Chapter 167: Hometown

The weather is good, the clouds are light and the wind is light, the sky is high and the sea is wide.
Snow-white seagulls hovered in the sky, and the waves hit the beach, broken into snow foam, and returned to the sea. Little crabs chased the waves on the fine sand, creating a plain and peaceful scene.
As a small fishing town, Leopold seems to be busier than usual in such weather.
Good weather is a gift from the sea to the fishermen. No matter what the catch is, at least in this calm weather, you don't have to worry too much about whether you can return safely.
A small fishing boat floats on the offshore surface, carrying fishermen and their hopes.
There are elderly people, housewives and even half-old children on the shore who are mending fishing nets, sewing sails... as much as possible to add strength to the men going to sea.
"By the way, today is the day of the arrival of the navy cruise ship?" The two "old men" who are old but still sensitive, threading needles to repair an old sail are chatting while working.
It is said that they are "old men". In fact, they are less than fifty years old, but their long-term life on the sea makes their appearance obviously far more vicissitudes than their actual age.
"Well, it should be today. For small towns like ours that are not on the main waterway, they routinely cruise about once every half a month. My son said to me in a letter he sent me. The store clerk helped me read several times. Yeah!"
Another old man used a special needle to stitch the canvas together densely and straight, revealing his exquisite craftsmanship, and replied without lifting his head.
"After joining the Navy, little Luke has been able to write a letter by himself in only two years?
Good to join the army! Even if you have learned your skills and retire in the future, the military salary plus the one-time kingdom retirement subsidy should be enough to buy a brand new fishing boat? "
Hearing the slightly envious voice of the old friend, Old Luke sighed slightly. My old friend Guang thinks it's good to join the navy, but who knows how many days and nights he has been tossing and awake, for fear of waiting for notice of his son's death?
Although the future is good, the father of a navy soldier is really in a difficult mood.
"Look! It's a navy ship coming."
At this time, I don't know who shouted aloud on the shore, awakening the old Luke who was in deep thought again, and looked up.
A sailing vessel much larger than ordinary fishing boats appeared on the distant sea level, breaking the waves and coming in the wind.
With the arrival of the "Conch", the small town pier instantly became lively.
Because, as a naval cruise ship, in addition to shouldering the responsibility of protecting the safety of the people, the "Conch" also carries their expectations for their relatives far away.
Although there is no clear functional positioning at this time, they are indeed part of the official "postal system" to some extent.
For port cities, sea transportation is much more convenient than land transportation, at least without mountains, rugged roads, and endless beasts in the wilderness.
Especially the transfer of non-bulk goods and letters between various places often resorts to safety and speed......
Moreover, cruise ships with extremely regular exchanges have virtually formed an official mailing network.
The low-level cruise ships that perform the mission are also happy to take extra money, and sometimes even have extra "thanks" from their families.
"Your Excellency, we have handed over the letters of the fleet's sailors and the money and goods we took for their relatives to the person in charge of the city hall. Do you think we should repair it or return directly?"
Borg, the first officer in charge of logistics, finished his work and asked about the itinerary that Ivan had received.
It is now the third day after the "Fish Monsters" were wiped out.
It was only two days away from Gabriel, and it was close to the end of the cruise mission. It was also the safest section of the entire cruise route, so Borg's tone was also very relaxed at this time.
"Well, let everyone fix it. I haven't been back in a year. I just need to go ashore." Aiwen nodded and said to Borg.
"Come back?" The first officer was obviously slightly surprised when he heard the words.
"Haha, Leopold is my hometown! I lived here for five years before joining the army." Seeing the familiar scenery not far away that had not changed much from a year ago, Ivan took a breath, as if The air here is very fresh.
With no one except Gary, who was stepping along, Ivan shook the captain's cloak on his body and strode off the "Conch".
Seeing the backs of the two of them away, the first mate suddenly struck a spirit: "Uh... I shouldn't have deducted the goods shipped to Leopold... right?"
...
Leopold is just a small town with a population of less than 20,000. Ivan has lived here for five years, and of course he has many familiar faces.
"Grandpa James, are you okay?" Just approaching the block where the "White Rock Pharmacy" is located, Ivan saw a familiar neighborhood.
"Are you... Little Aiwen? Oh, I don't dare to recognize it anymore, my health is fine!"
Many acquaintances did not dare to recognize the brave young officer who was wearing a straight military uniform. It wasn't until Aiwen took the initiative to say hello that he was sure that he was the boy next door who had been away from home for a year.
"Aunt Geller going to buy groceries?"
"..."
And the young people nearby, after a lapse of one year, were once again dominated by the terror of "other people's children"! Only this time, it is stronger than before!
Well, maybe this year's sign of recruits for the Third Fleet will have many familiar faces that belong to Leopold.
Aiwen and Gary walked all the way, introducing him where they had lived. Gary, who had grown up like an iron tower, listened silently, echoing a few sentences from time to time.
Soon Ivan saw the small "White Rock Pharmacy" on the corner of the street again.
My thoughts surged for a while, and I had too many memories related to it, like a scratch in my soul that could not be lost. The footsteps are also paused, although a long time has passed, Ivan is still a little hard to explain...
Pregnant.
In the end, I can only sigh softly in my heart: "The shop is still the original shop. Unfortunately, Grandpa Leo is no longer there..."
Raised his hand and opened the door.
Jingle Bell--
The familiar door bell rang, and Ivan's brain was in a trance. Although it was only a short year ~EbookFREE.me~, it seemed that a long, long time had passed in his mind.
"Guest, hello! What do you want?" A crisp female voice made Aiwen come back to his senses.
"Huh? Where's Sanji?" Aiwen wondered when he saw the capable woman behind the counter in a plaid dress and sleeves.
Sangji, who was supposed to be the store manager, was replaced by a very strange woman, leaving Aiwen unresponsive for a while.
Bang--
However, do not wait for the other party to answer.
The small door leading to the warehouse behind the pharmacy was suddenly pushed open, and a tall and thin figure hurried out:
"Ah! Is Mr. Irwin back?!"
Wearing an apron on his sleeves, Sangji, who was obviously dispensing the medicine just now, ran out without even paying attention to the medicine, but suddenly stopped in front of Ivan.
After carefully examining the handsome young officer in front of him for a while, he barely matched his employer.
Although Aiwen is still roughly the same, his appearance is much more perfect than before. Coupled with the one-year military career and the dignified officer uniform, it is obviously a big change from the ordinary civilian youth before.
"Hi, Sanji, don't you even recognize me?" Although Ivan was just sixteen years old, he was already taller than Sanji, who was in his twenties. He looked down at his eyes and smiled.
Only then did Sanji fully confirm the familiar voice.
"It's really you, Mr. Irwin! Are you already a naval officer? Really majestic. Great! Before you joined the army, I knew you would be successful!"
Wiping his hands on the apron, Sanji was so excited that he was a little incoherent, and he no longer knew what manners to treat his "employer" at this time.