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"I'm staying at the group these days."
As the head of the group, Xiao Li is the most important core figure in the group. He is also the busiest one when there are major events in the group.
In the next few days, Xiao Lihui started to get busy. It was inconvenient for him to run around to meetings, so after saying hello to Wang Xuemei, he packed a few sets of clothes and moved directly into the dormitory of the regiment. He didn't have much time to pay attention to his wife and children at home.
Just like Dong Shiyi said yesterday, a short pain is worse than a long one. Xiao Li returned to the army and gathered everyone together directly, then announced the list.
When the list was announced, the first name was Chief of Staff Yan Bing.
Yan Bing couldn't believe what he heard. He stared blankly at the front, his head buzzing, and his hands unconsciously clenched tightly, veins bulging. He didn't know what kind of mood he was in after listening to Xiao Li's words. After Xiao Li finished reading out all the names, he said in a dry voice that only he could hear: "Yes!"
Obey orders and follow instructions, even if you are unwilling, you will eventually choose to obey.
The army remains permanent, but the soldiers are constantly changing. Many soldiers are actually used to separation, but as soon as the disarmament list was announced this time, even the normally well-trained soldiers began to get a little confused.
This time is different from previous transfers and discharges. The downsizing means that some of them will be eliminated and will no longer have a military career in the future.
Xiao Li knew that everyone was feeling uncomfortable. He walked over to Yan Bing and Guo Jianguo and patted Yan Bing on the shoulder. "Old Yan, Old Guo, let's have a drink together tonight."
When a woman is in a bad mood, shopping may help her relax and feel happy, but when a man is in a bad mood, he likes to get together to drink and smoke. In the afternoon, Xiao Li spent a huge amount of money out of his own pocket to have someone buy some wine, and in the evening, a group of people got drunk in the military cafeteria.
Yan Bing, who always had a ferocious look on his face, hugged a large porcelain jar and cried loudly, "For eight years in the war of resistance, I wore a military uniform, stood guard in all directions, with a steel gun, and dedicated half my life in the vast wilderness. Now that peace has come, I am discharged and returning home. Brother, I am unwilling to accept this, I am unwilling to accept this!"
Soldiers like Yan Bing who have participated in wars and climbed up the ranks basically joined the army in their teens and dedicated half their lives to the army. Maybe they had different reasons for joining the army before, but in the end they all fell in love with this military camp.
No one wants to give up on something they love, but reality is so cruel.
For Yan Bing, transferring to the military service bureau was a reluctant decision, but it still provided him with a stable job that could support his family. But for most other soldiers, leaving meant returning home. Without jobs, they could only work like hardworking oxen, tending the fields.
Those with a good attitude will say, what’s the big deal? It’s just going back to my old job. It’s okay!
Those with a bad mentality and poor families can only force themselves to smile and cry silently.
"Hey~~" Xiao Li didn't drink much and was still sober. He looked at the usually tough guys with various crying and helpless expressions, and his eyes gradually became moist. Maybe one day he would leave the barracks, leave this place that made him love and hate and fight for most of his life, and maybe in the future he would cry for it too.
But after crying, life still goes on.
After venting their anger, everyone cheered up the next day, packed up their things as if nothing had happened, and were ready to go home at any time. After all the procedures were completed, the 8147th Regiment sent off the first batch of comrades who had retired and transferred to civilian jobs.
More than 500 people were sent away by Xiao Li and his team in batches, but the sadness did not decrease with the number of times. Instead, it became more intense as more and more people left.
On the day of sending off the last batch of brothers who had retired from the army, a spring rain began to fall from the sky. Xiao Li and others stood on the platform of the station and watched their comrades who were lining up one by one with big bags on their backs to get on the train, their eyes silently tearing up.
Xiao Li borrowed a loud speaker from the station attendant, and his voice spread through the speaker, reaching the ears of many people, including the veterans who were already seated on the train: "Thank you for igniting your youth with green, expressing your heroism with strength, and defending the territory with your blood. Thank you also for dedicating your loyalty to the motherland. Please remember that even though you have retired today, you will always be the most lovely people!"
"When you return home, you must show your military spirit and face life bravely and move forward. Finally, I wish you a bright future."
"Goodbye! My brothers!"
After seeing off his comrades and finishing the work of the regiment, Xiao Li returned home.
It was already very late when Xiao Li finally returned home. The small courtyard of the Xiao family was pitch black. The door of the main house was open and a kerosene lamp was lit inside. Wang Xuemei was sitting in the living room, instructing Xiao Nuo to learn to read under the dim light, while waiting for Xiao Li to come back.
It was still drizzling in the morning, but it started to get heavier in the evening. The mountains were already quite humid, and the rainy days even more so, with a heavy, damp smell of earth. Xiao Nuo wrinkled his nose and asked, "Mom, why do I always smell an indescribable smell when it rains?"
"That's the smell of earth, the smell of earth." As she spoke, she glanced into the yard and saw Xiao Li, who was drenched by the rain. Wang Xuemei lowered her head and said to Xiao Nuo, who was about to ask something, "Dear, daddy is back."
Xiao Li didn't have an umbrella, and his body was already wet from the rain. The rain left long marks on his face, making him look a little embarrassed.
As soon as Xiao Li entered the yard, he looked up and saw the mother and daughter waiting for him in the house, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.
When Xiaonuo saw her father coming back, she quickly picked up the umbrella beside the door, asked her mother to open it for her, and then ran to Xiaoli. The little girl struggled to hold the umbrella, which was bigger than her, and tried to stand on tiptoe to hold it for Xiaoli. Unfortunately, she was too small. Finally, her face flushed red and she shouted, "Dad, umbrella, here's yours."
