Chapter 6 Chapter Six

No one expected that more than ten years later, they would meet in such a place, in such a capacity, and in such a situation.The moment the four eyes met, the eyes of the two collided with a muffled sound in the air, and then they were tightly kinked together. There was no words for a long time, they just looked at each other silently. Wei Mingkun was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Zhou Dongjin had hardly changed at all. After so many years and so many setbacks, he could still maintain that unique style and chic: standard military posture, tall and straight body , neat military uniform, shiny leather shoes... Wei Mingkun noticed that he even still kept the habit of wearing white gloves.

But these were not what surprised Wei Mingkun the most. What surprised Wei Mingkun the most were Zhou Dongjin's eyes.Zhou Dongjin's eyes are very flamboyant, they are the kind of eyes that open wide as soon as they are opened, like to look directly at them, rarely blink or turn, and never avoid anything.There are very few such eyes in adults, and under normal circumstances, this kind of eyes only belongs to childhood, at most adolescents. Wei Mingkun was very familiar with Zhou Dongjin's eyes.When he fought for the first time as a child, he found that Zhou Dongjin's eyes had a strong attraction to him.Every time they fought, he tried his best to avoid Zhou Dongjin's gaze, restraining himself from looking into his eyes.He doesn't want to always find his opponent's intelligence, vigor and bravery in his opponent's eyes, and he doesn't want to let himself secretly admire his opponent in his heart.

After joining the army, he began to dislike Zhou Dongjin's eyes more and more.He found something in Zhou Dongjin's eyes that made him very uncomfortable - a sense of superiority.Not only Zhou Dongjin, but almost all soldiers from military families have this kind of thing.It has to be admitted that they do have reasons to be superior.They are different from Wei Mingkun and others, they joined the army largely because of love, not for specific reasons such as asking for family background or leaving the land.They have lived in the army compound since they were young, among the soldiers, they are almost born to be part of the army.For them, being a soldier is a natural process in their lives, something that is taken for granted.They feel as comfortable serving as soldiers in the army as if they were at home, not to mention that many army leaders are comrades-in-arms of their fathers, uncles and uncles who have watched them grow up since childhood.Therefore, they did not have the restraint and strangeness of Wei Mingkun and others, and completely regarded the army as their own big family.In this big family, they are like ducks in water.The long-term paramilitary life in Bayi School has made them accustomed to going out for exercises, running, taking a break, and standing at attention, and they have long learned to walk in formation and goose step.When many recruits were still turning, they were already able to walk proficiently at a standard pace of 75 centimeters per step and 120 steps per minute; when many recruits could not even find the front sight and the gap, they Already able to carry out live ammunition shooting.They are so familiar with the set of things that the army drills, and almost without any process, they easily completed the initial transition from ordinary people to soldiers.

And all these are things that soldiers like Wei Mingkun and the others do not have.They are far behind.They envy them and admire them, but they can't help being a little jealous of them.In fact, deep down in their hearts, they still hope to get close to, interact with, and even become friends with them.However, whenever they approach them cautiously with their hands protecting their self-esteem, they will always feel a kind of indescribable inferiority complex and depression.Zhou Dongjin and the others are too superior, their superiority is deep in their bones, and they can feel it anytime, anywhere without expressing it deliberately, not to mention they don't want to hide it at all.They believe that they are born soldiers, that only they can become future generals.They never took Wei Mingkun and others seriously.

The indifferent eyes of Zhou Dongjin and Wei Mingkun often made them feel humiliated and resentful, and also aroused their motivation to compete with them.They are not convinced. Although they do not have the good background and foundation of Zhou Dongjin and the others, they are no worse than anyone else in terms of mental and physical strength. If they don't believe it, they can't beat them!For a long time thereafter, Wei Mingkun worked hard with Zhou Dongjin.In the arduous contest, he was repeatedly stabbed by the opponent's superiority, and knocked down the superior opponent time and time again.He is single and weak, but he is tenacious and tenacious.Because he understands that he has neither a ready-made road in front of him nor a backer who can support him behind him, so he must rely on his own strength to fight a bloody road.He can only fight with his back.

Later, when Wei Mingkun finally managed to rank above Zhou Dongjin through his own efforts, he ignored Zhou Dongjin's eyes.At that time, he had already seen clearly, Zhou Dongjin's ostentatious eyes only showed that he was immature.Most of the adults with such eyes grew up in the superior environment created by their parents. They are the children of cadres who have never suffered grievances, depression, suffering or despair.Only they have the possibility to carry a pair of immature eyes from childhood into youth, and even into adulthood.This is the patent of people like them, but it is also the limitation of people like them.Wei Mingkun knew very well that they were destined to pay the price for this, because this kind of thing would only separate them from the crowd and make them suffer double the pain and blow for the superiority they once had.At that time, many children of cadres began to change.The tempering of reality made them mature gradually, and the maturity made the publicity in their eyes restrained a lot.But Zhou Dongjin was an exception. He seemed to be unable to remember the pain no matter how many somersaults he fell, and he could not taste the smell of beans after eating a hundred beans. He never knew how to restrain himself.His eyes were wide open as always, revealing his enthusiasm, intelligence and ability, but also his arrogance, stupidity and immaturity.Wei Mingkun couldn't help but feel sad for Zhou Dongjin while watching with cold eyes.Zhou Dongjin's military quality is excellent, and he is a rare military commanding talent, but he is too confident, too unsophisticated, and too unsuitable for the surrounding environment.Even if the factor of his father Zhou Han is taken into account, it is impossible for his road to go smoothly.Sure enough, Zhou Dongjin was not going well all the time, he lost to Wei Mingkun both on the battlefield and in love.Later, Zhou Dongjin took the initiative to ask to be transferred from the field army and went to the frontier defense force.They haven't seen each other since then.

