Chapter 324 - 322: A Special Position

Yun Linhai and the others ambled back home after a trip to the village chief’s house, only to find several special guests waiting for them.

What made them so special? They were all wearing military uniforms.

The men sat ramrod straight in the courtyard. The moment Yun Linhai’s group returned, their heads swiveled in unison to look at them.

It startled Yun Linhai and the others so much that they took two steps back to get a better look.

’That’s right, this is our house!’

"Yun Jiao!"

The eyes of one of the young men lit up upon seeing Yun Jiao, and he immediately stood up.

Held in her father’s arms, Yun Jiao tilted her head slightly like a little kitten.

"Uncle Lin, and a few big brothers."

That’s right. The men sitting in the courtyard were none other than Vice Commander Lin and his group.

"Sis, you’re finally back."

Yun Xiaowu rushed out of a room, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"These soldier uncles are here to see you."

"Hello, Mr. Yun and everyone."

Vice Commander Lin greeted Yun Linhai and the others.

"Hello, hello."

Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe had subconscious smiles on their faces, but they were also a bit awkward and nervous.

"Um, our Jiaojiao hasn’t done anything wrong, has she?"

’Why would several soldiers show up at once?’

Vice Commander Lin said, "Mr. Yun, you’ve misunderstood. We’re here to thank young Yun Jiao."

"Huh?"

Vice Commander Lin looked at Yun Jiao. ’You didn’t tell them?’

Yun Jiao looked down and picked at her nails. ’Oops, I think I forgot to mention it.’

Vice Commander Lin was speechless.

’This kid’s lips are really sealed. She didn’t say a single word about something so major.’

Feeling a bit helpless, he could only explain.

"It’s like this..."

He explained concisely, but he clearly recounted how Yun Jiao had been a huge help that day, saving people at sea.

"After we returned, we had to handle all the related matters and apply for a monetary reward and a medal for young Yun Jiao. That’s why it took us a few days to come and find her."

He paused, then added, "Actually, young Yun Jiao helped us out in a big way before this, too."

He was referring to the incident when those foreigners had come to their country to provide technical guidance.

Yun Linhai and the others were in a daze.

"Jiaojiao, your lips are really sealed!"

Yun Linhe said through gritted teeth. At that moment, he was on the exact same wavelength as Vice Commander Lin.

Yun Jiao felt a little guilty. "I was tired when I got back that day, so I fell asleep and forgot."

Besides, she hadn’t thought it was a big deal, so she didn’t mention it.

"Ahem, this is the monetary reward we applied for on her behalf."

Vice Commander Lin changed the subject and handed an envelope containing the reward money to Yun Linhai.

"There’s five hundred yuan inside, and also this..."

It was a medal of honor.

Five hundred yuan was not a small sum these days, but to the Yun family, the medal of honor was clearly more appealing.

"Thank you so much. Thank you, Comrade Lin."

Vice Commander Lin replied, "We’re the ones who should be thanking young Yun Jiao."

"Right, right! If it weren’t for Yun Jiao, the few of us might not be alive today."

The men who had come with Vice Commander Lin were Wu Yi and the others Yun Jiao had rescued at sea.

They had also brought gifts—things like rice, flour, and cooking oil, purchased with their own stipends.

People were very practical with their gifts back then, usually giving such necessities.

"Since you’re all here, please stay and have a meal with us."

Shen Yunlian and the others had already finished preparing the food.

"Speaking of which, my two oldest sons also joined the army, but they were stationed a bit far away."

At the dinner table, everyone ate and chatted, and the atmosphere gradually became less formal.

Vice Commander Lin was a little surprised. "Then they must be outstanding."

’No matter what, praising someone’s children is always the right move.’

Yun Jiao asked, "Dad, Mom, can’t we take a train to visit my big brothers?"

It had been almost a year, and she really missed her two older brothers.

Vice Commander Lin explained, "You can visit family, but without the official status to accompany the troops, you can’t stay there for very long."

"And as for the Northwest, the climate there is harsh. It’s all deserts and sandstorms, and there’s the risk of altitude sickness, large temperature swings between day and night, and other issues. The living environment is drastically different, especially for people from the south. The medical facilities are poor, too, so I wouldn’t recommend a child going there."

If something really did happen there, just finding a place to see a doctor would require traveling a great distance.

The army has its own medics, of course, but the fear is that problems could arise before you even arrive.

"We’ll have to think more about it then."

In truth, Shen Yunlian also wanted to go see her sons.

Yun Jiao just said, "Oh," and shoveled a large mouthful of rice into her mouth.

After the meal, Wu Yi and the other young men immediately scrambled to clean up and wash the dishes.

Their movements were so clean and efficient that Shen Yunlian couldn’t have been more pleased watching them.

’If I had a daughter around their age, I’d be so tempted to play matchmaker.’

’As expected, the men trained by our country are truly outstanding!’

"There’s one more thing."

Vice Commander Lin said to the Yun family, "Because of young Yun Jiao’s special ability, I’ve submitted an application to my superiors to give her a special position in the military department. She won’t have to report to the base; we just hope she can provide assistance when needed. Of course, she’ll also receive a salary."

"If the application is approved, someone might come to see you in a while."

"What?"

The Yun family was dumbfounded.

’A position in the military? Huh? For our Jiaojiao?’

’Good heavens, our Jiaojiao isn’t even five years old, and she’s already going to be on the state’s payroll?’

Vice Commander Lin continued, "I just don’t know what your thoughts are on the matter."

’If they don’t agree, I’ll have to do my best to persuade them.’

’It would be a terrible waste not to make use of Yun Jiao’s ability!’

"We have no objections! Yes, of course..."

’Who would object to such a wonderful thing?!’

’This is no different from a pie falling from the sky!’

In the end, the Yun family saw Vice Commander Lin and his men off, grinning from ear to ear.

The moment the men were gone, Yun Linhai and the other parents turned around, scooped Yun Jiao up, and planted a big kiss on her little cheek.

Yun Jiao, caught completely off guard by the kiss: !!!

Before she could even react, she was snatched away by someone else.

"Jiaojiao, how did you get to be so amazing!"

They thought Jiaojiao was already amazing enough, but she kept on surprising them.

Yun Xiaowu asked, "Does this mean my little sister will be a little PLA soldier from now on?"

Yun Chen Nan replied, "The position Jiaojiao is going to hold is probably still different from being an actual soldier."

"But she’s still joining the military!"

Her older brothers were envious.

But their little sister had always been the most capable one in the family.

As her older brothers, they were also incredibly proud!

Yun Jiao could feel her family’s enthusiasm, but it was a bit overwhelming.

"Dad, Mom, Uncle, Little Aunt, brothers, please stop crowding around me."

Yun Xiaowu said, "Hehehe, such an amazing little sister is my little sister."

Yun Jiao thought, ’He sounds like a big idiot.’

’But he’s my family, so what can I do? It’s not like I can disown him.’

The medal of honor was taken to the main hall to be enshrined. They even lit incense to inform the family ancestors.

The entire monetary reward was given to Yun Jiao to keep for herself.

"Here, it’s your money. Spend it however you want."

Yun Jiao’s pocket money increased by another sum.

That evening, back in her room, she opened a box and put all the money inside.

Inside the box, bills ranging from one-fen notes to ten-yuan "Great Unity" bills were stacked neatly, almost filling the entire box.