Military career: Starting with a recruitment letter

Chapter 91 Good news, this identity was given by myself

Chen Mo's initiative to engage in clerical work made Liang Hongjie, a student officer who was not yet accustomed to giving orders to soldiers, quite excited.

When clerical work is busy, grassroots units will often arrange one or two people to serve as assistants to temporarily reduce the burden.

But the reconnaissance company had all gone out for combat readiness, and there were only a few people stationed in the camp, and some had to be assigned to the recruit company. Where would he get assistants?

Scholar, you must not let this go.

Liang Hongjie pulled over a chair, took out Chen Mo's information from the desk, looked up the landline number of the Fu County Armed Forces Department, and patted his chest.

I tried to calm myself down, then pressed the number and called it.

In the late 1990s, the New Year atmosphere was still very strong across the country. Unlike later generations, when society was developed, people were busy making money to make a living, which made the New Year atmosphere much weaker.

Many people who are away from home want to pay attention to traditional festivals, but they are forced by life to work overtime and cannot go home.

On the 1998th day of the th lunar month in , the festive atmosphere was still very strong.

According to the New Year customs in Fu County, on the 23rd day of the lunar year, the family axis is invited and hung in the main hall for worship. The Kitchen God is also invited to the kitchen for worship. Every family burns baked cakes, buys sesame candies and dried persimmons as tributes.

On the 24th, many families will use a wooden stick with a broom tied to it to clean every corner of the house, including cobwebs, dust, etc.

Commonly known as sweeping the house.

On the 25th day, the New Year atmosphere becomes stronger. In villages, towns, and county towns, yangko drum teams can be seen everywhere.

There were people beating drums and gongs, dancing the yangge, and performing Henan opera on the stage. Children were running around wildly with small firecrackers in their newly made cotton-padded clothes.

Occasionally, I would light a firecracker, throw it on the ground, cover my ears and run away laughing. After it exploded, I would count how many firecrackers were left in my hand. If there were not enough, I would secretly disassemble them into hanging firecrackers when the adults were not at home.

When the adults had no farm work to do, they would go in groups to watch yangge dance or opera, which was quite lively.

The Fu County Armed Forces Department is located in an old street in front of the gate. There are more drum-beating teams outside. Minister Cao Deming and Political Commissar Dong Guoqiang organized most of the personnel and joined the drum team in the fun.

There are lights and decorations everywhere during the New Year, and the festive atmosphere is very strong.

It’s been a hard year.

Cao Deming stood by the roadside, looking at the people hammering and banging, and said with a smile: "Old Dong."

"Huh?! Speak louder, I can't hear you."

"I haven't said anything yet." Cao Deming dragged Political Commissar Dong back a few steps. "I say, you've worked hard all year, why don't you come over to my place for a couple of drinks tonight?"

"You never have a couple of drinks every day."

Dong Guoqiang said a few insults but still nodded.

After all, it is the New Year. Starting from the 26th, the unit will start to send New Year greetings to the families of the soldiers. After they are done, they will have to go back to celebrate the New Year.

A few drinks is nothing.

The two of them had just finished discussing it when Wang Mingming, the military officer, who was the one who took Chen Mo to school when he joined the army and was responsible for sending him to the train station, came over.

He hurried over to the two of them.

"Minister, Political Commissar." Wang Mingming's face was full of joy, and he took a deep breath and said, "The military district in Hedong called."

"They say it's from the 52875th Unit of the th Armored Brigade. A soldier from our Fu County won a third-class merit in a competition during his recruit period. The company branch has arranged for someone to contact us."

"Third-class merit?"

"Who?"

Upon hearing about the meritorious service, Cao Deming and Dong Guoqiang were both stunned. The soldiers for their Eagle City were just sent to Hedong City, Jin Province this year.

The person was not sent there until the end of December, and now, just over two months, someone has already made a contribution?

"I don't know." Wang Mingming shook his head: "The call was not made to me, but directly to the minister's office."

"We are still communicating."

Hearing this, Cao Deming no longer cared about watching others playing the drums and hurried towards his office.

It is a great joy for those who are sent to the army from local areas, especially if they can make meritorious service during their recruit period.

When he arrived at the office, Cao Deming signaled the clerk who answered the phone to hand him the microphone.

Old Cao took the microphone and his back instantly straightened. He stood straight and said with full energy: "Hello comrade, I am Cao Deming, the head of the People's Armed Forces Department of Yingchengfu County. You said that someone here has made a meritorious service. Which comrade is it?"

