Chapter 129

Wu Xiangchen looked at Shuangshuang with a helpless smile on his face, and asked again, "Sangsang, do you really not remember me?"

The little girl in front of him had a confused look in her eyes. Her round almond-shaped eyes were filled with a hint of doubt and surprise. Her red lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something but was hesitant.

Seeing this silly girl frowning slightly, as if she was trying hard to recall something, Wu Xiangchen felt that his slight depression of being completely forgotten was swept away.

Just like many years ago, he reached out to pull Shuangshuang's braid, but suddenly found that few people braided pigtails nowadays. Shuangshuang had tied her hair into a half-high ponytail, so he had no idea where to start.

The bony hand paused in mid-air, and Wu Xiangchen calmly withdrew his hand, leaving only one sentence, "Don't worry, think about it slowly."

Having said that, the person left.

Shuangshuang stood there in a daze, her mind was in a mess. Why did Instructor Wu know her nickname? It seemed as if they were old acquaintances.

He tilted his head and puffed up his cheeks, looking so distressed.

Halfway through the military training, after a day of high-intensity training, Shuangshuang and her roommates went to the bathhouse one by one to line up for a shower. Because there were so many people, everyone was sweating profusely after the military training, and the bathhouse was as busy as a vegetable market.

When they returned to the dormitory, they all collapsed on their beds and couldn't get up.

"Wu Xiangchen..." Shuangshuang was still thinking about what Instructor Wu said yesterday. This name seemed really familiar. There was a vague line floating in her mind, and every time she wanted to reach out and grab it, it disappeared.

"Wu Xiangchen...who is it?"

Shuangshuang, lying on the bed, was trying hard to recall, while on the other side, Wu Xiangchen, who had returned to the military area, unexpectedly received a call from his good brother Dunzi.

"Captain, there's a call for you in the communications room."

The soldier came to report, and Wu Xiangchen strode to the communication room. As soon as he picked up the phone, he heard a familiar voice.

"Chenchen!" Dunzi's loud voice reached Wu Xiangchen's ears thousands of miles away through the receiver.

The two hadn't seen each other for three or four years. After Wu Xiangchen was admitted to the military academy, he was busy studying and joining the army. After various rigorous training, he was promoted from an ordinary soldier to the position of company commander in the army.

You know, this is a peacetime era and getting promoted is extremely difficult.

Soldiers like Wu Xiangchen, who have a balance of military theory and practical experience, are exactly the talents needed for the transformation of the army.

For this, he also sacrificed a lot of personal time and had no time to go home for several years. Old Wu and he could only wish each other a Happy New Year on the phone.

He has even less contact with his childhood brothers, but childhood friendship is precious. Even though he hasn't seen them for many years, Wu Xiangchen is still happy when he receives a call.

"Dunzi, are you busy with business again?"

"Yeah! I've been very busy lately. Are you busy too? When I'm done with my busy schedule, I'll come to the capital to see you and Shuangshuang!"

Dunzi had just negotiated a big deal not long ago. During the deal, he called home to ask about Shuangshuang's college entrance examination results. He learned that she went to Capital University, and he was even happier for this girl whom he had watched grow up since she was a child.

However, yesterday, when he was free and was about to contact Wu Xiangchen, he learned that he had just been transferred to the Capital Military Region. Isn't this a coincidence? !

His good brother and little sister were in the capital, so he quickly called Wu Xiangchen.

"Shuangshuang, you can't have forgotten, right? She was admitted to Capital University! Tell me what kind of fate is this? You are also her brother. Even though you left after only a few years, you still have to take care of Shuangshuang and support her in everything."

Wu Xiangchen listened to Dunzi talking on the phone, pressed his brows, and thought, she doesn't even remember me, who can I go to for justice?

But he only replied, "Okay, don't worry, I will definitely support her."

On the other end of the phone, Dunzi was still mumbling, "Shuangshuang has a good temper and is pretty, so I'm worried that she'll get cheated. You don't know, but I've heard that a lot of college boys are not honest. We are such innocent girls, what if we get cheated? Anyway, you better keep an eye on her. By the way, when I come to the capital to see you guys, let's go to a restaurant for dinner, and I'll treat you!"

Because they were both busy, they hadn't been in touch for several years, but Dunzi still talked for a long time on the first phone call, as if the years of separation had never happened. Wu Xiangchen felt warm at heart and agreed to everything before hanging up the phone.

Military training continues in the hot autumn weather. From the initial resistance and pain, college students have gradually learned to find joy in suffering.

