The next day, Lin Yiqiao eagerly returned to deliver food again.
However, the guard informed her that the military district was now under lockdown and no one was allowed in.
Lin Yiqiao instinctively felt this was aimed at her, but she wasn’t annoyed. She smiled and handed the food to Xiao Hu.
Lin Yiqiao walked to the main gate of the military district and spotted Sister Liu, whom she had met on the train earlier, talking to a guard from a distance.
“Sister Liu?” Lin Yiqiao tentatively called out.
“Comrade Xiao Lin? Quick, help me explain to this young comrade. My little niece is here to see her uncle.”
Only then did Lin Yiqiao notice a little girl of about eight or nine years old standing nearby. Dressed plainly, the girl remained calm and composed while Sister Liu argued with the guard, her demeanor showing a maturity beyond her years.
The girl’s father was also there, looking like an honest, middle-aged man.
“I’m here to deliver food to my uncle too,” Lin Yiqiao said with a smile, bending down slightly to speak to the little girl. “Little friend, who is your uncle?”
Zhao Xinxin glanced at her indifferently, a hint of disdain in her eyes. “Qi Jun.”
Lin Yiqiao paused. Qi Jun?!
The man from earlier?
“Well, he’s not exactly her uncle. Xinxin’s aunt, Zhao Hui, was Qi Jun’s fiancée. She sacrificed her life two years ago in the Changping earthquake,” Sister Liu explained.
“He is my uncle,” Zhao Xinxin said, looking at Sister Liu.
“Alright, alright, he is. But can you get him to let us in?”
Zhao Xinxin didn’t respond further. Instead, she turned to the guard and said, “Uncle Soldier, could you please call Regimental Commander Qi and inform him? He really is my uncle.”
The guard hesitated. “Regimental Commander Qi dislikes being disturbed by outsiders.”
“You can make the call, and I’ll speak to him. I won’t put you in a difficult position.”
“…Alright then.” The guard dialed the number to Qi Jun’s office.
Lin Yiqiao observed the little girl from the side.
She wasn’t bothered by Qi Jun’s past engagement. The man she had her eyes on, she would have him no matter what.
As for this little girl…
She was definitely not normal. Lin Yiqiao’s intuition made her curious about Zhao Xinxin.
Qi Jun’s call finally connected. Before he could speak, Zhao Xinxin quickly grabbed the receiver. “Uncle, uncle!”
Her voice, now lively and excited, was a stark contrast to her earlier calm tone.
“Uncle? Who is this?” Qi Jun’s tone remained unchanged.
“It’s Xinxin, Uncle. Didn’t Auntie ever mention me to you?”
“Your aunt is? Sorry, I haven’t heard of you.”
Lin Yiqiao caught a glimpse of Zhao Xinxin’s face darkening for a moment before quickly returning to normal. “My aunt is Zhao Hui. Now you know who I am, right? Um… Uncle, I have something to discuss with you. Could you let us in?”
There was a moment of silence on Qi Jun’s end before he finally replied, “Alright, pass the phone to the guard.”
After taking the phone, the guard responded with two “Yes, sirs.”
He then led Zhao Xinxin and her father inside.
“Sister Liu, aren’t you going in with them?” Lin Yiqiao asked.
“I’m not going in to embarrass myself,” she said, pulling Lin Yiqiao to sit down. “You don’t know this, but Regimental Commander Qi was introduced to Zhao Hui. She was a doctor at the military hospital. They hadn’t reached the stage of discussing marriage before she sacrificed her life. Regimental Commander Qi is loyal and sentimental, so he never looked for anyone else.”
“Still calling him uncle, they really have the nerve. When Zhao Hui sacrificed herself, they acted like nothing happened, and now they’re bringing the whole family from the countryside to show up at the door—they really aren’t afraid of losing face.”
“Ah, they’re just kids, they don’t understand these things,” Lin Yiqiao said with a smile.
“She’s not clueless,” Liu Yun caught herself saying too much.
“By the way, Xiao Lin, is your uncle also in the military?”
“Yes, he’s the head of the logistics department.”
“I thought so, we’re not in the same compound. Well, in a couple of days after their family leaves, I’ll definitely treat you to a meal.”
“Great, I’d love to try your cooking, Sister Liu,” Lin Yiqiao replied with a smile, glancing toward the military district.
What could Zhao Xinxin possibly want from Qi Jun?
“Sister Liu, I have some things to take care of and should head back now. Let’s catch up another day,” she said with a smile.
“Alright, alright, you should go. Staying here is just feeding the mosquitoes,” Liu Yun urged her.
Lin Yiqiao turned and left.
The evening breeze was truly pleasant, refreshing and clean.
The capital was laid out in a neat, orderly grid, with government offices every few steps. Guards at the gates held gleaming rifles, and people coming and going were serious and focused.
A massive state apparatus was operating right here within the four walls of the capital.
Lin Yiqiao walked along, kicking pebbles as she went.
If she wasn’t mistaken, that small building at the center of the compound must be Qi Jun’s home.
So young.
A regiment commander?
Lin Yiqiao couldn’t help but smile.
The capital was truly captivating.