Liang Hongjie, who was in the reconnaissance company and was talking on the phone, became excited when he heard the minister answer the phone.

He immediately stood up from his chair and responded seriously, "Hello, Minister Cao, I am Liang Hongjie, deputy commander of the reconnaissance company of the 7th Hedong Armored Brigade."

Chen Mo was originally sitting at his desk, copying documents. When he heard the title "Deputy Company Commander", he looked up at Lao Liang.

I can't help but feel a little emotional.

When you go out, your identity is really given by yourself.

Even the usually honest student officers started to brag.

Fortunately, this is a reconnaissance company. If it were a reconnaissance regiment, he would probably dare to give himself the title of deputy commander.

"Comrade Chen Mo performed exceptionally well during his time as a recruit. He was unwavering in his determination and diligently trained, setting a good example for new comrades. He was commended by the military region and awarded the honor of Training Model. This time, he bravely reached the top in the recruit competition, placing first in seven subjects and was awarded a Third Class Individual Merit."

"Comrade Chen Mo."

Liang Hongjie was talking on the phone, and good words came out like they were free.

Chen Mo felt embarrassed after hearing this. He covered his face and turned away.

This newly graduated platoon leader is still too inexperienced and uses too much force. When the local people's armed forces heard this, they felt that it didn't sound like the speech of an experienced cadre.

Pretty much the same actually.

After receiving the call, Cao Deming was also a little confused. He only heard about his unswerving determination, bravery and decisiveness, and that he was commended by the military region and won the third-class individual merit.

After listening for a long time, I still couldn't figure out who it was.

"Um, interrupt me, comrade. The training model soldier you mentioned, who won the third-class individual merit, is Chen Mo?"

"Correct."

Liang Hongjie hurriedly picked up Chen Mo's information and read: "It's Chen Mo from Xinglong Village, Shiqiao Town, Fu County, Yingcheng."

"Okay, thank you, comrade. We will, as appropriate, issue condolence notices to the families of those who have made contributions."

The phone hangs up.

Liang Hongjie raised his hand and patted his chest again, then turned to look at Chen Mo: "Xiucai, did I perform well?"

"Well, that's good, it's clearly expressed."

Chen Mo scratched his forehead and continued copying. He needed to calm down a little.

the other side.

After Cao Deming hung up the phone, he was stunned for a while before shaking his head: "What the hell? Why did they arrange such a stupid person to deliver the news?"

"What's going on?" Political Commissar Dong Guoqiang asked from the side.

"Oh!"

"correct."

Cao Deming reacted for a moment, then gathered his thoughts and said, "It's still the guy who wrote the letter to Xinglong."

"The army sent a notice saying that he had done a good job as a recruit and was awarded a training model by the military district. There will be a competition in the army in the next two days."

"That kid performed well, getting first place in all seven subjects and winning a third-class individual merit."

"Haha, this is a good thing."

Dong Guoqiang picked up the ceramic cup on the desk, picked up the thermos and poured a cup of boiling water. He said, "I remember that guy you mentioned. His name is Chen Mo."

"I have a younger brother and sister at home. Both my parents are farmers. Chen Mo's father is frail and can't do heavy work. He is a bit of a carpenter, so life at home is not easy."

"Chen Mo is going to the army. The family used to support two children in school. Now he's going to the army, and the youngest daughter should also go to the Red Cross class. The burden on the family is huge."

"Yes, it's him. We've been to his house before."

Cao Deming took out a cigarette, passed it to someone, lit one for himself, and turned to look out the window. It was not completely dark yet.

"Well, now that the army has notified us, we can't just sit there and do nothing."

"The army didn't ask the city's Military Affairs Department to send a commendation, and we can't notify them here, so we can skip the commendation, but we still have to send the congratulatory message back."

"Xiao Wang."

"arrive!!"

"Go to the warehouse and take out more of the comfort supplies we've prepared, like grain, oil, pork, and so on. We need to prepare more. We can't let our comrades fight in the army and then have to worry about their families later."

"Finance will give you five hundred dollars, no, eight hundred. Put it in an envelope and take it with you."

"Go to the street and look for milk sellers. Buy a few extra cartons of candy. Bring some melon seeds and candies. Also buy a couple of strings of firecrackers."

"Yes!!"

Delivering good news is the People's Armed Forces Department's favorite thing to do.

Because this is a happy event, especially during the Chinese New Year, it is doubly joyful.

Wang Mingming went to make preparations, and the minister and the political commissar were also busy. They both changed into clean casual clothes.

