Chapter 181 : Chapter 181
Chapter 181. Love You, Mom
Jiang Yichen’s words made the corners of everyone’s mouths twitch.
Just a moment ago, they had still been thinking that although Jiang Yichen was a genius, he was not arrogant. Now their impression of him was plummeting.
Was “slacking off” really the kind of thing you could say in front of East China’s Ten Major Military Districts and Commander Xu?
“Hah, slacking off! Jiang Yichen’s ideological awareness is a little too low. On this crisis-ridden border, only by sweating more in peacetime can you bleed less in wartime.”
“That’s right. Keeping your feet on the ground, working hard with your head down, and not indulging in empty fantasies—that’s what a recruit should be doing.”
“That may be true, but why do I feel deep down that Jiang Yichen is right?”
“Same here. It feels like just hearing a single sentence from Jiang Yichen gave me a sudden moment of enlightenment.”
“Haha, now I’m starting to feel ashamed of myself. Jiang Yichen’s secret is slacking off, but I’ve worked hard for so many years and still haven’t even come close to a Second Class Merit. Sigh!”
“…”
As Shen Qingyue listened to the change in the crowd’s tone, the smile on her face gradually faded.
Naturally, she also felt that it was far too inappropriate for Xiao Chen to say “slacking off” on an occasion like this.
And yet, deep down, she also felt that what Xiao Chen had said made sense. It was truly strange.
She sighed helplessly and comforted herself inwardly. Xiao Chen was still young. It was normal for him to make a few mistakes.
As long as he did not, like before, throw the entire Jiang family into chaos over a woman, then none of his other small mistakes really mattered.
At the front of the stage, Xu Lin took a deep breath. Even someone with ideological awareness as high as his felt that Jiang Yichen’s words made sense.
They were more scalp-tingling than any famous saying he had ever read in a book.
But this was the military district. Slacking off did not exist here.
He shot the host a look.
The host immediately caught on, moved the microphone away from Jiang Yichen, and smoothly took over, saying, “Jiang Yichen is truly humorous. Presumably, behind this Special Class Merit, he must have put in effort beyond what ordinary people could imagine.”
“As the saying goes, a sharp sword is forged through repeated tempering, and an outstanding soldier is shaped through severe trials.”
“I hope all of you comrades will actively learn from them and strive for Huaxia’s peace and stability.”
“Let us applaud them once again!”
The host smiled as he looked at Jiang Yichen and the other four, then began clapping for them.
Thunderous applause immediately erupted from below the stage.
Only Jiang Yichen looked completely baffled. What the hell? How was I being humorous?
This Special Class Merit really was something I slacked my way into.
Why did all of you keep thinking I had worked hard?
His expression turned strange, and he let out a helpless sigh.
Then, as he looked at the scene of the crowd rising to its feet and applauding, a smile tugged at his lips.
Standing in a place completely different from his previous life, the scenery truly felt different as well.
At his side, Tang Long looked as though he wanted to speak but held himself back. He had seen Jiang Yichen’s slacking off with his own eyes.
So why was it that in other people’s eyes, it had become a symbol of hard work?
Humans really were complicated creatures.
Once the awards ceremony ended, the five of them slowly walked down from the stage under everyone’s gaze.
The time that followed was just Commander Xu’s arrangement briefing for the ten major military districts. It did not really matter whether they listened or not.
“You’ve really made it. You’ve really made it.” Back in his seat, Tang Long carefully stroked the medal on his chest. “If my old man finds out I got a ‘Second Class Merit,’ he’ll probably be over the moon.”
Jiang Feng gave a cold snort. “Fat man, what’s so impressive about that?”
Tang Long’s excitement immediately stalled. He glared at Jiang Feng and said, “What would you know, narcissist?”
Jiang Feng frowned slightly, just about to argue back, when Chu Xingchen grabbed him by the shoulder and shook his head with a smile.
“He has an incredibly outstanding older brother. Ever since he was little, he has never been able to measure up to him in anything, and Uncle Tang has never paid him much attention.”
“If you were him, and you suddenly received an honor that could finally earn you recognition, wouldn’t you be excited?”
Hearing that, Jiang Feng froze slightly. He glanced at Tang Long and fell silent in thought.
Tang Long said irritably, “Old Chu, why are you airing my dirty laundry to him? I’m not the same as before anymore.”
“We’re all in the same group. We still have to train together from now on, so it’s better to understand each other a little and avoid unnecessary conflict.” Chu Xingchen was still thinking from the perspective of the group as a whole.
