On the day they left the island, the sun was bright and the sea calm.
The team members boarded the ship one after another, but without exception, each of them turned back to take one last look at the small island where they had stayed for a year, as well as the villagers seeing them off at the dock.
“Honestly, I’m a bit reluctant to leave.”
“Now that Duofu is open to the outside world, there will be plenty of chances to come back in the future.”
“Yeah, I’ve already promised to bring my parents here for a trip next year.”
“…”
The villagers stood on the shore, waving them goodbye.
“Farewell!”
Standing on the deck, the team members responded with tears in their eyes: “Goodbye! You should all head back!”
Jiang Fuyue and Xie Dingyuan had already boarded early with the two children, just to avoid such emotional scenes, but unexpectedly…
A child ran onto the ship holding two newly made bamboo dragonflies. “These are for the little brother and little sister!”
After saying that, he stuffed the bamboo dragonflies into Jiang Fuyue’s hands and turned to run off the ship.
As if afraid that even a second’s delay would result in the gifts being returned.
“Goodbye!”
“Goodbye, Agata!”
“Thank you! Duofu will only get better, and so will we!”
The ship sailed farther and farther away, eventually disappearing where the sea met the sky.
…
The two little ones, experiencing a ship ride for the first time, were full of curiosity.
Niannian tilted his head, constantly looking out the window. His bright black eyes reflected the vast blue sea, filled with curiosity and excitement about the unfamiliar environment.
Suisui was even more exaggerated, her upper body leaned recklessly toward the window, almost falling out of her father’s arms.
Xie Dingyuan broke into a cold sweat, while the little girl laughed carefree, completely enjoying herself.
“Why does it feel like Suisui got heavier again?”
Jiang Fuyue, holding their son, turned at the comment: “It’s not just a feeling, she really did.”
They had weighed her before departure today, she was three pounds heavier than last week.
Perhaps sensing that her parents were discussing her in an unflattering way, Suisui frowned her tiny brows and, with a sharp smack, gave her father another crisp slap.
Jiang Fuyue: “…” Maybe it’s better if her dad keeps holding her.
Xie Dingyuan: “…” This is my daughter. Yes, my own!
Niannian buried his head directly into his mother’s fragrant chest: Little sister is scary…
The journey was smooth and uneventful. At eight the next morning, the fleet arrived near the blockade line.
Xie Dingyuan immediately contacted the higher authorities, and the reply was affirmative: They could pass!
After three hours of inspection procedures, the fleet successfully passed the first blockade line.
“Are we safe now?”
“Don’t celebrate too early, that was Country A’s blockade zone. Next is Country K’s.”
Everyone became tense again.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Country K’s blockade line.
This time, the inspection procedures were far more complicated. It wasn’t until evening that they were finally allowed through.
“Now we’re safe, right?”
“Phew, should be.”
“My heart’s been in my throat all day. That was intense!”
“Motherland, we’re back!”
On the sixth day, the fleet docked at Zhizhou Strait. After more than a year, they had finally returned to this land.
The team members were overjoyed.
Taking advantage of the overnight stop, they all applied to Jiang Fuyue for permission to disembark and return to the embrace of city life.
Jiang Fuyue readily agreed: “Stay safe. You must be back on the ship before midnight.”
“Got it!”
Liu Weihua had originally boarded the ship here and now wanted to get off.
“You may not be able to leave for now.”
“Huh?”
“As one of the accompanying personnel, the entire team needs to return to the capital to report to the higher authorities.”
Liu Weihua scratched his head: “But I joined midway…” In other words, he was more like an unofficial addition, did he really need to report too?
Jiang Fuyue: “At the beginning of the mission, I already submitted your application to the higher-ups. So, you are part of the official team.”
This mission to assist Duofu had been a great success under Jiang Fuyue’s leadership. Upon returning, the entire medical team would certainly be commended.
Promotion and salary increase weren’t the main point, such recognition was both an affirmation and encouragement for a medical worker.
Although Liu Weihua wasn’t someone who chased vanity, being excluded would still have been disappointing.
But unexpectedly, Jiang Fuyue had already arranged everything for him.
While happy, Liu Weihua also felt overwhelmed with gratitude!
What had he done to deserve this?
“I…” A grown man in his thirties or forties was so emotional he couldn’t even speak.
Jiang Fuyue patted his shoulder: “You did very well. This honor is yours.”
As Liu Weihua walked away, he was so excited that he moved his arms and legs in sync.
Xie Dingyuan: “Was he the one you spoke to the higher-ups about last night?”
“Mm.”
In fact, Liu Weihua’s application hadn’t been approved at the beginning. Only months later, after Jiang Fuyue’s efforts, was he granted the status of “temporary accompanying personnel.”
