Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty Six

The bedtime bugle had already sounded, and Mei Xing'er sat on the bed preoccupied, shaking the little rattle in her hand.The door opened, and Qin Siting walked in: "Hey, are you playing with your rattle again?" "Miss Si Ting!" Qin Siting pointed to her clothes: "Does it look good?" Mei Xing'er forced a smile: "Looks good, really pretty!" Qin Siting suddenly took out another one from behind: "Come and try?" "You bought me clothes again?" "My mother sent it, one piece for each person, come and try." Mei Xing'er didn't move, but looked at her with eyes full of emotion.

Qin Siting urged: "What are you doing? Staring? Try it quickly?" "Sister Si Ting, why are you so nice to me?" Qin Siting smiled: "My mother regards you as her own daughter, and I can't do it if I don't treat you well." There was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Mei Xinger ran to open the door, only to see the drunken Zheng Yuanhai leaning against the wall beside the door, Mei Xinger turned around and closed the door, and said softly, "Brother Zheng, have you been drinking?" Zheng Yuanhai looked at her affectionately, and suddenly put his arms around her shoulders: "Mei Xing'er..."

Mei Xing'er looked at the door suspiciously, trying to break free. Zheng Yuanhai hugged her tightly in his arms and murmured: "Mei Xing'er, don't leave me..." Mei Xing'er struggled: "You drank too much!" "Meixinger, I won't let you leave me..." Mei Xing'er shook off him and ran back into the house.Zheng Yuanhai chased into the door and saw Qin Siting stunned, Qin Siting smiled at him awkwardly, and took the door away from Zheng Yuanhai. The next day Zheng Yuanhai woke up at 9 o'clock in the morning, his head was still a little dizzy, and he couldn't understand why he drank so much alcohol in Ji Dong's office alone.Maybe it's because Yu Jidong's misunderstanding made him depressed, maybe it's because he was trapped in such a complicated emotional relationship and unable to break free.Anyway, he drank too much, and ran to find Mei Xing'er, only to be bumped into by Qin Siting again, which really added to the chaos.He felt that he should go to Mei Xing'er, it was not Zheng Yuanhai's style to shrink back and escape, since the cards had already been lifted, he might as well go on and on and charge forward bravely!

However, he still had lingering fears about Qin Siting, always feeling as if he owed her something, but in the end he was more and more afraid of bumping into each other. Zheng Yuanhai had just entered the hospital corridor just as Qin Siting came out of the consulting room. Qin Siting looked at him and smiled awkwardly: "Are you looking for Mei Xing'er? She is in the third consultation room!" After speaking, she turned and left. "Si Ting!" Zheng Yuanhai called to stop her, "I..." He swallowed the words again. Qin Siting was calmer and more generous than him: "Is there anything I can do for you? We are good comrades-in-arms and good friends. If you have anything to say, just say it?" She intentionally bit the words "friends and comrades-in-arms" very strongly.

"I..." Zheng Yuanhai still couldn't speak, and shook his head helplessly. Qin Siting smiled unnaturally: "It's nothing, I'll go to work first." Zheng Yuanhai watched her back disappear out of sight with complicated emotions, he could feel that she was walking in a hurry, as if she was fleeing. In the third consultation room, Mei Xing'er was lowering her head and writing the medical records when Zheng Yuanhai came in and sat opposite her. Mei Xing'er asked habitually: "What's wrong with you?" When she raised her head, she realized that Zheng Yuanhai was looking at her with strange eyes.

"Mei Xing'er, I...Although I drank too much last night, what I said was from my heart." Zheng Yuanhai said. Mei Xing'er unconsciously dodged his gaze: "Brother Zheng, I'm at work, can we not talk about this?" She felt a little uncontrollable panic, last night his drunken abruptness embarrassed both her and Qin Siting , almost a sleepless night.When I went out in the morning, I met Qin Siting. Her eyes were also red, and she must have been awake all night.The two just smiled awkwardly and didn't say a word. Qin Siting deliberately delayed the time and didn't go to work with her. This was the first time they were estranged in many years.

