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Chapter 180: Chapter 180 Farewell
Tian Xinyue lifted her head, her eyes red, "They’re discussing the matter of my life, wanting me to marry the man who placed sixth in the ranking match. I disagreed, and they kept on giving me thought reform, saying I have a problem with my thinking! That I can’t correctly appreciate the organization’s cultivation of me, even saying I’m narrow-minded! Without a spirit of sacrifice! That I should bear in mind the greater good of the nation..."
Tian Xinyue, becoming increasingly agitated, broke down crying, covering her face as she sobbed, "I’m only nineteen years old! I don’t want to get married at all! I didn’t attend the Corps Social, so the team criticized me in a bulletin, saying I have a serious thought error issue, and they even froze my Life Card... Jiaojiao, I don’t want to stay here anymore!"
Han Jiaojiao looked at Tian Xinyue in shock, then turned to Hong Yun, "...Sister Hong Yun, do all the female soldiers in the team...all have to get married?!"
Before Hong Yun could respond, Tian Xinyue angrily interjected, "It’s not just the female soldiers, even Sister Hong Yun was called in for a talk! But since Sister Hong Yun has made many significant contributions within the base, they don’t dare to be too forceful."
Hong Yun patted Tian Xinyue’s shoulder in a comforting manner and managed a strained smile, "The higher-ups have implemented this measure to stabilize the community of Superpower Users. All suitable females in the base are within the scope of marriage candidates, and a portion... a portion of them voluntarily marry Superpower Users."
Those women living day-to-day, who out of necessity had to deal with many men to survive, considered it an escape to be able to marry a Superpower User. Of course, such marriages were inherently insecure and lacked legal bindings.
Tian Xinyue spoke out bluntly, "They put it nicely as marriage, but what’s the difference from handing us over to someone? It’s all that Qin Wenhao’s great idea. I heard that’s how it is at Yunan Base. First, they hold the ranking matches, then the higher-ranked Superpower Users get lavish rewards and can pick any woman they want. Sister Hong Yun and I are targeted for thought reform because we’re still in the team. If it were ordinary people, the army might just go ahead and take them by force!"
Han Jiaojiao looked stunned, her gaze filled with worry as she looked at Hong Yun, "...Sister Hong Yun, if that’s the case, you should leave with us too."
"Yes! Sister Hong, you’re so powerful, any base would welcome you. Why put up with this?" Tian Xinyue joined in, urging her to leave.
Hong Yun shook her head with a weak smile, "I’ve trained all those people in the team myself. I can’t just abandon them. And don’t worry about me; who would fancy a one-eyed woman like me, heh..."
"But..." Han Jiaojiao’s eyes brimmed with anxiety. Hong Yun’s appearance was too striking; it’d be hard for her not to be targeted. Plus, what Han Jiaojiao worried about the most was if Hong Yun refused too many times, she might face retaliation from the higher-ups...
No one appreciates a disobedient subordinate, nor does anyone like a subordinate who directly confronts them. Hong Yun was fierce in nature, with a forthright character, never one for beating around the bush.
Seeing Han Jiaojiao’s deeply concerned expression, Hong Yun averted her eyes uneasily and said softly, "Don’t worry about me. I know my limits. If I really can’t bear it anymore... I’ll go to Lingchuan. Trust me, I... I won’t directly confront them."
Han Jiaojiao’s cheeks flushed slightly, "Sister Hong Yun... you heard the words in my heart..."
Hong Yun realized what she had done and her face flushed with embarrassment, "Ah... sorry, I’ve been practicing Mental Induction lately, and I accidentally got used to it, my apologies."
Han Yi’s brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Hong Yun with a cold expression.
Hong Yun smiled sheepishly, then stood up and said, "I’m going to take Xinyue to pack her things, and I’ll meet up with you soon. When are you leaving?"
Han Yi answered indifferently from the side, "Meet at the base gate in half an hour."
