Chapter 21: Cub Number 3 Becomes the Darling of the Military District Regiment

The military-green truck rumbled over the gravel road, kicking up dust that coated the windows. Lu Shihan pressed her face against the glass, her small cheeks smudged with gray, her eyes bright like black grapes dipped in water.

"Daddy, big cannons!" she pointed toward the training grounds, her little arm stretched out straight.

Lu Zhanye laughed as he gripped the steering wheel, the corners of his eyes etched with the fatigue of training. "I'll show you the real ones later."

Su Yao sat beside him, tidying Lu Yuxuan’s collar. The tin box in the boy's lap, filled with small inventions he had saved up over the half-semester, remained firmly in his grasp. Lu Xingchen dozed against the seat back, a smile on his lips; perhaps he was dreaming of the army’s rifles.

The truck pulled up to the gate of the barracks, and the sentry offered a crisp military salute. Lu Shihan mimicked the gesture, raising her small hand to her ear with her elbow poking out, making the sentry blush.

"Is that Old Lu’s girl?" Old Zhang from the guardhouse leaned out, his glasses sliding to the tip of his nose. "She looks like a little powder puff."

Lu Zhanye helped the children down, and Su Yao followed with the luggage. The poplar trees in the barracks reached toward the sky, their leaves rustling in the wind, mingling with the distant sound of bugles to create a unique atmosphere.

The family quarters were small but kept tidy. A world map was tacked to the wall, and several military-green trunks were stacked in the corner. Lu Shihan set down her doll, drawn to a small military cap on the windowsill. Standing on tiptoe, she snatched it and plopped it on her head, the brim pressing down to her eyebrows.

"Do I look like a little soldier?" she asked, spinning around as the cap tilted to one side.

Su Yao straightened it, her fingertips brushing the girl’s warm earlobe. "You do. Our Shihan is the bravest little soldier."

Footsteps approached, and Old Ma, a comrade of Lu Zhanye’s, pushed aside the door curtain, carrying a bag of apples. "Heard Old Lu brought his family, so I came to see—oh, what a beautiful little girl!"

Lu Shihan hid behind Su Yao, peeking out with half her face. Old Ma fished a fruit candy from his pocket, peeled off the wrapper, and held it out. "From your uncle, it’s sweet."

The candy glinted in the sunlight. Lu Shihan looked at Su Yao, and upon seeing her nod, she shyly took it and whispered, "Thank you, Uncle."

"Such good manners," Old Ma chuckled, his eyes crinkling. "Better than that wild monkey of a boy I have at home."

At lunch in the canteen, Lu Shihan’s small uniform became the center of attention. It was a miniature set Lu Zhanye had specifically requested from logistics—faded from washing, but ironed crisp and straight. She held her little enamel bowl, eating bit by bit, occasionally glancing up at the soldiers around her.

"Old Lu, is this girl here to bring some color to our camp?" a soldier at the next table joked. "She’s even prettier than the ones on the propaganda posters."

Hearing the praise, Lu Shihan puffed out her chest and suddenly stood up to give a military salute, accidentally spilling soup all over herself. Su Yao hurried to wipe her off with a handkerchief, while the girl pouted, "I want to be a soldier."

The entire canteen burst into laughter, even the usually stern head of the mess hall chuckling, "When you grow up, Uncle will save a spot for you."

During the afternoon training break, the soldiers crowded around to watch the excitement. A new recruit, Xiao Wang, was practicing at the range; seeing Lu Shihan standing nearby, he tried to strike a handsome pose, but his bullet missed the bullseye.

"Uncle doesn't shoot as accurately as Daddy," Lu Shihan said in her tiny, milky voice, her small hand pointing toward the direction where Lu Zhanye was training.

Xiao Wang’s face turned bright red, and he scratched his head. "Wait until Uncle practices some more, I'll definitely be more accurate than your dad."

"No, you won't," Lu Shihan said, chin held high. "My daddy is the best."

The soldiers laughed even harder, their fatigue from training largely forgotten. Old Ma nudged Lu Zhanye’s arm. "Your little cotton-padded jacket is even more popular than the regiment commander's daughter."

