There is a small restaurant near the military compound, and the business area of the restaurant is not large, and only seven or eight tables can be placed. Every Sunday, this place becomes a world of soldiers, and the soldiers of the units directly under the military department fill the place to the brim, and there are no seats when they come a little later. Of course, almost all of the soldiers who come here to improve their lives are soldiers who enlist from the cities, and soldiers who enlist from the countryside never come here.

Zhong Yuemin, Zhang Haiyang, and Wu Manchu were drinking. They wore white-washed military uniforms, and the discipline buttons were tightly fastened, with the demeanor of veterans.

Although they are already veterans, Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang's living habits have not changed much, as long as anyone has money in their pockets, they will usually take it out for a treat. Wu Manchu complained a lot about their vice, but he had to come for the sake of face. The 3 people have lived together in the same class for more than two years, and they all know each other too well. Man Hoard has understood 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 have the habits of a young master, they are very sincere to their friends. Not to mention anything else, for more than two years, Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang have not worn new military uniforms, and whenever they change their uniforms, they always throw their new military uniforms to Man Hoard and ask him to send them home for their younger brothers and sisters to wear. If Man Hoard was embarrassed to ask for it, they glared at each other, and they had the intention of turning their faces, and every time Man Hoard accepted it silently with tears in his eyes. He was a clumsy man, and he didn't know how to express his gratitude. Someone in the company joked that the three of them were the most tattered in the company. When Man Ho heard this kind of discussion, he always seemed to have done something wrong, and he felt very uncomfortable.

In all fairness, Man Ho really didn't want to go out to eat with them, in his opinion, the company's food was already very good, these two young masters were simply wasting money, if they were really rich, it would be fine, in fact, their allowance was not enough to buy cigarettes and smoke, and the only ability was to ask for it from the family. After Zhong Yuemin's father was "liberated" last year, he reissued a large amount of money, Zhong Yuemin felt that this money was saved by him and his father, he only had 15 yuan a month for living expenses, and he didn't eat the next meal, and now that his father has made a fortune, he naturally wants to withdraw part of this money. Man Ho couldn't understand Zhong Yuemin's theory, he thought that it was Zhong Yuemin's father's salary, no matter what, Zhong Yuemin shouldn't spend his father's money so reasonably. Zhong Yuemin had no choice but to explain that he didn't plan to come to the world for a while, but his parents had to give birth to him, and he couldn't come if he didn't come, so he came to this world out of helplessness, since he came, his parents had to be responsible for raising him until he was 18 years old, and he couldn't do it for one day less, otherwise he would destroy the flowers of the motherland. Man Ho said: "But you are now over 18 years old." Zhong Yuemin Zhenzhen said: "The problem is that I have been devastated since I was fifteen or sixteen years old, at that time I couldn't eat all day long, and a good flower had not had time to bloom, it had already been grateful, and it became a remnant of flowers and willows, my father must chase me a few times to fat, otherwise his father is too easy, and he raised his son for only 15 yuan a month, so do I want this father?" ”

Zhang Haiyang didn't think of asking for money from his family at first, but later felt embarrassed to eat Zhong Yuemin, so he also wrote letters to his family, asking for money in various names, and it turned out to be a common practice.

Zhong Yuemin noticed a thin soldier, wearing a brand new military uniform, without a collar badge or cockade, sitting alone at a table in the corner and pouring himself a drink. He looked at the soldier and said, "That's a new recruit this year, right?" How do you come out drinking alone? It is not easy to approve leave during the training camp for recruits. ”

Man Ho replied: "They allow 10% of the people to take leave on Sundays, and the company commander sent me to the recruit company a few days ago to tutor the recruits in bomb throwing training, and I have seen this recruit." ”

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

Several soldiers in half-worn military uniforms walked into the restaurant and were looking around for seats.

Zhong Yuemin asked, "Which unit are they from?" ”

Zhang Haiyang said: "Communication battalion, you forgot? Last time they got drunk here and made trouble and smashed people's counters, these boys are all children of the provincial military district, and they were born and raised here since they were children, and they are used to being domineering. ”

The soldiers of the communications battalion walked to the table in the corner of the room and stared at the recruit who was drinking alone, as if hoping that the recruit would be more interested and stand up.

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

A veteran finally couldn't help but speak: "Hey, rookie eggs, there is an empty seat over there, you go and sit over there." ”

The recruit didn't seem to hear, and he took a sip of wine indifferently, without even raising his head.

The veteran was angry: "Hey, what are you, donkey hair is stuffed in your ears?" ”

Zhang Haiyang couldn't see it and wanted to stand up, but was held down by Zhong Yuemin.

The recruits remained silent.

The veteran said, "Damn, why are deaf people coming to serve as soldiers now?" ”

He grabbed the recruit's satchel on the table and threw it into the corner, staring at the recruit with a defiant gaze.

The recruit grabbed the bottle with a blank face, filled his glass with wine, drank it all, poured it again, and drank it again, and the bottle was finally empty.

Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang stared at him.

The recruit stood up lazily, and his left hand holding the bottle swung out like lightning, and the bottle arced in the air and slammed into the veteran's head...... The bottle was smashed to pieces, shards splattered far away, and the veteran fell to the ground bleeding profusely......

Everyone present was stunned.

The recruits shook the bottleneck with a sharp ballast in their hands, and several of the veterans were frightened and retreated.

Zhong Yuemin slapped his slap a few times and sighed: "Okay, the shot is sharp enough, and the psychological 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 heard it, you're also from Beijing? ”

"My name is Zhong Yuemin, a native of Beijing, from the reconnaissance battalion, what is your name?"

"Ning Wei."

Zhang Haiyang walked over and said to a few veterans: "Take this guy to the hospital to bandage it, and forget it." ”

A veteran blushed: "Forget it, people will fight in vain?" It's still the recruit's eggs. No, it's not over. ”

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

A veteran was quite unconvinced: "Aren't you from the reconnaissance battalion, what's the big deal?" What is it about trying to stand out for this new recruit? ”

Zhang Haiyang carelessly grabbed an empty wine bottle and smashed it towards his Heavenly Spirit Cap, the bottle was smashed to pieces, but his head was unscathed. He handed a wine bottle to several veterans: "Come, you can try it too." ”

Several veterans did not dare to take it.

