Visa-Free Entry: A Social Butterfly's Victory
Jiyan stood still, waiting for the last bit of singing to stop from coming out of the loudspeaker before raising his hands in a fist salute.
Thank you all for your help.
His voice was hoarse from the smoke and dust.
Zhou Yu was folding the wet wipes and then squatting down to brush the potato chip crumbs off Dania's pants. Hearing this, he looked up and waved his hand.
"General Jiyan, you're too kind. It's nothing."
He tossed the canvas bag over his shoulder and spoke very frankly.
"The main problem is the road blockage, which is seriously affecting our trip to Jinzhou for hot pot at 7 pm. Otherwise, we usually don't get involved in other people's business; helping out from other departments is the easiest way to get blamed."
Jiyan's prepared promise, "Jinzhou will surely reward you handsomely," was stuck in his throat.
He paused for three seconds, then decided to proceed with the formalities.
"I'm afraid everyone's hot pot meals will have to be postponed."
He tried to keep his words steady.
"The Tacet Discord the outbreak has just receded, and the entire border is now under martial law. All people and goods entering the city must undergo identity verification and quarantine checks. According to the procedure, it will take at least three days."
Three days.
The surroundings quieted down.
Zhou Yu's clothes were tugged.
He looked down, and Dania looked up, her eyes already red, her lips pursed, and the tip of her nose also red.
She didn't say anything.
She grabbed Zhou Yu's clothes.
Zhou Yu looked up at Jiyan, her face darkening.
He didn't yell at anyone, nor did he rush them.
Sigelica gasped and silently moved the riot shield half an inch closer to her.
She's all too familiar with this situation.
Zhou Yu is usually reasonable and follows procedures; even if the sky were to fall, he would first check the schedule.
But whenever Dania felt wronged, he would switch from being the logistics supervisor to "nobody's leaving work today" mode.
Jiyan has fought against the Tacet Discord tide, guarded the border, and seen both mountains of knives and seas of fire.
But a pink-haired little girl almost cried because she couldn't get hot pot; this isn't in the "Midnight Rangers Handbook."
"I..."
Jiyan could even speak, tears were already welling up in Dania's eyes.
He raised his hand and beckoned behind him.
"Send a team of men in my official carriage to escort these distinguished guests into the city."
An adjutant ran over quickly, stood at attention, and saluted.
"General, may we issue a martial law order..."
"By special approval from the general."
Jiyan interrupted him.
"Skip the inspection process and send them directly into the city. Then contact the city gate to let them through and make sure they can reserve a seat."
The adjutant was taken aback.
He glanced at his general, who had just emerged from the horde of Tacet Discord and whose armor was still covered in dust, and then at the "distinguished guests" carrying snack bags, guitars, and tablets.
Finally, he chose to execute the command.
"Yes."
The adjutant turned to make the arrangements.
The tears in Dania's eyes finally stopped. She blinked, raised her hand to grasp Zhou Yu's sleeve, and whispered a confirmation.
"Xiao Yu, is the tripe still there?"
"Exist."
Zhou Yu lowered his head, his voice immediately softening.
"Six portions, not a single one less."
Dania finally calmed down, and her shoulders relaxed.
The gloom on Zhou Yu's face dissipated.
He nodded in satisfaction, took a can of red beverage from his canvas bag, and handed it to Jiyan.
"General, you've had a long day. You don't look well."
Zhou Yu patted him on the shoulder.
Red Bull, an energy drink, fights fatigue.
He paused, then added in the tone of an old working-class man.
"Don't just keep working yourself to the bone. Occasionally you need to relax. Health is the foundation of everything, and hot pot is the ultimate goal in life."
Jiyan looked down at the can of drink in his hand.
The red jar pressed against my palm, water droplets condensing on its sides.
This thing doesn't fit with the border, military orders, or the Tacet Discord tide.
But it feels quite substantial in your hand.
After Zhou Yu finished speaking, he pulled Dania along and led the group of people behind him toward the Midnight Rangers's black van.
Linnai waved to Jiyan as she passed by.
"Don't worry, General, we will eat it carefully."
Sigelica grabbed her and pulled her away, lowering her voice.
"Could you please stop describing a special military permit like a group-buying voucher?"
Aimis held the megaphone, trying to turn the volume down, and kept muttering about where the beat of the song was off.
Chisaki, holding a tablet, had already begun recording outrageous data such as "Dania's heart rate dropped by 22 percent after the risk of the hot pot delay was resolved."
Chisa walked at the back, the bell at her waist jingling softly.
She nodded slightly as she passed Jiyan, as if to say hello, then opened her orange soda and got into the car expressionlessly.
As the car door closed, Linnai cheered from inside.
"Yay! Tonight's tripe is ours!"
Jiyan stood in the wind, clutching the can of Red Bull.
The phrase "Hot pot is the ultimate destination in life" lingered in his mind.
He pulled the tab and took a sip.
It's sickeningly sweet.
Inside the car.
The adjutant sat in the passenger seat, his back ramrod straight, his hands on his knees, looking completely uncomfortable.
The air smelled of fried chicken, oranges, potato chips, and the plastic smell of snack bags.
This vehicle doesn't look like a military vehicle.
The people in the back seat were already arguing about hot pot dipping sauce.
Linnai held her guitar, her tone remarkably confident.
"Sesame oil dipping sauce is the authentic way; sesame paste dipping sauce is a northerner's way of eating it."
Sigelica rolled her eyes.
"What do you know? Only a sesame sauce dipping sauce can lock in the freshness of the tripe."
Aimis held up her phone; a food blogger's video was playing on the screen, and she was watching it intently.
"You're all wrong, it should be a dry dipping sauce. Sichuan peppercorn powder and chili powder, that's what makes the tripe chewy."
Chisaki adjusted her glasses; the tablet displayed the nutritional information for the hot pot dipping sauce.
"Based on the analysis of calorie intake and sodium content, all of the above plans exceed the limits. However, considering the high-intensity battle we just engaged in, we can relax the limits."
Linnai gave her comments on the spot.
"You call this the scientific version of 'it smells so good'?"
Zhou Yu sat next to Dania and fed her the peeled orange segments one by one.
Dania opened her mouth to catch it, her cheeks puffed out, staring at the phone menu, switching back and forth between "freshly sliced tripe" and "handmade shrimp paste".
Chisa leaned against the window, drinking orange soda.
Water droplets slid from the bottle onto her knuckles, but she didn't use her inner energy to evaporate them. The bell at her waist jingled softly with the movement of the carriage.
The adjutant took a breath.
It's all about the warmth and comfort of everyday life.
He tapped his fingers twice on his knee, then stopped.
Outside the car window, dust still lingered on the Desorock Highland. The flags of the Midnight Rangers fluttered in the wind, and in the distance, soldiers were counting the wounded and casualties.
Inside the carriage, people were already arguing about whether the tripe should be cooked seven or eight times or nine or ten times.
The adjutant remained silent for a long time, then a ridiculous question popped into his mind.
Did we really just... fight a battle that nearly resulted in total annihilation?