Lu Zhanye watched the small figure in the crowd. She was on her tiptoes, handing out candy to the soldiers, her small hands reddened by the sun. Su Yao stood nearby, the sunlight landing on her hair like a golden rim.

In the evening, the regiment commander and his wife stopped by for a visit. The commander’s wife brought a small floral-print jacket for Lu Shihan. As soon as the girl received it, she grabbed the commander’s coat tail and tried to pull him outside. "Uncle, I’ll take you to see my doll."

The commander was taken aback, then let out a hearty laugh. "Alright, Uncle will go see it with you."

Su Yao felt a bit embarrassed, but Lu Zhanye smiled and said, "Let her be; the commander loves children."

At night, the children were fast asleep. Su Yao sat under the lamp, mending Lu Zhanye’s old uniform, her needle weaving through the fabric. Lu Zhanye leaned against the doorway, watching her, and suddenly said, "I’m off tomorrow. I’ll take you to the shooting range."

"That sounds good," Su Yao said, tying off the thread. "Let the children see it, too."

Early the next morning, Lu Shihan insisted on going to the range. Lu Zhanye put protective goggles on her, but they were too big and kept sliding down to her nose. She didn't mind, running along while holding her toy gun, her little leather shoes clicking on the ground.

Lu Zhanye demonstrated for the soldiers—lying down, aiming, firing—his movements fluid and synchronized. The bullet hit the bullseye, drawing a round of applause. Lu Shihan clapped her small hands and jumped, "Daddy is the best!"

When it was Lu Xingchen’s turn to fire, his hand holding the gun trembled slightly, and Lu Zhanye stood by to guide him. He was startled by the gunshot but insisted on firing all five rounds.

"Better than I was the first time," Lu Zhanye said, ruffling his hair with a look of pride.

Lu Yuxuan, however, wasn't interested in the guns; he was curious about the scope nearby. He squatted on the ground, studying it for a long time before saying, "Daddy, can this be modified to be more accurate?"

Lu Zhanye was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "We'll figure it out together when we get back."

Su Yao watched them from the shade of a tree. Lu Shihan was pestering Old Ma to teach her how to fold a quilt, her small hands clumsily tugging at the corners. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting flickering light and shadow on her face.

"What are you thinking about?" Lu Zhanye walked over and handed her a canteen.

Su Yao took a sip and looked at the training team in the distance. "I didn't realize it was so lively in the barracks."

"It’s not usually this lively," Lu Zhanye sat beside her. "It only feels like a home because you and the children are here."

Su Yao’s heart skipped a beat. She looked down at the five-pointed star on the canteen, tracing it lightly with her fingertips.

In the evening, the camp held an outdoor film screening. The screen was set up in the center of the parade ground, and the soldiers sat on small stools in a sea of green. Lu Shihan sat on Lu Zhanye’s shoulders, candy in her mouth, her little feet swinging to the music from the film.

When a battle scene played, she suddenly covered her eyes, though she peeked through her fingers. Su Yao held her small hand and could feel the sweat in her palm.

"Don't be afraid," she whispered in her ear. "Daddy will protect us."

Lu Shihan nodded and buried her face in Lu Zhanye’s hair. The light from the film reflected on her face, flickering like a moving painting.

After the film ended, Lu Zhanye carried the sleeping Lu Shihan back. Su Yao held Lu Xingchen and Lu Yuxuan’s hands, following his shadow. The shadows of the poplar trees stretched long, overlapping with theirs.

"Teach me how to fold a quilt tomorrow," Su Yao said suddenly, her voice carried softly by the wind.

Lu Zhanye turned his head, the moonlight falling on his face. "Alright, I'll teach you how to fold 'tofu cubes'."

Back in the family quarters, the children were sound asleep. Su Yao sat under the lamp, looking at the quilt Lu Zhanye had taught her to fold—square and neat, just like a block of white tofu. Lu Shihan’s small uniform hung on the wall, the hem still stained with the day’s dust.

