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There were bright lights and laughter in the distance, but Yan Yuan felt a little unbearable.
Previously, the Red Flag had been busy fighting, training troops, and consolidating its foundation, never relaxing for a single day. Moreover, with General Qiu's revenge still unresolved, who would have felt the need to celebrate? However, after this great battle, the Red Flag had established a firm foothold in the South China Sea. While there were celebration banquets and a temple dedicated to the general, none of this was as effective as a lively celebration during a festive occasion.
The army cannot keep the string taut for too long. The more suppressed it is, the more likely the soldiers will accumulate resentment.
Ordinary government troops can reward their soldiers with wine and women, but the Red Flag Gang cannot. After all, they are against the imperial court. If they are indulged, they will only become more and more like pirates.
However, it is difficult to get soldiers out of the "wartime" state by simply using honors and rewards to restrain them. If people are really suffocated, something might happen.
Who could have imagined that the leader could dispel all the hostility with just one simple gesture: "Celebrate the holidays together." Making rice cakes together, making noise together, reuniting with family and friends—the very word "reunion" is the most potent way to dispel the shadows. Furthermore, everyone will remember the leader's kindness and the friendship of the Red Flag Gang. Once the festival is over, the hearts of the people will not fall apart, but will only grow stronger and more united, transforming into a new force.
How could ordinary people imagine such human touch? But everyone was celebrating the festival happily, but where was the gang leader?
Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions, but there were no other people in the Qiu family. She didn't even attend the moon-worshipping banquet specially set up for women, but just closed the door and stayed alone in the house.
Yan Yuan had also thought about bringing Tian Yu over, calling a few of the big bosses, and the two little girls, He Ling and Lin Mo, to get together. Although men didn't have the tradition of worshipping the moon, having a meal and having some fun wouldn't be bad.
However, Cheng Xi rejected this proposal, and even sent Lin Mo back home, forcing her to celebrate the holiday with her family. Such an action inevitably made Yan Yuan think too much. No matter how smart, capable, and talented she was, she was still only a teenager. How could the destruction of her family have no impact on her?
But no matter how worried he was, it was already dark, and he couldn't find anyone to talk with by candlelight. He could only stand in his own courtyard, pacing anxiously. The courtyard where he lived was originally built, without a wall outside, only a fence, so he could clearly see the scenery on the street. Yan Yuan couldn't help but look at the courtyard where Cheng Xi lived frequently. Unexpectedly, not long after, he saw someone pushing the door and walking out. It was the gang leader!
Without hesitation, Yan Yuan hurried out the door and greeted him: "Boss, where are you going?"
Cheng Xi was holding a lunch box and was a little surprised to see Yan Yuan: "You didn't go to the military camp?"
"I went there in the afternoon. They made a fuss in the evening and I couldn't let everyone go even if I stayed." Yan Yuan did not express his concerns, but just gave the obvious reasons.
The other gang leaders all had families, so only Yan Yuan and Tian Yu were considered lonely. Cheng Xi nodded in understanding and said casually, "The moon is beautiful today. I want to go to the mountains to enjoy the moon. Do you want to come with me?"
Although Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for moon-viewing, it's often cloudy, so you might not see a full moon. However, today's moonlight was so beautiful, round and clear, that she couldn't help but want to see it. So she prepared to go up the mountain with some drinks and snacks. Now that she ran into Yan Yuan, she naturally invited him.
Yan Yuan was startled and seemed to hesitate for a moment before he replied, "Let's go together."
As he spoke, he reached out and took the food box from Cheng Xi's hand, and stood behind her like a guard. Cheng Xi smiled slightly and continued to move forward.
This camp was originally built on the mountainside, with a not-too-high hill next to it. The two men walked at a fast pace, and with the bright moon illuminating the way ahead, they soon reached the top of the hill.
Standing on a high place and looking into the distance, the bright moon seemed to be hanging at the end of the sky, and the vast blue waves were all filled with the moon's shadow, shining brightly and breathtakingly. Not to mention Cheng Xi, even Yan Yuan was stunned by the scenery and was speechless for a while.
"A bright moon rises over the sea..." Cheng Xi softly recited half a line of poetry, but did not continue. Instead, she smiled and turned her head, "Let's do it here."
Yan Yuan came to his senses, put the food box on the ground, and took out the contents. He spread the blanket flat, took out the bowls, plates, and wine jug and put them away, but he couldn't find the wine glass or chopsticks.
Just as I was wondering, Cheng Xi had already sat down and said with a smile: "I only brought some boiled peanuts to make do with the bar."
The so-called "peanuts" are the fruits planted on the island before. They have matured and most of them have been kept as seeds and replanted. A small part of them were distributed to the leaders, but they all took them home to cook porridge. Unexpectedly, they can also be eaten by boiling them in water.
Understanding, Yan Yuan stopped worrying and sat down as well. Cheng Xi took out the peanuts, split them in half, poured some wine into the empty bowl, and handed it to Yan Yuan.
