An Moxue and Wu Sicheng walked upright and straight through the campus, their eyes fixed straight ahead.
"Mo Xue, the dormitory is just ahead." Wu Sicheng pointed to a building and said, "So many years have passed, but the school is still the same, without any changes."
The two walked into the building, found their dormitory room number, and An Moxue took out the key she had been given when she registered and opened the door.
Wu Sicheng looked and said, "Two people have arrived, but they've already left. I'll tidy up my things, and then we'll go out too."
An Moxue nodded, and Wu Sicheng pulled out a stool from under the study desk. "Moxue, please sit down first. I'll be done in a few minutes."
Then, An Moxue saw Wu Sicheng quickly make the bed, fold clothes, and arrange items, completing everything in just a few minutes.
"Alright, let's go! Today I'll take you to eat in the cafeteria so you can experience the food at a military academy. It should be a bit better than Kyoto University's, otherwise it would be difficult for students to keep up with physical training. Then you can go back to school for your class meeting."
An Moxue became interested. "Great! I wonder what we'll be eating?"
Wu Sicheng smiled faintly, "It's all the same old stuff, like from a communal pot. I wonder if the kitchen is open now that school has just started? There used to be a chef who cooked really well, I wonder if he's still there."
The two went out, but they hadn't gone far when someone called them back.
"Sicheng?" Wu Sicheng and An Moxue turned around and saw a man in his early fifties calling out to them.
As the three approached, Wu Sicheng asked, "Instructor Geng! Are you still teaching at the school?" Wu Sicheng was full of surprise.
Instructor Geng said with a mixture of helplessness and gratitude, "Where else can I go if I'm not at school? Only here do they not look down on me and allow me to shine."
Wu Sicheng said very sincerely, "How could that be? You are a war hero, there are many places you can go! Please don't underestimate yourself."
Instructor Geng asked, "What's this?"
Wu Sicheng replied, "I'll come back for further studies."
He looked at the epaulets on his shoulders and said, "Great! These trainees are all elites from various military units. Study hard and get along well!"
Wu Sicheng replied, "Yes, I will. I'll go first and show my friend around the school."
"Okay! Let's chat sometime, for a year!" But there was something else in his eyes when he looked at An Moxue, something he hid so well that neither of them noticed it.
The three separated, and An Moxue asked, "Your former instructor?"
Wu Sicheng said with some regret, "Yes, I injured my lungs in a battle, leaving a permanent injury. I can only teach some students at the school, but I have a great record in battle and I am also very good at teaching students."
An Moxue said, "Excellent people excel at everything they do."
Wu Sicheng glanced at his watch and said, "Let's go to the cafeteria. The small cafeteria over there should be open early by now, it always opens half an hour early."
Wu Sicheng led An Moxue through the training field, then past the classrooms and reading room, and finally to the cafeteria.
Looking at the location of the cafeteria, An Moxue asked in confusion, "Why is the cafeteria in such a remote corner? Is it because once you climb over the wall, it's no longer part of the school?"
"Yes, those are the school's vegetable garden and pig farm. The canteen is located here because the pig farm is here, and the smell of pig manure blows eastward with the wind. The canteen is also west of the pig farm, close to the pig farm, which makes it convenient to feed the pigs with kitchen waste and to pick vegetables. Most importantly, the smell of the food will not drift to other parts of the school and will not affect the college's daily training."
Upon entering the cafeteria, Wu Sicheng said happily, "The small cafeteria is open. I'll go see if I know anyone there before ordering."
Wu Sicheng leaned against the window of the small canteen and called inside, "Is anyone here? I'd like to order."
"Yes." Wu Sicheng smiled when he heard a familiar voice.
Before even seeing the person, just hearing the reply and the approaching footsteps, Wu Sicheng exclaimed, "Old Zhu, you're still in the cafeteria? What a pleasant surprise!"
"Xiao Wu?" A surprised voice accompanied a pleasing, round face.
“It’s me, Lao Zhu. You’re even luckier now.”
"That's right, there's no way around it, the cafeteria food is delicious. Are you back for business or further studies?"
Wu Sicheng replied, "Continuing studies. What's good to eat today? I brought a friend over. Let's try the food at our school." As he spoke, Wu Sicheng pointed to An Moxue, who was standing not far away.
An Moxue saw this, smiled and nodded at Lao Zhu, and Lao Zhu smiled and nodded back.
Then he lowered his head and whispered, "Girlfriend, huh? She's really beautiful! You're awesome, kid!" He even gave her a thumbs up.
Wu Sicheng smiled, didn't refute, and tacitly agreed, then took out a pack of cigarettes and handed it over.
Old Zhu took it, glanced at it, and said, "You always have good stuff, thanks, I'll keep it. Does your girlfriend have any dietary restrictions?"
"No, I'm from Kyoto."
"Should I decide what to get for you, or do you want to order?"
"You decide what to do; we both have big appetites."
"The soup in the main kitchen today was made by Lao Wei. You can get a serving."
"Okay." Wu Sicheng said, handing over ten yuan, two jin of grain coupons, and two jin of meat coupons.
Old Zhu said, "We'll refund any overpayment and make up any underpayment, but our canteen can also stop using food coupons and meat coupons."
"Got it. Your signature dish, Dongpo pork knuckle, is a must."
"Okay, another red bean sweet soup, please. We happen to have some cooked red beans today. Girls like this, and it's good for their health."
Thanks.
Old Zhu waved his hand and went into the kitchen.
Wu Sicheng led An Moxue to sit in a corner. An Moxue said, "I feel like you're in your element back at school. You're both an instructor and a cafeteria cook. You must have had excellent grades back then, or you must have been a troublemaker. Otherwise, the instructors wouldn't have recognized you from just your back after not seeing you for so many years. And this kitchen too, I can tell from the way you two are handing out cigarettes that you've done it a thousand times. You must have had a lot of special treatment!"
"It was just a coincidence. I ran into someone I knew," Wu Sicheng said, then asked, "Are you thirsty? I'll get you a glass of water."
An Moxue shook her head and said, "When we have soup later, tell me about your time at this school!"
"It seems like all I did was train and go on missions. The most memorable thing was the canteen. I was growing a lot back then, and I would get hungry again an hour after finishing a meal. I was always hungry and never felt like I was starving."
I remember one time, I was so hungry in the middle of the night that I sneaked into the cafeteria and grabbed two big steamed buns to eat, choking on them.
But I was still quite content. The next day, Old Zhu came to me and said, "Xiao Wu, how about you deposit some money with me, and I'll save you some food every day?"
I don't think you're short of money. I looked at him with surprise and delight, and was so touched that I burst into tears!
Guess what? He said, "I saw you secretly eating steamed buns last night. Don't do that again, what if you choke?"
That looked awful! It was only because I saw your meal ticket on the cupboard that I didn't report you to the leadership and teach you a lesson. My gratitude vanished instantly. After that, I got to know Lao Zhu better and better, and I rarely went hungry anymore. My roommates also rarely went hungry anymore.
Later, I learned that Old Zhu was a person who favored good-looking people. Good-looking people would receive preferential treatment from him, regardless of gender.
"Thanks to this face, I ate quite well for those four years."
An Moxue covered her mouth, suppressing her laughter, "Being good-looking has its advantages, hahaha!"
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