After a period of time, the campus was calm, and everyone was engaged in intense studying, temporarily putting things unrelated to study behind.

The two soldiers walked into the east door and found Liu Zhong's office.

After Liu Zhong read the military ID, he asked what he meant, and said: "Company Commander Xu, Bao Qiang has only studied in the repeat class for more than a month, and you should go to the No. 5 Middle School for political trial, he is a graduate of the No. 5 Middle School." ”

Company Commander Xu, who was 278 years old, said: "Our unit is a Red Army division, and we have very high requirements for the political quality of our soldiers. After graduating, Bao Qiang was in a repeat class at No. 1 Middle School, and according to the requirements of the army, we had to visit the school to find out how he had performed recently. ”

After being a middle-level cadre in the school for many years, Liu Zhong is quite familiar with the work of the troop team, he didn't ask any more questions, and muttered carefully: "Bao Qiang has been in the repetition class of No. 1 Middle School for more than a month, and the time is short, and we don't have an in-depth understanding. During his time at school, he was able to study seriously and did not break the law or discipline. ”

Bao Qiang is a rat poop in the repeat class, which makes Liu Zhong worry a lot and make him angry. However, in his mind, Bao Qiang is just a mischievous student, not a heinous bad guy. As a child of a bankrupt enterprise, there are few employment channels, and being able to serve as a soldier in the army is a way out, at least it is better than living on the street and becoming a miscellaneous skin. He did not tell the truth to Company Commander Xu, and said some empty words and big words in a principled manner.

After about ten minutes of exchange, when the conversation was about to end, Lian Chang Xu said: "When I visited the neighborhood committee, the cadres of the neighborhood committee heard that Bao Qiang did not perform well and fought with his classmates at school, and was criticized several times. ”

Liu Zhong said: "It is normal for a student not to be criticized by a teacher. Company Commander Xu, don't talk patronizingly, please drink tea. ”

Company Commander Xu closed the notebook, shook hands with Liu Zhong, and left.

In the family courtyard of Shi'an Machinery Factory, Xie Anfen was looking forward to it at the door, waiting for the leaders of the receiving troops who came to visit the home.

Bao Qiang's father, Bao Daodao, is an old technician, and like many factory technicians, he talks about complex machines with relish, and is clumsy in social interactions, he uses calloused fingers to hold a pack of low-quality cigarettes for two yuan a pack, and says to his wife: "I heard that the quota for non-agricultural household registration as a soldier is very tight, and everyone wants to squeeze into it when they break their heads." ”

"This is not nonsense, if you become a soldier in a non-agricultural household, you will have a job, and if you can be assigned to a government unit after changing jobs, you will be able to guarantee income in drought and flood for a lifetime. This is a major event in the baby's life, don't be reluctant to pay. ”

Bao Daodao sighed and said: "I'm afraid that after spending money, the matter will not be done." ”

Xie Anfen said: "I can't bear the child to be a wolf, the baby is mixed in society, and sooner or later he will learn badly, Liu Jianchang used to be a very well-behaved baby, but now what has become of it, eating, drinking, prostitution, gambling and everything is done, and there is almost no drug trafficking." Sooner or later, this baby will have to eat in prison. ”

The couple waited until five o'clock to see two young men in casual clothes walking downstairs. They trotted all the way downstairs and invited the leaders of the receiving troops upstairs. Xie Anfen took two packets of Hongtashan, stuffed them into the hands of the two young soldiers, and said, "Don't dislike it." After the company went bankrupt, the conditions at home were not good, and life became more and more difficult day by day. ”

Company Commander Xu held the notebook in his hand, did not speak, and after entering the house, he put Hongtashan on the table. Yesterday, someone quietly stuffed a letter in the house, reflecting that Bao Qiang was a hooligan and ruffian who was doing mischief in society. After receiving the letter, he and Deputy Company Commander Deng visited the school and neighborhood committee, and although most of them were saying good things and singing praises, some people still reported some problems.

Xie Anfen said: "Our baby has wanted to be a soldier since he was a child, he is in good health, he can endure hardships, and he will not embarrass the leader when he arrives in the army." ”

Company Commander Xu said quietly: "I heard that your baby has fought in society? ”

Xie Anfen was shocked and said, "Our children never cause trouble. ”

Company Commander Xu opened his notebook and said, "That's not right." Several people reported that Bao Qiang was fighting outside, and our troops had the strictest political requirements, and if there was a political retreat, we, who received the troops, would not be able to eat and walk around. ”

Xie Anfen scolded those long-tongued women in her heart, and at the same time patted her chest and said: "My family was a poor peasant before liberation, but a worker after liberation, and it is a well-known red five categories, and it is politically innocent. ”

Lian Commander Xu explained: "I don't mean the political component, I mainly look at Bao Qiang's realistic performance. ”

Bao Daodao smiled, listening to Bao Qiang's mother talking to the leader of the receiving unit's home visit, he couldn't insert a word, just kept scattering smoke. At half past five, Company Commander Xu got up to say goodbye.

Xie Anfen stood at the door, his fat body blocked the door firmly, and said: "Lian Commander Xu, you can't leave today no matter what, we booked a table in the restaurant, and if you don't eat, you just look down on us working class." ”

Company Commander Xu said: "The troops have a requirement that they cannot eat at the home of the target during the visit. ”

Xie Anfen stood still at the door and said, "If you don't agree, I'll stand here." In the future, when the child arrives in the army, you will have to take care of it more, and this meal must be eaten today. "The receiving cadres are only responsible for bringing the recruits to the troops, and are not responsible for future management. Many parents of recruits did not know about this and had high hopes for the cadres.

