Scarlet Romance

Chapter 13
There is a small restaurant near the military compound. The restaurant has a small business area and can only accommodate seven or eight tables.Every Sunday, this place becomes the world of soldiers. Soldiers from various units directly under the military department crowded the place to the brim, and if they came later, there would be no seats.Of course, the soldiers who come here to improve their lives are almost all soldiers who enlisted from the cities, and soldiers who enlisted from the countryside never come here.

Zhong Yuemin, Zhang Haiyang, and Wu Mantun were drinking.They were wearing whitewashed military uniforms, buttoned up tightly, with the demeanor of veterans.

Although they are already veterans, the living habits of Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang have not changed much. As long as anyone has money in their pockets, they usually use it to treat guests.Wu Mantun had some complaints about their bad habits, but he had to do it out of face. The three of them have lived together in the same class for more than two years, and they know each other very well.Man Tun already understands a truth: good friends should be tolerant of each other, and the way of life they are accustomed to cannot be imposed on others.Although these two brothers are like young masters, they are very sincere to their friends.Among other things, in the past two years, Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang haven't worn new military uniforms. Whenever it's time to change clothes, they always throw the new military uniforms to Mandun and ask him to send them home to his brother. sisters wear.If Mandun was embarrassed to ask for it, the two of them would stare, as if they wanted to turn their backs, and Mandun would accept it silently with tears in his eyes every time.He is a clumsy person, and he doesn't know how to express the gratitude in his heart.Someone in the company joked that the three of them were the most ragged in the whole company.Man Tun always seemed to have done something wrong when he heard this kind of discussion, and he felt very uncomfortable.

In all fairness, Man Tun really doesn't want to go out to eat with the two of them. In his opinion, the company's food is already very good. These two young masters are simply wasting money. If they are really rich, it's fine. Not enough to buy cigarettes, the only thing I can do is to ask for it at home.After Zhong Yuemin's father was "liberated" last year, he received a large sum of money. Zhong Yuemin felt that the money was saved by him and his father. He only had 15 yuan a month for living expenses, and he didn't eat the last meal. Don, now that his father has made a fortune, he naturally has to withdraw part of the money.Mantun couldn't understand Zhong Yuemin's theory. He thought it was Zhong Yuemin's father's salary. In any case, Zhong Yuemin shouldn't spend his father's money so confidently.Zhong Yuemin had no choice but to explain that he didn't intend to come to this world for a while, but his parents insisted on giving birth to him, and he couldn't do it if he didn't come, so he came to this world out of helplessness. Parents have to be responsible for raising him until he is 18 years old, even if he is less than a day, otherwise he will destroy the flowers of the motherland.Man Tun said: "But you are over 18 years old now." Zhong Yuemin plausibly said: "The problem is that I have been devastated since I was fifteen or sixteen years old. It’s too late to open, it’s already thankful, it’s a broken flower and a willow, my father must give me a few times to fatten me up, otherwise it’s too easy for him to be a father, and he raised his son with only 15 yuan a month , then why do I want this father?"

Zhang Haiyang didn't think of asking his family for money at first, but later he felt embarrassed by Zhong Yuemin, so he also wrote letters to his family, asking for money in various names, and it became a routine. Like something is missing.

Zhong Yuemin noticed a thin soldier, wearing a brand-new military uniform, without a collar badge or cap badge, sitting alone at a table in the corner and pouring himself a drink.He looked at the soldier and said, "That's a recruit this year, right? Why come out to drink alone? It's not easy to get leave during recruit training."

Man Tun replied: "They allow 10% of the people to take leave on Sundays. A few days ago, the company commander sent me to the recruit company to guide the recruits in bombing training. I have seen this recruit."

Zhang Haiyang looked at the door and said, "The boys are here again."

A few soldiers in half-worn uniforms walked into the restaurant, looking around for seats.

Zhong Yuemin asked: "Which unit are they from?"

Zhang Haiyang said: "The communication battalion, have you forgotten? Last time they got drunk and made trouble here and smashed up the counters. These boys are all children of the provincial military region. They were born and raised here, and they are used to domineering. "

The soldiers of the communication battalion walked to the table in the corner of the room, stared at the recruit who was drinking alone, and seemed to hope that the recruit would stand up wisely.

The recruit drank wine as if no one was around, as if he didn't see the veterans in front of him.

A veteran finally couldn't help talking: "Hey, recruit boy, there are vacant seats over there, you go and sit there."

The recruit didn't seem to hear, he sipped his wine indifferently, without even raising his head.

The old soldier got angry: "Hey, tell me, donkey hair stuffed in your ears?"

Zhang Haiyang couldn't help but want to stand up, but was held down by Zhong Yuemin.

The recruit remained silent.

The veteran said, "Damn it, why are deaf people joining the army now?"

He grabbed the recruit's satchel on the table and threw it to the corner, staring at the recruit with provocative eyes.

The recruit grabbed the wine bottle expressionlessly, filled his glass with wine, took it up and drank it down, poured the wine again, and drank it down again, until the wine bottle was finally empty.

Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang watched him.

The recruit lazily stood up, and swung out his left hand holding the wine bottle like lightning. The bottle drew an arc in the air, and hit the veteran's head with a bang... The bottle was smashed to pieces, and the fragments flew out a lot. Far away, the veteran fell down with blood streaming down his face...

Everyone present was stunned.

The recruit held the bottle neck with the sharp slit in his hand and shook it at the veteran. Several veterans backed away in fright.

Zhong Yuemin slapped his hands a few times and sighed: "Okay, you can shoot neatly, and your mental quality is also good, a natural killer."

He walked over and patted the recruit on the shoulder: "Dude, where are you from?"

The recruit's eyes lit up: "Beijing. I can tell, you are also from Beijing?"

"My name is Zhong Yuemin, from Beijing, from the reconnaissance battalion, what's your name?"

"Ning Wei."

Zhang Haiyang came over to several veterans and said, "Hurry up and take this guy to the hospital for a bandage, let's forget about it."

An old soldier blushed: "Forget it, the beatings are for nothing? It was the recruits who beat them. No, this matter is endless."

Zhong Yuemin said: "Isn't it just a wine bottle? Come on, you give me a head, and I will take it for him."

A veteran was quite unconvinced: "Aren't you from the reconnaissance battalion? What's the big deal? Why do you want to stand up for this new recruit?"

Zhang Haiyang casually grabbed an empty wine bottle and threw it at his Tianling Cap. The bottle was smashed to pieces, but his head remained unscathed.He handed a wine bottle to several veterans: "Come on, try it too."

No one dared to pick up a few veterans.

Zhong Yuemin persuaded: "Okay, you guys go quickly, and no one should leave when the duty sentry arrives later."

Several veterans helped the wounded companion away.

Ning Wei said gratefully: "Brother, thank you."

Zhong Yuemin patted him on the shoulder and said, "You should go too. If your recruit company finds out about this, you will probably be punished with a demerit. You must be mentally prepared for this."

Ning Wei said nonchalantly: "It's okay, I've already received a warning, one for holding and two for carrying."

Zhong Yuemin said: "We are in the first company of the reconnaissance battalion, come and play with us when you have time."

"Thank you, brother, I will look for you."

Zhou Xiaobai was making duty records in the duty room of the internal medicine department, and instructor Zhang of the internal medicine department opened the door and came in.