More than ten years have passed, and Wei Mingkun thought that after experiencing so many setbacks and tempering for so many years, Zhou Dongjin must have changed a lot, even if he was not completely unrecognizable.But he never thought that Zhou Dongjin still has those eyes! Zhou Dongjin tried his best to make himself appear calmer. He looked directly at Wei Mingkun, and while conveying his aura to the other party, he was also secretly observing the other party. From the outside, Wei Mingkun didn't change much.It was the same muscular square face, the same deep well-like unfathomable eyes, and the slightly upturned hard chin.What is rare is that Wei Mingkun still maintains a standard figure, with a flat abdomen and a compact body, without the slightest fatness of a middle-aged man, nor the laxity and burnout caused by the irregular life that is common to officials.Wei Mingkun's changes were not on the outside but on the inside. Zhou Dongjin keenly felt that Wei Mingkun's expression had a lot more confidence, and his gestures also had some awe-inspiring aura that only a leader can have.This feeling was like a sharp awl, piercing Zhou Dongjin sharply, piercing into the weakest place in his heart.A piercing pain quickly spread to the whole body, Zhou Dongjin's heart shuddered, he immediately clenched his teeth and tensed his whole body.

bring it on!Zhou Dongjin thought, haven't you, Wei Mingkun, been looking forward to this day?Here's your boy's chance! In fact, ever since he learned of the accident at Heishan Pass, and since he learned that Wei Mingkun had become the commander of the division, Zhou Dongjin had never been at peace for a moment.His head is full of Heishankou, and his head is full of Wei Mingkun.Heishankou was like a huge rock pressing on his chest, while Wei Mingkun was like a foot stacked on top of the rock, making him bear the double pressure.Zhou Dongjin knew very well in his heart that among these two pressures, the weight of the stone was fixed, but the weight of the foot was arbitrary, as light as he wanted, and as heavy as he wanted, it all depended on Wei Mingkun.He, Zhou Dongjin, really fell into Wei Mingkun's hands this time, so he could only let Wei Mingkun do as he pleases.

Why is it Wei Mingkun? !Why did Wei Mingkun have to rush at this juncture? ! Zhou Dongjin really didn't understand why the gods valued him so much, always "suffering his will, exhausting his muscles and bones, starving his body, emptying his body, and messing with his actions" over and over again.He, Zhou Dongjin, has been "trapped in the heart, weighed in with considerations, and then acted" countless times, but why can't he "sign in the form, express in the sound, and then describe" in the end? The first time he was knocked down by Wei Mingkun was in his first year as a soldier.

At first Zhou Dongjin didn't pay much attention to Wei Mingkun. Although he was puzzled that his father sent the shoemaker's son to serve as a soldier for no reason, he didn't want to get to the bottom of it.This has nothing to do with him. What interests him is that he has finally put on a military uniform and carried a gun to become a real soldier.At that time, Zhou Dongjin was at the age of the most frivolous and confident in his life. He believed that he was born out of the door; he believed that the soldier was the most proud profession in the world; he believed that the soldier was the best group of men; I will become a general; I believe that the future army will eventually be in the hands of these people; I believe that their intervention will make this army even stronger; I believe that they will eventually lead this army to complete the historical mission of liberating all mankind...

At that time, Nan Zheng's friend Wang Jingjin wrote a long poem entitled "To the Heroes of the Next World War".This poem passionately describes the imagined future war, and describes the heroic scenes of their generation of soldiers fighting bloody in the great war to liberate all mankind.This long poem quickly spread among the ambitious cadres and children, and Zhou Dongjin was immediately deeply moved by this poem. Among them, the lines that moved him most were the following lines: Take off the whitish military cap, hold Sujie garlands, softly approaching your grave. ... In the foreign sky, your youthful face will always be frozen. Your life, your vows. ... Yesterday's gunpowder smoke still lingers in the jungle and mountain streams. My comrade in arms, my partner, you will be buried in a foreign land on the far side of the Atlantic Ocean. Reciting this poem, Zhou Dongjin imagined countless times that he would lead an excellent army and gallop across the battlefield invincible in the future war.Imagine yourself being a heroic sacrifice, shrouded in horse leather, lying on the land liberated by your own hands, and being mourned by comrades-in-arms. He wished that this day would come tomorrow. With so many ambitions surging in his chest, Zhou Dongjin naturally didn't have the heart to pay attention to Wei Mingkun.To be honest, he didn't care about Wei Mingkun at all.When he stood out among the soldiers and leapt and leaped on the training ground as a demonstration, when he often ranked first in live ammunition