Chapter 53 Farewell: Tears of the Desert
That order, stamped with the highest-level red seal, was like a divine talisman, causing the deathly silence of the entire 091 base to begin flowing again.
Although Zhao Di's condition remains critical, at least she now has a chance to survive.
This road to survival is a steel road that stretches from the capital all the way to the south.
The news of the transfer spread like wildfire, silently reaching every corner of the base.
Everyone put down their work and spontaneously headed towards the hospital.
There was no noise, no slogans.
Only silent footsteps and pairs of bloodshot eyes.
They knew that their little ancestor, who had brought them white steamed buns and hope, was leaving.
Perhaps, he will never come back.
At the entrance of the hospital at Base 091, the road leading to the large iron gate was lined with people.
It was pitch black, stretching as far as the eye could see.
There were elderly academicians wearing white coats and with gray hair.
There were workers covered in oil stains, carrying wrenches.
There were also young soldiers who had just come off the training field, their faces still painted with greasepaint.
They stood there quietly, like a silent poplar forest, guarding the path of life that was about to embark on its journey.
It was almost dawn.
Dawn in the Gobi Desert always carries a bone-chilling cold.
The hospital doors finally opened.
Lin Jianguo carried Zhao Di, who was wrapped in a thick quilt, and walked out step by step.
His steps were slow and heavy.
Every step felt like stepping on everyone's heart.
Zhao Di's face was still pale, but her breathing was much more steady and no longer as rapid and hot as before.
She seemed to sense the movement outside and weakly opened her eyes.
Those once bright, star-like eyes were now somewhat dim, veiled with moisture.
She looked at the familiar and unfamiliar grandfathers, uncles, and other relatives on both sides of the road.
They were all looking at her.
Her eyes held a sadness and reluctance that she couldn't understand.
"Building a nation..."
Mr. Hua from the mathematics group walked forward shakily, holding a small whistle that had been polished to a shine from a bullet casing.
"This... is for Zhaodi to play with on the way."
"If you can't blow the whistle anymore, just think of Grandpa..."
As he spoke, the old man, who had been robust all his life, could no longer hold back and turned around, his shoulders shaking violently.
"And this! This one!"
Professor Qian from the physics group also squeezed over, holding a strangely shaped "robot dog" made up of various gears and parts.
"Little girl, this is a toy that Grandpa made for you. Press the tail and it will shake its head."
"You...you have to get better soon."
"Grandpa is waiting for you to teach me how to play with that spring..."
One person after another gathered around.
They were all holding something in their hands.
There were candies I'd saved up for half a month, ones I couldn't bear to eat.
A small backpack sewn from parachute fabric.
He had a small toy gun that he had carved himself from wood.
These things, worthless outside, are the most precious and heartfelt gifts that these roughnecks can offer.
They clumsily stuffed all these things into Lin Jianguo's arms and into Chen Zhiyuan's backpack.
He was muttering to himself.
"The child will eat on the way."
"Take it and play with it, don't be disgusted by it."
"Girl, when you get to the south, remember to write to us..."
Lin Jianguo held his daughter, looking at the simple and sincere faces in front of him.
He wanted to say thank you, but it felt like a hot iron was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.
He could only bow deeply again and again.
Chen Zhiyuan followed behind, his eyes red like a rabbit's.
He knew that these people weren't giving him gifts.
What I'm sending is my concern and my longing.
It is hoped that this little girl who brought miracles to the desert will never forget them, no matter where she goes.
Let us not forget this barren yet passionate land.
Commander Zhang stood beside the jeep; he did not cry.
But those bloodshot eyes were even more heartbreaking than tears.
He personally opened the car door for Lin Jianguo.
"Jianguo, I won't say any more."
He patted Lin Jianguo's shoulder hard, with such force that it felt like he was going to crush him.
"I've given you my most elite guards."
"You will personally lead the team on the way."
"I only have one sentence."
Commander Zhang stared intently at Lin Jianguo and spoke slowly and deliberately.
"If she were missing even a single hair."
"You, and the platoon you took with you, are not to come back."
"Bring me your head!"
This was not an order; it was an old general's heaviest and most desperate entrustment.
"yes!"
Lin Jianguo straightened his back and gave a standard military salute.
This is a pledge.
He made this pledge with the lives of himself and thirty-six soldiers.
He carefully carried Zhao Di into the car.
The car started moving slowly.
Zhao Di lay on the stretcher, looking out the car window at the grandfathers and uncles who were getting further and further away.
They were still waving.
Many people were wiping away tears.
In her small world, she couldn't fully understand what separation meant.
But she could sense the sad atmosphere.
She stretched out her weak little hand and waved towards the window.
Then, using all her strength, she spoke to Lin Jianguo in a childish voice.
"Father..."
"Zhaodi, go...go eat big fish..."
"Come back...come back for the grandpas...bring some meat..."
These words were like a tear gas bomb.
The sound was clearly audible to everyone outside through the half-open car window.
With a loud bang.
From the crowd, the suppressed sobs could no longer be contained.
Countless tough men wept like children in this desolate desert.
Commander Zhang suddenly turned around, his back to the departing jeep.
He looked up at the gray sky.
A scalding tear finally slid down from the corner of her eye, hitting the yellow sand at her feet and disappearing without a trace.
Goodbye, my little darling.
You must take good care of yourself.
The jeeps drove out of the base and met up with a convoy of dark green vehicles that had been waiting there on the desolate Gobi Desert highway.
At the end of the convoy was a makeshift railway track.
On the tracks, a completely black train, without any markings, lay there quietly like a sleeping steel dragon.
That place marks their new journey.
It was also Zhao Di's, the Road of Hope.
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