Siheyuan: Buyers get rich from hunting

As the loud and inspiring militia training horn suddenly sounded above the steel rolling mill, it was like a shocking thunder, not only breaking the quiet sky, but also resonating in every corner of the factory, shaking the hearts of every employee.

Amid the deafening sound of the trumpet, the newly appointed militia captain Liu Ping'an was marching with a firm, powerful and unquestionable pace. Beside him, Chief Cao of the Security Department followed closely behind. The two of them walked in unison, shoulder to shoulder, jointly carrying out this arduous and glorious training mission. Their figures were elongated in the afterglow of the setting sun, appearing particularly solemn.

At this moment, in the courtyard within the factory, the men seemed to be driven by an invisible force. They came out from their respective corners and plunged into the tense and expectant preparations.

Different emotions were written on everyone's face: some were nervous, some were excited, and some were a little uneasy, but they were all following the established plan and making final preparations for the upcoming militia training in an orderly manner. The air was filled with an indescribable atmosphere of tension and expectation.

Among this group of people, Xu Damao is particularly eye-catching. This guy who is always calculating and scheming, although he has always been upset about the old man adopting a child, unexpectedly showed unprecedented enthusiasm in the face of this militia training related to collective honor.

He rushed into the house in a hurry, plunged into the depths of the closet, and began a seemingly disorderly but purposeful search. After rummaging through boxes and cabinets, he finally found a slightly worn work suit from a pile of old clothes.

Although this set of clothes has gone through the baptism of time and its color is not as bright as before, after Xu Damao's meticulous ironing, the originally wrinkled fabric miraculously became smooth as new, as if foreshadowing his importance and determination to this training.

On a quiet evening before the training officially began, Xu Damao sat leisurely in his own yard. It was a small world surrounded by lush vines. Mottled light and shadows filtered through the green leaves, adding a bit of tranquility and peace to this small space.

He held an antique dry pipe, and the carved patterns on the pipe glowed faintly in the sunset, looking particularly simple and elegant. Xu Damao frowned slightly, staring into the distance, as if he was thinking about some important problem, or immersed in the memories of the past years. His deep and focused expression was very different from his previous cunning image.

At this time, Father Xu slowly walked out of the house. Although his steps were slow, he showed a calm and steady demeanor. In his hands, he carefully held an old photo album that had long turned yellow and had a slightly worn cover. It was a precious treasure that carried the family's memories and glory.

Father Xu sat gently beside Xu Damao and flipped open the photo album. Pages of yellowed photos seemed to be telling stories of the past. At that moment, the father and son seemed to have traveled through time and space, immersed in the review and contemplation of the family history.

"Da Mao, you have been busy running around for the militia training recently, and you look very energetic!" Father Xu smiled, and that smile was warm and kind, as if it could dispel all fatigue and gloom. His deep eyes revealed not only relief, but also pride and expectation for his son's growth.

When Xu Damao heard his father's words, he felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart. He was startled for a moment, as if at this moment, all his busyness and fatigue were comforted to some extent. Then, he took a deep puff of the cigarette in his hand, and in the smoke, he slowly exhaled a big smoke ring, which slowly rose in the air, with a sense of leisure and relief.

"Dad, you know my personality. I just want to take this opportunity to show my face in the factory and let everyone look up to me." Xu Damao's wry smile was a bit self-deprecating, but more of a self-affirmation and pursuit. He continued, "After all, I have always been a competitive person. I always like to compete with others. This militia training is not only an opportunity for me to exercise, but also a stage to prove myself."

Hearing this, Father Xu nodded gently, with a hint of imperceptible approval in his eyes. He gently picked up the photo album that was placed aside. It was a precious treasure that carried the family's memories and glory. Every page recorded the past years and stories. He slowly opened it, just like opening a dusty history. Those yellowed photos seemed to tell the past glory and difficulty.

When he turned to a certain page, Father Xu stopped moving. His eyes became unusually gentle and deep. He pointed to a yellowed old photo and said softly:

"Son, take a look at this photo. The man in it is your grandfather! Back then, he was a well-known militia captain in our area. At that time, living conditions were much more difficult than they are now, but even so, he always rushed to the front without hesitation whenever something happened, and did his best to protect the land under our feet and the surrounding folks. I still remember what he once said to me: 'As a man, sometimes you have to take on some responsibilities. Whether it's for your family, for your neighbors, or even for our great country, you should do your part.'"

There was a bit of nostalgia and admiration in Xu's father's words, as if he had reappeared those turbulent years in front of Xu Damao. Xu Damao listened to his father's story, and his eyes, which had been somewhat wandering, gradually focused on the photo. His heartbeat accelerated a bit, as if at this moment, he and his grandfather had established a connection that transcended time and space.

I saw him slowly put down the pipe in his hand. There was still some warmth left on the pipe, as if it also carried some kind of attachment to the past.

He carefully took the thick photo album from his father, then moved closer and began to carefully look at his grandfather in the photo.

The grandfather in the photo has a strong face and is full of pride. His deep eyes seem to contain infinite power and wisdom. It seems that through the long river of time, one can still feel his bravery and firm belief.

