The Warmth of Family, Fourth Uncle Wants a Transfer

Lin Chao Ci had missed this stubborn, proud little old man more than words could say.

In this life, grandfather and grandson had only been apart for a few months.

But in his previous life, they had been separated for more than thirty years!

His grandfather had passed away, but Lin Chao Ci had never been able to forget him. He missed him often, waking with a start in the middle of the night and touching his face to find it soaked with tears.

His parents had often been transferred elsewhere for work, so the people who had spent the most time with Lin Chao Ci as a child were actually his grandparents.

His grandmother's love had been warm and heartfelt; his grandfather's, restrained and quietly enduring.

Seeing that familiar face again, Lin Chao Ci felt both overwhelmed and delighted.

He suddenly lost control of thirty years of longing. Though he normally never let his emotions show, his eyes reddened, and two tears rolled down his cheeks.

Seeing his grandson cry, his grandfather panicked, at a loss for what to do. He thought he had upset the boy by being too busy with work to spend time with his family.

"Don't cry, my boy. Grandpa won't work anymore. I'll spend time with you all..."

The little old man's hands were dry and rough, and they hurt a little as they rubbed against Lin Chao Ci's face.

Seeing how much his grandfather cared about him, Lin Chao Ci tried to stay composed. He slowly stepped forward and gently hugged the little old man.

His grandfather was so thin. Once a strapping man standing 1.8 meters tall, he now weighed barely more than forty-five kilograms. His bones dug into Lin Chao Ci a little as he held him.

But Lin Chao Ci didn't mind. Instead, he found the embrace wonderfully warm.

"It's all right, my boy. Grandpa will always be here for you!"

Realizing that his eldest grandson was feeling out of sorts, the old man gently patted his back, comforting him just as he had when he was little.

The two stayed in that embrace for quite a while.

"Sorry, Grandpa. I lost my composure just now. It's just been so long since I last saw you..."

Only after his emotions had settled somewhat did Lin Chao Ci release him and speak a little awkwardly.

"Hahaha! We're family. There's no need to worry about losing your composure. You missed Grandpa, and Grandpa missed you too!"

Family affection mattered most to the old man. He had already reached the pinnacle of fame, achievement, wealth, and status, and had long since stopped caring about them.

Now, he had only two reasons to keep living.

1. To see the country grow more prosperous and its people happier.

2. To be surrounded by children and grandchildren and enjoy the love of his family.

Knowing that his grandson had missed him so much filled his heart with joy!

Knock, knock, knock!

Just then, a knock came from outside the door.

"Come in..."

Grandfather and grandson straightened their clothes before letting the people outside enter.

"Hahaha! Dad, what were you and my eldest nephew doing in here? We waited outside for ages before you finally let us in..."

Fourth Uncle's booming voice reached them before he even came through the door.

He was the same as ever, loud and boisterous, with no concern for appearances in front of his family.

He was a completely different person from the stern, imposing army commander he was outside.

"You have the nerve to laugh! I don't know what goes on in that head of yours. Instead of staying in a municipality's military district, you insist on transferring to some remote military district. Why go looking for hardship...?"

The sight of his fourth son made the old man frown. His hand instinctively wanted to pull out his belt and give him a few lashes.

He truly couldn't understand it. His fourth son could easily stay in the municipality's military district and steadily rise through the ranks. Even if he couldn't inherit his father's position, climbing another few rungs would be no problem.

Yet his fourth son had apparently lost his mind. Without discussing it with him, he had taken it upon himself to submit a request to his superiors for a posting in a remote region.

Anyone familiar with conditions in those remote regions knew what they were like. In some places, even getting enough food was still a problem.

Going there would mean suffering for no reason, not to mention enduring the fierce winds and blowing sand.

At the old man's words, Fourth Uncle's grin vanished. Even Lin Chao Ci's father, Lin Jianguo, looked at his younger brother in astonishment and disbelief.

"What were you thinking? Our family's influence in the military is enough to guarantee you'll reach that position even without putting in any effort! Why put yourself through that hardship?"

Like his father, Lin Jianguo couldn't understand why his younger brother would do this.

The reason Fourth Uncle was still a senior colonel wasn't a lack of ability or resources. It was simply that he had only just turned forty this year.

Being promoted to major general at forty would be far too fast. Since the country's founding, only a handful had managed it, and those few had all rendered exceptional service.

One example made that clear: the country's first astronaut had taken five years to rise three ranks after being selected for the space program, only becoming a major general at forty-three.

He had earned an extraordinary distinction, which was why he had been promoted so quickly.

As long as Fourth Uncle made no mistakes, his rank would naturally rise once he reached the appropriate age for promotion.

Lin Jianguo was in much the same situation. At forty-five, he was a vice governor with real authority, putting him far ahead of everyone his age.

A few others in their forties had reached the same rank, but most were in second-line organizations such as the Communist Youth League, the political consultative conference, the people's congress, or the women's federation. Their rank had been raised first, but they held little actual power.

On Xichuan Province's standing committee, for instance, even the youngest member was fifty-one.

That showed just how great the difference was.

It wasn't that members of the Lin family couldn't rise higher. They simply couldn't rise too quickly.

"I know our family has powerful connections. Even if I do nothing, I'll still get promoted!"

"But I want to climb higher. My service record needs more variety, more distinction, and more breadth..."

"Besides, the border has been pretty safe these past few years. Conditions in remote regions are just a little worse; there's no fighting. Even if war does break out, it'll be a chance to earn merit..."

Fourth Uncle had expected everyone's objections. Sitting on the sofa, he explained his reasons for doing this.

A few years in a remote region would earn him at least a third-class merit citation. That would not only give him a commendation but also add substance and credibility to his service record.

To climb higher now, connections were only one part of the equation. He also needed extensive grassroots experience.

After hearing his fourth son's explanation, the old man fell silent. Deep down, he understood what his son wanted.

It was just that, as a father, he couldn't bear to see his fourth son suffer. Having fought in wars himself, he knew better than anyone how harsh those remote regions could be. Precisely because he knew, he didn't want his son to go.

"Grandpa, Dad, Fourth Uncle! In my view, spending a few years gaining experience on the border isn't necessarily a bad thing! There haven't been any major clashes, but minor incidents keep happening. The ranks attached to posts there are bound to be raised over the next few years! Besides, there are more positions available there, so it'll be easier to move up."

"Second, Fourth Uncle's service record really is too one-dimensional. He's been in a municipality's military district ever since he enlisted. We all understand certain things, but it's not good to make them too obvious..."

Drawing on his knowledge of the future, Lin Chao Ci offered his family his advice.

Every position could only hold one person. Remote regions were only just beginning to develop, so the opportunities there were greater and more plentiful.

The results might even be better.

And even if it achieved nothing, Fourth Uncle would still rise in rank. It was merely a question of getting there a few years earlier or later.

After hearing his eldest grandson's words, the old man fell silent.

There had indeed been talk at meetings of raising the ranks of posts in remote regions and establishing more positions. But those were only suggestions; there wasn't even a formal proposal yet.

The first signs had only just appeared. How had his eldest grandson known?