Zhong Yuemin persuaded: "Okay, you guys hurry up, no one will leave when the duty post comes in a while." ”

Several veterans helped their wounded companions away.

Ning Wei said gratefully, "Big brother, thank you. ”

Zhong Yuemin patted him on the shoulder and said, "You should also leave quickly, if this matter is known to your recruit company, you are afraid that you will have to memorize a demerit punishment, so you must be mentally prepared." ”

Ning Wei said nonchalantly: "It's okay, I've already carried a warning, one is to hold, and two are picking." ”

Zhong Yuemin said: "We belong to the first company of the reconnaissance battalion, and we will come to play with us when we have time in the future." ”

"Thank you, big brother, I'll go find you."

Zhou Xiaobai was making duty records in the duty room of the Department of Internal Medicine, and Instructor Zhang of the Department of Internal Medicine pushed the door in.

Zhou Xiaobai stood up: "Instructor Zhang, is there something wrong with you?" ”

"Xiao Zhou, it's not a big deal, you can sit down and talk casually."

"Instructor, you don't seem to have the habit of chatting usually, and before doing ideological work for others, you always say that you will talk casually, and first talk about a few words of parenthood before turning to the topic. Your working method, we in the department know, I think you just dispensed with the opening remarks, what do you want to say, just go straight to the point. ”

Instructor Zhang was a little embarrassed: "Xiao Zhou, your mouth is really powerful, and your brain is also very fast." Okay, listen to you, let's get straight to the point. I would like to state in advance that the issue I am going to discuss today was explained by Director Chen of the Political Department, and I have not investigated the specific situation. ”

"Okay, let's get to the point, I'll hear you."

"According to some people, you have a close relationship with a wounded man named Yuan Jun recently, is there such a thing?"

"Yes, I go to see him every day, we were friends before we joined the army, is there anything wrong with that?"

Instructor Zhang said: "Xiao Zhou, your performance after joining the army is still good, you are the child of a leading cadre, 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're already a veteran, you should know the rules that soldiers are not allowed to fall in love during their service, right?"

"You think I'm in a relationship with Yuan Jun? Then I will explain to you that we are not in a romantic relationship, we are just friends in general. ”

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

Zhou Xiaobai was just about to speak, but he restrained himself again and simply didn't explain. She sat down and continued to write the duty record, ignoring Instructor Zhang.

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: "Instructor Zhang, I have already explained it to you, I don't think I need to continue to explain, if the organization doesn't believe it, I have to admit it to be considered to cooperate with the organization, and only then can I have a correct attitude, then okay, I'll do a fake show, and really fall in love with Yuan Jun, are you satisfied?" ”

Instructor Zhang got angry: "What kind of attitude do you have?" You have to think about your future, the consequences are very serious......"

Zhou Xiaobai slammed the door and walked away, and Instructor Zhang was so angry that he trembled.

The recruits who joined the army at the end of last year have already undergone three months of intensive training, and it is time for distribution. A large number of veterans of the reconnaissance battalion were also demobilized at the end of last year, and several squad leaders also left the first company, Zhong Yuemin, Zhang Haiyang, and Wu Manchu all became squad leaders, Zhong Yuemin was the fifth squad leader, Zhang Haiyang was the fourth squad leader, and Wu Manchu was the first squad leader.

When instructor Dong Ming announced the appointment, Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang immediately expressed their gratitude with a hippie smile.

Zhong Yuemin said: "Thank you for the instructor's cultivation and give me an official to do." Instructor, isn't it time for you and the company commander to change careers? ”

Dong Ming said, "What do you mean? ”

"As soon as the veterans were demobilized, we were promoted to squad leaders, and if the instructors and company commanders changed jobs again, we should be promoted to platoon commanders. Instructor, please, give us a place to make room. ”

Zhang Haiyang also said: "I should really thank the instructor, in this way, you approve us for half a month of family leave, if you want to bring something, just speak, don't be polite, we really want to bribe you." ”

Dong Ming said: "Isn't it a poor mouth again? If you want to visit your family, you can talk about it after 3 years of service. Zhong Yuemin, I'll bring you a new recruit, and I'll put him in your fifth class, Ning Wei! ”

Someone outside the door shouted: "Here! ”

Ning Wei walked into the fifth class with a bag on his back.

Zhong Yuemin smiled when he saw him, 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 thorn in the head, and before the recruit company is released, you will be punished twice, and you must strictly manage it." ”

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

The instructor smiled: "Zhong Yuemin, you can blow it." Let's get down to business, there will be a drill next week, and your class should pay special attention to not have accidents. ”

As soon as the instructor went out, Zhong Yuemin was busy holding a class meeting, and his inaugural speech began like this: "Everyone knows, right? From today onwards, I am the leader of the fifth shift, and I am responsible for all the work in the class, there are two things we must make clear today: First, is there anyone who is not convinced when I am the squad leader? If anyone is not convinced, stand up and have a trick with my fists and feet, if I lose this squad leader, you should be, if you lose, you will be an honest soldier, don't stab. What's the matter, are there any unconvinced? ”

None of the soldiers of the fifth class said a word.

"Well, don't say anything, that's no, the problem is over. Second, no matter what happens in the class in the future, try to solve it in the class, don't jump the level and report to the company commander and instructor at every turn, this is called a small report, I annoy this, so say ugly things in front, if I find out, don't blame me for turning my face. That's all I have to say, do you have different opinions? Well, no, then adjourn. ”

Recently, Zhong Yuemin has been a little irritable, he has been a soldier for 3 years, and a lot of things have happened in the past 3 years, although his father has not been arranged to work, but after all, he has been "liberated", and he has nothing to worry about at home. The only thing that worried him was Qin Ling, after he became a soldier, 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 would still be able to calm down, anyway, knowing that she was still in Baidian Village, Li Kuiyong would send him a letter every six months, and by the way, he would also talk about the situation in Qinling. But recently, Li Kuiyong told him in a letter that Qin Ling had never returned to the village since she returned to Beijing to visit relatives, and no one knew where she was, so Qin Ling disappeared quietly. After Zhong Yuemin heard the news, he actually had insomnia for the first time, and for several days, he was listless in what he was doing, and he didn't even talk much, and 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. It's been 3 years, not only has he not forgotten Qin Ling, but he misses her more and more. What the hell, he didn't know when his mentality towards women had changed so much. A person who plays 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, walking around the garden, Luo Yun walked up to him and greeted Yuan Jun lukewarmly: "Yuan Jun, your injuries are healing very quickly, congratulations." ”

Yuan Jun also said lukewarmly: "Thank you, are you very busy?" ”

Luo Yun said to Xiaoxiao: "Xiaoxiao, you rest for a while, I'll push the wheelchair, we are old acquaintances in Beijing." ”

Xiao said, "Okay, you guys talk, I'll come back later." ”

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

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

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

Luo Yun asked strangely, "Have you heard about it too?" ”

"It's all spread in the hospital."