shooting and achieved excellent results, when he used famous battle examples from ancient and modern China and foreign countries to calm the company cadres. When he was stunned, Wei Mingkun, like all ordinary soldiers, turned into "zero" in front of his eyes.And he himself is "1", the "1" that may lead these countless zeros in the future. This good feeling of "1" lasted until the day when the five good fighters were rated.Before that day, to be precise, before Wei Mingkun spoke, Zhou Dongjin always believed that he was a well-deserved fighter of the Five Good People. But Wei Mingkun spoke, and as soon as Wei Mingkun spoke, Zhou Dongjin fell from his horse in an instant. Wei Mingkun read a passage from Chairman Mao before speaking.Wei Mingkun said that the great leader Chairman Mao taught us that humility makes people progress and pride makes people lag behind.Wei Mingkun said that I don't agree with Zhou Dongjin being a five-good soldier. He has the serious "arrogance" and "coquettishness" of the children of cadres.Then, Wei Mingkun listed Zhou Dongjin's specific manifestations of "arrogance" and "delicacy" one by one. Zhou Dongjin was surprised to find that he had so many shortcomings.The first is arrogance: I look down on the soldiers who enlisted in the countryside, laughing at them walking forward like crossing a ditch, practicing assassination like swinging a hoe, and saying that I don’t need to practice aiming at all, and I can shoot more accurately than them with my eyes closed... Zhou Dongjin has nothing to say, Obviously, although it was a joke, these words did come from his mouth.What he didn't expect was that those soldiers who followed him all day long to help him practice the horizontal bar and aim, and would only laugh and laugh when he scolded them, immediately rose up against him when they saw that someone came forward to justice for them Here they come, and one of them is bitterer than the other.Especially the Henan soldier who was always following behind him, his eyes were red with grievances as he spoke. Before Zhou Dongjin could react, Wei Mingkun brought up a more serious fact: Zhou Dongjin dared to laugh at the instructor's Liaoxi accent.Wei Mingkun said that Zhou Dongjin joked behind his back that the instructor couldn't pronounce the sound "two", saying that the instructor always said "two" as "ah", and that he knew that there was a saying in the instructor's hometown: whoever can say "Two", whoever can be an official.Wei Mingkun said this without losing the opportunity when the instructor happened to transfer to his class to check the evaluation situation.Everyone could see clearly, and the instructor's face changed color at that moment. As for the examples of Zhou Dongjin's coquettishness, there are too many to enumerate.The most important example is that Zhou Dongjin not only did not shed tears but also threw away half of a bran pancake when the company was having a bitter meal. This is also an irrefutable fact.Zhou Dongjin did throw away half of the bran vegetable pancake, which was Yikusitian.At that time, he resisted to eat half of it, but felt that the food was greasy in his mouth, and it was really hard to swallow.As soon as it got to the throat, the hairs on the back of the neck stood up all at once, and it couldn't be swallowed no matter what.He quietly held the remaining half of bran pancake in his palm, and threw it away as soon as he left the cafeteria.Unexpectedly, Wei Mingkun, who was following behind, saw this action.Wei Mingkun glanced at the instructor who had been hiding in the dark to observe, quietly picked up the half piece of bran pancake, and swallowed it slowly and firmly.Afterwards, the instructor praised Wei Mingkun by name. Although he didn't criticize Zhou Dongjin by name, he only criticized "some comrades" in general, but Zhou Dongjin's face was always burning with shame.Zhou Dongjin naturally had to admit this matter, and naturally he had nothing to say. Until Wei Mingkun brought up the issue that Zhou Dongjin did not pay attention to carrying forward the fine tradition of thrift and often went to the street to buy fruits and candies, Zhou Dongjin finally couldn't help but jumped up.Zhou Dongjin said that I cannot accept this opinion!When did you all ask me to buy it?Besides, which time did the big guys eat together when they bought it?I, Zhou Dongjin, didn't take another bite. Why did I spend money to buy food for the big guys, but it was my fault?Wei Mingkun said, Comrade Zhou Dongjin, don't take a big bite, as if everyone has eaten your food.Zhou Dongjin was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered that Wei Mingkun seemed to have never eaten his food, nor anyone else's food.At this time, the instructor spoke on the sidelines.The instructor said that in order to explain the problem, comrades are asked to take out their passbooks.The comrades each took out a passbook.After checking one by one, it was found that everyone had more or less saved some money, only Zhou Dongjin and Xiao Sichuan did not have passbooks.But Xiao Sichuan has a stub of the remittance slip. Xiao Sichuan's family life is difficult. He only keeps one yuan of the six yuan monthly allowance, and sends the remaining five yuan home every