Wang Xiuzhen deftly kicked the "ball" over to Shi Tianqun.
Shi Tianqun put down his chopsticks and laughed, "Alright, alright, you two. In the end, you always throw it back to me."
Shiting grinned at her mother and sighed playfully, "Okay, I'm full. Now Mom's about to start nagging again. I'm off to do some shopping with my classmates."
With that, she stood up, blew a kiss to the whole family, winked, and said, "Don't wait for me at lunch, my darlings. I'm going to buy some essentials for my upcoming trip. Bye-bye!" Then she left with a cheerful chuckle.
Shikai looked down at his bowl of porridge and shook his head dramatically. "Truly a tragic household... Even my sister says Mom nags too much."
Wang Xiuzhen lightly scolded him, "Eat your porridge. You're the one who nags the most around here."
Though she put on a stern face, her heart was filled with joy. Anyone could see—this was the happiness of a loving family.
After the meal, Shikai watched some TV. Shi Tianqun headed to the military district to take care of some affairs before his official leave, while Wang Xiuzhen cleared the table.
---
Commander's Office, Huaxia Military District
Shi Tianqun sat on the couch, chatting with an old friend.
"I say, Minjun, it's been thirty-nine years since we met, hasn't it?" Shi Tianqun took a drag of his cigarette and leaned back, reminiscing.
Li Minjun shook his head with a chuckle and lit one himself. "What thirty-nine? It's been forty years!"
He exhaled a thick puff of smoke, leaning back as well. "Man, thinking back... we had nothing back then. Just one word: hardship. Remember when we carried rifles onto the battlefield? Those were the days."
"Yeah, forty years... I remember. I had just joined the army then. Later, it was the Korean War, and then the war with Vietnam…"
A silence fell. Both men were lost in memories of the past.
Li Minjun was the deputy commander of the military district and a comrade-in-arms of Shi Tianqun. They had shared countless life-or-death moments on the battlefield, so their conversations were always heartfelt and familiar.
Suddenly, Shi Tianqun flinched—his cigarette had burned down to the end and singed his fingers. He quickly flicked it away and laughed, "We're getting old. There's no war now. We're practically useless."
He laughed at himself as he spoke.
Li Minjun stubbed out his cigarette, rubbed his hands together, and smiled. "Yeah, we're old now. Time to go home and farm. Let the young folks shine."
Shi Tianqun sat up straight, instantly regaining the air of a soldier. "Alright, let's talk about my son. While I'm away, I'll need you to look after Shikai for me."
"Ah, Old Shi, come on. We're brothers. Your son is like my own. Remember that time on the battlefield? You took a bullet for me."
Shi Tianqun raised a hand and pointed lightly. "Alright, alright, let's not go there."
Seeing the gesture, Li Minjun understood. Shi Tianqun's gratitude didn't need words. After forty years of friendship, what else needed to be said? Everything was clear in their hearts.
Li Minjun smiled, stood up, adjusted his uniform, and put on his cap. "Alright then. Don't worry. I'll make arrangements right away. Tomorrow, bring Shikai to me. Don't worry—I won't go easy on him. I'll personally train him. He'll get a real taste of what a soldier's life is like. I'll make sure he's properly hardened."
Shi Tianqun stood up smiling and waved his hand. "You always know me best."
That evening, when he returned home, he told Shikai the news that he'd be going to the military district for training the next day. Shikai was thrilled, practically jumping with excitement, and rushed off to start packing his gear.
Soon, Shiting came back from shopping, her hands full of bags. She dropped them onto the couch with a thud, rubbed her feet, and complained, "Ugh, today was exhausting. Dad, when are we going on our trip? And where are we going?"
Shi Tianqun chuckled. "Tomorrow, after I drop Shikai off at the military district, we'll head out. Oh, right—I forgot to tell you. The day after tomorrow, a military vehicle is heading to Z Province. We'll catch a ride with them and do some sightseeing. I hear the scenery there is beautiful. After that, we'll fly to HN Province for a bit. How's that sound?"
Shiting squealed with delight. "That's amazing! I'm going to start packing right now!"