"Got it, see you soon. Xinyue, let’s go," Hong Yun said. 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"Wait!" Han Jiaojiao hurried to catch up, holding two large woven bags, "Sister Hong Yun! This is for you and Xinyue."
Hong Yun reached out to take them and accidentally touched Han Jiaojiao’s fingertips, her face growing even hotter.
"What is it?" Tian Xinyue asked, weighing the bags.
"Clothes for winter," Han Jiaojiao replied, "They’re all new and very clean!"
Tian Xinyue seemed puzzled, "Ah? It’s so hot now, isn’t it unnecessary?"
Han Jiaojiao explained, "It won’t always be this hot. It’s bound to get cold sooner or later, and then you’ll be looking for warm clothes."
Tian Xinyue nodded in confusion, "Um, you’re right. I’ll just leave my bag with you for now."
"Alright, go pack your bags quickly, see you in a bit."
"See you in a bit."
...
Han Jiaojiao watched the departing figures of Hong Yun and Tian Xinyue, talking to herself, "Strange, Hong Yun’s face was so red, did I say something to embarrass her? ..." If I had known, I wouldn’t have said it out loud. It’s not a big deal if Hong Yun found out my little secret thoughts ... Brother often eavesdrops on what I’m thinking too.
Seeing Han Jiaojiao still pondering over Hong Yun, Han Yi showed some displeasure, but said indifferently, "Xiaogua and Xiaodou’s stuff still hasn’t been packed."
"Ah!" Han Jiaojiao exclaimed, immediately remembering the four little ones upstairs, "I almost forgot! Their special toothbrushes and towels, and toys ... Brother, I’m heading up!"
With that said, she dashed upstairs.
Han Yi revealed a faint smile of satisfaction.
About half an hour later, everyone in the courtyard got into their vehicles one after another. Heizi, Shao Hai, and others took the two cars originally brought by Zhu Changfu, Zhou Yan and Hao Boming took the family travel car from Han Yi’s side, and Han Yi and Han Jiaojiao took the HUMVEE as usual, while the rest of the people and supplies were in the MTVR military truck.
Five different models of vehicles lined up impressively and drove off, with crowds of onlookers on both sides of the road.
Han Jiaojiao felt somewhat embarrassed and couldn’t help saying, "Isn’t this a bit too ostentatious..."
Yan Xiao, sitting in the front, didn’t care and replied, "Let’s be ostentatious then, we can’t exactly slip away unnoticed."
Han Jiaojiao thought Yan Xiao had a point, but she couldn’t help but worry irrationally, "I’m just afraid of attracting thieves."
The driver, Bai Kairui, was taken aback and asked uncertainly, "Really? With so many of us, would any thief dare to mess with us?"
"Idiot, Jiaojiao is speaking metaphorically, do you not understand?" Yan Xiao adjusted the fan she was holding, tweaked the seat a little for comfort, leaned back, and closed her eyes, saying, "What she means is, she’s worried that General Ji might be jealous of us and wouldn’t want us to leave."
Bai Kairui nodded as if understanding.
Han Jiaojiao pursed her lips and leaned on Han Yi’s arm, replying, "I didn’t think that deeply..." She was simply genuinely concerned about the possibility of being robbed.
Yan Xiao sighed helplessly, "You’re given a way out and you don’t take it, this kid is really honest to a fault."
Passing the base security checkpoint, Yan Xiao, who had been resting with her eyes closed, purposely sat up and took a keen interest in watching the expressions of the people outside for a while, commenting, "Kerry, look at their faces, don’t they look like they’ve eaten shit?"
"Yeah, they do."
As soon as they exited the base, Han Jiaojiao indeed saw Tian Xinyue standing by the road with her luggage, but Hong Yun was nowhere in sight.
The HUMVEE was a five-seater, already full, with a few Space-Time Beasts crowded in the back compartment, so Han Jiaojiao told Tian Xinyue to get in the family travel car.
After a brief pause, the convoy continued to drive forward.
Within a few minutes, another car caught up from behind.