During the breaks in the training, the youthful students had red faces and were sweating profusely. The instructors led five or six classes to sing military songs together and asked people to perform other specialties. It was very lively.

They were all young people in their prime, and all of them were in a playful mood. Many of them took the initiative to come forward, sing, perform skits, and have a great time.

They sat in the crowd, clapping their hands.

In front of me, two male students were performing a skit. One of them was playing a girl. The two were talking in a cheesy way. Then I heard the one playing the girl call the other, "Brother Gang Gang~"

That coquettish tone made everyone laugh, Shuangshuang was no exception. While laughing, she suddenly remembered something, brother?

Did you have four close older brothers when you were a child?

After growing up, Shuangshuang only has clear memories of her brothers Dunzi, Hengheng and Dongdong. What about the other one?!

In her vague memory, it seemed like four people really took her out to play. Could it be that...

As Shuangshuang was thinking this, her head tilted and her eyelids lifted, and she suddenly saw Instructor Wu standing straight in front of her. She didn't know if it was a coincidence, but Instructor Wu also turned around, and their eyes met in the air.

In a flash, both eyes widened suddenly. Brother Chenchen?

This title seems to have been buried deep in my memory for a long time. Now when I read it again, I feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

That evening, Shuangshuang went to the school post office and called her mother. On the one hand, she wanted to tell her family about her recent situation, and on the other hand, she wanted to act coquettishly and complain about how tiring the military training was.

Dad on the other end of the phone showed his military qualities, "Shuangshuang, they say a good father will have a good daughter. You are my daughter, so there will be no problem! Try to get the title of Outstanding Student in Military Training!"

Shuangshuang: "..."

I just want to survive military training, and you want me to win a prize!

After talking about her own story, she asked her mother, "Mom, when I was a child, did I have another brother in the courtyard? I played well with my brother Dunzi and the other two."

Jian Lu pondered for a moment, "Yes, your brother Chenchen, have you forgotten him? Chenchen left with his father long ago after he retired from the army. I heard that he later joined the army. It must have been more than ten years."

"Is his name Wu Xiangchen?"

"Yes, my name is Wu Xiangchen." Jian Lu was puzzled. "Why do you suddenly ask about your brother Chenchen? When he was on the island, he loved you very much. He gave you New Year's money every year and later he loved to buy you candy. Do you remember? One year you were playing on the beach and fell down. He was trying to comfort you, but you turned around and wiped your tears and snot on his clothes..."

When Jian Lu thought about her daughter's childhood, she opened up and talked nonstop.

"Mom!" Shuangshuang's face was filled with shame, she actually did such a thing, "I was only a few years old at that time, why are you still talking about the past, I won't say anymore, I'm going to get some water, bye~"

After hanging up the phone, Shuangshuang's memories gradually came back, and it seemed that there really was a brother Chenchen in the vague past.

The military training instructor turned out to be my older brother when I was a kid?!

They were lying on the bed together and felt that time was passing by strangely. She now had some impression. Indeed, brother Dunzi had mentioned before that brother Chenchen went to military school and later joined the army.

Unexpectedly, before Brother Dunzi met Brother Chenchen, I met him first!

The next day was also the last day of the military training. Knowing that half a month of torture was about to end, the students cheered up and waited for liberation.

After standing at attention, everyone waited for the final report performance, where each class would take turns to perform a square formation marching.

"Oh, the military training is about to end, but I'm a little reluctant to let it go."

"Yeah, I've been through so much hardship before. Look, I've gotten a lot darker, but now I actually feel a little sad."

"Look, Instructor Wu is arm wrestling with a male student!"

"Go check it out!!! Go, go, go!!!"

On the last day, the students didn't care too much. A few brave ones chatted with the instructors and asked about their training routines.

"Every day, I do ten kilometers of weight-carrying running, a hundred push-ups, shooting training, fighting training...it's all commonplace." Wu Xiangchen was in a good mood. He was handsome to begin with, and when he talked about training, his eyes were firm, as if he was talking about the weather today, and a sense of boldness emanated from him.

Behind them were a few tall male students who wanted to challenge Wu Xiangchen and his instructors.

"Instructor, the military training is almost over. Let's have a competition. Let's have an arm wrestling competition."

Wu Xiangchen looked at these little brats whose hair hadn't even grown out yet, raised his lips, and said calmly, "Don't cry if you lose."

"Oh~!!!" The students around him started to make noises when they heard this, and they shouted that they wanted to watch.

