Gong Xue glanced at her mother walking in the crowd with her suitcase.
A day and night on the train failed to diminish her military temperament, but instead made her look more heroic and upright.
Mom saw her too.
Wave to her.
Gong Xue squeezed through the crowd, rushed to her mother, and threw herself into her arms.
"Xiao Xue."
She hugged her mother's waist tightly and breathed in her mother's scent greedily.
It is a breath that only exists in dreams, a familiar, distant, and reassuring smell.
"Where's dad?" Gong Xue suddenly realized that something was missing.
Her mother hugged her shoulders tightly, and there was a hint of guilt in her eyes that were very similar to her daughter's.
"Your father has an important mission and won't be able to come back for the time being."
Can’t come back?!
dad.
Can't come back.
Although her mother was right within her reach, clinging tightly to her, Gong Xue still felt disappointed and sad.
At the reunion dinner, Mr. Gong's mood was not high. Everyone guessed that it was because his eldest son failed to come back.
Gong Xue's second uncle and second aunt helped the nanny Aunt Tian prepare a table of delicious dishes. Gong Xue's mother felt sorry for herself and took the initiative to go to the kitchen to clean up after the meal.
Gong Tao and Gong Xue were playing in the living room with the new game console brought back by Gong Xue's mother, while Mr. Gong was accompanied by his second son and his family to drink tea and talk.
The game console is the latest model, and it was a gift that Gong Xue’s father had bought a long time ago. He originally planned to clear the game with his precious daughter when he went home to visit relatives, but who knew that God’s plan was not as good as man’s, and he was blocked by a special military mission.
Mr. Gong's mood was slightly better than at the dinner table.
A better performance is that he has been quietly listening to the second daughter-in-law's long-winded talk about how housing prices in the market have increased and how expensive they are, without saying a word for more than ten minutes.
"Dad, please tell me that the army unit is raising funds to build a building, should we or not?" The second aunt changed the topic and talked about the focus of this trip to Mobei.
Gong Laobai frowned deeply, pursed his lips, and did not reply immediately.
Gong Xue's second uncle, Gong Mingjun, quietly poked his lover on the back, hinting her not to be unhappy tonight.
After all the words had been said, Gong Xue's second aunt could not stop.
Anyway, before coming here, the couple had reached a consensus that the house payment would only count if Mr. Gong, who had retired from the rank of lieutenant general, squeezed the house payment.
She curled her lips and calmly shook off her husband's hand.
"Dad, you know Mingjun's situation best. He is a technician, and I am the financial manager of a supermarket. Plus Taotao will go to a private middle school next year. Our financial situation really means that we cannot afford a new building.
House payment. Look, can you help us?" If she can afford it, she won't be stupid enough to pay for it herself. It's cheaper for Gong Xue's parents to eat and drink for free at the Gong family and still occupy the house.
Mr. Gong's answers always have military characteristics.
He said: "If you can't afford it, you don't have to buy it. It doesn't mean that you don't have a place to live."
As soon as Aunt Gong Xue heard what the old man meant, her face changed color.
Regardless of her husband's obstruction, she pointed at the only male grandson of the Gong family, Gong Tao, in front of the old man, and said, "Dad, you can't be too partial. Xiaoxue is your granddaughter, but Taotao is not? He is the one."
Your grandson, why should I buy a house, but for Taotao! Dad, to say the least, when you get older and come to Linshi to retire, we will always have to make room for you, right..."
Gong Xue suddenly raised her head and interjected: "Grandpa, I'll take care of you."