Saturday, October 11, 1625.

Long before the National Day, the tense rhythm of the whole country was finally eased due to the smooth conclusion of the first phase of the "Atlantic Checkers Project" Butterfly Island East Island occupation operation. In addition to the officers and men of the army who have already been transported back to the mainland in large numbers to change their defenses and recuperate, the main force of the navy fleet, which is on high duty, has also received a rare period of personnel rest and ship maintenance.

For a time, the military port in the Changdao New Area of Mancheng City was full of warships, and thousands of officers and men on leave of the army and navy poured into the city to return to their long-separated families and enjoy the joy of family reunion.

The two light cruisers, the USS Republic and the USS West Point, entered the dry dock of the Beiyang Shipbuilding Company last month to begin a five-month overhaul and renovation project, and by this time next year, they will become sail light cruisers equipped with steam engines, and their gunfire will also be upgraded to achieve the same combat effectiveness as the Constitution sail light cruiser.

After working overtime and rushing to work, the Constitution, which had been hit hard by a boiler explosion after going to sea for more than ten minutes, finally completed all the repair work and resumed service a week after the National Day. The USS Constitution, which had been repainted in the navy's black-and-white camouflage, docked at the outermost side of the port in a very low-key manner, awaiting the first adaptive sea training after the overhaul. According to the latest regulations promulgated by the Navy Command, all warships that have been overhauled and maintained will still be in the nature of sea trials when they leave the port for the first time, so as to check the quality of the maintenance works.

……

Yan Xianping had already been told on National Day that the family in which she would be "placed in foster custody" was the home of Zhong Jinshan, the top judge in China and the United States. For this old man Zhong Jinshan, who is one level older than the Shangshu of the Ming Criminal Department, Yan Xianping knows nothing about other situations except that he knows that the other party has an old wife and a few grandchildren.

I thought I was 16 years old. And be disciplined and restrained like a child. Yan Xianping was sullen. But in the end, this Huamei is quite face-saving for his father. That Zhong Ge is always one of the top officials in this country, basically at the same level as the first assistant of the Ming Dynasty, and if he can live there, he must also be treated very heavily.

There are only two days left for freedom. Yan Xianping took the little maid to seize the time to play, for example, today, she planned to take advantage of the opportunity of Qigu to go to the newly built City God Temple in the northern district of Manchester City to burn incense, and sneak to Long Island to play.

According to the latest municipal administrative district adjustments. Including the Long Island New Area, the entire urban area of Manchester City has been re-planned and divided. The main island of Mangis is divided into the South and North Districts, with the old downtown area of Long Island New Area known as Long Island West (historically Brooklyn) and the east side of Long Island East (historically Queens), which is in the planning stage, and currently has only large tracts of farmland, or a few hills with earthwork and gravel, or woodlands and swamps that are still pristine landforms.

Truth be told, the South and North districts of the island of Manchu are "upper-class" and almost all of the buildings are beautiful and shiny. The streets are wider and the environment is more natural and quiet. However, compared to the western part of Long Island, the population of the entire island is less than 3,000, which is very deserted and too strict. I have long heard of the bustling bustle of the West District of Long Island, but Yan Xianping has been here for several months and has not had a chance to go over to see it.

Following the flow of people, Yan Xianping and the little maid cautiously got on the ferry, and soon boarded the civil port wharf in the western district of Long Island. Passing through the port, the spacious urban area with more than 20,000 people living in front of you is really beautiful and prosperous. Neat streets and green belts divide residential communities or commercial areas, and the streets are full of traffic; Or solemn, or avant-garde and concise, or simple and elegant, all kinds of houses are ups and downs, and people come and go in front of each shop.

"Miss, there's also a Lala Zhen restaurant there!"

The little maid, who had eaten a few times in the small shop in Parliament Square in the south of Manchester City, suddenly recalled the wonderful taste of the sweet and sour blueberry shaved ice and creamy honey cakes, and couldn't help but pull Yan Xianping's skirt sleeves and shout again and again.