Shuangshuang and a few roommates went over and saw that the male classmates in the same class had already positioned themselves with Instructor Wu, ready to compete with each other.

"Come on, He Tongkai!"

"Come on, Instructor Wu!"

Many people came to watch the excitement, and some even started to make noise and cheer for both sides.

"Ready, set, go!"

Shuangshuang stood behind Wu Xiangchen, and could only see his broad back and the back of his head with messy hair.

She used to feel tired from walking, so she asked brother Chenchen to carry her on his back. Thinking of this, the memory in her mind became clearer.

But in the blink of an eye, the game in front of me was over, and my roommate next to me was extremely excited.

"Coach Wu is so amazing! I didn't even see clearly, but he knocked He Tongkai down right from the start."

"You're amazing! You're worthy of being a soldier!"

"Look at Instructor Wu's height and figure. How can those little brats in our class compare to him?"

Later, a group of boys challenged Wu Xiangchen to a wheelchair battle, but they were all easily resolved.

"Okay, I won't bully you guys..." The little brat didn't say a word, "Get ready to go back to your positions, march in step, don't embarrass me!"

"Yes!" The students who lined up quickly felt proud. How could they embarrass the instructor? !

——

The military training is completely over, and after 3 pm it is free time. The students are like birds out of a cage. Many say goodbye to the instructors and reminisce about the military training. More people are already preparing to leave the school in groups to relax.

Shuangshuang looked at Wu Xiangchen who was surrounded by several male classmates not far away, and hesitated whether to go up and say hello to them.

I am such a heartless person. I really forgot about my brother Chenchen. How can I go up to him now and ask for his advice?

She tapped her toes on the ground, but it was Lu Shanfang from the Chinese Department who rushed over and interrupted her thoughts.

"Shuangshuang! The military training is finally over!" Lu Shanfang grabbed her hand and said, "Let me see, you haven't gotten tanned yet, but I've gotten quite a bit tanned."

"You're fine too." Shuangshuang comforted her.

"Hey, isn't that Yang Hongsheng's company commander? I heard he brought you guys with him, right? Is he fierce?"

After thinking about it, they decided that Brother Chenchen shouldn't be a vicious person.

Ever since she remembered her brother Chenchen, she no longer found it scary when she heard Instructor Wu drilling everyone loudly during military training.

In her memory, brother Chenchen was a very good person, how could he be vicious? Yang Hongsheng must be talking nonsense.

"Coach Wu, are you leaving now? Can you give us some pointers?"

"Can I go to the army after I finish college?"

Wu Xiangchen was talking to a group of students when his eyes inadvertently swept across Shuangshuang not far away. He didn't know what the girl was thinking as she was just staring at him in a daze.

After a while, he sent away a group of over-enthusiastic college students, and saw Shuangshuang finished the conversation with her companions and walked straight towards him.

What should I do if the girl I watched grow up with when I was a child doesn't remember me?

Wu Xiangchen thought about it and decided to help her recall. If it really didn't work, he could wait for Dunzi to come over. Once he told her, Shuangshuang would probably be able to remember.

"pair..."

"Brother Chenchen."

The two stood face to face and spoke at the same time.

Wu Xiangchen was stunned at first, then his lips curled up, and his clear eyes seemed to be filled with light, "Do you remember?"

"Yeah." Shuangshuang felt a little embarrassed. Brother Chenchen was so good to her back then, how could she have forgotten? "I kind of remembered now. Brother Chenchen, you were with Brother Dunzi and the others. You gave me a lot of New Year's money and bought me candy."

The more Wu Xiangchen listened, the more satisfied he became. It seemed that he had not completely forgotten it.

"When I saw your name on the roll call that day, I almost thought I had seen it wrong. But then I remembered the time I heard someone call you Shuangshuang at the gate of the military area, so it must be you. We, Shuangshuang, have grown up too, and I almost didn't recognize you."

Shuangshuang listened to brother Chenchen talking about their childhood, and their thoughts gradually drifted away. It turned out that even after not seeing each other for so many years, they could still talk for a long time.

"Brother Chenchen, are you serving in the Capital Military Region now?"

"Yes, the Yang Hongsheng you and your classmates went to see last time is the new recruit of our company." The students around were calling their friends to go out for dinner, and Wu Xiangchen also felt that it was inappropriate to talk while standing, "Come on, I'll treat you to dinner."

Shuangshuang originally thought that she could go back after talking to Brother Chenchen about the situation, but who knew that she would end up coming out to eat in a daze.

