Chapter 146
1.
The new guide was a reclusive person, tall and thin, with somewhat effeminate features. He had listless eyes and spoke very rudely.
It's clear he doesn't like this place.
2.
So I didn't have a good impression of him. Director Liu asked me to pick up someone, and the guide coldly said, "I'll do it myself, don't touch me."
I glanced at him and left with the wolf.
When I thought about it later, I never forgot it. Every movement was incredibly clear in my mind: the smell of engine oil in the carriage, the smell of ice and snow, the smell of ink and books.
I remember he rejected me, silently turned away, his fingers covered in chilblains, and struggled to tie knots in his luggage.
Okay, you're quite stubborn.
I ignored him and scoffed. He heard me and gave me a cold glare.
He ignored me, and I didn't bother him anymore.
As I got off the bus, I glanced back. He was dressed in thin clothes, but his spine was ramrod straight. It was as if he had a heavy burden on his shoulders, something he was gritting his teeth to bear.
I don't know what Jiang Wenxing was thinking at that time, but if I had helped him then, would things have been different?
Nobody told me, and I don't want to think about it anymore.
3.
I later went to sweep his grave. He was buried in the military cemetery. His face in the photo was very young, wearing a military cap, with a defiant pursed-up expression. It must have been taken when he first joined the army. This reminded me of the first time I saw him.
I put down the flowers: "Long time no see."
No one responded to me.
The wolf lay before his grave, howling.
I scratched his chin. The wolf's fluffy fur was ruffled by the cold wind. Winters in the south are this cold too. I said, "Stop howling. He's gone. He can't hear you."
The wolf lay at my feet, nudging my calves, and I silently smoked my cigarette.
4.
The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle was falling.
My luggage was next to me, containing many things I had brought for him. Director Liu, the old guide, and the sentry he had helped all gave me things.
But I don't want to take it out anymore, since I came here wanting to talk to him.
He's gone, so none of this matters anymore.
5.
I set off from Kush on July 31st, and spent nine days swaying and rocking on the train.
I called him halfway through the journey to tell him I was almost in the capital, but the doctor who answered the phone said he had already passed away.
After hearing a few "hello"s on the other end, I realized I had dropped the phone. I stood there, stunned.
After hanging up the phone, I went to borrow a car from a nearby military unit. I managed to borrow one, but I didn't make it to his funeral, nor did I get to see him one last time.
I never imagined that the glance I gave him as I put him in the ambulance would be our last.
At that time, I wanted to say, "Drive slower, I'll give my brother a ride."
I'm thinking, let's wait, let's wait, until you're better, then I'll bring you back. I won't do anything, just let you rest and recover. You can read if you want, write if you want, do whatever you want, just like our Kush's free little eagle.
6.
I touched his tombstone, a cigarette between my fingers, and after a long while said, "Brother, I didn't mean to be late. Trains are so slow, I could have flown here by plane."
I only realized my throat was hoarse from smoking as soon as I opened my mouth, and it hurt like it was being stabbed with a knife. I said, "Are you blaming me, you brat? You won't even let your brother burn a single piece of paper money."
"I brought you some good stuff, but you didn't even say you'd wait for me."
"ungrateful."
"You're... lying here all by yourself."
I felt a burning sensation in my stomach, an unbearable sourness rising up and spreading to my nasal cavity, making it impossible for me to utter a complete sentence.
7.
My brother is gone.
8.
After the initial shock subsided, I stood in a daze at his grave.
As I smoked, I recalled the day Jiang Wenxing first arrived in Kush.
It was nearing winter in Kush, with freezing rain falling. The guide arrived a few days later than expected, and everyone helped carry their luggage after getting off the bus.
He was the only one standing there.
I didn't have a chance to talk to him. The wolf was eager to try, but I stopped him.
I touched the wolf's chin, and the wolf rubbed against my hand, lying still but its eyes kept drifting to the guide.
I sat on the truck, holding my gun, trying to relax. After a while, I saw a fluffy little head pop out of the guide's pocket, glance at the wolf curiously, and then disappear.
8.
【Wenxing】.
I only called him that in letters. He was a very stubborn soldier with many flaws, including pride and poor communication skills.
But my impression of him has never been bad.
New guides all have sentinels to help them, but Wenxing doesn't. He wants to be better at everything, not only competing with the guides but also unwilling to lose to the sentinels.
Alena and Arno were familiar faces; they had both grown up in Kush. The sentries knew them and were generally on their side. Arno was washing clothes, and before he even carried the basin to the well, four or five groups of soldiers came to ask him what was wrong. Before he even got there, the basin had disappeared.
He is generous, cheerful, and likable.
Wenxing, however, acted as if he had a grudge against him, constantly clashing with him.
The sentries naturally favored Arno.