Wang Xiuzhen was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Hearing her daughter's excited shout, she thought something had happened and rushed out to check, only to shake her head with a smile.
---
The next morning, Shikai rode with his father to the Huaxia Military District. Seeing the grand scale of the base, he couldn't help but beam with excitement. At last, he was about to experience the life of a soldier—just like his father.
After arriving, Shi Tianqun took Shikai to Li Minjun's office and briefly explained the situation with his son. He also mentioned their plan to hitch a ride to Z Province as part of their vacation.
Li Minjun nodded. "Don't worry. Leave him to me. By the time you get back, he'll be a changed man."
Shikai chimed in, "Uncle Li, what do you mean, 'a changed man'?"
Shi Tianqun and Li Minjun exchanged a glance—then both burst out laughing.
After Shi Tianqun left, Li Minjun took Shikai by the hand and gave him a tour around the base so he could get familiar with the environment. After all, this would be his home for the next two months.
Shikai was full of curiosity, chattering nonstop along the way. Fortunately, Uncle Li was more than happy to answer all his questions.
Finally, they arrived at an office. As soon as the people inside saw the deputy commander, they immediately stood up and gave a sharp salute.
"Good day, Commander Li!"
Li Minjun returned the salute with a serious expression. "Tian Jiang."
"Here!" A sturdy young man responded, standing at attention with a strong voice.
"This is my nephew. He'll be training here for the next two months. I'm putting him under your care. Treat him like any other recruit—no special treatment, understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the young man, Tian Jiang, replied, straightening his back.
"Alright, everyone get back to work. No need to stand around. Tian Jiang, come with me."
"Yes, sir." Tian Jiang followed him outside.
"Don't ask why—just follow orders. And no favoritism. I want you to train him thoroughly. Every night, I expect a written report on his progress. Take him to the dorm now. Starting tomorrow, I want to see him keeping up with your squad. Within ten days, he should be fully integrated into training—marching in formation and all. Got it?"
Tian Jiang puffed up his chest. "Yes, sir!"
From Li Minjun's words, it was clear that "he" referred to Shikai. This was the boy's first time in such a strict and serious environment, and his heart raced with excitement. He was finally stepping into the military life he had always dreamed of.
"Alright, I've got some things to take care of now. Shikai, go with Brother Tian Jiang to the dorm and get some rest. Uncle Li will come check on you tomorrow."
Shikai summoned his courage, straightened up, and gave a firm salute. "Yes, sir!"
Li Minjun returned the salute with equal formality and said, "Alright then—off you go."
"Yes, sir!" Shikai and Tian Jiang replied in unison, standing at attention.
After Li Minjun left, Shikai followed Tian Jiang to the dormitory with a face full of joy.
The moment they stepped in, Shikai's eyes lit up. Every single quilt was folded with crisp, perfect edges—like blocks of tofu. Compared to this, the bedding he had once thought neatly folded back home now seemed laughably sloppy. Right then and there, he made up his mind to train hard and improve himself.
After assigning Shikai a bed, Tian Jiang took him to collect some daily necessities and gave him a brief introduction to life in the military district. Shikai listened intently—his military life was just beginning, and he couldn't have been more excited.
When he received his uniform, he was overjoyed. He put it on immediately—even though it was a bit too big for him, it did nothing to hide his excitement. He wished tomorrow would come sooner, so he could start training alongside his new comrades.
Lost in thought, he couldn't stop smiling. He began marching around the dorm, saluting, and mimicking the drills his father had once taught him as a child. He entertained himself endlessly, completely immersed in his fantasy.
By noon, Shikai was still focused, trying to fold his quilt into the perfect military square, just like everyone else's.
"Shikai."
A deep voice called from behind. Shikai turned around and snapped to attention.
"Here!" he responded quickly—it was Tian Jiang.
Tian Jiang looked at him, amused. "Huh, didn't expect you to learn so fast. Alright, relax—we're on break time now. Your training starts tomorrow. Come on, I'll take you to eat and introduce you to the rest of your future teammates."