"Okay, I want to drink juice too!" Yan Xianping is also a little girl, and she has a soft spot for the special apple honey there. The two little girls slipped down the street like this, as if they were afraid that someone would follow them.

……

The consumption of Lala Zhen Food Chain Stores, which is invested and operated by the people behind the crossing, has always been not low, but with the gradual increase in the production of local vegetables and fruits, the cost of raw materials has also been much lower, and more popular types of juices, desserts and pastries have appeared one after another. Nowadays, ordinary citizens dare to have a little luxury here, of course, most of the repeat customers are high-level technical families of high-income enterprises, or government employees, or officers and soldiers on leave in the army and navy.

The Lala food chain is built in a modern style, with bright windows and spacious interiors. A number of guests sat around several red-lacquered oak tables. In the far corner, a young officer in the uniform of a naval major is sitting face to face with a young European woman in a Western dress, silent to each other.

The European woman's eyes were a little red, and she was clutching a handkerchief in her hand, while Lieutenant Sun Yang, a naval lieutenant opposite her, had a tangled expression and a wandering gaze.

Sun Yang's flowers and grass have been circulating in the navy for a long time, as a handsome and rich navy generation, not only a few dancing girls in several phantom bars are looking forward to him all day long, but even a nurse in the national hospital in the capital has been pestering him for a long time. It is said that a certain bar dancer has given birth to a son for Sun Yang, but Sun Yang is extremely skeptical of this possibility. Although no matter how you look at the children, they are all of Chinese mixed-race blood, but for the "complicated source of seed genes" in the romantic place, Sun Yang really didn't dare to openly accept it except for secretly giving the dancer financial compensation.

And now, a similar calamity has struck. The European Yanmar nurse, who was so dazed by herself, gave birth to twin daughters for herself unmistakably, and Sun Yang felt that it was difficult to maneuver.

is cheeky but unwilling to give the woman a clear answer, and it has been delayed until the children are full moon and are about to get registered, Sun Yang is still unwilling to get married. At first, Sun Yang still had a concern and smile on his face, as if he was a father who was extremely warm and responsible for his children, but as the topic deepened, Sun Yang became more and more depressed.

"What if...... If you can't accept them, then I can't help it. The European woman picked up the handkerchief and gently wiped it from the corner of her eye. The voice is very soft. "God forgive me...... What happens when the children grow up? My salary in the hospital does not guarantee a stable life for them. ”

"Wellett. Don't worry, I'll take care of the child's upbringing! After a while, I will find a way to apply for permanent settlement rights for you! Seeing that the other party finally gave up the idea of marrying him, he took a step back and talked about the "conditions". Sun Yang hurriedly handed over the juice on the table as if he had been pardoned, and then pointed his finger on the table, "I have thought of the child's name, and the big one is Lina." Little Aina! How's that, that's good, right? They're sure to become princesses in the future! ”

No matter how cheesy the child's name is, at least the attitude is extremely good. Then Sun Yang hurriedly took out a bank check that had been prepared long ago from the pocket of his military uniform and put it in front of the European woman: "Look, I have taken the children's future into consideration, and I will not treat my daughters badly!" That's $1,000 in child support, every year! Buy the best clothes and go to the best schools in the future! I also deposited a good dowry for them! Please take good care of them as they grow up! ”

"Woo woo...... the European woman finally couldn't hold back her tears, grabbed the check on the table and went out the door, bowing her head and not walking a few steps. I staggered with a young girl.

"What do I see? Uncle Sun is bullying women again! ”

Don Hannah let the crying little woman turn around and wink. looked at Sun Yang, who was sitting in the corner, with a playful smile.

Although it is now autumn, this year's autumn is much hotter than usual, and Don Hannah is now wearing a modern skirt and camisole shirt. Those who can openly dress like this are all upper-class people who are either rich or expensive in the eyes of ordinary citizens in the western part of Long Island.

Due to the more open and relaxed education of the new generation of national youth, especially a number of children who crossed through various identities to set an example, it was naturally easier for the elements of popular life in later generations to be passed on to their peers in the 17th century. Summer miniskirts and camisole are fashionable, and I don't know when they will be popularized among girls.