Zheng Yuanhai said again: "I hope you can understand my feelings." Mei Xing'er nodded: "I understand, but...it's working time..." Zheng Yuanhai understood what she meant, and nodded for a while: "Okay! I'll come to you when you're not on duty." He got up and walked out, and stopped at the door, "By the way, I have something else to do. I want to ask you, Ji Dong was hit by Qin Siting and ignored me, we are all good friends, can you...can you help me to comfort him?" Before Mei Xing'er could speak, he said, "He has been treating him all the time. If you are a younger sister, maybe he can listen to what you say."

Mei Xing'er nodded: "Okay! I will go." In the Green Island Cafe, Mei Xing'er looked sadly at Yu Jidong who was facing a decadent expression, and comforted: "Brother Yu, don't be sad." "Little sister, do you know how much pain I have?" Yu Jidong shook his head. Mei Xing'er felt a sense of sympathy for each other, why didn't she feel pain?Thinking of this, I couldn't help but sighed lightly. Yu Jidong raised his head for a while, and looked at her with frustrated eyes: "You may not believe me, but it's the first time I like a girl like this at Yu Jidong's age. The first time I saw her, I felt that she I like her because she is different. Then I got into a car accident, and she gave me mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration, which sucked my heart away. After so many years, with my wealth and status, Yu Jidong, What kind of girl can't be found, but I never thought about it... But she doesn't feel anything about me."

"I understand your feelings, but love really cannot be forced." Yu Jidong smiled wryly: "Actually, I understand this truth, but I feel uncomfortable when it's my turn." Mei Xing'er looked at him in extreme pain, and was momentarily at a loss for words, not knowing what to say. Yu Jidong went on to say: "Actually, I have felt for a long time that she likes Yuan Hai, but I didn't expect that my hard work could not impress her at all..." "Don't blame Sister Si Ting, and don't blame Big Brother Zheng, there are some things..." Mei Xing'er shook her head, "I can't explain it clearly!"

As soon as Zheng Yuanhai was mentioned, Yu Jidong's tone suddenly became angry: "Yuanhai took away my love, I can't forgive him." "No, don't think so, after all, you have been brothers all these years." Mei Xing'er persuaded. "If he really treats me as a big brother, he won't fight with me." Mei Xing'er murmured: "You can't blame Brother Zheng for this matter, and no one else." Yu Jidong said angrily: "He is ungrateful. If it weren't for me, he would have taken off his military uniform and left. That time when he drove a boat and injured a fisherman, he was entangled. I used 30,000 yuan to help him settle the matter." of."

Mei Xing'er looked at him: "Does Brother Zheng know?" "I didn't tell him!" "He will definitely pay you back when he finds out." "I don't care about money. I have enough money with Ji Dong, and I don't intend to ask him to pay me back." After a pause, he continued, "I'm just sad. I treated him sincerely, but he became my rival in love." "Brother Yu, you really can't blame him. He asked me to come and see you! He's also very sad. He doesn't want to lose you as a friend." Yu Jidong sighed and shook his head: "Go back and tell him that it is impossible for me, Yu Jidong, to be friends with him anymore." "Why bother? Love is not wishful thinking, and not everyone's love can be satisfactory!" Yu Jidong lowered his head and scratched his tousled hair in pain. Mei Xing'er continued to persuade: "Brother Yu, the past is over, don't take it too seriously, think about it, although love is selfish, but sometimes... friendship is also very important..." Yu Jidong raised his head and said: "Mei Xing'er, you are still young and don't understand, if a person can't live with the person he loves the most all his life, it will be such a painful thing..." Mei Xing'er felt that every word he said seemed to be talking about herself, and she muttered to herself: "I understand, I understand..." "Little sister, do you know how I feel right now? It's like falling into an abyss, never bottoming out..." Mei Xing'er's tone was full of sorrow: "Yes, just hanging in mid-air like this, unable to get up or down, this feeling is not good..." Zheng Yuanhai submitted a report on the exploration of No. 8 sea area to Lu Huaicheng.Lu Huaicheng consulted the surveying and mapping department for opinions, and the answer he received was that the report was feasible to a certain extent, and it was possible to reveal the true face of Lushan Mountain in the No. 8 sea area by using small boats to carry survey equipment.Lu Huaicheng consulted with