What's on Jasmine's mind- My leader, my regiment follow-up

(One)

Since Silong mentioned in the letter that he had written to Mr. Meng, then I will go to trouble him.I asked Fanla to write back and tell Silong that although his mother's body is recovering, she is still not in good spirits, so don't mind if she doesn't reply for a while.Tell him to inform his family more about the life in the general camp.

Fanla is really my good brother, he takes half of my father's responsibility for me without my need to take care of him.He and Silong also maintained correspondence, and repeatedly urged the child to send letters home regularly.

Day by day, Jasmine and I lived an ordinary and peaceful life.Almost every month, we get a letter from the barracks.In the letter, Sloan told us that his recruit training was over.Because of his excellent performance in the recruit period, he was assigned to the reconnaissance company of a certain division and certain battalion and became a scout.

Sometimes, he would tell us that because he had the highest cultural attainment and good consciousness, he became a teacher in a supplementary cultural class run by the army.In addition to training every day, he also prepares lessons at night for those veterans who are older than him, have a longer service life than him, and have a higher rank than him.

Sometimes, he would say that he had already found the gun, which was a semi-automatic Type [-] or [-].The first time he hit a target, the results were so good that he couldn't believe it.The instructors said that maybe he was born to be a soldier with a gun.These words made him secretly proud for a long time.

Following Silong's letters one after another, we have a general understanding of each piece of his life in the army.Jasmine would read these letters over and over again, and then put them away carefully. At the same time, she continued to live her life without haste, but she just refused to write to her son.

The child Silong probably followed his mother's stubborn temper, and he would write letters on time, but he never asked about his father in the letter, let alone apologized and admitted his mistakes to his father.

……

(two)

Time passed slowly, and the days of peace and happiness always passed quickly.Although, during this period, political movements continued one after another without stopping, although the form of "class struggle" became more severe day by day.But Jasmine is very good at protecting herself. Apart from taking business from a few old customers and helping them make some clothes, she usually lives in seclusion and goes to bed early every night, trying not to cause trouble.Because she is living alone now, and her material needs have always been very simple, as long as the wages she earns can meet basic food, clothing and food and clothing, she is very satisfied.

Now she is not as busy as before, and when she has a little free time, she will read the books left by Silong, flip through the newspapers, and wait to meet me at night.In daily communication, apart from a few old customers and old neighbors, sometimes Hehua would bring Chuanchuan and Tuantuan to send her some fresh vegetables and fruits; sometimes, Yunli would come to visit her and give her Diagnose the pulse.

Seeing Jasmine's low-key and peaceful life, I feel very relieved. The only regret is that Jasmine still hasn't completely forgiven Silong.When I think of their mother and son leaving a small knot in the originally harmonious relationship because of me, I always feel a little uneasy in my heart.

Three years passed, and it was the summer of 1965, almost three years since Silong joined the army.In his latest letter, we know that he is a pacesetter in various evaluations of the army, is now the squad leader, and has become a probationary member of the Communist Party.

In the past three years, I have always wanted to go to see Silong's unit.On the one hand, it is curiosity about the current life in the military camp, but more out of concern for his son.But as soon as I think about Jasmine, her health is up and down, if I leave her again, she will be doubly lonely, so the idea of ​​going to Silong has only been in my mind, and I haven't mentioned it to her easily.

It has been almost three years since Silong joined the army, and I generally know that the current compulsory military service system is that you can be discharged and go home after three years of service.Now that the three-year period is about to expire, we don't know what Silong thinks, and we don't know what his situation is in the army.Judging from his letters, he always reported the good news but not the bad news. He only told us his good side in the army, and never wrote whether he was sick, injured, criticized, or punished?

Therefore, regarding his real life in the army and his future plans, it is not enough to just read his letters. I must go deep into the scene to find out.After making up my mind, I began to discuss with Jasmine that I would leave her for a while to visit my son in the army.

