Chapter 81: Checking into the Base Guesthouse

“Comrades, I’ve relayed your message.”

“The operator said all members of the Falcon Flight Squadron are out on missions and currently not at the Aviation Base.”

After stating the current situation, he continued without pause.

“Although Captain Li isn’t here, he has family leave.”

“If you haven’t arranged accommodation, you can stay at the Base guesthouse.”

“According to Base regulations, spouses can generally stay for up to 45 days, while other immediate family members are generally limited to 10 days.”

The implication was clear – even immediate family could only stay for 10 days.

Given that their identities hadn’t been confirmed yet, their permitted stay would obviously be even shorter.

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an and the others immediately lost their cheerful expressions.

What terrible timing!

They had come all this way to the Aviation Base only to find the person wasn’t even here.

How frustrating!

Without the person involved to vouch for their identities, the duration of their stay would clearly be limited.

But understanding this wasn’t the sentry’s fault, Song Chaoxu stepped forward to respond.

“We’ll follow the soldier’s suggestion and stay at the Base guesthouse first.”

Then he immediately followed up with another question.

“Might I ask when they’ll be back?”

“The matter we need to discuss with him is quite urgent – we can’t afford delays.”

This wasn’t an exaggeration.

The moment Song Chaoxu had seen his son, he had called his former workplace.

He informed them that matters were settled and he could return to work soon.

When his supervisor at the Market Regulation Department heard he was coming back, the delight was evident even over the phone.

This was understandable – the work Song Zhaoxu had previously handled was crucial, and they still hadn’t found a suitable replacement.

Hearing about his return, his supervisor practically wanted to celebrate with a drink right then.

Knowing Song was still out of town, the supervisor granted him another month’s leave.

Even accounting for travel time, that should be plenty to handle current affairs.

This was precisely why he felt so disappointed upon learning Li Beichen wasn’t here.

But since they had already come, they absolutely needed to meet him no matter what.

If timing really didn’t work out… they’d cross that bridge when they came to it.

Hearing the urgency in his tone, the sentry maintained his characteristically cautious response.

“That’s hard to say.”

“As you know, air force units come and go like shadows – their specific whereabouts really can’t be determined.”

He took a breath before continuing.

“However, judging from what the operator said, they should be returning within the next couple of days.”

“You can wait patiently a bit longer.”

Hearing this, Song Chaoxu didn’t press further.

Adopting a “since we’re here, we might as well settle in” mindset, he followed the sentry to the Base guesthouse.

As for sentry duty, that naturally fell to the other two guards.

Being a confidential facility, the air force base entrance wouldn’t have just one person on guard duty.

When they finally reached an area that showed signs of daily life, Shen Yi’an couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Comrade, this area seems different from the places we passed earlier.”

“It clearly has much stronger living atmosphere.”

“I can even faintly hear children playing.”

Recognizing this was likely Captain Li’s fiancée speaking, the sentry’s attitude became more cordial than before.

“The areas we passed earlier were the command center and logistics support zone – silence is required there.”

“This is the residential area we’re in now.”

“The Family Compound naturally has a stronger atmosphere of daily life since family members usually spend their time in this area.”

“If you stay here longer, comrade, you’ll gradually adapt to this pace of life.”

In reality, the living area of the Base has another passage leading to the outside world.

After all, it’s primarily family members who are active in the living area.

Whether it’s picking up and dropping off children from school or going out to buy groceries, they need to come and go frequently.

But this is an Aviation Base, not a marketplace, so naturally, one can’t come and go as they please.

Considering this aspect,

the Base addressed this issue during its initial establishment by creating a separate route from the living area to the outside.

However, it’s not entirely unrestricted.

To prevent unnecessary situations, such as infiltration by individuals or groups with ulterior motives, the passage in the family area is also guarded by specialized personnel.

Compared to the main gate of the Aviation Base, the sentry posts here are even more stringent.

To avoid disrupting the normal travel of family members, there are both overt and covert guards stationed.

But this information is confidential, and those in the Family Compound have no way of knowing it.

So, when faced with Shen Yi’an’s inquiry, the sentry’s response was very formal.

