Chapter 59 1/2

“Cen Lang: ‘I haven’t been objective enough. Shall I show you the battlefield report from that time?’ He emphasised the necessity and urgency of sending Lu Jing to distract five warships, avoiding sounding hypocritical and opting for Jiang Li to read the official summarised report.

The report, crafted by Meng Ru, his proxy in the military, highlighted Cen Lang’s skill in praising superiors and his adeptness at analysing military motives. Cen Lang could turn even a messed-up situation into a strategically woven web of doubts.

Cen Lang: ‘More objective, more detailed.’

Jiang Li, oblivious to his intentions, replied, ‘Sure.’

Cen Lang pulled up the report, sent it to the printer, and soon a dozens-page document filled with various firepower, forces, and pre- and post-battle comparisons was printed—a comprehensive internal military manual.

Disliking writing summaries, Cen Lang handed a folder to Jiang Li: ‘Here.’

Jiang Li took it, flipping through, knowing he would understand the meaning behind each command once he finished reading: ‘I’ll start now.’

Cen Lang: ‘Ask me if you don’t understand. You can also ask Dad. You’re smart; read this, then try entering the holographic battlefield as a commander; stay calm in command.’

Jiang Li began reading, while Cen Lang forwarded signals from the signal ship to his grandfather.

The next moment, the phone in the study rang. Cen Wei said, ‘Come over.’

Jiang Li looked, and Cen Lang smiled: ‘You keep reading; my grandfather can’t open a century-old safe; I’ll check.’

Jiang Li sat on the sofa, saying, ‘Go ahead.’

Cen Lang walked over and kissed his face. ‘Grandpa probably wants to give some antique safes to the little one.’ Not a lie; Cen Wei had smashed several forgotten-password junior safes these days.

Jiang Li: ‘That’s enough; don’t smash safes.’

Cen Lang: ‘Even if I don’t, he forgets what’s inside.’

Jiang Li watched him leave, thought, then went to the computer screen. It showed the initial startup interface and nothing else. Something was wrong.

They had marked it temporarily; he could sense Cen Lang’s emotional fluctuations. Jiang Li took out his phone; the second day away from home, calling Dad was normal, right?

Ring, ring, ring… three rings, no answer. Jiang Li realised today might be Dad’s sensitive period but was answered.

‘Sorry, baby, I answered late.’ Jiang Wanlan’s voice sounded a bit weak.

Jiang Li apologised: ‘I have nothing important; is Dad busy? Did you have breakfast? Remember to take your medicine.’

Jiang Wanlan felt guilty; he hadn’t eaten breakfast or taken medicine. He forgot to call his son to ask how he slept at Cen’s house.

Blaming Lu Jing, he decided not to let him sleep on his bed. Jiang Wanlan: ‘Waiting for breakfast; did you sleep well last night? ‘

Jiang Li: ‘Quite well.’

For cleanliness enthusiasts, a clean bed meant a good sleep. Jiang Li: ‘I’m watching the battlefield records from eight years ago, especially about Dad. I’ll call when I remember something.’

Jiang Wanlan remembered that battle; Lu Jing was injured. However, more details were private and not for public disclosure. Jiang Wanlan: ‘Does it mention how Lu Jing got injured? ‘

Jiang hesitated, then said, ‘Exploded at the warship’s cockpit; the finger closest to the steering wheel was blown off.’ ‘Cen Lang said Dad thought there would be no reinforcements, and when he passed out, he still held your photo.’

Hearing the kitchen’s noise downstairs, Jiang Wanlan wiped his eyes and said casually, ‘Your dad’s mouth can’t speak, and he doesn’t write diaries.’

Jiang Li: ‘I don’t like writing diaries.’ Because his life was either tough or spent in the lab, his experiment records were his life.

Jiang Wanlan: ‘Do you want to talk to him? ‘

Jiang nodded. ‘Yeah.’

Jiang Wanlan went downstairs barefoot, handing the phone to Lu Jing. Lu Jing hurriedly turned off the stove, holding the phone carefully.

“Dad, good morning.”

Lu Jing: ‘Have you had breakfast? ‘

Jiang Li: ‘Yes, Dad, are you going back to Earth? Will you still be in the Space Force in the future? ‘

Lu Jing: ‘Yes, going through the procedures. Unless there’s a tense situation, I won’t return to space.’

Jiang Li deduced that the current situation was not tense; at least as a general, Lu Jing hadn’t received any urgent deployments from the military.

“That’s good,” Jiang Li said. ‘Are you making breakfast? ‘

Lu Jing uncovered the pot, watching the wontons float up one by one: ‘Cooked wontons; want some? I ordered an aircraft and am coming to pick you up.’

Like all fathers, buying a new car made them want to take the whole family out for a ride.

Jiang Li: ‘I’ve eaten; you and Dad eat.’

Jiang Wanlan took the phone, went to another room, and asked softly, ‘Did you sleep in separate rooms last night? ‘

Not being nosy but experiencing Alpha’s vigour after twenty years, he worried about his son’s six-month-pregnant daughter-in-law and the lack of experience between the two. Jiang Li stammered: ‘No.’

As expected, Jiang Wanlan cleared his throat: ‘Dad will send you some information; read it when you have time.’

Jiang Li listened to Jiang Wanlan’s vague words and received several pictures on his phone. He opened one: precautions for cohabitation during pregnancy. Jiang Li blushed: ‘Thanks, Dad.’

Jiang Wanlan: ‘Don’t let him have his way; you take charge. I’ll have breakfast now and call you back later.’ Both parties impatiently hung up.

In Cen Wei’s study, the grandfather and grandson faced each other in silence for a minute. They didn’t have much time to think; if Cen Lang decided to find his parents, they would depart by tomorrow morning at the latest.

Cen Lang: ‘I’ve had the docking device for the mother ship installed.’ The device was complex, not used in combat, and was vulnerable to enemy fire in an external position.

This was the last card left by his parents. Cen Lang had always removed the docking device for storage. Cen Wei rubbed his forehead, his voice somewhat old: ‘Did you tell Xiao Jiang? ‘

Cen Lang: ‘Later.’

Cen Wei: ‘Have you made up your mind? ‘

On one side were his son and daughter-in-law, who had been missing for over twenty years; on the other side was his grandson, who had just recovered from storm syndrome and was about to get married and have a child. Cen Wei couldn’t bear it.