Ordinary national families are naturally extra cautious about the explicit dress of their children, and they show a cautious and cautious attitude towards this custom of "upper-class elites". But for little girls who are in the stage of curiosity and imitation and have a certain social status, this is obviously one of the life capitals that can be shown off to their classmates.

No matter how deviant they are, no one on the streets dares to show any disdain, and judging from the trend of social influence, more and more young people, especially underage girls under the age of 16, are gradually evolving towards this "high society style". Enlightened old immigrant families have come to regard this style as a status symbol for old nationals, and the majority of them are Europeans, and underage girls from Chinese families are relatively more strictly controlled by their parents, and there are very few such imitations.

"What uncle, I'm not yet 30! Call me Brother Sun! Sun Yang glanced at the girl sitting opposite him silently, grabbed the cup, and poured several sips, and deliberately showed a stern expression at the end, "I remember that the Long Island Naval Academy only has one Sunday off a week, why did you run out?" Don't have a class today? Aren't you afraid of being locked up in the academy? ”

Tang Hannah appeared on the streets of Long Island's West Side today, still dressed in civilian clothes, and Sun Yang knew that the other party must have skipped class.

"But uncle, I asked the instructor for leave. Tomorrow there are guests at home, and I will stay at home for a long time, and Grandma Huang wants me to go to the street to buy something and get ready. "A few years later, the 11-year-old girl at the time of the catastrophe, and now the 16-year-old female naval cadet Tang Hannah's Mandarin is spoken very standardly, perhaps except for her pure European appearance, she is basically an authentic Chinese crosser now.

"Oh? And this arrangement? Who is it? As soon as Sun Yang heard this, he became energetic, and quickly leaned his head forward.

"The people from the Ming Dynasty in the East." Tang Hannah snorted the wooden straw, and she didn't know very well, "It should be a little girl, otherwise Grandma Huang wouldn't have asked me to buy the national costume (Han skirt clothes) for girls." I'm waiting for Sister Lu and her classmates, and I'll let them accompany me to choose when the time comes. ”

"Hehe, then your house will be even more lively by then. Well, the time is almost up, I still have to go to the military port, and today is the first voyage of the USS Constitution after the overhaul. Sun Yang didn't make much evaluation, picked up the military hat, took the initiative to pay for Tang Hannah, and then hurried away.

Two or three minutes later, two little girls dressed in the same miniskirts walked in and came directly to Don Hannah's table.

"Sister, look. I bought the latest Bermuda perfume! Lu Mei took the hand of the European girl next to her. Squeezed to Don Hannah's side and sat down. While taking out a box from the paper bag.

"What perfume do you use at your young age?" didn't bother to look at what brand it was, Tang Hannah, who was only 1 year older than Lu Mei, showed an adult-like posture, and this precocious remark made Lu Mei suddenly depressed.

Took the perfume package from her sister. While gently opening the box and turning her head, Tang Hannah looked at the European girl with a restrained expression next to her: "Ingrid, you should take it easy." ”

But my father kept saying. I should be a lady......" Ingrid blushed and crossed her arms as she stared at the door of the store not far away, her voice weak, as if she was afraid that someone would come in. In fact, after being pulled by Lu Mei early this morning to change into a miniskirt and an armless camisole and go out, Ingrid has been squirming and pinching.

Ingrid is the second daughter of Navy Captain Andrew, who has just turned 14 years old and is also a classmate of Lu Mei. In the explosion of the USS Constitution, a large number of naval officers and men, including First Officer Captain Andrew, were seriously injured and hospitalized. In order to prevent the families of minors from going to the hospital to see the horrific burns of the injured officers and soldiers, the minor children of Navy officers and men, including Ingrid, were forbidden to go to the hospital without missing a leak. Now Captain Andrew has recovered from his injuries and has been discharged from the hospital. But the atrophy of the leg muscles and the horrific permanent scar on half of her face, caused by the burns and prolonged bed rest, scared Ingrid so much that she didn't sleep for days.

