Free Web NovelChapter 171: Chapter 171: Following and Calling Him Brother
Chen San was still half-asleep. Aunt Gao grew annoyed at the sight of his laziness. "So you remembered to come eat, did you? Do you have any idea how late it is?"
Despite her words, He Hanshi was still present, so she didn’t scold him too much, simply telling him to hurry and take a seat.
Chen San didn’t take his mother’s words to heart. He walked over and sat next to his fourth brother, his gaze unconsciously drifting back to Shi Lan.
In truth, Shi Lan was the first person he had noticed upon entering. The room was filled almost entirely with men, and Shi Lan was so dazzling that she made even their ordinary home on Yaoxing feel luxurious.
Shi Lan noticed his gaze and greeted him, "Third Brother."
Then, she introduced the man beside her. "This is my friend, He Hanshi."
Hearing this, Chen San blinked and looked over. His fourth brother beside him had been secretly pinching his leg. Confused, Chen San stomped on his brother’s foot in retaliation before turning his gaze back to He Hanshi.
"Hello."
He replied with a single word. He Hanshi’s eyes swept over the young face he recognized from the family photo, and he offered a polite, detached smile. "Hello, Third Brother."
He had naturally followed Shi Lan’s form of address. Liu Si couldn’t stop himself from pinching with more force, making Chen San feel like his leg was about to bruise.
He had been thinking that He Hanshi’s face looked familiar and was just about to place it when Liu Si’s pinch interrupted him. He rubbed his leg, grumbling unhappily, "What’s with you, Fourth Brother? If your hand’s cramping, pinch yourself! You’re not the one in pain, I am!"
Liu Si shot him a look, making frantic faces. As dense as Chen San was, even he could tell something was off.
Just then, something clicked in his brain. Staring at the face he now recognized from the Star Network, he couldn’t help but tense up. His previously slumped back snapped straight, his whole demeanor a hundred times more alert. "Admiral He!"
Chen San kept up with the news. The reports said that He Hanshi had been promoted to Admiral after leaving Black Star. But on the Star Network, people always referred to him by his rank, Major General or Admiral. So, when Chen San heard just the name, he hadn’t made the connection, only thinking the face looked familiar.
Now, he finally, belatedly, understood his fourth brother’s frantic signals.
’But why would such a VIP come to our house? And I never would have guessed that Shi Lan knew Admiral He.’
Chen San’s gaze darted uncertainly between He Hanshi and Shi Lan, secretly wondering about their relationship.
He Hanshi paid no mind to his scrutiny, just giving a slight nod. "Today is just a casual family meal. There’s no need to be so formal. Like Lanlan, you can just call me by my name."
"You too, Fourth Brother."
Liu Si was completely flustered by the honor. For the first time, a blush was clearly visible on his tan skin.
He scratched his head in embarrassment. "Admiral, I... I’m younger than you. I don’t deserve for you to call me ’brother’." He couldn’t even imagine calling the Admiral by his full name.
Liu Si simply didn’t have the courage. He’d never imagined that he would one day be basking in Shi Lan’s reflected glory, hearing his most admired Admiral call him "Fourth Brother." Strictly speaking, the Admiral seemed to be a few years older than him, so it felt a little strange. Of course, more than anything, he just felt unworthy.
He Hanshi’s gaze was steady. "It’s no problem. I’m just following Lanlan’s lead. Don’t worry about such minor details."
Liu Si stammered his acceptance, but he couldn’t help marveling inwardly. ’The Admiral must really be in love with Shi Lan. They aren’t even married, and he’s already so naturally adopting her way of addressing people.’
Still, glancing at Shi Lan out of the corner of his eye, he couldn’t see any trace of the girl he remembered from their childhood.
Just then, Uncle Gao came over, having washed his hands.
The moment he appeared, He Hanshi stood up again to shake his hand. "Hello, Uncle Gao. I’m He Hanshi. Please, just like Aunt Gao, call me Han Shi."
Although Uncle Gao hadn’t been part of the earlier conversation, he had Spiritual Power A-level, and as a man, his five senses were quite sharp. He had naturally heard every bit of the commotion in the other room.
He looked at the young man before him; despite having become an Admiral, he remained so humble and amiable. Uncle Gao’s first impression of He Hanshi was excellent. Furthermore, as a retired veteran himself, he felt an even greater appreciation for a fellow serviceman like He Hanshi.
And so, at the dinner table, whenever He Hanshi noticed a dish Shi Lan particularly enjoyed, he would serve her some while very politely asking Uncle Gao for cooking tips. Uncle Gao, beaming, answered each of his questions.
For instance, how to make Braised Gugu Meat soft and tender, but not greasy.
Or how to make Smoked Gaga Meat to a degree that was chewy without being tough, so the meat fell right off the bone.
These were feats that required masterful technique, far beyond what any robot could achieve.
The moment Uncle Gao heard He Hanshi speak, he could tell the young man knew a thing or two about cooking. For years since his retirement, Uncle Gao had longed to pass on his culinary skills, but he’d never found a worthy apprentice. His fourth son, the only one who showed any interest, was away with the army year-round. Now, he felt as if he had found a kindred spirit. The two of them fell into a lively conversation about recipes and cooking techniques right there at the table.
As the meal wound down, Uncle Gao, clearly enjoying himself, said, "Han Shi, why don’t you come over for dinner tonight as well?"
He Hanshi thought for a moment before declining. "My apologies, Uncle Gao. I have matters to attend to back at the base later, so I can’t stay too long."
The main purpose of his trip had been to see Shi Lan. Later, he had to return to his post to deal with unresolved issues regarding the Insect Clan. Especially since the Insect Mother had absconded with that strange energy, they needed to be proactive with their defenses.
"Not a problem, not a problem at all. I understand. The army’s business comes first."
Uncle Gao had just shared a small drink with He Hanshi, but his tolerance was clearly no match for the Admiral’s. While He Hanshi’s pale, ivory-like face remained as calm and composed as ever, Uncle Gao’s own face was already flushed red.
Liu Si figured that since he’d seen his mother, he could just wait to see his father after he got off work, and then he could leave. He spoke up, "Ad-Admiral He, I’ll leave with you."
Even though Admiral He had told him not to worry about using his formal title, Liu Si still couldn’t bring himself to call him anything else.
He Hanshi didn’t press the issue. "That’s up to you," he said. "Bai Feng told me he gave you leave. You can rest a while longer. We aren’t scheduled to leave Yaoxing until tomorrow."
"Oh, right. Okay, I’ll leave tomorrow then."
Liu Si saw his mother watching him and couldn’t bear to say he was leaving so soon.
Hearing this, the smile on Aunt Gao’s face grew even wider.
After the meal, as if struck by a sudden thought, He Hanshi asked in a warm voice, "Could I possibly take a photo with Uncle Gao and Aunt Gao? To commemorate our first meeting. This is my first time on Yaoxing, after all."
After the meal, Uncle and Aunt Gao had been completely won over by He Hanshi. They would have agreed to anything.
He Hanshi turned his gentle gaze to Shi Lan. "Lanlan, come and join us."
Shi Lan didn’t refuse his small request. Uncle and Aunt Gao very deliberately pulled Shi Lan over to stand next to He Hanshi. Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng, feeling a bit jealous, couldn’t resist squeezing in as well. "We want to be in the picture too!"
He Hanshi glanced at the two of them without much concern. Just then, Chen San and Liu Si also snuck into the frame. They had never had their picture taken with Admiral He before.
Filled with the excitement of devoted fans, the two brothers found a spot in the corner.
A moment later, the camera chip flashed, capturing everyone in the lens.
