Gu Moli's comrades-in-arms have all gotten married one after another, and Shao Fei, who was relatively close to him, is already a father. Gu Moli, however, despite rising to the rank of battalion commander, remains single. In modern parlance, Gu Moli and Su Xingran's relationship could be described as more than friends, but less than lovers.
Four years ago, Gu Moli gave Su Xingran the jade pendant, but she didn't return it. Instead, two years later, Su Xingran gave him a different jade pendant. Gu Moli has been thinking recently that he needs to find a suitable opportunity to confess his feelings to the girl he loves.
In the past four years, the people around Su Xingran have also changed. Gu Moting and Xiao Xue had a son, and Gu Moting was transferred back to the military in Beijing last year. Xiao Moyue also got married to her partner, and Su Xingran attended the wedding.
In 1984, Vietnam dispatched a large number of spies to conduct reconnaissance and harassment along the Chinese border. Vietnamese troops also engaged in armed provocations against China along the border and opened fire on villagers and militia members in border villages.
In April of the same year, the Chinese border troops launched a counterattack in self-defense to defend the motherland's territorial sovereignty and national dignity. After more than ten days of fierce fighting, the Chinese border troops recovered Laoshan and other places.
A month later, Gu Moli learned that he would soon be going to the battlefield again. After much deliberation, he finally decided to confess his feelings to the girl he loved before heading off. After years of ups and downs, he felt that Su Xingran understood him. It was just that he hadn't spoken first, and she hadn't taken the initiative either.
Su Xingran learned from the news that the border troops had once again launched a counterattack in self-defense. She wondered if Gu Moli would also be going to the battlefield again. Su Xingran thought he was just waiting foolishly, too afraid to speak up. She had used the excuse that her career was her priority and she had no immediate plans to get married or have children, but she hadn't expected Gu Moli to take it so seriously.
Su Xingran, who was on leave that day, received a call from Gu Moli. Gu Moli said on the phone, "Xingran, I'm planning to leave for a while, and I don't know when I'll be back. Xingran, I have something to tell you."
Su Xingran said calmly, "Gu Moli, I need to hang up now. I'll call you back in about an hour, and we can talk then."
After hanging up the phone, Su Xingran dialed the village number. Telephones had been installed in the village committee last year to facilitate the villagers' needs. When the call connected, Su Xingran heard the village head answer.
Su Xingran said to the village chief, "Uncle Village Chief, this is Xingran. Could you please inform my parents to come and answer the phone?"
Upon hearing that it was Su Xingran, the village chief chuckled and said, "Oh, it's Xingran. Okay, Uncle Village Chief will have someone notify your parents to come and answer the phone. You can hang up now, it's expensive, call back later."
The village chief sent someone on a bicycle to fetch Su Guomin and his wife. Su Guomin and Zeng Huilan, who were having lunch at home, heard someone calling them and quickly put down their bowls and went outside.
A young man at the door said to the two who came out, "Uncle Guomin, Auntie, your sister Xingran called back. The village chief asked me to come and call you to answer the phone."
Upon hearing that it was Su Xingran on the phone, Su Guomin quickly went back into the yard. He pushed his bicycle out, locked the gate, and drove Zeng Huilan to the brigade headquarters.
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