The door of the courtyard house has been welded dead

I came out of the shower.

Jiang Defu held a basin in one hand and a towel in the other, wiping the water from his hair. He felt as if his body had been reborn.

Having lived all these years, I've never felt that a simple bath could make me feel so comfortable.

As for how much mud and ash he rubbed off, Jiang Defu glanced back at the ground, his cheek muscles twitching involuntarily, a little worried that the sewer might be clogged.

He changed into a clean set of military uniform, then threw the uniform he had worn for days without washing or changing it, which had even started to smell bad, into the laundry basket labeled with his name. He didn't need to worry about the rest.

According to the personnel on the supply ship, the logistics staff will wash up and send them to the submarine base; they don't need to worry about the rest.

This kind of military service is completely different from traditional military units. Even during training, there are supply ships following at sea, and the logistical support is excellent. The only thing these submariners need to consider is to do a good job in training; they don't need to worry about anything else.

After drying his hair, Jiang Defu returned to the temporary dormitory. Looking at the large bed inside, he threw the washbasin onto the washbasin stand, spread his arms, and lay down on the 1.5-meter-wide bed in a starfish position.

The bed and blankets still smelled of sunshine. Jiang Defu took a deep breath, and tears of happiness almost welled up in his eyes.

The smell is indescribable, but it completely relaxes you. Compared to the cramped beds inside a submarine, the dormitories on a supply ship are like luxury suites.

Perhaps it is precisely because they are underwater and cannot eat or sleep well that the logistical support is so good. Otherwise, over a long period of time, the closed environment and high-pressure work could really exhaust a person's spirit.

"Dong dong dong~!"

There was a knock at the door. Jiang Defu, who was lying on the bed, suddenly sat up on the edge of the bed.

"Please come in!"

The person outside the door turned the handle, and when Jiang Defu saw who it was, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Old Ding~!!!"

Jiang Defu was so surprised that he jumped up from the edge of the bed. The moment he confirmed that it was his old classmate, he immediately opened his arms and went to greet him.

"Old Jiang, hahaha, I knew I couldn't be wrong!"

Wearing the Type 74 naval officer uniform, Ding Jiqun's face was etched with the marks of time, but compared to the thinner Jiang Defu, he looked slightly older.

Years of working at sea, weathered by the sea winds, have shaped his face to resemble a rock on the coast, a far cry from when he was at the naval artillery school.

Two comrades who hadn't seen each other for a long time embraced warmly and patted each other on the back. They hadn't seen each other for many years, and they never imagined that their reunion after more than a decade would be at sea.

One person sat on the edge of the bed, and the other sat on a stool. Ding Jiqun rested his arm on the back of the chair, glanced at Jiang Defu, and then tapped his finger lightly.

Although the two men wore the same style of military uniform, they were different colors. From what he had seen through the binoculars, Jiang Defu was wearing a submariner's uniform, and he already knew his classmate's current situation.

"Didn't you go to be the military representative stationed at the factory? What happened?"

"It's a long story. I went through a lot of ups and downs. To be honest, I did go to a military factory, but luckily, I met a good factory manager, which gave me the opportunity to return to the deep blue sea!"

"You, you! Your whole family moved away and you didn't even bother to call back. After helping Anjie move, you completely disappeared!"

"The military representative stationed at the factory can only be known to the family members. You know the rules. But later, I contacted the artillery school, and you've already been assigned somewhere else. I can't find out where you went!"

Jiang Defu shook his head with a wry smile and patted the edge of the bed. To be honest, his experiences after leaving the naval artillery school could fill a novel.

If he hadn't met a leader like Li Feng, and if his brother-in-law Ouyang Yi hadn't developed some important product, he probably would never have been able to return to the sea, but would have spent his life working in various military factories until he retired.

"It's not easy to go back to the sea from the land. It seems they've put in a lot of effort behind the scenes. Many of our classmates are still guarding the island!"

Old Ding didn't intend to inquire about Jiang Defu's specific movements over the years. Even if they knew each other, they shouldn't make things difficult for each other with things they shouldn't know. An Jie's class background had already affected Jiang Defu's job assignment at school. Returning to the sea, especially to the submarine force, which was a key focus of the navy's development, was not something an ordinary person could achieve.