Shikai had been so caught up in his excitement that he'd completely forgotten about lunch. With a grin, he walked up to Tian Jiang. "Brother Tian Jiang, I can't wait to start training with you!"
Tian Jiang looked at the eager kid and ruffled his hair. "Don't be in such a hurry, little rascal. You'll find out soon enough."
The truth was, military training was no joke. In Tian Jiang's heart, he didn't think this kid could handle it. After all, Shikai was the nephew of the deputy commander himself—probably just here out of curiosity, wanting to play soldier for a few days. Once it got tough, he'd likely ask to go home. Still, there was something about this clever, energetic boy that Tian Jiang liked. There was even a faint sense of familiarity in his face—he reminded him of someone, though he couldn't recall exactly who.
As they walked toward the cafeteria, Shikai looked around wide-eyed, full of questions. He pointed things out here and there, bombarding Tian Jiang with curiosity. Tian Jiang answered patiently.
The military district was strict with discipline—mealtimes included. Even eating required lining up and sitting in an orderly manner.
By the time Shikai and Tian Jiang reached the dining hall, most of the soldiers were already eating. No one seemed to pay any attention to the boy, which Shikai figured was intentional—probably Uncle Li's way of helping him adapt quickly to this big new family. He didn't think much of it.
Tian Jiang led him toward a table where a group of soldiers was eating. With a rhythmic, commanding tone, he called out:
"Squad Two, stand up!"
Despite being mid-bite, the entire squad shot to their feet as if on instinct—chests out, heads high, standing straight as arrows, and saluted in unison.
"Good afternoon, Company Commander!"
Tian Jiang returned the salute, his face serious. "Fall out! Form up in ranks."
The soldiers of Squad Two stepped out from their seats, lining up neatly in order of height.
"Right face!" Tian Jiang commanded.
"Now hurry up and swallow whatever food's still in your mouths. I want to see empty mouths in ten seconds."
As all this happened, the rest of the soldiers in the mess hall kept their heads down, focused on their meals. No one so much as glanced in their direction—as if nothing unusual was going on at all. Shikai was struck by the discipline and seriousness of the military district. He thought to himself, I really hope I can be like them one day.
Tian Jiang checked his watch. "Time's up." He raised his voice. "Attention!"
The soldiers of Squad Two straightened with a jolt, snapping into flawless military posture.
"At ease." Tian Jiang clasped his hands behind his back, legs slightly apart, and continued, "Sorry to interrupt your meal, but I have a new assignment for you. This young man here is Shikai. He's just joined Squad Two. You're responsible for training him. In ten days, I want to see him integrated with your squad, training alongside you all. I'll be personally supervising his progress. No special treatment. Just treat him as you would anyone else. Understood?"
"Understood!" the soldiers responded in unison, voices echoing in the hall.
"Good. Take him to eat with you now. And during your break, show him how to fold his bedding properly. Dismissed!"
The squad gave him a sharp salute. Tian Jiang returned it with his usual stern formality.
Once Tian Jiang left, the soldiers of Squad Two gathered around Shikai and took him to sit with them. Being a naturally cheerful and curious kid, Shikai quickly warmed up to them. Though the soldiers had accepted him out of duty at first, his eagerness to learn and good manners made him genuinely likable. They found themselves happy to share what they knew.
And just like that, Shikai's dream life began.
---
The Next Morning
"Hurry up, Mom, Dad! You're killing me here!"
Shiting's voice echoed through the apartment. She had been too excited about their trip to sleep a wink and was up at the crack of dawn, already packed and standing outside the door.
"You little rascal, what's the rush? We're coming!" Wang Xiuzhen emerged from the bedroom with her husband, both carrying luggage. "You're a grown woman, and you're still acting like your little brother."
"I'm just really excited! We haven't taken a real trip in ages!" Shiting bounced on her toes like an arrow on a drawn bow, ready to launch.
Shi Tianqun chuckled, "Alright, alright. You two go down to the car first—I'll lock up."
Shiting eagerly grabbed the luggage from her mother's hands and darted down the stairs, racing toward the military jeep.
Wang Xiuzhen shook her head, half amused, half exasperated by her children's impatience. She carefully made her way downstairs.
