Chen Ji took her hand and led her to a tombstone.
Xu Ruantang recognized the black and white photo on the tombstone at a glance; she had seen the exact same one at the Chen family's house.
She will never forget that spirited, smiling face.
That day, Ye Lan said that he was Chen Ji's second brother.
“Chen Rong, my second brother.” Chen Ji’s voice sounded normal. “Deputy battalion-level staff officer of the reconnaissance section of the 114th Infantry Division of the 28th Group Army of the Beicheng Military Region.”
Chen Ji shook Xu Ruantang's hand. "The photos you saw at home were taken before you went to the front lines."
The morning sunlight shone on the tombstone, making Chen Rong's smiling face particularly radiant.
Chen Ji said that his second brother was on a reconnaissance mission that time. When their reconnaissance team was lying in ambush, they were discovered by the enemy. Under the cover of the fire support group, they withdrew and only then did they realize that three people were missing.
As an officer, the second brother quickly arranged for the other team members to retreat to their post, while he resolutely returned to the encirclement to find his comrades.
Later, he discovered that his three comrades who had fallen behind were being pursued by the enemy. Without thinking, he fired a shot into the air, creating the illusion that a large force was approaching.
Drawing the enemy away with his own body was the quickest decision Chen Rong made.
"He used the only weapons and explosives he had to fight the enemy in the deep mountains for seven days and six nights."
Chen Ji's voice remained calm, but his grip on Xu Ruantang's hand tightened.
The enemy tried to persuade him to surrender for a long time, but he refused and even killed three enemy soldiers.
He was injured on the third day; he was shot in the left leg.
Later, his injuries worsened and he became physically exhausted. The enemy was wary of him and, fearing he might resort to extreme measures, dared not approach him. So they frantically threw grenades into the dense forest.
That year, Chen Rong was 24 years old.
When his body was recovered, only his skull remained intact.
"Second Brother, I brought her to see you." Chen Ji's voice was soft and gentle, his deep black eyes fixed on the photo on the tombstone.
Xu Ruantang stepped forward, squatted down, and placed the flowers she had brought in front of the tombstone.
She took the wine Chen Ji handed her and used a damp handkerchief to wipe away the dust from the tombstone.
After doing all this, she took out a White Rabbit candy from her pocket and placed it in front of the tombstone.
"Second brother, here are the flowers and candy for you."
After Xu Ruantang finished speaking, she silently said in her heart: Second brother, don't worry, I will take your place and love your third brother well.
She stood up and shook Chen Ji's hand. "Since you're already here, stay with your second brother a little longer. I'll be nearby."
Xu Ruantang walked to a distance and looked at the rows of neat tombstones on the hillside, each with a five-star red flag shining brightly.
The scene was so shocking that she couldn't say a word.
As a member of the post-2000 generation, Xu Ruantang gained a profound understanding of revolution for the first time.
Chen Ji stood in front of Chen Rong's tombstone. His figure was still tall and slender, but his back looked very lonely.
Chen Ji reached out and placed his hand on the tombstone, speaking softly, "Second Brother, I have kept my promise."
Of the three brothers, Chen Zheng is steady and refined, Chen Rong is cheerful and sunny, and Chen Ji is aloof and taciturn.
Most people have no idea what Chen Ji is thinking. They always feel that this child is very thoughtful and always seems unapproachable.
When Chen Rong was alive, he would always chatter away in his ear. Everyone in the family liked his outgoing personality.
Chen Rong warmed everyone's heart, including Chen Ji.
"Second brother doesn't think you're mature. You're younger than second brother, so in second brother's eyes you'll always be a child." Chen Rong's smile seemed so vivid. "Third brother, come here, second brother will tell you a story to lull you to sleep!"
Chen Rong only ever told one story. He always ignored Chen Ji's cold face and shamelessly crawled into Chen Ji's bed, wanting to sleep with him.
He would also say, "Third brother, it's okay for you to be cold to your second brother, but you can't do that when you get married. You'll scare girls away!"
"Third brother, come here, try to treat your second brother as your wife and smile!"
"Third brother, from now on, whichever of us has a girl we like, we should bring her to meet her first!"
"Third brother, don't worry, your second brother will treat her the same way he treated you!"
Those repeated calls of "Third Brother" later became a taboo for Chen Ji.
Xu Ruantang followed Chen Ji to the mountainside, where he stopped and said, "Eighteen thousand one hundred and forty-eight is the number of martyrs who are buried here."
He looked intently at Xu Ruantang, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes, his voice low and slightly hoarse:
"Soldiers should be the steadfast shield of the nation and the world. My wife, if that day ever comes, I cannot let down my country; I can only let you down."
I brought you here today to tell you that being the spouse of a soldier is very tough. I'll give you plenty of time to think it over.
Protecting the country is his mission as a soldier, but not Xu Ruantang's, so he must make it clear to her.
He wouldn't force her if she didn't want to.
The two stood face to face. A fleeting hint of sadness crossed Chen Ji's eyes, but after a moment, he spoke with a resolute expression: "But if you choose me, as long as I live, I will never let you go again in this lifetime."
After descending the mountain, Chen Ji pushed the old-fashioned bicycle, and Xu Ruantang jumped on.
He didn't ride away immediately, but turned to look at Xu Ruantang, reached out his large hand to ruffle her hair, and said in an unconsciously gentle voice, "Alright, your eyes will get swollen if you keep crying."
Xu Ruantang held back for a while, but then her nose started to sting again.
She didn't shed a single tear in front of Chen Ji, so how did he know?
"I didn't cry," Xu Ruantang said stubbornly. "Let's go, ride your bike."
Chen Ji sighed. If there were a mirror, he really wanted to show her what she looked like now.
Chen Ji had just finished talking to Chen Rong when he went to find her and noticed that her eyes were red, her nose was red, and her long eyelashes were wet.
But she thought she was pretending very well, and even smiled at him.
Chen Ji pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back. "Okay, you didn't cry. Do you want to go see a movie?"
If she didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't ask.
Xu Ruantang shook her head. "No, let's go see Xiaobao instead. I miss her."
The two rode their old bicycles slowly around the neighborhood before returning to the city.
Before going, Xu Ruantang wanted to buy some things for Xiaobao, so the two of them went to a department store.
After shopping, it was lunchtime again.
During the meal, Xu Ruantang was worried that Chen Ji was still upset, so she decided to tell him a joke.
Seeing the cabbage and pork dumplings on the table, Xu Ruantang had a sudden inspiration and said with a smile, "Chen Ji, do you know that cabbage and pork cannot be eaten together?"
Chen Ji: "I don't know, why?"
Xu Ruantang picked up a dumpling, dipped it in vinegar, and then put it in her mouth.
She finished eating slowly and deliberately, and then said leisurely, "Because pigs will root up cabbages. If you eat both pig and cabbage at the same time, the pig will bump into the cabbage in your stomach, which is practically the same as bumping into you."
Before Chen Ji could speak, she continued, "Then do you know how to stop a pig from rooting around you?"
"What?" Chen Ji's narrow eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
Xu Ruantang kept everyone in suspense, saying, "Guess, I've already given you the answer."
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