Zhou Xiaobai stood up: "Instructor Zhang, do you have anything to do?"

"Xiao Zhou, it's nothing serious, just sit down and chat casually."

"Instructor, you don't seem to have the habit of chatting at ordinary times. Before doing ideological work for people, you always talk casually, and talk about a few parental gossips before turning to the main topic. Everyone in the department knows your working methods. I It seems that you can skip the opening remarks, and just go straight to the topic if you want to say something.”

Instructor Zhang was a little embarrassed: "Xiao Zhou, your mouth is really powerful, and your brain turns quickly. Well, listen to you, let's go straight. I declare in advance that the issue I want to talk about today is the political office. Director Chen explained, but I have not investigated the specific situation."

"Okay, please get into the topic, I'm all ears."

"According to someone's report, you recently had a close relationship with a wounded man named Yuan Jun. Is there such a thing?"

"Yes, I see him every day, we were friends before enlisting, what's wrong with that?"

Instructor Zhang said: "Xiao Zhou, you performed well after enlisting in the army. You are the child of a leading cadre, so you must set an example everywhere."

Zhou Xiaobai asked: "What does this mean? What does this have to do with the children of leading cadres?"

"You are already a veteran, you should know the rule that soldiers are not allowed to fall in love during their service?"

"You think I'm in a relationship with Yuan Jun? Then let me explain to you that there is no relationship between us, we are just ordinary friends."

Instructor Zhang said tactfully: "I'm afraid it's not that simple, right? Some people reported that you went to the surgery to take care of Yuan Jun every day, and replaced the special care. This seems to have surpassed the relationship between ordinary comrades. Xiao Zhou, you should pay attention to the influence."

Just as Zhou Xiaobai was about to speak, he restrained himself and simply refused to explain.She sat down and continued to write the duty record, ignoring Instructor Zhang no longer.

Instructor Zhang became serious: "Comrade Zhou Xiaobai, I am talking to you on behalf of the organization. Please correct your attitude and cooperate with the organization to discuss things clearly."

Zhou Xiaobai finally couldn't help it anymore: "Instructor Zhang, I have already explained to you, I don't think I need to continue explaining, if the organization doesn't believe it, I have to admit it to be considered as cooperating with the organization, and to correct my attitude, then Alright, I'll make a fake show and have a real relationship with Yuan Jun, are you satisfied with that?"

Instructor Zhang got angry: "What is your attitude? You have to think about your own future, the consequences will be very serious..."

Zhou Xiaobai slammed the door hard and walked away. Instructor Zhang trembled with anger.

The recruits who enlisted at the end of last year have already undergone three months of intensive training, and it is time to assign them.A large number of veterans of the reconnaissance battalion were also demobilized at the end of last year, and several squad leaders left in a row. Zhong Yuemin, Zhang Haiyang, and Wu Mantun all became squad leaders. Class one monitor.

When the instructor Dong Ming announced the appointment, Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang immediately expressed their thanks with playful smiles.

Zhong Yuemin said: "Thank you instructor for cultivating, give me an official job. Instructor, should you and the company commander also change jobs?"

Dong Ming said, "What do you mean?"

"As soon as the veterans were demobilized, we were promoted to squad leader. If the instructor and company commander change jobs again, we should be promoted to platoon leader. Instructor, please, give us room."

Zhang Haiyang also said: "I really should thank the instructor, how about this, you grant us a half-month family leave, if you want to bring something, just talk, you don't want to be polite, we really want to bribe you."

Dong Ming said: "Aren't you being silly again? If you want to visit your family, you can talk about it until you have served for three years. Zhong Yuemin, I'll bring you a new recruit, and I'll put it in your fifth class, Ning Wei!"

Someone shouted outside the door: "Here!"

Ning Wei walked into Class [-] with his bag on his back.

Zhong Yuemin smiled as soon as he saw him, and he stretched out his hand to Ning Wei and said, "It's you, welcome, welcome."

Ning Wei saluted: "Please help the squad leader and deputy squad leader."

Dong Ming said: "This is a thorny head. You will be punished twice if you don't join the recruit company. You must strictly manage it."

Zhong Yuemin said: "Don't worry, instructor, our fifth class is a red dye vat, let alone Ning Wei, even if Chiang Kai-shek comes, he can be transformed."

The instructor smiled: "Zhong Yuemin, just blow it up. Let's get down to business, the drill will be next week, your class must pay special attention, and there must be no accidents."

As soon as the instructor went out, Zhong Yuemin hurriedly held a class meeting. His inaugural speech started like this: "Everyone knows, right? From today onwards, I will be the monitor of Class [-], and I will be responsible for all the work in the class. There are two things we have to make clear today: First, is there anyone under my position as monitor who is not convinced? If anyone is not convinced, stand up and fight me. If I lose, you will be the monitor. If you If you lose, be a fighter honestly, don't be harsh. What's the matter, is there anyone who disagrees?"

None of the soldiers in the fifth squad said a word.

"Well, if you don't say anything, that means there is no problem, and the problem is over. Second, no matter what happens in the class in the future, you should try to solve it in the class. Don't report to the company commander or instructor at any time. Report, this is the most fucking annoying thing for me, so put the ugly words up front, and don’t blame me if I find out. I’ve just said so much, do you have any different opinions? Well, no, then the meeting will adjourn.”

Recently, Zhong Yuemin has become a little restless. He has been in the army for 3 years, and many things have happened in these 3 years. Although his father has not been assigned to work, he has been "liberated" after all, and he has nothing to worry about at home.The only thing that worried him was Qin Ling. After serving in the army, he wrote at least a dozen letters to Qin Ling, but Qin Ling never replied.This girl is really amazing, Zhong Yuemin can't figure it out, how can there be such a sober and rational girl in the world, she is simply a mystery.If Qin Ling just didn't reply to the letter, Zhong Yuemin could still hold his breath. Anyway, knowing that she was still in Baidian Village, Li Kuiyong would write him a letter every six months, and talk about Qin Ling's situation by the way.But recently Li Kuiyong told him in a letter that Qin Ling had never been back to the village since she went back to Beijing to visit relatives, and no one knew where she had gone, and Qin Ling had disappeared so quietly.After Zhong Yuemin heard the news, he suffered from insomnia for the first time. For several days, he was listless in everything he did, and he even seldom talked. He finally realized that this mental state is called melancholy.Zhong Yuemin had to admit that he really liked Qin Ling, and this girl made him very worried. After 3 years, not only did he not forget Qin Ling, but he missed her more and more.What the hell, he didn't know when his mentality towards women had changed so much.A person who plays games in life should regard each time period of this life as a separate game. How can a game not end?
Yuan Jun was sitting in a wheelchair, pushed by the nurse Yu Yu, and walking around the garden. Luo Yun came to meet him and greeted Yuan Jun nonchalantly: "Yuan Jun, your injury healed very quickly, congratulations."

Yuan Jun said nonchalantly, "Thank you, are you busy?"

Luo Yun said to Xiaoyu: "Youngyu, take a rest for a while, and I will push the wheelchair. We are old acquaintances in Beijing."

Yu said: "Okay, let's talk, I'll come back later."

Luo Yun pushed up the wheelchair and walked slowly in the garden.

Luo Yun looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to her, so she lowered her voice and said to Yuan Jun, "I have good news for you."

