A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

Harbin, military compound.

The autumn wind swept up the fallen leaves on the ground, bringing a touch of desolate coolness.

It also brought with it the feeling of parting.

Today is the day Su Nianci leaves Harbin to go to Beijing for school.

The entire military compound was mobilized.

With special approval from Division Commander Gao Jianjun, an unprecedentedly grand farewell party was held for Su Nianci in the auditorium of the compound.

The auditorium was packed with people, with every seat filled.

All the officers, their families, and children who were at home came.

A huge, bright red banner hung above the dais.

The sign read: "A warm farewell to student Su Nianci as she embarks on her glorious studies at Peking University!"

Su Nianci was seated in the very center.

She was also wearing a large red flower on her chest.

It left her feeling both amused and exasperated.

Gao Jianjun personally presided over the farewell party.

Standing on the stage, he used his loud voice to highly praise Su Nianci for the great honor she had won for the military region, Harbin City, and Heilongjiang Province.

She was praised as a role model for contemporary youth and an example for all children of military personnel to learn from.

We call on everyone to learn from Su Nianci, and to learn from her spirit of hard work and striving for excellence.

……

Sitting below, listening to Gao Jianjun's impassioned speech, Su Nianci felt as if she had boarded a time machine and returned to her past life to attend those boring and lengthy commendation ceremonies.

She was a little distracted.

His gaze swept over the familiar faces in the audience.

She saw Gu Jiusi, a teacher at the library.

He has been reinstated to his original position as a professor of physics at the University of Peking.

But he did not return to the capital immediately.

He said he wanted to see his most outstanding disciple walk into the university.

At that moment, he was sitting in the front row watching her, a smile of immense satisfaction and pride on his face.

She saw Principal Wang of the No. 1 Middle School and Director Liu of the hospital.

They were also invited to the farewell party.

Their faces were also filled with pride and joy.

She also saw the familiar uncles and aunts in the compound.

Wang Cuifen, the gossipy woman who used to love to talk behind people's backs, was now smiling obsequiously at her.

Wu Xiuli's incident was like a resounding slap in the face, completely waking everyone up.

Now, no one in the entire compound dares to say a single word against Su Nianci behind her back.

Their gazes toward her were filled with awe, envy, and... fawning.

Su Nianci was already used to these things.

Her gaze finally settled on the last row of the auditorium.

A group of teenagers were sitting there.

The leader was none other than Li Hao, the once arrogant "little tyrant" of the military region.

At this moment, Li Hao and his gang of underlings all had red eyes.

The arrogance and domineering attitude of the past were no longer on their faces.

All that remains is a deep sense of reluctance to part.

Ever since Su Nianci completely "subdued" him with a game of chess.

Li Hao became Su Nianci's most loyal follower.

Su Nianci told him to go east, but he would never go west.

Su Nianci told him to call his younger brother "Little Stone Brother," and he called him that louder than anyone else.

Under Su Nianci's "tutoring," this "troublemaker" who used to give all parents headaches miraculously began to study hard.

In the last midterm exam, he even managed to get into the top ten in the class for the first time ever.

His father, Commander Li, Lu Zhenguo's comrade-in-arms, was so happy that he almost drank all the Moutai in the house.

Looking at Li Hao, who was on the verge of tears, Su Nianci felt a pang of emotion.

She smiled slightly at him.

Li Hao was stunned when he saw Su Nianci's smile.

Then, his tears flowed down like beads from a broken string!

He couldn't hold back any longer!

"Wow--!"

A deafeningly loud cry suddenly shattered the solemn yet passionate atmosphere in the auditorium!

Gao Jianjun's speech came to an abrupt end.

All eyes turned to the boy who was crying uncontrollably.

"Teacher Lu... Teacher Lu!"

Li Hao cried and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"You...you mustn't go!"

"Now that you're gone, who...who will teach me chess?"

"Who...who will teach us how to grow vegetables?"

His crying was like a signal.

His henchmen behind him also burst into tears!

"Yes! Teacher Lu! Don't go!"

"If you leave, we won't have any fresh chive dumplings to eat!"

"Waaaaah... Teacher Lu! We'll miss you so much!"

For a moment, the entire auditorium was filled with the heart-wrenching cries of these teenagers.

The scene was even more tragic than a separation of life and death.

The adults couldn't help but laugh at this comical yet realistic scene.

There was kindness and emotion in that laughter.

Su Nianci looked at the group of "little men" crying their eyes out, and couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

She stood up and walked up to Li Hao.

She took a clean handkerchief out of her pocket and handed it to him.

"Why are you crying?"

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a convincing power.

"It's not like I'm not coming back."

"I'll come back to see you all when I have a holiday."

"I'll check your homework then. Anyone who's fallen behind..."

Su Nianci narrowed her eyes slightly, revealing a dangerous smile identical to Lu Xingzhou's.

"...I'll show him what real military strategy is all about."

Li Hao's cry was instantly choked in his throat!

He shivered violently!

He quickly grabbed the handkerchief and wiped his face haphazardly!

Then he straightened his back and loudly promised:

"Teacher Lu! Don't worry!"

"We will definitely study hard and make progress every day!"

"I absolutely won't let you down!"

"That's right! We won't let you down!" The henchmen behind him echoed in unison.

Seeing the children's expressions change instantly, Su Nianci nodded in satisfaction.

She gently rubbed Li Hao's buzz cut, which looked like a little hedgehog.

"That's more like it."

After saying that, she turned around and walked back to the podium amidst a chorus of good-natured laughter.

The farewell party ended with a little "farce" by the children.

But the sadness of parting was not diminished in the slightest.

Instead, it escalated further.

When Su Nianci walked out of the auditorium.

She saw her parents standing at the door waiting for her.

Their eyes were all red.

Her face bore the familiar complex expression of pride and reluctance.

Su Nianci knew.

A true farewell.

This is just the beginning.