Chapter 1 Home

In the afternoon of the same day, we held a homecoming ceremony under the orders of our superiors.

The requirements of the higher authorities for us are to embody the spirit of the Chinese soldiers, to show the tenacity of our army in battle and the joy of returning to the division in victory!

So one by one, we all marched towards the border with guns on our backs...... I even saw a few wounded people get up from their stretchers and join the group.

I have reservations about this, some cadres may be to show the bravery of the troops or the Chinese soldiers are not afraid of death or injury, so those wounded who have broken their hands and feet are also tied to branches and bandages and reluctantly walked off the stretcher and walked.

Although it was not a long walk, it was very difficult for the wounded. And what if the wound ruptures again because of barely walking? What if it's more serious? I believe that true bravery is embodied on the battlefield, not on such occasions without fear of injury or pain.

It's just that because I'm a platoon commander and can't take care of the affairs of other troops, even if I look at it and frown, I can only pretend that I don't see it.

After walking for more than ten minutes, the team turned a corner on the road and drove into an open field, and then the sound of gongs and drums soon sounded...... Looking around, the border was already full of people standing to greet us.

Although I know that these people who have come to meet us have been notified in advance...... You must know that this is the border between China and Vietnam, and it is also the border where the war is fighting, although the war is nearing the end at this time, and it is rare for Vietnamese to appear on this border, but the people have a natural fear of war, so they can hide as far as they can in peacetime. It's not possible to gather here in large numbers.

But. We couldn't help but shed tears when we saw our people greet us at the other side of the border. No, in order to look at them and remember the reason for the battle, the meaning of bloodshed and sacrifice, and at the same time think of their own family.

Especially at the moment when the border line is crossed...... Although it is just an inconspicuous boundary monument, although it is only a non-existent line, although the scenery of the two sides is almost not different, but when the feet are firmly on their own land, they really have mixed feelings, sweet, sour, bitter and spicy will all come to my heart at that moment.

It's hard for people who haven't experienced it to understand that feeling. It is like drawing a successful end to this war, like giving a satisfactory explanation to the people of the whole country and a satisfactory answer to one's fathers and fellow villagers......

I have to admit that I didn't think of it before, I thought it was just a formality, just going through the motions...... But when you really walk into this scene, you can't help but be moved by this scene.

Especially when the people who cross the country cheer and compete to hand them all kinds of food and flowers, the pain hidden in their hearts will be hit by the solid ones, and tears will naturally fall.

Then the radio soon sounded the standard female voice: "PLA comrades! On behalf of the people of the whole country, please allow me to extend my warmest congratulations to you, the sons and daughters of the heroes of the Chinese people! Congratulations on the great victory in the self-defense and counter-fire battle, and I extend my high salute and cordial condolences to you! ”

……

"We are proud of such a tried-and-tested heroic force! On the occasion of the return of the class, we are full of passion. A warm welcome to the heroes who have returned triumphantly!

We must learn from your patriotism and revolutionary heroism, and learn from you that you are not afraid of sacrifice. The spirit of dedication to the motherland...... Let us, inspired by the victory in the self-defense and counter-attack battle, strive to defend the motherland and realize the four modernizations at an early date! ”

The sound of the radio brought the atmosphere of the scene to a climax again and again, and both the people and the soldiers responded enthusiastically with slogans...... I'll admit it's a strange phenomenon, because in modern times it's often a lottery or some other good news that brings the atmosphere to a climax, and in this day and age it's just a few words on the radio that excite the people and the soldiers.

The ceremony ended after ten minutes, after all, there were still many fighters after us who wanted to return one after another, so our troops were quickly disbanded and moved freely.

I walked around the village casually with a gun on my back, and saw a long line in front of a brick house in the distance, and all of them were soldiers with guns on their backs...... It turned out to be the post office, and these soldiers were in a hurry to send a telegram to their families!

"Yang Xuefeng!" When I was bored and about to walk away, I was stopped by a voice, and when I turned my head, it was Zhang Fan, who was full of joy, and she was sweating profusely and invited my arm and said, "I finally found you, and I said that you will definitely come to the post office!" So I'm just waiting here, and sure enough......"

I couldn't help but smile wryly, if it weren't for curiosity, I wouldn't be here.

"What? Is it because there are too many people to send a telegram? Zhang Fan looked around, then lowered his voice and said, "Give me the address and what you want to say, and I'll send it for you!" ”

"What?" I'm a little puzzled.

"That ......" Zhang Fan said with a blushing face with some embarrassment: "This post office cadre is my father's old subordinate, so he ......"

"Oh!" Listening to this, I understand that this is the so-called "back door" in this era.

