From North America to Europe, the war was in full swing. Cities were reduced to ruins under the flames of war, and only the broken walls of the exquisite brick and stone buildings remained. The bomber swarms that covered the sky were like locusts, flying from one place to another, and the whistling bombs plowed the earth all over. Groups of tanks roared and crushed the earth mercilessly, and the whole world was trembling under the tanks. The artillery was roaring, and the smoke from the destroyed tanks rose up and gathered into a thick black cloud. The rolling smoke was like the devil's giant mouth that wanted to swallow all life and even the whole world.
On one side is death, on the other side is peace.
When the world was plunged into war, the empire's homeland remained at peace. Although the imperial army expanded to 7 million people more than a year after the war began, the homeland was not directly affected by the war. This was also the empire's greatest advantage.
For the people in the empire, the war did not seem to have brought much change, except, of course... most of the passengers in the carriage were women.
With the long whistle blowing, the train gradually slowed down and the long platform appeared in people's eyes.
"Dear passengers, this train has arrived at Qingzhou Station, the final stop. Passengers getting off the train, please pack your luggage so as not to forget it. Finally, thank you again for taking this train. Thank you."
The quiet and beautiful voice of the conductor came from the loudspeaker - this was also a change brought about by the war. Before the war, who would have thought that there would be a female conductor?
But apparently the passengers did not notice this. People who arrived at the terminal took their luggage off the luggage racks one after another, and then squeezed towards the door of the carriage. Although people deliberately kept a certain distance, it was still inevitably a bit crowded.
"It's really different from the past!"
Zhao Guodong sat upright in his seat, looking straight ahead, but he still felt the changes in the country. Although on the surface it seemed that all this had nothing to do with him, under his calm appearance, he couldn't help but think a lot in his heart.
It seems that nothing has changed, but in fact many things have changed. The trains are mostly women and children, and there are few adult men in the carriages - they have all gone to join the army.
Some of the classmates who left Qingzhou together have died on the battlefield, some are enjoying the sunshine in California in North America, some are soaking their feet in the muddy trenches in France, some are flying in the air, and some are drifting in the sea.
He was the only one who returned to his hometown at this time. Slowly, all the passengers in the carriage got off the train, leaving him alone. Finally, he sighed, stood up and took his backpack from the luggage rack with his left hand. When he turned around and left with the backpack on his back, his empty right sleeve revealed the reason for his return.
Some people came back and became disabled.
Qingzhou Station is the terminal station, and many passengers have already gotten off the train before arriving here. But even so, the number of people coming out of the various carriages is still considerable. Following the crowded crowd, Zhao Guodong, carrying a backpack, walked out of the station.
At the exit, there were a lot of people crowded there because of the need to check tickets. Just as Zhao Guodong was queuing in the crowd, a station attendant who was patrolling back and forth came up to him and said.
"Sir, you can take the priority lane this way."
Although he was not wearing a military uniform, the station attendant was able to recognize him.
"Thank you."
Under the guidance of the station attendant, Zhao Guodong walked out of the station through the priority channel.
Zhao Guodong was standing on the avenue in front of the station, looking at the cars coming and going on the street, but he seemed a little depressed. Where should he go now?
Are you going home?
His parents would definitely be happy that he came back alive. He survived, but not without a price - his right arm was amputated.
Just when he was feeling a little melancholy, a car stopped in front of him. The owner rolled down the window and spoke to him.
"Hey, young man, where are you going? Let me take you there."
"Thank you. I can take the train later..."
"The train will have to wait a little longer. You must have just returned from the front."
The car owner saw his empty sleeves and took the initiative to get out of the car and open the door for him.
"Come on, young man, where are you going? I'll take you there."
Faced with the unfamiliar enthusiasm, Zhao Guodong's heart couldn't help but feel warm. From the day he returned to China, he felt how society treated soldiers. This care and enthusiasm came from the heart.
"Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome. My child is also on the front line. I think he will be welcomed by people when he comes back."
"He will."
"Thanks."
On the road, the car owner did not ask where Zhao Guodong was serving, nor did he ask about the situation on the front line. Perhaps he knew that there are some things that people may not be willing to mention.
After getting off the bus near the residential area, Zhao Guodong expressed his gratitude again. When he turned and walked towards the residential area, he heard someone shouting.
"Guodong! It's really Guodong, the Guodong from the Zhao family is back!"
In an instant, people surrounded him, and some of them couldn't help but redden their eyes when they saw his empty sleeves.
Facing familiar and enthusiastic neighbors, Zhao Guodong chatted and laughed with them from time to time. It seemed that at this moment, he found the feeling of home again, at least on the surface.
…
There are neither classmates to chat and laugh with, nor comrades to share life and death with. Who can understand this feeling of loneliness?
Once again, Zhao Guodong sat in the bar, drinking beer silently. When he was at the front line, a brother once said, how nice it would be if he could have a glass of ice-cold beer.
But what about in the end?
He never got to drink beer until he died.
While Zhao Guodong was sitting at the bar drinking beer, a stranger came over, handed a dollar to the bartender, and said to him.
"Friend, please have a beer."
"Thank you, I'll just have a drink."
Zhao Guodong refused directly because he didn't need it. The stranger looked at him with a stern face and said.
"My friend, you fought the war. You fought so that we could all live happily here. I am grateful for your sacrifice. This is just a small token of my gratitude."
The stranger's words made Zhao Guodong stunned. He knew that if he didn't accept it, the other party would be unhappy. They understood that happiness is not without a price. And what about him? He paid a high price for happiness.
"Thank you...my friend."
Happiness has a price. At this moment, he seemed to understand why there was that article in the book - happiness has a price.
"If people don't understand this, then hundreds and thousands of people will die in vain..."
Once again, Zhao Guodong's mind flashed back to the text he had read before...
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