"Thank you, dear."
Seeing this, Xiao Li felt warm in his heart. He bent down slightly, completely ignoring the fact that his body was already wet. He grabbed Xiao Nuo's arm and carried her quickly into the house.
"Ah~~~ I'm flying, I'm flying, mom, look at me." Xiaonuo suddenly took off into the air and shouted happily. After entering the house, he kept showing off to his mother, acting as if he could fly but you couldn't. His showing-off little expression made people feel funny and cute, and also made Xiaoli feel a little better.
"You're not afraid of catching a cold! Hurry up and put her down and wipe her body." Wang Xuemei handed over a towel and took it from Xiao Li despite Xiao Nuo's objection. "Your dad is soaked. Be good and don't make a fuss. Wait until dad finishes taking a shower and cleaning up before playing with you."
By the time Xiao Li had cleaned himself up, Xiao Nuo had already fallen asleep. Wang Xuemei knew that Xiao Li had been in a bad mood recently and took the initiative to come over and hug him, "Brother, forget about those unhappy things. You have to know that the people in our 8147th Regiment are all elites. Anyone who leaves here will not be too bad. They have a promising future."
Xiao Li responded fiercely, "I know, brother."
Life may seem ordinary, but it is not easy to live well and comfortably. When getting along with others, you must find a way that suits each other.
The relationship between Xiao Li and Wang Xuemei is very peculiar. Normally they are husband and wife and good parents. However, once the other one is in a bad mood, the other will take the initiative to become the other's brother who can talk about anything, and accompany the other to chat, drink and talk.
According to Xiao Li, some things might be more appropriate to discuss from the perspective of brothers rather than family members.
His wife is understanding and reasonable, his children are lively and cute, the couple loves each other, and their life is simple and comfortable. Xiao Li's family seems to have no big setbacks and passions, but they are living the life that Xiao Li once longed for most in his heart.
Simple and comfortable, plain and happy.
The next day when Xiao Li woke up, he saw little Xiao Nuo climbing onto their bed again, staring at him with his big eyes and an innocent face.
"Why are you running to mom and dad's room again?" Ever since Xiaonuo started preschool, Wang Xuemei cleaned up the small bedroom prepared for her and successfully helped her move out of her parents' room on the grounds that Xiaonuo was already a big kid.
Xiao Nuo glanced outside the room with a mysterious look on his face, and whispered in Xiao Li's ear, "Dad, when you were not home, I saw Mom crying secretly with the letter in her hand."
It is said that women are more emotional than men, but in Xiao Li's opinion, the woman in his family is more rational than him. In the four or five years of marriage, he has never seen her cry like other women. No matter what happens, she is never anxious or irritable, and she keeps her composure. She is the strongest support behind Xiao Li.
When Xiao Li heard that Wang Xuemei was secretly crying while holding the letter, he hurriedly recalled what letters their family had received recently. It seemed that there was only one letter sent from the Wang family in Beijing. Could it be that she missed home?
It's a good habit to ask when you don't understand something. Xiao Li asked directly during breakfast, "I remember my mother-in-law sent me a letter a few days ago. I've been too busy these days and didn't bother to ask you about it. What did she say?"
"A letter from home said that grandma passed away." Wang Xuemei said this calmly without changing her expression.
It was as if the deceased was not her relative. If Xiao Nuo had not secretly complained to him, Xiao Li would probably think that this woman was extremely cold-blooded.
Xiao Li felt a little sad when he thought about the death of the old lady who had always considered the overall situation and the family. He didn't have much contact with Old Lady Wang, but the few times they spent together made him full of respect for the wise old lady.
Xiao Li reached across the table and clasped Wang Xuemei's hand, looking at her with concern. "Don't be sad. I'll give you leave. Take Guaiguai back to pay respects to Grandma and comfort your father-in-law and the others. I'm sure they must be very sad right now."
"No need. Grandma said that if I go back, I will no longer be a girl of the Wang family." When the letter was sent, Old Mrs. Wang had been buried for more than a month. The Wang family did not send her a telegram immediately because of the old lady's instructions before her death. In the letter that Xiao Li brought back, in addition to the letters written to her by the Wang family, there was also one written to her in advance by the old lady.
The letter clearly told Wang Xuemei not to return to the Wang family in the next few years and not to contact her parents frequently. If she went back, the Wang family would no longer recognize her!
Although Wang Xuemei did not understand what her grandmother meant, she chose to respect her last wishes.
She had been close to her grandmother since she was a child, so she was actually very sad when she first received the news. However, Xiao Li was very busy those days and she couldn't let her personal affairs affect his work. Guaiguai was a child who knew nothing, so she couldn't tell her family and could only digest it silently by herself.
After she calmed down and Xiao Li finished his work, this seemingly cold and calm conversation at the dinner table took place.
Since Wang Xuemei said so, Xiao Li still chose to respect her.
Xiao Li knew that Wang Xuemei and her grandmother had a good relationship, so he could imagine how sad she was when she first found out. He looked her in the eyes and said seriously, "Have I ever told you not to be so aggressive in front of me?"
"No."
"Then I'll tell you now."
"Okay..." With this word, Wang Xuemei could no longer hold back her tears and they flowed out of her eyes.
After dinner, Xiao Li took Wang Xuemei and Xiao Nuo to the yard and knelt down in the direction of Jing City. "My dear, come here and kowtow to your great-grandmother."
Xiaonuo obediently followed her father's instructions and kowtowed three times in the direction of Beijing City. She was still too young to understand the separations of birth, old age, sickness and death. After she finished kowtow, she asked innocently, "Dad, will great-grandmother see Guaiguai?"
"Yes, great-grandmother will always watch over the people she loves in heaven."
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