Late Tang

At the time of the summer harvest, all the schools in the counties and prefectures under the whole town [***] had half a month of busy farming leave.

Each school under the town [***] also has school-owned public land, and there are quite a lot of grain fields.The school field is usually cultivated by some janitors, and the students also have a half-day labor class every week, taking turns to help with the cultivation.When it comes to summer harvest and autumn harvest, classes will be suspended to grab the harvest.Vegetables, rice, corn, and wheat are grown in the school fields, and most of the land output is for teachers and students to eat.

With [-] students, the Dengzhou Military Academy is considered to be the largest school, so they also have a huge school-owned field.Guo Tao and other students took a break from class to go to the field for the summer harvest. They had been busy for almost ten days before they completed the summer harvest and the subsequent planting of the second season of crops.Although it was tiring, no one was lazy.

After finishing everything, there were still five days left in the half-month agricultural holiday. The principal and the military representative announced that the students would go home and rest, and they would return to school to start classes after the holiday was over.

It happened to be the weekend, and the righteous brothers and sisters of Guo Tao's foster home would also go home together, and have a reunion dinner as usual.Just one month before the grand marshal's grand and lively wedding banquet, Guo Tao's eldest brother, Guo Wei, officially married Liu Shi, the daughter of his boss' team leader.Speaking of which, the Liu family is just [-] years old, Duitou Liu used to be from Xuzhou, and he was from the same hometown as his adoptive father, Liu Dayan.Perhaps it was for this reason that Liu Duitou finally married his virtuous daughter to his subordinate corps leader Guo Wei.

Guo Tao likes this sister-in-law very much. She is always smiling and very diligent. She is always busy all day long.The sister-in-law is not too beautiful, but she is filial, virtuous and diligent in housekeeping that everyone praises.

I heard that my sister-in-law used to work in Dengzhou Hospital, but now she has not gone to work after marriage. I heard from my adoptive mother that my eldest brother plans to let my sister-in-law have a baby first.Therefore, my sister-in-law has been doing housework at home during this time.

As soon as he got home and entered the door, he smelled a strong fragrance.When he saw the bubbling broth in the steaming casserole on the briquette stove, Guo Tao immediately heard his stomach gurgling.Unable to resist, I reached out to pick up the spoon next to it, took a spoonful of soup, blew a few mouthfuls vigorously, and couldn't wait for it to cool down, so I drank it in one gulp.

"Oh, Xiaotao is back. If you're hungry, there's freshly cooked yam porridge. If you like mashed taro, there's also mashed taro. Parents and the others may come back later, so you should eat some to fill your stomach first." Sister-in-law Liu Shi walked over from the yard, and smiled at him dotingly, just like treating her younger siblings from her natal family.Guo Tao met his sister-in-law's family. Captain Liu was in his early forties, and his sister-in-law was the eldest child. There were three daughters and three sons below him, all in their teens. The youngest son was still wearing crotch pants.

Guo Tao was a little embarrassed to be alone with his sister-in-law. He was already a 12-year-old junior scout, and it was the time when he was ignorant of the relationship between men and women.

"No, I'll wait for everyone to come back together."

"Xiao Tao is already an adult. I have forgotten that you are the squadron leader. You are in charge of a hundred people under your command. You are the biggest official in our family. Your eldest brother is the corps leader, and your second brother is only a private. In the future, you will definitely It's more promising." Liu said with a smile while wearing an apron.

"Sister-in-law was joking. We are scouts, which are different from regular soldiers. I still have to go to school for six years before I graduate. After graduation, I will be just a corporal when I enter the [***] town. Big Brother Now it is a corporal, and in six years, it may have surpassed the non-commissioned officer and became an officer."

The smile on Liu's face grew stronger, "Although your elder brother is a corporal now, he is no match for you. He suffered from the fact that he didn't know how to read before. Although he is learning to read every night in the army, he is too old to learn."

Guo Tao also put away his schoolbag, and rolled up his sleeves to help wash the vegetables and light the fire. Half an hour later, Guo Tao's adoptive mother, Mrs. Wang, and two righteous sisters also came back together.The female workers in the Dengzhou workshop usually get off work a quarter of an hour earlier than the male workers in the evening, just to let them go home early to make dinner.

After the three of them returned home, they also went to the kitchen to help them get busy. Another quarter of an hour later, their adoptive father, Guo Dayan, also returned from work at the dock.When it was dark and the meals were ready, the brothers Guo Wei and Guo Xiong came back together, talking and laughing.

Guo Wei is very burly, tall and burly, over seven feet in height, Guo Xiong and Guo Wei are somewhat similar in appearance, but he is thinner and his complexion is a bit sallow.Guo Wei has a red face, and Guo Xiong has a yellow face. It is said that Guo Xiong suffered from a serious illness when he was a child, and his body is much worse than Guo Wei's.