Company Commander Xu was blocked in the house, facing the simple husband and wife, and reiterated: "The army has rules that you can't eat casually. ”

Bao Daodao kept scattering cigarettes and said, "When it's time to eat, how can you leave without eating." ”

In desperation, Company Commander Xu agreed to eat, but put forward one point: "Find a restaurant casually, don't make it too complicated." ”

At eight o'clock in the evening, the couple saw off the guests.

The cost of this meal, plus cigarettes and alcohol, cost more than 300 yuan. For the employees of a bankrupt enterprise, this is already a large number. The couple sat opposite each other in the cramped living room, silent.

"Bao Qiang, the turtle son, couldn't see anyone for two days. This unfilial son, Lao Tzu can't wait to knock him to death with a few hammers, so he treats Lao Tzu as if he didn't give birth to him. "Bao Daodao is an honest man, and he finally broke out after a long silence.

Xie Anfen said: "In the past, when the factory was still there, we could still find a way to send him to work in the factory, and then find a daughter-in-law to take care of him, so that he would not become a bad person." Now that the factory is gone, he refuses to study, and now there is only one way to become a soldier. ”

Bao Daodao's deep wrinkles gathered together, and he said with deep concern: "Please invite the receiving troops to eat, and the street armed forces department still have to invite, how much money do we have?" ”

Xie Anfen gritted his teeth and said: "The child's uncle was a militia company commander and knew the head of the street armed forces, and he helped us go to Zhangluo. Last year, your father was sick and hospitalized, and the family spent about the same amount of money, and I had to borrow money. Anyway, it costs a lot, no matter how much it costs, smashing the pot and selling iron will send his son to the army. ”

Bao Daodao was deflated thinking about breaking through so many joints, and said angrily: "Being a soldier is to protect the family and defend the country, and now what is the way of the world, you have to treat guests and give gifts." We don't deserve this soldier, Bao Qiang wants to live or die, we don't care. After venting, he lowered his head and smoked vigorously.

Xie Anfen walked to the back room, opened the heavy old box at home, and took out a small box. This is the gold necklace she got when she got married, an ancestral old thing of the Bao family, and the most precious property in her life. Rubbing this gold necklace, she was very reluctant in her heart, thinking about her son's future, she still took it out and put it in her personal pocket.

"Old man, Bao Qiang will go home this time, don't beat and scold. The baby is older, if you beat him hard, you will really drive him away. ”

"Hmm."

"If you want to coax the baby to be a soldier, no matter how difficult it is at home, don't tell the baby more, so as not to get in a hurry and run outside."

"Hmm."

Xie Anfen sighed and went to the kitchen to boil water. When I saw the gas canister, I really wanted to turn it on and not close it, but when I thought of my son Bao Qiang, my heart softened again, and said: "This turtle son who has been stabbed with a thousand knives, where did he run to fool around." ”

Her gaze went beyond the window to the place where the lights were at their brightest.

In the brightly lit hotel, Bao Qiang followed behind Liu Jianchang and swaggered out of the hotel.

The proprietress stood in front of the counter, her eyes were on fire, and she didn't dare to make a noise, and when she waited for a few people to walk away, she scolded: "Stinky hooligan, you were hit by a car and killed when you went out!" Xiaodai, they ate a lot of money? The waiter Xiao Dai took the list to the counter and counted it for a while, and said, "The dish is 140 yuan, plus cigarettes and alcohol, a total of 380 yuan." ”

The proprietress was bleeding in her heart and said, "Today's flowing water is only more than 1,000 yuan, and this group of people has eaten three hundred and eight, this kind of business is completely boring." A few more times, I'll close the door. ”

The waiter said: "Next time they eat and drink for nothing, we will call the police." ”

The proprietress said with a sad face: "We are called sitting in business, and we are most afraid of the ruffians and hooligans entangled and harassed, if you really want to call the police, the business will not be able to go on at all." Now we can only hope that they will come a few times less. ”

In the distance, Liu Jianchang passed by a cigarette stall, stopped, and said to Bao Qiang: "Foreskin left school, bid farewell to the identity of the school, start practicing courage today, don't always nest behind." ”

Bao Qiang felt that he was like a hero in Liangshan, eating meat and drinking wine in large bowls, and his life was very refreshing, and the depression he felt at home was swept away. Hearing Liu Jianchang's words with contempt, his blood swelled up, and he said, "Brother Jian, what should I do?" ”

Liu Jianchang pointed to the cigarette stall and said, "There is a new cigarette stall there, and I haven't visited our dock." You go and get a few packs of cigarettes, and the worst is Hongta Mountain. ”

There was a black barbarian sitting behind the cigarette stall, judging from his outfit and expression, he was a laid-off worker. Bao Qiang hesitated slightly, but still walked to the cigarette stall with a cigarette in his mouth, and said, "Boss, take Hongta Mountain, six packs." ”

The black barbarian man was full of worries, and he didn't notice that there were a few young men behind the comer, he opened the glass box, took six packets of Hongtashan, and then waited for the customer to pay.

Bao Qiang was the first time to forcibly take something, and he still felt guilty in his heart, but he remembered that Liu Jianchang and others were staring at him, so in order not to sweep face, he said toughly: "Take a few packs of cigarettes from you, it is to give you face, and Brother Jian will cover you in the future, if there is anything to find us." ”

(Chapter 30)