The Rich Spring of the Southern Dynasties, Storms in the Wind and Rain Tower (4) Part 1

Twelve years.

If human cells renew every seven years, it has almost been two cycles by now. Yet, there was this person, always coming back around, and whenever she turned her head, there he was. Yu Hao couldn't quite describe the feeling, but back then, she thought that this was a man she could probably love for a lifetime.

“When are you coming back?” she asked in a low voice.

“Tomorrow,” Lu Huaizheng said.

“I’ll wait for you then.”

“Okay.”

For a moment, there was silence, but neither hung up. They just quietly held their phones, listening silently to each other's even breathing. Closing her eyes, she felt as if he were right in front of her.

Lu Huaizheng asked with a laugh, “Nothing more to say to me?”

Yu Hao retorted, “You don’t either, do you?”

“No,” Lu Huaizheng paused, took a light breath, placed his foot back on the step, and looked up at the sky. “I have a bellyful of things to say. What do you want to hear?”

“What things?”

He chuckled lowly, “Words like the ones from just now.”

Teasing her again.

“Can’t you say anything serious?” Yu Hao chided him, twisting the corner of her clothes.

“Have you never been in a relationship?” Lu Huaizheng stopped smiling and said seriously, “If you don’t talk about this stuff in a relationship, what do you talk about? Three meals a day and daily necessities? That’s not quite right, is it? Or do you want to discuss your scientific ideals with me?”

“Who...is in a relationship with you?” Yu Hao’s face grew hot.

Don't you even give a heads-up when officially establishing a relationship? Who makes such a unilateral declaration? Who has this kind of tacit understanding with you?

“Is that so?” Lu Huaizheng said nonchalantly, “But Old Li saw it all.”

Yu Hao’s face instantly turned red, her heart pounding like a frightened deer. She gritted her teeth, “You still have the nerve to bring it up.”

“It’s already done, what’s there not to mention.” He was so frank it made one want to strangle him. “Old Li isn’t a gossip.”

Actually, he was quite anxious that day too. Sitting in the car, he was still thinking, was I too forceful just now? If Yu Hao went back with swollen lips, he was afraid that even if Old Li didn't say anything, others would get the wrong idea. He hadn't originally wanted to move so fast. After all, there were many taboos in the Military Unit, and it wouldn't sound good if word got out. He didn't care about his own reputation, but he was afraid of tarnishing Yu Hao's and embarrassing Professor Han.

Seeing her like that when he left, he was afraid she would go back and let her imagination run wild, thinking too much. His return trip was uncertain, and the car was about to leave. He had no time to think; on a whim, he turned around and went back.

At least, she hadn't rejected him. She was very inexperienced and flustered.

As Lu Huaizheng kissed her, his heart even started to tremble. It seemed there was still much practice needed.

As the call stretched on, neither of them wanted to hang up. They didn't speak, just silently held their phones, listening to the sound of the wind and the rustling trifles from the other side. But this faint atmosphere seemed to envelop the two of them in a warm halo that no one could bear to disturb.

Zhao Dailin, who had just finished her call with Professor Han, couldn't bear to disturb Yu Hao.

Xu Xu, who had come to find Lu Huaizheng on Li Hongwen's orders, also couldn't bear to disturb Lu Huaizheng.

It wasn't until Lu Huaizheng took the initiative to hang up and put his phone back in his pocket that he turned around and saw Xu Xu watching him from a distance.

Xu Xu hurried over and said to him, “Quick, the leader is looking for you.”

Lu Huaizheng put on his cap and glanced at him. “Chief of Staff Li?”

Xu Xu nodded. “That’s right.”

The two chatted for a few more sentences.

Lu Huaizheng patted his back, said he understood, fastened his cap, and jogged towards the Administrative Building.

He had just reached the bottom of the building.

On the fourth-floor corridor of the Administrative Building stood two figures with their backs to him. They were standing with their hands behind their backs, looking down. They saw Lu Huaizheng run into the building like a gust of wind. The older man in a Military Uniform beside them smiled and said to Li Hongwen, “This kid really hasn’t changed a bit. Still so rash, just like when he was in school.”

