Chapter 378: Chapter 18: Confessions of the Heart (Part 2)
Hong Sheng dared not look at Susu. He looked at his slightly softening son, picked him up, and kissed him hard. "Daddy missed you so much!"
Hong Feng naturally missed his father too. Hearing this, he finally smiled, "Daddy, lift me up high!"
Susu watched the two who just moments ago seemed distant now being affectionate and couldn’t help but sigh at the natural bond between father and son.
After they played for a while, Susu finally spoke, "Mantou, your father is back, and presumably your Uncle Xiao Jiu should be here soon too. Go find him to play, while your mother talks with your father."
Hong Feng asked his father to put him down, tidied up his clothes, and then said, "Then I won’t disturb mother and father speaking. I know, as Master Xin said, this is called pouring out your hearts."
Hong Sheng: ...
Shu Xin, come out, I promise I won’t beat you to death!
Susu had no such reservations and shouted towards the outside where someone was eavesdropping, "Zhu Zhu, tell Shu Xin, no monthly salary or any subsidies for this month."
Zhu Zhu wasn’t concerned about her future man at all and giggled, "Got it!"
Having set a trap for his dad and Master, Hong Feng was taken by Linlang to find his Uncle Ruan Jiu, who should rightly be called Uncle Nine, but could only be called Uncle Xiao Jiu. Only then did Susu smile at Hong Sheng, "You’re quite capable, huh!"
She wondered why every time Mantou returned from the camp, his voice was a bit hoarse, and asked, but he only said it was from shouting slogans.
Susu knew Hong Sheng took their son to do training at the school grounds, thinking surely he’d know his own child’s limits?
Unexpectedly, the so-called shouting slogans were actually this!
Such bullying, who cares if he’s good-looking?
Seeing his wife’s smile, Hong Sheng got scared immediately, "Susu! Honey! I haven’t come back for three months, don’t you miss me?"
Susu rolled her eyes, shaking off a shiver, "What does me missing the others have to do with you?"
Hong Sheng: ...
Isn’t this awkward? Can’t we have a pleasant time together?
He couldn’t beat Susu in a verbal argument, seems like he needs to use his ultimate move, and then...
Turns out, wall-pins and strong kisses weren’t first invented in Korean dramas.
Susu was kissed by Hong Sheng until she was dizzy, forgetting that outside there were still banquets set up. The couple who hadn’t seen each other for three months was like dry timber meeting a blazing fire, almost about to ignite into a fiery blaze.
Fortunately, both of them still had a bit of reason left: Hong Sheng knew that if he did Susu now, when she came back to her senses, she’d definitely kill him;
And Susu knew that as sure as many people saw Hong Sheng entering, if they both didn’t appear soon, even a fool would know what they were up to.
Flaunting intimacy in daylight, Susu really couldn’t face such a shame.
So, despite their reluctance to part, reason prevailed, and they pushed apart a bit, though Hong Sheng still held his wife’s slender waist, his other hand gently stroking Susu’s back, feeling each other’s heartbeat, wishing this moment could last forever.
"Why are you back? You..." Susu finally broke the silence, thinking of a possibility, her lashes lowered, making Hong Sheng wish she could be a bit more naive.
Hong Sheng knew he couldn’t lie to Susu, and he really couldn’t hide it anymore, so he helplessly said, "I received an order from Uncle Liu to lead half of Hami Guard Vanguard Camp deep into Tartar territory, leaving tomorrow."
"What, only taking half the Vanguard Camp deep into Tartar? Did you offend Uncle Liu?" The Vanguard Camp now expanded to a thousand men, half meant five hundred, going deep into Tartar was different from paving the way with the main army, this was truly fighting alone.
Moreover...
Susu’s face looked quite bad, "Leaving tomorrow, and you’re only telling me now?"
Hearing this, Hong Sheng immediately thought, not good, quickly explained, "I just received the order this morning, it was personally delivered by someone close to Uncle Liu. Officially I’m to be at his side when attacking Tartar, but in reality, it’s to lead five hundred Vanguard Soldiers disguised as bandits or refugees into Tartar to continue guerrilla warfare!"
Susu remained silent upon hearing this, but felt both proud and helpless in her heart.
The suggestion to conduct a guerrilla warfare counterattack on Tartar was initially brought up by Susu, mainly due to the disparity in forces; Hami Guard couldn’t afford to lose a single soldier anymore.
And Hong Sheng successfully used guerrilla tactics to achieve great victories, taking a thousand heads from the enemy in just half a month with zero casualties.
But Tartar wasn’t stupid, later they prepared, making victories for Hong Sheng and his men harder to come by.
By then, Governor Liu had already gathered a large army to launch a formal counterattack. The Tartar and Wala Army also began pulling back their dispersed units to regroup, making Hong Sheng reluctant to take risks, hence fortifying Hami Guard without further offensives.
Now, Governor Liu wanted them to disguise and venture into Tartar again. If they could gather some intelligence, great, if not, causing trouble for the Tartar border troops, making them weary, was also good.
"This is because Uncle Liu saw my readiness to abandon entering Tartar glory last time, and thanks to Aunt Qin’s influence looking at me differently, he’s trying to create opportunities for me.
If successful, it would be great merit; if not, at most, a reprimand, no real loss."
Only then did Susu feel relieved, but knowing that Hong Sheng was leaving tomorrow made her eyes redden, but what could be done, she married a soldier!
She naturally wished for their family to be together happily, but if the country falls, where does the family stand?
Moreover, Susu once daydreamed in her past life that if she were to travel back to ancient times, being a Mulan figure wouldn’t be so bad.
Now that she traveled back, being a Mulan figure isn’t possible, but she kept the words in her heart: "Anyone who offends Huaxia, no matter how far, must be executed!"
"I’ll pack things for you to bring tomorrow, and the armor needs to be maintained again.
There’s not much golden sore medicine left at home, instruct someone to order a batch quickly, pay more silver to hopefully get it by tonight.
Nowadays it’s getting hotter by the day, by the time you reach deep into Tartar, it’ll be summer. Fortunately, over these years, we’ve saved plenty of medicine lumps, bring them with you.
I don’t know when you’ll return, Tartar’s winter is much colder than Great Chu’s, I need to pack more thick winter clothes and insulated boots for you. Plus..."
Susu seemed to mumble to herself, wishing she could pack the whole house for Hong Sheng, wanting to busy herself, trying to temporarily forget worrying things.
Yet each thing she mentioned reminded her that Hong Sheng was leaving on another journey.
Hong Sheng watched the silent Susu who quietly shed tears, clenched his fist, "Susu, I haven’t fulfilled any of my promises to you yet, instead made you worry and anxious, I..." Before Hong Sheng could finish, Susu silenced him with her hand.
"What I want to hear isn’t an apology, because I won’t say it’s okay. I know you wish to give the best for our son and me.
Previously, it was my own issues, yet I pinned them on you, it was my impatience. Now, I just hope for your safe return, our son and I will be waiting for you at home."
