Elder brother's garrison

Page 1324

Xiao Bai thought for a moment, then walked up to the two security guards, put his hands together, and cautiously spoke to them.

"Um... security guards... please don't worry, we know this place is very secure, so we won't go anywhere outside the security room. We just want to see how the Goddess of the Hearth works, we won't cause you any trouble... is that alright?" Xiaobai tried to persuade them, while simultaneously releasing her Admiral Network and rushing towards the two security guards.

Xiaobai's wording is quite limited, but fortunately, Xiaobai's network of admirals is very effective.

Even though Xiaobai's lines were not convincing at all, under the influence of the Admiral's Network, the two security guards squatting at the door stared at Xiaobai's pitiful appearance, and their sympathy was amplified infinitely. Soon, they were like muscular men who had seen a kitten and had their hearts melted. They showed a healing smile, and their bodies began to turn pink as if they had been given a flower blooming effect.

"Oh... I see... It seems you guys have it tough too."

"Well... there's nothing I can do about it then..."

The security guards picked up the teapot and gave Xiaobai and his group a doting smile.

Chapter 1697 New Jersey Girl of 128 (Pointing to the Sky)

As time passed, the once quiet entrance to the Ship Equipment Research Center gradually filled with a steady stream of people bathed in the bright sunlight.

Most of the researchers at the Ship Equipment Research Center have no free time. Even during working hours, the researchers passing by the gate are completely focused on their work. Some are grabbing a quick bite of bread bought from a roadside stall, some are studying their notes with dark circles under their eyes, and some are staring intently at the experimental building in the distance, walking briskly. None of them are having much time to chat with the people around them.

In front of the security room at the main entrance of the Ship Equipment Research Center.

Two security guards, dressed in thick cotton-padded coats and carrying thermos flasks, sat side by side on the steps. They held their teapots and gave the researchers nostalgic smiles that seemed to have been healed.

The expression on his face.

It was just like two old men watching the elementary school students at the gate.

"Ah...it's so peaceful."

"...That's what I mean."

The two security guards chatted back and forth, then in unison picked up the teapot, sipped a few mouthfuls of warm tea, and exhaled a deep, satisfied breath.

"what……"

"It feels so good..."

"I really hope that every day from now on can be as peaceful as today."

"...That's what I mean."

"..."

"...But then again..."

"what?"

"I have a feeling that something has changed about us these past two days..."

"where?"

"Those two little ship girls who came to visit Vestal yesterday, is it really okay to just let them tour the security room like this..." One of the security guards stroked the teapot and said to his companion, "Sigh... Although we did agree just now, letting outsiders into the ship equipment research center should be prohibited, right? Aren't we being a little too soft-hearted?"

"Oh...now that you mention it, it seems that's how it is..." another security guard nodded belatedly.

"By the way, if we get caught, won't we be punished by our superiors?"

"Probably, they'll deduct from your salary and bonuses, and make you write a self-criticism or something."

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence fell between the two.

The two security guards silently sipped their tea, then looked up and simultaneously glanced at the door of the security room behind them.

Inside the security room, a large group of muscular men, carrying cartoon teacups and teapots, were warmly welcoming Xiaobai, Changchun, and New Jersey.

"Little sister, you must be tired after traveling for so long. Come and sit down and rest!"

"Little sister, the heater is over here. Remember not to get too close, or your skin will dry out!"

"Little sister, would you like some tea? Don't let the fact that we're all big, burly men in the security room fool you, we even have sweet tea for kids!"

Xiao Bai was warmly received by a group of burly, muscular men. Compared to them, Xiao Bai looked like a few little white kittens entering a herd of old cattle.

"Ah... thank you, big brothers. I'll just have some plain water..." Xiao Bai sat on the high chair, smiling shyly at the enthusiastic security guards around him.

"Plain water won't do, you have to drink some tea! Tea is good for your health, it warms you up, and it's diuretic. Even those of us in this line of work, exposed to the cold wind all day, have to develop the habit of drinking tea!" Inside the security guard's booth, the security guards were enthusiastically promoting tea. One of them, suddenly struck by a flash of inspiration, slapped his bald head, "Ah! I get it! Look at my quick wit! You young people always pair your tea with those sweet little cakes and pastries, right? We don't have any here, no wonder you young ladies don't want to open your mouths!"

"Ah, no, I didn't..."