There are many restaurants and food stalls near Capital University. Wu Xiangchen didn't know what young girls like to eat nowadays, so he let Shuangshuang choose for herself.

"Look, what do you want to eat?"

They both chose a less crowded restaurant and ordered three stir-fried dishes: stir-fried pork with scallions, duck in soy sauce, and winter melon meatball soup. At the table, they ate their meal and each picked up a meatball. The finely chopped meatball was wrapped with bits of scallions. When they took a bite, the fragrance lingered on their lips and teeth.

After eating a meatball, Shuangshuang felt a pair of eyes fixed on her face.

He looked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I remember you didn't eat onions when you were a child." Wu Xiangchen smiled.

"Ah?" Shuangshuang recalled, "That was when I was only a few years old. I eat it now. I am not picky about food."

The image of me in Brother Chenchen's mind wouldn't be the image of me when I was a child, right? The one who was picky about food, cried a lot, and wiped tears and snot on his clothes? !

That's too embarrassing.

Wu Xiangchen nodded, and was surprised that time was a powerful tool that could change a lot.

Back then, Shuangshuang, who was only four years old, was having dinner at Aunt Xiuhui's house. She didn't like onions at that time, and when she found some onions in the meatballs, she pouted her lips so high that it seemed like an oil pot could be hung on them.

Wu Xiangchen, who was sitting next to her, poked the meatballs open for her and picked out all the green onions mixed in the meatballs. Only then was the little girl satisfied and she ate the meatballs with relish.

But now we don’t need to pick out onions, Shuangshuang has grown up and eats everything.

After dinner, Wu Xiangchen prepared to report back to the military district. Before leaving, he did not forget to give instructions, "Our military district is not far from your school. You can come to me if you have any problems. Especially now that you are studying away from home, Uncle Cheng and Aunt Lulu are also far away, and they may not be able to come to you in time if something happens. If anyone dares to bully you, remember to tell me and I will support you."

They both smiled, this seemed like their brother Chenchen when he was a child. Since he was little, he has been protected by a group of brothers, so no one dared to bully him.

"Like how you scared Hou Xiaobao?" She looked up and smiled.

Hou Xiaobao?

Wu Xiangchen recalled that the chief's grandson was naughty when he was young, but he and Dunzi scared him with a sea monster and he became obedient. "What happened to him later? Does he dare to bully you again?"

"I don't dare!" Shuangshuang thought of this and seemed to have a lot to say, "He followed me like a little tail, insisting on playing with me, saying he wanted to join your team and asked me to help speak for him. It was so annoying."

Wu Xiangchen listened to the two talking about the people they knew in the past. It seemed as if the distance between them for many years gradually disappeared and the two became closer.

His hands were itching and he really wanted to pull the little girl's braid, but there was no braid for him to pull on her hair.

"Okay, go back and study hard." Wu Xiangchen reached out and patted her head gently, "Tell me if you have anything to say."

"Hmm!" Shuangshuang felt the big hand patting her head gently and she smiled. Brother Chenchen still seemed to be Brother Chenchen, she hadn't changed at all!

——

After the military training ended, the freshmen began their intensive study.

The Department of Journalism is considered a mid-level major at Capital University, not as good as the best but better than the worst.

Shuangshuang is smart and quick-witted, and her academic progress is good. She goes between the classroom and the dormitory every day, and occasionally goes out of the school to play with her roommates or classmates.

Remembering what her mother said, that college life should be colorful, she signed up for the school radio station and became a campus reporter. In her spare time, she followed her seniors to interview people and met all kinds of people.

In November, both of us turned 18, which happened to be a weekday, and we had a full schedule.

At noon, she received a call from her father on her pager. She went to the post office to answer the call. Her family wished her a happy birthday and celebrated her coming of age, saying that they had sent a gift.

In the afternoon, she received a package which contained gifts from her family. She was so happy that she was about to leave when the teacher at the post office told her that there was another package for her.

When I opened it, I found a beautiful red pen in the package with a note attached, "I'm on a mission, so I can't treat you to a meal to celebrate your birthday, so I'll give you the gift first. Shuangshuang, happy 18th birthday - Wu Xiangchen."

Shuangshuang stared at the note in a daze. She didn't expect that Brother Chenchen still remembered her birthday.

As for her brother Chenchen, whom she met again three months ago, she felt that the military was very busy and never bothered him.

Until one day in December, her pager rang again. It said that a stranger was calling her and asked her to call back. It was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?" Shuangshuang looked at the number above and went to the school post office to pay to call back. There should be very few people who knew her pager number.