(three)

Jasmine's attitude was unexpectedly reasonable. She not only agreed to my temporary departure, but also agreed to start writing letters to her son.Three years have passed, and the longing for her son has finally outweighed her angry thoughts with him. When I am not at home, maybe writing letters to my son is the only spiritual communication she can have!Seeing that Jasmine had figured this out, I was also very happy, so I left Zenda with my brothers as soon as possible.

The address of Silong's letter only wrote a general geographical range, and then the unit number, but it was indeed still in Yunnan Province.After we arrived at the local area, we divided up the brothers to search for them. Fortunately, we had a large number of people and strong strength, and within two days we found their army station.

That evening, I wandered around the office building of their army division headquarters, as leisurely as if I was strolling in my own courtyard.The brothers split up to find the dormitory of the reconnaissance company of the division's independent battalion. I am not in a hurry to see Silong now. I want to see what his superiors and commanders look like first.

Anyway, no one can see me now, as long as I don't show up, I can come and go freely like an invisible person.It's a good feeling to be able to travel freely in a military important place.With a rare good mood, I wandered through one office after another.The division commander, the deputy division commander, and the political commissar have now come to the office of the division chief of staff.The lights are still on here, it seems that there is someone, I was curious, so I walked in without hesitation.

Behind the desk, a middle-aged soldier was sitting upright, wearing the rank of a colonel.At this time, he was still wearing a slightly Soviet-style military uniform. Judging from his upright sitting posture, he had both the appearance of a soldier and the demeanor of a soldier.There is a stack of file bags on the left hand side of his desk, and there are a few sheets of paper spread out in front of him, which looks like a resume or an introduction.

I slowly walked up to him and saw a strange face.One half was handsome, while the other half was covered with scars, but these scars gave his face a more unique sense of military fortitude.

Seeing this face, a long-lost sense of intimacy hit me.That is my old friend, our good brother, Zhang Lixian, who has always insisted on the ideal of a soldier.

(four)

Zhang Lixian, a former Whampoa Military Academy graduate and colonel commander of the National Army, led his regiment to surrender during the War of Liberation. Due to his outstanding performance, he was still the commander of the reorganized People's Liberation Army.Later, he gradually believed in communism and joined the Communist Party. He made repeated military exploits in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea that began at the end of 1950. After returning from the Korean battlefield, he was awarded the rank of colonel. Now he is the chief of staff of the division where Silong works.

In the various anti-government movements that started after 1955, due to his previous experience in the national army, he was inevitably affected by these movements.But fortunately, he has a good leader who appreciates him very much and trusts him. The old superior has always protected him and tried to keep him away from the vortex of power and factional struggle in the army.Now, he is doing a moderately idle job in this army, which is actually a protective measure for him by his old superior.

At this moment, he was fascinated by the resume in front of him.The superior gave the division a place for military academy training, and specified the requirement for selection and recommendation from grassroots soldiers.Now, there are three or four files and resumes in front of him, but among them, the best one is obviously a person, Yuan Silong, the class leader of the first row and first class of the reconnaissance company of the independent battalion of the division.

Now, Chief of Staff Zhang is looking at Yuan Silong's resume, and at the same time thinking in his heart that he should not just read the materials on paper, but should meet him in person before making a decision.

Suddenly, the door of the office was pushed open a crack, and a cute head poked in.It was a lively girl with a round face, big eyes, neat bangs in front of her eyebrows, and two braids that didn't quite fit.The innocent-looking girl was Zhang Lixian's youngest daughter, who was born at the end of 1950. At that time, he was still fighting in the Korean battlefield. This girl was later named Zhang Kangmei.

"Kangmei, are you here? Last time I received a letter from your mother, saying that you wanted to stay with me for a few days after the junior high school graduation exam. I didn't expect to come so soon. Did your mother come with you? "Zhang Lixian asked in surprise.

"Mom is here too. She's packing things in your dormitory. I can't wait to take a look. Dad, do you miss me??" The little girl walked around behind him and put her arms around him neck, said affectionately.

