"Comrade Su, once you enlist, you cannot be discharged early unless there are special reasons. Even if there are other special reasons for leaving active service, you must write a report and obtain approval from an agency at the division level or above. Otherwise, your file will be marked with a record of 'refusal to serve in the military'."
"Besides, you're perfectly fine, aren't you? The Public Security Bureau just sent a congratulatory telegram. If nothing unexpected happens, you're guaranteed a second-class merit award this time."
"Such a great opportunity! Such a promising future, and you actually want to retire early at this time??"
The clerk in charge of handling this matter looked at Su Qingci with disbelief.
Do they really think this military camp is a department store? That they can come and go as they please?
"Serving in the military means fulfilling military service. Leaving the military without permission is considered desertion and constitutes the crime of evading military service, which carries criminal liability."
Su Qingci had a headache. She shouldn't have believed Song Jingzhou's nonsense; now she couldn't leave.
"Sister Huang, what were the special reasons you mentioned earlier?"
Sister Huang said in a serious tone, "Those who retire early are generally either physically unable to withstand high-intensity training, or they violated discipline or were sent home by the army for other reasons."
Su Qingci immediately clutched her chest, "That's the special reason!"
"Sister Huang, you have no idea! What kind of mission did I get picked for? A gunfight! Bang bang bang bang bang bang~"
Gunfight!!!
Su Qingci looked terrified, her eyes bulging. "The brain just exploded right in front of me, brain matter was all over my face, blood, lots of blood, corpses everywhere..."
“I’m just an archivist. I was always studying before. I’ve never seen anything like that before. I was terrified. I didn’t dare to sleep all night. Look at the bloodshot in my eyes. Look how haggard I am. I also have a tightness in my chest, like a big rock is pressing down on me. I can’t breathe. I’m sweating profusely for no reason. I can’t concentrate. Look how my hands are shaking. I can’t write at all.” Su Qingci showed the other person her trembling hands.
"Besides, while I was talking, I would often drift off into daydreams. I couldn't control myself. How can I possibly perform my duties properly like that?"
When Sister Huang saw Su Qingci's pitiful state, like a delicate white flower fluttering in the wind, her heart softened.
Su Qingci's face was deathly pale. "Right now, when I close my eyes, all I see is... I love the organization, I love the Party, and I love everything in the military. But I'm afraid that in this state, I won't be able to do things well, and I'll let the Party down..."
Sister Huang sighed, "Sigh, I understand your situation, but we still have to follow the rules and regulations. And now... it would be such a pity to just give up like this."
"How about this, you take sick leave first? Come back after you've recovered?"
Su Qingci's eyes lit up. There was another way?
"Sister, you're my own sister. It's okay to take sick leave. I'll definitely adjust my mindset and mentality and strive to return to the team as soon as possible so that I can continue to contribute to the construction of our motherland!"
Looking at Su Qingci's indignant face, Sister Huang couldn't help but nod. She's a good comrade!
And so, Su Qingci received her sick leave certificate from Sister Huang, with her return date to be determined.
When Song Jingzhou saw Su Qingci come out, he quickly went to greet her, "How was it?"
Su Qingci waved the certificate in her hand, "It's better than retiring."
Song Jingzhou snatched the paper and glanced at it. It was even better than retirement! He'd retain the title of soldier, but wouldn't be subject to military control. He could always return to civilian life whenever he wanted...
"Let's go, pack our things and find a place to live."
Su Qingci turned her head, "Are you able to get out?"
Song Jingzhou chuckled, "You don't know, a lot has happened in our engineering research institute while you were away. Vice President Zhang has been hospitalized for a long time. With him gone, many of our research and development projects have been suspended, and some smaller projects don't need me either. I just asked for leave from my superiors, and I can spend at least seven days with you."
Su Qingci's eyes lit up. "That's great!"
When I got back to the dormitory, only Dang Gaiwen was there.
"Hey, Comrade Su, when did you get back?"
Su Qingci forced a smile and replied while packing her things, "I just got back."
Seeing Su Qingci carrying a bucket and packing up her things, Dang Gaiwen couldn't help but ask, "Comrade Su, are you changing dorm rooms?"
Su Qingci looked up and said, "No, I'm on sick leave."
"sick leave?"
What's wrong with you?
Su Qingci wrapped herself in the quilt, waved to Dang Gaiwen, and said, "I've developed a disease that makes me not want to move. Okay, see you again sometime."
Before Dang Gaiwen could react, Su Qingci had already left with her bucket and package on her back.
"A disease that makes you not want to move? Isn't that just laziness?"
On the other side, Li Yueniang returned from Tongrentang with Su Changzhi, carrying large and small bags of medicine.
Liao Fengmei was waiting at the door early on. When she saw Si Gui carrying Su Changzhi over, she quickly went forward to help him.
"Mother, how is it?"
Before Li Yueniang could speak, Sigui was already excitedly announcing the good news.
"Mom, there's a cure."
"That doctor was amazing! He stuck needles all over Dad's body. After the needles were removed, Dad looked much better. The doctor said that as long as he takes his medicine on time, goes for follow-up appointments on time, and uses some kind of pressure therapy, he should see noticeable results in two weeks..."
Liao Fengmei clasped her hands together and said, "That's wonderful, wonderful! Thank God, it's even better than I expected."
Seeing his parents' happy expressions, Si Gui hesitated for a moment, but the words he was about to say remained unspoken.
Thankfully, he came back with his father. The cost of medicine and treatment this time was not cheap. He saw it with his own eyes when his grandmother paid the bill. It cost more than fifty dollars in one go. If that were converted to Taiwanese dollars, it would be almost three hundred dollars.
I went twice this week, and according to the doctor, I'll need to go many times, and I'll need to take good care of myself afterwards.
A determined look flashed in Si Gui's eyes. He would tell his grandmother later that he would not go to school anymore and would go to work to earn money for his family.
Grandma is so old, yet she's supporting her whole family. How can this be allowed?
Li Yueniang handed the medicine to Liao Fengmei and found a ceramic pot for brewing the medicine for her. "You brew the medicine for Changzhi. The doctor said that one packet of medicine should be boiled down to one bowl with three bowls of water. Drink it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening."
"Mother has other things to do. There's food in the kitchen, so you can prepare your own lunch. If you have any questions, just call out to your Grandma Guo from the wall."
"Mother will be right back."
She needs to ask Su Yi for the money.
After Li Yueniang left, Su Changzhi, who had been holding back all the way, finally asked Sigui, "When your grandmother got the medicine, didn't you go with her? How much did it cost in total?"
Si Gui forced a smile and said, "Dad, how would I know? I was too embarrassed to get too close, and the money here is different from what we have back home, so how would I recognize it?"
"You really don't know? This involves acupuncture, massage, medication, and all sorts of other procedures. It must have cost a lot of money, right?"
Seeing Su Changzhi frowning, Si Gui quickly comforted him, "Don't think so much. Just focus on getting better, and we'll take good care of Grandma from now on."
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