Chapter 351: Call Me Uncle

Chapter 351: Chapter 351: Call Me Uncle

The cemetery grounds weren’t completely cleared until that afternoon.

Qin Tianxuan had decisively punished the children of the Battle Department’s senior officers, reprimanding Wutian on the spot.

The leaders of the Battle Department’s Six Halls and Ninth Army held an impromptu video conference.

Qin Tianxuan’s gaze was icy. "I’ve already retired, so these are just suggestions, not orders. Listen or don’t, as you please!"

On screen, all the leaders were so terrified they dropped to their knees.

Hadn’t Qin Tianxuan personally promoted every single one of them? He had even saved many of their lives when they were in mortal danger!

To them, Qin Tianxuan was not just their commander—he was their savior!

Their unease was genuine, born from a mix of loyalty, personal affection, and a profound debt of gratitude.

"Sir, please don’t ever say things like that again," the new adjutant, Lingsu, couldn’t help but protest. "If you keep talking like that, we might as well all resign and retire along with you."

Qin Tianxuan’s expression softened slightly. "Fine. I’ll leave it at that. But if I find any more children of the Battle Department’s top brass causing trouble, I’ll kill them on sight!"

With a wave of his hand, he ended the meeting.

The cemetery finally fell completely silent.

Song Mingzhu, with Sisi in tow, joined Qin Tianxuan in paying respects to Chen Shaohua.

"Sister Mingzhu, what are your plans now? You have the house in the capital, plus the properties and company I gave you. You and Sisi should be well provided for from now on."

Song Mingzhu smiled faintly. "Big Brother, I’ve decided to stay. I’ll live here in Chen Family Village. This is Shaohua’s hometown, which makes it a home for Sisi and me."

Qin Tianxuan nodded. "That’s even better. Brother Shaohua would be grateful to you."

Song Mingzhu sighed. "I’ve already sold the house and properties in the capital. I’m setting aside a portion of the money for Sisi, but I plan to use the rest to help Chen Family Village. The village is still rather poor, and I want to do something for Shaohua’s hometown."

Qin Tianxuan said admiringly, "At this rate, they’ll have to elect you village chief. Mingzhu, your thoughtfulness is truly admirable. You have my full support."

Song Mingzhu gazed at the man, her heart filled with a wistful longing.

When they met in the capital, it was as if Qin Tianxuan had held up the very sky for her, and her heart had been stirred ever since.

But she had a child, and she was the widow of one of his former men.

Both her status and circumstances made her feel deeply inadequate.

This fledgling affection would have to be buried deep in her heart, to be cherished only as a beautiful memory.

Unaware of her complex thoughts, Qin Tianxuan handed over the phone he’d bought for Sisi. He had already added Niannian’s number to it.

"Make sure you two keep in touch, okay?"

After personally escorting the mother and daughter back to Chen Family Village, Qin Tianxuan gave special instructions to Wutian, arranging for a nearby unit to provide round-the-clock protection for the village. Only then could he depart with peace of mind.

Wutian still had a training exercise to attend to, so he drove back to the capital first.

Qin Tianxuan returned to the cemetery, accompanied only by his adjutant, Lingsu.

The sky gradually began to darken.

Lingsu asked curiously, "Sir, why haven’t we left yet? Are you waiting for someone?"

Qin Tianxuan nodded gently. "There’s one more remarkable person, someone who nearly lost his family and all he had over the Chen Family’s case."

As he spoke, the chief of the Jianghua City Police Department appeared.

Carrying offerings, he appeared quietly before the gravesite.

Qin Tianxuan approached him.

"Oh! You’re still here?" the police chief asked, surprised.

Qin Tianxuan smiled. "I knew you’d come. It was too crowded earlier, and I figured you’d want to avoid being seen, so I stayed to wait for you."

With that, he produced two bottles of liquor he had prepared. "I promised you that none of the three masterminds would be spared. Now, I’ve made good on that promise."

The police chief took the liquor, his voice thick with emotion. "To be honest, I didn’t believe you. I never imagined that Song Hongjun, Du Jinrong, and that Yuan Shanhe—men who ran roughshod over the capital—would all actually face justice!"

Qin Tianxuan raised his bottle. "This is for your son! He was a true hero!"

The two men clinked their bottles. Without another word, they downed the liquor in a single gulp.

He watched the police chief stagger away. The man’s son had never received a single commendation, and now the chief himself was all alone, his wife and children gone.

"Lingsu, have Wutian use the Battle Department’s authority to request official commendations for the police chief and his son! A first-class honor. We owe them that."

"And while you’re at it, recommend the chief to the senior leadership in Jianghua City. He’s more than capable of taking on greater responsibilities."

The two matters were quickly arranged.

Qin Tianxuan couldn’t help but quip, "You’re a great adjutant, Lingsu. Even more efficient than your predecessor, Li Qingcheng."

As he spoke, Lingsu was already about to call for a Battle Department helicopter.

After all, it was a bit of a trip to get back to the capital from here.

"Don’t. I’ve been meddling in Battle Department affairs too much lately. I’m supposedly retired, after all. If I keep requisitioning their resources so frequently, it’ll just give people ammunition."

Waving his hand, Qin Tianxuan said, "Let’s just take a bus to the capital. It’ll give me a chance to rest."

At this time of day and in such a remote place, they couldn’t even find a taxi, making the bus the most convenient option.

The two of them boarded a bus bound for the capital. It wasn’t crowded, and the seats were spacious.

However, as it turned out, there was an acquaintance on board.

It was none other than Huang Wanyao.

Qin Tianxuan smiled faintly and sat down beside her.

Huang Wanyao had seen him long ago. She huffed, shrank to the side, and started wiping the window with a tissue.

Qin Tianxuan glanced at her. "Someone of your status shouldn’t need to take the bus, should they?"

Huang Wanyao pouted. "My grandpa set the rules. No car, no plane for this trip. He didn’t even give me any money. Said he wants me to experience ’real life.’"

"Uncle Huang Tian sure is bored," Qin Tianxuan remarked, thinking the whole exercise was unnecessarily performative.

But Huang Wanyao’s eyes widened. "What did you just call my grandfather?"

"I called him Uncle," Qin Tianxuan replied earnestly. "Which, by that logic, means you have to call me Uncle, too!"

"Get lost! As if you’re worthy of calling my grandfather ’Uncle’? I already know who you are."