Kangmei was playing with her father in her arms, but suddenly she was attracted by the resume on the table, so she picked it up and looked at it.Zhang Lixian saw it and quickly snatched it from her hand.He didn't want the materials inside the army to be treated as fun by children.It is his consistent principle to distinguish between public and private.However, the child Kangmei was still acting like a baby with her father. Her eyes were fixed on a photo posted on her resume, and she refused to let go easily. In the end, she accidentally knocked over the ink bottle on the table...

Zhang Lixian jumped up quickly, broke away from his daughter's hand, turned around to get the rag, and quickly removed the documents next to him.After a lot of fuss, he still found that half a bottle of ink had been spilled on Yuan Silong's resume.

Zhang Lixian looked helplessly at his clumsy daughter, and all he got back was Kang Mei sticking out her tongue mischievously.

"Stupid crabs have eight legs, and none of them grow in the right place. It's a last resort. Why do you look like your mother?" Lao Zhang wanted to educate his daughter, but in the end he just let out a happy complaint.

In this world, maybe only Xiao Zui and his precious daughter can make the always serious and unsmiling Chief of Staff Zhang so busy!I laughed secretly on the side, and continued to read.

(Fives)

"Kangmei, after this summer vacation, which high school are you planning to go to? I don't know if you can get into the high school your brother attended this time! I don't know if the distribution is based on test scores? Yes, why didn't your brother come this time?" Lao Zhang asked his daughter.

"Dad, my brother's nerd, how could he want to come out. Besides, my mother said that we all came out, and no one took care of grandma, so my brother stayed at home.

I came this time to discuss with my father, I am not going to study anymore.Isn’t everyone saying that reading is useless now?Our classmates all want to be Red Guards.Me, I just want to join the army directly, why should I be a Red Guard?Just be the People's Liberation Army!Dad, what do you think? "Kangmei replied with a smile.

"Study is not completely useless. However, I won't talk to you about this topic. You want to join the army now, isn't it too early? You haven't turned fifteen yet?!" Zhang Lixian looked at his daughter , said with a little worry.

"Dad, didn't you enlist in the army at the age of 16? Now is the era of revolution, and there is no distinction between young and old when doing revolutionary work. Besides, I don't like studying. If you don't let me join the army, don't worry about me. Hanging around the streets with those Red Guards all day? When I go to the army, I can get closer to you and learn some real skills, okay??" Kangmei ignored his father's objection and continued to talk It made sense.

"Okay, let's not talk about this topic now. You go back to the dormitory first, I still have something to do here!" Lao Zhang said while looking at his daughter lovingly.

At this moment, a loud voice sounded outside the door: "Report!"

(six)

Lao Zhang glanced at Kangmei, and said softly: "When someone comes in, you go out immediately, and you go back to the dormitory to find your mother. I will come back after I finish my work here."

Then, he said calmly, "Come in!"

The door opened, and a handsome young soldier walked in.He walked to Zhang Lixian's desk without turning his eyes, stood still, and saluted a standard military salute.Then he said: "Report to the chief of staff. Yuan Silong, the squad leader of the independent battalion investigation company, came to report."

At this time, Kangmei was quietly pushing out from behind him, and had just reached the door of the room.Hearing the word "Yuan Silong", she couldn't help turning her head curiously, but she still obediently stepped out and closed the door.

Zhang Lixian raised his head and carefully looked at the young soldier in front of him.I was lazily leaning against the window and casually looking at the barracks outside the window, when I heard Si Long's loud self-report, I slowly looked back from the window.My eyes slowly fell on Silong's face, and my heart beat faster.

Three years, three years of military camp life, still brought changes to Silong.Under my careful observation, I found that he had grown taller, stronger, and was already a large military size.His skin was a little tanned, and the childishness in his eyes was less, and more of the fortitude and firmness unique to soldiers appeared in his eyes.

"Yuan Silong, take it easy. Take it easy. I came to you today to understand some situations. Don't be nervous. I have read your file and various materials. You have performed very well in various assessments and evaluations in the army, and your He is a high school graduate with high cultural quality. He is a soldier with both civil and military skills that is rare in our army. What I want to know is that when you graduate from high school, according to your grades and school evaluations, you can choose to continue your studies Yes, or to find a job in society, why did you choose to join the army? I want to know your real thoughts."