"It's nothing, it's just a few snacks! Xiao Liu, hurry up and go to the cake shop around the corner and buy some cakes or something for these little princesses!" A man who looked like a security captain directed a lean security guard, pulling out a hundred-yuan bill from his pocket and slapping it down. "We've never had cakes before, so just buy whatever you think is good. After you're done, use the remaining parts to buy some sunflower seeds and peanuts for the brothers to enjoy!"

"Yes, sir!" The lean security guard caught the banknotes, stood at attention, and dashed out the door.

"Ah! No, we're not hungry... We can't accept that... Please don't..." Seeing that the enthusiastic security guards were even offering to buy them snacks out of their own pockets, Xiao Bai immediately became embarrassed and said, "I'll just have tea, really..."

"It's alright, it's alright, little girls, just wait here." The security captain laughed heartily, waved his hand, and picked up a teapot and tea leaves to give the three girls a tough-guy tea-making demonstration. "Our little security room hasn't had a girl visit in almost a hundred years. It's a rare occasion for one to come, so we're definitely going to treat them to a big meal, right? It's all from our hearts, little girls, don't be shy—by the way, you're relatives of the Kitchen Goddess, right? Hey, you're family, treat us like your own home, don't be shy!"

"..." Xiaobai smiled awkwardly, "Thank you..."

Xiao Bai suddenly regretted that he had gone a bit too far with the "admiral's network" approach to infiltrating the security room and giving these enthusiastic security guards a taste of their own medicine...

Originally, I thought I just needed to use the Admiral's Network to influence these security guards to the point that they would accept me staying here for a while. Who knew that I would accidentally boost the goodwill of the entire security office area to an unprecedented level...

The Admiral Network is truly a terrifying force...

I find this quite frightening.

Let's not use it on innocent civilians next time...

As Xiao Bai thought about it, his gaze subconsciously drifted to the two security guards he had first seen outside the door.

Just then, the two security guards were also looking at him through the window.

"..."

Xiao Bai held the teacup that the security captain had handed him, raised it to his lips, and gave the security guard outside the door an apologetic smile.

Outside.

The two security guards silently watched Xiaobai's smiling face, and then the tension on their faces turned into a smile as cold as ice. They nodded to Xiaobai inside the room, bowed their heads in unison to sip their tea, and then breathed a sigh of relief as they looked at the endless stream of researchers coming and going at the gate.

"Ugh……"

“…Isn’t that good?”

The security guards gave up thinking.

-

In any case, the fact that their own people are now being welcomed by the security office is at least not a bad thing.

The security guards at the Ship Equipment Research Center were responsible for patrolling the entire area. The Goddess of the Hearth volunteered to be in charge of the more remote and time-consuming areas. So after bringing Xiaobai into the security room, the Goddess of the Hearth did not linger. She put on the little cotton-padded jacket that symbolized a security guard and headed towards her patrol area, leaving Xiaobai and the other two to be led around by the other security guards.

Not long after, the lean security guard who had gone out to buy snacks ran back to the security room carrying a large bag of sunflower seeds and peanuts and several boxes of exquisite cakes. These cake boxes, along with freshly brewed sweet tea, were placed in front of Xiaobai and the others. The presentation was so exquisite that it seemed as if they had returned to a tea party in Hude. For a moment, it was hard to imagine that this was the morning tea snack in the security room.

"Um... thank you so much..." Xiaobai looked at the cake in front of her with embarrassment and thanked the security guards around her. She secretly glanced at the security guards who were watching her nervously, then picked up a fork, cut a small piece of cream cake and put it in her mouth. She then picked up her teacup and took a sip in front of everyone.

Seeing Xiaobai's actions, Changchun and New Jersey next to Xiaobai also followed suit, scooping out a small piece of cake and stuffing it into their mouths.

"Mmm! This is delicious!" Changchun thanked the security guards around him. "Thank you all for your hospitality!"

"..." New Jersey sat expressionlessly in the chair, scooping out pieces of cake with a fork and eating them one bite at a time. In no time, he finished the cake. After finishing the cake, he picked up the teacup and gulped down the sweet tea in one go. His eating manner was elegant yet unrestrained.

Only then did the security guards show relieved smiles.

"Um... when does Miss Stove Goddess usually finish her patrol and come back to rest?" Xiaobai asked the security guards.

"The goddess of the hearth? Hmm... Based on past experience, she probably patrols outside all morning and afternoon, only returning near the end of her shift, right?" the security guards replied.

"Huh? It's been that long?" Xiaobai exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes, the area she’s in charge of is very far and very large.” The security guards looked at each other and then said to Xiaobai, “But little sister, if you want to see the Goddess of the Kitchen God right now, you can go to the area where she works and look for her. And she occasionally comes back to rest for a while at noon, although it’s only occasional.”

