novelraw Chapter 101: Peace Charm
Chapter 101: Peace Charm
"Then let’s play secretly when Dad’s not around."
Shanshan blinked, then suddenly lowered her voice and leaned close to his ear.
The moment Ling Zhiwei heard this, his head started shaking like a bobblehead on a spring.
"Are you kidding me?! Don’t you know how terrifying Uncle is? He remembers exactly how many pieces of candy you ate last night! He can even tell you the color of the wrappers! I’m not risking it. I’ve got a long life ahead of me."
While Ling Anxun had his back turned, heading back inside to pour some water,
Ling Zhiwei quickly propped himself up, lowered his voice, and grabbed Shanshan’s sleeve to start airing his grievances.
"Last time, I snuck a small piece of chocolate and hid it under my pillow. He caught me red-handed and made me hold a horse stance for a whole hour! My legs almost gave out! And... and another time, I hid snacks under my bed, and he actually pulled them out to count them. He even knew half a bag of chips was missing! Don’t you think he’s psychic or something?"
Shanshan’s eyes went wide as saucers as she listened.
She slowly turned her head, carefully glancing at her father’s back as he walked into the house. Her heart couldn’t help but beat a little faster.
"Fourth Brother, let’s just play in secret! Dad knows I’m the most well-behaved one, anyway."
Ling Zhiwei shot up from the ground, a look of pure shock on his face.
"Then what about me?! What am I, the scapegoat?! If we get caught, I’ll be the one getting punished! You’ll get off scot-free, laughing behind my back!"
"Oh, Fourth Brother, you just need to hide far away. Hide in the yard or go upstairs. Just don’t let Dad catch you."
Shanshan patted his shoulder.
"Easy for you to say!"
Ling Zhiwei rolled his eyes, his tone indignant.
"So I don’t go home? Where am I supposed to go? Sleep on the street? Crash at the neighbor’s house? Have you even considered my situation? I’m a man with a family!"
After that, Ling Zhiwei had nothing more to say.
He lay back down on the ground, staring blankly at the sky.
"Alright, just leave me alone for a bit. I’m wiped out. Mentally and physically exhausted."
From that day on, whenever Ling Anxun was present, Ling Zhiwei would immediately drop all his clowning around and sit quietly to the side.
Although Shanshan found it a bit boring and the yard felt empty without her Fourth Brother to roughhouse with,
she was glad her dad was by her side.
And Ling Anxun finally stopped staring blankly at his daughter’s photos all day.
A sudden, catastrophic disaster shattered this tranquility.
Late at night, a shrill ring from the telephone cut through the silence.
Ling Anxun, who had just lain down, was jolted awake by the sound.
He quickly answered the phone. The urgent, stern voice of his superior came through the receiver.
"Ling Anxun, return to your post immediately! A major flood has caused multiple levees to break. You are needed to lead the disaster relief operations. No delays!"
Ling Anxun’s expression tightened. He swung out of bed and started dressing without a second word.
Hearing the commotion from the next room, Ling Zhenkang immediately pushed the door open, seeing at once that something was wrong.
"Old Yang! Quick! Pack Anxun’s combat uniform and first-aid kit! And grab two sets of clean clothes!"
"I just heard about it. The situation is severe. Multiple towns are flooded, communications are down, and people are trapped. Now is the time for you to step up."
Ling Anxun was already fully dressed, his expression firm and his eyes resolute.
He turned to face his father, straightened his back, and swiftly raised his right hand in a formal, standard military salute.
"Yes, sir! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"
With that, he picked up his backpack and strode toward the door.
A black military vehicle was already waiting outside the courtyard.
He pulled open the car door, his figure disappearing into the darkness.
The old couple stood by the window, their hearts aching as they watched their son’s retreating figure.
But even so, they forced themselves to stand tall.
This was Ling Anxun’s duty, and it was also his choice.
As a soldier, he was destined not to be by his parents’ side like the son of an ordinary family.
The car had just started, its engine letting out a low rumble.
Just then, a small figure darted out from behind the bushes at the side.
"Shanshan!"
Ling Zhenkang recognized his granddaughter at once.
The other relatives and neighbors, startled by the sudden turn of events, all rushed out of their houses.
"Shanshan, come back! Don’t run! Your father is going on a mission, he’s not abandoning you! He’s a soldier with a duty to save people on the front lines! He’ll be back soon! Be good!"
Ling Zhenkang shouted as he chased after her, his voice already growing hoarse.
But the little girl seemed not to hear him at all, her eyes fixed on the military vehicle that was about to drive away.
"Daddy! Daddy! Don’t go! Don’t go!"
Shanshan’s voice pierced the night.
Ling Anxun froze.
"Stop the car!"
Ling Anxun all but roared the words.
The driver, Xiao Zhou, jumped in fright but reacted instantly, slamming on the brakes.
The tires shrieked as they scraped violently against the ground.
The vehicle lurched to a stop. Before it had even settled, Ling Anxun had already thrown the door open and jumped out without hesitation.
He rushed to Shanshan’s side in a few strides, quickly dropping to his knees just in time to catch the small, sobbing body.
Shanshan buried her face in his chest, her small hands clutching the hem of his uniform.
"How did you wake up? Why did you run out so late? Did you have a nightmare?"
Ling Anxun wrapped one arm around his daughter, gently patting her back with the other.
"Daddy’s just going away for a few days on a mission. I’ll be back very soon. Don’t be scared, okay?"
"HUFF... HUFF..."
Shanshan panted, pressing her face against his shoulder and shaking her head as she sobbed.
"Daddy, take this with you... you have to take it..."
She lifted her small face, her other hand trembling as she opened it. In her palm lay a smooth Jade Talisman.
"This is..."
Ling Anxun paused, slightly taken aback.
"A peace charm. Grandma gave it to me. She said it keeps you safe."
Shanshan looked up, her eyes misty with tears.
"Keep it close to you. Don’t... don’t lose it... understand? You have to come back safe and sound..."
She could barely get the words out, her speech halting and broken.
But her eyes were shining with astonishing brightness.
Ling Anxun looked at her deeply, his throat tight. Finally, he gave a solemn nod.
"Okay. Daddy promises you. I’ll keep it close to my heart and never let it go."
He carefully took the Jade Talisman from her.
Then, he slowly opened the front of his uniform and carefully tucked the Jade Talisman into an inner pocket.
The one closest to his heart.
Only then did Shanshan break into a smile, tears still streaking her face.
She reached out a small hand and gently patted the spot on his chest.
"Mhm! Daddy has to be safe and come home soon. I’ll wait for you. I won’t cry."
A few of the elders quietly wiped their eyes and silently stepped back, giving the father and daughter space for their final farewell.
The disaster had struck suddenly and fiercely.
In the midst of chaos and crisis, there were always some whose minds weren’t on saving people, but on how to use the opportunity to gain attention.
Cao Daqiang was one of them.
He pulled every string he could, called in favors, and networked relentlessly. Finally, through a distant relative, he connected with a deputy director at the provincial department. By constantly pestering him, Cao Daqiang secured a position that held the promise of a promotion.
It wasn’t a front-line role, but it was a key position that offered high visibility.
He had always been a braggart at his unit, constantly claiming he could handle anything.
This had made a strong impression on a superior, who remembered his words.
When the disaster struck and candidates were being recommended up the chain of command, that same superior nominated him by name.