Jin Rong

After a period of busyness, the meal rush had finally passed.

Even the tables inside the shop were now free.

Only then could Xiao Shou finally rest a little.

Just as Xiao Shou was about to sit down, the sound of "Welcome!" rang out from the shop entrance again.

Xiao Shou quickly got up to greet the customer.

He saw a middle-aged woman in a military uniform entering.

The woman was around forty years old, of medium height, with a pretty face that wasn't without a hint of sharpness.

Her expression was also very serious, and she rarely smiled at outsiders.

To his surprise, this woman's military rank was not low, two bars and two stars.

A Vice Captain rank was also uncommon at her age.

Seeing Xiao Shou, the corner of the woman's mouth twitched, as if she were greeting him.

However, because she rarely smiled, it appeared rather stiff.

But Xiao Shou was used to it and called out, "Aunt Rong."

That's right, this woman wasn't visiting for the first time; in fact, this could be considered her home, as she was Grandma He's daughter.

The woman's name was Jin Rong, forty-two years old. She had joined the army in her youth and had nearly twenty years of service.

The Jin family was an ordinary family, not a prominent lineage.

Therefore, Jin Rong's promotion to Vice Captain was purely due to her own efforts.

Grandma He and Xiao Shou only knew that Jin Rong served in the Northeastern Military Region.

They didn't know her specific department or position.

Jin Rong never told them either.

It seemed the unit she served in was quite classified.

In fact, Jin Rong rarely came home before.

She didn't even come back for Lunar New Year after the first monster attack on Earth two years ago.

But after "Shanlan" attacked Dalian half a year ago, the authorities built a military base here.

One reason was to prevent further monster attacks.

Another was to reassure the public, showing that the government had not abandoned Dalian.

This helped stabilize Dalian's post-disaster reconstruction efforts.

Therefore, Jin Rong now had the opportunity to visit home occasionally.

But she rarely stayed overnight, basically just popping in for a look before leaving, sometimes not even having time to eat.

Grandma He and Xiao Shou guessed that Jin Rong had been transferred to the newly established military base in Dalian's Lushun District.

In fact, this was true, but what they didn't know was that the military base was not staffed by the army...

Grandma He was overjoyed to see her daughter return.

"A Rong, have you eaten? Mom will make your favorite scallion noodles for you right away!"

"Don't trouble yourself, Mom. I was in a hurry this time and just stopped by on my way. I don't have time to eat, my colleagues are waiting outside."

Grandma He felt a little regretful upon hearing this. Her daughter had always been her pride.

It's just that as her career developed, she became so busy that they rarely saw each other throughout the year.

Seeing her daughter about to turn and leave, Grandma He quickly called out to her.

"Silly girl, tomorrow is your birthday, you probably forgot. If you have time, come back, Mom will make you longevity noodles. If you're busy, just have Ah Shou send them over!"

Jin Rong initially wanted to refuse, but seeing her mother's loving gaze, she couldn't bring herself to say no.

"Okay, Mom, I'll try my best to come back, or I'll have Ah Shou deliver them to the base gate, and I'll pick them up."

Grandma He watched her daughter drive away and sighed.

As she got older, her greatest longing was for her daughter.

Although she was happy to see her daughter's career flourishing, she regretted that her daughter couldn't be by her side all the time.

Jin Rong, sitting in the car, also felt a pang of emotion.

Her lack of outward affection just now wasn't indifference; she was truly afraid that if she lingered in her mother's warm embrace, she wouldn't want to leave.

When "Shanlan" attacked Dalian half a year ago, she was scared half to death, terrified that something might happen to her mother.

At that time, she even considered defying military orders and returning to Dalian privately.

The military region understood her situation and did not stop her; instead, they directly assigned her to the post-war logistics department to support the combat troops in Dalian.

While military orders were paramount, they also allowed for human considerations.

Fortunately, her mother was unharmed; only their old house next to the welfare home was destroyed by "Shanlan."

But that didn't matter. Being alive was the most important thing.

This further strengthened Jin Rong's resolve to fight the monsters. Only by eliminating them could her mother and the civilians behind the lines be safe.

The corresponding sacrifice, however, was the time she could spend with her family.

Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to reconcile.

"Ah Shou, you've had a long day. Let's close up early. Take the remaining noodles and pastries to the elders and children at the orphanage."

"Understood, Grandma He."

Xiao Shou, carrying half a pot of noodles and a pot of steamed buns, headed towards the orphanage.

What was once called an orphanage was now just a large courtyard.

After "Shanlan" was eliminated, the authorities began rebuilding Dalian.

With everyone pooling their efforts, the city recovered quite well.

Although it no longer boasted the bustling high-rise buildings of the past, it was now filled with modular housing, resembling shipping containers.

These were quick and easy to build, serving to temporarily house the population.

Otherwise, who knew how many years it would take for the skyscrapers to rise again?

Would people have to sleep on the streets in the meantime?

Jianguo Road was one of the few streets that had not been affected by the war.

Therefore, Grandma He's noodle shop remained.

Xiao Shou walked for about ten minutes before reaching the current orphanage.

Like the modular housing found everywhere along the streets, the orphanage was also a cluster of two rows of modular units.

"Brother Xiao Shou is back!"

Seeing Xiao Shou return with food, more than a dozen children playing in the orphanage swarmed around him, chattering excitedly.

The noise alerted someone inside, who poked their head out of a modular unit.

It was a young woman in her early twenties with a pretty face.

The girl's name was Li Xintong, known as Bao'er in the orphanage. She was twenty-one years old.

She had been adopted by a couple when she was thirteen.

After graduating from university, Li Xintong chose to return to work at the orphanage.

At that time, the orphanage had suffered a great tragedy, and the old director had died.

Li Xintong took over as the director of the orphanage. With aid from government departments and some support from her adoptive parents, although the living conditions were humble, the orphanage managed to survive.

Li Xintong took the food from Xiao Shou and distributed it to the children.

She then handed the rest over to the caregivers inside, asking them to feed the elderly residents in the modular units who had difficulty walking.

Xiao Shou's heart ached as he watched the children wolf down the steamed buns and noodles.

The meat in the buns and noodles provided the children with their scarce source of protein.

And they couldn't even eat these things once a week.

How could anyone feel good about this?

Just as Xiao Shou was lost in thought, Li Xintong handed him a bowl of noodles.

"I made this myself. It's your birthday today. You haven't cooked in so long, but I tasted it just now, and it's quite good."

Xiao Shou took the bowl of noodles, with a poached egg nestled on top.

For a moment, his emotions were complicated.

His birthday was known to no one except the deceased old director, and no one cared.

"Sister Bao'er, thank you."

"What's there to thank? I know very well that you were supposed to be the one adopted originally. You pretended to be sick to give me the chance. I haven't forgotten that."

Xiao Shou smiled faintly, looking at the children who had finished eating and were now playing again.

"It wasn't to help you; it was because I wanted to stay here."