Chapter 261 Paper Airplane! Let it fly!
The next day, Zhang Yunxia and Ye Wenxi were invited to the Yunnan Military Region.
The jeep drove through the gate, and Zhang Xiangyang pressed his face against the window, his eyes wide open.
"Mom, there are so many People's Liberation Army uncles!"
"Yes, Xiangyang, this is where your father used to work." Zhang Yunxia patted his head.
The camp was larger than they had imagined. Neat barracks, straight poplar trees, and soldiers training on the parade ground, their slogans echoing throughout.
Zhang Xiangyang peered intently through the car window.
"Mommy, what are those uncles doing?" he asked, tilting his little face up.
"Training," Zhang Yunxia replied softly.
"What kind of training?" Zhang Xiangyang asked, blinking.
"They train to protect us," Zhang Yunxia replied.
Zhang Xiangyang nodded thoughtfully, then pressed his face back against the glass.
Chen Yuanchuan had given prior notice, saying he wanted to bring the child to see what his father did.
They were greeted by a staff member surnamed Zhou, who was in his thirties and spoke fluently.
Upon learning that there were family members of two leaders from the Northeast Military Region and an orphan of a martyr, the superiors specifically instructed that they should be treated well.
Officer Zhou glanced down at Zhang Xiangyang and smiled.
"Little guy, do you want to see a real tank?"
Zhang Xiangyang's eyes lit up: "I want to!"
Officer Zhou led them inside, introducing the camp area as they walked.
"This is the training ground; the soldiers do their morning exercises here every day."
"That's the dormitory building over there. Captain Zhang Jiyong used to live in that building."
Zhang Xiangyang followed his finger and looked straight ahead, his eyes fixed on the spot.
The drab three-story building stood quietly in the afternoon sun, with military uniforms hanging on the balcony, their sleeves fluttering gently in the breeze.
He might not understand what kind of place it was, but he knew his father had lived there.
The exchange program is gradually coming to an end.
Since Lu Weidong had no meetings scheduled, he joined the others for a stroll around the camp.
As he walked, he reflected that he had gained a great deal from this exchange.
He has already started planning how to adjust the training program after he gets back.
Unlike the vast plains and cold regions of Northeast China, Yunnan is characterized by its dense mountainous forests and crisscrossing river valleys, making its combat methods entirely different.
Infantry-tank coordination and special operations cooperation—every post-match analysis is experience gained through bloodshed on the front lines.
He had some new ideas, especially regarding the problems that Su Feng and his team might encounter in mountain warfare.
He even had a thought: it would be great if Su Feng could come to exchange ideas this time; it would definitely be of great help to him.
wait?
Although it was a work-related necessity and a serious matter, the moment this thought popped into Lu Weidong's head, he felt like giving himself a beating.
Honeymoon trip, taking that annoying little devil with you?
He rolled his eyes at himself and quickened his pace.
The group strolled slowly through the camp, taking a break as a form of relaxation.
Ye Wenxi suddenly became interested in the family compound here, so Officer Zhou took them and drove into the area.
It has all the necessary facilities, but overall the conditions aren't as good as those in Northeast China.
Zhang Xiangyang was peering out of the car window when he suddenly saw a group of children running past in the distance. They were elementary school students coming home from their lunch break, carrying their schoolbags and laughing and playing.
They chased each other on the road in the residential compound, their laughter drifting over.
Zhang Xiangyang's eyes followed them as they ran, watching and watching until the group of children disappeared into the alley.
"Xiangyang, Mom and Chen's father also lived in a compound like this in Northeast China," Zhang Yunxia said softly. "Would you like to live in a military compound like this?"
"Yes! I want to!" Zhang Xiangyang nodded vigorously, his eyes shining.
The group got off the car.
Chen Yuanchuan, who hadn't said much, walked over, bent down, and picked up Zhang Xiangyang.
He carried the child and strode forward.
"Xiangyang, did you miss your dad when you saw this today?"
Zhang Xiangyang wrapped his arms around his neck and whispered, "Yes."
Chen Yuanchuan nodded, not stopping in his tracks. He took a deep breath and slowly said:
"Xiangyang, actually, when Chen's father was a child, he was just like you, an orphan of a martyr who had no parents."
He walked ahead and spoke slowly, in a voice only the father and son could hear.
"When I was a child, I also grew up in an orphanage run by the army. But I wasn't as brave as you. I hated military uniforms back then and didn't want to see them at all."
He paused.
"Xiangyang, do you hate me?"
Zhang Xiangyang did not answer immediately.
The little boy seemed to be trying hard to feel the sour feeling in his heart, trying to understand what it was.
He didn't quite understand why Mr. Chen asked that question.
But he decided to tell the truth: "I hate it."
He then hurriedly added, which was also the truth:
"I don't dislike it either."
Chen Yuanchuan paused for a moment, then looked down at him: "Hmm? I can't understand what you're saying."
Zhang Xiangyang buried her face in his neck and hugged him even tighter:
"I don't hate it now."
"Now?"
"Hmm... Daddy Chen is holding me."
Chen Yuanchuan suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He stood there, holding that small, soft body, without moving for a long time.
He raised his head and looked at the vast expanse of clouds on the horizon, his eyes slightly red.
Then he chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Like Zhang Xiangyang, he was also an orphan of a martyr, but there was a fundamental difference between them.
Zhang Xiangyang now has his father holding him and Zhang Yunxia's love.
He will have a home and loving parents.
Chen Yuanchuan lowered his head and looked at the pair of dark, bright eyes in his arms.
"Xiangyang, would you like to let Chen's father be your father? From now on, you can live with Mommy and Daddy, okay?"
Zhang Xiangyang looked at him, her eyes sparkling, her little mouth pursed, and then she nodded vigorously.
"Um!"
"Okay! Let's go home tomorrow, okay?" Chen Yuanchuan said with a smile, but his voice was a little hoarse.
"Great! I'm going home with Mom and Dad tomorrow!"
Zhang Xiangyang suddenly raised his little hand and cheered excitedly.
Zhang Yunxia, who was walking behind, saw what was happening in front of her, covered her mouth, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Chen Yuanchuan took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket.
This is a document he had someone handle, a letter of authorization, which roughly states that Zhang Xiangyang will be transferred back to the orphanage in Harbin, and his personnel file will be received there.
He had secretly prepared this two weeks ago.
"Will Daddy fold you a paper airplane?"
"Mmm!" Zhang Xiangyang nodded excitedly.
The paper was turned and folded in Chen Yuanchuan's hands, gradually changing its shape until it became a white paper airplane.
Chen Yuanchuan put it to his lips and breathed on it gently.
Then he threw it with force—
"Let's fly!"
The paper airplane, carried by the wind, traced a light arc, spinning and gliding in the wind, flying higher and higher.
"Wow, it's flying so high!" Zhang Xiangyang looked up, his eyes following the small shadow.
"I want to fly too!" He opened his arms and swayed like an airplane in Chen Yuanchuan's arms.
Chen Yuanchuan hugged him and swayed with him.
A gentle breeze blows, carrying the scent of fresh grass and the aroma of distant cooking smoke.
The clouds on the horizon, layer upon layer, resembled spread-out cotton candy.
The paper airplane wobbled precariously.
It flew away, carrying with it the story of that orphan.
And so it landed, carrying the child's future with it.