Guo Wei was wearing the uniform of the Japanese army with red and blue borders. In summer, he only wore a narrow-sleeved hip-length gown and a pair of wide-cut trousers. The sleeves were rolled up high, revealing his hardcover arms, and the collar on his chest was pulled open. , revealing the broad chest covered with thick black chest hair.However, there is a yellow leather belt hanging on his waist, and a standard horizontal knife is hanging on it.The most eye-catching thing on his body is not his iron horizontal knife, but the fist-sized badge on his left chest, on which is his infantry rank.As an infantry corporal of the Zhen Guo Ping Japanese Army, this is a dazzling sign. At least in this residential area, Guo Wei has always been the object of envy and admiration for those young people.

Guo Xiong was wearing a United Army uniform with a blue background and a white edge. The uniform was neatly worn on his body, and even though it was still hot in the evening, he did not open his collar at all.Especially on his feet, he also wore a pair of short cowhide boots.

If it weren't for the bronze medal on Guo Xiong's chest that indicated that he was only a second-class infantry soldier of the United Army, people who saw it for the first time would think that Guo Xiong was the highest-ranked one among the three brothers.

As soon as he entered the door, Guo Wei handed a bag in his hand to Guo Tao, "Take it and open it, tonight's extra meal!"

"There is also a can of braised beef in brown sauce and a can of tangerine and a can of coconut!" Guo Tao, who took the bag, his eyes lit up, and his saliva was immediately lured out.These are rare and good things, and most people are reluctant to buy such good things.I usually have to hesitate to buy a canned pig, and canned mutton is only given as a gift when visiting relatives.This kind of beef is usually not available at all, and canned beef is even more precious.As for tangerines and coconuts, it is said that they are only found in the extreme south.

Sister-in-law Liu glared at her husband, "I just got promoted to corporal chief, and my salary hasn't been raised much, so it's a waste of money. You can buy ten catties of pork belly for a can of beef."

Guo Dayan and his wife, Wang Shi, both smiled. It is a good thing for a daughter-in-law to plan carefully, and such a daughter-in-law can live a serious life.

"Second brother, what did you bring back?" Guo Tao stared at the bag in Guo Xiong's hand.The inside is bulging, and there must be a lot of good things.

"These are all for you!" Lin Wei put the bag on the table and opened it directly.The first thing that catches the eye is a slightly dark red polo crescent stick, then a set of calfskin leather armor, and a pair of calfskin military boots.In addition, there are two sets of blue summer uniforms, white linen jackets and two sets of boxer underwear.In addition, there is a sheep towel and a bar of soap.Except for the polo stick, everything else is the uniform of the United Army, but the blue tunic is missing.

It is strictly forbidden to wear military uniforms of various armies, school uniforms of students, dark clothes of teachers, and uniforms of officials.However, items such as leather armor, uniforms, jackets, and boots are all in short supply.Especially soap, which is only distributed by military officers. It is also sold in shops, but it is extremely expensive.

Guo Tao also distributes school uniforms in school, including regular uniforms and training uniforms, but at his age, he grows a lot taller every six months, and usually spends a lot of money on clothes.The second brother gave himself the items he handed out, which made him very moved.

"I specially asked someone to change the clothes, and they all fit your size. You are the squadron leader, and you have a brother named Bailai. Wearing patched clothes, you can't match the squadron leader's prestige. And you now I also need a set of leather armor. Besides, I know you like to play polo. My elder brother bought you this club. The leather armor was bought by Aye, Auntie and Xiaolian and Xiaohe. My sister-in-law also bought it. It's out of the body." Guo Wei said, stretched out a hand, and patted Guo Tao's shoulder several times.

Guo Tao, whose nose was slightly sore, was even more grateful when he heard these words.He was just being fostered at Guo's house, even at home only one day a week, plus holidays, he was only at home for three or four months a year.But the Guo family treated him so well, even as close as their own.

"Okay, okay, let's eat, let's eat, and the food will be cold. Tonight, there will be pork belly, potato porridge, and taro mashed loach, plus a potato leaf, and a potato stalk, and braised in soy sauce Canned beef, a lotus root, the second favorite pickled radish slices, Xiao Lian's favorite carrot sticks, and the eldest daughter-in-law's favorite pork rib soup!"

Eight dishes and one soup, served with potato medicine and corn porridge, it is indeed very rich.

The family has dinner and enjoys it.

"Aye, Aniang, I have something to tell you." Guo Wei stopped his chopsticks, put down his bowl and said, "The military department has passed down the military order, and today the battalion master passed it down. Let us be prepared. We will The battalion is about to move to southern Liaoning."

