Dare to shirk responsibility? This adorable little one will tear down your military district!

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the bugle call had not yet sounded.

Meng Yaya got out of bed, moving as quietly as a cat.

She glanced at Lin Wanrou, who was fast asleep beside her, tucked the blanket around her mother, then grabbed a handful of colorful fruit candies from beside the pillow, stuffed them into the pocket of her floral-patterned jacket, and slipped out the door.

Gu Changfeng didn't come back last night.

The hunchback who buried the radio transmitter is definitely still in the compound. An adult search would be too noisy and easily alert him. But what this compound has no shortage of are wild children running around unsupervised.

In the open space outside Courtyard No. 6, Wang Hu was playing marbles with a few of his underlings. After being hit by a pebble by Meng Yaya and crying last time, the chubby boy had been behaving himself for two days. When he saw Meng Yaya come out, he instinctively covered his bottom.

"Wang Hu." Meng Yaya stood on the steps, unwrapping a White Rabbit milk candy.

The aroma of milk wafted on the morning breeze. Wang Hu sniffed, and a gulp escaped his throat.

"Want some?" Meng Yaya waved the candy in her hand.

Wang Hu turned his head away and snorted, "I don't eat girls' food. My grandma said that's called being a kept man."

"Oh." Meng Yaya stuffed the candy into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out, and she chewed with relish. "Then I'll find someone else to play cops and robbers, and I'll give all ten White Rabbit candies in this pocket to them."

Wang Hu suddenly turned his head and stared at Meng Yaya's bulging pockets: "Ten?"

"And canned goods too," Meng Yaya added, "the canned meat that Riesling gave us."

Wang Hu's defenses crumbled. He leaped in front of Meng Yaya, thumping his chest loudly: "Who says I won't play along? I'm the boss of this area, and I'm the best at catching bandits! But I'll be the soldier, and you'll be the bandit!"

"No." Meng Yaya held up one finger and shook it. "I am the commander-in-chief. You are all my soldiers."

Wang Hu hesitated for a second, looked at the candy wrapper, and relented: "Fine, Commander it is. Who to arrest?"

Meng Yaya waved, signaling several children to gather around.

"Listen up. From now on, we're playing 'Catch the Spy'."

Meng Yaya lowered her voice, her delicately sculpted face revealing a seriousness beyond her years.

"No matter who it is, if they have a slightly hunched back, walk strangely, or are unfamiliar faces who try to sneak into corners in broad daylight, I'll keep a close eye on them."

"Is that a bad guy?" a little slug sniffed and asked.

"He's the big bad guy who took all your canned meat." Meng Yaya took out a few hard candies from her pocket and gave one to each person. "Remember, don't get caught. If anyone gets caught, we won't let him play with us anymore."

"Mission accomplished!" Wang Hu gave a clumsy, adult-like salute, stuffed a candy into his mouth, and shouted, "Brothers, spread out! Turn this yard upside down!"

In a flash, a dozen or so teenagers scattered like beans, disappearing into every corner of the courtyard. Some climbed trees, some crawled into sewer pipes, and some squatted on top of the public toilet.

Meng Yaya found a millstone with a wide view and sat down, swinging her short legs, holding a pebble in her hand and tossing it around to play.

……

The regimental archives.

Gu Changfeng rubbed his bloodshot eyes and closed the last roster.

No.

The only people who fit the description of "hunchback and difficulty walking" were Old Li from the cookhouse and Grandpa Liu, who was responsible for sweeping the streets. However, there were witnesses to confirm that the incident did not occur in the back mountain area.

That "hunchback" was a disguise.

To be able to disguise oneself like this in a military compound without attracting attention, the person must have a valid access pass or be an inconspicuous logistics staff member from some department.

Gu Changfeng lit a cigarette, but didn't smoke it, just held it between his fingers and let it burn.

"Sir, the Third Company just reported that no new traces have been found on the back hill." Guard Xiao Zhang pushed open the door, carrying a breakfast in his hand. "Have something to eat, you haven't slept a wink all night."