Yuan Jun replied indifferently: "I know, go to the Military Medical University to study."

Luo Yun asked strangely: "You heard that too?"

"It's all over the hospital."

"What else have you heard?"

Yuan Jun said: "I also heard that Zhou Xiaobai had a quarrel with the internal medicine instructor Zhang because of me, and was disqualified from recommendation."

Luo Yun sighed and said: "Xiaobai's temper is too big, in fact, she can explain this matter calmly, but she didn't even bother to explain it, so she slammed the door and walked away. The director is all pissed off."

Yuan Jun asked blankly: "Luo Yun, do you feel sorry for your friend in this matter?"

"No, the recommendation list is determined by the leaders of the academy, and I can't participate. Yuan Jun, have you heard any discussion?"

"I didn't hear the discussion, but this incident was caused by me. Of course I have to think about it. I think you are not very interesting in this matter."

Luo Yun's eyes widened in dissatisfaction: "What's wrong with me? I want to hear why I'm not mean enough."

Yuan Jun asked coldly: "You clearly know that Zhou Xiaobai and I are not in a romantic relationship, and Zhou Xiaobai is entrusted by you to take care of me out of friendship. When she was wronged, why didn't you stand up and clarify the facts?"

"Then unless I admit my relationship with you, but if this is the case, not only will my qualifications to go to the military medical university be disqualified, but my qualifications as a probationary party member will also be disqualified, and then I will be finished."

"So you sacrificed Zhou Xiaobai?"

"Why do you talk like that? Why did I sacrifice Zhou Xiaobai?"

Yuan Junchang sighed: "Luo Yun, the last military medical university is so important? You don't even want friendship and conscience?"

Luo Yun was in a hurry: "Yuan Jun, don't talk to me in such a tone. Zhou Xiaobai was disqualified from being recommended because of her attitude. The public has already reported that Zhou Xiaobai relied on her father's status to be domineering and domineering. From the point of view, the relationship with the comrades around is very tense, and there have been such discussions in the courtyard for a long time, and this is not caused by me."

Yuan Jun waved his hand wearily: "You call Xiaoyu here, I'm going back to the ward."

Luo Yun's eyes were red: "Why are you treating me like this, I'm leaving tomorrow, why don't you even have a nice word?"

"Let's go and good luck."

"You bastard!"

Yuan Jun closed his eyes and stopped talking.

Zheng Tong learned from reliable sources today that the workers, peasants and soldiers recommended by the commune had already set off, but the party branch of Shichuan Village did not recommend anyone.This made Zheng Tong so angry that he immediately realized that it was Chang Gui's trick. This old thing was too insidious, and he didn't do anything after accepting the gift. Zheng Tong decided to ask Chang Gui to discuss it.

Zheng Tong broke into Chang Gui's cave dwelling angrily, and Chang Gui was sitting on the kang drinking porridge with a large bowl in his hands.He suppressed his anger and said, "Secretary Chang, I have something to ask you."

Chang Gui blinked his small eyes and looked at Zheng Tong: "I know, it's for school, right?"

"Didn't we agree last time? Why didn't you recommend me?"

Chang Gui said with a look of innocence: "Why do you talk like that? How do you know I didn't recommend you? There are limited places, and you can't just go alone."

"I have reliable news. During the recommendation meeting of the commune, you squatted there with a cigarette pipe in your mouth and said nothing, didn't you?"

"Who said that?"

"Don't care who said it, is there such a thing?"

"No, if you don't believe me, call Secretary Wang of the commune, and I'll talk to him face to face. I told him."

Zheng Tong finally couldn't help turning his face: "You don't do this shit, you clearly know that Secretary Wang can't come to confront. Chang Laogui, you are so sinister, you are a ghost in front of you, just because of you Zhong Yuemin and I offended you about the deduction of the educated youth’s rations. It’s been several years, and you still hold a grudge and tripped me behind my back, you really are not a fucking thing.”

Chang Gui said softly but firmly: "Zheng Tong, if you say that, we will have nothing to say, and I can't take care of school matters. Why do you scold people when you come up? In terms of age, you are also a nephew, why are you like this?" say?"

Zheng Tong was furious: "Calling you? I still want to hit you an old bastard." In a rage, he picked up the Dahai bowl on the kang table and wanted to smash Chang Gui. Jiang Biyun rushed in and hugged Zheng Tong. Chang Gui rushed over, Jiang Biyun desperately pulled Zheng Tong away.

Zheng Tong and Jiang Biyun sat side by side on a stone roller on the threshing ground at the entrance of the village. They were silent for a long time, and suddenly Zheng Tong started to sob.

Jiang Biyun was shocked, this was the first time she saw Zheng Tong crying, she put her hand on his shoulder in panic: "Zheng Tong, what's wrong with you?"

"This day... is really hopeless."

"Isn't everyone living like this?"

"People... are afraid that there is no hope. What's the point of living like this?"

"Zheng Tong, you have always been an optimistic person. How did you become so depressed today? This is not like you."

"You don't know, I want to go to university, I even dream about it, but today I went to the commune to ask, and the selected worker, peasant and soldier students all set off. At that time, I felt that my eyes were dark, and all the hopes in my heart were shattered. "

Jiang Biyun said: "But you can't give up hope, I don't believe it, we will stay in this small mountain village forever, there will always be opportunities."

Zheng Tong said disheartenedly: "If the opportunity meets me, I'm afraid I will go around. I'm not very lucky."

"If one day, an opportunity comes your way, but you can't seize it because you don't have the ability to seize it, then you will have nothing to say."

Zheng Tong was silent.

"I know that your mental state is terrible, life is difficult, your future is hopeless, and ... you are lonely."

Zheng Tong whispered: "Yes, it is a kind of loneliness of the soul. I am walking alone in the long night. Where is the return journey..."

Jiang Biyun said softly: "If you have love in your heart, maybe the situation will be much better. At that time, you will feel warm, feel that you have support, feel that your soul is no longer lonely, and feel that life is full of colors from then on."

"But in front of my eyes is a world without color, only loess lacking vegetation."

"Zheng Tong, don't you want to say something to me?"

"I'm so hopeless that I really can't bring myself to talk."

Jiang Biyun pulled Zheng Tong's shoulders, looked into his eyes and said, "Then let me tell you, listen carefully, I want to make a suggestion to you."

"You said."

"It's too lonely to walk alone at night, wouldn't it be better for two to walk together?"

Zheng Tong opened his eyes wide: "You mean, you go with me?"

"Yes, let's walk the night together, resist loneliness together, and look for light together, would you like to?"

Zheng Tong turned his back and remained silent.Jiang Biyun gently hugged him from behind.

Two lines of hot tears flowed from Zheng Tong's eyes...

On the playground, the entire company of the reconnaissance battalion stood in line. Tonight, the battalion instructor will announce the list of students who have been selected into the military instruction team.

After 1966, almost all military academies in the army were closed, and all officers were selected from veterans in active service.All armies, divisions, and even regiment-level units have set up cadre teaching teams, which are military schools in disguise. Selected veterans receive a few months or a year of accelerated officer training in the teaching teams, and then return as officers. Lead troops to this army. Before 1966, the admission requirement for the Military Academy was to first pass a unified cultural examination. This alone discouraged many rural children with only elementary school education. With the rise of the "Cultural Revolution" movement, many old rules and regulations were abolished, which brought hope to Wu Mantun, who was at the bottom of the peasant family.At that time, in the huge China, all the doors to enter were closed to you, and only in the army could there be a glimmer of hope. For the people at the bottom, this was indeed exciting news.

