving up multiple times during the training, they were assisted by Cen Huai'an several times, and when they couldn't continue, their comrades helped them.
Whenever they wanted to speak, before the words came out, Cen Huai'an's gaze would fall on them, rendering them speechless.
When Cen Huai'an looked away, they felt remorseful, wondering why they were so afraid of him. It wasn't just fear; Cen Huai'an had helped them, and they couldn't bring themselves to go against him.
Finally reaching the entrance of the camp, Cen Huaixin and Cen Huaize sat on the ground, unwilling to move. Even Hu Pandeng and others were exhausted, lying on the ground to catch their breath.
Only Cen Huai'an seemed to be in slightly better condition, but he was also tired and joined the others on the ground.
It was only when the instructor walked over, kicking each of them, that they reluctantly got up and returned to their dormitory.
The subsequent routine involved three days of training in the camp, three days of outdoor training, followed by more training and then another round of outdoor exercises.
During their time in the military camp, every evening they attended ideological classes with the soldiers and sang songs during outdoor exercises.
After going through this training, Cen Huai'an and the other young recruits underwent significant changes in both their physical posture and demeanor, becoming much more mature.
Even Cen Huaixin and Cen Huaize, although they still had various minor flaws, compared to when they first arrived at the camp, things had improved somewhat. At the very least, they now knew what unity and comradeship meant.
On New Year's Eve, at the Cen family's home.
While making dumplings, Jiang Shengnan wanted to be happy. However, Xi Wang couldn't muster any enthusiasm; she was thinking about Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin.
"Dad, Mom, it's New Year's Eve today, and tomorrow is New Year's Day. Shouldn't we bring Xiao Ze and Xin Xin, and An'an back to celebrate the New Year?"
Xi Wang couldn't understand why her in-laws were so heartless, not wanting to spend the New Year with their grandchildren.
"In the military, so many soldiers can't go home for the New Year. With them accompanying Xiao Ze and his siblings, this New Year's will be livelier than at home," Father Cen completely ignored Xi Wang's concerns.
Xi Wang wanted to say more, but Cen Zhengshi pulled her aside, saying, "Hurry up and make the dumplings; we can send them to Ze and the others."
Xi Wang gave him a stern look, but Cen Zhengshi paid no attention.
Chu Xia focused on making her dumplings, specially preparing the filling An'an loved, anticipating delivering them to Cen Huai'an.
As for Cen Zhengshi and Xi Wang, what did they have to do with her?
Chu Xia made a lot of dumplings, uncooked, stacked in layers in a food box. She handed it to Father Cen, saying, "Dad, tell An'an that if the dumplings are cooked and sent over, they'll get cold. Cooking them in the military will make them taste better. Let him share the cooked dumplings with his friends, instructors, and comrades in the army."
Father Cen carried the boxes and looked at Xi Wang and Cen Zhengshi, asking, "Have you finished making yours?"
Xi Wang wanted Cen Zhengshi to suggest bringing the two children back; after all, it would be better.
However, Cen Zhengshi didn't say anything. He handed the packed dumplings to Father Cen, saying, "Dad, these are for Xiao Ze and Xin Xin. Make sure they share them with others."
Ignoring Xi Wang's hesitation, Father Cen walked away with the food boxes, leaving Jiang Shengnan unable to follow, let alone Xi Wang.
Xi Wang, infuriated, gave Cen Zhengshi's waist a strong pinch and turned away, leaving the kitchen.
However, Chu Xia didn't indulge her. When preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, she directly called her and Cen Zhengshi to come out and help.
Xi Wang questioned, "When do men do the cooking?"
Jiang Shengnan answered, "The men in my family do chores. Zhengshi used to help when he was younger."
Chu Xia, chopping vegetables, said, "You don't have to, but my rule is that whoever doesn't work doesn't eat. Zhengnian and An'an both know my rule."
Xi Wang looked at the two, furrowing her brows, unable to understand.
Cen Zhengshi grabbed Xi Wang's hand and said, "Enough talk, help out quickly."
Xi Wang, seeing that Cen Zhengshi had already taken the vegetables to wash, could only go over and join in the work.
