RMM -Chapter 303 Finally Going to Join the Army

After Su Ruo leisurely spent her final month, she was finally about to begin another great and brand-new chapter of her life.

“Mom, that’s enough, really—please stop stuffing things in. It’s plenty already.”

Su Ruo sat on the bed, utterly helpless, watching the two “Empress Dowagers” bustle about. One of them was holding Xi Zi with undisguised affection, calling him “my precious darling” every other breath, kissing and cuddling him nonstop, as though they were parting forever. It made Su Ruo’s heart jump in alarm—she was terrified that either of the two would suddenly be unable to bear it and refuse to let her leave… or worse, refuse to let her take Xi Zi with her.

The other Empress Dowager, meanwhile, kept packing things into her luggage, saying it was better to be prepared for anything. That way, even after arriving at the army base, she wouldn’t be afraid of lacking necessities. As she packed, she chattered endlessly:

“Ruoruo, I packed this and that for you. If it’s not enough once you get there, just call me and I’ll have someone send it over. If you forget anything, call me too. No matter what, my precious grandson must not suffer…”

Su Ruo felt like her head was about to split in two. She let the two of them continue without end—not that she didn’t want to help, but she truly couldn’t. When she tried to help pack, Empress Dowager Shen shoved her away.

“Go on, go on, don’t cause trouble. I’m getting dizzy.”

So she couldn’t help pack. Could she help hold Xi Zi instead? Hah—no way was Empress Dowager Zhang going to hand him over at a time like this.

Bored, Su Ruo watched Shen Liang run in and out organizing her luggage. Before long, the pile of things on the floor had grown shockingly large, leaving Su Ruo staring at it speechless. She was just going to join the army, not emigrating overseas! It was only a few hours’ drive, for heaven’s sake!

“Mom, I can’t carry this much stuff.”

Su Ruo tried to stop Shen Liang.

“You’re not the one carrying it. We’ve got a car—what are you worried about?” Shen Liang said without even lifting her head, continuing to stuff things into the bag. “If it really doesn’t fit, I’ll just have someone send it over later.”

When Su Ruo saw that her mother-in-law was even trying to pack a pillow, she panicked.

“Mom! Why are you packing that? They have those there! And you’re giving me so much—I won’t even have space to put it all!”

Su Ruo pleaded pitifully. This was practically the scale of a house move.

“I’m just worried you won’t get used to a new environment,” Shen Liang said, glancing at the pillow in her hands and frowning. “But now that you mention it… Yuechen’s place isn’t very big.”

She’d been to Xi Yuechen’s apartment a few times, though that was years ago. Still, she remembered it well enough.

“Exactly! So even if you pack all this, I won’t have anywhere to put it. And honestly, we don’t need to take so much. Let’s leave some behind, okay? It’s not like I’m never coming back—I should leave something at home too.”

Seeing Shen Liang hesitate, Su Ruo pressed on while the iron was hot. There really was nowhere to put all this stuff over there.

Besides, carrying so many bags and boxes would attract attention. What would people think? Since she was going to the army, everything should be kept simple.

“Then what should we do?” Shen Liang worried aloud. “If you don’t bring more, I’m afraid you and Xi Zi will suffer. There won’t be anyone to look after you over there—shouldn’t you at least have enough supplies?”

She truly couldn’t set her mind at ease. Once Su Ruo joined the army, everything would depend on her alone—and she still had a child to care for.

“Mom, do you think I’m some delicate young miss?” Su Ruo laughed softly. “This little bit is nothing to me. How about this—I’ll bring more of Xi Zi’s things, and keep my own stuff as simple as possible, okay? I won’t use most of it anyway. And the base isn’t far from here. If I need anything, I can always come back for it, right?”

She crouched beside Shen Liang and gently shook her arm, trying to dispel the idea of bringing absolutely everything.

“That’s right,” Zhang Huaqing finally chimed in while holding Xi Zi. “Don’t spoil her too much. She’s grown already—if she still can’t take care of herself, people will laugh. It’s time for her to toughen up. Besides, she insisted on joining the army herself—if she suffers, she’ll just have to endure it.”

In Zhang Huaqing’s view, Su Ruo had grown up without knowing hardship. Letting her experience real life wouldn’t be a bad thing. More importantly, reuniting with Yuechen as husband and wife was what truly mattered—being apart for so long wasn’t good.

“Zhang Huaqing, stay out of it!” Shen Liang snapped, glaring at her. “I’m worrying about my daughter-in-law and grandson—what are you butting in for? Even if I had to move this entire house over there, I’d do it willingly. I can’t bear for them to suffer even a little.”

“Tsk. I speak from the heart and you still get mad,” Zhang Huaqing replied calmly. “Fine, pack all you want. I’m just the stepmother—you’re the real one. If it comes to it, why don’t you go over there and serve them yourself?”

“Mom, look at you two,” Su Ruo said helplessly, trying to smooth things over. “You’re both at this age and still bickering. Aren’t you afraid Xi Zi will laugh at you?”