"I'm not eating." Gu Changfeng stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, stood up, and said, "Let's go for a walk around the family compound."

Instead of searching for clues in piles of papers, let's try our luck at the scene. Since that spy buried something, he'll definitely go check it out.

The jeep slowly drove into the family compound.

Gu Changfeng saw a strange scene through the car window.

At this time of day, the kids in the compound would usually be fighting like cats and dogs.

But today, the courtyard is quiet.

On tree branches, on walls, and behind haystacks, you can vaguely see little heads peeking out, their eyes darting around.

The car drove up to the entrance of Courtyard No. 6.

Gu Changfeng saw his daughter sitting on the large millstone, looking like a bandit leader who ruled the mountains.

Wang Hu, who was usually the most mischievous and naughty, came running over breathlessly and whispered something in Meng Yaya's ear.

Meng Yaya nodded, then shook her head, and casually handed him a piece of candy. Wang Hu took the candy and ran off quickly.

Gu Changfeng told Xiao Zhang to stop the car, and then got out of the car himself.

He walked to the millstone. Meng Yaya didn't even look at him, still staring at the west side of the courtyard, counting aloud: "Three, two, one..."

At the base of the low wall on the west side, a man wearing blue overalls and a cap rode past on a bicycle.

As the man passed the garbage station, his handlebars wobbled slightly, as if he wanted to stop, but when he saw the two children perched on the wall, he rode away as if nothing had happened.

"This is the third time," Meng Yaya suddenly said.

Gu Changfeng's heart skipped a beat. He stood silently beside her, shielding her from the slightly glaring morning sunlight: "What, the third time?"

"That uncle in the blue shirt," Meng Yaya pointed to the departing figure on his bicycle with her chubby little hand, "He circled the garbage station three times in half an hour. Each time, he would glance at that dilapidated coal shed."

Gu Changfeng followed her gaze. It was an abandoned public coal shed, piled high with discarded furniture and coal ash from various households, and usually no one went there.

"Dad, your soldiers are no good." Meng Yaya turned her head and gave Gu Changfeng a disdainful look. "Such big people wandering around there, and the patrol team went by twice without asking any questions."

Gu Changfeng was momentarily speechless after his daughter's retort, but couldn't refute it. The patrol team focused on unfamiliar faces; the person in the blue overalls was probably from the logistics and maintenance team. Familiar faces were more likely to be overlooked.

"He's not a hunchback," Gu Changfeng said in a deep voice.

"He put something in his insoles." Meng Yaya pointed to her heels. "His left foot is higher than his right. When he rides his bike, his left leg can't reach the bottom. He straightened his hunchback, but he can't change the length of his legs."

Gu Changfeng's pupils suddenly contracted.

Ten years into the apocalypse, Meng Yaya survived by observing the movements of zombies. This skill of judging camouflage through gait was a basic skill for her, but to soldiers in this peaceful era, it was nothing short of monstrous insight.

"How did you figure that out?" Gu Changfeng's voice was a little hoarse.

"I'm smart, that's why." Meng Yaya jumped off the millstone, patted the dust off her bottom, and said, "Dad, I want to eat meat."

Gu Changfeng took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He didn't ask any questions, but simply reached out and picked her up, placing her in his arms. The child was very light, but he felt a heavy weight in her.

"What kind of meat would you like to eat?"

"Braised pork belly. Fatty cut."

"Okay, Dad will make it for you." Gu Changfeng carried her into the yard, and when they passed Wang Hu, he suddenly stopped.

Wang Hu was so frightened that he stood at attention, not daring to throw away the candy wrapper.

"Well done." Gu Changfeng took two crumpled grain coupons out of his pocket and stuffed them into Wang Hu's hand.

"Take your men and keep playing. Don't go near that coal shed, just watch from a distance. Anyone who gets close, I'll spank them."

Wang Hu was stunned. Was this still the same cold-faced, ruthless Chief Gu?

"Yes, sir!" Wang Hu's face flushed with excitement as he clutched his ration coupons and ran off. "Brothers! The commander gave us a reward! Cheer up!"