Ultimately, the New Year's Eve dinner was prepared in a strange atmosphere. At this time, Father Cen also returned, his face seemingly carrying the chill of the outside.
But beyond the dust and fatigue, there was satisfaction in Father Cen's eyes.
Xi Wang couldn't wait to run to Father Cen and inquire about the situation of Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin.
"They are doing well in boot camp, making and cooking dumplings with the soldiers. It's more lively than at home."
"Dad, I didn't ask about the New Year; I asked how they've been during this period."
Father Cen said, "I'm talking about this period. It's good, better than the energy of you two as a couple."
"Dad, what about An'an? Did he say he misses home?" Chu Xia also worried about Cen Huai'an; he had been away for so long, and she was concerned.
"No. An'an seems to have grown a lot; he's doing well there."
Although Chu Xia didn't completely let go of her concerns, she was less worried than before.
The New Year's Eve dinner was less lively without several children. The families who sent their children to boot camp in the family compound also felt the same.
At this moment, there was a genuine sense of regret for sending the children for training. But it was only a hint of regret, forgotten after the meal.
Father Cen brought back news about each child, along with the letters they wrote to their parents.
Other families had their letters delivered by security guards. After the New Year's Eve dinner, Chu Xia, Cen Zhengshi, and Xi Wang received the letters directly from Father Cen.
Father Cen had already read the letters from Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin. He wanted to know whether they complained about the hardships, if they had improved during this month.
They certainly complained, but they didn't ask their parents to bring them back. Father Cen was already satisfied.
Cen Huai'an's letter reassured Father Cen, who didn't need to read it.
Chu Xia read it, but after finishing, she felt even more uneasy.
Because Cen Huai'an's letter didn't mention whether he found boot camp difficult or if the exercises were tough. He only talked about the interesting incidents during training and exercises, completely avoiding any mention of the hardships.
Having gone through military training herself, Chu Xia was well aware that training in the army was tougher and more exhausting than ordinary military training, especially the field exercises, which were many times more demanding.
But Cen Huai'an didn't mention a word about it, probably to avoid worrying her. Chu Xia felt her eyes moistening and even considered running to Cen Huai'an immediately to give him a hug.
After calming her emotions, Chu Xia picked up a pen to write a letter to Cen Huai'an. Xiao Zhu will deliver the letters to the children tomorrow.
In her letter to Cen Huai'an, Chu Xia wrote, An'an, Mom knows you're working hard. You can freely complain to Mom. You don't have to be so mature here. If you're tired or injured, my arms are always your last refuge...
In addition to the letter, Chu Xia also prepared some medicine, along with plenty of beef jerky, apples, canned snacks, and the like.
She wasn't sure if boot camp allowed the children to have these, but she decided to bring them along. If they couldn't keep them, she could take them back; if they could, An'an could enjoy them.
Xi Wang's preparations were much more exaggerated than Chu Xia's. Chu Xia had only one cloth bag, while Xi Wang brought a suitcase.
Father Cen thought she was making a fuss and looked at Cen Zhengshi, questioning directly, "She doesn't understand the rules of the military. Don't you understand either? Besides letters and food, nothing else is allowed!"
Father Cen listed many types of food that were not allowed in the military, including snacks. Finally, Xi Wang's pile of things was sorted through by Cen Zhengshi, and only two bags were filled.
Some parents brought food, and some didn't, but all wrote letters.
As it was the New Year, Father Cen wasn't too strict with the children. Bringing beef jerky and such was fine, and it coincided with sharing New Year's dinner with the soldiers in the entire camp.
Space Research Base.
Everyone was celebrating the New Year there too.
For researchers like Cen Zhengnian, this year's Spring Festival was a unique one. They couldn't celebrate with their families, as they were on a business trip far from home, unable even to make a phone call to wish them a happy New Year.
They celebrated the New Year with their colleagues, and although it was lively, while eating dumplings and looking at the bright moon in the sky, everyone was missing their families and hometowns.
Cen Zhengnian stood by the window, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, with images of Chu Xia and An'an in his mind.
Were they having their New Year's Eve dinner right now? Would they mention him? Would they be thinking about him?
