Chapter Six: Tongzi Clutched the Hatchling's Shell, Trembling All Over

In Jiang Hua’s disdainful eyes, Wang Lianjun saw a familiar scene and recalled the fierce battle earlier when this little girl had similarly thrown a grenade at Jiang Jing’s head before tossing it away.

“It’s the smell of gunpowder!”

Wang Lianjun’s abrupt remark made 5188 breathe a sigh of relief and nod before settling back into her foster mother’s arms.

Bai Chu and Wang Lianjun exchanged a glance, and Bai Chu resumed questioning, “Little girl, you mean he smells like gunpowder?”

Seeing the girl nod obediently, Bai Chu frowned, “You can really smell that?”

5188 tilted her head, looking at them with pure, innocent eyes filled with confusion.

It seemed that not being able to smell it would be the strange thing.

Bai Chu’s expression grew serious. “If that’s the case, then everything makes sense!”

Wang Lianjun nodded in agreement. “Those enemies fought desperately to keep the little girl. They had been coaxing her with the excuse of finding her family, making her use her keen sense of smell to do their bidding. When the lies no longer worked and she resisted and ran off with their newly developed medicine, that’s why they’re so desperate to bring her back!”

Bai Chu nodded, thinking the same.

Listening to their analysis, 5188 felt it was somewhat different from what she had said.

Apart from being deceived about finding her foster mother, the rest didn’t seem quite right.

Scratching her little yellow hair in puzzlement, 5188 decided to let this beautiful misunderstanding continue, so they wouldn’t ask for the medicine.

“But, what about the empty medicine bottle?”

Just as 5188 secretly relaxed, Wang Lianjun’s curious gaze remained fixed on the little girl.

5188 fiddled with her sleeve, unsure how to explain.

“The bottle was probably picked up or thrown away long ago!”

Jiang Jing casually pulled a wry smile. “If the person in the hospital that the little girl mentioned really had problems, maybe they were after the medicine! Or perhaps during the chaos in the ward, someone took the bottle and sold it!”

Bai Chu frowned and glanced at Jiang Jing’s indifferent face. A flicker of sharp light passed through his eyes before he withdrew his gaze and focused on Wang Lianjun. “Immediately interrogate that man! Then send someone to check the ward to see if anyone else approached it during the night, including whether any doctors or nurses took anything extra!”

“Yes, sir!”

After saluting and standing up, Wang Lianjun quickly went to make arrangements.

Once they left, Bai Chu looked at the little girl, who was too guilty to meet his eyes, and smiled gently. “Miss Jiang, this child is still too young. She probably doesn’t realize how important what she holds is.”

Pausing for a moment, under the slightly furrowed gazes of Jiang Hua and Jiang Jing, he amended, “Or maybe she doesn’t know how important the things she once had were. Now, with so many factions in chaos and strangers everywhere, it’s not safe for her to stay here.”

“So, Commander Bai means—”

“Little Jiang here hasn’t taken a vacation in years. Why not use this time to say he’s going home to recover, and take the little girl to stay with you for a while? Once we clear things up here, we can investigate her family situation properly.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jing wanted to say something, but Jiang Hua gave her youngest son a look to keep quiet before nodding, “Fine! He’s of age now; it’s time to talk about marriage.”

Leaning forward, Jiang Hua asked, “How long do you think it will take? Will it be enough time for him to get married outright?”

Bai Chu smiled, “It should be! At least two to three months.”

Jiang Hua nodded in satisfaction, while Jiang Jing wore a sullen expression, clearly reluctant.

Bai Chu sternly scolded, “Comrade Jiang Jing, resolving personal matters is also a task assigned by the military! I hope you can complete it satisfactorily!”

Jiang Jing weakly replied “Yes,” and Bai Chu turned to arrange their departure.

5188 carefully held her breath nearby, afraid that Bai Chu would ask questions she couldn’t answer.

Only after he left did she dare to breathe deeply.

Her small, relieved expression made Jiang Hua and her youngest son exchange a glance, their concern deepening.

Both mother and son knew the little girl hadn’t told the whole truth.

Jiang Jing even realized that Bai Chu’s intention was clear: if the girl was harmless, then protect her; if not, then—monitor her.

Jiang Jing couldn’t help but squat before the little girl, his face devoid of his earlier teasing. “The medicine you gave me just now—is there really none left?”

Jiang Jing had been on many secret missions, had been to large cities, and had some experience.

The medical equipment in this small county wasn’t as good as in big cities, and the doctors’ skills weren’t as advanced, so they could only tell that his wounds had healed.

But he knew very well how good his body was now.

For example, right now—he could distinguish the breathing of several people outside.

5188 looked at the serious Jiang Jing and nodded obediently.

Jiang Jing felt somewhat disappointed, his gaze towards the girl complex.

He had followed the girl because she resembled her mother, never expecting such developments.

“Well, saying more is useless!”

Jiang Hua had also seen through Bai Chu’s meaning, but based solely on the girl’s affection for her and the fact she saved her youngest son’s life, her heart was a bit biased. “I don’t think this girl is bad! If she wants to come back with us, let her! Nothing bad will happen.”

Jiang Jing nodded, “Then I’ll talk to the commander.”

With that, he turned and left.

5188 cautiously looked at Jiang Hua and timidly called out “Foster mother.”

Jiang Hua patted her back and softly comforted, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid! Foster mother is here.”

After a pause, Jiang Hua looked seriously at the girl, “As long as you don’t do anything harmful to China, Foster mother will always protect you!”

5188 nodded seriously, her small voice tinged with solemnity, “I promise!”

After a few minutes, she added two more words: “I won’t.”

Outside, hearing her answer, Jiang Jing’s eyes flickered with a hint of a smile before he turned and went to the backyard to find his superior, who was smoking.

“Did you find out?”

Bai Chu asked quietly when he saw him emerge.

He could easily see the girl’s clumsy lies and guilty looks—if he couldn’t, he wouldn’t hold his position.

Jiang Jing shook his head, “She says there really is none left.”

Bai Chu was genuinely disappointed but quickly composed himself. “I suspect this child may be holding some secret we don’t know about. Or—”

She might actually be a pawn the enemy planted to infiltrate us.

Jiang Jing pursed his lips, understanding the unspoken meaning behind the commander’s words. “Commander, I trust her.”

If she really were a mole, the cost to win him over would have been too great.