"What else have you heard?"

Yuan Jun said: "I also heard that Zhou Xiaobai quarreled with Instructor Zhang of the Department of Internal Medicine for my business 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, she actually slammed the door and left, which made Director Chen of the Political Department angry." ”

Yuan Jun asked expressionlessly: "Luo Yun, in this matter, do you have anything sorry for your friends?" ”

"No, the recommended list is set by the leadership of the hospital, and it is impossible for me to participate. Yuan Jun, have you heard any discussions? ”

"I didn't hear the talk, but this incident was caused by me, of course I have to think about it, I don't think you are quite interesting in this matter."

Luo Yun's eyes widened in dissatisfaction: "What's wrong with me?" I'd like to hear how I'm not interesting enough. ”

Yuan Jun asked coldly: "You obviously know that Zhou Xiaobai and I are not in a relationship, and besides, Zhou Xiaobai took care of me out of friendship and entrusted by you, why didn't you stand up and clarify the facts when she was wronged?" ”

"Then unless I admit my relationship with you, but if this happens, not only will my qualification to go to the Military Medical University be cancelled, but even my qualification as a probationary party member will be cancelled, then I will be finished."

"So you sacrificed Zhou Xiaobai?"

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

Yuan Jun sighed: "Luo Yun, the last military doctor is so important?" Don't even want friendship and conscience? ”

Luo Yun was anxious: "Yuan Jun, you don't talk to me in this tone, Zhou Xiaobai was disqualified from being recommended because of her attitude." The masses have long reflected, saying that Zhou Xiaobai relied on his father's status to fly high, took no one in his eyes, and had a stiff relationship with his comrades-in-arms around him. ”

Yuan Jun waved his hand tiredly: "You call Xiao Xiao, I'm going back to the ward." ”

Luo Yun's eyes turned red: "Why are you doing this to me, I'm leaving tomorrow, why don't you even have a good word?" ”

"Let's go, good luck."

"You bastard!"

Yuan Jun closed his eyes and stopped talking.

Zheng Tong learned from a reliable source today that the workers, peasants, and soldiers recommended by the commune had already set off, and the party branch in Ishikawa Village had not recommended anyone. This made Zheng Tong so angry that he immediately realized that this was Chang Gui's ghost, this old thing was too insidious, and he didn't do anything after receiving the gift, Zheng Tong decided to find Chang Gui to have a good theory.

Zheng Tong angrily broke into Chang Gui's cave, where Chang Gui was sitting on the kang holding a large bowl of porridge. He suppressed his anger and said, "Chang Zhishu, I have something to ask you. ”

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

"Didn't we say it was okay last time? Why didn't you recommend me? ”

Chang Gui said with an innocent face: "Why do you talk like this, baby? How do you know I didn't recommend you? The number of places is limited, so you can't just go alone. ”

"I have reliable information, you squatted there with a cigarette pouch in your mouth and didn't say a word at this commune recommendation meeting, didn't you?"

"Who said that?"

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

"No, if you don't believe it, just call the secretary of the commune, and I'll talk to him about it face to face, and I'll talk to him."

Zheng Tong finally couldn't help but roll his face: "You don't come to this set, you obviously know that Secretary Wang can't come to confront you." Chang Laogui, you are yin enough, you are a ghost behind a person in front of you, just because you deducted the Zhiqing rations, Zhong Yuemin and I offended you. It's been years since this happened, and you're still holding a grudge against me, and you're not a thing. ”

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

Zheng Tong was furious: "Scolding you? I'm going to beat you up old thing. He angrily picked up the big bowl on the kang table and wanted to smash Chang Gui, Jiang Biyun rushed in and hugged Zheng Tong, Zheng Tong struggled to rush towards Chang Gui, Jiang Biyun desperately pulled Zheng Tong away.

Zheng Tong and Jiang Biyun sat side by side on a stone mill on the threshing floor at the entrance of the village, and the two were silent for a long time, and suddenly, Zheng Tong began to sob.

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

"This day...... There's no hope. ”

"Isn't that how everybody lives?"

"People...... I'm afraid that there is no hope, what's the point of living like this? ”

"Zheng Tong, you have always been an optimistic person, why did you become so depressed today? It's not like you. ”

"You don't know, I want to go to university, and I even dream of it, but today when I went to the commune to ask, the selected workers, peasants and soldiers cadets all set off, and at that time I felt that it was dark in front of me, 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 you have the opportunity to see me, I'm afraid I will also go around, I'm not very lucky." ”

"If one day, an opportunity comes to you and you can't seize it, because you don't have the skills to seize it, then you won't have anything to say."

Zheng Tong was silent.

"I know that you are in a terrible mental state, that your life is difficult, that your future is hopeless, and that you have ...... You're lonely. ”

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

Jiang Biyun said softly: "If there is love in your heart, maybe the situation will be much better, then you will feel warm, feel dependent, feel that your soul is no longer lonely, and feel that life is full of color from now on." ”

"But in front of me is a world without color, only loess without vegetation."

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

"I'm so disillusioned that I can't get any interest in talking."

Jiang Biyun pulled Zheng Tong's shoulder, looked into his eyes and said, "Then I say, listen well, I want to make a suggestion to you." ”

"You say."

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

Zheng Tong's eyes widened: "You mean, you go with me?" ”

"Yes, let's walk at night together, fight loneliness together, and find light together, would you like to?"

Zheng Tong turned his back and said nothing. Jiang Biyun gently hugged him from behind.

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

On the playground, the entire company of the reconnaissance battalion stood in formation, and this evening, the battalion instructor will announce the list of students who have been selected to join the military training team.