Naturally, Shen Yi’an had no particular thoughts about this.

Although it was uncertain whether she would live in the Family Compound in the future, it wasn’t a bad idea to familiarize herself with the environment in advance.

When they arrived at the guesthouse, there were only two staff members inside.

Upon learning they were visiting family, the staff understood promptly.

They efficiently checked them into two rooms and led Shen Yi’an and the others to the corresponding floors and room numbers.

The guesthouse wasn’t a high-rise, and at the time, elevators weren’t a concept.

The group climbed the stairs to their rooms.

Since they were together, they were given two rooms facing each other.

Watching the staff leave, Song Zhaoxu was the first to use the key to open the double room.

A family of four definitely couldn’t fit in a single room.

A double room was just right.

After seeing the family settled in, Shen Yi’an then opened the single room across the hall.

Basic furnishings like a bed, table, chairs, and wardrobe were all provided.

To her surprise, the single room even had its own private bathroom.

Although it was very small, probably less than three square meters, its practicality was highly valuable.

It was absolutely fantastic, wasn’t it!

After admiring the layout of the single room, Shen Yi’an drew the curtains and slipped directly into her Space.

Even though everything in the room was clean and tidy, it couldn’t compare to the comfort of the living area in her Space.

While the guests staying at the guesthouse were each occupied with their own tasks, the sentry who had confirmed the arrangements left the lobby on the first floor.

As soon as he appeared near the living square, sharp-eyed aunties rushed over to block his path.

“Comrade Wang, what were you doing at the guesthouse just now? Whose family members were those following you?”

“Yeah, they looked unfamiliar—must be their first time at the Base, right?”

“Comrade Wang, tell us about it. We definitely won’t spread it around.”

“Right, right, our lips are sealed. You can rest assured.”

Facing the aunties who were patting their chests in assurance, Comrade Wang’s brow twitched involuntarily.

Won’t spread it around?

Lips sealed?

Give me a break!

They talk a better game than they sing!

If they were really as reliable as they claimed, then who was it that spread the news about Battalion Commander Li’s red underwear having a hole?

Before the rumor died down, didn’t everyone see Battalion Commander Li walking less confidently than before?

And what about Specialist Tian—who spread the story about his face being scratched by his wife?

For this matter, he had locked himself in the maintenance room for half a month without coming out.

And this was with limited spread—he didn’t even dare mention the news that had already spread far and wide.

But no matter how much he grumbled to himself, Soldier Xiao Wang had no choice but to offer a few perfunctory words, afraid these aunties would latch onto him and not let go.

“Aunties, are you asking about the people I just took to the guesthouse?”

“They’re here to see Captain Li.”

“Unfortunately, Captain Li is away on a mission, so we had to arrange for them to stay at the guesthouse first.”

“As for why they’re looking for Captain Li, I have no idea.”

After briefly explaining the situation, he took advantage of the aunties’ murmuring to make a quick escape.

By the time he had run quite a distance, the aunties finally processed the information and snapped back to reality.

They weren’t angry that he had run off and continued huddling together, whispering.

“What could they possibly want with Captain Li? He’s not married, and he’s so cold and aloof. Who would come looking for him?”

“You’re wrong about that. Didn’t you see just now? Among the people Soldier Xiao Wang brought, one pair was a married couple, and the other was alone. Do you think it could be…”

“It’s possible, very possible. What you’re suggesting is highly likely—they’re probably here to set Captain Li up on a blind date.”

“Oh, if that’s really the case, the Family Compound is going to be lively. Political Commissar Liang’s wife’s niece came specifically for Captain Li, but she hasn’t even managed to see him yet.”

“That’s nothing. I heard Ordnance Officer Qian’s daughter has also taken a liking to Captain Li. She’s been pestering him every day to arrange a match, to the point where Ordnance Officer Qian has been staying in the collective dormitory lately…”

The scene of the aunties passionately discussing soon attracted a large crowd of onlookers.

Only Wang Yadan was left behind, her face alternating between green and red, a truly spectacular sight.

It’s like a blind man beating his wife—they just won’t let it go!

With so many single soldiers at the Base, why does it have to be Captain Li they’re trying to set up?