155: Chapter 156: Back to My Hometown!

Su Han helplessly took the military uniform: "If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll leave you at home."

Xiao Budian was fully awake, holding Su Wu's phone and watching a fan-edited video of "Major Su Han's Highlight Moments," muttering along with the comments: "Great-grandfather beats up the bad guys! Great-grandfather flies high!"

Black Panther was lying at the door yawning, but upon hearing the words "Great-grandfather," it immediately wagged its tail and trotted over, rubbing its head against Su Han's pant leg.

Half an hour later, the group drove out of the city.

Sure enough, there was already traffic on the highway. Many vehicles had handwritten notes on their windshields reading "Direction: Su Family Village," and one van even had "Salute to Major Su Han" spray-painted in large red letters on its body.

"This level of popularity is even more exaggerated than a top celebrity," Su Wu said, clicking his tongue as he watched the ever-increasing traffic in the rearview mirror.

When the car left the highway and turned onto the country road leading to Su Family Village, the speed slowed down significantly.

The roadsides were already packed with all kinds of vehicles, and the villagers had spontaneously organized a traffic control team, wearing matching red vests to direct the flow.

Two kilometers away from the village entrance, a sea of people could be seen from afar.

Under the iconic stone archway of Su Family Village, red lanterns and banners reading "Welcome Home, Hero" were hung everywhere, and even cameras for live streaming had been set up on top of the archway.

As the car slowly approached, the crowd suddenly burst into cheers.

"They're here! They're here!"

"It's Su Han's car!"

"Great-grandfather is back!"

Su Han rolled down the window and saw the dense crowd of clansmen standing under the archway—Su Bowen was wearing a brand-new Zhongshan suit, and several elderly clansmen with white hair and beards leaned on their canes, their backs straight; the younger generation from the village held flowers, their faces beaming with pride.

This scene was very similar to the formation when he last returned to officiate Su Lingxue's wedding, but it had a slightly different feel. Back then, the welcome carried the clan's respect for an "elder"; but in the cheers of this moment, there was more of an admiration for a "hero."

As soon as the car came to a stop, Su Bowen led the elderly clansmen forward. He walked to the car door, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Third Grandpa, you've finally returned! The entire clan has been waiting for you!"

Su Han pushed open the door and got out. His gaze swept over each familiar face, and he bowed deeply to the elders: "I have kept you all waiting."

"Good child, stand up quickly!" The eldest clan elder hurriedly helped him up, tears glistening in his cloudy eyes. "The Su Family has been waiting for centuries for someone like you to emerge! If the ancestors knew of this in the afterlife, they would surely be overjoyed!"

At this moment, Xiao Budian suddenly shouted: "Great-grandfather is the biggest ancestor in our family right now!"

A burst of good-natured laughter erupted from the crowd, and the initially tense atmosphere instantly became relaxed.

Su Bowen watched this scene, stroking his beard with a grin from ear to ear—he had lived for more than half a lifetime and seen countless scenes, but he had never been as proud as he was at this moment. This was the son of the Su Family. This was the glory of the Su Family.

Just then, two military jeeps drove over from a distance.

As soon as the cars stopped in the open space in front of the ancestral hall, a group of men and women in casual clothes quickly walked up.

The man in the lead had a tall, upright stature and steady eyes; it was none other than War Eagle Squad Captain Zhou Mo.

Following him were several familiar figures—Monkey was swinging his arms nonchalantly, and Big Bear was carrying a bulging backpack.

The most eye-catching were the seven young women behind them, each with a vigorous posture and bright, clear eyes. Leading them was Su Qingcheng, wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, yet she could not hide her capable and professional aura.

"Great-grandfather!" Su Qingcheng spoke first, her face flushed with excitement. "We're here!"

Xiao Budian jumped out of the car and lunged at Monkey like a little cannonball: "Uncle Monkey! You really came!"

Monkey bent down to catch her, wailing dramatically: "Oh my! Our little princess has only been home for a few days, why have you gotten heavier? If this keeps up, Uncle won't be able to carry you anymore!"

"I have not!" Xiao Budian hugged his neck and proudly lifted her chin. "Xiao Budian has grown taller! Great-grandfather said I can be a Special Forces Soldier in the future!"

"You'll have to pass Uncle's test first!" Monkey flicked her nose.

Su Han looked at this group of team members who were wearing casual clothes but could not hide their military temperament, and shook his head helplessly: "Didn't I tell you not to make a special fuss?"