After 1966, almost all military academies and academies in the army were suspended, and all officers were selected from veterans on active duty. Units at the army, divisional level, and even regimental level have set up cadre training teams, which are military schools in disguise, in which selected veterans receive several months or a year of accelerated officer training, and then return to their units as officers to lead the troops. Before 1966, the admission condition of the military academy was that they must first pass a unified cultural examination, and this alone discouraged many peasant children who only had a primary school education. The rise of the "*****" movement led to the abolition of many old rules and regulations, which brought hope to the children of peasant families at the bottom such as Wu Manchu. At that time, there was a huge China, and all the doors to enter were closed to you, and only in the army could you see a glimmer of light, which was indeed exciting news for people at the bottom.

Moreover, it is not without precedent in Chinese history to take a few months or a year to become an officer quickly, and the famous Whampoa Military Academy was not also a crash course. This does not prevent it from training a large number of famous generals, and more than 300 generals have been produced in the first batch of 600 cadets alone, and it took them less than 10 months from enrollment to graduation.

Zhong Yuemin, Zhang Haiyang, Wu Manchu and others already knew the list of personnel who were promoted to cadres, and the three of them were all the backbone of the company's fighting.

When Zhong Yuemin learned the news that he was going to be promoted, he hesitated for a few days. He didn't plan to work in the army at all, according to his idea, everything is just a game, since he has been a soldier for a few years, then it's time to change the way of playing, it's boring to play a game all the time. If you do it, you can't help yourself, and if you don't work in the army for ten or eight years, you won't want to leave. There is an old-fashioned saying that a soldier who doesn't want to be a marshal is not a good soldier, Zhong Yuemin thinks that this is pure nonsense, but it is just a layman's idea, just like everyone wants to get rich, in fact, people who get rich are always a minority. There are all kinds of ways to live in the world, the key is his own feelings, and he never thinks that there is anything to envy about being a marshal. Now that Zhong Yuemin is standing at the crossroads of his life, if he chooses to work in the army for another ten or eight years, he will have to die, is this a joke? Just rushing to this daily routine of 5 kilometers of cross-country, he is a little annoyed, which means that he has to run for another ten or eight years, and then let you change jobs when you can't run, and then he still has the heart to play something else?

But Zhong Yuemin finally decided to join the teaching team, not for anything else, mainly because of Zhang Haiyang and Wu Manho, he couldn't stand the stubbornness of these two guys, especially Zhang Haiyang, his father wrote to tell him: 'Don't want to do anything else in this life, you can wear this military uniform until you die.' The descendants of the Zhang family can't do anything but be soldiers, and when you put on an officer's uniform and when you can go home, otherwise don't set foot in this house again. Zhang Haiyang was cut off from the back road, so he had to prepare to work in the army for a long time, but in his words, he had to pull a cushion on his back when he was dying, and he recognized that Zhong Yuemin was the back, and he would be dragged into the water if he was alive or dead, so Zhang Haiyang and Wu Manchu adopted the tactics of stalking Zhong Yuemin every day, and even used extremely scoundrel methods.

A few days ago, Zhang Haiyang and Wu Manhoard asked Zhong Yuemin to go swimming, and Zhong Yuemin fell for it as soon as he went. They took Zhong Yuemin to a secluded riverbank, saying that it was possible to swim bare-bottomed, and the two went into the water bare-bottomed first. None of the soldiers had swimming trunks, and when they swam, they all wore large green pants issued by the army, which were very resistant and uncomfortable in the water. As soon as Zhong Yuemin saw the two of them in the water, he also jumped into the water with his bare buttocks, and after he swam back and forth, he found that the two guys had already dressed and sat on the riverbank, smiling at him maliciously, Zhong Yuemin knew 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 bare-bottomed. Zhang Haiyang also specially warned him that no one is joking with him now, don't have illusions, and you must consider the consequences before choosing. Zhong Yuemin thought about it for a while and then compromised, he knew that Zhang Haiyang would definitely do what he said. When wearing pants, Zhong Yuemin thought that as soon as he wore these pants, he would be left in the army.

On the night of the announcement of the list of Tigan, before the lights-out horn sounded, Zhong Yuemin was called by Zhang Haiyang to the parallel bars on the playground, where the three of them had gathered since they were recruits.

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

Zhang Haiyang said: "This is the meaning of full hoarding, he wants to treat him." ”

"This kid usually wants to grind every penny into the last flower, don't you want to live?"

"I say the same thing, it's not a parting of life and death, isn't it just a job? His family is poor like that, what the is it? As a result, this kid was so anxious with me that he dared to glare at me and say, 'If you don't go, get out of here, and ignore me in the future'. Holy shit, this is when I first enlisted, I had to fight all over the place to find my teeth. ”

Hurrying with a bag of things, he crouched down and took out all the contents of the bag: cans, cigarettes, and two bottles of liquor.

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

Man Ho opened the can, opened the wine bottle and filled 3 glasses, he looked at Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang and said, "Are you still standing?" Sit down. ”

The two sat down in silence.

Man Ho raised his cup and said solemnly: "It's all up, it's done." ”

The three of them drank the wine down.

Full hoarding and re-filling: "Do it again." ”

The three of them drank three glasses of wine in a row.

Man Ho suddenly became very excited: "The two brothers are not outsiders, don't laugh at the elder brother......" He suddenly knelt down in one direction, kowtowed 3 times in a row, and said with tears in his eyes, "Dad, mother, my son kowtowed to your second elder, my son didn't embarrass my father, my son is in the army, our family has hope, I can support my family......"

The hoards cried loudly, and the grievances and depressions of the years were released in an instant.

Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Haiyang were stunned by the hoard.

Zhong Yuemin hugged Manho's shoulders and persuaded: "It'll be fine in the future, the rank 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." ”

Man Ho wiped his tears and choked up: "Two brothers, it stands to reason that I recognize you as brothers, and I am a high climber." You are interesting enough, you have never disliked me, you haven't even worn a new military uniform in the past few years, and you have sent it all to my family. I'm a poor boy, I'm really a drag on the brothers, and I'm kowtowing to you on behalf of the whole family......"