"Uh... not for now... thank you." Xiaobai thanked the security guards, then scratched his head and fell into deep thought.

Judging from the security guards' comments, although Vestal has been working at the Ship Equipment Research Center for twenty years... she seems to have very little interaction with her colleagues... perhaps the only information these people know about Vestal is that she is a ship girl.

The goddess of the hearth's interpersonal relationships are truly hopeless...

Xiao Bai sighed inwardly, staring at the cake on his table in deep thought for a while.

"Speaking of which, are these two little girls related to the Goddess of the Hearth?" The security guards greeted Changchun and New Jersey, their gazes lingering more on New Jersey. "Hmm... By the way, is this blonde lady an adult? Would you like to try some regular tea?"

"Not a minor."

Since the cake was delicious, New Jersey gave the enthusiastic security guards a rare response.

"Huh? Not an adult? She looks so mature and composed—" The security guards clicked their tongues in amazement, then turned to New Jersey and asked, "How old is this young lady?"

"One month."

New Jersey replied expressionlessly.

"?"

The security guards were all taken aback.

Chapter 1698 Don't Stop Her

The lively atmosphere in the security room instantly quieted down after New Jersey's words.

The security guards in the security room stared blankly at New Jersey, stunned by his answer.

"Ah! Yes, that's right! Her name is New Jersey, and she's seventeen years old! She means she's seventeen years and one month old! Right!"

Xiao Bai quickly spoke up to smooth things over. She put her hands together and addressed the security guards around her, her gaze falling on New Jersey's face as she exchanged a glance with her.

New Jersey's response was not a lie.

However, these enthusiastic security guards live in human society and have no understanding of the ship girl ecosystem. Perhaps in their eyes, ship girls and foreigners are no different. If you suddenly tell them New Jersey's real age, it could easily scare them.

"really?"

The security guards stared blankly at New Jersey.

New Jersey silently watched Xiaobai, reading her thoughts from her eyes. She then looked away, exchanged a glance with the security guards around her, and nodded slightly.

"……Um."

"Ah! So that's how it is!" The security guards laughed with relief. "So this little girl from New Jersey is quite humorous! That makes sense, how could someone this big be only a month old, hahaha..."

Xiao Bai breathed a sigh of relief, feeling embarrassed.

Although New Jersey's answer just now startled everyone, fortunately, after the explanation, the environment in the security room became much more lively and interesting, which can be considered as New Jersey helping Xiaobai to speed up the integration of the security room.

It's finally over.

Xiao Bai pondered.

It's about time to ask about the goddess of the hearth...

Hmm... Isn't it a bit too direct to ask about the goddess of the hearth's salary right off the bat? Should I try to be more tactful?

To put it more tactfully... where should I begin asking?

Xiao Bai thought for a while, his gaze lingering on the cake in front of him, and then he had an idea.

"Um... Captain." Xiaobai looked at the security captain who had just taken out money to buy snacks for them and called out to him.

"Hmm? Little sister, you were looking for me?" The security captain was munching on some freshly bought sunflower seeds, sipping tea after a few seeds, when he heard Xiaobai calling him. He turned around and smiled warmly at her, "What's up, little sister? Not enough cake?"

"Ah...no..." Xiaobai smiled awkwardly, looking down at the cake in front of her, and said to the security captain apologetically, "Um...thank you so much for treating us to this...I mean, how about I give you the money I spent on the cake..."

"Make up for it?" The security captain was stunned when he heard Xiaobai's words. Then he laughed and shook his head, saying to Xiaobai, "Little sister, no need, no need, it's just the price of a few pieces of cake. It's really not a big deal. I've already said that you are relatives of the Goddess of the Kitchen God. We're all family here. Don't worry about it!"

"But these three cakes must cost a lot of money..."

"I can still afford three cakes," the security captain said, puffing out his chest.

"Is that so?" Xiaobai looked at the security captain with innocent eyes. "How much do you get paid working here, Captain?"

"Hmph, don't be afraid when I tell you." The security captain snorted, holding up one finger to Xiaobai. "This number!"

“…One thousand?” Xiaobai was taken aback.

"Ten thousand," the security captain corrected.

"Huh?! Ten thousand?!" Xiaobai was genuinely surprised this time.

"After all, I'm the team leader, so my salary is naturally higher than the other new recruits," the security captain hummed smugly.

Indeed, his income was among the highest in the security guard room, which explained his pride.

"...How many others are there?" Xiaobai asked cautiously.