This trip off the island went just as Gu Jianing had said—smooth and uneventful, with clear skies and gentle breezes the entire way.
It was as if the heavens were foreshadowing their future, assuring them that everything would proceed without a hitch.
Zhao Weiguo helped them unload their luggage once again, then stepped forward to give Sheng Zexi a hug. “Take care.”
“Mm, I will. You too.”
“Dr. Gu, Huijuan and Goudan said you must come back to Huansha Island for a visit when you get the chance,” Zhao Weiguo called out.
Gu Jianing nodded. “We will.”
After leaving the island, the family boarded a bus headed for the military dog training base.
This place was two provinces away from Huansha Island.
Even by bus, it would take a full day to get there.
They set off around noon, but thanks to the bus’s high speed and smooth journey, they arrived at the military dog training base a little after eight the next morning.
Perhaps it was because they missed Leiting, Hongying, and the other pups so much, or perhaps it was simply because they weren’t used to sleeping on the bus, but Xingxing and Yueying woke up early.
“Mom, are we almost there?”
Gu Jianing patted their heads. “Yes, we’re almost there.”
“Then we’ll get to see Hongying, Shandian, and the others soon!”
“Mm.”
Meanwhile, Amber’s eyes were fixed intently ahead.
As a mother, how could she not miss her own children?
Soon, the bus came to a stop.
The family got off.
Amber immediately sniffed the air, then grew visibly excited—she had caught the scent of her pups.
Though restless and barely able to contain herself, she remained patient, resisting the urge to dash off.
She waited quietly as Sheng Zexi went through the necessary procedures.
The military dog training base wasn’t a place just anyone could enter.
After verifying Sheng Zexi’s identity, the staff member on duty exclaimed in surprise, “So you’re the family of Hongying, Lijian, Shandian, and Leiting?”
Sheng Zexi nodded.
Xingxing and Yueyue chimed in unison, “We grew up together!”
“I see! Come on in, then.”
“They’re in training right now. Let me take you to see them.”
“You have no idea—Hongying, Lijian, and the others are practically legends here at the base…”
The family followed the young soldier inside.
He explained that, in the history of their military dog training base, no dogs had ever made a name for themselves before even officially becoming military dogs.
But Hongying, Leiting, and the others had done just that.
What’s more, he’d heard that Hongying and Leiting had originally been family pets.
But their performance had been so outstanding that the higher-ups had personally invited them to train as military dogs.
“At first, we were skeptical—could these pups really be that impressive? But once we started training them, we were completely won over…”
The four pups were truly exceptional.
They excelled in every aspect of training, demonstrating remarkable intelligence and an almost human-like understanding.
As Xingxing, Yueyue, and Amber listened to the soldier praising the four pups, their little chests puffed up proudly.
That’s right-Hongying, Leiting, and the others really were that incredible.
And we’re so, so proud of them.
“Right now, there aren’t many military dog training bases in the country. Ours is one of the larger ones.”
“Soldiers from various military regions often come here to select their canine partners.”
“You wouldn’t believe it, but over the past six months, nearly every soldier who’s come to pick a dog has set their sights on Leiting and the others first. Every single one of them wanted them as their partner.”
“But there are only four pups, so there’s only so much we can do…”
……
Over on the training field, the four pups—Hongying, Leiting, and the others—were training together.
At the moment, they were practicing jumping over obstacles.
For military dogs, the training was a serious matter.
But for Leiting, Shandian, and the others, it was a piece of cake.
They could even afford to slack off a little and whisper among themselves.
Just then, Hongying’s nose twitched as if she had caught a scent. She froze for a moment before saying, “Brothers, I think I smell Mom, the mistress, Xingxing, and Yueyue.”
Lightning shook his head. “Impossible. They’re back on Huansha Island. How could they be here?”
“Little sis, you’re just missing Mom and the kids too much.”
“Am I?” Hongying’s voice carried a slight tremble—she really did miss them.
After all, they had never been apart before.
Now, counting the days, it had already been half a year.
“Hey, we chose this path knowing it would be lonely. We have to get used to it.”
“Just like the mistress said—to gain something, you might have to lose something else,” Lijian, the eldest brother, comforted his younger siblings.
But then, Leiting suddenly turned his head toward a certain direction. “No, no—Mom and the kids really are here. I smell them too!”
Hearing this, the other pups immediately sniffed the air as well, and then—
“I smell them too! It’s really them!”
“Are they really here?”
“They came to see us!”
Soon, in the distance, they spotted a group of people being led their way.
“It’s Mom and the others…” Hongying’s movements never faltered as she continued jumping obstacles, but her eyes reddened.
“Xingxing and Yueyue are here!”
Though the four pups desperately wanted to rush over to them right away, they knew they were still in the middle of training. They had to wait until it was over.
From the moment they entered the military dog training base, they had ingrained four words into their minds: “Orders are as unshakable as a mountain.”
Under no circumstances could they disobey.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the fence, Gu Jianing, Sheng Zexi, and the others watched as the military dogs trained inside.
Though there were many dogs, some even of the same breed, Xingxing and Yueyue recognized their lifelong companions immediately.
Even though the four pups were slightly distracted by their arrival, they still maintained their lead in the training exercises.
“Hongying! Leiting! You can do it!”
“Shandian! Lijian! Keep going!”
“Woof woof!” (Go, pups! Mom’s watching you!)
Xingxing, Yueyue, and Amber all cheered them on.
Hearing their encouragement, the four pups pushed themselves even harder, as if electrified with new energy.
Not only did they stay at the top of the pack, but they also widened the gap between themselves and the other military dogs.
The soldier guiding the family smiled in amazement. “Looks like encouragement from loved ones really makes a difference.”
And so, the family stood outside the fence, watching the four pups complete one training exercise after another.
It seemed they could never tire of watching them.
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