I started with a portal, then turned around and handed it over to the nation.

After saying that, Long Fei didn't wait for Lin Mo's reply and turned around to stride away in the opposite direction.

Lin Mo watched that figure from behind, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

Then, Lin Mo reached out and took the plastic bag from her mother's hand.

The bag was heavy. The live carp inside suddenly swung its tail and slapped against the bag wall with a "smack," splashing a few drops of fishy-smelling water onto the back of Lin Mo's hand.

The icy touch made Lin Mo's hand tremble.

Wang Guifen didn't let go immediately. Instead, she stood on tiptoe, looked over Lin Mo's shoulder, and peered into the distance at the gradually shrinking camouflage figure.

Long Fei walked very fast, his back straight, and soon turned into another tree-lined path and disappeared around the corner.

Wang Guifen withdrew her gaze, gently patted Lin Mo's arm, and frowned deeply.

"You child, how come you don't understand anything?"

While scolding him, Wang Guifen reached out to straighten Lin Mo's slightly crooked collar.

"Is that your boss? You've practically brought him to his doorstep, why didn't you even offer to invite him in for a meal?"

Lin Mo put the two heavy bags together in one hand, freed the other to scratch his head, and smiled helplessly:

"Mom, that's our team leader. He has a family too. He just came back from a business trip and is probably eager to go home and hug his kids."

"You didn't see it just now, but he was still clutching a picture of his daughter in his hand."

Wang Guifen rolled her eyes at Lin Mo, turned around and walked back, but didn't stop talking:

"Even a polite word would be appreciated. It's called courtesy. You'll be relying on others to take care of you at work. When are you going to change your taciturn nature?"

Lin Mo followed half a step behind his mother, watching her graying temples tremble slightly with each step.

He didn't refute, but simply replied softly, "Yes, next time, I'll definitely treat you next time."

Wang Guifen sighed, slowed her pace, and waited for Lin Mo to catch up and walk alongside her.

"That's more like it. We can't be too selfish. Especially in a... a classified unit like this."

The two walked into the depths of the family compound, chatting and laughing.

It was dinnertime, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of cooking oil, sizzling scallions, and braised pork.

As they passed Building No. 3, Wang Guifen suddenly stopped, raised her chin, and pointed to the balcony on the second floor.

A wet, dripping sheet with an Ultraman pattern was hanging on the clothesline.

"See that? Tsk tsk~"

Wang Guifen's voice took on a gossipy, down-to-earth quality, and the lecturing tone from before vanished instantly:

"Old Zhang's grandson is already in second grade, and he still wets the bed every day. We've been airing the bed in the sun for three days in a row, and each day is a different one."

Lin Mo glanced at the object her mother was pointing at and nodded. "Perhaps the child is weak."

"What's with the pretense? It's just because they're spoiled! They drink those carbonated drinks every day."

......

As Lin Mo listened to his mother's rambling story, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

There was no killing, no monsters, and no death countdown.

There are only bedwetting children, bad test scores, and trivial family squabbles.

"Mom," Lin Mo suddenly spoke.

"What's wrong?"

Wang Guifen glanced back at him and casually stuffed the celery stalk that was about to fall out of the bag back in.

"It's nothing, I just feel... it's pretty good," Lin Mo said softly.

Wang Guifen was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and scolded, "Silly girl. It would be even better if you went home and had a good meal."

She seemed to remember something, her expression became somewhat complicated, and her tone turned slightly resentful:

"By the way, Mo'er. Don't send so much money home anymore."

Wang Guifen took out her phone from her pocket, turned on the screen, and pointed to a bank message:

"Look, we just transferred 20,000 last month, and another 20,000 this month. What are we going to do with all that money in our bank account?"

"You're out there... Even though the government provides food and lodging, you should still keep some money on hand, right?"

Lin Mo tightened his grip on the bag in his hand:

"Mom, I really don't need any money at the base. Clothes are provided, meals are eaten in the canteen, and even toothpaste and toothbrushes are rationed. You can keep this money and buy whatever you want."

Wang Guifen put her phone back in her pocket, sighing as she walked away.

"Your old man, he's the same; he gets carried away as soon as he gets a little money."

"He insisted on buying some carbon fiber fishing rod the other day, and it cost several thousand yuan! But I haven't seen him catch many fish since he bought it; he just spends all his time feeding mosquitoes."

At this point, Wang Guifen secretly glanced at Lin Mo, her tone suddenly becoming somewhat tentative:

"Mo'er, you're not getting any younger. This money is for you to save for when you get married. Girls these days have high standards; they want both a house and a car."

Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat.

This familiar marriage-urging ritual, though late, has finally arrived.

He coughed lightly, his gaze drifting towards the treetops by the roadside: "Mom, I'm busy with work right now, so... let's talk about this later."

"Later... and later still, you're already twenty-three! Twenty-four by the traditional Chinese age reckoning!"

Wang Guifen suddenly stopped, turned around, and leaned close to Lin Mo with a mysterious expression, lowering her voice:

"Oh, right! That girl who came to our house last time, the one named Ye Qing."

Lin Mo's eyelid twitched.

"That's our unit's psychology..." Lin Mo explained, but hadn't finished speaking.

"I don't care what she does," Wang Guifen interrupted Lin Mo's explanation, her eyes shining.

Clearly, he had a good impression of Ye Qing and continued:

"That girl is really pretty, and she speaks so gently. She seems like a well-mannered and sensible young lady."

Wang Guifen nudged Lin Mo's waist with her elbow:

"I think that girl really likes you. Tell me the truth, are you two...?"

"Mom, it's really not."

Lin Mo quickly interrupted his mother's train of thought:

"It's just their job, it's routine. We're just ordinary colleagues."

"Just a regular colleague?"

Wang Guifen clearly didn't believe it, and curled her lip:

"If a regular colleague asks about your personal life and whether you have any allergies, I think there's a good chance they might be interested."

She grabbed Lin Mo's sleeve, her tone becoming serious:

"Mo'er, let me tell you something. I think this girl is alright, she has a round bottom, she can bear children... Oh, don't hide!"

Lin Mo's face turned bright red to the roots of his neck, and he quickened his pace involuntarily.

"Mom! What are you talking about! Please stop, people will laugh at you."

"What's so funny? Men should marry when they're of age, and women should marry when they're of age!"

Although Wang Guifen said that, seeing her son's embarrassed look, she didn't elaborate further, only giving him one last piece of advice:

"If you have time when you come back this time, invite that girl over for a visit. Your dad and I are so bored at home, we're just hoping for some liveliness at home."