Li Hongwen waved his hand, denying it with a smile, his eyes filled with emotion. “He’s changed a lot. Ever since that incident, his personality has become much more restrained. I reckon he guessed you were coming.” At this point, he counted on his fingers for him, “Heaven, Earth, ruler, parents, teacher—you at least rank fifth.”

The man had gentle features, not as rugged as Li Hongwen's. His face was kind, his build slender, and he lacked Li Hongwen's rock-solid hardness. When not smiling, his eyes were bright and piercing, and when he looked at people, his gaze was particularly sharp, always carrying a hint of scrutiny. He was just a dignified little old man.

The little old man's name was Jiang Yuanliang. He was Lu Huaizheng’s teacher back in the Military Academy and an expert in military intelligence communications.

Hearing the footsteps from the stairwell, Jiang Yuanliang turned around and smiled. “This kid, no matter how smart he is, couldn't have guessed I'd be here today. We spoke on the phone a few days ago, and I certainly didn't tell him I was in Hunan recently.”

“You really don't understand your student well enough,” Li Hongwen said, pointing at him with a smile.

Lu Huaizheng bounded up the stairs two or three at a time. Seeing Jiang Yuanliang, he was not surprised at all and respectfully called out, “Teacher Jiang.”

Jiang Yuanliang smiled, “Looks like you guessed it?”

“What?” Lu Huaizheng was a little confused.

“You’re not surprised to see me? You knew I was here?”

“Xu Xu said you had come, so I was somewhat mentally prepared.”

They had almost forgotten that Xu Xu was also a classmate from their year.

The two old men had originally planned to give the kid a surprise, but they had completely forgotten about Xu Xu. They exchanged a look, shook their heads and smiled, lamenting how time makes one old.

Jiang Yuanliang patted Lu Huaizheng's shoulder and asked, “How have you been lately?”

“I’m doing great.”

“I heard from your leader that you’ve started dating recently?” As Jiang Yuanliang spoke, he glanced at Li Hongwen, who awkwardly looked away.

Lu Huaizheng didn’t shy away from it. “Yeah.”

Jiang Yuanliang propped an elbow on the railing, leisurely scrutinizing him. “Which family’s daughter is she?”

Before Lu Huaizheng could speak, Li Hongwen answered first, “You don’t know her. She’s a psychologist in our unit.”

Jiang Yuanliang nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s good. Better than Old Li's daughter.”

“Which Old Li's family?” Li Hongwen asked.

Jiang Yuanliang raised an eyebrow and spoke bluntly, “Who else could it be but Director Li? I just can't stand his daughter. Her words are always laced with barbs, and for a Chinese person, she insists on speaking like a foreigner, suddenly throwing out English words. It gives me a headache.”

He shook his head. He didn't like it.

Jiang Yuanliang was straightforward and meant no harm. It was just that his first impression was that talking to Li Yaoxin was tiring. Li Hongwen didn't dare to respond to that, just smiling and saying, “You and your student have similar taste.”

Jiang Yuanliang was pleased. “I have great faith in my student's judgment.” Right after praising him, he teased him, “I'm still quite curious, which unlucky soul did you end up ruining?”

Lu Huaizheng just smiled, not minding it. Jiang Yuanliang always spoke like that, a bit like Han Zhichen—very direct. Perhaps people in scientific research preferred a straightforward, no-nonsense attitude. He was used to it.

Li Hongwen couldn't listen anymore, being very protective. “Do you know how to talk? To be honest, I really think Old Han’s girl is a bit unworthy of him. She's not a homemaker, and she’s a researcher, so busy she doesn’t know whether she’s coming or going. If it weren't for this kid being so stubborn...”

Before he could finish, Lu Huaizheng interrupted, deliberately prodding him, “You’re just jealous because you don’t understand the academic field. If we’re talking about who’s unworthy, it’s me who is unworthy of her. I have nothing, and I’m a soldier. For her to be willing to be with me, in ancient times, that would be marrying beneath her station. Tell me, what could she possibly see in me!”

Li Hongwen couldn't be bothered to argue with him.

This kid was just completely infatuated and stubborn.

Seeing that the two were about to argue, Jiang Yuanliang quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “It's the young people's business, what are you meddling for? Let's get to the point.” He then turned to Lu Huaizheng, “Some time ago, Old Liang and I had a bold idea. We obtained a material that is very suitable for making a stealth aircraft. If successful, it could push our country's combat readiness forward by another ten years.”

