In the auditorium of the division headquarters, in front of everyone in the division and reconnaissance battalion, the head of the headquarters read out the order for meritorious service and awards.

When the commendation decision on Xiao Chen was announced, in front of the more than 400 people who were stunned, the head of the headquarters explained the reason for such an assessment.

"According to the meaning of the party committee of your group army, it is enough for Comrade Xiao Chen to receive a commendation for third-class meritorious service."

"However, as far as the facts are concerned, we believe that Comrade Xiao Chen not only has an outstanding theoretical level, but has also applied theory to practice in the building of the army's grassroots units in the new period, thus providing a very successful example for our theoretical practice."

"The reason why the headquarters does not agree to make this military song your company song is because its value and influence should not be limited to one company."

"Therefore, interfering in the evaluation of your meritorious service awards is our decision after comprehensive consideration. I hope that all of you who are here today can take Comrade Xiao Chen as an example and have the courage to innovate and compete for the first place in the next work. Our army needs such capable and courageous people to build. ”

After saying these words, the chief personally put on a meritorious medal for Xiao Chen.

In front of a group of middle and senior officers, the head of the headquarters patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder:

"The reason why the headquarters only gives you second-class merit after careful consideration is not because you are not good enough, but because you are still young. Putting such a great honor on your shoulders too early, we are afraid that we will delay such a good seedling as you. ”

"Young man, even if your current position is easier to be rewarded for, I would like to remind you not to forget to play to your strengths at all times. I'm looking forward to seeing you. ”

With that, the chief signaled that the meeting could be over.

After the meeting, Xiao Chen walked out of the auditorium directly after the leaders left.

However, the officers and men of the Third Company were divided up by those people at this time, and Zong Pingchuan and Wen Hou, who had just won the third-class merit, took turns to be interviewed by reporters.

Xiao Chen's identity is special, presumably these people have already known about it, so no one has come to pester him.

Gao Cheng was waiting for him on the steps outside the auditorium, and when he saw Xiao Chen come out, he beckoned, put his hands in his pockets again, and turned to look at the scenery of either loess or barren grass in the distance.

"When are you going to get out?"

Listening to Xiao Chen's footsteps approaching him, Gao Cheng pretended to be very casual and asked.

Xiao Chen shook his head, if you can't bear it, you can't give it up, you have to look free and easy. But this is the high city he is familiar with, and in front of familiar people, he will always be that arrogant appearance.

"I haven't contacted that side yet, so I guess I'll leave in the middle of the night."

"Why don't you stay all night and catch up with your old comrades?"

Gao Cheng took out a cigarette and wanted to give it to Xiao Chen, but after thinking for a while, he put the cigarette back in: "Forget it, the wolf tooth is the same as the dead old A, it is a non-smoking unit." ”

Although he didn't hand Xiao Chen a cigarette, he lit one cigarette and smoked it slowly, waiting for Xiao Chen's answer.

Also looking at the scenery in the distance, Xiao Chen suddenly found that it seemed to be the direction of the 702 regiment. Xiao Chen knew that Gao Cheng was not looking at the 702nd Regiment, but at the place where the six people deliberately avoided yesterday - the Seventh Company.

They were all feelings that came out of fighting together in the seventh company, and at this time, Gao Cheng was no longer the deputy battalion commander, nor the old company commander, but just a brother.

"No, the longer I stay, the more reluctant I am. It's a terrible feeling. ”

"Okay, I'm not going to move you now. The little bunny has stiff wings and will fly on its own. The battalion commander will be gone next month. I thought I had you coming, and I thought you could help me bring out a steel seven company. I didn't expect that. ”

Unexpectedly, there was no other steel seven-company, only one three-company.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Chen came, but suddenly left again.

Gao Cheng didn't know whether to be happy or sad, so he just smoked.

Xiao Chen smiled: "Then congratulations on your promotion in advance, but Comrade Deputy Battalion Commander, rabbits don't grow wings and can't fly." ”

"You kid is still waiting here, I can't kick you."

Gao Cheng turned around angrily, took a step back and kicked Xiao Chen's buttocks, and then shook his head helplessly:

"Forget it, you're all wolf cubs, and it's probably about the same as kicking and tickling. Come to the camp headquarters to eat with us after dinner, and wait for me to wait at the camp headquarters after dinner, and wait for you to pick you up. Sanlian, if you don't want to go, don't go. ”

Gao Cheng shook his head, he didn't know what to say, he still didn't say anything, he pressed the cigarette butt in the trash can and twisted it, and then turned around and walked in the direction of the battalion headquarters.

Xiao Chen smiled and quickly followed.

Thousands of miles away from the division headquarters, Xia Yufang was busy in the cooking smoke for a long time, and began to call Xiao Youming, who was standing outside the gate and chatting with a few big men, to come back for dinner.

The landline on the bookcase full of all the books Xiao Chen had from childhood to adulthood suddenly rang, Xia Yufang looked at the calendar, and found that it was not the weekend, so she calmly wiped her hands on her apron, looked at the unfamiliar phone number, and picked up the phone.