Wang Hongye and decided to send Zheng Yuanhai to complete the task.Wang Hongye looked at him in surprise. In his opinion, Zheng Yuanhai was worth as much as an advanced warship in Lu Huaicheng's eyes. How could he be allowed to take such a risk?Moreover, it is not the task of our combat troops to detect the waterway.Lu Huaicheng's next words surprised him even more. Zheng Yuanhai is Zheng Ji's son. We paid a heavy price for exploring the No. 8 sea area. Zheng Ji died. Zheng Yuanhai should complete this task. However, when Zheng Yuanhai reported the matter to Chen Jianjun, he encountered strong opposition from him: "Zheng Yuanhai, do you know what you are doing? Take a risk and make fun of your life!" Zheng Yuanhai argued: "If opening up this channel is of great significance to future naval warfare, if we want to break through the first island chain, our traditional concept of offshore defense must be changed! Today, without strong maritime logistics support and aircraft carrier assault capabilities, No. 8 sea area It is our only shortcut to the ocean.” Chen Jianjun calmed down and advised, "Yuan Hai, give up this idea! Maybe there will be a big accident." "I have reported to the commander." "How did he say?" "He agreed!" Chen Jianjun was furious: "Then why are you telling me?" He turned and slammed the door and left.He got angry, and the order came down. As the captain, he had to execute it unconditionally. When the warship sailed to the entrance of No. 8 sea area, Chen Jianjun ordered the ship to stop, turned back to his captain's room, and put on his life jacket.At this moment, Zheng Yuanhai opened the door and came in. Seeing this situation, he hurriedly asked: "Captain, what are you doing?" "You stay, I'll go!" Zheng Yuanhai became anxious when he heard this: "How can this be done? You are the captain, and you have no right to leave your warship." "This is my business, you don't need to take care of it." "Captain, it's too dangerous..." "Execute the order!" Chen Jianjun's attitude was firm, and his tone was unquestionable. "The new ship will be commissioned next year. Your dream is to be the flagship captain of the Chinese Navy. At this time, you can't take risks." Chen Jianjun turned to look at him, and said for a while, "If you lose me, you can still be the captain; if you lose you, I can't do many things." Zheng Yuanhai's heart was instantly occupied by emotion, and a warm current flowed through his whole body. Seeing that Chen Jianjun turned to go out, he suddenly turned around and pushed him down on the bed, turned around and went out to lock the cabin door, and strode away. Ever since Zheng Yuanhai went to see Mei Xing'er drunk last time and was bumped into by Qin Siting, Qin Siting always avoided Mei Xing'er intentionally or unintentionally, even when they met occasionally, she couldn't hide the embarrassing expression on her face.This made Mei Xing'er feel very uncomfortable, and even felt a little guilty.When she made up her mind to explain to Qin Siting, she learned that Qin Siting had already asked for leave to visit her home the day before. Mei Xing'er took out the more than 10,000 yuan she had accumulated over the past year from the bank, and came to Yu Jidong's office. Yu Jidong looked at her suspiciously: "What are you doing?" "Brother Zheng's mother has just been discharged from the hospital. He doesn't have that much money, so I'll pay you back first." Yu Jidong yelled: "I didn't ask him to pay back the money, and I didn't intend to ask him to pay it back either." "Brother Yu, you must take it." Yu Jidong was in a hurry: "Zheng Yuanhai, he really doesn't regard me as a friend?" Mei Xing'er hastily explained: "Don't misunderstand Big Brother Zheng, he... You know what he is like, it's not a friend." Yu Jidong sighed and sat on the sofa, and asked for a while: "Si Ting, is she... okay?" Mei Xing'er was silent for a while and said, "Sister Si Ting visited home yesterday." Yu Jidong buried his head in his knees: "Little sister, am I... am I too worthless?" Mei Xing'er smiled wryly: "No, anyone who encounters this kind of situation will suffer!" Yu Jidong raised his head: "Thank you for understanding me!" Mei Xing'er continued, "Brother Yu, there are still so many things going on in your company! No matter what the outcome is, I hope you can get better as soon as possible." Yu Jidong nodded: "Mei Xing'er, when I was in the most pain, you came to see me several times, thank you!" "Brother Yu, don't say that, you helped me so much before..." After a pause, Yu Jidong tentatively asked: "Mei Xing'er, tomorrow is Sunday, can you...can you go out with me to relax?" Seeing that Mei Xing'er didn't make a sound, he laughed at