Shi Ye was sorting out medicines with Yuan Xiaoyun. These were special anti-inflammatory drugs obtained from Pei Yingchun.
After hearing what Bao Qing said, he paused for a moment and replied, "Come on—"
Yuan Xiaoyun's face was full of joy: "Bonfire party? It must be fun!"
Looking at the innocent and happy smile on Yuan Xiaoyun's face, Shi couldn't laugh. She was indeed not really nineteen years old.
What kind of bonfire party is this? It's just to let the soldiers relax their tense emotions. We hope they can have a good meal, drink some wine, and laugh as hard as they can. I'm afraid it will be difficult for them to laugh again when they enter the minefield tomorrow.
"The Last Supper" is inappropriate, but appropriate.
Before Shiye and Yuan Xiaoyun left the tent, they heard the sound of military songs being sung outside. These were the songs sung during rest time in the camp. Yuan Xiaoyun supported Shiye and sang along. Although she didn't know the lyrics, she got the tune right.
Before reaching the campfire, Xiao Yue came over and extended his hand to Shi.
Yuan Xiaoyun glanced at him, blinked, and was simple-minded enough to give up her role as the supporter.
Shi also held Xiao Yue's arm and sat with him by the campfire, listening to the soldiers sitting in rows below singing military songs. Yuan Xiaoyun had also sat down next to Bao Qing and sang along with him, which earned him a look of disgust.
Yuan Xiaoyun didn't care and sang even louder.
Bao Qing watched as a female comrade's voice was even louder than his own, so she howled at the top of her lungs, not stopping even when her voice broke.
Maki also burst out laughing. Although it was the "Last Supper", the atmosphere was rare.
There were canned meat piled next to the campfire. After singing the military song, the cooks came forward to get the canned food, cook meat porridge and roast pork.
Soon, the camp was filled with a rich fragrance. The soldiers were laughing, eating, drinking, and chatting. Without the harsh training atmosphere of the past, the camp seemed very peaceful, as if everyone had forgotten that they had to go to the minefield tomorrow.
"Are you afraid?" Shi Ye held the meat porridge and glanced sideways at Xiao Yue who was sitting quietly.
He was still wearing his neat combat uniform, holding a wooden stick in his hand, poking at the campfire. The firelight reflected on his face, casting a strong and clear deep outline. Although his expression was calm and indifferent, his unusual silence revealed everything.
Xiao Yue paused slightly, without turning back or looking at Shi Ye, and let out a light "hmm" from his nose.
He looked up at the soldiers who were talking and laughing, and whispered, "I can ensure the location of every mine, but I cannot guarantee that there will be no other accidents during the mine removal mission. I am afraid, very afraid."
Xiao Yue, who has always been dignified and arrogant, showed a rare bit of vulnerability at this moment.
Shiya looked at his tense back and waist, and held his hand which was already warmed by the campfire.
Her palms were slightly cold, but her voice was warm: "Xiao Yue, don't be afraid, don't you still have me? Although I can't guarantee that I can rescue people 100% if something happens, but there is at least a 70% chance. Besides, the conditions are much better than in the last life. We can't ask for more. The important thing is to do well now. As long as we are careful, we can avoid a lot of danger, right?"
Xiao Yue listened to this comfort, raised his eyes, and a smile spread in his dark pupils. He held her hand with his slender hand and said, "Can you return the marriage report to me this time when you go back?"
A smile appeared in Makiya's eyes: "I think you can write a new one. I'll keep this."
Hearing this, Xiao Yue's smile deepened. Although he said nothing, the emotions in his eyes were obvious.
After the bonfire party, the soldiers cleaned up the scene in an orderly manner and went back to rest.
Xiao Yue did not say anything else exciting. After what happened in Yunzhai, everyone knew what they were going to face. What they needed now was not inspiring words, but the calm "before the war".
Shi had just returned to the tent and hadn't rested yet when he heard someone say, "Doctor Shi, are you asleep?"
Shi also asked Yuan Xiaoyun to bring the people in. Looking at the two blushing soldiers, he asked curiously, "What's the matter?"
One of them was a burly man with a grin, handed over a piece of paper, and said in broken Mandarin, "Doctor Shi, I can't read, can you help me write a letter?"
Shi also paused: "A letter? Is it for your family?"
The soldier shook his head, then nodded and said seriously, "If I hadn't come back from the minefield, it would have been for my family."
Hearing this, Shiya's eyelids twitched and she pursed her red lips and looked at them. Although she didn't say it explicitly, she understood the meaning of "this letter". A suicide note was indeed something that people would leave behind before going to a minefield. They all looked calm.
"Okay, I'll write it for you." Shiye nodded, his voice very soft, very soft.
She sat at the small table, spread out paper and pen, and lit the kerosene lamp.
The soldiers laughed and didn't care to think too much. They just sat cross-legged beside the small table and weighed each word carefully, letting it fall on paper. Each word expressed unspeakable emotions of reluctance, determination and righteousness.
"Dear parents, when you read this letter, I may have already stayed on the mine-clearing battlefield. This is a dangerous and difficult task, but as a soldier, it is my mission to defend my country."
"Dear Xiaolan, when I write these words, my heart is filled with love and reluctance to leave you. If I can't come back, promise me that you will live a strong life and take good care of yourself. I will bless you in heaven."
"My child, when you grow up and can understand this letter, your father will no longer be by your side, but you must believe that your father has always regarded you as the most precious baby. It is my regret that I could not grow up with you. You must be proud of your father. It is our duty as a soldier to sacrifice for the country and the people. I hope you can be a kind and responsible person in the future."
"Brothers, minesweeping missions are fraught with danger. I do not regret embarking on this journey. If something happens to me on the battlefield and I cannot return home safely with you as agreed, please help me take care of my family."
"..."
Perhaps it was because the lights were bright here, or perhaps it was because they cherished every moment together, all the soldiers came to Maki's tent, lined up one by one, without any scruples, any shyness, or any unspeakable secrets, and wrote down everything they wanted to say.
It was not until midnight that the sound of birds singing could be heard in the woods, and a thick pile of letters had already piled up beside Shiya.
After watching them leave, Shi also looked at the letter with his name on it on the table, looking a little dazed.
They did not take the letters away but left them with her. Some of them begged her that if she could not come back alive, she could take the letters back to the Northwest Frontier Defense Camp, and those who could come back alive might add more.
Yuan Xiaoyun's eyes were red and she fell asleep on the table.
She stayed with them all night and cried all night. Seeing the soldiers with calm expressions, even with longing and smiles, telling them why they couldn't come back, Yuan Xiaoyun couldn't hold back any longer and her eyes were swollen like walnuts.
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