journal:

December 19, 1979 (Rainy Day)

"It rained today, and we did not go out for exercise or training. The company ordered everyone to rest in the dormitory and there was no place to go. We could only read the letter of home and write a diary. Just now, a Shanghai fellow named Wang Gui in the company brought Song Yongcai, the ninth squad leader of our recruit company, and Gong Hongxing, the company correspondent, to our class. They were both from Hengsha Island, Baoshan County, Shanghai. Among them, Wang Gui was an educated youth. Since we were all from Shanghai, we felt very friendly and we had a happy chat. After all, when we were out, we were as happy as seeing our relatives. Now that they left, everything returned to silence. I looked at the heavy rain outside the house and remembered my growth experience since childhood, as if it was yesterday, everything was so friendly and clear."

When I leave my hometown, I most hope to see my relatives in my hometown. Even if I had no relationship with this person before, or had no relationship at all, I just came from the same province and city as myself. The warm atmosphere of being close to my family as soon as I meet, makes people truly experience the feeling of "members meet with fellow villagers and tears" that has been circulating in the market.

It gave us a rare rest on the rainy day, but there was no place to go. We could only stay in the simple dormitory and write a diary, bragging, etc., which was so boring.

Somehow, the fellow Chongming Maqiao fellows from Class 11, and the new recruits from Quanzhou, Fujian were competing there again. This time, the two sides were fighting arm wrestling, which attracted the attention of our entire platoon. First, one person from both sides fought for a duel, but the Chongming comrades were defeated. Now the new recruits from Quanzhou were able to calculate their anger. At this moment, a person stood up from a crowd of people, took off his military uniform quietly, threw his military cap and said, "Don't be happy too early, I'll fight with you, okay?" Everyone looked at it regularly. It was Han Liping, who was a little unruly in Class 10. Haha, this guy was going to challenge them, but he really couldn't tell. I looked up and down at Han Liping. He was of medium figure, not very strong, but he looked quite strong. What's more, I saw a sense of unyielding spirit in his eyes, and it also revealed a little murderous aura.

Sure enough, Han Liping defeated several opponents in succession, which made us look at each other with admiration. I stepped forward to shake hands with him. He said to me with a smile: "Last time, you used harmonica to win glory for our Shanghai soldiers. Now I defended the dignity of Shanghai people with arm wrestling, but we cannot let others underestimate us." We both held each other's hands tightly, and everything was silent.

The house calmed again. Just as we were bored, we stretched out our heads from the crack of the door to visit us. When we found us, he waved to us happily, and we immediately invited him to the bed and sat down.

I met him during our training break. At that time, next to our four-row garage, one battalion, one company and four rows of barracks. The two four-row garages made us feel intimate with each other.

That afternoon, we sat around the mountains and seas and bragged around during the training break. At this time, a veteran walked past us. When he heard us speak Shanghai dialect, he immediately stopped and turned his head and asked in Shanghai dialect: "Are you Shanghainese?" We nodded happily and said yes. So we sat on the ground and talked freely in our hometown dialect.

From his introduction, we learned that his name is Wang Gui, a veteran of 1978. He was originally an educated youth who went to Hengsha Island, Baoshan, who later became a soldier from there.

Ye Meng asked in confusion: "Why are you the only one platoon in your company? Where are the others?"

Wang Gui told us that even the main personnel are now constructing at the Nanjing Naval Political Academy, leaving them to guard the barracks, and then they will go to Nanjing to build if they need to do so.

Wang Gui also told us that three new recruits are fellow villagers in Shanghai, two are squad leaders, and one is the company's correspondent. They are also from Hengsha Island, Baoshan, and they are comrades-in-arms who served in the army with him. If he had the chance in the future, he would lead them to our squad to play and meet.

Sure enough, Wang Gui did not break his promise. Today he happened to have time, so he led two fellow villagers to our class.

We both looked familiar with these two people. The dark faces and straight noses in front were Song Yongcai, the squad leader of our recruit company 8. We had seen him when we were fucking in the company. He had a serious face in the past and now he smiled kindly like a brother. The one who was following a white scholar was Gong Hongxing, the correspondent of the company. We often see him coming to each platoon to deliver letters. This is his most popular moment and the moment that every new recruit hopes for the most. Because of this, we have a natural favor for him.

After all, Wang Gui is an educated youth and has a high qualification. He is like an old friend of many years, enthusiastically accepting the two fellow villagers' squad leader to us. The ninth squad leader Song Yongcai sat cross-legged on our floor and asked with concern: "How is it? Are you used to it? The training intensity is getting stronger and stronger now, can you bear it?"

Deputy squad leader Qin Zhongfa said on behalf of everyone: "I was not used to training at the beginning, but now I'm ready, so there's no problem."

When we saw Gong Hongxing, we couldn't help asking, "Communication officer, is the letter coming today?" Gong Hongxing said happily, "Don't worry, I'll go to pick it up in the afternoon. Then we will open a back door for you, come to your four rows first, and start from Class 12 on the other hand." Although we knew this was a joke, we still smiled sincerely.

When we saw that most of us were writing letters from home, Wang Gui said what we thought: "It would be better if we could send a photo of us wearing military uniforms back." As soon as we said this, we nodded frequently and said yes.