At that moment, an unprecedented strength and courage surged in Xu Damao's heart. He seemed to see his future direction and goals, and became more determined to fulfill his duties for his family and country.

"Dad, I actually know what you want to tell me. Grandpa is a great hero in our family. His life is full of legends. How can I, Xu Damao, belittle myself and say that I can only be a little bit comparable to him! Regarding participating in this militia training, I have to admit that at the beginning, I did have a little idea in my mind to prove my ability to everyone.

However, as time went by, I calmed down and thought about it carefully, and slowly figured out the trick. This matter is not just about personal honor and disgrace, but also about the heavy responsibility on the shoulders of us young people. Defending our homeland and protecting peace is our unshirkable duty as militiamen, and it is also a reflection of our deep love for our land. "

"but......"

At this point, Xu Damao paused for a moment, a trace of embarrassment on his face, as if the next words he was about to say were as heavy as a thousand-pound burden to him. His eyes flickered, as if he was having a fierce struggle deep in his heart.

"What's the matter? Son, don't hesitate, just tell me what you think." Father Xu looked at Xu Damao amiably, his eyes full of encouragement and expectation, and asked softly. He knew that his son was straightforward and couldn't keep things in his heart. He was able to take the initiative to bring up this matter today, which was a great improvement.

Hearing his father's question, Xu Damao took a deep breath, as if he had mustered up all the courage in his life, and then said: "It's about the matter of an old man in our courtyard adopting a child. I have always felt a little uncomfortable about this. You always talk about doing more good deeds and accumulating virtues. Of course, I understand what you said and I always keep it in mind. But, I just feel that this matter is not that simple. I am always worried and can't let it go.

Look at our yard, there are so many people living there, and they are all talkative. There are always trivial matters in daily life. If something happens to the child in the future, such as getting sick or getting into trouble, we, the neighbors, will have to help share the burden! You tell me, I am not selfish, I am just worried that our good intentions will end up doing bad things! By then, not only will we not have a good reputation, but we will also get into trouble. It is not worth it! "

After saying this, Xu Damao let out a long breath as if relieved of a heavy burden, which seemed to contain all the doubts and uneasiness that had accumulated in his heart for many days. He lowered his eyelids slightly, and there was a trace of relief in his eyes, as if at this moment, he had finally found the balance point in his heart.

Father Xu slowly closed the album in his hand. The cover of the album glowed faintly in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if carrying the traces of time and family memories. His eyes became more and more profound, as if he saw through the long river of time and saw the past. Those fragments about family affection, friendship and responsibility emerged in his mind one by one.

He said softly, "Da Mao, you know, the human heart is not made of stone. It is as soft as a flower that has just bloomed in spring. It needs the nourishment of sunshine and rain to bloom with the most brilliant brilliance. As for the fact that this old man adopted a child, no matter from which angle you look at it, his initial idea was always good. He just wanted to give the poor child a home that was sheltered from the wind and rain and full of warmth. Isn't the reason why our courtyard is full of humanity accumulated little by little by these seemingly insignificant but well-intentioned actions? Every help, every care, is like a seed that takes root in the heart and eventually grows into a towering tree."

There was a hint of emotion and nostalgia in Mr. Xu's words, as if he had reappeared those warm and unforgettable years in front of Xu Damao. He continued:

"As for the things you are worried about, in my opinion, as long as we all work together, there will be no difficulties that we cannot overcome. Besides, think about the militia training we have participated in. What are the most important things they taught us?

Isn't it about unity and mutual help? On the training ground, we learned how to fight side by side with our teammates and face difficulties and challenges together. Then in life, we should also show the same spirit, support each other and move forward together. So, we should take practical actions to support the old man, so that Xiao Shitou can truly feel the warmth and love of the family. "

Xu Damao listened to his father's earnest words and nodded thoughtfully. The stubborn thoughts in his heart seemed to start to loosen. He looked up into the distance, his eyes flashing with determination and expectation, as if at this moment, he had found his direction and motivation to move forward.

At this moment, a sudden noise came from the yard, the sound was like a breeze blowing across a calm lake, breaking Xu Damao's thoughts. He subconsciously raised his head and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Liu Haizhong standing in the middle of the crowd, boasting about something with saliva flying, and he looked like he had everything planned out.

There was a smug look on his face, and he put his hands on his hips, as if the whole world was under his control.

Back then, when Liu Haizhong was young, he was also a well-known figure in the courtyard. He was heroic and high-spirited, exuding an indescribable vitality and vigor from head to toe.

At that time, as a member of the militia, he was no stranger to all kinds of arduous training. Whether it was long-distance running under the scorching sun or fighting in the cold wind, he gritted his teeth and persisted without a single complaint. Although those days were difficult, they also forged his tenacious will and strong physique.

Liu Haizhong had put in a lot of effort to participate in the collective training activity organized by the courtyard. He searched through boxes and cabinets at home to find a pair of historical Liberation shoes, which were of great significance to him.

Although it has gone through countless years of wear and tear, and the soles have even been rubbed to a shine, in Liu Haizhong's eyes, it is by no means an ordinary pair of shoes, but rather an old comrade-in-arms who has fought side by side with him and witnessed his past glory and sweat. Whenever he sees this pair of shoes, he feels an indescribable sense of pride.