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

Man Ho grabbed the wine bottle again: "Okay, I won't say anything, how to repay the brothers, my surname Wu knows in my heart." Drink, these two bottles of wine will be drunk today, and no one should pretend to be a bear. ”

Zhong Yuemin drained the wine in the cup in one gulp and said loudly: "Drink!" In order to say goodbye to our soldier life, we will rest as soon as we get drunk, as long as we can get up tomorrow morning. ”

Zhang Haiyang said coaxingly: "It doesn't matter if you can't get up, ask someone to bring a letter to the teaching team, just say that the uncle has drunk too much and will go a day late, what's wrong?" ”

Zhong Yuemin said with a smile: "Look at your cow, isn't it just a small platoon leader?" ”

Zhong Shanyue has not been assigned a job since he was released from quarantine and review, and has been idle at home for several years. During the period of his scrutiny, several deputy ministers were promoted in the ministry, so that the number of deputy ministers in office has reached seven or eight, and there are really no places to be placed. Although Zhong Shanyue was anxious, there were too many cadres like him, and the organization department had no choice. Zhong Shanyue, like most of the veteran cadres who were hit in the early stage of "**", openly said that he was still young, his physical condition was good, and he 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.

Zhong Yuemin didn't listen to his father's complaints when he came home from visiting relatives this time, and the old man added a bad habit: he must drink at every meal, and when he drinks alcohol, he will talk a lot, and when he talks too much, he will scold people. Every time he was half-drunk, Zhong Shanyue scolded all the dissatisfied people and things one by one, Zhong Yuemin couldn't take a stubble at all, and he would be picked up as soon as he was done.

The father and son hadn't seen each other for five or six years, and when Zhong Yuemin first came back, his father was very excited, first calling his old comrades-in-arms from all over the country, saying "My old Zhong's son became a platoon commander in the army", and then kept chasing Zhong Yuemin to 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, which made Zhong Yuemin almost annoyed. He remembered that his father was not like this before, and at that time his father was a man who stood up to the sky and the earth in his eyes, and even fought people with a lot of manly spirit. He is by no means like ordinary parents beating their children, and they slap their children's buttocks a few times without anger, Zhong Shanyue is not so gentle, he always shoots as fast as electricity, Zhong Yuemin has not had time to react, a crisp slap has been firmly slapped on the face, and its strength is enough to make Zhong Yuemin turn 360 degrees in place, and his eyes are full of golden light.

Zhong Yuemin was puzzled, was the nagging old man in front of him his father, how could he become like this when he got old, where is the young division commander who fought and chased women during the Liaoshen Campaign?

Of course, this is all the scene when Zhong Yuemin first returned home. After a few days of getting along with his father, he found that his father hadn't changed much, but he had nothing to do. His heart is full of nameless fire, you must not recruit him, once he is angry, he will suddenly show his hideous face.

Zhong Yuemin remembered his childhood ideal, in order not to be beaten by his father, he had to be a father himself, this kind of thinking is too lacking in thoroughness, ignoring the most fundamental one: even if you become a father, you can't guarantee that your own father will not beat you, this is an iron law, no matter how much ability you have, you don't want to turn it over.

Zhong Shanyue was sitting on the sofa in the living room, Zhong Yuemin was massaging his father's shoulder, and he asked flatteringly: "Dad, are you reinstated as an official?" ”

"I have restored my original level of treatment, but I have nothing to do, and the Central Organization Department may have forgotten about me."

Zhong Yuemin said: "You better take a good rest for a while." Dad, after my mom died, why didn't you find a wife anymore? ”

"Is there a suitable one? Introduce me to one, you kid? ”

"I'm sorry, no."

"Then what nonsense are you kid, asking about Lao Tzu's private life?"

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

My father said, "I don't get married to be taken care of, but in that case, I might as well hire a babysitter." Son, let's go to Babaoshan tomorrow to see your mother. There are only two of us left in our family now, and the biggest regret in my life is that I didn't give birth to more sons, and your mother had surgery after giving birth to you. ”

"I know, you're still thinking about my mom."

The father said, "I ask you, do you have a girlfriend?" ”

"I've handed over two, and it's not too long."

"Stupid, I can't even look at a girlfriend. People don't look down on you? ”

Zhong Yuemin was ashamed to admit: "Even if it is, I have no ability, and I am far worse than when you were young." ”

Zhong Shanyue boasted proudly: "That's right, when Lao Tzu was young, he was more beautiful than you, the youngest division commander in the whole column, those female comrades saw me, their eyes lit up, and they couldn't leave." ”

"You still have a crush on my mom in the end?"

"Your mom was the prettiest in our Higashino agency at the time. Well, at that time, many divisional and regiment-level cadres beat her idea, but she couldn't look down on anyone, only I knew in my heart that she was waiting for me. It was before the general attack on Jinzhou, I was preparing for a big battle, I didn't care to talk to her, and I didn't look for your mother until the battle was over, guess what your mother's first sentence was? She said, 'Why are you here?' ’”

Zhong Yuemin laughed: "Dad, you are really a master of love, and your son is ashamed of himself." ”

As soon as he mentioned the past, Zhong Shanyue's face immediately became gloomy, and he involuntarily complained: "Alas, the previous glorious days can't be mentioned, and when I think of it now, my heart is jammed, what the hell is this?" The body is good, I can eat two large bowls of a meal, but I don't have a job, so I just eat and wait for death. ”

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 fish and find old comrades-in-arms to drink?" I want to have your level of treatment, I wish I would lie down and quit, what's so good about being an official, I'm worried all day long. ”

"What words? This is to serve the people, how can you call being an official? I am still young and in good health, and I don't have anything else to think about now, I just want to do a few more years of work for the party and the people. ”

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

Zhong Shanyue didn't like to listen to it: "Fart, Lao Tzu, a dignified deputy minister, went to the neighborhood committee to stand guard?" You can figure it out. ”

Zhong Yuemin said: "The problem is here, not to mention going to the neighborhood committee, even if a deputy ministerial-level cadre is asked to be a director, he has to jump up." Therefore, these cadres who 'want to do more work for the party and the people for a few more years' have a conditional requirement for their work, that is, they must ensure their original level, and only under this premise can they 'do more work for the party and the people for a few more years'. ”

"Lao Tzu was originally a deputy minister, and I didn't ask for an official from the organization, and I was promoted to the next level, I just asked the organization to consider it according to my ability and assign me a position that can play a role, this requirement is not too high, right?"

"What if the organization thinks that you can only work in the neighborhood committee?"