himself, "Forget it! " Mei Xing'er nodded, "Okay!" Zheng Yuanhai and Jiang Xizi drove the lifeboat into the depths of No. 8 sea area. As they were going forward, Chen Jianjun's voice came from the radio: "Zheng Yuanhai, you are too brave to lock me in the house. If you can Come back safely, forget about it, otherwise, I can't spare you." Zheng Yuanhai smiled, and said to Jiang Xizi: "If you can't go back, you want to settle accounts with me, you have to find me!" The lifeboat entered the measurement area, Zheng Yuanhai turned off the engine, his expression became solemn. "What's wrong?" Jiang Xizi looked at him puzzled. Zheng Yuanhai did not speak, took out a bouquet of pure white flowers and gently put it into the sea, and said silently in his heart: Aunt Gao, I am coming to see you, don't worry, I will definitely complete your feat of the past and conquer the No. 8 sea area . Jiang Xizi yelled while paddling: "Paddle by paddle, can't I be exhausted after surveying the entire waterway?" "Then what should I do? The noise of the engine will affect the sonar echo." Zheng Yuanhai adjusted the direction of the compass and the chart, while carefully distinguishing the sonar echo from the earphones. Jiang Xizi muttered, "Alas! Life is miserable!" Zheng Yuanhai joked: "That's right, the sea conditions are so good today! No wind or waves, what's the difference from rowing in a park lake?" "How can it be the same? In the park, there is a girlfriend who is accompanied by a boat, and the boat is lightly swinging. What is this? Hey, don't forget to rate me as a martyr when you are exhausted!" Zheng Yuanhai glared at him: "Row quickly!" Jiang Xizi paddled and suddenly realized: "Oh, no, I'm in charge of sonar measurement, change it over." Zheng Yuanhai smiled, and the two switched positions. Jiang Xizi put on the earphones and listened to the sonar echoes while taking notes, and kept shouting, "Swipe quickly." The two measured from noon until dark, during which Chen Jianjun asked about the situation through the radio several times, and repeatedly told them to pay attention to safety.After another six hours, the two finally successfully passed the No. 8 sea area. Just as Jiang Xizi raised his arms and cheered for victory, Zheng Yuanhai fell silent.It turned out that the shallowest part of the channel they explored was only seven meters, and a water depth of seven meters could barely pass through a warship with a waterline of about 6.5 meters. However, the unknown submarine they tracked last time escaped from the water.Is there an underwater passageway for submarines to pass under this chaotic reef? On the 186 ship, Chen Jianjun learned that Zheng Yuanhai and the others had completed the detection and started to return, a hanging heart finally let go.It was only then that I remembered that I had been anxious for a day without water and rice, and came to the restaurant to see that the cooking squad leader had prepared meals and was waiting for him. "Is there any beer?" Chen Jianjun picked up his chopsticks and asked. The cooking squad leader reminded him in a low voice: "Captain, there is a rule that drinking is strictly prohibited during the voyage." "No one saw it, making an exception?" Chen Jianjun discussed in a flattering tone. The cooking squad leader looked at him with a smile on his face, but stood still. Chen Jianjun smiled and held out a finger: "Just one cup?" The cooking squad leader bargained: "Half a glass!" "Hey! It seems that the county magistrate is better off now! Okay, half a cup is half a cup." However, before he could drink half a glass of wine, he was shocked by the news that Zheng Yuanhai and Jiang Xizi's lifeboat lost contact with the ship's radio. It turned out that Zheng Yuanhai and Jiang Xizi were eager to return to the voyage, and they bumped into a hidden reef and the boat overturned.After a lot of effort, the two finally turned the upside-down lifeboat over, but were surprised to find that not only the compass radio station and some portable measuring equipment fell into the sea, but even the propeller was lost. Fortunately, the person who recorded the measurement data He wrapped the information in a plastic bag and put it in his arms.The two had no choice but to take up the oars and row the boat. After paddling for an unknown amount of time, Zheng Yuanhai suddenly asked Jiang Xizi, "Can you still know which side is north?" Jiang Xizi looked around blankly. Zheng Yuanhai looked up at the sky: "The sky was full of stars in the first half of the night, why are they gone now?" "What time is it? Why do you still have the heart to look at the stars?" Jiang Xizi was a little annoyed. "You can tell where you are with the stars, you