Moreover, it is not without precedent in Chinese history to quickly become an officer in a few months or a year. Wasn't the famous Whampoa Military Academy also a crash course?This does not prevent it from training a large number of famous generals. Among the 600 trainees in the first period alone, more than 300 generals have emerged. It took them less than 10 months from enrollment to graduation.

Zhong Yuemin, Zhang Haiyang, Wu Mandun and the others had known the list of nominees for a long time. The three of them were the combat backbone of the company.

When Zhong Yuemin heard the news that he would be promoted, he hesitated for a few days.He didn't intend to be the commander of the army at all. According to his thinking, everything is just a game. Since he has been a soldier for several years, it is time to change the way of playing. It is so boring to keep playing the same game.If you mention it, you can't help yourself. If you don't work in the army for ten or eight years, you won't even think about leaving.There is an old-fashioned saying that a soldier who does not want to be a marshal is not a good soldier. Zhong Yuemin thinks this is pure nonsense, but it is just a layman's idea, just like everyone wants to get rich, in fact, there will always be a minority of people who get rich.There are various ways of living in the world, and the key lies in his own feelings. He never thought that there was anything enviable about being a marshal.Now Zhong Yuemin has stood at the crossroads of his life. If he chooses to work in the army for another ten or eight years, he must kill him. Is this a joke?He is a little annoyed with the daily 5-kilometer cross-country routine, which means that he will have to run for another ten or eight years, and he will let you change jobs when you can't run anymore. Do you play something else?

But Zhong Yuemin decided to join the teaching team in the end, not for anything else, mainly because of Zhang Haiyang and Wu Mantun. He couldn't stand the hard work of these two guys, especially Zhang Haiyang. His father wrote to him: "This Don't think about doing anything else in your life, just wear this military uniform until you die.The descendants of the Zhang family can't do anything except serve as soldiers. You can only go home when you put on an officer's uniform, otherwise don't set foot in this house again. Zhang Haiyang was cut off, so he had no choice but to prepare for a long-term service in the army, but in his words, he would have to be a backer when he was about to die. So Zhang Haiyang and Wu Mantun adopted the tactics of stalking, pestering Zhong Yuemin every day, and even used extremely rogue methods.

A few days ago, Zhang Haiyang and Wu Mantun asked Zhong Yuemin to go swimming, and Zhong Yuemin fell for it as soon as he went.They took Zhong Yuemin to a secluded river bank, saying that they could swim with bare buttocks here, and the two of them got into the water with bare buttocks first.The soldiers don't have swimming trunks, and they all wear the big green trousers issued by the army when swimming. This kind of trousers has a lot of resistance in the water and is very uncomfortable.As soon as Zhong Yuemin saw the two of them getting into the water, he also jumped into the water with his bare buttocks. After he swam back and forth, he found that these two guys were already dressed and sitting on the river bank, smiling at him maliciously. Only then did Zhong Yuemin realize that he had been fooled.Zhang Haiyang put forward two conditions for Zhong Yuemin to choose, either to join the teaching team, or to return to the army with bare buttocks.Zhang Haiyang also specifically warned him that no one is joking with him now, don't have illusions, and must consider the consequences before making a choice.Zhong Yuemin considered for a while and then compromised. He knew that Zhang Haiyang would definitely do what he said.While wearing the underpants, Zhong Yuemin thought, once he put on these underpants, he would be considered as a member of the army.

On the night when the nomination list was announced, before the lights went out, Zhong Yuemin was called by Zhang Haiyang to the parallel bars on the playground. This was the place where the three of them gathered since they were recruits.

Zhong Yuemin asked, "Why did you ask me to come here?"

Zhang Haiyang said: "This means full storage, he wants to treat."

"This kid usually wants to grind every penny into a waste, don't you want to spend it?"

"I said the same thing. It's not about life and death. Isn't it just mentioning why? His family is so poor, what the hell is he doing? But this kid got in a hurry with me, and dared to stare at me and say, 'If you don't go, get out. Leave me alone in the future'. Damn it, this will be when I first enlisted in the army.

Manhun hurried over with a bag of things in his arms. He knelt down and took out everything in the bag: canned food, cigarettes, and two bottles of liquor.

Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang watched him open the can silently.

Mantun opened the can, opened the wine bottle and filled three cups. He looked at Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang and said, "Why are you still standing? Sit down."

The two sat down in silence.

Mantun raised his cup and said solemnly: "Take it up, it's done."

The three drank the wine in one gulp.

Fill it up and refill it: "Do it again."

The three drank three glasses of wine in a row.

Mantun suddenly became very excited: "The two brothers are not outsiders, don't laugh at brother..." He suddenly knelt down in one direction, kowtowed three times, and said tearfully, "Father, mother, my son kowtows to your elder brother , the son did not embarrass his parents, the son has been promoted in the army, our family has hope, I can support the family..."

Mantun burst into tears, releasing all the years of grievance and depression in an instant.

Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang were stunned by crying.

Zhong Yuemin put his hands on Mandun's shoulders and persuaded: "It will be fine in the future. The platoon salary is 52 yuan. You can support your family. This is a good thing. You should be happy, and the brothers are also happy for you."

Mantun wiped his tears and choked up his sobs and said: "Brothers, it is reasonable to say that I am a high climber when I recognize brothers with you. You are kind enough, and you have never disliked me. You haven't even worn a new military uniform in the past few years, and you have sent all of them to me. My family is gone. I am a poor boy, I am really a drag on the brothers, I kowtow to you on behalf of the whole family..."

Mandun was about to kneel again, Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang hurriedly supported him: "Dude, you are boring, aren't we buddies?"

Mantun grabbed the wine bottle again: "Okay, I won't say anything, how should I repay the brothers, my surname Wu knows it well. Drink, these two bottles of wine will be finished today, so don't pretend to be bears."

Zhong Yuemin drank the wine in the glass and said loudly: "Drink! To bid farewell to our soldier's life, let's get drunk, as long as we can get up tomorrow morning."

Zhang Hainiu coaxed: "It doesn't matter if you can't get up, just ask someone to bring a letter to the teaching team, saying that the uncle drank too much, and he will leave one day later, what's the matter?"

Zhong Yuemin laughed and said, "Look at you, aren't you just a little platoon leader?"

Zhong Shanyue has not been assigned a job since he was released from quarantine inspection, and has been at home for several years.During the period of his review, the Ministry promoted several deputy ministers, so the number of deputy ministers in office has reached seven or eight, and there is really no place for him to be filled.Although Zhong Shanyue was very anxious, there were too many cadres in his situation, and the organization department had nothing to do.Zhong Shanyue, like most veteran cadres who were impacted in the early days of the "Cultural Revolution", publicly stated that he was still young and in good physical condition, and wanted to work for the party and the people for a few more years.In fact, everyone understands that these reasons are too high-sounding.

When Zhong Yuemin returned home from visiting relatives this time, he often heard his father complaining. The old man added another bad habit: he had to drink with every meal, and when he drank, he talked too much, and when he talked too much, he would curse at others.Every time when the wine was half drunk, Zhong Shanyue scolded all the people and things he was dissatisfied with one by one.

