With the dual verification from both the community committee auntie and the local police officers, Pei Yan's parents, feeling quite awkward, repeatedly bowed to apologize to the three amused officer recruiters. The recruiters graciously expressed their understanding.
After exchanging pleasantries anew and settling in the living room, the group listened patiently to the recruitment officer's explanation. Mr. Pei, utterly incredulous, glanced at his son's room and asked, "Comrade Liu, is my son really cut out for the military?"
"Ah, yes, during the past military exhibition day, the folks in the military accidentally discovered your son is a rare sniper genius, possessing an extraordinary understanding of firearms, precisely the talent the military urgently needs." The responsible recruiter, Lao Liu, couldn't fathom why such an order was suddenly given from above, mandating the recruitment of this newbie with no background, supposedly a sniper genius discovered through a day's exhibition—this lie even makes his face blush, unsure if he could trick the parents.
Listening half in a fog, Pei Yan's parents looked at their son poking his head out to investigate the situation. Mrs. Pei suddenly seemed to remember something and tugged her husband's sleeve, saying, "Hey, don't you remember how our son was super accurate with his slingshot when he was little, breaking the school's windows? You used to spank him so many times for that!"
"Tsk, you're only making trouble, a slingshot and a gun aren't the same!" Mr. Pei retorted, yanking his sleeve.
"There is a connection! It's talent, you can't hide that!" Seeing an opportunity, Lao Liu shamelessly chimed in to praise.
"But my son already got into college!" Mr. Pei said hesitantly, facing a dilemma.
Mrs. Pei first tugged her husband and then looked eagerly at Lao Liu and asked, "Hey, whether he will find a good job with that animation college is uncertain, by the way, comrade, if my son joins the military and is discharged, will there be any benefits?"
"We do have preferential policies for college students joining the army. Look, here's a form generally stating that after joining the military, the school reserves your academic status, which also waives some tuition fees upon returning to resume studies after discharge." As he spoke, Lao Liu quickly pulled out a stack of documents from his briefcase and handed it to the Pei couple.
As the couple diligently scrutinized the document and nodded repeatedly, Lao Liu noticed they were somewhat tempted and continued explaining, "Look, your son has such talent, if he performs well in the military, gains merit and awards, the local government might arrange a good job after he's discharged."
"Will there be any danger?" Mrs. Pei, who was already somewhat tempted, asked worriedly.
"Big sister, I won't hide it from you. Being in the army is indeed for defending our country, which always carries some risks, but you know, big sister, we are in times of peace now, the probability of danger is relatively much lower."
After listening to Lao Liu's earnest words, the old couple exchanged glances and nodded, feeling this was indeed a good path. Mr. Pei pursed his lips and slapped his thigh, "We don't have any objections, but I need to talk with my son, see what he thinks. If he is unwilling, we could help... ."
"I agree! I want to join the army!" Pei Yan, who had been eavesdropping for quite a while, interrupted before his dad could finish speaking, expressing his intentions directly.
Alright! It seems this matter is settled.
The following process went smoothly as it was handled as a special case from medical exams, political investigations, to military approval, and issuance of military uniforms. Pei Yan completed all these overwhelming procedures within five days, accompanied by his parents.
On the eve of departure, Mrs. Pei prepared a large table of dishes, inviting over grandpa, grandma, maternal grandparents, and Pei Jin, the elder sister who rushed back from out of town upon hearing the news, so the whole family could enjoy a farewell meal together.
During the meal, Old Pei made an exception, allowing his son to drink alcohol for the first time at the feast. That night, the family talked extensively about staying safe and following orders from the leadership in the military. At the table, the elder sister held Pei Yan's hand, gave a deep, meaningful look for a long time before ending her unsaid words with a simple caution to stay safe and take care of his health.
In a daze, because his father had drunk too much, seemed to hold a cigarette as he hugged Pei Yan and shed tears saying many things, which Pei Yan couldn't remember fully, except for the falling cigarette ash burning him and causing him to shout loudly.
The next day, seated in two SUVs that came to pick him up, Hu Wenjun and Xiaowang, who took the photos that day, were there to escort him. As Pei Yan sat in the car and looked out the rear window at his parents standing by the entrance, waving endlessly, Pei Yan, who had been in a constant state of excitement, only then truly felt that he was really going to leave this home he had lived in for so many years.
Sitting sideways in the back seat, Pei Yan waved back at his parents continuously until the SUVs exited the neighborhood, his parents' figures faded into the distance, and tears suddenly flowed uncontrollably from Pei Yan's eyes.
Xiaowang, who was driving, glanced at Pei Yan sobbing uncontrollably, pulled out two tissues from beside him, placed a large hand on Pei Yan's hand, and looked up to see Hu Wenjun shaking his head to him, "A man has to grow up, let him be quiet on his own."
After the military vehicle left the neighborhood, the neighbors who were watching near the Pei Family home nudged Old Pei's waist, "Wow, Old Pei, your son is amazing! While others are sent to the train station to board trains together, your son gets a special vehicle for pick-up and drop-off."
Usually sparing in praises for his son, Old Pei cheerfully and proudly teased, "My son was specially recruited, the recruiters said he has talent, that kind of talent can't be hidden."
Amid neighbors' hearty laughter, Old Pei glanced unintentionally towards the neighborhood entrance, a slight trace of loneliness brushed across his face.
The car zig-zagged through the city, and Pei Yan, after crying for a while, gradually controlled his emotions, took the tissue passed by Hu Wenjun from the front seat, wiped his face, and looked out of the window. Being a native local, he quickly noticed something was amiss and asked in confusion, "Where are we going? This isn't the road to the train station."
"Who said we're going to the train station? Young man, weren't you curious about our world? Today we'll let you broaden your horizon." Hu Wenjun said with a leisurely enjoyment while his hand rested on the car frame, savoring the cool breeze blowing against him during the drive.
"Oh!" Unable to grasp it all, Pei Yan casually responded, gazing out the window eagerly, looking forward to whatever Hu Wenjun described as a broadening experience.
The vehicle took twists and turns until it reached the old city district and stopped in front of an old office building. Following Hu Wenjun and another person out of the car, Pei Yan glanced back seeing three people getting off another military vehicle, including two soldiers and the elder who had spoken with him earlier.
Hu Wenjun stepped forward, shaking hands with the two soldiers one by one, repeatedly expressing gratitude for their assistance. After exchanging pleasantries, the two soldiers drove the two military SUVs away from the office building.
Pei Yan, dressed in a military uniform and carrying luggage, looked blankly at the office building ahead and swallowed nervously, "Is this the place?"
Could this be the headquarters of the Otherworld Investigation Bureau? Or a branch office? This is too ordinary! Is there an inner realm within?