Chapter 2011: Don’t Be Sad

Commander Liu and Commissar Yan arrived on time at seven p.m. They ordered a pot of Biluochun instead of alcohol and chatted happily while eating the specialty spicy dishes in the old restaurant.

Ye Jian, who was originally in a good mood, was a little down now. Commander Liu had already chosen to change his job. After he finished handing over all his work, he would be taking off his military uniform and retiring from the military.

Commissar Yan’s transfer order had been issued before the new year. After the 15th day of the first lunar month, he would head to Linchuan Military District to take up a post.

This meal was actually a farewell meal. Ye Jian didn’t know how she should enjoy this meal.

“The three of us have known each other for ten years. When I first transferred to Fujun Town, the person who received me was not the previous regimental commander but Old Chen. At that time, Old Chen had only been in Fujun Town for two years.” Commander Liu took a sip of the fragrant hot tea. His resolute face was filled with deep memories of the past.

He sighed and said, “Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, ten years have pa.s.sed. It’s too fast, too fast. Now that I think about it, it just seems like it happened yesterday. Old Chen, you were wearing a new Chinese-style suit and carrying two textbooks in your hands. Your hair was even covered in dust. You rushed in front of me and apologized as soon as you came over, saying that you had lost track of time in cla.s.s.”

“At that time, I was extremely puzzled. I thought that the army would send a soldier to fetch me. Who knew that a teacher would come?”

Fujun Town Middle School was an oil tank transfer station for the logistics of the north and south. Its importance was self-evident.

As the caretaker of the oil warehouse, Princ.i.p.al Chen naturally had to meet the new regimental commander immediately. At that time, a teacher had asked for leave at the last minute, so he took over the lesson. When he arrived, Regimental Commander Liu had already arrived.

There were endless things to say as they recalled the past. Princ.i.p.al Chen sighed and said, “Yes, Old Yan arrived not long after I picked you up. I still remember that the two of you were always at odds with each other when it came to military management. As a teacher, I had to run into the mountains every few days to adjust. After half a year, the two of you finally stopped bickering so much.

As for Grandpa Gen, he often tried to provoke them.

That time, he was teaching the new recruits how to adjust their guns. When he heard that they were fighting again, Uncle Gen rushed in with an 81 bar and placed the gun on the table. He said angrily, “Do you two have to fight until one of you is killed? Fine, I’ll fulfill your wish. Rock, scissors, paper. One round to decide the winner!”

The past was still vivid in their minds, but Grandpa Gen, who had taught them a lesson, had already pa.s.sed away.

Commander Liu, who came from the Yellow Earth Plateau, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. He sighed heavily, and there was a strong sense of melancholy. He forced a smile and took over the conversation from Princ.i.p.al Chen’s earlier words. “I later told Old Yan that the power of a Cla.s.s A Master Sergeant was indeed different from ordinary people. He even asked us to play a game of rock, scissors, and paper. He treated us like three-year-olds.

“Old Yan had said coldly that we were, in fact, three-year-old kids in his eyes. When I heard that, I was amused. After that, I didn’t fight with Old Yan anymore. Even if there was a debate, I would settle it silently.

“I’m from the north. I’m rough and straightforward. Old Yan is from the south. He’s meticulous and hates beating about the bush. Hahaha, I hated him back then. I wished I could go to the military area and have a fight with him. I wanted to transfer him away so that he wouldn’t be in my way.”

Commissar Yan’s eyes were a little wet. He lowered his head to drink his tea and secretly raised his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes. Then, he looked at Commander Liu with a look of disdain. “Same to you. At that time, I swore that I would make you, a boorish person, step down, or my surname wouldn’t be Yan.”