month.Zhou Dongjin was stunned at the time. He didn't have a passbook, and he never thought of saving money.The instructor calmly inspired Zhou Dongjin, saying that it doesn’t matter if you don’t have a passbook, just take out the money and have a look to show that you don’t spend it indiscriminately.Zhou Dongjin fumbled for his pockets all over his body up and down. There was money in each pocket, but there was not much money in each pocket. He took out four yuan, three cents and six cents in total, which was not even enough for a month's allowance .The instructor asked how could there be so few?The allowance of six yuan a month, a total of seventy (two) yuan a year, how come there are only four yuan left?Where did all your money go?In fact, Zhou Dongjin himself was thinking about this question, but he couldn't remember it for a while.He really didn't have any big expenses, and he didn't need to send money at home. Where did the money go?In desperation, Zhou Dongjin suddenly remembered that he had given Henan soldiers some money.The two of them went to the street together that day. Henan Bing said that his hometown had flooded this year and wanted to send some money home, but because he smoked so much that he didn't have much money left, it was very embarrassing.At that time, without thinking about it, Zhou Dongjin took out all the money in his pocket and gave it to him. He didn't remember how much it was, but he only remembered that he was disappointed because he came back because he didn't buy anything to eat.I still remember that Henan Bing was so moved that his nose was so long, he kept expressing his gratitude, saying that he must vote for Zhou Dongjin when the five best soldiers were evaluated at the end of the year.Thinking of this, Zhou Dongjin immediately raised his head and looked at the Henan soldier as if asking for help, hoping that he could stand up and tell him where part of the money came from.But the Henan soldiers resolutely turned their eyes elsewhere and refused to look at him.Zhou Dongjin thought for a while with a blank face, and finally decided not to say anything.Firstly, he was embarrassed to say what he helped others, secondly, he couldn’t tell exactly how much money he gave Henan Bing, and thirdly, even if the money was cleared, he still couldn’t say where the rest of the money went. clear. As a result, Zhou Dongjin was completely defeated, and he didn't even touch the hair of the five good soldiers.No one mentioned his name, not even the swearing Henan soldier. Because he was not rated as one of the five good soldiers in his first year as a soldier, Zhou Han was very disappointed with Dongjin's performance, so he specially sent Nanzheng to the company to have a talk with Dongjin.The main content of the conversation was to tell Dongjin that the children of cadres should learn to behave with their tails between their legs, and that the children of cadres should mingle with the children of workers and peasants. As soon as they met, Nan Zheng looked Dong Jin up and down and said, look at you as a son of a cadre!White collar, loafers, so that people can see that you are a cadre's child at a glance! See what's wrong?Dong Jin said disapprovingly, what's wrong with the children of cadres? it is good?Do you think the children of cadres have a good reputation?Do you know what people think of us now? What do you think? People say that we are "soldiers from the younger generation" and "soldiers from the back door". They say that the children of cadres have no skills and have a sense of superiority. It is a matter of course that the son follows the father's career.The children of their workers can confidently take over as workers, but the children of the army cannot enlist in the army?You understand, we are soldiers!Just a soldier!It's a fight to the death!That's right, I have a sense of superiority, I am superior to them, wow, I am excellent, why can't I be superior?However, I didn't rely on my father for a living, I relied on my own strength!Whoever refuses to accept it, we can pull it to the training ground to compete... Go east!Nan Zheng yelled, "Look at your proud, self-satisfied and conceited appearance, you will always compete with others. No wonder the masses have opinions on you and don't judge you as five good fighters!"Is it possible to stay away from the masses by pretending to be a cadre's child all day long and bluffing in vain and not paying attention to anyone?Tell me, the reputation of the children of cadres is ruined by people like you! Dong Jin retorted unconvinced, "Brother, I didn't embarrass the cadres' children!"I took the whole company shooting, assassinated two firsts, and the grenade passed the 70-meter mark!Say I am proud, and pride must have capital!If you don’t have these hard indicators to be at the bottom, you can’t be proud if you want to be proud! You see, you see, as he talks, he becomes proud again.Dong Jin, can you be more modest and cautious?Five good five good, good military technology is only one aspect, the key is to give prominence to politics.Besides, you are not the only one who is good at military technology. I heard that Wei Mingkun has already caught up with you, and his grades are comparable to yours. Moreover, he