Shi Tianqun, meanwhile, felt a rare warmth in his heart. Moments like this were precious—a quiet, joyful slice of life gifted by the heavens. He cherished the feeling of family in its simplest form.
Inside the car, Wang Xiuzhen held onto her husband's arm, leaning against his shoulder. She felt like the happiest woman in the world. In her mind, she pictured the future—after her husband's retirement, when their son had grown up, they would take Shiting and travel the world as a family.
The thought brought a dreamy smile to her face.
After parking the car, Shi Tianqun and his family arrived at the military base, preparing to catch a ride with a military vehicle heading to HZ City in Z Province. Before leaving, he hoped to catch one last glimpse of Shikai. After all, leaving such a young child behind still made him a little uneasy.
But once Shi Tianqun made up his mind, it was rarely changed. And since Shikai had agreed to it himself, there wasn't much more to be said. For Shikai, this was a rare opportunity for growth—and deep down, he longed to become a soldier just like his father.
At that moment, Li Minjun was already waiting at the base gate to greet them.
Shi Tianqun walked over with long strides. "Old Li, how's my boy doing? Is he settling in alright?"
Li Minjun smiled. "He's doing great. Very obedient. Honestly, I envy your whole family. At 10:30 this morning, Commissar Zhang Shun is heading to Z Province for a meeting. Still plenty of time. Do you want to go check in on Shikai?"
Just then, Wang Xiuzhen walked over arm-in-arm with her daughter, Shiting, who greeted cheerfully, "Hello, Uncle Li!"
"Whoa! Look at you—our little girl from back then has grown up! Getting prettier by the day—just like your mother used to be."
Li Minjun laughed heartily.
Shiting blushed and instinctively leaned against her mother for cover.
Wang Xiuzhen raised the shoulder her daughter leaned on and teased, "Oh? Our girl's shy now?"
They all burst out laughing, and Shiting ducked even further behind her mom, face redder than ever.
Still chuckling, Li Minjun said, "It's rare for you all to visit. Come in and rest for a bit—and take a look at how Shikai's doing."
"Sure!" Wang Xiuzhen replied quickly, her motherly instincts awakened the moment she heard her son's name. She headed inside eagerly.
Shiting followed along with a bright smile—she'd been wanting to see how her little brother was training.
Along the way, many officers and soldiers saluted respectfully when they saw Shi Tianqun and Li Minjun pass by. The respect was clear on every face.
Shiting was beaming with pride. Her heart swelled—this is my father.
They headed straight for Li Minjun's office. Through the window, they saw the training field down below. Not far off, a small-framed soldier stood at attention in the blazing morning sun, practicing his posture. Ten other soldiers stood nearby, accompanying him.
Shi Tianqun nodded slightly. "Not bad—reminds me of myself back in the day. I'm proud."
Li Minjun chuckled, "Well, of course—he is your son, after all. But to be honest, Shikai is only twelve, so I've increased the intensity of his training. I want him to catch up with the others quickly… but honestly, I'm worried he won't be able to handle it. As your comrade, I do feel a little guilty."
Shi Tianqun handed Li Minjun a cigarette and lit it. "He's my son. Whether he can handle it or not—he has to. He needs to learn that being a qualified soldier is no easy task. That's the only way to build his willpower. Only then can he grow into someone who's truly useful to society."
Wang Xiuzhen spoke softly, "We all understand where your heart is. I felt a deep ache seeing our son like that… but now I realize just how high your hopes are for him. I'll toughen up too—for his sake."
"Alright, let's not talk about heavy things anymore. Come, let's sit and chat," Li Minjun said, quickly changing the subject.
Shi Tianqun lit a cigarette for himself and sat down. He took a deep drag, then joined in the relaxed conversation.
He knew deep in his heart—leaving Shikai in Li Minjun's hands was the right decision. He trusted him completely. And to avoid disrupting Shikai's training, none of them went down to see him.
Parents always carry a silent weight in their hearts. Every one of them wants their children to grow into something great.
But how many children ever truly understand the depth of that love?