# 36
**Chapter 36: Fool**
Chen Muye glared at Wen Qimo.
Wen Qimo said solemnly, “Ma’am, here’s the thing—Lin Qiye originally applied to serve in Qiqihar, but later accepted reassignment and was sent to Urumqi.”
Auntie looked half-convinced. “Then where are his papers?”
Wen Qimo pulled several thick stacks of documents from his briefcase, laid them on the table one by one, and slid them toward her.
“All of Lin Qiye’s paperwork is here—please keep it safe.” Wen Qimo paused, then added, “There may be a few more forms later; we’ll bring them when they arrive.”
Auntie narrowed her eyes, held the pages at arm’s length, and read every word, afraid she might miss something important.
Only after a long while did she set the papers down and sigh.
“That child—his eyes just got better. I’m scared something will go wrong again while he’s in the army…”
“Rest assured, we’ve given Lin Qiye’s eyes a thorough examination; there won’t be any more problems—he’s perfectly healthy.” Wen Qimo’s voice softened. “Besides, children grow up; they have to leave the nest and toughen up, don’t they?”
Auntie opened her mouth as if to object, but in the end could only exhale helplessly.
“Ma’am, here is Lin Qiye’s enlistment allowance—please accept it.” Chen Muye produced a fat envelope and pushed it across the table.
Auntie lifted one corner of the envelope, her whole body jolted, and she stared at the two men in shock.
“Th-this is far too much!”
“The state provides excellent benefits for soldiers, and Lin Qiye’s unit is rather… special, so the subsidy is a bit higher than usual,” Wen Qimo explained.
“Special? Will it be dangerous?” Auntie’s face paled.
“No, no—‘special’ here just means… it’s very far away.” Wen Qimo spun the tale with a straight face. “After all, Urumqi is a long journey from here.”
“Oh, I see.” Auntie clutched the envelope, unable to sit still.
She had never held so much money in her life.
“Comrade, could you send this to him instead?” she asked anxiously. “He’s going so far away—what if he needs cash? And keeping so much at home… I’d be uneasy!”
“Soldiers don’t use money like this, and regulations state the allowance is for the family—you must accept it.” Wen Qimo’s eyes narrowed slightly, his tone turning serious. “As for safety… as long as we’re alive, no one will touch you or yours.”
“When will he come back?”
“Ten years.” Chen Muye suddenly spoke, eyes grave. “In ten years, he will definitely return.”
“Ten years…” Auntie murmured, glancing at Yang Jin. “In ten years, A Jin will be in university…”
Wen Qimo and Chen Muye stayed to chat a while longer, then stood to leave when it was time.
“Oh—can we phone him?” Auntie remembered.
“Of course.” Wen Qimo nodded. “I’ll give you a number. As long as it isn’t training hours, you can reach him.”
“Good, good.”
She saw them out, lingered at the doorway a moment, then slowly went back inside and sat, staring blankly at Lin Qiye’s room.
Her eyes reddened.
“Mom… Big Brother joining the army is a good thing,” Yang Jin said, hugging the little black pug as he comforted her.
“I know.” Auntie wiped her eyes. “Children grow up—they have to see the world. Training in the army is good. When he comes back he’ll be a veteran; when I find him a wife, plenty of girls will want him!”
Yang Jin: …
“I just… can’t stop worrying.” Auntie gazed out the window, lost in thought.
…
“Time to go.”
Chen Muye came downstairs and tapped Lin Qiye, who had been secretly watching the window.
Lin Qiye kept his eyes on the balcony. “How did it go?”
“She believed it.”
“Good… Did you give her the money?”
“We did.” Chen Muye hesitated. “That was every cent of your subsidy plus a year’s salary advanced. You gave it all—what about you?”
“I’ve saved a little over the years. I can stretch it for a year.”
Chen Muye was silent a moment, then added, “If you’re free, drop by the office for meals.”
Lin Qiye blinked. “Don’t temp members get food and lodging?”
“Temp members don’t—but…” Chen Muye patted his shoulder and walked toward the van, “my cooking doesn’t count.”
Lin Qiye stared, then smiled.
Ding-ling-ling—!
His newly issued phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Xiao Qi? Is that you?”
“It’s me, Auntie.”
“You brat—enlisting without a word! If you’d told me… I wouldn’t have stopped you. Don’t you trust your aunt? Hmm?”
“Sorry, Auntie… I—I was wrong.”
“Sigh… Are you on the train?”
“Yeah.”
“How long till you arrive?”
“They say two days—the green-skin train is slow.”
“Once you’re in camp, eat plenty—don’t wear yourself out!”
“I will, Auntie.”
“And I’ve kept your allowance safe for when you come back—use it to find a wife.”
“Auntie, our unit pays well every year. Spend that money on yourself.”
“Such a spendthrift! Keep your pay safe and live comfortably, you hear?”
“Loud and clear, Auntie.”
“All right, I’ll hang up.”
“Bye, Auntie.”
“Oh—when you reach Qiqihar, send word you’re safe.”
“I will. Bye.”
The line went quiet. At last Auntie’s slightly hoarse voice sounded again:
“…Goodbye…”
Beep… beep… beep…
She clutched the phone like a statue, motionless.
Two lines of tears slid down.
She bent over the table, buried her face, and wept silently.
Yang Jin sighed, looked out the window, and muttered:
“Bro, you fool…”
…
Outside the old residential block.
“Qiye, let’s go.” Chen Muye turned, calm.
Lin Qiye pocketed the phone, gave the little house one last look, and nodded.
A strong wind rose.
His fringe fluttered; he tugged his collar tight, then strode into the wind.
Their coats snapped like banners!