has a stronger spirit of enduring hardships than you, and his prestige among the masses is also higher than yours. Don't mention whether he is good or not, I'm annoying him!If you are not shady, you will use a knife at a critical moment. It's useless to be annoying, and they will be rated as five good fighters.Dongjin, we cadres and children are conspicuous in the company, there are so many eyes staring at us, can we not restrain ourselves?People just can't understand you.I heard that you are still talking about the theories of bourgeois military strategists such as Napoleon, Patton, and Clausewitz in the company, and talking about Western battles such as the Battle of Midway and the Normandy landing. That's right.But why didn't they say that I also talked about the military theories of Sun Tzu, Zhuge Liang, and Chairman Mao, and also talked about our own war examples such as crossing the Chishui River four times, going south to the south of the Yangtze River three times and protecting the Linjiang River four times, and the three major battles?Soldiers, what's wrong with talking about this?Besides, didn't I learn everything from you? I didn't tell you to give up studying Mao Zedong Thought and promoting purely military views! Brother, don't give me a hat.Dong Jin laughed and said, don't you yourself have bright eyes, great interest, and eloquence when you mention these purely military viewpoints? That was in the past, Nan Zheng said, now, by studying Chairman Mao's works, I have deeply realized that only Mao Zedong Thought, which is invincible in all battles, is the magic weapon for our army to defeat the enemy.Those bourgeois military theories and war theories are all unreliable. Dong Jin stared at Nan Zheng carefully for a while, and he found that Nan Zheng had indeed changed a lot.Although it is still the same face, but the complexion is dignified, the expression is deep, the speech has become orderly, even the tone of voice is much lower and calmer, and every move seems to reveal the stability and maturity after experience.This was not the case with Nanzheng in the past. As long as Nanzheng opened his mouth in the past, his passion would fly up and down with his gestures.At that time, Dong Jinte liked Lai to listen to Nan Zheng and Wang Jingjin talking nonsense when they got together.In Dong Jin's eyes, Nan Zheng and the others seemed to know everything.They are full of various types of wars and weapons of various styles, full of famous Chinese and foreign military generals and the famous battles they fought, full of Frunze Military Academy, West Point Military Academy, Whampoa Military Academy, etc. An inspiring name.Every time, Dong Jin could hear his heart surging and his blood boiling, as if something in his body was instantly activated, and it bumped into his body without thinking, making him excited and restless, wishing he could rush out and smash everything. glass, kicked through all the doors. Dongjin had never seen Nanzheng speak like this.For some reason, the changes in Nanzheng made Dongjin a little uneasy.Dong Jin restrained himself a little, and said seriously, brother, to be honest, I also thought about becoming one with the children of workers and peasants.I learned how to roll toad cigarettes from them, how to squeeze phlegm on the ground from between my teeth, how to lie in the bed and talk foul language, how I don’t even know myself, but they still say that I didn’t follow them. They mingle. Nan Zheng took a deep look at Dong Jin and said, "Dong Jin, you still don't understand. The key is to integrate with the children of workers and peasants ideologically, to overcome the sense of superiority in the children of cadres, and to overcome the pride and complacency. Simply put, it is We must completely forget that we are the children of cadres. Why?is it possible?Dong Jin said disdainfully. Nothing is impossible, Nan Zheng said, I did it, people in our company now say that I don't look like a cadre's son.Nan Zheng said with deep emotion, Dongjin, when the masses say that you are not like the children of cadres, it means that you have truly become one with the children of workers and peasants.Saying that a child of a cadre is not like a child of a cadre is the highest praise for a child of a cadre. Dong Jin's mouth slowly opened, forming a big O-shape, and settled there. After a long time, Dong Jin let out a sneer in his throat. Dong Jin said, bullshit!you are lying! Dong Jin said, Brother, I don't believe that you will forget that you are from a family of revolutionary soldiers, I don't believe that you are not proud of your background, and I don't believe that you will forget that you are the son of a cadre! Dong Jin said, Brother, why are you doing this?Why lie to others?Why lie to yourself?The children of cadres are not the children of the rich and evil right, and they don't need to draw a clear line with the family. Why do they have to be like this? After a long silence, Nan Zheng suddenly asked Dong Jin, Dong Jin, do you want to stay in the army for a long time? of course! If you want to, you have to do it! What if I don't? Nan Zheng said coldly, then you will be demobilized by the army just like Wang Jingjin. Was Wang Jingjin demobilized?Dong Jin