"Shuangshuang, it's me."

There was a familiar voice on the other end of the phone.

"Brother Dunzi?" Shuangshuang was immediately excited. She hadn't seen Brother Dunzi for a long time.

Dunzi finally finished his business and took the green train to the capital to see her and Chenchen.

After they hung up the phone, they hurriedly took a bus to the Capital Military Region.

Because Wu Xiangchen was busy with work and had only two hours of free time, Dunzi organized a meal for them near his military area.

After not seeing each other for several years, Wu Xiangchen met his good brother at the gate of the military area.

"Why have you grown taller again?" Dunzi's first words were to scold him.

Wu Xiangchen smiled complacently, "Just accept your fate, you will always be shorter than me in this life."

"Bah!"

The two men walked closer, smiled at each other, patted each other on the shoulders, and there was no need to say more.

We talked about what had happened in the past few years, got to know each other's current situation, and walked to the bus stop together to wait. Not long after, a youthful and unrestrained girl got off the No. 3 bus.

Her hair was tied into a high ponytail, and it fluttered as she ran. As the capital had already entered early winter, she wore a light pink wool coat that covered her calves, and black cotton trousers and black leather boots.

"Brother Dunzi! Brother Chenchen!" Shuangshuang trotted towards them with a little excitement.

"Oh my! My sister has grown up!" Dunzi looked at Shuangshuang and suddenly felt like his daughter had grown up. He had watched her grow up little by little. "How is school? Are you doing well? Are you being bullied? Tell us if you have anything to say. I'm not in the capital, but your brother Chenchen is here."

Shuangshuang suspected that they just wanted to pick a fight because their hands were itchy, otherwise why would they always worry about being bullied? "No, no, my classmates are all very nice."

"Okay, let's go eat! It's my treat." Dunzi waved his hand, "It's cold today, let's have scorpion hotpot. After we finish eating, your brother Chenchen will have to return to the team, so time is tight."

In the cold early winter, there was a cold wind blowing outside, but there was a fire burning inside the house, and the body was warm.

She took off her woolen coat and put it aside. She wore a white woolen sweater inside, which made her face look even fairer. Her long eyelashes fluttered. She looked at the scorpion hotpot and swallowed her saliva. It must be delicious!

The three people who finally reunited had a meal and talked about their childhood from time to time. The atmosphere was full of memories and laughter.

"Back then, we fought fiercely!"

"I remember Shuangshuang was the leader, I was the political commissar, and Chenchen was the chief of staff or the head of the regiment?"

Wu Xiangchen also remembered it and answered clearly, "Chief of Staff."

“Yes, I remember it too!” Shuangshuang missed those days very much. It was so much fun when they were kids, “fighting” with their brothers.

"Now, our leaders are both in college. I'm doing business, and you're in the army. You have a chance, maybe you can become chief of staff in the future."

Dunzi thought about the past, especially the many deceitful people and things he encountered in business, and missed the simplicity and carefreeness of his childhood even more.

After dinner, Shuangshuang went to wash her hands. Dunzi came back after paying the bill and sat down to talk to Wu Xiangchen, "Shuangshuang has really grown up. She was just a little girl when she was born. We went to see her together and I didn't even dare to hold her. How come she is in college all of a sudden?"

Shuangshuang put on her coat again and took off her ponytail. Her dark hair fell loose, which made her look more picturesque. Several male diners at the table next to her stared at her a few more times.

One person jumped up and tried to talk to Shuangshuang, but was scared back by the cold eyes of the two men next to Shuangshuang.

Dunzi couldn't help but sigh, "The guys in college are not simple. Don't be fooled by your looks. Some of them specialize in deceiving innocent girls. I have heard a lot of such stories outside in the past few years."

He reminded Wu Xiangchen again and entrusted him with an important task, "Chenchen, you have to keep an eye on Shuangshuang. Even if she talks about someone in the future, you have to find out what that person is like? Is he worthy of us, Shuangshuang?"

Wu Xiangchen nodded, "I know."

"Hey, no, if Shuangshuang really finds someone to get married, why would I feel like marrying a girl? Now I understand Uncle Cheng's mentality. As a brother, I have to be more fierce and have the momentum of Shuangshuang's mother-in-law. That kid also has to think carefully and not dare to bully Shuangshuang."

Wu Xiangchen suspected that Dunzi was too absorbed in the role, so he raised his eyelids and looked at him, "Are you thinking too far ahead?"