The father and son hadn't seen each other for five or six years. When Zhong Yuemin first came back, his father was very excited. He first called his old comrades in various places and said, "My old Zhong's son has become a platoon leader in the army." Chase Zhong Yuemin and ask this and that.Zhong Yuemin went to the living room, the old man chased him to the living room, Zhong Yuemin went into his bedroom, and the old man chased him to the bedroom again, making Zhong Yuemin almost annoyed.He remembered that his father was not like this before. At that time, his father was an upright man in his eyes, and he was quite masculine even when fighting people.He is definitely not like ordinary parents who beat their children, slapping their children on the butt a few times calmly. Zhong Shanyue is not so gentle and refined. He always strikes as fast as lightning. The slap on the face was strong enough to make Zhong Yuemin turn 360 degrees on the spot, and his eyes were full of golden light.

Zhong Yuemin was puzzled, was this nagging old man in front of him his father? How did he become like this when he got old? Where did the young teacher who was equally active in fighting and chasing women during the Liaoshen Campaign go?

Of course, this was the scene when Zhong Yuemin first came home.After spending a few days with his father, he realized that his father hadn't changed much, it was just that he had nothing to do.His heart is full of unknown anger, you must not provoke him, once you provoke him to get angry, he will immediately show a hideous face.

Zhong Yuemin recalled his childhood dream, that he had to be a father in order not to be beaten by his father. This kind of thinking was too lacking in thoroughness, ignoring the most fundamental one: even if you become a father, you cannot guarantee that your own father will not beat you. This is an iron rule, no matter how capable you are, you can never turn it over.

Zhong Shanyue was sitting on the sofa in the living room, and Zhong Yuemin was massaging his father's shoulders. He asked flatteringly, "Dad, are you rehabilitated?"

"I have returned to the original level of treatment, but I have nothing to do. The Central Organization Department may have forgotten me."

Zhong Yuemin said: "You should take a good rest for a while. Dad, why didn't you find a wife after my mother passed away?"

"Is there a suitable one? Can you introduce one to me?"

"Sorry, no."

"Then why are you talking nonsense, kid, asking about my private life?"

"I think you need someone to take care of you."

My father said: "Getting married is not about asking someone to take care of you. If that's the case, I might as well hire a nanny. Son, let's go to Babaoshan to see your mother tomorrow. There are only two of us left in our family. The population is not strong. The biggest regret in my life is that I didn't have more sons, and your mother underwent surgery after giving birth to you."

"I know, you still miss my mother."

Father said: "I ask you, do you have a girlfriend?"

"I handed over two, and the time is not too long."

"Idiot, you can't even look down on a girlfriend. People look down on you?"

Zhong Yuemin confessed shamelessly: "Forget it, I'm not capable, far worse than when you were young."

Zhong Shanyue boasted proudly: "That's true. I was more beautiful when I was young than you are now. The youngest division commander in the entire column, those lesbians' eyes shine when they see me, and they can't even go away."

"Did you finally see my mother?"

"Your mother was the most beautiful in our Dongye organization at that time. Well, at that time, many cadres at the division and regiment level were interested in her, but she didn't like anyone. Only I knew in my heart that she was waiting for me. That is Before the general attack on Jinzhou, I was preparing for a big battle, so I didn’t have time to talk to her. I only went to your mother after the battle. Guess what your mother’s first sentence said? She said, ‘Why did you come here? ?'"

Zhong Yuemin laughed loudly: "Dad, you are really a master in the field of love, and my son is ashamed of himself."

As soon as the past was mentioned, Zhong Shanyue's face immediately became gloomy, and he couldn't help complaining: "Oh, I can't mention the glorious days in the past, and I feel panicked when I think about it now, what the hell is this? Well, I can eat two big bowls for a meal, but I don’t have a job, so I’m just waiting to die like this.”

Zhong Yuemin persuaded: "Dad, don't you have your level, salary, and housing? It's better not to arrange a job. Isn't it good for you to go fishing and drink with old comrades in arms? I want to have your level of treatment, and I can't wait to lie down." Don't do it anymore, what's the good of being an official, I'm worried all day long."

"What do you mean? This is serving the people. How do you call being an official? I am still young and in good health. I have no other thoughts now. I just want to work for the party and the people for a few more years."

Zhong Yuemin couldn't help laughing: "Dad, everyone understands that these reasons are too high-sounding. If you really want to work for the party and the people for a few more years, you can go to sweep the corridors and boil water. If you really can't, you can go to the neighborhood committee and those little feet. Let the detective team go to stand guard. In short, there are many ways, and you don’t have to be an official.”

Zhong Shanyue didn't like to hear it anymore: "Fart, I'm a dignified deputy minister who is going to stand guard in the neighborhood committee? You can figure it out."

Zhong Yuemin said: "This is where the problem lies. Let alone going to the neighborhood committee, even if a deputy ministerial-level cadre is appointed as the director, he has to jump up. Therefore, these people who want to do a few more years of work for the party and the people 'For cadres, their requirements for work are conditional, that is, they must guarantee their original rank, and only under this premise can they 'do a few more years of work for the party and the people'."

"I was originally a deputy minister, and I didn't ask for an official from the organization. I was promoted to a higher level. I just asked the organization to consider my ability and assign me a position that can play a role. Isn't this a high requirement?"

"Then what if the organization thinks that you can play a role only by working in the neighborhood committee?"

"You fart..." Zhong Shanyue was so angry that he didn't know what to say.

Zhong Yuemin continued to say uninterestedly: "The problem is that China's officialdom has never been short of people, and all official positions are fully occupied. When you go to the toilet, when you come back, your seat may be occupied by someone else." Now, who wouldn't want to 'do a few more years of work for the party and the people'? It's hard enough for the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Even I just became a small platoon leader and I thought that the company commander would change jobs quickly so that I could make room for me. I also want to 'carry more burdens for the party and the people'. To be honest, I don't think the burden of a division commander or army commander is too heavy..."

Zhong Shanyue listened to Zhong Yuemin's words without saying a word, he got up and went to the kitchen, Zhong Yuemin watched his father's actions vigilantly...

Zhong Shanyue came out after rummaging in the kitchen for a while. Zhong Yuemin ran out of the living room like a rabbit when he saw it. He clearly saw that his father was holding a rolling pin in his hand...

Yuan Jun, Zhou Xiaobai, Zheng Tong, and Jiang Biyun were sitting in a restaurant in Moscow talking. They were waiting for Zhong Yuemin. Yuan Jun and Zhou Xiaobai had already put on their four-pocket military uniforms.

Zhou Xiaobai looked at his watch anxiously and said, "Will Yuemin stop coming?"

Yuan Jun said: "No, he promised well on the phone yesterday. We haven't seen each other for several years, so it's time to catch up."

Zheng Tong said bitterly: "This grandson is really dishonest. I sent him three letters on average, and he only replied one. He always said he was busy, as if he was the only one busy in the whole world."

Jiang Biyun stared at Zhou Xiaobai. This was the first time she saw Zhou Xiaobai. She had heard Zhong Yuemin's ex-girlfriend for a long time. She was looking at Zhou Xiaobai with a woman's critical eyes.

