Chapter 14: Farewell to Parents and Report to the County
"Xiao Mo is back. Hurry up and pack up. The county has sent a notice saying we need to gather at the armed forces department before 2 pm."
"I received the letter and will leave today."
The village chief was visibly relieved when he saw Chen Mo coming back. He then raised his hand and said, "Xuejun, you should hurry up and get some food for the child and send him to the assembly point."
"Don't delay anything."
"It's noon now, eat something at home." Chen Xuejun went out to see the village chief off.
Chen Mo followed his mother to the gate, then turned back and saw his mother still stuffing things into her bag, including candies bought in town and homemade tortillas.
Even the briefs with two holes on their buttocks were pulled out and prepared to be taken away.
My sister Chen Jing squatted beside me, staring blankly.
Chen Mo quickly walked up to her and said, "Mom, didn't I tell you that the army provides food, accommodation, and clothes, so you don't need to bring this."
"Mom knows, don't worry about it." Liu Fenglan agreed, but her hands did not stop moving: "Go to the kitchen and have dinner quickly."
"There's meat and steamed buns in the pot. Eat more. You have to learn to take care of yourself when you go out. Don't be so desperate when you encounter difficulties. Nothing is more important than having a full meal and a healthy body. Do you understand, kid?"
As Liu Fenglan gave these instructions, tears began to fall from her eyes again.
Although in the past half month, Chen Mo would talk to his parents about things in the army every day, hoping to reassure them and make them accept his leaving home for a long journey.
But as the saying goes, a mother worries about her son even when he is a thousand miles away. Just now when the village chief was here, Liu Fenglan was still able to hold back.
This is really unbearable.
"Why are you crying, old woman? It's a good thing for your child to join the army. Don't put so much pressure on him."
Chen Xuejun yelled with a hint of impatience, then fumbled around in his body for a while and pulled out a stack of money, all in small denominations.
There are two yuan, five yuan, and ten yuan options.
"This is three hundred and fifty-seven yuan. I know the army provides food and lodging, but I still have to prepare the money."
"Remember, don't put all your money in one pocket. Divide it into several places, inside and outside, top and bottom pockets. That way, if you lose it, you won't lose it all at once."
"Even if it's hot in the car, don't take off your clothes. Don't touch your pockets when you put money in them, and don't be stupid enough to press them. You have to pretend that nothing happened, otherwise you will attract thieves."
Chen Xuejun is imparting his "experience in the world" to his eldest son. In fact, he has never traveled far, but as a simple father.
I have always used my limited life experience to give detailed advice to my children who are about to leave home.
Chen Mo has heard it countless times in his past and present lives.
But when faced with the money his father handed over, Chen Mo really didn't have the courage to take it.
Even the two-yuan and five-yuan bills were taken out. You can imagine the situation at home.
What's more, it's almost the Chinese New Year.
"Take it. You might need something when you're away from home. If you run out of money, remember to send a message home and I'll mail it to you at the post office."
“Take it!!”
Seeing that his son didn't say anything, Chen Xuejun stuffed the money directly into Chen Mo's hand, and forcibly grabbed Chen Mo's hand and stuffed the money into his pocket before nodding: "Go, eat first."
"Your mother and I have already eaten. Hurry up and eat. I'll pump up the tires in the car and take you to the city after we finish eating."
"good."
Chen Mo didn't hesitate any longer. He walked to the side, picked up his little sister who was squatting on the ground and went to the kitchen.
While my mother was packing her luggage, my father was checking the bicycle tires in the yard with a pump.
Chen Mo took out all the change he had on him, kept a hundred-dollar bill for himself, and stuffed the rest into Chen Jing's small pocket.
"Xiao Jing, remember, wait for dad to send me off. When you come back, you can give this money to dad, okay?"
"Why?"
The little girl touched the bulging banknotes in her pocket, her face full of confusion.
Chen Mo stood up and lifted the lid of the pot, took out the steamed pork with rice flour and steamed buns in the pot, picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks, blew on it, and fed it to his sister.
"Because my brother doesn't need so much, you can give it to our dad. Then you can have new clothes to wear and meat to eat during the New Year, okay?"
"good."
The little girl didn't understand what separation meant yet, so she happily sat on the small stool, waiting for her brother to give her some meat.
Chen Mo was also feeding his sister while chewing steamed buns.
But the main room was not quiet. Chen Mo faintly heard that his mother seemed to be trying to put his pillow into the bag.
But he was stopped by his father.
Then I heard low sobbing coming from the room, accompanied by the mother's complaining voice, "Don't worry about it, I know there's not enough space, but I just want to take everything for the child."
"You said you insisted on sending your child to the army. How old is he?"
Hearing the noise, Chen Mo sighed.
He originally thought that he had been away from home for many years and had long been accustomed to this kind of separation and would not be too reluctant to leave.
But he found out that he was wrong. This kind of blood-thicker-than-water kinship cannot be severed just by habit.
As a veteran who had served in the army, Chen Mo knew that new recruits only needed to bring themselves with them, and everything else was superfluous.
But he really couldn't refuse his mother's feelings.
After dinner.
Chen Mo came into the house and changed his clothes into the Type 87 military uniform issued by the Armed Forces Department.
His build is based on the average person, 1.76 meters tall and weighing over 60 kilograms.
The military uniform model 175/88, which is a panacea for the troops, is perfect for Chen Mo.
He wore a hat and a pair of Liberation shoes.
Chen Mo's entire temperament changed in an instant, and he transitioned from a local youth to a soldier.
This was not his first time joining the army, so he still had a bit of a "soldier" vibe about him.
"Dad, Mom."
Chen Mo changed his clothes and came out of the east room. When Chen Xuejun saw him, he nodded with satisfaction.
"Come on, I'll take you to the city."
Mother Liu Fenglan held her daughter in her arms, lowered her head and wiped her tears, not daring to speak.
"Mom, I'm leaving. Don't worry. I can take care of myself."
Chen Mo picked up his luggage, sat on the back seat of the bicycle, and waved goodbye to his mother.
I waited until I could leave the village, until my mother's figure at the entrance became too blurry to be seen clearly.
Chen Mo turned around and sighed softly.
......
The Fu County Armed Forces Department is not far from Chen Mo's home, only about nine kilometers away.
After riding for about forty minutes, the two arrived at the gate.
There are quite a few parents here who come to send their children. At a glance, there are more than a dozen of them, all of whom are whispering something.
According to regulations, parents who send their children here are not allowed to enter the armed forces department.
After all, once you join the army, you will have to be independent in the future.
If we allow parents to send their children by car, I'm afraid that if their children don't leave, their parents won't go home.
"Dad, you should go back too. It's cold."
Chen Mo got off the bicycle and waved to Chen Xuejun.
He turned around and strode into the armed forces department.
Looking at his son's departing back, Chen Xuejun stood there in a daze for a while before silently pushing the bicycle.
He walked towards home, looking back every few steps.
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