A stunning beauty arrived on the island; she invented everything from childcare to babysitting.

The martial law was lifted, but the soldiers who had left did not return immediately. It was two days later that Anning saw the warships sailing in from afar.

"Let's go, let's go to the dock to get our seafood."

Zhao Xuemei rushed over from afar.

She originally intended to check if her husband had returned, but halfway there she heard the news that someone was going to collect seafood, so she immediately returned to inform Anning.

"This time it should be a great victory, they say each person can receive five jin! I don't know the specifics, or when it will be announced."

An Ning casually closed the door and replied, "It should be soon. The soldiers have all returned, and the newspaper should be out in the next day or two."

"Your partner should be back by now, right? I heard many of those who went on patrol came back to celebrate."

"I don't know. Commander Li didn't tell me anything, he just told me to stay here."

Zhao Xuemei was extremely surprised: "You didn't say anything? According to the rules of our army, family visits are only allowed for one or two months. More than a month has already passed. If your husband doesn't come back soon, you'll have to go back."

An Ning shrugged: "We'll see when the time comes. If I really have to leave, I might rent a place from a fellow villager and wait there."

"That's strange, they usually don't stay on missions for this long! Do you know when your man left?"

"Commander Li didn't say."

Zhao Xuemei and An Ning both started having toothaches.

That's the downside of being a military wife. Every time her husband goes out, how long he's gone, what he's doing, and when he'll be back are all classified information that can't be revealed.

Many people think this regulation is outrageous. In reality, once spies obtain this information, they are likely to deduce the soldiers' route from the mission time and, by connecting it with recent events in various places, obtain intelligence related to the operation.

Moreover, this leak of intelligence was not intentional on the part of military personnel, so even if it is punished, it will be difficult to convince everyone.

Therefore, it's best to take a clean break: as long as the military dependents know nothing, they cannot leak relevant intelligence.

"Alright, what do you want this time?"

"Let's go with the shrimp. We can't get many of those even when we're out beachcombing. Five pounds at once will be enough to satisfy our cravings. We also need to buy some more squid; we've almost finished the ones we made before."

"So fast? I still have more than ten pounds left!"

"I ate some myself and gave some away. I might as well make more this time, since dried squid can be stored for a long time anyway."

"Okay. I'll make a lot too, and send some home for my family to try later."

"..."

······

The command center is located at the highest point of the warship.

Li Bowen and Song Wenyuan did not disembark with the others, but instead leaned against the window to enjoy the breeze.

In mid-January, it's the dead of winter everywhere, but on the island, the temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius, and the wind is not only not cold, but quite comfortable.

Li Bowen looked unshaven, and Song Wenyuan wasn't much better off, his face was rather pale.

Looking at the military wives below who were happily coming to collect their seafood, Li Bowen spoke first: "Is your injury alright? If there's a problem, go to the hospital to get it checked out as soon as possible. Don't let any aftereffects cause you to say that I, as a leader, have neglected my subordinates."

Song Wenyuan's hand instinctively reached for his shoulder, but he quickly put it down: "It's nothing, it's a penetrating wound, it didn't hit any vital organs, the army doctor has already treated it for me."

"Just know your limits." Li Bowen stopped looking at him. "Your wife is here."

Upon hearing his superior's words, Song Wenyuan immediately began searching for that familiar figure among the crowd below.

Li Bowen continued, "This time, we sank a warship and killed so many people, so the monkeys shouldn't be coming back anytime soon. The United States is being held back by many parties and is stretched thin, so it can't afford to take care of them. I promised you before that you could take leave after the medal ceremony and spend some time with your wife and daughter. She's only asked about you once since you joined the army, and she hasn't asked since. Be careful she doesn't run off with someone else."

Song Wenyuan: "...I understand."

"I'm just trying to be helpful, what's with that expression?" Li Bowen raised an eyebrow. "You still owe me two thousand yuan!"

"I'll give it to you when I get back."

"You little brat, do you believe I'll charge you with disrespecting your superiors?"

"Do not believe."

"I see you don't want to apply for military dependent status anymore, and you don't want to know what happened in your family, right?"

"Commander, I was wrong!"

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Li Bowen was finally satisfied and stopped joking: "What are your plans next? Your wife doesn't seem to recognize you yet, does she? If she finds out you're pretending to be someone else and seeing her, you're in big trouble."

Thinking about this matter, Song Wenyuan was actually quite troubled.

He actually tried many times, but the other party really didn't recognize him. What could he do?

He touched his nose: "Tell someone not to tell her I'm back. I'll continue to contact her as Chen Hai and see what she thinks of me. If she doesn't dislike me, I'll explain the situation to her directly."

What if she has a problem with you?

"Then let's think of another way." Song Wenyuan shrugged.

"You good-for-nothing! Get out of here. Go back and tidy yourself up. You look like a wild man. Don't scare your wife and daughter away."

"That's not the case. I'm still slightly better than you."

After finishing his speech, Song Wenyuan quickly left the command center.

He had thought he wouldn't be able to reunite with his wife and daughter anytime soon, but he never expected the mission to end so suddenly.

After Song Wenyuan walked away, Li Bowen realized that the kid had just said he was ugly.

His grandma’s!

If he doesn't find a chance to teach him a lesson when he gets back, he'll never believe it!

······

In the family quarters, Anning took five catties of shrimp back to her residence. Just like last time, the squid she bought would be delivered by soldiers.

The little girl, who had been playing outside, returned early and waited for Anning behind her.

Upon seeing her, he ran over like lightning and put his arm around her with one hand.

After a month of rest, her health has improved considerably.

The child looked up at her and asked, "Mommy, is Daddy coming back soon?"

Anning patted his head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Who did you listen to?"

"That's what they all say."

The child only hugged her briefly before quickly letting go, so as not to hinder his mother's walking.

"Does Ni'er miss her father?"

"Do not want to."

Shen Changle shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum.

She didn't really remember her father, but her grandmother would mention him every time she scolded her.

So whenever someone mentions her father in front of her, the first thing she thinks of is her grandmother's beatings and scoldings.

She disliked the person who caused her to be beaten and scolded.

"Does the little girl like Uncle Chen?"

"like!"

This time, the little girl answered very decisively.

Who wouldn't like an uncle who patiently plays with her, often gives her snacks, and even helps her mom make toys for her?

"Then after Mommy divorces Daddy, Mommy will try to get Uncle Chen to be your dad, okay?"

"it is good!"

"But you have to keep this a secret from Mommy until it succeeds, okay?"

The child immediately covered his mouth and nodded frantically.