Zhou Xiaobai noticed that Jiang Biyun was staring at him, so he half-jokingly said: "You look at me a little bit, is my face full of vicissitudes?"

Jiang Biyun smiled embarrassedly: "I'm just curious. I heard about you when I first arrived in northern Shaanxi. I handed over several letters from you to Zhong Yuemin. Your handwriting is very beautiful. At that time, I still wanted to , this Zhou Xiaobai must be as beautiful as her handwriting, seeing you today is exactly as I imagined."

Zhou Xiaobai said disheartenedly: "Thank you, but what's the use of being beautiful, it's because you were dumped by Zhong Yuemin."

Yuan Jun comforted: "Don't say that, everyone was still a student at that time, and they were very naive."

Jiang Biyun said: "Yuan Jun is right. Love in youth may be unreliable, and there are too many variables. I had a good impression of Zhong Yuemin at the time. He was a nice big boy with a cute personality and a bad stomach, but even if he took risks When the water is bad, it's not annoying. To be honest, I was a little tempted at that time, but I quickly dismissed this idea."

Zhou Xiaobai asked very attentively: "Why?"

Jiang Biyun smiled: "This is a man who can easily hurt women, like a bear breaking a stick and throwing it away at will. This is too unfair to women."

Zheng Tong said, "According to you, what is fairness?"

"If you don't want this stick, it's better not to break it, let it grow well, and wait for someone who wants it to break it."

Zheng Tong gave a smirk: "It's really a typical woman's thinking, but there is still such a situation, the bear doesn't care at all, because for the bear, breaking the stick is a hobby, and it doesn't have to be eaten, even if it is broken Let's play, but some sticks take it seriously, and take the initiative to stick their heads over. Of course, the bear will not refuse anyone, so the stick makes a further request, asking the bear to stop the habit of breaking the stick and only eat this stick for the rest of his life. Of course it can't."

Zhou Xiaobai scolded with a smile: "Zheng Tong, are you making fun of me in a corner? I haven't seen you for a few years, and you are still so bad."

Zhong Yuemin rode a bicycle to the gate of the Moscow restaurant. He was wearing a worn-out military uniform that had been washed white, with eye-catching patches on the knees of military trousers, and a pair of worn-out liberation shoes on his feet.

He parked his bicycle at the storage place, and the depositor immediately asked him to deposit the fare first. Zhong Yuemin fumbled all over, but couldn't find any money, so he had to apologize and said: "I'm sorry, I didn't bring any money, please wait." For a moment, I will ask my friend to pay the money."

The keeper looked at him suspiciously and said, "Then hurry up."

Zhong Yuemin walked into the glass revolving door and entered the hall, Yuan Jun and Zheng Tong excitedly greeted him, Yuan Jun opened his arms exaggeratedly to hug Zhong Yuemin.

Zhong Yuemin said with a smile: "Yuan Jun, don't rush to exchange pleasantries, go to the door and pay the car deposit for me."

Yuan Jun said in surprise: "Fuck, don't you even have two cents? Are you trying to make a fool of yourself?"

Zhong Yuemin shook hands with Zheng Tong, and they exchanged affectionate greetings, while Zhou Xiaobai and Jiang Biyun stood at the dining table and watched them talking silently.

Zhong Yuemin walked over quickly and reached out to them: "Xiaobai, Jiang Biyun, how are you?"

Jiang Biyun smiled: "I'm okay."

Zhou Xiaobai said quietly, "I'm not good."

Zhong Yuemin pretended not to hear, and said to Yuan Jun who walked into the hall: "Who is in charge today?"

Yuan Jun said: "I am the host, everyone sit down."

Zheng Tong smiled and said: "Guess what Yuan Jun did just now? He went to pay two cents for Zhong Yuemin to save the fare."

Yuan Jun looked Zhong Yuemin up and down and said: "Yuemin is trying to make a fool of himself again. Look at his torn military uniform, and there are two brand new national defense green patches. This is probably a dress specially prepared for visiting relatives."

Zhong Yuemin explained: "Who has the leisure to make a fool of yourself? I really only have this military uniform, and I don't even have a replacement. As soon as I wash my clothes, I hope it will dry quickly."

Zheng Tong asked: "Did you exchange your military uniform for wine with fellow villagers?"

Zhong Yuemin explained: "I have a comrade-in-arms, his family is poor, and he has several younger brothers and sisters, and each of them can't fit a suit of clothes. Our comrades-in-arms helped him make up military uniforms and send them home. Only after sending them did we find out that we had forgotten them." There was only a change of clothes left for each person to wear. Zhang Haiyang was even more unlucky. He washed the only military uniform and hung it in the yard. The military uniform was taken away. This kid also refused, and he just kept silent. The next morning we had a routine 5km cross-country, and he was wearing tattered fleece and fleece pants, carrying a gun and a bullet bag, and ran like a normal person. In the queue, the company commander was almost mad..."

Everyone laughed, only Zhou Xiaobai didn't laugh. She was looking down at Zhong Yuemin's feet, and she found that Zhong Yuemin was wearing shoes and no socks.

Zhou Xiaobai's eyes were red: "Why did you even give the socks to others?"

"My comrade-in-arms family has too many people, and this is not enough. Last time his family sent a family photo, we were all happy to see it. The entire infantry squad was green, and his parents were wearing two pockets. The uniforms of the soldiers, like the principal and deputy squad leader, and younger brothers and sisters are all in new uniforms, like recruits who have just left the recruit company."

Everyone laughed.

"I said to my comrade-in-arms, don't worry, when we are all promoted, I will change your family's clothes, change into 4-pocket cadre uniforms, and let your whole family be promoted. Then take a family photo and take a picture. It's not the infantry squad group photo, but the teaching team group photo."

The crowd laughed again.

Jiang Biyun said: "You haven't changed at all, you are still the same Zhong Yuemin, always so optimistic wherever you go."

Zhong Yuemin complimented: "You are getting more and more beautiful, and your temperament is very different from before. Do you know that Zheng Tong has been cheating on you for a long time, and when I saw you today, I understood that Zheng Tong must have succeeded gone."

Zheng Tong proudly boasted: "Of course, is there anything I, Zheng Tong, can't do?"

Zhong Yuemin said: "What trick did you use? Tell me about your experience."

"Play hard to get."

Jiang Biyun punched Zheng Tong and said, "Come on, don't brag. Zheng Tong was very discouraged for a while, and he even wanted to die. Can I see death without saving him? In the end, I also got myself involved."

Zhong Yuemin asked, "Why didn't Luo Yun come?"

Yuan Jun said: "He was recommended to go to university, and he has no contact with us. This person... how should I put it, anyway, he has a lot of heart."

Zhou Xiaobai gave Yuan Jun a sideways look: "Yuan Jun, it's not right for you to say that. Who was in love with her in the first place? You can't be so heartless once someone leaves."

"Didn't I be confused for a while at the time, so I was hit by a sugar-coated bullet."

Zhong Yuemin asked: "What are you talking about?"

Yuan Jun said: "It's a long story, let's talk about it sometime."