"Hey, who are you looking for?"

There is no hello and no hello, the farmer just greeted him so casually, but the Mandarin made Xia Yufang subconsciously stunned for a moment, and then said with a smile on the phone:

"Oh, you wait a minute, my house will come in, and I'll ask him to answer the phone."

The so-called let is actually urging. Xiao Youming took two steps slowly, and Xia Yufang had already opened his throat and told him to hurry up:

"It's Minister Chen from the Ministry of Armed Forces, who said that there is a happy event, you come and listen to it."

Xia Yufang was also eager to know what the happy event was, but she was even more afraid that she was not familiar with Minister Chen, and she was embarrassed to ask again if she heard a mistake. Although he is just a bricklayer, he has boasted to her many times, saying that he has drunk with this Minister Chen.

I think Xiao Youming won't be as nervous as himself.

As soon as he heard that it was Minister Chen's call, Xiao Youming didn't need to be urged at all, he walked into the house in three steps and two steps, and his face was a little red by the cold wind, and he picked up the phone and greeted Chen Guanglin first:

"Brother Chen, hello, hello, why did you suddenly remember to call me?"

"Brother Xiao, I have a great event to tell you today. Your Xiao Chen received an award for meritorious service in the army, and I just sent the notice to the county today, and it is estimated that someone in the county will come to you to present the award another day. When the time comes, our old brother will have a drink of two? ”

Xiao Youming blinked.

What does it mean to receive awards for meritorious service, he knows it very well.

Since his son joined the army, he has been clear about the things related to the army in the county every year.

Now that he is in his forties, he has long lost the showmanship he had at the beginning. Asking about these is to know more about the army, so as to understand how your baby is doing in the army from the side.

That year, the county sent good news, saying that Xiao Chen was admitted to the military academy and would become an officer in the future, and Xiao Youming was happy for a while.

After all, according to those who came back from the army, officers are better treated than soldiers.

It's just that except for that time, there is good news of meritorious service and awards every year, but it has always been someone else's. Even the son of Xu Baishun, who hid explosives and blew up his house the year before last, and the son who looked at the wooden bar, got a second-class merit, but Xiao Chen has never made meritorious service.

However, I heard that meritorious service is all about fighting with life, and the little loss that Xiao Youming had was completely gone.

If you don't make meritorious service, you won't make meritorious service, and if you can be safe, it's good.

But now Minister Chen actually said that Xiao Chen had received an award for meritorious service.

"Brother, to be honest, my baby, he won't have anything, right?"

Minister Chen was stunned by Xiao Mingming's words, what can Xiao Chen do? It's also a good thing to have, but listening to Xiao Youming's tone, it seems that he is worried?

"Brother Xiao, what can Xiao Chen do."

When Chen Guanglin reacted, he immediately smiled: "Don't worry about this, this second-class merit he has made will be very beneficial to his future." If you're worried, give him a call yourself. ”

Xiao Youming was still very convinced of Chen Guanglin's words, and there was nothing to worry about, so Xiao Youming was naturally happy.

"That's a good feeling, wait for your brother to come, let's sit on the hot kang, there is just a bottle of wine that my kid brought from Jinling, let's drink it for him together."

Xiao Youming never asked Xiao Chen to send money home, so if Xiao Chen had the opportunity, he would also find someone to bring him some things back. Although Xiao Youming didn't know why Xiao Chen would send things from the south, he didn't dare to ask.

Unlike some parents whose children are in the army, Xiao Youming never asks about his son's affairs in the army.

He felt that any inquiry could embarrass his son.

This reason stems from the confidentiality regulations that Chen Guanglin told him at the beginning.

The speaker has no intention, but the listener has a heart.

Thinking about the unit that signed the order on the notice of meritorious service, Chen Guanglin suddenly discovered that Xiao Chen might have a bigger secret.

It is impossible for officers to leave their troops easily, there is only one possibility, that is, Xiao Chen has been transferred across military regions. With Xiao Chen's background, if you want to do this, there must be something special about it.

While talking to Xiao Youming, he was thinking about this issue. When the phone hung up, Chen Guanglin couldn't help but be curious and called his old comrade-in-arms.

"What do you say? The head of the headquarters personally awarded him the award? Now that he has been transferred to the Southeast Military Region, he is still not allowed to inquire? ”

"Okay, okay, I won't embarrass you."

Chen Guanglin, who hung up the phone, couldn't help but take out a cigarette, he really needed to suppress the vibration in his heart. Really, if you don't ask what the unit is, it is estimated that it is a unit that can stay in the army for a lifetime.

Thinking of this, Chen Guanglin couldn't help laughing.

When I saw this young man, I thought he was extraordinary, but now it seems that he is not so.

Judging from this direction, it may be that the reason why Xiao Chen has been quiet in the past few years is that his unit is in a special situation, and there is an internal award.

Now, all the abnormalities can be explained.