Chief of Staff Zhang opened his mouth, and he asked his question straight to the point, which is the usual straightforward temper of Sichuanese.

"Reporting to the Chief of Staff, enlisting in the army and becoming a glorious People's Liberation Army is my ideal. This ideal has been established since I was very young..." At this point, Si Long paused, and a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes .

"As for your question about why you didn't choose to continue your studies after graduating from high school? To tell you the truth, I was originally interested in applying for military academies, and I was confident that I would be able to pass the exam. But that year, in 1962, the Sino-Indian border crossing Isn’t it too peaceful? At that time, the Sino-Indian war was about to break out, and I thought that now is the time when the country needs me. If I just sit in the classroom and learn military theory, then I can’t wait. So, I gave up that year After passing the college entrance examination, he directly signed up to join the army.

In fact, my ideal is to be the best Chinese soldier.Therefore, no matter which path you choose, whether you go to military school first and then join the army; or directly enlist in the army, learning and exercising in the army, for me, they are all the same. They are all stages that must be experienced to realize my ideals and goals. . With piercing eyes, Silong stated his ideal calmly and confidently.

Zhang Lixian looked at him with a hint of approval and appreciation in his eyes.He thought for a while and said, "Recently, the army has given our division a place to be sent to the military academy for further study. We are asked to choose the best grassroots soldiers to recommend. Now, after comprehensive consideration, the division has decided to recommend you to study in the military academy. Army command. Would you like to?"

"Report to the Chief of Staff, I obey the orders of my superiors!" Si Long stood at attention and saluted.

Zhang Lixian smiled slightly, half of his face was numb and the other was active.He asked Silong to sit down, not to be so tense, and said at the same time: "I saw your resume, are you from Zenda? At the end of 1944, you were born in Zenda?"

"Yes." Silong replied.

"I stayed at the Zenda place when I was young. It was a long, long time ago." Zhang Lixian's eyes were a little erratic, but he quickly came back to his senses.

"By the way, get ready when you go back, and set off for the military academy in two days, when the time comes, the division will send you a car. I will tell him where your battalion commander is. You go back first! Study hard, don't give Our teacher is ashamed!" After finishing speaking, he watched Silong leave with a thoughtful look.

(Seven)

Silong walked to the door, and as soon as he opened the door, he almost collided with Kang Mei who was standing outside the door.Kangmei smiled at him, stuck out her tongue mischievously, and stepped aside.

Silong walked out the door, probably suddenly realized who the girl at the door was, and couldn't help but turned around and smiled politely at Kang Mei.That smile was startled, with confidence and sunshine, but more of an unconscious enchanting charm exuded.

Not to mention anti-Americanism, even Zhang Lixian was stunned by this unique charming smile.I seem to have seen time go back, as if I saw myself more than 20 years ago.

Silong walked away, and I didn't rush to follow.Let's look back at Zhang Lixian, my former colleague. It is really not easy for him to persist in practicing the ideal of a soldier.

"Dad, the one who went out just now is Yuan Silong? He looks more handsome than the photo! Are you going to let him go to the military academy? I heard it outside the door." Kangmei was coquettish with Lao Zhang.

"Didn't I tell you to go back first? What are you doing hiding outside the door? Oh, that's right. Your father and I were handsome when we were young. That was before this half of my face was injured...

The Yuan Silong just now looked very much like a person, an old friend from long ago.How can it be so similar?However, there is still a little difference in temperament.But, that smile is really strange, many years ago, when we drilled the gas tank and behaved well, that person once showed such a smile..." Zhang Lixian seemed to be answering his daughter's nonsense, and seemed to be alone self-mumbling.

"Dad, when you were young, did you drill into a gasoline barrel? I didn't see what you looked like at that time. Anyway, I think you are handsome now, but the scar on one side of your face is very handsome!

can you go back nowI guess Mom will have to wait..."