Zhou Xiaobai chatted absently, but kept watching Zhong Yuemin.She thought that it had been several years, and her mood should be calm.She even thought that when she saw Zhong Yuemin again, she should put on a very indifferent expression, expressing that she didn't care about Zhong Yuemin anymore.But as soon as she saw Zhong Yuemin, all her previous assumptions disappeared immediately, and the resentment accumulated over the past few years turned into tenderness again.She knew that she was completely finished, no matter how Zhong Yuemin treated her, she couldn't hate her, it was really possible that she owed him a debt in her previous life, this enemy.Zhou Xiaobai was thinking about the time, she only had two weeks of family leave, and now a week has passed, can she find a chance to meet Zhong Yuemin alone.Thinking of this, she felt a little timid. Sitting there, this guy was either gobbling or talking and laughing.He probably thought that his relationship with Zhou Xiaobai was over long ago, but he was very relaxed. If he asked him to meet, maybe he would pretend to be a gentleman and politely refuse, with a face full of helplessness of being harassed for no reason. The bastard.

Zhou Xiaobai suddenly felt very depressed, she stood up suddenly and said: "Let's stop here today, I'll go first..." After she finished speaking, she walked out of the hall without looking back.

Jiang Biyun was not mentally prepared for Miss Zhou Xiaobai's temper, she asked in surprise: "What's wrong with her, who said something to offend her?"

Zheng Tong and Yuan Jun were silent, only Zhong Yuemin was concentrating on buttering the slices of bread, and seemed to turn a blind eye to Zhou Xiaobai's actions. He handed the buttered bread to Jiang Biyun graciously: "I said Jiang Biyun, why did you put this flower in the Is Zheng Tong on this pile of cow dung? It's a pity, even if you give him a hand, you won't be able to get yourself into it?"

Jiang Biyun said solemnly: "Stop teasing me, I'm asking you something, what's wrong with Zhou Xiaobai?"

Zhong Yuemin said in a very tolerant tone: "Your women's thinking is jumping, and your associations are very strong. Comrade Zhou Xiaobai may suddenly recall some unpleasant past events... For example, a flower found a pile of cow dung. Just about to plug it in, but the cow dung suddenly ran away..."

Zhong Yuemin, Yuan Jun, and Zheng Tong sat on the steps of the auditorium of the compound. This was the place where they often met, and many bad ideas were born here.Yuan Jun said seriously: "Yuemin, there is something I must explain to you."

"Go ahead."

Yuan Jun hesitated for a moment and said, "...I want to ask you one more question, is it possible for your relationship with Zhou Xiaobai to recover?"

"No, it's over."

Yuan Jun asked: "If Zhou Xiaobai and I get along, you won't object?"

"That's your own business. Of course I don't object. Does Xiaobai also mean that?"

"I haven't talked to her yet, and I know she's still thinking about you."

Zhong Yuemin said, "Do you want me to help you? How about I go and do work for Xiaobai?"

Yuan Jun smiled wryly: "Forget it, anyone is more suitable than you to do the job. Once you appear on the scene, you will do something bad. I'll do it myself."

Zhong Yuemin asked again: "Where is Zheng Tong, are you not idle? Your relationship with Jiang Biyun is progressing well. That day at Lao Mo, you were flirting with each other."

Zheng Tong said: "I'm sorry, the bed was covered early, but I don't think you need to ask for your consent. You Zhong Yuemin are not the party representative of the Women's Army Company."

Zhong Yuemin asked: "Zheng Tong, is there any news from Qinling?"

"No, she left Baidian Village a long time ago, and no one knows about her. Her parents are both from northern Shaanxi, and they have many connections in northern Shaanxi. It's easy to avoid you."

Zhong Yuemin was silent.

Zheng Tong gloated and said, "Your kid also has today?"

Yuan Jun was a little sad: "Yuemin, I will go back to the army next week, and Xiaobai will go with me. We have been separated for several years, and we finally met each other. There is no time to say anything, and we are going to break up again. I don't know when we meet again. What year is it?"

Zhong Yuemin put his arms around Yuan Jun and Zheng Tong and said, "Take care, brothers, let's keep in touch..."

The phone rang, and Zhong Yuemin got up from the bed to pick up the phone: "Hello, who is it?"

There is no sound from the microphone.

"Hey, who is it? Please speak."

Still no sound from the microphone.

Zhong Yuemin became angry: "Hey, who is it? If I don't talk, I'll die. What if I'm sick? It's the middle of the night."

A girl's timid voice came from the microphone: "Don't hang up, Yuemin, it's me, can you hear it?"

"...Zhou Xiaobai? Is that you?"

"It's me, Yuemin. I was in a bad mood yesterday at the restaurant. I'm sorry, I was rude. I want to see you, can I?"

"This...does Yuan Jun know?"

Zhou Xiaobai got angry: "Do I need to report to anyone I want to see? Yuemin, I'm not a tiger, I can't eat you, you can't just be so brave, right?"

Zhong Yuemin became tough: "Who can I be afraid of? Isn't it just Yuan Jun? Besides, you didn't marry him, so why wouldn't I dare to see you?"

"That's right, this is Zhong Yuemin in my impression, please wait for me at the gate of Xinqiao Hotel tomorrow night, okay?"

"Okay, see you soon."

The western restaurant of Xinqiao Hotel in Beijing seems to have changed little in recent years. In Zhong Yuemin’s view, the tablecloths are still the same as before, and even the style of the chairs has not changed. They are still the soft chairs covered with beige khaki cloth. Zhong Yuemin still remembers Back then, he took advantage of a power outage to carry away a chair from someone else.

Zhong Yuemin and Zhou Xiaobai sat facing each other. Both of them were wearing military uniforms. They were very eye-catching in the dining room. After all, not many soldiers came here to eat.Zhou Xiaobai stared at Zhong Yuemin unabashedly, with complex eyes, Zhong Yuemin avoided her gaze uncomfortably.

Zhong Yuemin asked without words: "Xiaobai, how have you been all these years?"

"I'm not well. I'm always thinking of you. Can I be okay? In fact, I know very well in my heart that I'm unrequited love, even a bit cheap, but I can't lie to myself. "

"Xiaobai, do you hate me? It's okay, if you hate me, just say it."

"I can't tell. The boundary between love and hate is blurred. What's more, I can't hate you even if I want to."

"You didn't come to me today to talk about these things, did you?"

Zhou Xiaobai stared at Zhong Yuemin: "Yuemin, why are you so indifferent? Don't you even have the mood to catch up with me? You were not like this before. In comparison, I prefer the playful chasing girl on the ice rink back then. The child's Zhong Yuemin, not the serious battalion commander of the People's Liberation Army in front of him."

Zhong Yuemin smiled: "I'm sorry, I'm an idiot when I'm a soldier. I don't know what to say when I see a girl. Don't mind me. I'll get used to it slowly. Please give me some time. I'm trying to get back my hippie smile back then." Feel."

Zhou Xiaobai also smiled: "That's all right, it's still the Zhong Yuemin I'm familiar with."

Zhong Yuemin fiddled with the knife and fork in a hurry and started to devour it. Zhou Xiaobai didn't move the knife and fork, but watched Zhong Yuemin eat quietly.

"Yuemin, eat slowly, this is not a field army, no one will fight with you, why can't you be gentle?"