The leather shoes on his feet were polished to a shine.

The good news cannot be delivered in a shabby way, so the armed forces arranged a jeep and a military truck, which set off from the armed forces headquarters at 5:00 p.m. on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The officials stood in the truck compartment, beating gongs and drums, and left the city in a lively manner.

Time is urgent, and we cannot prepare banners with the names of meritorious personnel, but the department has no shortage of banners with the words "One person serves in the army, the whole family is honored".

They all had big red flowers pinned on their chests, and even the front of the car was decorated with them.

That guy, the joyous atmosphere, coupled with the loud gongs and drums, was quite eye-catching.

Xinglong Village. Liu Fenglan returned home from Cross Street with her daughter at five o'clock. After spending a long time watching people playing drums and singing opera, she seemed in a good mood.

Push open the door.

Chen Xuejun was chopping wood with an axe in the yard when he heard the noise. He turned around and saw the mother and daughter coming back. Chen Xuejun grinned and said, "Why don't you stay and watch for a while? The rice is cooking in the stove. It won't be a problem."

"Where's Xiaofeng? Didn't he come back with you?"

"He didn't even go to watch the drumming. I don't know where he went." Liu Fenglan smiled and took the dry towel on the rope to brush off the dust on her body.

"Did you visit the village chief's house today? I wonder if Xiao Mo will call home. Oh, I'm not very good at holding my tongue. Why do I just scold the kids? And you, I didn't even ask a few questions, and you complained that long-distance calls were expensive."

Listening to my wife nagging.

Chen Xuejun didn't say anything either, just said a few words.

Ever since her eldest son went to join the army, Liu Fenglan dared not listen to anyone in the village who said that being a soldier was not a good thing. Whenever she heard it, she would come back and sit there alone, wiping her tears and blaming herself for not stopping him.

But if you hear someone mention that being a soldier is good, it trains you and you can have enough food to eat.

He was like a different person and was in a good mood for several days.

During the Chinese New Year, people who worked in the south to make a living came back and said that working was good. It was a waste of such a large labor force to be a soldier. It would be better to go to the south to work. They could earn hundreds of yuan a month and come back for the Chinese New Year.

Everyone in the family says so.

The Chen family has had a hard time in recent days.

Chen Xuejun continued to chop wood. He chopped all the wood he had recently brought back from work, as well as anything he could not use, into strips, ready for burning.

Liu Fenglan held her little daughter, chatted a few words, and went back to the kitchen to light a fire and cook.

The eldest son was not at home during the first year, so there was one less person during the reunion and the atmosphere at home was not very lively.

Chen Jing curled up on a small stool, holding the firewood in her small hands and adding it to the fire bit by bit.

She misses her brother too.

At home, the eldest brother is older and will not bully her. He always protects Chen Jing. The second brother Chen Feng is wild and will not let anyone follow him when he goes out to play.

Therefore, Chen Jing likes the eldest brother more and is a little afraid of the second brother.

"Mom, it's New Year's Eve, why don't you come back even though he has new clothes to wear?"

The firelight illuminated the little girl's rosy face. She looked up at Chen's mother. She asked this question every day.

Because in the children's cognition, it is the New Year and they have new clothes to wear, so their brother will definitely come back.

"Your brother is going to the army. It will take two years. Be good. Next time you call, Jingjing will also say a few words to your brother, okay?"

"I want my brother to come back."

The little girl stared at the flames in front of her with a soft look, her arms folded on her knees, her chin resting on her arms, lost in thought.

"Dong-dong-clang, dong-clang-dong-clang."

The sound of gongs and drums came faintly from outside the village.

Chen Jing, who was originally lost, heard the voice and suddenly raised her little head and said excitedly: "Mom, my brother is back."

"Silly child, your brother is in the army and is not allowed to come back according to regulations." Liu Fenglan smiled and comforted her, then turned around and continued to knead the dough.

But the sounds of gongs and drums became clearer and clearer, and the little girl didn't know why she was so sure, she stubbornly believed that her brother had returned.

She stood up, stretched out her hand and pulled Liu Fenglan out: "Mom, my brother is really back."

"Come with me to the door and take a look, seriously."

"You kid."

Liu Fenglan was at a loss for words, but she couldn't expect to reason with the child, so she could only pat her hands that were kneading the dough.

One small and one big walked towards the door.

"What are you doing?"

Chen Xuejun was carrying firewood. Seeing the two people about to go out again, he asked casually.

"Jingjing insisted that Xiaomo was back, so I took her to see him."