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

Zhong Yuemin continued without interest: "The problem is that there has always been no shortage of people in China's officialdom, and all official positions are full. When you go to the toilet, when you come back, you may be occupied by others, who doesn't want to 'do a few more years of work for the party and the people'? It is difficult enough to be a member of the Central Organization Department, and even when I first became a small platoon commander, I was worried that the company commander would change jobs as soon as possible so that I could make room for me, and I also wanted to 'take on more burdens for the party and the people'. To be honest, I don't feel too heavy to give me the burden of being a division commander or a military commander......"

Zhong Shanyue listened to Zhong Yuemin's words, he didn't say a word, he got up and went to the kitchen, Zhong Yuemin vigilantly watched his father's actions......

Zhong Shanyue rummaged in the kitchen for a while before coming out, Zhong Yuemin jumped out of the living room like a rabbit when he saw it, and he clearly saw that his father was carrying a rolling pin in his hand......

Yuan Jun, Zhou Xiaobai, Zheng Tong, and Jiang Biyun were sitting in a Moscow restaurant talking, they were waiting for Zhong Yuemin, Yuan Jun and Zhou Xiaobai were already wearing officer uniforms with four pockets.

Zhou Xiaobai looked at his watch uncertainly and said, "Will Yuemin not come?" ”

Yuan Jun said: "No, he promised on the phone yesterday that everyone hasn't seen each other for several years, and it's time to catch up." ”

Zheng Tong hated and hated: "This grandson, it's really not righteous, I send him an average of 3 letters, and he only replies to one, always saying that he is busy, as if the whole world is busy with him." ”

Jiang Biyun looked at Zhou Xiaobai, this was the first time she had seen Zhou Xiaobai, she had heard of Zhong Yuemin's ex-girlfriend for a long time, and she was looking at Zhou Xiaobai with a woman's unique critical eye.

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

Jiang Biyun smiled embarrassedly: "I'm curious, when I first arrived in northern Shaanxi, I heard of you, and there were a few times when I handed over your letters to Zhong Yuemin." Your handwriting is very beautiful, I thought at the time, this Zhou Xiaobai must be as beautiful as her handwriting, and when I saw you today, it was really the same as I imagined. ”

Zhou Xiao said in a gray voice: "Thank you, but what's the use of being beautiful, it's not that Zhong Yuemin has been dumped." ”

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

Jiang Biyun said: "Yuan Jun is right, I am afraid that the love of my youth is unreliable, and there are too many variables. I also had a good impression of Zhong Yuemin at that time, he was a good big boy, with a very cute personality and a bad stomach, but even when he was in bad water, he was not annoying. To be honest, I was a little tempted at the time, but I quickly dismissed the idea. ”

Zhou Xiaobai asked very carefully: "Why?" ”

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

Zheng Tong said: "According to what you mean, how can it be called fairness? ”

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

Zheng Tong laughed evilly: "It's really a typical woman's thinking, but there is such a situation, the bear didn't care, because for the bear, breaking the stick is a hobby, and it doesn't have to be eaten, even if it is broken to play, but some sticks take it seriously, take the initiative to stick their heads over, of course the bear does not refuse, so the stick further asked, to stop the bear to break the stick, and only eat this stick for the rest of his life." Of course the bear can't do it. ”

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

Zhong Yuemin rode his bicycle to the door of the Moscow restaurant, wearing a white-washed and shabby soldier's military uniform, with eye-catching patches on the knees of his trousers, and a pair of worn-out liberation shoes on his feet.

He parked his bicycle in the storage area, and the depositor immediately asked him to pay the fare first, Zhong Yuemin touched all over his body, and he didn't turn out a penny, so he had to say apologetically: "I'm sorry, I didn't bring the money, please wait a minute, I asked my friend to pay the money." ”

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

Zhong Yuemin walked into the glass turnstile and entered the hall, Yuan Jun and Zheng Tong greeted him excitedly, and Yuan Jun exaggerated his arms to hug Zhong Yuemin.

Zhong Yuemin said with a smile: "Yuan Jun, don't be busy greeting first, hurry up and go to the door to pay the car deposit money for me." ”

Yuan Jun was surprised and said, ", don't you even have two cents?" It's a foreign appearance again, right? ”

Zhong Yuemin and Zheng Tong shook hands, the two greeted each other affectionately, and Zhou Xiaobai and Jiang Biyun stood at the dining table and watched them talk silently.

Zhong Yuemin walked over quickly and stretched out his hand to them: "Xiaobai, Jiang Biyun, how are you?" ”

Jiang Biyun smiled: "I'm okay." ”

Zhou Xiaobai said faintly: "I'm not good. ”

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

Yuan Jun said: "I'll be the east, everyone sit." ”

Zheng Tong smiled: "What do you guess Yuan Jun did just now?" It was to pay two cents for Zhong Yuemin to deposit the fare. ”

Yuan Jun looked Zhong Yuemin up and down and said: "Yuemin is looking at him again, look at his torn military uniform, and he is also wearing two brand-new national defense green patches, which is probably a dress specially prepared for visiting relatives." ”

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

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

Zhong Yuemin explained: "I have a comrade-in-arms, his family is poor, and there are several younger brothers and sisters under him, each of whom can't fit a pair of clothes, so a few of our comrades-in-arms helped him make up a military uniform and send it home, but after sending it, I found that I forgot to keep a change of clothes, and each person only had a military uniform left on his body." Zhang Haiyang was even more unlucky, he washed his only military uniform and dried it in the yard, just in time for the veteran to be demobilized, I don't know who took his military uniform away. The next morning we went on a routine 5-kilometer cross-country trip, and he wore a tattered velvet jacket and pants, carrying a gun and a bullet bag, and jumped into the queue as if he were fine, making the company commander almost crazy......"

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 barefoot and no socks.

Zhou Xiaobai's eyes turned red: "Why did you even give people socks?" ”

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

Everyone laughed.

"I said to my comrade-in-arms, don't worry, when we are all promoted, I will change the clothes of your whole family, change the cadre uniforms with 4 pockets, and let your whole family be promoted. At that time, if you take a family photo, it will not be a group photo of the infantry squad, but a group photo of the teaching team. ”

The crowd laughed again.

Jiang Biyun said: "You haven't changed at all, you are still the same Zhong Yuemin, you are 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? Zheng Tong had ill intentions towards you a long time ago, and as soon as I saw you today, I understood, it must be Zheng Tong who has succeeded. ”

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

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

"I want to get away with it."

