August 1st, Thursday, Army Day.
This was a great day. Throughout China, activities supporting and loving the military were being carried out, with old and new military films playing in rotation on mainstream media.
Inside the Xuan Jia Squad stationed base, Meng Huai was organizing his military uniform, while Tao Qiao'er beside him was carefully checking the contents of her briefcase.
"Oh? Has the sun risen from the west? Our Commander Meng has activities today too?"
A familiar voice came through. A major female officer walked into Meng Huai's office with elegant steps. If not for the military uniform she wore, this walking style could easily be associated with urban career women from movies.
"Commander Meng, I'll go prepare the car first."
Seeing Han Xiao from the Embroidered Uniform Squad coming to visit again, Tao Qiao'er quickly and tactfully left the room.
The rumors that this major female officer from a prestigious Shadow Arrow Force family might have feelings for their squad leader were no longer news within the Xuan Jia Squad.
"Han Xiao, what are you here for again... I heard the Embroidered Uniform Squad ambushed a vampire Baron in L City, Y Province last week and failed?"
Meng Huai didn't even look at her directly, a cold sneer at the corner of his mouth.
"Yes, a joint operation with the Southern Surveillance District Mobile Squad. We seized large quantities of blood-boiling drugs at the scene, plus over fifty thousand milliliters of smuggled foreign blood, all rare blood types, reportedly from India... I only sent a support company there this time."
Han Xiao sat down in Meng Huai's position without changing expression, removing her military cap while smiling at the cold, rigid man before her: "At the Baron level, there are many ways to defeat them, but killing them is very difficult. Whichever squad manages to kill a vampire Baron would earn at least a collective second-class merit."
"Did you come here today just to show off your achievements to me? Are you that free?"
After adjusting his tie and finally putting on his military cap, Meng Huai stood straight, displaying the unique commanding presence and handsome bearing of a soldier.
"If I wanted to show off, I wouldn't bother with weaklings like the Xuan Jia Squad... Fine, I'll stop teasing you. I came today to give you advance warning. My father has internal rumors from headquarters. I don't know what they analyzed, but they want to list Xia Yan and Gu Yao separately as top priority targets, upgrading the mission level to B-class. The Central Surveillance District will also send an independent team to support the Western Surveillance District. This is like slapping our faces."
Looking at the tall, handsome, and upright figure before her, Han Xiao actually felt a bit dazed, but only for a second before turning her head away, sharing the news she had gotten from her elders.
"Hmm, it's all because of that big meat mass." Meng Huai wasn't surprised by this insider information at all. "Even without headquarters making any decisions, I would go all out to investigate and personally capture Xia Yan."
"Hehe, this is no longer just your Xuan Jia Squad's business—it's a matter of face for the entire Western Surveillance District! Like I said before, let's cooperate and get this face back quickly. This is also Chief of Staff Zhen's intention."
Chief of Staff Zhen, a high-level leader who had just taken office in the Western Surveillance District two months ago, had been the Xuan Jia Squad leader fifteen years ago. So in terms of lineage, Meng Huai should belong to his direct line!
"Commander Meng, we've contacted the families of Xia Yan and Gu Yao. Several leaders from the city government and W District government will also attend. Should we leave now?"
At this moment, the office door opened slightly, and Tao Qiao'er's voice squeezed through.
"Oh? You're going to Xia Yan and Gu Yao's families? Take me with you, take me with you!"
Han Xiao quickly grabbed her military cap, as impetuous as always.
...
...
W District was also one of C City's earliest old urban areas, rich in cultural and tourism resources.
The social welfare adoption system that once relied on government funding had become increasingly inadequate in the rapid social changes of the new century. Many times, the W District Orphan Welfare Institute had to raise funds themselves to complete software and hardware upgrades, and even provide for the children's basic needs.
The orphans here, regardless of why they had originally become abandoned by their respective families, would more or less give back to this big family that had given them new life and nurturing comfort after they grew up and left. Xia Yan and Gu Yao were no exception.
Since Xia Yan joined the Shadow Arrow Force, his annual donations to the welfare institute had been over one hundred thousand yuan, making old Director Grandma Jiang both proud and sad.
Gu Yao, on the other hand, belonged to the type who didn't do well after entering society and actually relied on Xia Yan's support to establish himself in the big city. But over the past three years, he had also donated over ten thousand yuan in total.
When filling out family contact information and addresses, both Xia Yan and Gu Yao had coincidentally written down old Director Jiang's name and the welfare institute's address. In their hearts, this was their family and home.
According to Shadow Arrow Force regulations, if accidents occurred, subsequent compensation would follow the procedures based on the information filled out in the files.