He missed them a lot.
***
No matter how Xi Wang pleaded with Father Cen, she couldn't bring the two children back.
Until after the Lantern Festival, almost a month had passed, and a group of thin and sunburned teenagers returned on the military trucks.
As soon as they entered the family compound, they excitedly shouted, "Dad!" "Mom!"
"We're back!"
In addition to missing their parents, they also wanted their parents to see the changes in themselves. They had grown a lot this month, and even the instructor praised them before leaving.
Only Cen Huai'an and Xiao He were not with them. However, the excitement in Xiao He's eyes was evident, and Cen Huai'an himself couldn't wait to see his mom and grandparents.
Upon hearing the children's voices, the parents at home quickly came out. Xi Wang was the first to rush out, and Chu Xia and Jiang Shengnan also quickened their steps to go outside.
"Mom."
When Chu Xia went out, Cen Huai'an was about to enter the house. Seeing her, he immediately stopped and called out, his voice carrying the longing of a bird finally returning to its nest.
Chu Xia opened her arms towards him, her mouth curving into a smile.
Cen Huai'an immediately ran over and hugged her.
At nearly 12 years old, An'an was already quite tall. With Chu Xia's height of 166 cm, the difference in their heights was only about a head.
However, in Chu Xia's eyes, he was still the little An'an who was small in stature and used to call her "mom" with a childish voice.
"You've gotten thinner, and..." Chu Xia hadn't finished her sentence when she heard exaggerated crying coming from Xi Wang.
She and Cen Huai'an looked over and saw Xi Wang hugging the two children, crying uncontrollably, saying that they had suffered a lot.
Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin were crying with her, and their voices echoed loudly in the family compound.
After crying for quite some time without stopping, Father Cen spoke directly, "Eldest, let them come in and cry."
Everyone outside watched as the joy of the long-awaited reunion between parents and children was drowned out by tears.
Cen Zhengshi took one in each hand, and Cen Huaize went in on his own. Finally, the whole family entered the house.
Chu Xia didn't pay attention to Xi Wang and her children; she focused on asking Cen Huai'an about his situation in the training camp. She insisted that Cen Huai'an speak truthfully and not dismissively claim that he wasn't tired.
"But Mom, I really didn't feel tired. And I even had sparring sessions with the instructor."
Cen Huai'an's eyes sparkled as he talked about the process of sparring with the instructor, not only with his instructor but also with the instructor's comrades.
"Our styles are both similar and different."
Cen Huai'an's martial arts teacher also had a military background, teaching a combination of his own moves and military combat techniques.
Therefore, what Cen Huai'an learned overlapped with the combat skills trained in the military.
Although he had been practicing martial arts for many years, there was still a gap compared to military personnel who regularly engaged in combat
Not only in terms of age and physical strength but also in various combat experiences. So, during the sparring sessions with the instructor and his comrades, Cen Huai'an learned a lot.
After the Lantern Festival, everyone was ready to go back.
Xi Wang complained about Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin being sent for training, but Father Cen forced Cen Zhengshi.
"After going back, don't excessively spoil them and negate the results of this training. Also, continue to bring them here next summer vacation."
If one attempt doesn't yield good results, then try two or three times. Now that they are not yet adults, they still need guidance. Even if molding them into a shape like An'an is not possible, at the very least, those bad habits need to be smoothed away.
***
In early March 1988, Cen Zhengnian and his team experienced the most thrilling moment. The mission had been assembled and was ready for launch.
With preparations complete, Cen Zhengnian took command while his colleagues, including Ye Xingxiu and Yu Tian, focused intently on their respective tasks.
"3, 2, 1, launch!"
Watching the mission ascend, everyone held their breath, clenching their fists tightly, observing as it rose along the designated trajectory.
The only thought in everyone's mind was: Success, it must be a success!
As seconds ticked away, everyone stared at the screens in the command center, their breath held.
"Cen, it's entered the designated orbit."
"It's done!"
"We did it!"
"The launch was successful!"
Excitement brought tears, with hugs, shouts, and cheers filling the air. Cen Zhengnian also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile breaking across his face.