Susie ran out and opened the door, the extreme contrast between the warmth inside the house and the cold outside.

The wind and snow grew stronger, so strong that it could block the way home for some people. Susie's eyes were slightly red, and she whispered, "Uncle Huck..."

"Why are you hiding here, Uncle Huck? Are you trying to surprise us?"

"Uncle Huck... everyone... everyone is waiting for you to come home."

Susie spoke, and tears couldn't help but fall down.

Tears fell onto the snow, melting into a small shallow pit.

She saw Uncle Huck in military uniform, but it was tattered and muddy, covered in dirt and blood.

He had wounds on his face, and he was trying hard to wipe them off. He took off the hat that had been burned black and put it into his bag.

So hard did he try to tidy himself up, attempting to present his most glamorous side...

Susie still remembers Uncle Huck, who was as cheerful as a young boy when they first had spicy hot pot together. Now he has become much more steady in his military uniform, but he can't continue to grow old anymore.

"Uncle Huck!" Susie choked, her voice trembling uncontrollably as she lowered it.

She rushed over and hugged the faint figure tightly, wanting to cry but not daring to. She kept asking repeatedly, "Uncle Huck, why did you only come back now?"

"Uncle Huck, were you cold on the way..."

"Uncle Huck, were you hungry?"

Huck hung his head in despair, standing still with his hands at a loss. It took a while before he trembled and hugged Susie.

"I'm sorry, Susie. Uncle Huck couldn't bring you a New Year's gift."

Susie's tears were like broken pearls, rolling down one by one in the snow.

She could only shake her head and couldn't say anything.

Having seen countless separations and reunions, this time it was her own separation and reunion.

Huck sighed and whispered to comfort Susie.

"Uncle Huck was a soldier..."

No matter which system it is, soldiers are the ones who guard the country, and this is unavoidable.

"This year, Uncle Huck completed his undercover operation and could return to the system. However, before coming back, he needed to report back to the team and go through the proper channels."

Huck smiled and felt a bit disappointed.

From now on, he was in the open, no longer needing to deliberately avoid family and friends. He could also occasionally have a meal with his comrades and come back to help his parents when they needed it.

The designated position was in the downtown area of Los Angeles, not far from home. His established military achievements would surely lead him to a promising future.

"That country was already unstable, and for the past six months, Uncle Huck has been mainly engaged in maintaining stability. A few nights ago, after I finished my final patrol, I was about to come back and pack my bags to go home for the Lunar New Year."

"The plane tickets were all bought, and I was still wondering if I could catch up with San Ge's flight, but unfortunately that guy flew back home first."

Huck laughed, but Susie felt even worse inside.

Her voice choked up and she asked a question she already knew the answer to, "Uncle Huck, why didn't you hide, why didn't you run..."

Huck held her, patting her back, soothing her repeatedly, patiently explaining:

"This was Uncle Huck's mission."

"No one could have imagined that a sudden riot would break out, prompting the embassy to quickly organize the evacuation of expatriates. Our compatriots were also eagerly anticipating a reunion at home."

Susie cried, "Where is the amulet I gave you?"

Huck's eyes lit up as he spoke, "We made it! If it weren't for Susie's amulet and bracelet, Uncle Huck wouldn't have been able to lead everyone out!"

"Uncle Huck told you, back then Uncle Huck was so proud! He dared to venture into the wolf's den all by himself, just like in the movie 'Wolf Warrior'..."

"Haha, you didn't see it, those rioters across the street were as if they had seen a ghost. They clearly fired a shot, they should have killed me, but hey - your Uncle Huck, I stood up!"

"Another shot rang out, and they thought Uncle Huck was dead again. Ah - but surprise, Uncle Huck got up again!"

"Beep beep beep - They were furious and started beating us, thinking that this time we were done for. But little did they know, we still stood up!"

Speaking of his single-handedly escorting and transferring his compatriots without a single one left behind, Huck still wears a face of contentment and pride.

Susie, however, felt like crying more and more as she listened. She could have easily escaped on her own, but instead, she rushed to the front.

He could have gone home, but he allowed thousands of his compatriots to reunite with their families, while he himself couldn't go home.

Just because of a mission... Guarding the mountains and rivers, vowing to defend the motherland to the death.

"Uncle Huck, aren't you afraid?" Susie held onto him tightly, crying uncontrollably.

Huck whispered and said softly, "I was also scared, mainly because I was afraid of hurting your grandmother's feelings."

"I was quite scared coming back all the way, crossing mountains and seas alone, always afraid of not being able to return home..."

He couldn't wait for the body to be transported back to the country, by that time the New Year had already passed.

He wanted to come back before the 30th of the lunar New Year, so he set off alone, crossing the vast ocean on the other side, passing through one range of towering mountains after another. He was a little afraid that he might be heading in the wrong direction to go home, and even more afraid that he might never be able to return home again.

He desperately rushed and ran and ran... Finally, he made it back home.

Susie couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.

Huck panicked and quickly pulled Susie to the other side while coaxing her, saying, "Keep your voice down, I still want to spend the New Year with your grandmother, don't let them know."

"I knew Susie was the most capable, could she help me achieve it, right?"