After glancing at the bottle in the other person's hand, Yan Yuan didn't refuse and reached out to take it. Cheng Xi raised the bottle towards him and said, "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."
This blessing was a bit strange, but Yan Yuan felt relieved and imitated it, saying, "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."
The wine glass and the wine bowl didn't clash, just a distant toast. Bringing the wine bowl to his lips, Yan Yuan took a sip. It was osmanthus wine, with a soft sweetness that overpowered the spiciness of the wine, leaving a lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth.
It is indeed the most suitable wine for Mid-Autumn Festival.
However, after taking a sip of wine, the two of them didn't continue their conversation. Instead, they peeled peanuts and watched the moon. It was already night in the mountains, and there was no one around. Being alone, a man and a woman, Yan Yuan felt a little embarrassed. But when he tossed the peanuts into his mouth and chewed them gently, the bursting aroma filled his mouth. After eating a few and taking a sip of wine, he felt unexpectedly relaxed.
The two of them sat casually, cracking peanuts, sipping wine, and admiring the overwhelmingly bright moon that dominated the sky. A slightly stronger sea breeze swept away all the clouds, bringing with it that familiar smell of the sea, making them feel as if they were actually at sea.
Before he knew it, Yan Yuan had eaten all the peanuts at hand and finished the osmanthus wine in the bowl, but the worries in his heart had somehow disappeared, as clear as the bright moon.
Suddenly, a voice came from beside me.
"Do you miss home?"
Yan Yuan was startled and turned his head away. The woman beside him did not turn around, and her eyes were still looking into the distance, as if she was just asking casually.
Yan Yuan then turned his head and sighed softly, "I was too young when I left home, and I've almost forgotten everything. I miss my days in the army more."
This answer made Cheng Xi smile: "Yeah, I don't think about it on weekdays."
Being a soldier was like that, risking life and death, enjoying life while you can. No one wanted to be homesick constantly; it would be too draining, disrupting morale and putting oneself in a trap. Besides, her family situation was different from others. Going home would always lead to arguments with the old man, one scolding him for being ungrateful, the other scolding him for being stubborn, and they would end up parting on bad terms. Why bother?
Yet, when I truly let go of everything, "home" comes to mind. It's the familiar smell of the sheets, the worn novels on the bookshelf, the steaming hot meals that don't taste particularly good, and the perfectly warm glass of water after a morning run. Perhaps the memories we remember most vividly are always those of our childhood mornings, the laughter, the arguments, the praise, the scolding, all the embarrassing, the frustrating, the things that made us want to scream and laugh. Occasionally, when I wipe my mind, those memories come back vividly, warm and melancholic.
She used to always rush forward recklessly, perhaps knowing in her heart that no matter what the outcome would be, she had a home behind her that would give her shelter and protect her from being withered by the wind and rain.
It’s a pity that there’s no going back.
This sentence, like a pluck of a heartstring, made Yan Yuan's hands tremble uncontrollably. He grasped his wrist and pursed his lips. At this moment, he hated his own clumsiness more than ever, not knowing what to say or how to comfort her.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the night of family reunion, how could anyone not be moved by the scene?
No one answered, so Cheng Xi continued naturally, "My father is such a stubborn old man. He never wanted me to join the army, but he couldn't help but teach me martial arts, hoping that I would excel. Now that I'm like this, I don't know whether he would be happy or sad."
Yan Yuan's throat choked, and his eyes turned red for a moment. However, this time, he answered, "He will definitely be proud of you."
The general knew how much he loved his daughter. For a woman in seclusion to master such martial arts and military tactics, what hardships must she have endured? And for her to leave her boudoir and build such a legacy was more than just a matter of hardship. There were probably few men in the world more outstanding than her. How could the general not be happy?
Cheng Xi turned around, somewhat surprised, and looked at Yan Yuan. She knew he was talking about Qiu Sheng, Qiu Yuehua's father, but the answer struck a chord with her, providing her with an answer. Yes, no matter how angry or stubborn he was, her father was still a veteran, a soldier of the Republic who was willing to send his only daughter to the battlefield. He would be proud of her, no matter how much regret or sadness he felt, he would still be proud of her. Just like the great General Qiu.
So Cheng Xi smiled and nodded seriously: "You are right."
There was a hint of sadness and melancholy in those bright black eyes, but there was no irretrievable hatred and pain. They were as clear as ever, shining like moonlight.
Yan Yuan reflexively lowered his eyes, avoiding that gaze, but his heart was beating violently, as if it was about to burst out of his chest.
However, before he could adjust his expression, Cheng Xi had already stood up and patted the grass debris on his clothes: "Go back."
As he spoke, Cheng Xi had already started walking. Yan Yuan was stunned for a moment, then immediately stood up, rolled up the things on the ground and stuffed them into the briefcase, then followed closely.
The moonlight was still bright, casting long shadows behind the two of them.
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