couldn't believe his ears.After staying for a long time, Dong Jin asked, Wang Jingjin, he, he left? ...Gone, Nan Zheng's eyes suddenly turned red, he...gone... Nanzheng raised his head, looked up at the sky, and told Dongjin just looking at the sky like that, the relationship between Wang Jingjin and Lianli was very tense, and Lianli decided to demobilize him.Wang Jingjin refused to leave, so he called his father's office directly through Channel 1, hoping that the old man would speak for him.Unexpectedly, the company had already done the work ahead of time, and the old man immediately became angry when he heard his voice, saying that you are a bastard, you have thrown your face to the army, and if you dare to make a fuss, I will not smoke your monkey Muscles, I have already seen that you are not a soldier material, you should get out of here as soon as possible!Wang Jingjin was stunned for a long time before putting down the phone.From then on, Wang Jingjin's face has always had a strange expression that seems to be a smile but not a smile.Later, Wang Jingjin went to Nan Zheng with his pile of military books, saying that he no longer needed them and would give them all to Nan Zheng.Nan Zheng had long been envious of Wang Jingjin's precious books, and when he heard that he was going to give them all to him, he was naturally very happy.But Nan Zheng was also a little bit guilty, these books Wang Jingjin was usually his lifeblood, and people who looked down upon them would not even borrow them to read.Besides, Nan Zheng has been estranged from Wang Jingjin for several days.Wang Jingjin is too much of a cadre's child, and he doesn't pay attention to the influence in his words and actions. Nan Zheng worried that always being with him would affect his progress, so he deliberately alienated him.Wang Jingjin was very dissatisfied with Nan Zheng because of this. He once claimed that he would never lend books to Nan Zheng again. Why did he suddenly give him all the books regardless of the past.No matter what, Nan Zheng is very happy.But he only cared about being happy, and didn't notice the strange smile on Wang Jingjin's face.Unexpectedly, something happened that night.Wang Jingjin ran to the hillside opposite the company in the middle of the night, saluted the barracks, and shouted loudly with tears on his face: Dear company, farewell!After shouting, he shot himself. Nan Zheng said that before the accident, he suddenly woke up from his sleep inexplicably. When he opened his eyes wide in a daze, he first heard Wang Jingjin's emotional shout, and then he heard the thrilling gunshot. Nan Zheng said to the sky, did you know that there were only six words in Wang Jingjin's suicide note: don't serve as a soldier, or give me death! After talking about this, Nan Zheng slowly moved his eyes from the sky and looked at Dong Jin. Nan Zheng's eyes were still red, but they didn't have the tears that Dong Jin imagined, as if they had just been hung in the sky and baked, they were unbelievably dry. Dongjin doesn't understand why Nanzheng has no tears.Wang Jingjin is Nan Zheng's best friend, and even Dong Jin still remembers Wang Jingjin well.Dong Jin remembered that Wang Jingjin had transferred here with his family from Beijing. He spoke a nice Beijing accent, was very smart, able to speak, and very passionate.Even among the children in the army compound, he seemed a little different, and he seemed particularly well-informed.Ever since he read the long poem "Dedicated to the Heroes of the Next World War" written by Wang Jingjin, Wang Jingjin has become Dong Jin's hero.Dong Jin believed that Wang Jingjin would definitely achieve a great career in the army, but he did not expect that he would die so suddenly, not on the battlefield, not at the gunpoint of the enemy, not as a hero... Dong Jin suddenly felt that something deep in his heart was torn apart, and convulsed with the severe pain, and bright red blood flowed out. Wang Jingjin is dead, Dongjin thought sadly.How could Wang Jingjin die?How could such a lively and passionate person commit suicide? ! Dong Jin could imagine the great pain and pressure Wang Jingjin endured before his death. A person who loved the army as passionately as he did could not tolerate being abandoned by the army he loved.But Dongjin couldn't figure out why Wang Jingjin chose to die.He is a person with ideals and ambitions, how can he give up his ideals and aspirations so rashly, how can he give up his life so rashly? Even Dongjin could not understand Nanzheng.It can be seen that Wang Jingjin's death did deal a great blow to Nan Zheng, but Dong Jin didn't understand why Nan Zheng was so determined to draw a line with Wang Jingjin; why he had to hand in all the books Wang Jingjin gave him; Reflect on the impure motives of being a soldier like Wang Jingjin, review the erroneous thinking that you want to be promoted to a cadre, and want to work from a company platoon leader to a senior cadre like your parents.Does this prove that he and Wang Jingjin are not the same kind of people?Does this prove that he has become one with the children of workers and peasants? Both Nan Zheng and Wang Jingjin were once the most admired people in Dong Jin's mind. Dong Jin didn't expect them to give