However, “accompanying personnel” was not the same as “team member.” Just one word apart, yet worlds different.
The captain, crew, chef, and electrician could all be classified as accompanying personnel, but “team members” referred only to those in the medical team!
So initially, Liu Weihua had indeed been an outsider.
During this time, Jiang Fuyue had continued applying on his behalf, and only last night did she finally receive approval.
“Why?”
“For those who carry firewood for others, they must not be left to freeze to death in the snow.”
Xie Dingyuan smiled, not at all surprised by her answer.
Because… she was Jiang Fuyue.
…
Everyone went ashore to embrace the long-missed nightlife of the city, while Jiang Fuyue and Xie Dingyuan stayed on the ship, not because they didn’t want to go, but because they couldn’t leave with the two children.
After drinking two bottles of milk, Suisui fell into a satisfied sleep, her little mouth still moving as if sucking on a pacifier.
Xie Dingyuan: “She’s really turned into a little pig…”
Niannian only drank half a bottle, yawned, and fell asleep obediently.
It was already eleven at night. Due to the size of the ship, the sounds from the dock couldn’t reach them.
Everything felt quiet and peaceful.
Jiang Fuyue and Xie Dingyuan had finished washing up and were preparing to lie down.
At that moment, a series of deliberately softened footsteps approached. Two minutes later, sounds of scuffling and crashing came from the deck, accompanied by occasional cries of pain.
Jiang Fuyue and Xie Dingyuan exchanged a glance.
Soon, men in black escorted six tall, rough-looking men inside.
These men in black were the same bodyguards who had accompanied Jiang Fuyue to the island.
“Professor Jiang, this group was sneaking onto the ship with knives. The brothers caught them red-handed.”
As he spoke, he twisted one of the men’s arms, and the knife fell to the ground.
It was a long machete used for chopping watermelons.
The blade was sharp, one strike would surely draw blood.
Xie Dingyuan: “What are you trying to do?!”
Seeing that the men remained silent, he gave a look to the black-clad bodyguard. The latter didn’t know what he did, but with a backhand move, he made the man howl in pain, “I’ll talk! I’ll tell everything!”
It turned out that this group had actually been sent by Fu Choujun!
They were ordered to cripple Jiang Fuyue’s hands and legs, turning her completely into a useless person!
The reward was one million in cash.
Heh, one million to buy her limbs? Fu Choujun was as stingy and petty as ever.
Xie Dingyuan took out his phone, about to call the police, but Jiang Fuyue stopped him.
“?” He looked at her in question.
“Don’t call the police for now. I still have use for these people.”
“…Alright.”
By the time the team members returned to the ship one after another at midnight, everything had already returned to calm.
“Professor Jiang, we’re back!”
“This is the late-night snack we brought for you and Professor Xie! Make sure to eat it while it’s hot!”
Jiang Fuyue: “Thank you! Everyone get some rest early, we set off again first thing tomorrow.”
“Okay!”
At six the next morning, the fleet set sail on time!
After another two days, they finally docked again, this time directly at the capital’s harbor!
The senior leader personally came to receive them, handing flowers to each team member: “You’ve worked hard!”
“Not hard at all! It’s what we should do!”
Even the chefs and workers weren’t left out.
Leader: “You’re heroes too!”
The chefs and workers smiled shyly.
They were included too?
Each person held a bouquet as dozens, nearly a hundred, people stood on the dock for a group photo.
With a click, the moment was frozen.
Little did they know that years later, this photo would become valuable material for studying the development history of Duofu and Jiang Fuyue herself.
The goods transported back from the island would, after undergoing relevant quarantine procedures, be distributed by designated personnel.
The process would be relatively long, but this had already been explained during the livestream sales, those who minded were advised not to purchase.
The buyers on Douyin were quite understanding.
Aside from the goods, the remaining items on the ship could not yet be touched and would be sealed.
On the dock, everyone gradually dispersed.
Xie Dingyuan drove Jiang Fuyue and the two children…
Home!
…
The Han family.
Han Yunru and Jiang Da had come over early in the morning, repeatedly glancing anxiously toward the entrance.
“Why aren’t they here yet? It’s already been over twenty minutes.”
Jiang Da: “Don’t worry. I saw on the news that the ship has safely docked, they should be here soon…”
Before he could finish speaking, the sound of a car engine came from outside the villa.
Han Qishan’s old eyes lit up: “They’re here, they’re here!” With that, he rushed out of the villa, moving with surprising speed.
Han Shen, Han Ke, and Han Heng, the three “guardians”, naturally didn’t fall behind and ran after him.