Zhong Yuemin's mouth was full of food, and he swallowed hard as he replied: "When I first joined the army, I was more refined than you. Later, I found out that the army does not need gentlemen, and I can't tolerate you chewing slowly. Move a little slower." Son, the food is gone. I’ve only been gentle for a day and then I realized, what kind of gentleman can’t take care of so much, grab, thick-skinned, eat enough, thin-skinned, can’t eat. You haven’t been in the grassroots company, haven’t seen Let’s look at how we eat. For example, one day when the company eats noodles, you can hear a sound of snoring 20 meters away from the cafeteria, which is similar to the sound of pigs eating slop. People who don’t know it think it’s a pigsty.”

Zhou Xiaobai laughed loudly: "Your mouth is still so damaged."

"Xiaobai, how is your relationship with Yuan Jun going?"

Zhou Xiaobai immediately restrained his smile: "I came to you today just to talk to you about Yuan Jun. He is your good friend and a very nice person, but I have never promised him. I always want to find a chance to ask You. You know, it's not easy for you and me to meet."

Zhong Yuemin said indifferently: "It doesn't seem to be my business, you don't need to ask for my opinion."

Zhou Xiaobai suddenly became angry, and she threw the knife and fork on the table: "Zhong Yuemin, you are a bastard, have you forgotten how we met? You shouldn't have come to me with a playful smile in the first place, and waited for me to fall in love with you." You, you casually dumped me again, do you know how I got here all these years?"

Zhong Yuemin whispered knowingly: "Xiaobai, can you keep your voice down? You see, you even said that you will clean up the dust for me, and you will be scolded after eating your meal. Don't be like this. You can't get married."

Zhou Xiaobai glared at him angrily: "Is the tenderness I gave you still too little? Do you cherish it? It's my business whether I get married or not, can you control it?"

"Yes, it's my fault, I'm damned, I'm guilty, I deceived your pure feelings, I apologize to you..."

"Go ahead and confess, what else? Say it all."

Zhong Yuemin was a little annoyed: "Xiaobai, you haven't finished yet, have you? When did I, Zhong Yuemin, apologize to others, and you still refuse to forgive me."

"Look, the true nature is finally revealed. What apology? It's all fake, only the last sentence is true. Forget it, let's stop blaming each other, Yuemin, let's not mention the past, I hope that in the future We are still good friends, okay?" Zhou Xiaobai said helplessly.

"Of course, we will always be friends. However, you have to say hello to Yuan Jun. He can't be jealous of me. If it weren't for my high morals, would he be here today? He can't drink water and forget the well digger."

Zhou Xiaobai stared at him and said word by word: "Aren't you being talkative again? To tell you the truth, I will always watch you, but I want to see who your future wife is and how much better she is than me. If it’s not as good as me, don’t blame me for being a third party.”

Zhong Yuemin showed his cynical nature again: "Don't scare me, I'm still quite chaste, and beauty tricks don't work for me..."

"Bah! Waiter, check out!"

Zhong Yuemin and Zhou Xiaobai left the gate of Xinqiao Hotel and walked side by side along Chongwenmen Street.

Zhou Xiaobai suddenly asked: "Yuemin, tell me the truth, when you proposed to break up with me, what was your real thought?"

"Didn't I tell you in the letter?"

"No, I don't believe that's what you really think, and I don't really believe that the woman named Qin Ling has such a great charm that she can make you desperate. In fact, you only got along for a short period of time, and then she Not even a shadow."

Zhong Yuemin scolded: "This is what Zheng Tong told you? This bastard who values ​​sex and despises friends."

"Don't blame Zheng Tong. I asked him, but he didn't tell me a word. It was Jiang Biyun who said it."

"Well, that's about the same. Now let me answer your question. You are too sloppy. Do you know what 'spool' is? This is a word commonly used by Beijingers to describe people who like to make ends meet. I tell you, it is because of you That's the way I broke up with you. You scare me. I haven't promised you anything. You're already dying. If we keep going, I dare say, you will sooner or later because of My reason is my fate. Xiaobai, you are a woman who is very persistent in love. Perhaps in the eyes of many men, this is a great advantage, but I dare say that you are not suitable for me. I am a man who can be satisfied with his wife and children. I am not a law-abiding person. I want to live according to my own ideas. If I get tired of one way of life, I will immediately change another way of life. In my life It seems that begging for food when I was in the queue and serving as a soldier are just two different ways of life. It doesn’t matter which one is good or bad. I will happily devote myself to these two lives and treat them as games. If this I'm tired of playing both games. I'll switch to another game. In short, have fun. Xiaobai, if I live with you, can you understand my way of playing? Can you play with me ?"

Zhou Xiaobai replied honestly: "I can't. Although I love you very much, I can only live a normal life."

"I know, get married, have children, educate the children to go to college in the future, help the children find a good job after graduation, and help take care of the children after the children have children... You are really good, fortunately I didn't marry you, otherwise I I'm tired of you."

"According to what you said, you dumped me to save me, so I should thank you, right?"

"Of course, what do you think? Unless you, like me, voluntarily choose to live a life 'on the road', can you do it? My Doctor Zhou, you are the kind of person who has been arranged by your parents for a lifetime before you were born. You are like a small piece of dough on the chopping board. Parents can knead it however they want. If they want to make you into steamed buns or baked into bread, or add some stick flour to make mixed dough, it is up to the parents to say. Calculate……"

"Fuck you..." Zhou Xiaobai punched him and smiled.

"Xiaobai, do you know what the woman I will live with in the future should look like? Let me tell you, if I go to beg for food, she will happily go with me, and we will sit on the haystack and bask in the sun while catching lice from each other." , just like the monkeys on the monkey mountain in the zoo. If one day I suddenly feel tired of living a stable life, and I plan to go to Shennongjia to find savages and go to Loch Ness to catch monsters, she will happily play with me... "

"Bah! Go find her, I'm afraid such a woman hasn't been born yet."

"Then I'll wait. It's too late to be born now. When I was in my 50s, I married a girl in her 20s. An old cow eats tender grass. It's so embarrassing."

Zhou Xiaobai laughed out loud, the melancholy that had weighed on her heart for many years disappeared in this instant.Zhong Yuemin is still the same Zhong Yuemin back then, always bringing joy to her, and his explanation just now is not unreasonable, there is nothing wrong with living according to her own ideas, but she is still a little sad, a little melancholy .She doesn't want to think about these anymore, it's rare to be with Zhong Yuemin, she has never laughed like this in these years.

The two had already walked to the front door along Chongwenmen Street. Zhou Xiaobai stopped at the entrance of the subway station and looked at Zhong Yuemin quietly. Zhong Yuemin found that she was still so beautiful, but her eyes were a little more melancholy.

"Yuemin, please do one thing." Zhou Xiaobai whispered.

"Oh, tell me."

"Will you hug me again?"

"Is this... appropriate?"

"I haven't promised Yuan Jun yet, so far I'm still free, please."

Zhong Yuemin gently embraced Zhou Xiaobai's body, her body trembled violently as if she had been electrocuted, she suddenly raised her head to meet Zhong Yuemin with hot lips...

"Xiaobai, we are all wearing military uniforms..."

"I don't care, you kiss me, the last time..."

Zhong Yuemin met her lips and kissed her deeply.

"I'm sorry, Xiaobai, I'm really sorry."

Zhou Xiaobai burst into tears suddenly: "You don't need to say sorry, this is my fate..." She pushed Zhong Yuemin away and ran into the subway station without looking back.

(End of this chapter)