up the things they cherished so quickly, and they gave up so completely and decisively. Dongjin doesn't want to give up.He never thought that he wanted to be in the army for the rest of his life. There was nothing wrong with wanting to be a platoon commander, company commander, or even army commander or commander.He didn't want to dissect himself and deceive himself like Nan Zheng did, and won the praise of "not like a cadre's child".Although doing so may make his situation better, although according to Nan Zheng's words, doing so is not giving up on the goal but sticking to it, which is another form of sticking to it, but Dongjin is unwilling from the bottom of his heart!Dongjin firmly believes that "not like the children of cadres" is not a compliment, and firmly believes that the children of cadres have shortcomings but have more advantages.I can correct my shortcomings, Dong Jin thought bitterly, I can overcome what you call "arrogant" and "coquettish", I can be thrifty, I can stop eating snacks, I can stop wearing loafers..., but I don't want to It is also impossible not to be like the children of cadres!I am the son of a cadre, why should I not look like me?Why should I not be me? ! Dong Jin fell into extreme confusion. He disapproved of Nan Zheng, but he knew that what Nan Zheng said was reasonable. "If you don't do this, you may be abandoned by the army like Wang Jingjin!" This truth made him feel scared.Dong Jin knew that he couldn’t do without the army. He loved this tense, monotonous, challenging, and manly life too much. He loved this kind of life with weapons all day long. He wanted to realize himself too much. The lofty goals in mind.If you want not to give up, if you want to prove yourself, you must first change yourself? A burst of severe pain spread from the torn wound to the whole body, Dong Jin could not help but tremble all over, his teeth were chattering, and he muttered, no, no... Nan Zheng got up and walked outside. At the moment when Nan Zheng's back was about to disappear, Dong Jin suddenly jumped up and shouted loudly from behind: I can prove myself!I will never give up—Nan Zheng suddenly turned his head and saw the tears on Dong Jin's face surging like a bank, a vast ocean. Being knocked down by Wei Mingkun again was to go to the military academy. At that time, both Zhou Dongjin and Wei Mingkun were already platoon leaders.At that time, the army had quotas for workers, peasants and soldiers to go to college every year, but the quota was very small, and only those with outstanding performance had the opportunity to be selected to go to college.Because of his outstanding performance, Zhou Nanzheng was established as an advanced model of combining the children of cadres with the children of workers and peasants. He was selected by the army and sent to the history department of a local university.After graduating from university, Zhou Nanzheng stayed in the government to work.Gradually, many cadres' children have taken this road, because they can be reassigned to work after graduating from university, which creates conditions for them to leave the grassroots company and enter the government office.So, they began to find ways to go to school.But among them, like Zhou Nanzheng, there were not many who were actually selected by the army to go to university. Most of them got a quota from the top through their family connections.The children of cadres once again showed their superior status over others. They don't need to be particularly outstanding, but as long as they need to, they can easily replace those who are particularly outstanding.The bad thing is, they don't think there's anything wrong or bad about doing it.Just as they thought it was natural to serve in the army, they think it is natural for them to go to school now.Worse, they don't know that doing so will hurt the feelings of a large group of people.Children from poor families like Wei Mingkun can only rely on their own outstanding performance to compete with others. In this obviously unfair competition, they can't stop feeling chilled and accumulate resentment in their hearts again and again.And the worst part is that even if they knew, they wouldn't care much.They are used to superiority, they have taken superiority as their birthright, and they think they really have this right. 与他们相比，历来不安分的周东进此时反倒显得格外安分了。周东进似乎从来没有上大学调机关这些离开基层连队的念头，他不仅一直心安理得地在基层连队干，而且干得相当不错。他同魏明坤一样都是全团有名的优秀排长，所不同的是，周东进是干部子弟，是属于能离开连队却没有离开的人。周东进于是引起了团里的注意，团里决定树周东进当扎根基层的先进典型。很久以来，团里在选送人员上学这类事上一直扮演着尴尬的角色。对上，他们不能不无条件地服从；对下，他们又不得不做大量的稳定思想工作。从部队政治思想工作的角度来考虑，如果把周东进树为扎根基层工作的先进典型，就既为干部子弟树立了榜样，又安抚了基层干部战士的情绪。团里立刻派了工作组下来抓周东进这个典型。 工作组一来，连里立刻轰动了，这可是抓全团的先进典型呀！先进典型和五好战士不一样，五好战士连里有的是，团先进典型一个营也不一定能摊上一个，只要当上团典型，肯定以后会前途无量！大家都以为周东进这下行了，不费一枪一弹就一下子端了个大据点。但谁也没想到，这事竟让周东进自己给搅黄了。 周东进死活不当这个典型。 周东进说，我愿意在连队干，这和觉悟高不高没关系，是我自己愿意。 工作组说对呀，甘愿扎根基层这就是觉悟高的表现。 周东进说哎你们别给我上纲上线，我可没说我要扎根基层。扎根这话可不是随便说的，那是永远呆在基层的意思，谁能永远呆在基层？不进步了？ 工作组只好解释说这只是个说法，是对周东进不上大学，不调机关，脚踏实地在连队干这种精神的肯定。 周东进就笑了，说我不上大学是因为对那些学校和专业不感兴趣。你看上面下来那些名额，不是政治系历史系就是中文系外语系，我学那些干什么，跟军事也不沾边？ 工作组说对呀，这就说明你是干一行爱一行，说明你…… 得了，你们就别给我瞎说明了。周东进说，等步兵学校恢复招生那天，我肯定削尖脑袋争着抢着去上学。你们现在把我弄成扎根典型，到那时我再拔根可就费事了。再说了，我这个扎根典型到时拔了根就走，你们对上对下也不好交待呀。 整个摆出一副扶不起来的阿斗架势，倒把工作组说的没词了。团里很恼火，但也没办法。典型是得自己上台去给群众讲用先进事迹的，自己都不认账怎么给群众讲，这事也就只好暂时搁下了。 