"But I remember when I went out today. Your dad didn't say anything about you, don't worry! Lu Mei grinned and took a plate of honey cake from the small tablecloth on the side, and then handed it to Ingrid first.

"Upskirts have nothing to do with being ladylike or not, and no matter how much fabric you wrap up, you're not necessarily more polite than us!" The precocious Tang Hannah blinked her eyes, raised the back of her hand, and gently applied the perfume that Lu Mei bought, looking very experienced, "What's all the fuss about the camisole shirt, you haven't seen a bikini yet!" ”

"What is a bikini?" Ingrid, who often overhears some strange words in Hannah's mouth, still can't get rid of the curiosity of children, and holds the cake plate to show doubts.

"Well, it's the kind that looks sexy, but ...... ......"Don Hannah seemed to see something, and quickly gestured with her finger to her mouth, and then stood up.

On the seat not far away, two young girls dressed in Ming Dynasty costumes were secretly looking this way, and their expressions were surprised.

"I know, they should be the people of the Yan family from the Ming Dynasty!" Lu Mei had a more cheerful personality, and actually smiled and waved at the two Ming Dynasty girls, because she saw that these two were obviously much more luxurious and delicate than the other Chinese girls on the street, and it seemed that she had never seen these two people in school, "Hey! Let's come and sit together! ”

"In broad daylight, with open shoulders and legs, I really don't know shame." Yan Xianping, who heard the call, was stunned for a moment, and after a few seconds, he decisively chose to turn around, and muttered softly in his mouth.

Although he was born in a "very capable and powerful family" on the sea, he was greatly influenced by his father's bold character, but the basic family education is still very strict, especially after his father Yan Siqi became an official of the Ming Dynasty, he was instilled with many "big truths". But after all, except for the little maid, Yan Xianping has never talked to strangers of his age, so he is also itchy in his heart.

"Well, let's sit down together, it just so happened that the student allowance was issued yesterday, and I have a treat."

There was a gorgeous official dialect behind him, and when Yan Xianping turned around, he was shocked to find that the blonde "Tai Xifan Girl" with a beautiful face and body was looking at him with a strange smile, it was the kind of miniskirt and sundress that he had seen in Shuangwan City, Bermuda, which made him blush incomparably. And behind Fannu, there are two girls.

If calculated according to the normal birth year, Yan Xianping is actually not yet 16 years old, but for Daming, who pays attention to virtual years, Yan Xianping also thinks that he is an adult. Looking at the other party's breasts that are better developed than his own, and the mature smile that makes him feel very uncomfortable, Yan Xianping seems to feel that he has been "despised and provoked" in some way.

"Don't dare to be, I still have something to do, get together another day! Light rain, let's go! After a thought, Yan Xianping deliberately straightened up, proudly took the little girl's hand, and planned to get up and leave.

Tang Hannah glanced at Yan Xian's "flat" chest and smiled lightly. turned around and said to his sister Lu Mei: "Since people don't appreciate it." That's it. ”

"It's rude." Ingrid couldn't help but whisper behind Don Hannah.

After a few steps. These words came from behind him, which immediately made Yan Xianping's face flush slightly. Not far from the shop, Yan Xianping stood under a lamppost in a daze, with a slightly angry expression on his face.

"Miss. It's not yet noon, let's go to the harbor to play! ”

Standing on the side of the street, he first looked at the sky, and then angrily looked back at the silhouette of the arrogant lady in the glass wall of Lala's restaurant in the distance. The little maid couldn't help but pull down the skirt sleeves of Yan Xianping: "That girl is really rude!" Miss, don't be like them! ”

"Hmph, a barbarian is a barbarian! She's not very big...... "Tsundere's aura turned on, Yan Xianping blushed and gritted his teeth, straightened his chest directly, and strode towards the port.

"Oh, Miss, you wait for me!" The little maid saw that her young lady was angry again, so she hurriedly followed.

……

In the military port, the cruiser Constitution was quietly leaning against the dock, without any bunting. There was no sailing ceremony, and all the officers and men of the USS Constitution lined up at the dockside. Make the final preparations before sailing.

