Chapter 26 Military Reclamation Song
Song Lubai helped Chang Zhenzhen wash the clothes clean, and listened to her excitedly describe the scenes from "The Song of the Army Reclamation".
"The city should have released them earlier than the county, how come you haven't seen them yet?"
"Let me tell you, it's really amazing. The people in it are incredibly talented. They reclaimed wasteland, dug canals, built water conservancy projects, grew grain and cotton, and established livestock farms. They managed to turn that barren land into a small oasis."
"I heard from others that the people who stay in the border areas to participate in production and labor now were all soldiers. The Xinjiang Army and regiments are still recruiting here. I really want to go. In the movies, the land there is much more spacious than here. Cattle and sheep roam freely in the fields, and everyone works together to build things. They all look so energetic..."
Song Lubai had never seen "The Song of the Army Reclamation" and did not know that the movie was so powerful that it could make Chang Zhenzhen want to leave home and travel thousands of miles away.
"We'll talk about it on the way. How about you and I go pick some wild vegetables? It would be best to pick a lot to take back."
Besides Chang Zhenzhen, several other idle children also happily followed behind them to pick wild vegetables.
It takes several miles to reach the fields where grains are grown, and the wild vegetables in the fields are becoming increasingly abundant this season.
My aunt's family is large, with more than a dozen members, young and old, all crammed into a small courtyard house. Although it's crowded, it's very lively.
"Aunt, don't even think about going to XJ. My classmate's uncle went there seven or eight years ago and hasn't come back even once since. He's almost thirty now and still hasn't gotten married. The letter said there are very few women there, and it's impossible to find a woman to marry. Don't be so pessimistic. You'll not only have to work there, but you won't be able to come back."
Chang Zhenzhen is her aunt's youngest daughter. The one speaking is Chang Guangtao, the son of Chang Zhenzhen's eldest brother, who is only a few months younger than Chang Zhenzhen.
Chang Zhenzhen said in disbelief, "Why can't they come back? I heard there's a family visit leave."
Chang Guangtao: "The return ticket costs more than forty yuan, and I can't bear to spend that much."
Song Lubai was speechless.
The train ticket, costing over forty yuan, was almost equivalent to her mother's monthly salary.
She also advised, "Don't rush into signing up. What if you go and don't come back? If you suffer later, you won't even have anyone to cry to."
She didn't know what XJ was like now, but what Chang Guangtao said was frightening.
He hasn't come back even once in seven or eight years, and he still can't find a wife. If the women go there, won't they have to settle down there? Then they'll be even less likely to come back.
Chang Zhenzhen was quite unconvinced. "How can you think like that? Some people have already taken the lead over there. The country needs more people to build up the border areas. As ambitious young people, how can you back down just because you're afraid of hardship and fatigue? How can our country develop like that?"
Her eyes were filled with burning anticipation. Song Lubai thought she was really capable of secretly going to the frontier to support construction behind her family's back. She thought to herself that she would have to remind her aunt when she returned at noon.
The wild vegetables in the fields had been almost all dug up, so Song Lubai and the others went a little further away.
The older ones were in charge of digging, while the younger ones were in charge of picking off the wilted and dried leaves, making the wild vegetables in the basket look fresh and vibrant.
Only after both baskets were packed tightly did the group return.
On the dirt road back to the county town, a car that looked like it was about to fall apart drove forward, kicking up a trail of dust, which caused the little guy running fast in front to cough.
There were three men in military uniforms in the car. Seeing that the children were choking on the dust, the driver stopped the car and took out a few pieces of candy from his pocket.
The car window rolled down, the driver leaned out, waved to the children, and called out, "Come here."
The little rascals had been longing for the car for a long time, and when they heard the people inside calling them, Song Lubai didn't even have time to stop them before the three little rascals rushed to the car.
"What's wrong?"
The little ones looked at the car with curiosity, and then a handful of candy was stuffed into their hands.
"I just made you eat a mouthful of dust, so here are some candies for you."
The little ones were so happy.
"No need, no need to compensate us."
The children's eyes lingered on the car. Although the car looked really shabby, it was a rare and genuine vehicle!
Upon getting closer, Song Lubai saw that everyone inside was wearing military uniforms, and her initial wariness subsided.
As the driver saw Song Lubai and her two children approaching, he asked, "Do you know where Sanshui Village is?"
Song Lubai actually knew.
Liu Mei's family home is in Sanshui Village. She had visited Liu Mei's family home a few years ago and still remembered them: "Then you shouldn't have taken this road. You should have gone back and headed towards Chaoyang Commune..."
After she explained the route, the driver thanked her.
Song Lubai smiled and said, "You're welcome."
After she finished speaking, she looked up and glanced inside, and the person in the passenger seat also looked at her.
He must be quite tall, and he looked a little cramped sitting inside. The hat that covered his eyebrows and eyes couldn't hide his striking features.
She nodded politely, and the other person nodded politely in return.
Even after the car had left, Song Lubai still felt strange.
The nod the other person gave her had the air of a superior addressing a subordinate, which made her unconsciously straighten her body and back.
As expected of a soldier, even his nod has style.
Inside the car, the driver glanced at the passenger in the front seat and said, "Hey Lao Wei, do you really want to go to the frontier? You'd better think this through. Once you go, it won't be easy to get transferred back."
Wei Yang shifted his legs, finding a more comfortable position, and did not answer his companion's question.
When his eyes are closed, you can clearly see dark circles under his eyes, which means he hasn't been sleeping well lately.
The driver continued, "Why do you care what others say? You earned your military merits with your own life. If you just leave because of those people's sour words and deliberate provocations, what's the difference between you and a coward?"
The people behind him also advised, "That's right, once you leave, the space will be free, and those people will be more than happy to have it!"
Wei Yang opened his eyes, his eyes bloodshot. "I've already submitted the application. It's too late for you to say anything now, and I won't regret it."
The driver on the left was startled and slammed on the brakes.
"No way, are you serious? Are you kidding me? Giving up a bright future to suffer in that godforsaken place."
"My former comrades said there are more men than women soldiers there, and most are bachelors. If you go there, you probably won't find a wife. The Corps and regiments are recruiting in several provinces now, and the situation doesn't look very optimistic. Shanghai didn't recruit many people last year either. It's tough there..."
His companion rambled on and on, and Wei Yang waited until he finished before casually saying, "I'd love to go."
Companion: "Your sister won't agree. Your application definitely won't pass. I just don't understand you. Why bother? Just ignore those stinky, sour words."
Wei Yang said impatiently, "Are we leaving or not? You don't have much vacation time either. We still have three comrades' homes to visit."
His companion shook his head and set off again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