事情偏就赶得这么巧，步兵学校当年就恢复招生了。连里分到一个上步校的名额，明摆着这个名额肯定是在周东进和魏明坤之间产生。平心而论，如果没有树典型那档子事，周东进的可能性更大，因为周东进的身份使他显得更突出一些。但经过树典型这么一折腾，周东进的形象就大打折扣了，团里决定送魏明坤去。 周东进这下可不干了，果真削尖脑袋争抢起来，从连里、营里、团里一口气找到师里。师长是周汉的老部下，当时就把干部科长叫来了，说你给我个上步校的名额。干部科长说，师长，名额已经全部分下去了。师长说那你给我调整出来一个嘛。干部科长面带难色地说，现在人员基本上定了，本人也都知道了，这个时候再调整影响就太大了。师长就没鼻子没脸地朝干部科长发了一通火，弄得在一旁的周东进也浑身不自在。发完火，师长转身对周东进说，东进呀，我看你就明年再上步校吧。这事叔叔给你记着，明年保证第一个送你去。话说到了这一步，周东进也就只好告辞了。周东进前脚刚走，师长就拍着干部科长的肩膀说，委屈你了，我这也是没办法呀。干部科长说，师长你别这么说我能理解。师长就说，明年让他去吧，不然我在老首长那里不好交待。干部科长赶紧说是，我记住了师长。 本来周东进今年也准备放弃了，想妈的明年就明年吧，晚上一年步校我周东进也未必就比谁差，未必就比他魏明坤差。但就在这个节骨眼上，周汉下部队来了。周东进倒没跟周汉说什么，他们爷俩之间也从来就说不了什么，见面就是那么几句话：周汉：怎么样？ 周东进：还行。 周汉：什么叫还行？ 周东进：就是还说得过去呗。 周汉：是别人看你说得过去呢，还是你自己觉得自己说得过去？ 周东进：当然是我自己，别人怎么看我哪知道？ 周汉：哼，自以为是！ 然后周汉就把周东进扔在一边，自顾自地翻看文件。但这时周东进还不能走，这时要走周汉就会发火，说你给我滚回来！你不要一听到批评就躲，比躲老子的枪子儿跑得还快！接下去就是一顿臭骂。这时周东进只能老老实实在一边干坐着，等过一会儿周汉听到没什么动静了，就会抬头冲着周东进说，你怎么还在这坐着，还不赶快回连队去？走，赶紧给我走！周东进这才能溜出来。 一出来，秘书刘希文准会笑眯眯地迎上前，低声问，完事了？来，到我屋里坐一会儿吧。结果看老爹就成了看刘秘书，刘希文倒像家人似的能跟周东进热热乎乎地唠一阵家常。唠着唠着，周东进就把去不成步校的窝囊事说了。刘希文听后若有所思地眯起眼睛，瞄着周东进问，东进这事你怎么不早告诉我？周东进说告诉你有什么用，远水也解不了近渴。刘希文不动声色地问，那你今年到底还想不想去了？周东进说当然想！刘希文就不紧不慢地说，那好，这事就交给我吧，我保证让你去上。周东进一个高蹦起来说，太好了刘秘书，你要是能再要个名额给我，我立刻宣布给你队列前口头嘉奖一次！刘希文一笑，说我从哪儿要名额你就别管了，你只管打好背包准备去报到就是了。 果然，第二天团里就下来通知，叫周东进准备去步校学习，但并不是增加名额，而是把魏明坤换成了周东进。这一下可炸锅了，全团上下一时间议论纷纷。周东进开始听到这个消息时也有点发蒙，直在心里埋怨刘希文怎么把事情办成这样？但转念一想，既然已经这样了，干脆就一不做二不休，打背包走人。 没想到，还没等周东进收拾停当，事情就又来了个急转直下——魏明坤直接找到周汉，把周东进告了。 在周汉下榻的师招待所门前，魏明坤徘徊了很长时间。招待所临时设了岗，哨兵严格地盘查着每一个出入人员，这架势让魏明坤心里发怵。魏明坤几次想打退堂鼓回去，但又实在不甘心就这样算了。他在招待所门前那片苦丁香树丛中打着转儿，一次又一次地下决心走出树丛，但却一次又一次地缩了回去。 魏明坤对自己很恼火，虽然当了好几年兵了，虽然自己现在好赖也是穿四个兜的干部了，但不知怎么的就是怕见官。别说周汉这样的大官了，就是在团长、师长面前魏明坤也紧张得不行。有一次，师长到下面检查军事训练情况，团里为师长组织了一次排建制的战术训练表演。因为周东进和魏明坤两个排表演得十分出色，演练完，师长就把周东进和魏明坤叫到面前询问情况。魏明坤一站到师长面前就开始紧张，气也喘不匀乎了，话也说不利落了，结果风头全让给了周东进。周东进乘机侃侃而谈，把师长讲得两眼放光，频频点头，一再对周东进大加赞赏。这次经历对魏明坤的刺激很大，论军事技术魏明坤并不比周东进差，论想法魏明坤也不比周东进少，但关键时刻却因为怯官，就像上不去架的鸭子似的白白失去了表现自己才干的好机会，白白失去了给首长留印象的好机会。说心里话，魏明坤真想学学周东进那种见多大官也不惊，经多大场面也不怯的劲头，但不知怎么就是学不来。 这一次，魏明坤也是被周东进逼急了。本来上步校学习都已经落实到他头上了，谁能想到事情还能翻过来，还能换成周东进，这也有点太欺负人了！魏明坤实在是咽不下这口气。虽然，魏明坤表面上一直硬撑着，尽量不在人前表露自己的情绪，但心却如同放在铁砧子上被捶打一样，无时无刻不感受到重击之下的疼痛。魏明坤心中不平。对他来说，能抢在周东进前面赢得这次机会是多么的不容易呀。他和周东进不一样，周东进有周汉在头顶上罩着自然有人帮，他魏明坤可是平地拔骨朵，硬着脑壳往上拱，全凭自己的努力才干到了今天这个程度！凭什么一句话就把名额换给了周东进？魏明坤不甘心这样眼睁睁地看着自己的努力付之东流，不能容忍这样轻而易举就被周东进打翻在地，他得抗争，即便得不到结果他也不能轻易放弃。他魏明坤虽然没靠山没背景，但他有真理有不服输的勇气！ 经过深思熟虑，魏明坤决定直接来找周汉。按一般人的思路，这种情况下最不应该找的人就是周汉，因为只要长脑子就能看出来，换周东进上学准是周汉的意图，别人没那么大威力。但魏明坤不这样想，魏明坤认为这事找谁都白搭，只能去找周汉，因为不管是谁的意图，只有周汉才有能力阻止这件事。 一想到要为这事去找周汉，魏明坤的心里就有些犹豫。他对周汉一直有一种说不出的复杂感情。他崇拜周汉，他听到过很多关于周汉英勇善战的个性化传说，听到的越多，他对周汉的崇拜就越深。他感激周汉，他为周汉能送自己这个与他一点瓜葛也没有的掌鞋匠的儿子当兵而心存感念之情，也一直为自己是周汉司令员亲自送到部队的感到无比自豪。但周汉却是周东进的父亲。明摆着，从道理上讲周汉对自己是有恩的，而现在自己却要找到周汉头上与他的儿子争，这样做是不是有点太过分了？尤其是，这样做会不会把自己的前途彻底毁了？对这些，魏明坤心里一点把握也没有。魏明坤知道自己走的是一着险棋，走好了有可能大获全胜，走不好就会满盘皆输。只是，他已经没有退路了，他也不想给自己留退路了。 胜负在此一举，魏明坤豁上了。 魏明坤停下脚步，呆呆地盯着枝头上一朵刚刚绽放的苦丁香。苦丁香的花朵小得可怜，只有四个单瓣，似乎害怕占据太大空间似的，只战战兢兢地试探着向外伸展开了一点点，但一股幽香就从那细细的花颈中探出来，顽强地向四周扩散着，以无形胜有形，不动声色地赢得了整个夜晚。 魏明坤精神一振，带着满身浓浓的苦丁香的花香，迎着门前的哨兵走去。 站在周汉面前，魏明坤再一次体会到了那种想拔腿就跑的胆怯。周汉的目光同以前一样犀利冷峻，魏明坤努力支撑着自己，好不容易才挺住了。 周汉显然很快就对魏驼子的儿子发生了兴趣。他问了魏明坤很多部队的情况，魏明坤一一作答，虽然声音紧张僵硬，但回答问题准确到位，没有一点含糊其辞，也没有一点拖泥带水。周汉很满意，说不错，你小子就照这样好好干吧。魏明坤这才稍稍地放松了一点。 在后来的谈话中间，魏明坤一直紧张地寻找机会进入正题，但一到有机会讲的时候，他就怎么也张不开嘴了。眼看机会一个个错过去了，眼看快要到了告辞的时间了，魏明坤心里越来越紧张，而越紧张就越找不到说话的机会。直到周汉站起身送客，直到魏明坤懵懵懂懂地跟着站起来后，他才发现再不说就永远没机会了。情急之下，魏明坤借着敬礼告别的最后机会说，报告首长，我还有件事要向您汇报。 周汉有些意外地看了魏明坤一眼，又下意识地看了看腕上的手表，语气简短地说了一句，说。 魏明坤就那样敬着礼把事情的简要经过讲了一遍。讲完，魏明坤又诚恳地说，首长，我一直很敬重您，感激您。从情理上讲，我不该与东进争，就冲您亲自送我当兵这一条我也不该与东进争。但想来想去我还是觉得应该把这件事告诉您。我这样做不完全是为自己争。其实，我早一年上军校晚一年上军校甚至上不上军校都不重要，重要的是这会损害您在部队的威信，重要的是这会在部队造成不好的影响，我…… 还没把魏明坤的话听完，周汉的脸就青了。 周汉大吼一声：刘秘书，你叫那个兔崽子立刻跑步来见我！ 一见这场面，周东进心里就什么都明白了。 兔崽子，你本事不小哇！周汉劈头就是一句，周东进瞥了魏明坤一眼，挺直腰板，摆出一副豁出去了的架势。 周汉冷笑道，我看你这几年正经本事没长多少，歪歪道眼子可全给我学会了！说，你凭什么强占人家的名额？ 周东进胸脯一挺，凭我对军事这行的热爱，凭我自身优秀的军事素质，凭我渴望上军校深造的愿望…… fart!你他妈的还有理了？周汉眼睛一瞪，凭这凭那，你为什么不凭自己的本事？ !你以为有我这个当司令员的老子你就可以想干什么干什么了？你以为打着我的旗号你就可以为所欲为了？说，谁帮你干的？ ! 周东进没看刘希文，不用看他也知道刘希文现在的脸上肯定不是个色儿了。他当然不能出卖刘希文，他太了解老头的脾气了，如果老头知道是刘希文打着他的旗号干的，刘希文这回可就彻底玩完了。周东进想，反正事情已经闹到这个地步了，死活自己一个人扛着算了，就回答说，没谁帮我，是我自己到处去找的。 周汉“咣当”一声把杯子摔到桌上，指着周东进的鼻子就骂，告诉你兔崽子，你他妈的再打着我周汉的旗号到处乱找看我不扒了你的皮！刘秘书，你马上通知下去，撤了他上步校的命令，把名额还给人家！ 刘希文走后，周汉回身向周东进命令道，你，给我向人家道歉！ 周东进愣了一下，梗着脖子没动。 魏明坤也愣了，他万万没想到周汉会让周东进当场给自己道歉。 Do you hear me? !周汉厉声道，你给我向人家道歉！ 周东进狠狠地剜了魏明坤一眼，仍旧梗着脖子没动。 魏明坤倒先慌了，赶紧上前拦道，别，首长，别这样…… 周东进那充满了愤懑和鄙视的眼睛立刻像刀子一样刺向魏明坤，周东进说魏明坤你就别演戏了…… 话音未落，周汉突然气急败坏地冲上前，抡起胳膊就扇了过去，只听得“啪”的一声响，周东进的脸上立刻印上了五个鲜红的指印。 三个人一时间全怔住了。 周东进的身子摇晃了一下又撑住了。 魏明坤抢上前想去拉周汉。 周汉却甩开手，指着门低声喝道：走！全给我走！ 周东进当然没上步校，但魏明坤那年也没去上。不知为什么，下面对周汉司令员的指示只落实了一半，那个名额给了别人。 有人捅咕魏明坤再去找，但魏明坤不肯去。魏明坤说他没想到会把事情闹成这样，说得到这个结果他已经很知足了，还说他打心眼儿里敬重周司令，再也不愿给周司令找任何麻烦了。 周东进在沉默了一段日子后又恢复了常态。事后南征询问他时，他只轻描淡写地说了一句：没啥，老子打儿子天经地义。毛毛不是说我从小就是爸爸的“掌上明珠”嘛？没错，反正我这个脸蛋子从小到大就没离开过爸爸的巴掌，习惯了。 扭结在一起的目光渐渐松开，慢慢走远，又从远处缓缓地收了回来。 周东进终于平静下来了。其实，从得知魏明坤任命的那一刻起，周东进就已经想明白了。自己是个军人，只这一条就注定了自己必须面对无法回避的一切。在军人面前，上级就是上级，无论你与他亲疏远近，无论你对他好恶褒贬，无论你们之间曾有过多少是非恩怨，你都必须无条件地接受他，服从他。其实，在返回部队的火车上，周东进就开始无数次地腌制、蹂躏自己的自尊心了。他做了充分的心理准备，准备接受魏明坤洋洋得意的表情，准备接受魏明坤居高临下的态度，准备接受魏明坤不屑一顾的鄙视，甚至准备接受魏明坤旁敲侧击的挖苦…… 但魏明坤却只是面无表情地望着他。 天空中突然飘起了清雪，清雪在两个人之间轻盈地飘洒着，一点一滴地地融化在脸上，蔓延出一片凉津津的寒意。 魏明坤突然醒悟过来，仰头向天道：“下雪了？” “下雪了。”周东进的声音很僵硬。 魏明坤看了周东进一眼，和缓地伸出了自己的右手，说：“东进，我们有多少年没见面了？” 周东进却没伸手，脚跟一磕，“啪”地一个立正道：“二团团长周东进请魏司令员进入二团营区。” 魏明坤微微一笑，并不收回晾在半空中的手，说：“东进，你历来是条汉子，怎么连我这只手都不敢接了？” 周东进神情淡漠地回答：“魏司令，我是怕你吃不住我这把手劲儿。” “你是怕吃不住我这把手劲儿吧？”魏明坤在收回手的同时，神情突然严肃起来，“东进，不管你我是否愿意，毕竟我们从今往后得在一个锅里搅勺子了。我们这两只手就是硬拧也得把它拧在一起！” 周东进脸上的肌肉明显地抽动了一下，十分干脆地答道：“是，魏司令。你的话我听懂了，我服从命令！”说罢，向魏明坤伸出了右手。 两只又凉又硬的手紧紧地握在了一起。 他们同时都感觉出对方的手劲儿使得很重。