The current Director Jiang was already over seventy years old, long past the legal retirement age, but still came to work daily as a volunteer. The staff at all levels of the welfare institute still treated her like the director.
Now, the old lady had a face full of sorrow, accompanied by several welfare institute supervisors, standing dazedly outside the main gate, watching the bustling street and quietly shedding tears.
A few days ago, when city and district government staff appeared before her and confirmed Xia Yan and Gu Yao's identity information, she had a premonition and immediately collapsed to the ground.
These two children, who had entered the welfare institute almost from birth, were the most memorable people in her mind.
One had experienced rebirth after leukemia, while the other had congenital defects and underwent several corrective surgeries. After entering society, both children had the deepest feelings for the welfare institute and for her.
Several cars and a TV station bus arrived in front of the welfare institute. Military personnel, reporters, and civil servants stood as a trinity before old Grandma Jiang.
"Director Jiang, Comrades Xia Yan and Gu Yao heroically sacrificed their lives several months ago during a joint border military-police operation to protect people's lives and property and maintain social stability... I represent leaders at all city levels to express our condolences to you. You have cultivated such excellent young people for the country, worthy of all our learning."
The city government representative spoke formulaic words of comfort, followed by the district government representative, and finally it was Meng Huai and Tao Qiao'er's turn to step forward.
"Old lady, I'm sorry..."
Meng Huai stood straight with his eyes tightly closed.
Tao Qiao'er knew her squad leader's personality wasn't suited for such occasions, so she quickly stepped forward to support the old lady's arm: "Grandma Jiang, although Xia Yan and Gu Yao have sacrificed their lives, we will never forget them. You must also take care of your health—there are still many children who need your care!"
Looking emptily at the important figures passing before her, old Mrs. Jiang didn't hear a word of what they said, just silently shedding tears.
The martyr's compensation totaling over six million yuan shocked even the TV station staff responsible for filming. The official welfare institute leaders standing behind old Director Jiang all showed excited expressions. (TN: $835573 @ 06/25)
Such a large sum of money, according to Xia Yan and Gu Yao's personal registration before their sacrifice, would all become old Director Jiang's personal property!
But what kind of person was old Director Jiang?
Old Mrs. Jiang had never married and had no children. She had devoted her entire life to building the welfare institute and caring for the children, saving almost nothing for herself. This large sum of money would very likely still be used by old Director Jiang for the welfare institute!
Han Xiao didn't care at all about how these various people performed, but instead watched the inside and outside of the welfare institute gate with interest, looking thoughtful. She even specifically chatted with welfare institute supervisors, inquiring in detail about some old stories concerning old Mrs. Jiang, Xia Yan, and Gu Yao.
Dozens of meters away from the welfare institute, across the street, a black-haired girl in a dress was staring blankly at the crowd gathered at the welfare institute gate in the distance.
Hehe, Xiao Yao and I have sacrificed our lives and been expelled from the normal world... That's good, at least we weren't labeled as deserters.
Commander Meng is cold, but he's not stingy with comrades' families. As martyrs, we can receive substantial state compensation. Director Grandma can get this money, which fulfills our wishes.
Wiping her face, Jiang Yan quietly left.
...
On the way back to base, Han Xiao kept writing and drawing in her notebook, wearing a mysterious smile.
Meng Huai returned to his usual coldness, looking out the car window without saying a word.
"You know all this is fake, just routine. At least it's fair to their families. Don't really think of them as dead."
Han Xiao nudged Meng Huai's arm and waved the notebook in her hand: "I have a bold capture plan. Want to hear it?"
"No!"
Meng Huai didn't move his head and directly closed his eyes.
"You! The Xuan Jia Squad is really cursed for eight lifetimes to have a squad leader like you!"
"Hehe, you should get off at the intersection ahead. Major Han, take care, I won’t see you off.”
...
...
Leaning against the headboard, Jiang Yao's still-unhealed body trembled slightly, her face very pale.
"Sis... we've been removed from the records, haven't we?"
"Yes, Commander Meng was very generous. He directly classified us as martyrs, so the compensation will be more, and Grandma Jiang's life will be better."
Jiang Yan kept her head down, peeling an orange, not daring to look at Jiang Yao's expression at this moment, or rather, not wanting to let her see her own expression.
"Being a martyr is good. They say it brings glory to ancestors... Too bad, I don't even know who my ancestors are..."
Jiang Yao began to cry softly, tears dripping onto the blanket.
Looking up at Jiang Yao with her runny nose and tears, Jiang Yan's heart was also full of bitterness... She reached out and pulled Jiang Yao's upper body into her embrace, just like old Director Jiang used to hold her young self, the kind that could warm the heart.
This was the first time in her life making this gesture, rather than the masculine shoulder-patting type of comfort.