Gong Hongxing patted his chest and said to us: "This is no problem, I will solve the camera. Squad leader Ninth and Wang Gui prepared several white and blue sailor suits."

Song Yongcai nodded and said, "Hongxing, take another pistol holster and armed belt, so that it can make you more energetic and energetic when you look at it."

Just when we were eagerly hoping that several fellow villagers could fulfill their wish to take photos for us as soon as possible, an accident happened.

During the middle of the training one day, Ye Meng, who was known as the scholar in our class, suddenly felt uncomfortable in her stomach. She squatted on the ground to cover her stomach, and there were hot sweat beads on her head. Seeing this, we quickly sent him to the clinic. After the health officer checked, he was diagnosed with stomach problems, but he had no medicine here, so he suggested sending him to the health team for treatment immediately.

The squad leader ordered Yang Qilin and I to cooperate with the health staff to send Ye Meng to the health team correspondent Gong Hongxing and said to us: "The health team has our fellow villagers, who are from the kitchen team, and they are called Yu Jianzhong. If you go to find me, I will call him immediately."

Wang Gui, who rushed over after hearing the news, interrupted, "Oh, just look for the instructor of the health team. Isn't he also our Shanghai fellow villager?" After he said this, Gong Hongxing's eyes lit up: "Yes, he is still your Chongming fellow villager, so the relationship is closer."

Wang Gui waved his hand and said, "Okay! I'll just accompany you directly, I'm fine anyway." After that, he led us to the health team.

Fortunately, the health team was not far from the recruits company. Yang Qilin and I helped Ye Meng to the health team. On the way, I asked him: "How is it? Is it better?" Ye Meng said with a smile: "This is an old problem left on the farm." Yang Qilin nodded and said: "Yes, we educated youth basically have stomach problems and life is not regular."

Wang Gui turned his head and agreed, "Yes, we educated youth have stomach problems, and those who are in the army basically have stomach problems. These are all occupational diseases. You should be particularly careful in the future."

As soon as we arrived at the health team, a tall veteran was already waiting at the gate of the yard. Wang Gui introduced: "This is also a fellow Shanghai fellow. We came out to join the army together in Hengsha." The veteran smiled and nodded and said: "Hello, I am Yu Jianzhong." Only then did we remember that the person Gong Hongxing mentioned was him.

Wang Gui said to Yu Jianzhong: "I'll go find an instructor, you can take him to see a doctor first." Yu Jianzhong grabbed him and said, "What do you mean? You have to find an instructor for this little thing. Why do you look down on me?"

Wang Gui hurriedly explained: "I don't have this meaning. I saw that he was not ill and might have to be hospitalized. I will ask the instructor to arrange it." After that, he went upstairs.

Under Yu Jianzhong's leadership, we came to the doctor's office. As soon as we entered the door, he said loudly: "Hurry, help our fellow villagers see their stomach problems." The doctor saw that it was a veteran in his team and immediately checked Ye Meng. At this time, Wang Gui led a cadre to come, and we knew that this was the instructor of the health team. Yang Qilin and I immediately stood at attention to salute the instructor. The instructor said kindly: "Everyone is a fellow villagers, please do whatever you want." After that, he inquired about the condition of the doctor. The doctor told the instructor that it was an old stomach disease and prescribed some medicine and took a few days to rest.

Yu Jianzhong suggested: "Then let's stay here for a few days. Anyway, he can't train when he goes back like this." Wang Gui also echoed: "Yes, it's new recruits, and they'll have to be well maintained in the army in the future."

The instructor issued an order to the doctor: "Let him stay for a few days and make some adjustments for him." The doctor nodded and issued the hospitalization form. The two fellow villagers began to get busy again. The three of us looked at them gratefully and had a particularly profound understanding of the fact that when we were away, the fellow villagers were better than relatives.

A few days later, Ye Meng recovered and returned. One Sunday morning, three veterans, Gong Hongxing, Song Yongcai, Wang Gui and fellow villagers, came to our class as promised. Each of them carried a bulging bag. Squad Leader Song said to our team leader: "Squad Leader 12, today we promised to take your class fellow villagers to the beach to see the sea and ask you for leave."

The squad leader smiled and said, "Your squad leader and the correspondent are here. Today is Sunday again. What else do I have to say, but if you go out for a class, you have to hurry up. Is an hour enough?"

Squad Leader Song was about to speak, but Wang Gui, who was outspoken, said first: "It's enough, don't worry, the squad Leader, and ensure that he will return to the team on time."

A group of more than a dozen people came to the beach. The three veterans took out a set of white and blue sailor uniforms from their shoulder bags, and a pistol holster, and skillfully helped us dress one by one. Gong Hongxing was the photographer, Song Yongcai changed our military uniforms, and Wang Gui helped us to make a move. So, we left the first photo of the military with joy and excitement.

When I put on a white sailor suit, stood by the sea, and looked into the distance with a firm eye, in addition to pride and mighty, I felt more of a sacred sense of mission and responsibility in my heart.

These old photos that are not clear always have special emotions for me. Whenever I think back on the unforgettable military years, I always look at these photos and think about them. The past is vivid in my mind. Although time flies, the old squad leader has become clearer and clearer.
Chapter completed!