Tang Long smacked his lips and stopped paying attention to Jiang Feng.
“Brother Yichen, you received the highest honor in the military. If your parents hear about this, they’ll probably be thrilled, right?”
At those words, Jiang Yichen turned his head. His parents?
His father was probably still in the Sacrificial Heaven Ruins, and there was even less need to mention his mother. With so many affairs in both the group and the family, she was probably far too busy already.
In his previous life, his parents had so wanted to see him stand on a stage like this and receive some kind of award, but sadly, he had never really lived up to their hopes.
Now, in this life, they were too busy to come and see it.
“They probably will be. It’s just a pity they couldn’t see it in person.” Resting his cheek on one hand, he sounded a little wistful.
Su Linyu, who was sitting beside him, looked at him, then slowly leaned closer with a sweet smile, about to offer a few comforting words.
But when she saw the person standing behind Brother Yichen, delight flashed in her eyes.
Wearing a white soft-satin qipao, Shen Qingyue made a “shh” gesture to Su Linyu and slowly walked up behind Jiang Yichen.
“Xiao Chen.”
The familiar voice sounded by Jiang Yichen’s ear.
Hm?
He froze for a moment, then immediately turned around.
The instant his mother entered his field of vision, his eyes lit up with joy.
“Mom, why are you here?”
In his daily life, Jiang Yichen did not keep a Divine Mind User’s Mental Perception active. Sometimes, shutting out the information around him made it easier to stay in a good mood.
Just as she had when he was little, Shen Qingyue reached out and rubbed his head. “My son has earned such a great honor. Of course I had to come and see.”
Jiang Yichen asked in confusion, “Won’t this delay the affairs of the group and the family…”
“My son is more important.” Shen Qingyue cut him off. “When this is over, I’ll cook for you myself. Xiao Chen, you’ve really made your mother proud.”
Jiang Yichen froze, and a happy smile spread across his face.
In his previous life, all his parents had ever looked at him with was disappointment. Now, his mother’s eyes were filled with pride in him.
“Auntie, I’ll help you in the kitchen.” Su Linyu raised her hand cutely.
Smiling, Shen Qingyue nodded.
“I’ll be in charge of eating…”
Before Tang Long could finish, Chu Xingchen slapped a hand over his mouth and whispered in his ear, “Why are you trying to join in on that?”
Tang Long: “…”
Jiang Feng merely watched in silence, envy flickering in his eyes.
By the time Commander Xu finished speaking, the sky had already darkened.
“Xiao Chen, which dorm are you staying in? I can help you tidy it up.”
After coming out of the Assembly Hall, Shen Qingyue asked, “At home, maids help you clean up. But the military district doesn’t have that. You’d better not be so helpless that you can’t even handle your own daily life.”
As Jiang Yichen listened to his mother’s nagging, he thought of the system-remodeled Dormitory Building No. 4 and suddenly had no idea how to answer.
Su Linyu covered her mouth and giggled, but did not expose him.
“Uh… Mom, my dorm is over there. Let’s go.”
Jiang Yichen pointed east, then walked off with Shen Qingyue and Su Linyu.
The glow of dusk fell over the three of them as they walked side by side, and even their shadows behind them seemed to take on a touch of life.
When they arrived downstairs, Shen Qingyue looked at the worn exterior of Dormitory Building No. 4, and her eyes filled with sympathy.
Even the place he lived in was this old and shabby. Her child must have been living a very hard life in the military district.
She could not help feeling a little regretful about letting her son take part in the military district internship. This was not training at all. This was pure hardship.
No wonder Xiao Chen had wanted her help in the beginning so he would not have to join the military district internship.
Shen Qingyue sighed. “Xiao Chen, if you really can’t endure the hardship, tell Mom. I’ll think of something.”
Huh?
Jiang Yichen was utterly confused. What was she talking about?
With a pained look in her eyes, Shen Qingyue reached out and touched his face. “You must have suffered a lot this past month…”
“Identity verification successful. Welcome home, Master!”
Before she could finish, the dormitory doors opened automatically, and the Xiao Ai robot came out to welcome Jiang Yichen home.
Shen Qingyue froze. Pulling Jiang Yichen’s face aside with one hand, she stepped through the entrance of the dormitory building.
The moment she saw the lobby, decorated to rival a five-star hotel, the corner of her mouth twitched.
She had thought her son was enduring hardship in the military district, but this was not hardship at all.
He was clearly here to enjoy himself.