Lu Zhanye hugged her gently from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Thank you."

Su Yao leaned into his arms, breathing in the faint scent of soap on him. "Thank you for what?"

"Thank you for bringing the children," he said, his voice low and slightly raspy. "It’s been too long since it was this lively here."

Moonlight poured through the window, coating the ground like frost. Su Yao closed her eyes and could hear the sentries changing guard in the distance, their footsteps exceptionally clear in the silent night.

She remembered how Lu Shihan had handed out candy to the soldiers during the day, the tension on Lu Xingchen’s face at the range, and Lu Yuxuan’s focused expression as he studied the scope. These moments were like beads, slowly being strung together in her heart.

"When the factory is built, I’ll bring some canned goods," Su Yao said. "To help improve everyone’s meals."

"Good," Lu Zhanye tightened his arms around her. "I’ll be waiting."

The wind picked up in the night, making the paper on the windows rustle. Su Yao fell into a deep sleep; in her dreams, there were only the sounds of the camp’s bugles and Lu Shihan’s giggles.

Early the next morning, Lu Shihan was awakened by the bugle call. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and saw the soldiers outside doing drills, marching in perfect unison, their chanting making the window glass vibrate.

"I want to go running too," she said, tugging at Lu Zhanye’s sleeve, her little face still bearing sleep marks.

Lu Zhanye picked her up and held her to the window, pointing at the person at the front of the formation. "See that? That’s the company commander; he runs the fastest."

Lu Shihan watched for a moment, then said, "Daddy runs faster than him."

Lu Zhanye laughed and flicked her nose. "You sure know how to talk."

At breakfast, Old Ma brought news: the regiment was holding a party, and they wanted Lu Shihan to perform. Lu Shihan blinked and asked, "What should I perform?"

"Shihan can sing," Su Yao reminded her. "The song 'The East is Red' you sang in the village—wasn't that very nice?"

Lu Shihan thought about it, nodded, and said, "I can sing that."

The party was held that evening, with a large gas lamp hanging in the center of the parade ground, shining so brightly it was dazzling. Lu Shihan, dressed in her little floral jacket, stood on a makeshift stage, clutching a microphone.

When the music started, she felt a bit stage-frightened, her eyes searching the crowd for Su Yao. Seeing her mother nodding from below, she took a deep breath and sang in a clear, crisp voice: "The East is red, the sun rises..."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear, like a mountain spring. The soldiers all quieted down, clapping gently to the rhythm. Lu Zhanye stood beside Su Yao, watching the small figure on stage, and suddenly felt his eyes grow warm.

Before she had even finished, applause thundered from below. The regiment commander stood up and shouted, "One more!"

Lu Shihan was startled by everyone’s enthusiasm and ran off the stage into Su Yao’s arms. Su Yao hugged her, feeling her heart pounding.

"You sang beautifully," Lu Zhanye said, stroking her hair. "Daddy is proud of you."

It was late, and the children were asleep on a makeshift cot. Su Yao and Lu Zhanye sat on the steps outside, looking at the stars. The camp was quiet, save for the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves.

"The vacation is almost over," Su Yao said softly, her finger tracing the patterns on the steps.

"Yeah," Lu Zhanye replied. "Once this busy period is over, I’ll apply for a transfer back."

Su Yao turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling in the night. Lu Zhanye took her hand, his palm rough but warm. "I want to watch the children grow up."

In the distance, the sentries changed guard, their flashlight beams cutting through the darkness. Su Yao leaned on Lu Zhanye’s shoulder, feeling completely at peace.

She remembered when she first met him, thinking he was like a cold stone that could never be warmed. But now she realized that hidden inside this stone was molten lava, just not easily revealed.

"When you come back, we’ll go see the factory together," Su Yao said. "And then Yuxuan can demonstrate his new invention for you."

"Good," Lu Zhanye smiled. "I’ll be waiting."

Moonlight spilled over them, and over this land full of hope. Su Yao knew that no matter how far apart they were, their hearts were tightly connected, like stars in the sky—though distant, they shone for one another.