Sun Yang walked past the rows of subordinates who were lined up, occasionally patting the shoulders of the newly added recruits to the Constitution. After the Constitution accident, the original number of officers and men was much smaller, and new recruits had to be temporarily transferred from the naval training base after only half a year of training. Compared with other pure sail ships, it will take a long time for these European or Chinese recruits to truly master the combat performance of this gorgeous battleship.

"Major! All set! "Because it was difficult to recover in a short period of time, the leg muscles atrophied, and the guide was lame with one leg, Captain Andrew, who continued to stay in the Navy with amazing perseverance, and is now saluting Sun Yang.

"Welcome back, Captain Andrew!" After the explosion of the boiler on the Constitution, Sun Yang looked at this European who saved his life regardless of his own safety, "The general said, next year's Sapphire is still waiting for you!" ”

"All aboard!" Captain Andrew's face did not change, he saluted again, then turned around and yelled at the 120 officers and men, only his eyes flashing with excitement.

The officers and men took their positions, the boilers heated up, the cables were untied, the naval flag was raised, and this time the Constitution slowly left the shore in a deserted atmosphere without any farewell ceremony. The majestic hull of the ship made an arc in the Bay of Manchester City, and headed for the mouth of the sea at a speed of 8 knots.

In the distance, on the edge of a small slope forest, Yan Xianping looked hundreds of meters away in the distance, showing a surprised expression at the black and white battleship that did not put down its sails.

"What a big ship...... hasn't dropped the sails yet...... "Yan Xian Screen, who was used to sitting on his father's Fran robot Western-style sea ship, was suddenly full of interest in the beautiful and mighty warship in front of him.

……

Two days later, accompanied by Qigu and Luo Da, Yan Xianping and Xiaoyu came to a luxury residential community in the northeast of the southern district of Mancheng City. Unlike other residential communities in the South Side, there are significantly more police officers on duty on the streets here, and they are more deserted. But both the environment and street hygiene are extremely elegant and clean.

After passing through the green rockery gravel path in the community, bypassing a large green pond, and then passing through a very neat green belt, Yan Xianping finally came to a villa manor house with a large area of land.

At the gate of the manor, two kind-looking old men have been waiting for a long time, and it seems that they are the rumored old Mr. Zhong and the old lady. However, to Yan Xianping's surprise, the old lady was sitting in a wheelchair, supported by Mr. Zhong and a boy who looked like European.

"Luo Da (concubine) see Zhong Ge old man, old lady!" Seeing the two old men, Luo Da and Qigu hurriedly used the etiquette of Daming to salute the old couple of Zhong Jinshan.

"Ping'er, come and see Old Zhong Ge and Old Madam!" The seventh aunt, who was over thirty years old, quickly pulled out Yan Xianping behind her at this time, and said with a smile, "My family Ping'er usually doesn't go out at home much, and I'm afraid of seeing people, so I let the second elder smile." ”

Afraid of life? Well, I've long heard of how this little girl can fight in Shuangwan City, Bermuda...... Zhong Jinshan smiled, pushed his wife's wheelchair and greeted him.

"What a beautiful child, you have worked hard to come from Daming, your father should be worried a lot." Old man Huang Nian lovingly stretched out his hand and touched Yan Xianping's arm, "In the future, I will make this place your home, me and your Grandpa Zhong." There are also a few siblings. Now it's even more lively! ”

Because I asked the seventh aunt in advance. Yan Xianping's mother had passed away a long time ago, so the old man Huang Nian wisely avoided some words.

Today's Yan Xianping wore a "girl series" Han skirt that she bought in Shuangwan City, Bermuda, and she looked extremely quiet under the entrustment of Qigu, and she looked well-behaved and pretty. Let the old man Huang Nian like it at a glance.

"It's really strange that this family is really strange, there are still descendants of Fanyi in the old room of a national pavilion." Secretly glanced at Bruno, a mixed-race boy who looked two or three years younger than him, who was standing beside Huang Nian, Yan Xianping was full of doubts. But on the surface, she still looked like a good girl, and even took the initiative to walk behind the wheelchair and hold on to the handlebars.