Old Jiang is neither a flatterer nor a cunning person, but Old Ding still advised him to maintain this relationship, as it would be beneficial for his future development.

Jiang Defu was no longer a child and understood the implication in Lao Ding's words. He actually wanted to thank Li Feng, but unfortunately, he had chosen this path that led him away from home.

"Back then, there were few ships and many people. To get on a ship, you not only had to excel in training subjects, but also in academic subjects. If I hadn't chosen the military representative route, I probably would have been assigned to some small island!"

Fragments of the past flashed in Jiang Defu's eyes. He still remembered what Principal Cong had said to him in the principal's office: even if he became a military representative, he should not give up learning, because perhaps one day he would return to the deep blue sea.

In retrospect, the old principal's words proved prophetic.

His gaze seemed to have truly traveled through time, seeing himself ten years later. The words he had spoken to himself back then were not unfounded. He had chosen a special path for himself, and although the process was somewhat tortuous, the ending did indeed bring him back to the ocean he loved.

"Things are different now than they were back then. There were only a few small boats, and everyone had to rack their brains to get ahead!"

"Look at me, I was a little disappointed when I didn't get to board the warship, but I thought, at least I'm better off than you. A logistics ship is still a ship. Without our supplies, the main warships can't go very far."

Listening to Lao Ding's slightly teasing recounting, the two men slapped their knees and burst into laughter. Being able to board a ship was the priority, at least they would have experience at sea. If they were to guard an island, all that knowledge and years of military academy education would really be wasted.

"My factory manager often says that choice is more important than effort. Otherwise, if I turn around and return to the ocean, but you stay on land, that would be a real regret!"

"I have no regrets about meeting you at sea now, but if my old classmates knew that you, the military representative, could return to the sea, they would probably regret not pursuing a career as a military representative back then!"

The two in the dormitory seemed to have returned to the past, to when they lived in the same dormitory. The long time had not diminished their camaraderie; on the contrary, the more they talked, the more emotional they became.

The two then walked out of the dormitory together and headed towards the mess hall of the supply ship. The food standards for submariners are among the highest in the navy, especially for nuclear submarines, but unfortunately the food is not fresh.

The supply ship wasn't up to standard, but the fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, were still devoured by the submariners. Watching Jiang Defu's exaggerated eating habits, Lao Ding couldn't help but slowly shake his head.

"Being a submariner is tough; it's much harder than being one of us!"

"Although it's been working day and night, I'm already content to be back at sea!"

Jiang Defu put down his chopsticks, swallowed the food in his mouth in a few bites, and the sky outside the porthole had already darkened. Being able to see the night was a luxury for them.

"Well, this job is quite suitable for you. You don't smoke or drink, and you're very stable. Now that your kids are grown up, it's time to pursue the dreams you had when you were young!"

After finishing their meal, the two went up to the deck, holding onto the railing with both hands. The sea breeze caressed their faces as they cherished this brief moment, not knowing when they would meet again after parting ways.

"I have never given up. Even in the factory, I never put down all kinds of materials, books, and professional knowledge. Compared with other students who have good grades, I am a little less smart, but I know that once I give up, I may be stuck on land forever!"

Turning around and leaning against the railing, Jiang Defu looked at the crane high above, delivering goods to the submarine deck under the lights, and muttered to himself.

"The early bird catches the worm, and the tortoise and the hare race. Look, look, you've caught up now."

"I'll take care of the logistics for you. In the future, the two of us brothers will break through the blockade of the first island chain, go to the Pacific Ocean, go to the Atlantic Ocean, trample the ocean under our feet, and let the red flag appear on the world stage!"

"Then it's settled, no bragging. However, it probably won't be long before you guys head to the South Pacific for a mission. You go ahead, I'll probably be a little late to catch up!"

The two extended their palms, clapped them together, and then clasped them tightly together.

With the resupply and loading complete and the crew of Zero Nine Two finished their adjustments, the gangway on the side of the supply ship began to be lowered. Jiang Defu, back on the submarine deck, waved to Lao Ding, who was standing on the ship's side.

The supply ship began to gradually lower its anchor, and as the last person entered the nuclear submarine, the hatch slowly closed.

Two naval vessels cut through the azure water, continuing to cleave the waves. (End of Chapter)