Zhang Huaqing waved it off and then beckoned Shen Liang over.
“Enough packing. That’s more than enough. Come take another look at your precious grandson—once they leave, who knows when they’ll be back.”

“Yes, Mom, go hug Xi Zi,” Su Ruo quickly added, seizing the opportunity. “He’ll miss you. Go on—I’ll tidy things up.”

She pulled Shen Liang up and nudged her toward Zhang Huaqing, then squatted down to carefully sort through the items Shen Liang had packed.

Drying rack? They had one there—leave it.
Pajamas? Those were fine… but what was that? A child’s one-piece pajama? Xi Zi wasn’t even three yet! Definitely leave it.
Skincare products? Fine, but this many? She picked out what she was using and set the unopened ones aside.

Piece by piece, Su Ruo sorted everything—what to take on one side, what to leave on the other.

When she was almost done, she spotted a pile Shen Liang had carefully packed in the corner and immediately felt her face darken.

Why had her mother-in-law packed pots, pans, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea?

Did she really think Su Ruo was going to join the army… or survive on a deserted island?

With a blackened expression, Su Ruo shoved those items aside. If she actually took those along, she’d be laughed to death.

“Ruoruo, why are you only taking so little?” Shen Liang exclaimed anxiously. “There’s still so much left!”

“Mom, calm down. You’re just worrying too much,” Su Ruo said gently. “Those things won’t be used—it’d be a waste to bring them. I’ve packed everything Xi Zi needs. There’s really no need to make such a huge production of this. The base has everything. If you’re still worried, you can come visit in a few days.”

Just then, the bedroom door opened. Everyone turned to look—and saw Xi Yuechen standing there.

“Chief!” Su Ruo was the first to speak, her voice full of excitement and anticipation.

Xi Yuechen nodded to her, then greeted the two elders. “Mom. Mom.”

“You came so early?” Zhang Huaqing said in surprise.

His arrival meant it was almost time for Su Ruo to leave. Only then did Zhang Huaqing feel the pangs of parting rise in her chest. Looking at her adorable grandson, she felt truly reluctant to let him go.

“Your grandfather and the others are downstairs. You’ve seen them?” Shen Liang asked.

“Yes. They asked me to come up and take a look,” Xi Yuechen replied. In fact, he’d already been sitting downstairs for a while.

The entire Su family had come to see Su Ruo and Xi Zi off, so the living room was especially lively. Downstairs were all men—far less sentimental than the two upstairs. Aside from missing Xi Zi a little, they hadn’t yet felt much emotion.

“Grandpa asked me to carry Xi Zi downstairs. He wants to hold him.”

As Xi Yuechen spoke, his gaze swept unconsciously over the clutter on the floor.

“Then take him down. Be careful,” Shen Liang said, still worried as she handed Xi Zi over.

“I will,” Xi Yuechen replied with a faint smile.

After he went downstairs, Zhang Huaqing let out a long sigh.
“So… they’re really leaving. I do feel a bit reluctant.”

“Get over it,” Shen Liang snorted disdainfully.

“All right, all right,” Su Ruo laughed, pulling both of them into a hug. “I’m not going abroad. You’re making faces like this—how am I supposed to happily join the army? Haven’t you always wanted me to go? This is a good thing. Come on, smile.”

No matter how reluctant they felt, once the time came, Su Ruo couldn’t linger any longer. Everyone escorted them to the door.

“Ruoruo, if you’re not used to anything over there, call me. And you must take good care of Xi Zi. If he feels unwell, don’t take it lightly—take him to the hospital immediately, understand?”

Standing by the car with Xi Zi in her arms, Su Ruo listened to Shen Liang’s endless instructions, nodding after every sentence.

Shen Liang had been saying all this since yesterday. Su Ruo had heard it dozens of times already, yet she felt no impatience—only warmth.

Suddenly, she felt reluctant to leave too.

In the end, it was Xi Jian’an who interrupted, urging them to set off before it got dark. Su Feng nodded and signaled Zhang Huaqing not to fuss anymore. She sighed and stood still, silently watching Su Ruo.

“My precious nephew,” Su Heng exclaimed dramatically as Su Ruo was about to get into the car. “Once you leave, your uncle will miss you to death. Come—let me kiss you again.”

He lunged forward and kissed Xi Zi all over his face, leaving it covered in slobber. Laughing, Su Ruo kicked him away and climbed into the car.

“Grandpa, Dad, Mom—we’re leaving.”

Su Ruo smiled at everyone outside. Xi Yuechen also turned and gave a brief farewell.

“All right, all right—how long are you going to dawdle? Drive already!” the old man of the Xi family barked, making the final call.

But when Xi Yuechen’s car finally disappeared down the road, the old man suddenly felt dispirited. Looking around, no one was smiling anymore—not even Xi Jian’an or Su Feng.

Ah well. Children grow up and leave sooner or later. How could a home keep them forever? Only by going out into the world could they truly grow.