At twenty-seven years old, the six of them gathered at the secret base as they had agreed last year.
Xiao Ruawen seemed exceptionally happy today, smiling radiantly since she was at the flower market in the morning, and still beaming while cleaning up.
Xu Qingfan curiously asked, "Ruan Wen, did you win the lottery or something? Why do you seem to be in such a good mood today?"
The rest paused their work and looked up at Xiao Ruawen.
The girl, suddenly the center of everyone's attention, paused for a couple of seconds before explaining with a smile, "Not at all, it's just that it's my dad's turn to take his annual leave this year. He called yesterday and told mom about it."
Apart from two years of mandatory service, soldiers get twenty days of leave each year, but not every soldier can come home during the Chinese New Year as everyone wants to go back, so they have to take turns.
Xiao Ruawen's dad hadn't been home for the New Year for three years, so this year it was his turn.