Having his thoughts exposed by his uncle, Jiang Chengzhou flew into a red-faced rage out of embarrassment. "What about you? I saw you holding Auntie's hand! She tried to pull away, but you forced her. Have you no shame!"
"Hehe," Linlin giggled, covering her small mouth. "Daddy is shameless."
Su Lang, thick-skinned as ever, simply placed the hand holding his wife's right on the table. "What, are you jealous?"
"Auntie!" Jiang Chengzhou threw a fit of impotent rage, stomping his feet. "Look at Uncle, he's so annoying!"
Being intimate in front of the children, even if it was just holding hands, made Lin Zhilan blush slightly. However, the man held on so tightly that she really couldn't break free for the moment.
In the end, it was Linlin who came to uphold justice for her brother.
She skillfully slid down from her chair and went to pry her father's hand away.
This time Su Lang didn't resist, and Linlin successfully separated her parents' hands.
Holding her mother's hand with one of hers, she waved at Jiang Chengzhou with the other. "Brother, come here, you can hold it."
The adults spoke too fast, so Linlin could only passively process the words she understood.
She thought her brother was angry because their mother was holding their father's hand instead of his.
At these words, Su Lang choked back a cough and then burst into laughter.
Linlin was confused; the only ones blushing were Lin Zhilan and Jiang Chengzhou.
Lin Zhilan deeply empathized with her eldest nephew—this father and daughter duo was simply too exasperating.
She picked up her daughter, stuffed her into Su Lang's arms, and pushed the three of them toward the door. "Chengzhou is too... robust. Take him out for some exercise, and walk our daughter while you're at it."
Knowing his wife had been busy writing lately, Su Lang naturally agreed.
Carrying his daughter and leading Jiang Chengzhou, Su Lang arrived at the military base's outer training ground.
Through a thick wall, the synchronized sounds of marching footsteps and shouted slogans could still be heard from the other side.
There were a few people strolling on this side of the field as well. The sky was getting dark, making it hard to see who they were.
Su Lang didn't pay them much mind. He led Jiang Chengzhou onto the track. "Run. Give me ten laps to start."
The military's standard track was 400 meters per lap—a uniform specification. Ten laps meant 4,000 meters. Compared to the soldiers' frequent multi-kilometer marches, this was just a small figure.
Jiang Chengzhou didn't argue. He did a brief warm-up and started running.
Linlin struggled to get down, wanting to chase after her brother.
Su Lang took slow, leisurely strides, following closely behind her.
Jiang Chengzhou ran the first few laps very fast, flying past them.
Realizing she couldn't catch up to her brother, Linlin gave up the chase. She tugged at her father's pant leg and walked slowly, waiting for her brother to pass her again, at which point she would let out a loud laugh.
"Su Lang, brought the kids out to play?"
Two figures ahead had stopped for quite a while, waiting for them to approach.
"Division Commander, Commissar," Su Lang saluted.
Division Commander Qin and Commissar Zhuang returned the salute.
Su Lang looked down and saw his daughter mimicking their salute. Her fingers were a bit crooked, almost poking her eye.
He smiled and reminded the two leaders, "Division Commander, Commissar, we have a little soldier down here too."
Division Commander Qin and Commissar Zhuang looked down, couldn't help but chuckle, and quickly returned her salute.
Su Lang picked his daughter up. "Say hello to Grandpa Qin and Grandpa Zhuang."
"Grandpa Qin~ Grandpa Zhuang~"
"Good, good."
The two grandpas patted all their pockets but couldn't find a single piece of candy. They could only say, "Grandpa didn't bring any candy this time. We'll give you some next time, okay?"
"Okay." Linlin hugged her father's neck, not fussing or complaining, answering obediently.
Commissar Zhuang glanced again at Jiang Chengzhou, who was still on the track, and praised, "The two kids in your family are quite wonderful."
Su Lang smiled proudly. "Our Doctor Lin teaches them well."
Division Commander Qin and Commissar Zhuang were left speechless.
Nowadays, who wouldn't say Su Lang was lucky?
He didn't marry until he was thirty, but when he did, he married a fairy.
She had medical skills, a good job, and was even one of the leading figures at the pharmaceutical factory.
Su Lang was already highly capable, and now, because of Comrade Lin Zhilan, the military region leaders valued him even more.
As long as he didn't make any major mistakes, a stable and promising future was laid out right in front of him.
Commissar Zhuang had recently received quite a few letters from Elder Jiang in the capital, but he never again agreed to help persuade Su Lang to send Jiang Chengzhou back.
Anyone with eyes could see it.
No matter how many connections Elder Jiang had, he was ultimately retired.
Su Lang, on the other hand, was still young and would only rise higher in the future.
Comrade Lin Zhilan was also highly capable. It was hard to say how far the pharmaceutical factory would go in the future, but she would absolutely be a top-tier contributor.
With such an uncle and aunt, Jiang Chengzhou staying with them was far better than going back to fight over scraps with his stepmother and younger brother.
Besides, Lin Zhilan was famous in the family compound for being generous with her money; even their own wives would talk about it when they went home.
Although many people called her a spendthrift, which family wasn't secretly envious?
Lin Zhilan thought Jiang Chengzhou was fat, but Division Commander Qin and Commissar Zhuang felt it was a look of prosperity, proving he lived a good life.
After some casual chat, Division Commander Qin shared some bad news.
"Because of the typhoons last year, the foreign navies behaved themselves for a while. Now that the weather is calm again, their warships and planes seem to be looking to provoke us once more."
"Although our country's navy and air force still lag far behind other nations, we must respond to these provocations to make it clear that our national territory is inviolable and not to be trifled with."
Su Lang's brows furrowed slightly as his expression turned serious. "I understand."
Division Commander Qin patted his shoulder. "I'm telling you in advance so you can reassure your family. Commander Gu places great importance on your family relationships, you know."
Being a military wife wasn't easy, especially for families of the navy.
Even if they followed the army, their husbands would spend nearly half the year drifting at sea.
The heavy burdens of the household all fell on the women's shoulders, which was no simple task.
By the time Jiang Chengzhou reached his seventh lap, he was panting heavily, and his speed had slowed down.
Su Lang walked over to him, teaching him how to adjust his breathing and pace.
Jiang Chengzhou listened attentively and persevered to finish the last three laps.
When he finished, he lay flat on the ground, unable to even crawl up, let alone walk.
Linlin tried to pull him up, but she couldn't budge him.
Su Lang cast his eyes down at him and ordered coldly, "Stand up!"
His attitude was overly strict. Jiang Chengzhou froze for a moment, then pouted, "Uncle, pull me up."
Su Lang sighed inwardly. He hauled the boy up, hoisted him onto his back, and then picked up his daughter.
"Jiang Chengzhou, when I'm not home, can you come here to exercise by yourself?"
Jiang Chengzhou, who had been making funny faces at his sister, immediately caught on. "Uncle, are you going back on the ship?"
Su Lang said in a low voice, "Yes."
Jiang Chengzhou choked up slightly and rested his head on his uncle's shoulder. "I can do it. Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Auntie and my sister."
Su Lang let out a long breath. "Uncle thanks you."
Jiang Chengzhou shook his head. "We're family, there's no need to say thanks."
"Let me say it!" Linlin was getting sleepy, dozing off in her father's arms, but upon hearing the word "say," she immediately blurted out a sentence.
She had started talking late. At two or three years old, she could only pop out a few words. After coming to the island and seeing more people, she began speaking more. Now she was right in the middle of a language explosion phase and loved mimicking what others said.