Instead, Jiang Da and Han Yunru were a beat slower, only reacting and following afterward.
They saw Jiang Fuyue and Xie Dingyuan getting out of the car, each holding a baby.
Seeing her family, Jiang Fuyue smiled slightly, “Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Uncles, I’m back.”
That one sentence nearly made Jiang Da, a grown man, burst into tears: “It’s good you’re back! It’s good you’re back!”
Meanwhile, Han Yunru could no longer suppress her tears: “Yueyue…”
She rushed forward, wanting to hug her daughter, but Jiang Fuyue was holding Niannian, leaving her nowhere to start.
Han Qishan first looked at his granddaughter. Seeing Jiang Fuyue in good condition, he felt relieved, then his gaze fell on the little one in her arms.
Niannian stared with bright black eyes at this gray-haired old man in front of him.
The old and the young looked at each other for a full half minute.
“Let great-grandpa guess… this must be our little Niannian, right?”
“Wuwa, ” Hearing his name, Niannian instantly became excited.
Han Qishan tentatively reached out: “Come, little Niannian, let great-grandpa hold you, okay?”
The little one didn’t understand the words, but was familiar with the gesture. Tilting his head, he thought for a moment, glanced at his mother, then smiled and threw himself into the old man’s arms.
Han Qishan was instantly overjoyed: “Oh my, who is this soft little darling? Why are you so well-behaved? Niannian likes great-grandpa, doesn’t he?”
“Wuwa…” came the milky reply.
Han Qishan wished he could give him his whole heart.
Meanwhile, Suisui, held by Xie Dingyuan, was staring wide-eyed at her eldest grand-uncle Han Shen, her bright gaze fearless.
Han Shen looked at the pretty little girl and felt an itch in his hands!
He negotiated with Xie Dingyuan: “Can I hold her for a bit?”
Xie Dingyuan had no objection: “Ask Suisui.”
Han Shen reached out to the little one, but Suisui snorted, turned her head arrogantly, and buried herself into her father’s chest.
Han Shen: “?”
At this moment, Han Heng somehow produced a crystal keychain and jingled it beside Suisui’s ear.
The tinkling sound successfully caught her attention.
She turned her head, blinking curiously.
Han Heng smiled like a wolf granny trying to lure Little Red Riding Hood: “Want it? Let me hold you and I’ll give it to you.”
He then reached out.
The little girl decisively threw herself into his arms.
Successfully holding the baby, Han Heng smugly raised his lips at his elder brother: See that? Learn from me!
Han Shen: “…”
Unfortunately, his happiness didn’t last half a minute. Unable to grab the keychain, Suisui got angry and, with a smack, slapped Han Heng across the face.
The man froze.
After a long moment, he reacted: “…Little darling, do you know you just hit a face insured for hundreds of millions?!”
Having finally grabbed the keychain and preparing to chew on it, Suisui didn’t even look at him.
Han Heng: “…” Me?
Han Shen: “Hahahaha!”
Han Ke thought for a moment, then silently took out a sapphire-inlaid tie clip from his pocket, a collectible he had just bought that morning.
This should work better than the keychain, right?
Facts proved, it did!
The moment Suisui saw the tie clip, she threw away the keychain, perfectly demonstrating fickleness and love for the new.
She immediately stretched out her chubby little hands toward Han Ke, “Waa, waa, ”
Han Heng jumped in anger: “What are you doing?! Trying to steal the child?!”
Han Ke: “Everyone gets a turn. You’ve held her for three minutes and forty-two seconds, it’s my turn.”
“I haven’t had enough yet! Get lost!”
What kind of adorable creature is this? Soft, squishy, and even slaps people!
Yes, even being hit, Han Heng was willing.
But Suisui wasn’t!
She still hadn’t gotten that blue, shiny, sparkling thing. Han Heng kept pressing her little hands back again and again, she got angry.
Smack smack smack!
She swung her little arms several times, then: “Wuwaa waa!”
Burst into loud crying.
Han Heng was completely stunned.
Xie Dingyuan swallowed back the reminder he had been about to give, too late.
But maybe it was for the best. Some lessons had to be experienced firsthand to leave a deep impression.
“Oh, oh, little darling, don’t cry, let your second grand-uncle hold you…” Han Ke took the opportunity to snatch her away.
Suisui got the tie clip as she wished, immediately stopped crying, and lowered her head to play with it.
Han Heng: This acting, shouldn’t she consider becoming a child star?
…
Evening, the Han family dining room.
This was the most sumptuous meal Jiang Fuyue had eaten in over a year. For a moment, it felt like returning to the past.
The table was filled with all her favorite dishes.
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