Liu Fenglan responded, walked to the gate and opened it.

Chen Jing's brother had indeed returned, but it was her second brother, Chen Feng. He was standing blankly at the door at this time and heard the sound of the door opening.

He looked up and pointed at the two military vehicles that had entered the village: "Mom, are these people here to look for my brother again?"

"Don't talk nonsense." Liu Fenglan raised her hand and patted her second son's arm to prevent him from pointing at others.

"Your brother is in the army, why would anyone come to your house to look for you?"

The three of them stood at the gate, watching the military vehicles pulling red banners enter the village with drums and gongs, and then stop in front of their own door.

Liu Fenglan was stunned for a moment, and Chen Feng was also confused. Only Chen Jing raised her face and said with a smile: "Mom, see, I told you my brother is back."

"Click."

The car door opened, and Cao Deming and Dong Guoqiang, who looked energetic, got out first.

"sister in law."

Dong Guoqiang picked up some milk from the back seat and Candy walked to the door.

"Sister-in-law, is Brother Chen at home? I have good news for you."

"Comrade Chen Mo has performed meritorious service in the army. He has performed very well and has even been commended by the military district. We are here to share the good news."

Achieve merit?! Report good news?!

How could ordinary farmers understand these things? An adult and two children stood at the door in a daze, looking at such a big scene in front of them, and for a moment they didn't know what to do.

It was Chen Xuejun who heard the noise, ran over quickly and pushed the door open.

"Hurry, hurry, come in and sit inside."

"Fenglan, go to the market and buy some wine and some food. Xiaofeng, this kid has no sense at all."

"Go make some tea."

"No need to trouble you, no need to trouble you." Dong Guoqiang watched as everyone in the family started to get busy.

He waved his hand hurriedly: "Brother Chen, there's really no need to bother, we are just here to deliver the good news."

"Comrade Chen Mo has performed very well in the army and has been commended by the military district and awarded the third-class individual merit."

"Brother, you have raised a good child. Haha, Chen Mo will definitely have a bright future."

During this time of conversation.

The gongs and drums were not beating, and the rice, noodles, grains, oil, meat, milk, candies and other things were being carried in baskets.

The hustle and bustle in front of Chen's house soon attracted the surrounding neighbors to watch.

"Hey! Holy shit, what's going on at Xuejun's house today? Why are there so many people visiting relatives?"

"Look at your eyes, how can you be visiting relatives? Or are you the county leaders who are in charge of the soldiers coming to Xuejun's house to deliver something?"

In the distance, two middle-aged men looked at the things being taken down from the car in shock.

In 1998, the public grain payment had not yet been abolished, and every household did not have that much good grain left. It was seen that so much grain was sent to Chen Xuejun's home.

This kind of visual shock is more intuitive than hearing about meritorious service.

Not to mention others.

Even the Chen family members were stunned when they saw bags of flour, rice, and barrels of soybean oil being unloaded from the truck.

Chen Xuejun invited people into his home at a loss.

Some of the neighbors moved their stools out of their homes and prepared to send them to the Chen family. After all, with so many people coming, no one had so many chairs to sit on.

Some people also brought meatballs that they had just fried during the day to help with the reception.

Soon, the yard was crowded with people, all tapping their feet and looking into the house.

Dong Guoqiang asked everyone to put all the gifts inside the house, politely declined the six or seven stools that were offered to him, and said with a smile: "Fellow villagers, there is no need to work."

"We came here to deliver the good news to Brother Chen's family. Comrade Chen Mo has made meritorious service in the army and has been commended by the military district. He has performed very well in the army."

"It's our job to deliver the good news."

"What's the good news?" someone in the crowd asked.

"It's about making a contribution. Didn't you listen to what the leader said?"

"Hey, wow, this is an incredible achievement. The eldest son of the Chen family has only been in the army for a few days, right? And he's already achieved merit?"

"I've seen Chen Mo as a promising kid since he was young." An aunt said confidently.

Listening to the discussions in the crowd, and with the armed forces leader beside him, he explained again and again.

Liu Fenglan was a little confused at first, but gradually she figured it out.

That is, the eldest son performed very well in the army and made great contributions, and the country values ​​him very much.

Leaders were also sent to deliver rice and flour.

This is a great thing.

Mother Chen finally reacted and let out a long sigh.

He quickly asked his leader to sit down and rest, while he himself started to boil water and make tea.

crackling
In the yard, someone lit firecrackers to send good news and add to the New Year atmosphere.

Let the entire Chen family be immersed in a joyous atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)