Chapter 111: Three in a Row, Golden Five-Pointed Stars

Lu Yuanbao was neither afraid nor did he answer immediately. Instead, he looked up at the imposing and dignified General He.

General He was still wearing his military uniform today, the golden five-pointed stars on his shoulders shining brightly. Lu Yuanbao’s gaze lingered on the golden stars for a moment before shifting to General He’s face.

General He carried the commanding aura forged on the battlefield. The wives of the soldiers in the compound were all nervous and afraid, not daring to get close, let alone look him straight in the eye.

But little Lu Yuanbao just stared at General He without blinking.

He lifted his chin and asked back, “Who are you? My mom said I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

Lu Yuanbao’s voice was neither loud nor soft, carrying the innocent tone of a child. But when he said this, all the soldier wives present gasped inwardly.

How dare this kid speak to General He like that? What if General He got angry?

Especially Chen Fengying, who was now Lu Yuanbao’s guardian and responsible for him—she was already breaking out in cold sweat in the freezing cold, wishing she could rush over and shut Yuanbao’s mouth immediately.

“You little ancestor, look at who’s in front of you! You can’t afford to offend him! Not even your dad can!”

Chen Fengying anxiously tried to pull Yuanbao back, but as soon as she made a move, General He raised his hand to stop her, and Chen Fengying was too scared to move again.

Only Lu Yuanbao continued staring at General He, his black shiny eyes unwavering.

General He looked at this remarkably brave child. Instead of getting angry, he grew more and more interested.

He laughed heartily and praised, “Not bad! No wonder you’re the child I have my eye on. You’re tough! A good candidate to be a soldier!”

This sentence was something the soldier wives would kill to hear, scrambling to claim their own children.

No one expected that Lu Yuanbao would get it so easily.

General He then bent down once more, nearly squatting right in front of Lu Yuanbao to meet his eyes level.

“Kid, my name is He Changzheng. Now that you know my name, we’re acquainted. Can you tell me your name? Who are your parents?”

Lu Yuanbao furrowed his brow slightly, confused—did knowing a name really mean they were acquainted? It seemed that’s how things started when he first met Chu Yue, too.

If that means they’re acquainted, then…

“I…”

Just as Lu Yuanbao was about to speak, General He’s wife suddenly spoke up beside him.

“I see it! Old man, I see it!” Madam He stepped forward excitedly, with He Meijiao holding her arm. She already knew who Lu Yuanbao’s parents were and who the “mom” he mentioned was.

He Meijiao didn’t want Lu Yuanbao showing off in front of General and Madam He. She secretly wished he would embarrass himself instead.

But this child immediately caught General He’s liking, and even Madam He was unusually moved.

He Meijiao tried to pull Madam He back but couldn’t hold her.

Madam He smiled kindly and looked warmly at Lu Yuanbao’s face, examining him carefully as she said, “I just had a feeling this child looked familiar. Looking closer, you see his features are carved from the same mold as Commander Lu’s—he must be his child.”

“Lu Zhanlin’s child?”

General He asked with some confusion but his eyes lit up, growing more interested.

Once, General He had singled out Lu Zhanlin from millions of people with a glance. He had watched Lu Zhanlin rise from a lowly soldier to the commander he was today. And now, unexpectedly, he had taken a liking to Lu Zhanlin’s son.

At this moment, Chen Fengying quickly said, “Commander He, Madam He, this child is called Lu Yuanbao, and he is indeed Commander Lu’s son.”

Hearing this, Lu Yuanbao slightly furrowed his small brows and then added, “My mother’s name is Chu Yue.”

He Meijiao, standing behind Commander He and his wife, was already displeased seeing the happy scene between the elder and the child. Now hearing Chu Yue’s name made her feel as if she’d been stabbed in the heart.

She snorted coldly and said, “Chu Yue isn’t your real mother; she’s just your stepmother. And you’re not even Commander Lu’s biological—”

“Meijiao!”

Madam He quickly turned her head and interrupted He Meijiao’s reckless words. As adults, they had a duty to care for children and should never say such things in front of such a small child!

Commander He and Madam He knew about Lu Zhanlin’s marriage situation; after all, Lu Zhanlin’s marriage report bore Commander He’s personal signature, so they naturally knew this child was not Lu Zhanlin’s biological son but was adopted.

But so what?

Though small, this child already bore a faint trace of Lu Zhanlin’s demeanor.

If properly nurtured, this child’s future would certainly be extraordinary.

However, for this child, compared to Lu Zhanlin, he seemed to care more about his mother named “Chu Yue.”

After being interrupted by Madam He, He Meijiao snorted, turned her head to the side, and gave a disdainful sideways glance.

He was just a rural child who never even went to school—how could Commander He and Madam He like him so much?!

She just didn’t understand. And she didn’t want to understand!

Commander He listened quietly to the commotion beside him, his dark eyes hidden beneath his brow. When he looked at Lu Yuanbao, he still wore the affectionate smile of an elder.

“So you’re Lu Zhanlin’s son. Not bad. In the future, you’ll surely surpass your father and be even more impressive!” Commander He reached out and lifted Lu Yuanbao up in his arms. “Child, I and your father have known each other a long time. According to age, you should call me ‘Grandpa.’ Say it for me and let me hear it.”

Suddenly being lifted up, Lu Yuanbao tensed all over, but now he was even closer to the shining golden epaulet star.

He pressed his lips tightly and didn’t respond, nearly driving Chen Fengying crazy.

“Yuanbao, say it… you have to say it… quickly, call him Grandpa…”

Commander He interrupted, “It’s okay if you don’t say it yet. It just means we’re not familiar enough. Your name is Lu Yuanbao. Yuanbao is a good name. You like it, don’t you?”

Commander He pointed to the golden epaulet star on his shoulder.

Lu Yuanbao widened his eyes in surprise, not understanding how this person in front of him could tell.

What could possibly escape Commander He’s eyes?

Commander He smiled and took Lu Yuanbao’s hand, “Yuanbao, put your hand here. Grandpa allows you to touch it, as much as you want.”

Under the stunned gazes of the sisters-in-law, they watched as little Lu Yuanbao placed his small hand on Commander He’s shoulder, slightly bowing his head, and gently stroked the golden epaulet star with his tiny fingers.

There were three in a row.

Everyone knew what the golden epaulet stars meant.

Commander He was allowing Lu Yuanbao to touch his honor.