idiot!" Jiang Xizi followed suit and looked up at the sky: "It's broken, will there be a storm?" He said loudly to Zheng Yuanhai, "Aren't you a graduate student? Are you not an international student? You should know where we are going?" Zheng Yuanhai shouted: "Dahai still cares about your education? Even a postdoctoral fellow is useless!" Jiang Xizi fell silent, picked up the paddle and continued paddling, Zheng Yuanhai glanced at him: "Stop paddling!" Jiang Xizi didn't speak but rowed harder. Zheng Yuanhai became anxious: "I told you to stop rowing!" He stepped forward and grabbed the oar and threw it on the boat. The two had no choice but to sit on the boat and wait for rescue. Jiang Xizi shook the empty water bottle, and then turned his attention to the water bottle on Zheng Yuanhai's body.Zheng Yuanhai put the kettle behind his back: "After a while, there will be water to drink when it rains." At the same time, Lu Huaicheng is deploying a rescue plan in the operational duty room of the base. Mei Xing'er woke up suddenly in the middle of the night.Ever since she made up her mind to break up with Zheng Yuanhai, she often dreamed of Shajiao Island, dreaming that Zheng Yuanhai could not be found in the dark night, and woke up with tears in her pillow towel.She heard a noisy sound in front of the outpatient building, opened the curtains and looked out.An ambulance was parked in front of the outpatient building, and several medical staff were loading ambulance equipment into the car.Something happened, a flash of thought flashed through her mind, Mei Xing'er hurriedly put on her military uniform and went downstairs. "What happened?" Mei Xing'er asked a doctor while holding her back. "The deputy captain of the 186 ship and a soldier disappeared in the No. 8 sea area." "Ah?" Mei Xing'er was stunned and muttered to herself, "Brother Zheng..." Everyone got into the ambulance and started to leave. "Where are you going?" Mei Xinger shouted. A nurse said: "Go to the heliport and join the search after dawn!" Mei Xing'er opened the door and got in the car. "Doctor Mei, the dean didn't tell you to go!" Mei Xinger suddenly shouted: "I must go." Everyone stared at her blankly. Just after the ambulance personnel boarded the helicopter, news suddenly came from the headquarters that there was a storm in the search and rescue sea area, and the search and rescue had to be postponed. Mei Xinger was suddenly stunned. Waiting, anxious waiting. Mei Xing'er was waiting on the helicopter. Chen Jianjun was waiting on the warship. Lu Huaicheng waited in the combat duty room. At this time, Zheng Yuanhai and Jiang Xizi were also waiting, they were waiting for the rain.When they came out, each of them only brought a military jug of water, which was evaporated completely by the hot temperature during the day.Zheng Yuanhai's kettle seemed to have some water, but he told Jiang Xizi to save it until the most critical moment. When it was almost dawn, the rain finally came down, and Jiang Xizi raised his head and drank it greedily. He felt that this was the sweetest water he had ever drank since growing up.He was very surprised why Zheng Yuanhai didn't drink, and stared blankly at the distance. When he followed his gaze, Jiang Xizi was shocked. In the distance, big waves rolled in... Pacific Bar. Ma Yifan was lying in front of the window looking towards the base, and Zheng Xiuzhu came in from outside. "Brother Yifan, what are you looking at?" "Is... something wrong?" "Ah?" Zheng Xiuzhu squeezed to the window, "What happened?" "Just now... a large car slipped in!" "A big car slipped and something happened? Are you a military enthusiast too sensitive?" "No...no, today is different...different from usual, I still heard... an ambulance calling in the middle of the night." "Really?" Zheng Xiuzhu looked out the window suspiciously. Xiaona pushed the door open and came in, Ma Yifan yelled at her: "You...why did you come here?" Xiaona looked at her watch: "It's only nine o'clock, why is it late?" Ma Yifan urged: "Hurry up to set up... the venue, and hold... the board meeting." Xiaona muttered: "Just the two of you, what kind of venue do you need?" "Expand...enlarge the meeting, don't you also... attend?" Xiaona glared at him and walked aside. Ma Yifan turned to Zheng Xiuzhu and said, "Zheng...Deputy Manager Zheng, your subordinates are getting more and more disobedient!" Zheng Xiuzhu couldn't help laughing.At this moment, Xie Tingqun suddenly opened the door and barged in: "Xiuzhu, it's not good, your brother disappeared at sea." Zheng Xiuzhu was stunned when he heard it... In the evening, Zheng Xiuzhu returned home. Although she pretended to be nonchalant in front of her mother Xu