"Don't do it!" I said, "I don't have a telegram to send!" ”

"You...... Are you angry? Zhang Fan hurriedly blushed and followed, bowed his head and said, "I...... I didn't want to, I just ...... because I was afraid of worrying at home. Why don't I line up with you......"

Hearing this, I couldn't help but laugh dumbly, and secretly said that this sail is really simple, and it is not strange for me to go through the back door for a long time, not to mention that this is just a matter of interjecting the queue by relationship, where would I blame her for this.

"Not really!" I smiled and replied, "Even if I want to send a telegram, I don't know where to send it!" ”

"Oh......" Zhang Fan suddenly realized as if he remembered something: "You are an orphan......"

"How do you know?" I couldn't help but be surprised, although it was just my excuse, not many people knew about it.

"I ......" Zhang Fan realized that he had missed his mouth, and confessed in a low voice: "I listened to what Company Commander Luo said......"

So I quickly understood that Zhang Fan was inquiring about my situation intentionally or unintentionally.

Suddenly, I noticed that Zhang Fan's attitude towards me was a little different...... In the past, she always had reservations, and even if she had a good impression of me, she still held the pipa and half-covered her face, but now it seems to be more direct.

But it doesn't seem strange that Chen Yiyi chose to leave, didn't he? But I don't know whether to tell her or not, there will always be a place in my heart for Chen Yiyi, even if I know that this hope is very small.

"Yang Xuefeng ......" At this time, Zhang Fan's expression was relieved, and after standing in front of me and straightening my collar, he said with a reluctant face: "I'm leaving!" I'll get back to you, okay? Wait for your troops to return home and stabilize...... Don't worry, if you don't have a place to go...... My home is your home! ”

When Zuihou said the words, the sound was almost imperceptible like the "buzzing" of mosquitoes, but I still heard it, and I knew what she meant, and at the same time, I understood how difficult it was for traditional women in this era.

Of course, I also had feelings for Zhang Fan, so I didn't think much about it, and nodded lightly.

Zhang Fan hugged me in surprise and joy, and then soon found that there were many soldiers around us looking at us with strange eyes, so he was so ashamed that he ran away as if he had done something wrong, but before leaving, he didn't forget to tell me: "I will contact you!" ”

Looking at Zhang Fan's embarrassed back like a deserter, I couldn't help but feel funny: If this era is so restrained, then I am afraid that my life back to China will be difficult!

When Zhang Fan walked away, I suddenly thought of something, I don't have an address and no phone, what is the contact method for Zhang Fan to contact me?

Then I quickly thought about ...... Oh, I'm not in the army, am I? There will be files in the army, even if they are transferred and demobilized, there will be records in the files, which is not too easy for a person of Zhang Fan's status. And so I thought...... One day, if Chen Yiyi wants to find me, then she can also use the same method!

Thinking of this, my mood suddenly brightened, and the knot that I had suppressed because of Chen Yiyi's departure was untied.

It's better to have hope than no hope, isn't it? I still have confidence in Chen Yiyi's skills on the battlefield, and I also believe that I will go to the battlefield again in the near future, and the chance of meeting Chen Yiyi will be much better at that time.

However, it seems that there will be another trade-off problem: going to the battlefield to see Chen Yiyi means leaving Zhang Fan in China, and returning to China to see Zhang Fan means leaving Chen Yiyi...... Alas! This is really a big head, and it really fulfills the old saying "bear's paw shark fin can't be both".

"Platoon Commander, Platoon Commander......" At this time, the little stone jumped in front of me, and ran in the other direction with me, shouting as he ran: "Quick, we have found a good place!" ”

I thought it was a good place, so I followed the little stone to the place he said and took a look...... It's just a brick cellar, like a bunker, small and big, and it's full of broken bricks and dust.

My team of soldiers were waiting inside, and as soon as they saw me coming, they hurriedly welcomed me in, and excitedly shouted, "Platoon commander, let's camp here at night!" ”

"Oh!" I walked into the brick cellar and looked at it...... It's a good place to camp, first of all, this place is no different from a bunker except for the lack of a perforation, which will undoubtedly give the soldiers a sense of security...... Although we have now returned to China and are no longer on the battlefield, the soldiers have not yet psychologically adapted to this peaceful environment, so they still need this sense of security.

What's more, it is very dry because it is brick and tiled, which is a rare pleasure for soldiers who have lived in the humid environment of Vietnam for a long time.

So he nodded without much thought.

The soldiers cheered and immediately set up the decoration, and then I realized that the soldiers seemed to regard this brick cellar as a home, a home that belonged to us. (To be continued......)