“A stealth aircraft? Something like the B-2 Bomber?”

Jiang Yuanliang nodded. “Yes, but this stealth aircraft’s Radar Cross-Section will be even smaller. Do you remember the experiment I conducted for you back then? The pilots could only detect a very small blip on the radar. At the time, you all thought it was a wild goose, remember?”

Of course, Lu Huaizheng remembered.

Back then, as soon as they got off the plane, Jiang Yuanliang had said, ‘If that had been an enemy fighter jet, you all would have been dead long ago.’

“Old Liang and I will be drafting a proposal soon. Finding the materials is also a process, and we might need your cooperation then. Also, before the proposal, there’s a technical exchange conference in Tuslan that Old Liang and I need to attend.”

After Jiang Yuanliang finished speaking, he glanced at Lu Huaizheng and straightened the hem of his clothes for him.

“I remember you were very interested in this research back then.”

But Lu Huaizheng laughed, “I’ve forgotten most of the technical knowledge by now.”

“I’ve already submitted a request to the leadership,” Jiang Yuanliang nodded as well. “When the time comes, you’ll bring a few people with me to protect me and Old Liang. It'll also be a good opportunity for you to broaden your horizons.”

Lu Huaizheng wasn't stupid; he naturally understood the meaning behind Jiang Yuanliang's arrangement.

Jiang Yuanliang didn't stay long. After explaining the matter, he left by car. Lu Huaizheng saw him off to the Military Region Gate. Before getting into the car, the two chatted for a bit more. Jiang Yuanliang delayed getting in, instead looking at Lu Huaizheng for a long time. His eyes, full of the wisdom of age, were filled with a thousand emotions, a surging tide of feelings, but in the end, he said nothing.

Back when he graduated, Jiang Yuanliang had wanted to keep him by his side.

But Li Hongwen disagreed. He was unwilling to just hand over the seedling he had painstakingly selected from thousands to be Jiang Yuanliang's student. Lu Huaizheng was also a nostalgic person; he held a special place in his heart for the first person who was good to him.

Beneath his rebellious nature was an extremely sincere heart. Despite Jiang Yuanliang's repeated invitations, he still went back to Li Hongwen.

“Seeing you like this, it’s actually very good. Old Li said you've changed, but I don't think you've changed much. You're still the same as before. Next time, bring your girlfriend out to meet me when you have time. Don’t see me off, go back.”

In fact, when it came to understanding him, Jiang Yuanliang knew him better. Jiang Yuanliang was uncompromising in his academic pursuits and wasn't afraid to offend people, but he was also a very sensitive person, often able to pinpoint his thoughts with just a few words.

Li Hongwen, on the other hand, was a rough man and not particularly perceptive.

The two said their goodbyes. Lu Huaizheng gave the driver a few instructions, but was impatiently yelled at by Jiang Yuanliang from the back seat:

“That's enough, get lost. You’re so long-winded.”

He lowered his head and smiled, said no more, and closed the car door.

The wheels rolled over the bumpy mountain road, heading down the gentle slope, leaving two clear tire tracks that slowly extended to the end of the verdant mountain path.

Jiang Yuanliang suddenly stuck his hand out of the car window. His thumb was pointed up, the rest of his fingers curled, and then he slowly pushed it upwards.

In Flight Hand Signals, this was the gesture for 'all systems go, ready for takeoff'.

Jiang Yuanliang said it also meant to press forward with determination.

...

Yunnan Military Region.

After Yu Hao finished her meal and had just put her tray away, ready to leave, Zhao Dailin rushed in from the entrance. Looking frantic, she grabbed Yu Hao's hand without a word and started pulling her outside.

Yu Hao stumbled as she was pulled, her tray clattering all the way.

Reaching the doorway, she placed the tray in the return area and finally asked, “What’s wrong, Senior Sister?”

Zhao Dailin’s brows were slightly furrowed, her expression troubled. She seemed to be in a difficult position.

After the incident with Di Yanni, Professor Han was already swamped. In the morning call, he had repeatedly told Yu Hao to focus on her own duties and stay out of other matters.

But right now, it seemed she was the only one who could help Sun Kai.