"Oh, good, good! Come into the house and say! ”

Seeing that this child was so sensible, it didn't seem to be as rude and arrogant as rumored, Zhong Jinshan and his wife were very satisfied, and hurriedly beckoned the guests into the villa.

After some humility, Luo Da and Qigu followed Zhong Jinshan and his wife into the living room together. A room with a distinctly "Song style" of elegant furnishings. Especially the calligraphy written by the old man Zhong Jinshan himself, so that Luo Da, the big old man, also nodded frequently.

And Yan Xianping was accompanied by the little maid. is also a quiet fan of everyone's girlfriends, but she just sat on the sofa with a toothless smile, not daring to say a word.

In the midst of the adults' polite greetings, the time passed unconsciously, and seeing that it was already noon, Luo Da and Qigu saw a qiēshun lì, gave Yan Xianping a look, and got up to say goodbye.

After a period of panic for no reason, Yan Xianping could only appoint and send Luo Da and Qigu out of the villa, Yan Xianping stood on the lawn path at the front door of the villa in a daze, feeling that it was not a matter of advance or retreat.

"I sat casually in the living room and had snacks. I won't let the nanny cook today, I'll go get you some good dishes! ”

The old man Zhong Jinshan stood in front of the door of the living room of the villa, looked at the girl in a daze in the distance, and smiled.

"Mr. Zhong, how can you cook?! Let's go for the light rain! She has sharp hands and feet, and she is good at cooking! Yan Xianping was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly shouted at the little girl.

"It doesn't matter, you are all guests today, but from tomorrow onwards, you will be a member of this family, no matter what the master and servant are, you will all do housework, and you will call me Grandpa Zhong in the future." Zhong Jinshan glanced at the little maid who came in a panic, and couldn't help but smile and hint.

"Oh, I know, Grandpa Zhong ......" Yan Xianping heard a hint of meaning and quickly lowered his head.

was embarrassed, and suddenly there was laughter in front of the villa gate, and Yan Xianping was stunned as soon as he turned around.

In front of me, two girls were standing side by side in front of the gate, one tall and one short, one European and one Chinese. Isn't this the "fangirl" I met in a street restaurant yesterday?

At this time, Tang Hannah, under the smooth blonde hair, was wearing a snow-white navy spring and autumn women's skirt uniform, and yesterday's sexy girl now appeared in front of the Zhong family's door with great vigour. And by Tang Hannah's side, Lu Mei is wearing a national junior high school uniform.

"It's you?!"

Even Lu Mei, the four girls who had taken a photo yesterday all had round eyes and spoke out almost at the same time.

"Hehe, it seems that I and the old man don't need to be introduced. Hannah, accompany Xiaoping to see her room. At this time, the old man Huang Nian also came out in a wheelchair.

"Well, it's been ready for a long time, but I can't guarantee whether I'm satisfied or not." Tang Hanna smiled slightly, and took Lu Mei's hand and walked towards the living room.

"Ah, Miss, it turns out that she is the sailor here......" The little maid was dumbfounded at this time, and Yan Xianping herself was secretly surprised.

This Huamei is really weird, it's just a woman to join the army, and this little girl in front of her is still a sailor! However, doesn't the Ming Dynasty also have a female general Qin Liangyu, dating back to the former Song Dynasty, Mu Guiying and Liang Hongyu are also a generation of female heroes!

"Hmph, but people can't look good, I can't see that this little girl still has a few skills, and she can enter the water! I'm afraid it's because of the Zhong family's momentum, right? ”

Yan Xianping was energetic now, and an urge to compete with the other party suddenly rose in his heart. As Yan Siqi's daughter, the female celebrity is naturally a small skill, but Yan Xianping is more confident that he has learned a good knife technique under the influence of his father for a long time, which is a practical skill that can fight the enemy on a warship.

With unconvincing caution, Yan Xianping also took the hand of the maid Xiaoyu and followed closely. Seeing that these children were not restrained when they met, Zhong Jinshan and his wife were relieved. (To be continued.) )