208: Chapter 208 Joy from Family

After Chu Ge left Academician Chen's office and was about to return to his own, a guard hurried toward him from a distance.

"General Chu, someone is looking for you at the main gate. It's your younger sister," the guard said after saluting him.

"Alright, I'll head over right away."

Since the main road leading to the Military Research Institute's gate was closed to the public, the intensity of security checks by the guards had increased significantly.

Chu Xiaowu was a prime example; she had visited many times, and the guards at the gate all recognized her, yet someone from the Research Institute still had to come out and fetch her.

This was a hard rule—IDs didn't matter, administrative rank didn't matter, and even confirming by phone wasn't enough. It really felt like a military base.

Chu Ge walked to the main gate and saw Chu Xiaowu standing stiffly next to the sentry post. Her body was tense, but her head was tilted as she peered inside. Chu Ge smiled and shook his head before jogging over.

"General Chu, salute!"

The guards at the gate saluted in unison with a sharp "shua." Chu Ge nodded and returned the salute, then pulled the dazed Chu Xiaowu aside to register.

Chu Xiaowu still hadn't recovered her senses, her large eyes blinking as she looked back and forth between Chu Ge and the guards.

As the two walked into the Research Institute, Chu Xiaowu finally couldn't hold it back anymore.

"Bro, why did they just call you General Chu? You haven't actually become a general, have you?"

"What kind of talk is that? It seems your brother doesn't carry much weight in your eyes..."

After saying that, Chu Ge prepared to tease Chu Xiaowu.

"Oh, that's not it! I... I just think it's too fast. How long has it been? From Senior Colonel straight to General?"

"General is the rank right above Senior Colonel..." Chu Ge said, speechless.

"Is it?" Chu Xiaowu began counting on her fingers, muttering to herself.

"Stop counting and let's go. It's just in time for lunch."

Chu Xiaowu nodded and stopped obsessing over the military rank, obediently following behind Chu Ge.

"Xiaowu, how have things been at school lately?"

"They're fine, nothing's different. It's just... just..."

"Just what?" Chu Ge stopped and turned around to ask with concern.

"It's just that the school leaders have been acting a bit strange. They come to ask me this and that every few days, which makes me feel very awkward."

Chu Ge felt relieved, but it seemed that what happened that day had still reached Principal Huang's ears.

"What about your classmates?"

"There's no change there. My roommates are keeping my secret, hehe. I've also made a few new friends."

"One of them is surnamed Xue, right?" Chu Ge blurted out.

"How did you know? Bro, did you plant a mole near me? Wait... no, maybe it's a secret agent."

Chu Xiaowu stared at Chu Ge with wide, rolling eyes, asking suspiciously.

"Uh, her grandfather and I are somewhat acquainted." Chu Ge realized he had let it slip and replied dismissively.

After getting their food, the two found a place to sit. Colleagues from the Research Institute greeted Chu Ge one after another. Once seated, Chu Xiaowu looked at her lunch box, which was piled high with chicken legs and braised pork like a small mountain.

"Bro, we have everything at school. It's not like I'm a refugee. You do this every time. If you keep this up, the aunts and uncles at your Research Institute will think I'm a glutton."

"You've never gained weight no matter how much you eat since you were little, so what are you afraid of? You're still growing. Eat up—you're not allowed to leave until you finish."

"Still growing? I'm already twenty."

"Twenty already?"

Chu Ge had forgotten that Xiaowu was already a sophomore. Last Lunar New Year, all his plans had coincided, so he hadn't gone home and spent the holiday at the Research Institute instead. In the blink of an eye, it had been over a year since he'd been home.

"Bro, winter is coming soon. Are you coming home for the New Year? When I went home for National Day, Mom kept asking me. She's too embarrassed to ask you because she's afraid of disturbing your work, so she kept pestering me."

"This year... what month does the New Year fall in?"

"Late January..."

"Late January... I should be able to make it back. Let me make some arrangements. Mom and Dad are getting older, and I felt terrible about not going back last year. No matter what, I have to go home for the New Year this time."

Chu Ge did the math. By late January, the Lunar Base would likely still be under construction, but all work should be on the right track. If nothing urgent came up, he could indeed return to Earth.

With the speed of the aerospace carrier, it would take only minutes to get home. According to the routine plan, the aerospace carrier would return to Earth with the engineering ships for resupply before the New Year.

After all, it was the New Year. Even if the personnel on the aerospace carrier were to spend the holiday on the Moon, the fleet would return to resupply with holiday goods.

Sometimes, the atmosphere can greatly alleviate homesickness, a trait particularly prominent among the Chinese. Chu Ge had experienced this firsthand at the Research Institute on New Year's Eve last year.

After eating, Chu Xiaowu followed Chu Ge back to his dormitory. Every time she visited, she insisted on cleaning his room from top to bottom. Chu Ge couldn't stop her, so he simply let her be.

"Bro, is this the general's rank?" Chu Xiaowu ran up to Chu Ge holding the military uniform, excitedly pointing at the shoulder boards.

"Those are called shoulder boards."

"Quick, go to the bedroom and change into the uniform! We're going to video call Mom and Dad in a bit. They don't know yet, and they'll definitely be proud of you when they find out!"

Chu Ge took the uniform and, after a moment's thought, obediently walked toward the bedroom. Xiaowu was right; he hadn't had the chance to tell his parents yet. This was a big deal, and he needed to let them know.

Chu Ge walked out of the bedroom fully dressed in his uniform. Chu Xiaowu circled around him and gave him a big thumbs-up.

"Handsome!"

"Stop being silly and hurry up and call Mom and Dad."

Chu Xiaowu made a face as she obediently placed the call. Once the video connected, she acted spoiled with her parents for a while before pushing Chu Ge forward.

"Mom, Dad, look! Is there anything different about Bro today?"

Chu Ge nudged Chu Xiaowu aside and greeted his parents, then began asking about how they had been lately. After chatting for a while, Chu Xiaowu saw that the conversation had completely drifted off-topic and squeezed back in.

"Mom, Dad, did you notice anything?"

"Notice what? Well, looking closely, your brother seems to have gotten tanner, but he's still my handsome son."

"Dad, what about you?"

As she spoke, Chu Xiaowu pointed the camera specifically at Chu Ge's shoulder and held it there.

"You child, always messing around. Your brother..."

Chu Zhongliang's pupils instantly focused on Chu Ge's shoulder boards, and his words trailed off.

"One flower and two stars... This... these are the shoulder boards of a Lieutenant General."

"What are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Chu Ge, was this rank just conferred?" Chu Zhongliang ignored Chu's mother beside him and asked Chu Ge with a slightly trembling voice. Chu Ge nodded vigorously.

"Haha, a general! My son, Chu Zhongliang's son, is a general! Haha, I'm going to tell Wang Kui later and make him die of envy!"