Chapter 46

Teacher Zhao Chang, eyes filled with tears, ate a piece of braised pork with preserved mustard greens: “It’s this Southern style braised pork with preserved mustard greens, this taste reminds me of my old comrade.”

At this moment, everyone saw Teacher Zhao Chang, this man of iron and steel, shed tears.

His voice was filled with such longing and sadness, he slowly recounted the events of that year…

“At that time, I was still a regiment commander, my old comrade was called Zhu Dayong…”

“Boom boom boom…”

“Bang bang bang…”

Zhao Lihua, carrying a steel gun, led the remaining one hundred or so men, braving enemy fire, to break out of the enemy’s encirclement.

They quickly moved to a village.

In just one day, three divisions were reduced to just over one hundred men.

Zhao Lihua felt that he had failed the villagers here, they hadn’t been able to hold the front line, they hadn’t been able to save more people.

His eyes were filled with self-blame and regret.

But he and his comrades were steadfast, they had thought of many ways, but they had never thought of retreating or surrendering.

Many of the houses here were destroyed by the war, but the villagers here still had light in their eyes.

These villagers saw that this team was our soldiers, they were the soldiers who guarded our country!

Everyone’s eyes were a little hot, they excitedly welcomed the soldiers into the village to replenish supplies.

“Come, come, child, auntie still has some food here.”

“Children, you’ve worked hard, those of you who have needles and thread, take them out and mend the children’s clothes.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, you haven’t failed us, you did your best.”

“My child… my child is entrusted to the country, his life or death is unknown… but I, as a mother, am proud of him, because my child is protecting the country he loves, he is protecting our home.”

“It’s okay, our soldiers are home, come and rest for a while.”

Zhu Dayong, this stalwart and upright man, wiped away the tears on his face, he strode forward and knelt before an old lady with white hair, he choked back a sob: “Mother, I’m back!”

The old lady’s tears blurred her vision, her legs went weak as she knelt down, her hands trembled as she hugged her son, she cried:

“Dayong, it’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back! Let mother see if you’ve lost weight?”

Looking at his mother’s tears, Zhu Dayong held his mother’s hand and placed it on his face, which was covered in scars, he comforted her:

“Mother, look, I haven’t lost weight, your son, I can take on ten enemies alone, I’m so brave, look, I’m back safe and sound.”

“We’ve come all this way, we’re not afraid of hardship, we swear to defend the country, to protect our people, if we have to use our blood to win, then I’m not afraid!”

“My son is alive, I will take care of you, if my son dies bravely on the battlefield, Mother, don’t be sad, my son has no regrets!”

The old lady cried so hard that she couldn’t catch her breath, she hugged her last child tightly, “Mother knows.”

Out of a family of seven, only she and Dayong were left.

People around them saw this scene and shed tears.

Many people’s children were also fighting on the front lines, maybe their parents would only receive a handful of ashes, maybe their children were buried on the battlefield, never to return.

But there were countless people in China who stepped forward in the war, they were fighting to the death in places we didn’t know.

We are Chinese!

We are one family!

The villagers saw that our soldiers were wearing thin clothes and straw sandals in the middle of winter, their clothes were torn and tattered, their hearts ached.

The women picked up needles and thread to mend the soldiers’ clothes.

Some were holding babies in their arms, they mended while softly coaxing their children.

Some were over fifty years old, with white hair, they squinted their eyes and lowered their heads to sew pants.

“The children are wearing straw sandals, their clothes are so thin, what will they do in the middle of winter?”

“We’re strong, we can handle it!”

“Exactly, we’re young, we’re not afraid of the cold.”

But the soldiers thought in their hearts, they didn’t plan to live through the winter, they were determined to die with the enemy!

The soldiers’ hearts were burning with passion, they couldn’t sit still, they used their rest time to work for the old, weak, women, and children in the village.

The elders in the village decided to slaughter the only skinny pig in the village, each household took out preserved mustard greens, salt, soy sauce, and the old lady personally cooked braised pork with preserved mustard greens and stewed pork in an iron pot for the soldiers.

When Zhao Lihua rushed to stop them, the meat in the pot was almost cooked.

Zhao Lihua’s resolute eyes suddenly turned red, his voice filled with gratitude: “Old lady, old man, you keep this for yourselves.”

Zhu Dayong’s mother’s voice was so gentle and kind: “My son Dayong is also a soldier, we’re just doing what we can!”

“Eat quickly.”

“We’re happy watching you eat, it’s like watching our own children.”

The other villagers took out their remaining food and clothes, they didn’t hesitate to stuff them into the soldiers’ hands.

Zhu Dayong’s eyes were red, he saluted Zhao Lihua: “Regiment Commander, this is the villagers’ kindness, let’s accept it.”

Zhao Lihua sighed, he left all the money he had on him with the villagers: “I’m sorry, this isn’t much, we’ll never forget the kindness of the villagers.”

We dare not forget!

We cannot forget!

The braised pork with preserved mustard greens was ready, but Zhao Lihua didn’t dare to eat it, he left his portion of the braised pork for the children in the village.

The children in the village stared at the fragrant pork, they swallowed their saliva frantically.

But they all shook their heads, their faces were young and strong: “Keep the pork for the soldier uncles, we won’t eat it!”

“Soldier uncles beat the bad guys, they chased away the bad guys, my mother said you’ve worked hard.”

Zhao Lihua’s heart tightened, he still divided the meat among the children, he smiled and stroked their little heads, saying: “Okay, uncle promises you, I’ll chase away the bad guys.”

I will protect you.

Zhu Dayong strode over, he divided his piece of braised pork in half, and raised a smile: “Brother, here, let’s eat together!”

Zhao Lihua patted Zhu Dayong’s shoulder with his big hand.

In a place where Zhu Dayong couldn’t see, he choked back a sob as he ate this half of the braised pork.

Everyone thought that this day would pass peacefully.

But at night, the enemy’s artillery fire came.

“Assemble, the enemy is here!”

“Charge with me!”

“For the children, I must go!”

Zhao Lihua and Zhu Dayong assembled everyone, they carried their weapons and supplies and charged towards the enemy.

Behind them were our people!

The villagers cried with red eyes, they shouted:

“Come back safe, we’ll wait for you to come back!”

“You’ll win, you’ll definitely win!”

“Kill those bastards!”

“We’ll go up, we can’t let the soldiers fight alone, come on, grab your weapons, charge with me!!!”

“Protect the children in the village, the children are our last hope.”

At the most dangerous moment, everyone roared: “Rise! Rise! Rise!”

“Victory!”

This team, carrying the trust of the villagers, fought bravely on the front lines, they swore to defend this line of defense to the death!

“Boom boom boom…”

“Bang bang bang…”

“Charge!”

“Kill!”

The enemy’s artillery fire ruthlessly hit the soldiers, the howling wind made their bones ache.

Zhao Lihua charged at the front, when his bullets ran out, he took out the knife on his body and chopped at the enemy fiercely.

Zhu Dayong was hit by several bullets, he gritted his teeth and fought desperately, he would die dragging several enemies with him.

“Charge! I’ll fight you to the death!”

“Kill!!!”

In the end, this team still managed to complete the task of defending the line.

But the casualties were heavy.

“Dayong!!!”

Zhao Lihua’s eyes were bloodshot, tears welled up in his eyes, he shouted tragically.

Zhu Dayong was blown to pieces by the artillery fire, his face and body were covered in blood, in his last moments, he choked back a sob:

“Regiment Commander, I’ve completed the mission.

In the next life, we’ll be brothers again, I’ll share meat with you.

Our country will be fine.

I’m sorry, Mother…”