Jiang Biyun punched Zheng Tong and said, "Come on, don't blow it, Zheng Tong was very discouraged for a while, and he even had the heart to seek death, can I see death and not save it?" As a result, I put myself in it. ”

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

Yuan Jun said: "I was escorted to college, and I didn't have any contact with us, this person ...... How to say it, anyway, there are a lot of eyes. ”

Zhou Xiaobai glanced at Yuan Jun: "Yuan Jun, it's not right for you to say that, who fell in love with her in the first place?" You can't just leave, it's so ruthless. ”

"I wasn't confused at the time, even if I was sugar-coated with a cannonball."

Zhong Yuemin asked, "What did you say?" ”

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

Zhou Xiaobai was gossiping absentmindedly, but he was always looking at Zhong Yuemin. She thought that it had been several years since the incident, and her state of mind should be calm. She even thought that she should make an extremely cold expression when she saw Zhong Yuemin again, saying that she didn't care about Zhong Yuemin anymore. But as soon as she saw Zhong Yuemin, all her previous ideas immediately came to naught, and the resentment she had accumulated over the past few years turned into tenderness. She understands that she is completely finished, no matter what Zhong Yuemin does to her, she can't hate it, it may really be a debt owed to him in her previous life, this wrongdoer. Zhou Xiaobai was thinking about the time, she only had two weeks of home leave, and now that a week has passed, can she find a chance to meet Zhong Yuemin alone. Thinking of this, she felt a little timid, this guy was sitting there either gobbling up or talking and laughing. He probably thought that his relationship with Zhou Xiaobai had already passed, but he was very relaxed, if he asked him to meet, maybe he would pretend to be a gentleman and politely refuse, his face was full of helplessness to be harassed for no reason, this bastard.

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

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

Zheng Tong and Yuan Jun were silent, only Zhong Yuemin was concentrating on smearing butter on the bread slices, seemingly ignoring Zhou Xiaobai's actions, and he diligently handed the buttered bread to Jiang Biyun: "I said Jiang Biyun, why did you insert this flower on Zheng Tong's cow dung?" It's a pity, even if you pull him, you won't put yourself in it? ”

Jiang Biyun said solemnly: "You don't play poor with me, let me ask you, what's wrong with Zhou Xiaobai?" ”

Zhong Yuemin said in a very tolerant tone: "Your women's thinking is jumping, and the association is particularly strong, Comrade Zhou Xiaobai may suddenly remember some unpleasant past events...... For example, a flower spotted a stall of cow dung and was 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, where they often met back then, and where many bad ideas were born. Yuan Jun said solemnly: "Yuemin, there is something I have to explain to you. ”

"Say it."

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 in the past."

Yuan Jun asked: "If Zhou Xiaobai and I are good, you won't object, right?" ”

"That's your own business, of course I don't object, does Xiaobai mean that too?"

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

Zhong Yuemin said: "Do you want me to help you?" Why don't I go and do the work for Xiaobai? ”

Yuan Jun smiled bitterly: "Forget it, whoever does the work is more suitable than you, as soon as you appear to be bad, I will do this matter myself." ”

Zhong Yuemin asked again: "What about Zheng Tong, you are not idle, are you?" Your relationship with Jiang Biyun is going well, and Lao Mo frowned that day. ”

Zheng Tong said: "I'm sorry, it's already covered, but I don't think I need to ask for your consent, and 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 has already left Baidian Village, and no one knows about her. Her parents are both from northern Shaanxi, and there are many connections in northern Shaanxi, so it's easy to avoid you. ”

Zhong Yuemin was silent.

Zheng Tong gloated and said, "You kid also have today? ”

Yuan Jun was a little sad: "Yuemin, I'm going back to the army next week, Xiaobai will go with me." We've been separated for several years, and we finally saw each other, but we didn't have time to say anything, and we were going to break up again, and we don't know what year it would be to meet again. ”

Zhong Yuemin opened his arms around Yuan Jun and Zheng Tong and said, "Take care, brothers, let's contact ...... often."

The phone rang, Zhong Yuemin got up from the bed and picked up the phone: "Hey, which one is it?" ”

There was no sound in the microphone.

"Hey, who is it? Please speak. ”

There was still no sound in the microphone.

Zhong Yuemin was angry: "Hey, who is it?" If I don't speak, I'll hang up, what's wrong with being 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 at the restaurant yesterday, I'm sorry, I was rude. I want to see you, can I? ”

"This ...... Does Yuan Jun know? ”

Zhou Xiaobai was angry: "Who do I want to see to report to him?" Yuemin, I'm not a tiger, I can't eat you, you won't be so daring, right? ”

Zhong Yuemin's tone hardened: "Who can I be afraid of?" Isn't it just Yuan Jun? Besides, you didn't marry him, why don't I dare to see you? ”

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

"Okay, see you soon."

In Zhong Yuemin's view, the tablecloth is still the tablecloth of the year, and even the style of the chair has not changed, it is still the kind of soft chair covered with beige khaki, Zhong Yuemin still remembers that he took advantage of the power outage to carry away a chair.

Zhong Yuemin and Zhou Xiaobai sat opposite each other, both of them were wearing military uniforms, and it was very eye-catching to sit in the restaurant, after all, there were not many soldiers who came here to eat. Zhou Xiaobai looked at Zhong Yuemin unabashedly, his eyes were very complicated, and Zhong Yuemin avoided her gaze very uncomfortably.

Zhong Yuemin asked without words: "Xiaobai, how are you doing all these years?" ”

"I'm not good, I'm always thinking about you, can I be okay? In fact, I know very well in my heart that I am unrequited love, and even a little cheap, but I can't fool myself. ”

"Xiaobai, do you hate me? It doesn't matter, if you hate me, you can just say it. ”

"I can't tell, the line between love and hate is already very blurred, not to mention that I can't hate you even if I want to."

"You didn't come to me today to talk about this, 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 weren't like this before, in contrast, I prefer Zhong Yuemin, who chased girls with a hippie smile on the ice rink, to the serious PLA battalion commander in front of me. ”

Zhong Yuemin smiled: "I'm sorry, it's stupid to be a soldier, I don't know what to say when I see a girl." Don't mind, I'll get used to it, please give me some time, I'm trying to get back to that hippie smile. ”

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

Zhong Yuemin hurriedly fiddled with the knife and fork and devoured it, Zhou Xiaobai didn't move the knife and fork, just quietly watched Zhong Yuemin eat.