Xinfang, she still couldn't hide the anxiety and uneasiness in her heart. "Xiuzhu, what's wrong with you today?" Xu Xinfang felt that her daughter was a little abnormal today. "No...no!" Xu Xinfang looked at her suspiciously, and Zheng Xiuzhu put a smile on her face on purpose: "Mom, sit down, and I will pat your back." He lightly patted her on the shoulder, "Mom, this is the first time I called your mother. I was five years old and you were thirty, right?" "You still remember it so clearly." Zheng Xiuzhu looked at her gray hair: "Mom, you've obviously grown old these past few years." Xu Xinfang smiled: "Silly boy, you are all this old, how can Mom not grow old?" Zheng Xiuzhu said emotionally: "If Dad hadn't picked me up back then, I might not be in this world long ago." "Stop talking about it, you are mother's own daughter." "Mom, you are the greatest mother in the world. You have survived so many misfortunes and difficulties. No matter what happens in the future, I hope you will be as strong as before." Zheng Xiuzhu couldn't help but shed tears, It dripped onto Xu Xinfang's body. Xu Xinfang turned around: "Son, what happened to you today? What happened?" Zheng Xiuzhu turned to her and knelt down: "No, Mom! I'm in a bad mood today, so I want to cry!" Xu Xinfang wiped her tears: "If you have anything to say, just tell Mom, don't hide it from Mom?" Zheng Xiuzhu nodded vigorously, and hugged her in his arms: "You are my mother's good daughter!" It was late at night, and Zheng Xiuzhu stood in front of the window silently, praying in his heart, brother, you must come back, you must come back, brother, did you hear that?Mom and I are waiting for you to come back. After dawn, Zheng Xiuzhu hurried back to the bar to wait for news. She and Xie Tingqun had already made an appointment, and he would notify her as soon as there was news.Time passed by, Zheng Xiuzhu was restless, every hour felt like a long century in her heart.Ma Yifan wanted to persuade her not to worry, but the more anxious he became, the more speechless he became, so he walked up and down the room with her.Near noon, Xie Tingqun finally came. "How is it? Any news?" Zheng Xiuzhu asked anxiously. Xie Tingqun shook his head dejectedly, and Zheng Xiuzhu suddenly fell down on the sofa. Ma Yifan comforted her: "Zhuzi, don't...don't worry, the troops are still...intensifying... speed up the search and rescue." Xie Tingqun sighed dejectedly: "Oh! Yuan Hai is the same, why not take this risk? What if I really can't come back..." "What happened to Yuan Hai?" Everyone turned their heads in surprise, and Xu Xinfang appeared in front of them with a puzzled expression. "Mom..." Zheng Xiuzhu threw herself into her arms all of a sudden, unable to restrain the despair in her heart, she burst into tears. To everyone's surprise, Xu Xinfang was extremely strong. When she heard the news that her son had disappeared and had not returned, she did not shed a single tear. When she got home, she continued to comfort her daughter: "Son, don't cry. Be like your brother." Same, learn to be strong, ah!" "Hmm!" Zheng Xiuzhu wiped away tears! Xu Xinfang walked to the photo of Zheng Ji hanging on the wall, stared at him and murmured: "Zheng Ji, your son is good, he didn't embarrass you, you must bless him to come back, you must bless him to come back... " Zheng Xiuzhu burst into tears again, sobbing: "Mom, let's go to the army to see! See if there is any news about my brother?" Xu Xinfang shook her head lightly: "No, don't cause trouble for the troops, they will do their best to save your brother!" There was a strong face on the old face... In Zhongnan City, the sound of a violin came from the small courtyard of Qin Siting's house. Sometimes it was sad and touching, and sometimes it was melodious... Qin's mother suddenly opened the window and shouted: "Xiaoting, call!" There was joy on Qin Siting's face, and a trace of sadness flashed across her in an instant, she hesitated. "Xiaoting, call!" Qin's mother urged. "Oh, here we come!" Qin Siting went back to the room and picked up the receiver: "Hello..." Seeing that the person on the phone didn't speak, she asked, "Hello, is it Yuan Hai?" On the other end of the phone, shadows fell on Yu Jidong's face, and he put down the phone in extreme disappointment. Qin Siting put down the phone in a lonely mood, and was about to get up and go outside when her mother called her: "Xiaoting, sit down, mom has something to tell you!" Qin Siting sat down, tried her best to hide her emotions, and said with a smile: "Mom, why are you so serious today?" Qin's mother sighed and said: "You came back this time, and your mood is obviously depressed. Mom doesn't want to ask you why, but I have