"How is this considered a special fuss?" Monkey winked. "Just a bunch of ordinary friends coming to support you, and by the way... crash a Su Family feast."

His words made everyone laugh, and the originally tense atmosphere immediately relaxed significantly.

At this moment, Black Panther suddenly stood up, emitting an excited low whine from its throat, and dashed out like a bolt of black lightning!

"Woof! Woof woof!"

It accurately lunged at Zhou Mo, who was walking in the front, placing its front paws on his arms and rubbing its head into his chest, its tail wagging like a high-speed spinning propeller; there was no trace of its usual calm demeanor.

"Hey, old buddy!" Zhou Mo smiled and rubbed Black Panther's head, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "Looks like you've been living well at the Su Family, you've grown sturdy."

Monkey teased it from the side: "Black Panther, don't you recognize your Monkey brother? Back in the squad, I was the one who hid beef jerky for you every day!"

Black Panther turned its head to look at him, symbolically licked his palm, and immediately turned back to stick to Zhou Mo—in the War Eagle Squad, the one it was most attached to back then was the steady-acting captain.

Big Bear squatted down happily and took out a special beef stick from his backpack: "Look what I brought you? It's your favorite flavor."

Black Panther sniffed it, its eyes immediately lighting up. It took the beef stick but didn't eat it right away; instead, it ran to Xiao Budian with it and placed the meat stick in her hand, as if to say, "Little Princess eats first."

"Black Panther is such a good boy!" Xiao Budian smiled and stuffed the beef stick back into its mouth. "This was brought for you by Uncle Big Bear, go ahead and eat."

Watching Black Panther wolf down the food, the members of the War Eagle Squad all laughed—this little guy was not only intelligent but also protected Xiao Budian very closely.

Su Han watched this scene and shook his head helplessly: "Looks like you all have more face than I do; you bought it over the moment you arrived."

"Well, that's true!" Monkey winked. "Back in the day at Falcon Base, Black Panther was a brother who went through life and death with us; this bond is not something you, a 'latecomer,' can compare to."

As soon as he finished speaking, Black Panther suddenly raised its head and "woofed" at him, as if in rebuttal.

"Look, look, it won't even speak up for you!" Xiao Budian pointed at Black Panther and laughed. "Black Panther is closest to me now, and then Great-grandfather!"

Everyone burst into laughter again, and the originally tense atmosphere immediately relaxed significantly.

Su Wu hurriedly stepped forward to shake hands: "You must be Captain Zhou Mo? I am Su Wu, I often hear Third Grandpa mention you all. Please come inside, the clan has specially prepared tea."

"Mr. Su, you are too kind." Zhou Mo shook his hand, his tone steady. "We just came to see Su Han, and by the way, soak up some of the good fortune."

At this moment, a loud voice came from behind the crowd: "Su Han! You kid, you sure have a grand reception!"

Everyone turned their heads to see Wang Yuanchao getting out of another car, wearing a plain jacket, walking over with large strides. Although he wasn't wearing his military uniform, the aura of someone who had long held a high position remained undiminished.

"Captain Wang!" Su Han went up to greet him. "Why are you here too?"

"You kid achieved such a great merit, how could I not come?" Wang Yuanchao patted his shoulder, his eyes sweeping over the surrounding crowd, his tone filled with a bit of pride. "Look at this scene; our Falcon soldiers are the center of attention wherever they go!"

He changed the subject, lowering his voice: "I approved the leave for the War Eagle Squad and the Womens Special Operations Team, letting them learn from you—how to maintain a normal mindset under the spotlight."

Su Han was between laughter and tears: "You are finding ways to make me a role model."

"What else?" Wang Yuanchao raised an eyebrow. "You are the 'hot commodity' of the entire army now; you can't just be the only one shining, can you?"

As they were speaking, Su Bowen walked over with several clan elders. He recognized Wang Yuanchao at a glance—the two had spoken on the phone when Su Han received his first-class merit last time.

"Captain Wang! Welcome, welcome!" Su Bowen shook his hand warmly. "Come inside and take a seat; the elders of the clan are all waiting to chat with you."

"Village Chief Su, you are too kind." Wang Yuanchao greeted the elders. "I have long heard that the Su Family is 'loyal and brave for generations'; seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation."

The elders were so flattered that their eyebrows danced with joy, and they pulled Wang Yuanchao toward the ancestral hall.

There will be an update tomorrow at 6 PM! Brothers, I'm asking for support for my new book for one last day, please go and support it! "Eighteen-year-old Great-grandfather Enlists! The Commander Has to Salute When He Sees Him"