At first, I was also annoyed by his prickly demeanor and didn't want to talk to him. But sometimes, when I saw him washing clothes by the well, his hands covered in chilblains but he didn't even flinch, I felt a little sorry for him.
I want to help him, even though he's annoying.
9.
I know he's not a bad person, but I just can't get close to him.
9.
After the six-month period expires.
Kush left only him behind; Arno and Junin took the recommendation letters back to the city.
I had expected this, so I don't think it's a big deal.
Wenxing was also going to leave. He couldn't go to the White Pagoda, but he could relax in other places. I sent him into the city as Director Liu had asked. He sat in the dimly lit carriage with a cold face.
That was the second time we were alone together. He didn't talk to me, and I knew he was in a bad mood, so I didn't say anything either.
After the truck started moving, he lifted the curtain and looked outside.
I followed his gaze and saw that Kush's sentries were seeing him off at the door, spontaneously; I hadn't asked them to.
No one spoke; only some food that had been prepared in advance was handed in.
Wenxing was stunned. After a while, I saw him standing still for about a minute before he reached out to take it.
He probably doesn't know how many sentries he's helped. I've said before that he's not a bad person; he always gives his all in every treatment.
So some people are grateful to him, but he doesn't know it.
10.
In the end, Wenxing didn't leave. I don't know why. He said that he wanted to earn military merit here and didn't want to lose to others.
But I don't think that's the case.
11.
After that bloody battle, the morale of the Kush Sentinels was not good, and then they encountered a large-scale outbreak of spider ants, which almost caused our defenses to collapse.
The old guide, Wenxing, and Alena stayed with the sentry.
It was winter then, and Kush was hit by a once-in-a-century snowfall. Signals were cut off, roads were impassable, and we fought an extremely difficult battle.
We won, but Wenxing was seriously injured.
An old spider-ant snatched a gun and fired from a distance. His spiritual body shielded him from the bullet and then completely dissipated.
12.
The spiritual body is Xiangshao's second life; I should have realized that back then.
13.
Later in the war, I formed a friendship with Wenxing, and he began to trust me and the Kush sentries.
After he went to the Capital Hospital, he wrote me a letter.
I was overjoyed. I never expected him to reply to me. We talked for a long time.
He had mentioned that he had no one left at home, so I originally intended to take him with me on this trip. However, he was very embarrassed when he replied that the capital was fine and that his illness was a burden, so there was no need to trouble him.
But I just felt that he missed Kush. When he wrote to me, he asked, "Captain, have the osmanthus flowers in Xiaoxishan bloomed yet?"
So, what about the sweet potatoes? Are they ripe yet?
How's your vegetable garden going? I'd love to see it.
And the clouds... You don't know, the first time I saw the sunset in Kush, I was stunned. It was such a beautiful sunset, but I was too embarrassed to say it.
His letter was so lively, I couldn't help but read it over and over again. But I'm too clumsy to write as well as he does. I said, "Come back, I'll take you to see it. Would you like to?"
I did not receive the letter. His reply was just written, put in an envelope, but not yet sent.
The doctor said he was very happy at the time and planned to take a nap and go to the post office to mail it himself, but he never woke up again.
When the hospital told him the location of the cemetery, they handed it over to me, saying they were waiting for someone to come and collect it.
I didn't open it, nor did I want to. I put it with the other letters.
14.
I couldn't take him with me, so he slept in an unfamiliar place.
This is not his hometown, nor do he have any relatives here, but the breeze is gentle and the sun is warm.
He'll like it.
15.
When I left, I took with me a handful of fresh soil from his grave.
16.
There are 365 sunrises and 365 sunsets in a year.
I have always missed him.
17.
I've taken the train from Kush to the capital countless times, and I've kept all the tickets; they've filled a whole suitcase.
18.
The grass in front of his grave was lush and green. I asked someone to plant an osmanthus tree there. Later, it bloomed, and I told him about it. I had specially brought it from Xiaoxi Mountain because I was afraid it wouldn't survive or bloom, and that I would disappoint him.
I once told Wolf that he was gone and I couldn't hear him, but I always felt that he was just asleep.
19.
That day I also ran into someone. Judging from his back, he looked like Zhu Ning. He also saw me, but didn't greet me. He just stood there and stared at me coldly.
I don't know what he came to the cemetery for, but I remembered that there were flowers in front of the grave when I went there, so I went back and threw the flowers away.
twenty one.
I guess Wenxing doesn't like it.
twenty two.
In the sixth year, I happened to be on vacation and went to a gathering in Chinlan.
Despite their awkwardness, Alena and the gray wolf Agus still went to the Thanas' grand festival hand in hand that night.
I wasn't interested at first, but I ended up winning all the projects and making a beautiful wreath.
The wreath was completely withered when it was brought to the capital, but the dried flowers still looked quite unique.
I hung it on the osmanthus tree.
twenty three.
Go back to sleep, moon.
May you sleep peacefully in sweet dreams.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com