“No. They had yet to return to Ping Cheng. But I have no idea where they are now.” It was rare that Zhai Sheng did not sound displeased at the mention of Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing. “I provided them with an opportunity. I suppose they will make use of this opportunity to achieve something big.”

  “.……” Therefore, the two stubborn children were out on a mission again. “Why do I have the impression that the number of times that they went on missions in the past four years is higher than the normal soldiers?” It was impossible that the army lacked soldiers and had to send the students on missions.

  “On the contrary, they are young and hence more deceiving.” Shi Qing and Zhu Baoguo were still novices when they first carried out missions. Although Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing looked as if they were still in school, the fearsome enemies might not turn soft-hearted toward them.

  But at the very least, they would not be as wary of Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing.

  Qiao Nan knitted her brows as she leaned against Zhai Sheng. “Brother Zhai, take it easy. Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing have grown up. They can choose and take charge of their lives. I feel that what they are doing is too dangerous.” Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing were still young. Qiao Nan could look at it objectively when Zhai Sheng and Zhai Hua went on missions. But she could not do so with Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing.

  If they were not soldiers, Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing would have an easier time during the four years in college.

  Compared to the adults who still lived with and depended on their parents, Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing had become independent at a very young age.

  Zhai Sheng tucked Qiao Nan’s hair to the back of her ear. “I know what I am doing. They have been working very hard. If they were not novices and needed my help, they would have fought for every chance to go on missions. Right now, all they lack is the opportunity. Even if I don’t take the initiative to help them, they will come asking me for help.”

  \r \r \r

  Since this would happen eventually, Zhai Sheng did not mind that he took the initiative so that they would owe him a debt of gratitude.

  The reason being, Zhai Sheng was a jealous man. He still remembered on the day he married Qiao Nan, Zhu Baoguo tried very hard to tire him out so that he would be drained and could not spend the wedding night with Qiao Nan.

  Although Zhu Baoguo was his love rival, he had not even made his move but was defeated by him. As for Shi Qing, she was a woman. But if she fought with him for his wife, she would be a more dangerous opponent than men.

  When other men pestered Nan Nan, she could reject them without the slightest hesitation, not giving them the slightest chance. But if it was Shi Qing, Nan Nan would agree to all her requests. Take for instance, on Zhai Hua’s wedding eve when Zhai Hua insisted on sleeping with Nan Nan. Zhai Sheng, who was married for three years, had to sleep by himself for the first time since his marriage.

  Zhai Sheng came to a conclusion from what happened with Zhai Hua. He was not worried about love rivals. Instead, he was worried about other women around Qiao Nan. They would pester his wife, refusing to let her go. Zhai Sheng could do nothing about them.

  Since he knew Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing well, Zhai Sheng was all the more willing to help them take on more difficult missions. Other people agonized over not having any opportunities, while Zhai Sheng gave them an array of missions to choose from.

  They were different from Wei De. He did not wish to take a risk or work hard. He only wanted to join Zhai Sheng in his missions to gain military credit when the missions were successful, and he would then be able to get promoted.

  Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing belonged to the same group of people as Qiao Nan. They were hands-on and preferred actions over words.

  Zhai Sheng gave the two newbies an opportunity, and they proved their worth through their outstanding performance. Since that was the case, the higher-ups would turn a blind eye to Zhai Sheng’s cheap tricks.

  After all, everyone knew that Zhu Baoguo’s father was Chief Zhu. Besides, although Shi Qing was a woman, Shi Peng was her father. He might be working in the government now, but he used to be brave and good at fighting several years ago. He had made huge contributions to the army.

  If not for his poor health, Shi Peng would have been given an important role in the army now.

  Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing had fathers who had great accomplishments in the army. No one had any doubts about their abilities. Instead, they felt that it was perfectly normal for them to perform well.

  “Mama.” San Bao was unhappy that her father and mother sat very close to each other. Her father even reached out his hands to hug her mother. San Bao left her playmates and walked to stand between Qiao Nan and Zhai Sheng. She tiptoed and climbed up the seat, squeezing in between her parents. It was not enough to sit between them. She held her mother’s hand with one hand and her father’s hand with another hand.

  San Bao finally felt satisfied. She kicked her legs and relaxed. Although no one accompanied her to play, she felt the happiest at this moment.

  “Jiji?” Tian Yu held the toys in his hands and stood up, feeling perplexed. He looked toward San Bao. “Play?” The four of them were having fun playing together. What was wrong with the sister? Why did she run off? In that case, he wanted to be with his uncle and auntie as well. He wanted to be in his auntie’s embrace and for her to hug him.

  “What are you talking about? I am your elder sister.” San Bao was unhappy. “Mama, I have told Xiao Bao several times, but why can’t he learn to address me as his sister?” If Qiao Nan did not teach her to be polite and to take care of Tian Yu, the younger brother, she would have scolded him for being stupid.

  She remembered that when she, Da Bao, and Er Bao were younger, they were quite smart. They were able to speak coherently when they were at Xiao Bao’s age. “Mama, I feel that I did not give my younger brother a good pet name.”

  San Bao was the one who came up with “Xiao Bao” as Tian Yu’s pet name.

  San Bao was aware that Da Bao, Er Bao, and San Bao were their pet names. After Tian Yu was born, as the elder sister, San Bao felt that she had to do something for him.

  In the end, San Bao decided that she wanted to come up with a pet name for Tian Yu. She wanted to be a qualified elder sister.

  There were Da Bao, Er Bao, and San Bao in the family. They lacked a Xiao Bao in the family.

  The pet name was quite suitable. In the fourth generation of the Zhai family, apart from Tian Yu, it was unlikely that there would be another newcomer. Therefore, it was accurate to say that he was Xiao Bao[1]. To the Tian family, Tian Yu was their only grandson, and they treasured him. Since he was still very young, they agreed to use ‘Xiao Bao’ as his pet name.

  Back then, San Bao had all sorts of reasons why it was suitable to have ‘Xiao Bao’ as Tian Yu’s pet name. But right now, she felt that it did not match him at all.

  [1] Xiao means small in Chinese, while Bao means treasure in Chinese.