"Is there going to be a war?" Guo's big eyes became a little nervous, Wang's ears also pricked up, and Liu's stared at Guo Wei even more. "Is there a specific military order?"

Guo Weidao: "I heard from the battalion master that this time the commander-in-chief will dispatch the Tenth Army to the south of Liaoning and launch a battle to recover central Liao. Our Japanese army will also be dispatched. Now we have to wait for the specific date and military order to send troops. "

Everyone at the dinner table immediately put down their bowls and chopsticks. The battle between Zhen [***] and Liaonan will be fought sooner or later. It was supposed to be fought last year, but it has been delayed until this year.They are all worried about their son going to the front line, but they also understand the rights and obligations of soldiers that the government has been promoting.In Zhen[***], being a soldier is the most honorable and honorable thing.Not only is there glory, but being a soldier is also the most convenient way to be promoted to an official and leap over the dragon's gate besides studying.

Guo Xiong suddenly said at this time: "The top of the United Army has issued a notice that the United Army will transfer 5000 people from [-] battalions to Liaoning to join the [-]th battalion. The brothers in our battalion and I They all wrote a joint letter requesting to enter Liao. It is estimated that the possibility of passing is very high, so I will let you know first.”

Guo Dayan felt that his heart was blocked for a while. The eight dishes and one soup and the potato, medicine and corn porridge on the table suddenly lost their attractive taste. He stared at the two sons who were taller and more majestic than him. His eyes were a little moist, but he couldn't say anything when he wanted to say something.

Mrs. Wang wiped her eyes, "The head of the family, you have to say something. The two sons will go to the battlefield, how is this family going to live!"

Guo Dayan let out a long sigh, and glared at his wife, "What are you talking about, they obey the command of the commander to fight, which is what they should do. Without the commander, there is no town[***], where can I come from?" Our life today. Think about what our life was like when we were in Xuzhou. Think about today’s life. There are houses, houses and food. Where did such a good life come from? These are the generals It was brought down by [***] in the town, now our son has grown up to be a soldier, and it’s time to go to the battlefield, even if you don’t save money, you have to save money. Don’t forget about the well diggers, you have to be conscientious in life. .”

"But it's fine to send one of our two sons to the war. It doesn't have to be both of them, right?" Mrs. Wang was still wiping her tears. Woolen cloth.Especially when I went to fight in Liaodong, I heard that the Hu people were extremely fierce.

The eldest son has only been married for a month, and Wang still thinks that after the summer, Qiuli will give the second son a close relationship.Although the second child is not as handsome and strong as the eldest, he is only a second-class infantry archer in the United Army, but at least he also eats public rations.At the eldest brother's wedding banquet last time, many people inquired about the second child.There are also two daughters who have also reached the age of marriage. If they drag on, they will have to pay a fine for late marriage, and the government will match the marriage.In the past two years, the two daughters have worked in the workshop and usually help with housework at home. They not only undertake some housework, but also earn a lot of money for the family.Thinking about it, if there is a good family, they can marry.

Seeing that the days are getting more and more prosperous, suddenly there is going to be a war, and both sons will go to the battlefield, Wang feels as if he has lost his soul.But she also understood that this time she had to go.

On the contrary, Guo Wei and Guo Xiong brothers were calm and at ease, and at this time they comforted Wang Shi and Liu Shi.

"Aye, Niang, in fact, fighting is not as terrible as you think. Our town [***] has fought countless battles over the years, led by a general, and has always been invincible and has never lost a victory. What's more What's more, we have mobilized a lot of soldiers and horses this time, and the total number of soldiers, auxiliary soldiers, civilian husbands, etc. is more than 10. And we have been preparing for more than a year, so there is nothing to worry about."

Guo Wei patted his daughter-in-law's hand and said: "The longest is half a year, and the shortest is three months. The war is probably over. My second brother and I just go and return. Killing the enemy and doing meritorious deeds on the battlefield is much better than ordinary days. .Maybe, when we see you later, my second brother and I will be directly promoted to team leader, captain or something. At that time, our Guo family will also be an official family!"

Guo Tao was also very complicated. While looking forward to the two righteous brothers going to the battlefield to kill the enemy, he was also worried about their safety.Finally got up and took out the leather armor given to him by his family just now, and brought it to Guo Xiong: "Second brother, you should take this leather armor."

Guo Xiong patted Guo Tao on the shoulder, "Second brother has a better set of leather armor, this set was given to you by your family, please accept it carefully. After my second brother and I leave, you will be the only son in the family. Please take good care of the empty people for us."

"Don't worry, big brother and second brother, I will take good care of the whole family and wait for you to come back!" Guo Tao said seriously. (To be continued.)