discussed with your dad about a question, and I want to have a formal talk with you today." "I know, you still want me to go back to Zhongnan." "Si Ting, your father and I are only your daughter, and we have taken you as the apple of our eye since we were young. One day, your father and I will grow old. Since you don't want to marry Yu Jidong, we don't want you to marry us in the future. Living in two cities, your father will be retiring in a year or two at most, while he is still there, some old relationships can still be used, and an ideal unit can be arranged when he comes back." "Mom, I don't want to leave the army." "It's okay if you don't want to leave the army. Zhongnan also has an army. Your father is in charge of the military-civilian joint construction in the city and has many acquaintances. We just want you to be closer to home." Qin Siting was silent for a while, then raised her head and said, "Mom, I can't give you an answer yet, give me some more time!" Mother Qin thought for a while and said, "Okay! I hope you can consider our opinion." On the morning of the third day after Zheng Yuanhai and Jiang Xizi disappeared, the wind finally stopped.The six carrier-based helicopters dispatched by the base searched for a whole day over the sea where the accident occurred, but found no clues, so they had to return before dark. Mei Xing'er was a little desperate, she came to the beach alone, staring at the sea for a long time.She has had the experience of struggling in distress in the sea, and the force of the wind and waves is enough to tear people's survival instinct and will to pieces.She is a doctor, and she knows better that under the strong sunlight during the day, it is difficult to survive forty-eight hours without the physiological limit of a freshwater person.Mei Xing'er didn't dare to think about it anymore, she tightly closed her eyes, tears streaming down unconsciously... The search area of ​​the ship expanded to the sea area beyond No. 8, and the searchlights swept across the sea until dawn, but still found nothing. Near noon, Lu Huaicheng made a judgment based on the direction of the waves and currents after the incident, and ordered to expand the search area again. At this time, Zheng Yuanhai and Jiang Xizi had already drifted to a place two hundred nautical miles away from No. 8 sea area, the lifeboat was drifting in the sea, and the blazing sun poured energy on the sea without hesitation, as if it was about to evaporate the sea. Zheng Yuanhai felt that the sea water was boiled, and the lifeboat was too hot.At this time, Jiang Xizi, who was severely dehydrated, had fallen into a semi-comatose state.Zheng Yuanhai crawled to his side with all his strength, moved his chapped lips and called: "Xizi, Xizi, wake up..." Jiang Xizi managed to open his eyes for a long time: "Old platoon, I'm fine!" He vaguely remembered the moment when the big waves overturned the lifeboat, Zheng Yuanhai grabbed the boat with one hand, grabbed him desperately with the other, and finally tied himself with a rope on him.As for when the wind and waves stopped, and how he returned to the lifeboat, he hardly had any memory. Jiang Xizi licked her chapped lips and murmured: "Old Pai, do you still have water? You must still have water, why don't you carry an empty pot?" Zheng Yuanhai was silent for a while, and finally said: "Yes, I still have water, half a pot of water, but I can't drink it now, we have to save it until the most critical moment, okay?" Jiang Xizi nodded feebly, paused for a long time and said, "Old platoon, why didn't you let me row back that day? Otherwise, we might have already returned to the boat." Zheng Yuanhai shook his head: "At that time, we had already lost our way. The sea was too big. If we missed one oar by one millimeter, we would be hundreds of thousands of kilometers away from our warship." Jiang Xizi moved her chapped lips: "Is there really water in your pot? Tell me to have a look, I won't drink it." Zheng Yuanhai took off the pot, held it in front of his eyes and shook it: "Listen, there is water." Jiang Xizi forced a smile when he heard the sound of water in the pot. Another night came, without the scorching sun, the two of them seemed to feel much better. Zheng Yuanhai looked at the stars in the sky: "Xizi, look at how close the stars are to us, it seems that you can pick them off with your hand." Jiang Xizi opened his eyes: "Actually, the stars in the sky are just like people in the world. Some people are famous and rich. They are the brightest stars, always in the sight of people's attention. Those of us who are soldiers are the darkest The most inconspicuous star is not noticed at all..." Zheng Yuanhai continued: "It doesn't matter if it's bright or dark, they also adorn the beautiful night sky..." A shooting star streaked across the sky. Jiang Xizi said weakly: "When I was young, I heard from my grandma that a person is a star, and when a shooting star flies by, it indicates that a person is about to die." "That's a legend, not true!" Another meteor flew across the sky. Jiang Xizi said again: "This one is not as bright as the previous one...it must be me." "Xizi, don't think about it, we will go back alive." "Old platoon, who do you most want to see now?" "What about you?" Zheng Yuanhai asked back. "My father, my mother, my grandma, and my grandfather, I was naughty when I was young, and they all hated iron for being weak. When they sent me away as a soldier, my father said, if you are successful in your life, the sun will come out from the west... ...Unfortunately, he was hit by what he said, and I wanted to be successful, but I didn't have a chance..." Zheng Yuanhai comforted him: "Don't think so, you are already very promising, you have made meritorious service three times, and you have been an excellent soldier for four consecutive years. You are the best soldier in our Dongjiang base." "Really?" Jiang Xizi continued with a bleak smile on his face, "I still want to see my teachers and classmates..." Zheng Yuanhai continued: "Now... what I want to see most is my mother." On the silent sea, the lifeboat drifted with the waves like a leaf.The two fell asleep at some point, and when Zheng Yuanhai opened his eyes again, the blazing sun came over their heads again. Jiang Xizi closed her eyes tightly, curled up in a corner of the lifeboat with a pale face. Zheng Yuanhai patted his face: "Xizi, wake up, wake up..." Jiang Xizi's lips moved: "I'm so sleepy, I want to sleep." Zheng Yuanhai yelled: "I can't sleep, I can't wake up when I fall asleep, Xizi, Xizi..." He took the water bottle and shook it, "Xizi, look, we still have water, we still have fresh water to live on." Jiang Xizi barely opened his eyes, and said after a long while: "I won't drink, you save it for the critical moment! You want to live, send the materials back...or I will die in vain." "You can't sleep, hear? You can't sleep..." Zheng Yuanhai shouted. "Hmm! I won't sleep!" Jiang Xizi breathed weakly, and he had no strength to speak anymore. Zheng Yuanhai put the water bottle on his back again, and lay powerlessly on the boat: "Xizi, when I get back, I'll invite you to Yifan's bar to drink beer, cold beer, drink whatever you want, drink as much as you can, it's not considered a violation of discipline... ..." Seeing that Jiang Xizi was motionless, "Xizi...Xizi..." Climbed over and patted him vigorously, "Xizi, wake up, wake up..." Jiang Xizi didn't respond, and seemed to be out of breath. "Xizi, you can't die, you can't die, Jiang Xizi..." Zheng Yuanhai didn't have the strength to shout any more, he held Jiang Xizi in his arms, with tears in his eyes, he said with his chapped lips, "Yes A soldier, when he left home... told his mother that his ideal was to be promoted in the army, but her mother said no, I don't want you to have such high ideals, but I want you to come back safely, and it is yours to see me when you come back Ideal, I want you to stick to this ideal. Later, in a naval battle, he accidentally fell into the water. He had no life jacket, no fresh water food, and only what his mother said at the time. He stuck to this ideal, and just drifted on the sea for a day One night, he was finally rescued by his comrades. He came back alive and met his mother... Xizi, we haven't seen the flagship yet. We agreed to serve as soldiers on the flagship... You told me to stick to my ideals and never give up Yes, don't give up, let's stick to our ideals together..." After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Xizi slightly opened her eyes in Zheng Yuanhai's arms: "Old row..." Zheng Yuanhai was pleasantly surprised, hugged him tightly excitedly, and said, "Xizi, you're fine, Xizi!" A gleam of light suddenly flashed in Jiang Xizi's eyes, and he seemed to vaguely see a warship coming towards them in the distance: "Military ship, I seem to have seen a warship." Zheng Yuanhai's heart sank, and he remembered the old people who said that there would be a flashback before death. Jiang Xizi weakly raised his hand and pointed: "I saw... a warship, is it a hallucination?" Zheng Yuanhai raised his head and looked in the direction of his finger - a warship was coming towards them. Zheng Yuanhai shouted excitedly: "Yes, it is a warship, it is our warship, they have come to save us, they have come to save us!" Jiang Xizi couldn't hold on anymore, her head tilted and she fell into a coma...