"Yuemin, you eat slowly, this is not a field army, no one robs you, can't you be a little sven?"

Zhong Yuemin's mouth was stuffed with food, and he replied while swallowing hard: "When I first joined the army, I was more gentle than you, but later I found out that the army does not need a gentleman, and it is not allowed for you to chew slowly, and if you move a little slowly, the food will be gone." I've only been in the sky for a day and I understand, what a gentleman, I can't take care of so much, rob, thick-skinned, eat enough, thin-skinned, can't eat. You haven't been in a grassroots company, and you've never seen us eat. For example, one day when the company was eating noodles, you could hear a snoring sound 20 meters away from the cafeteria, which was similar to the sound of pigs eating swill. ”

Zhou Xiaobai laughed: "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 good person, but I haven't promised him, I always want to find an opportunity to ask you." You know, it's not easy for you and me to meet. ”

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

Zhou Xiaobai suddenly became angry, and she slammed the knife and fork in her hand on the table: "Zhong Yuemin, you are a bastard, have you forgotten how we met?" You shouldn't have come to recruit me with a hippie smile in the first place, and when I fell in love with you, you inadvertently dumped me, do you know how I got over the years? ”

Zhong Yuemin knew that he was wrong, and whispered: "Xiaobai, can you be quiet?" You see, they also said that they would pick me up and wash the dust, and I would have to be scolded for eating your meal. Don't be like this, girls should be gentle, or they can't get married. ”

Zhou Xiaobai glared at him angrily: "Is there less tenderness I gave you?" Do you cherish it? It's my business if I can't get married, can you manage it? ”

"Yes, it's me who is bad, I deserve to die, I'm guilty, I cheated on your pure feelings, I apologize to you......"

"Then go on and repent, what else? Say it all. ”

Zhong Yuemin was a little annoyed: "Xiaobai, you're not endless, aren't you?" When did I, Zhong Yuemin, apologize to humanity, you still don't forgive. ”

"Look, the true nature is finally revealed, what apology? It's all fake, and only the last sentence is true. Forget it, let's stop blaming each other, Yuemin, don't mention the past, I hope we will still be good friends in the future, okay? Zhou Xiaobai said helplessly.

"Of course, we'll always be friends. However, you have to say hello to Yuan Jun, he can't eat my jealousy, if it weren't for my high wind and bright festival, could I have his kid today? He can't forget to dig wells. ”

Zhou Xiaobai stared at him word by word and said, "Isn't it a poor mouth again?" To tell you the truth, I will always watch you, I want to see who your future wife is, how much better she can be than me, if she is 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 the beauty trick doesn't work for me......"

"Phew! Waiter, check out! ”

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

Zhou Xiaobai suddenly asked: "Yuemin, you tell me the truth, when you proposed to break up with me, what did you really think?" ”

"Didn't I tell you in a 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 can make you desperate. In fact, you only spent a short time together, and then she disappeared. ”

Zhong Yuemin scolded: "This is all Zheng Tong told you? This heavy color and light friend bastard. ”

"Don't wronged Zheng Tong, I asked him, but he didn't reveal a word to me, it was Jiang Biyun who said it."

"Well, that's pretty much it. Now let me answer your question, do you know what 'axis' is? This is a word commonly used by Beijingers to describe people who love to drill the horns. I'll tell you, it's because of your axes that I broke up with you. You've scared me, and you're going to die or live before I promise you anything, and if we go on, I dare say, you'll take your life sooner or later because of me. Xiaobai, you are a woman who is very persistent in love, maybe in the eyes of many men, this is a great advantage, but I dare to say, you are not suitable for me, I am not a man who can be satisfied with his wife and children to live a small life, I am not a person who keeps to himself, I want to live according to my own ideas, if I am tired of a way of life, then I will immediately change another way of life. In my opinion, asking for food when I was in the queue and being a soldier now are just two different ways of life, it doesn't matter which one is good and which is not, I will happily devote myself to both kinds of life, I treat it as a game. If I get bored with both games, I'll play another game, in short, have fun. Xiaobai, if I live with you, can you understand my play? 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 that getting married, having children, educating children to go to college in the future, helping children find a good job after graduating from college, and you can help take care of children when they have children...... You can do it, I'm glad I didn't marry you, otherwise I would have annoyed you. ”

"According to you, you dumped me to save me, and I should thank you, shouldn't I?"

"Of course, what do you think? Unless, like me, you voluntarily choose to live a life of 'on the road', can you? My Doctor Zhou, you are the kind of person who has been arranged by your parents for a lifetime before you are born, just like the little dough on the board, your parents can knead it as much as they want, they want to make you into steamed buns or bake you into bread, or you don't want to add a little stick noodles to make mixed noodles, these are all up to your parents......

"your ......" Zhou Xiaobai gave him a punch and smiled.

"Xiaobai, do you know what a woman who will live with me in the future should be like? I tell you, if I go to ask for food, she will happily go with me, and we will sit on the haystack and bask in the sun while catching lice for each other, like the monkeys on the monkey hill at the zoo. If one day I suddenly feel that I am tired of living a stable life, and I have a whim, and I plan to go to Shennongjia to find wild people, and go to Loch Ness to catch monsters, she will happily play with me......"

"Phew! Look for it, I'm afraid that such a woman has not yet been born. ”

"Then I'll wait, it's still too late to be born, I married a chick in my twenties when I was in my fifties, and the old cow eats tender grass, which shows my face."

Zhou Xiaobai laughed loudly, and the melancholy that had been pressing on her heart for many years disappeared at this moment. Zhong Yuemin is still the same Zhong Yuemin back then, he can always bring her joy, his explanation just now can't be said to be unreasonable, there is nothing wrong with living according to her own ideas, however, she is still a little sad, and some of the worries that are still messy. She didn't want to think about it anymore, it was rare to be with Zhong Yuemin, she had never laughed like this in all these years.

The two had already walked along Chongwenmen Street to the front door, 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 there was a little more melancholy in her eyes.

"Yuemin, please do something." Zhou Xiaobai whispered.

"Oh, you name it."

"Will you hug me again?"

"This ...... Is it appropriate? ”

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

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

"Xiaobai, we're all wearing military uniforms......"

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

Zhong Yuemin met her lips and kissed her deeply.

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

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