Tan Shuangxi continued: "It was very chaotic when the night attack happened. We were all shooting in the direction of the bandits. We only heard him scream. By the time we found him, he was already dead."
"He lost a lot of blood?" she said hoarsely.
"The blood didn't flow much. He was hit in the chest by an arrow, almost at the heart. We surrounded him, breathed for a while and then left. He didn't suffer much." As if to comfort her as much as possible, Tan Shuangxi said again
Added, "Although he didn't serve too long, he behaved very bravely. He won two second-class courage medals and a second-class outstanding service medal, and was also awarded the South China Army General Order Commendation..."
"But he is gone," she said, "and will never come back."
Everyone was speechless. Tan Shuangxi looked helplessly at the medal box on the table. Yes, he will never come back. What's the use of giving his wife more medals. These medals will not be worn by anyone.
On the master's chest, showing off his bravery and illustrious military exploits...
"Please take care of yourself." Tan Shuangxi stood up and saluted again, "Let's go."
After coming out of Tan Haonan's house, Paijia invited them to have dinner, but Tan Shuangxi refused: This is a town, and there are so many restaurants. It's not like in the countryside where you have to rely on the village chief to send food.
"Let's find a place to have a drink." Tan Shuangxi said.
"This woman..." Zhang Laicai said impatiently, "Irregular!" His voice was a little loud. After blurting out, he quickly looked around to see if he had disturbed anyone else, and then said angrily: "There are people in her house.
Men’s stuff!”
Tan Shuangxi didn't speak for a while, and then he said: "Having a man's hat doesn't mean anything..."
"A hat really doesn't mean much, but have you seen what's in the kitchen sink?" Zhang Laicai said angrily, "There are double rice bowls, chopsticks, spoons and cups! Why would she want to live alone?
Washing the tableware for two people? And is there any unfinished food in the kitchen? It's all carefully prepared - don't say that the man here is her relative...even if he is her relative..."
He did not continue: it is not uncommon for cousins to get married.
"Even if a man comes to visit, it won't prove anything?" Tan Shuangxi consoled him, "The Ming Dynasty law also talks about catching an adulterer and getting a double, but you can catch a lot of people when you see this!"
"The man is upstairs!" Zhang Laicai said, "Didn't you hear any noise on the floor?"
"I'm hungry, let's find a place to eat quickly." Tan Shuangxi interrupted his complaint and dragged him into a small restaurant on the street.
It was not lunch time yet, so the shop was empty. The boss immediately became energetic when he saw two soldiers coming in - there have been many returning soldiers recently, and their common characteristic is that they are generous and careless with their money, and they are good customers.
I couldn't wait to say hello.
"Comrades, what do you want to eat?"
"Is there a private room?" Tan Shuangxi knew that Zhang Laicai was full of anger and was unhappy, so he had to find a safe place for him to vent his anger.
"Yes, yes, but the conditions are average. Please forgive me, this small shop is not a big one..."
"As long as you have it, stop talking so much nonsense!"
The boss quickly called the waiter to take them to a single room at the back. The conditions were indeed average, except that it was an independent space. It was no different from the outside. Tan Shuangxi was very satisfied, "This is it."
"What do you two want to eat..."
"Four delicious side dishes to go with the wine, and half a dozen 'Wenlanjiang' beer!" Tan Shuangxi ordered four salted peanuts, cold jellyfish and other cold dishes, and then asked, "I see you have a sign outside saying "Eastern goat meat"
, is it authentic?”
"Look what comrade said," the boss immediately changed into a dialect accent, "I am from Wanning, how can I not be authentic? I raised it all in my hometown! I was sent to Lingao alive, and I was killed yesterday!"
"Two pounds of plain mutton, with the skin on!" Tan Shuangxi said, "and a plate of stir-fried lamb tripe!"
"Okay, okay," the boss nodded repeatedly and whispered, "The shop has fresh sheep treasures. Would you like to order one? Keep it for safe use!"
"Smell or not?"
“The shop has a secret recipe, and it’s absolutely delicious.”
"Let's have one." Tan Shuangxi said.
"Come here!"
Zhang Laicai waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Brother Shuangxi! You don't have a woman in your family, why are you eating this? No, no, no."
"I don't need it, but you do. Don't you have to go meet your sweetheart after you finish sending the letter?"
"I don't have the slightest interest in any good relationship now." Zhang Laicai sighed, "Seeing the fate of brother Haonan, I am really heartbroken..."
As we were talking, the sound of shouting from the waiters outside came over, and soon the food and drinks were ready.
"Yang Bao is in the pot and is simmering. It will be ready in a moment." The boss greeted, "Would you like a staple food?"
"No need for now." Tan Shuangxi sent the boss away. Zhang Laicai couldn't restrain himself after all, and asked: "Brother Shuangxi! I don't understand why you want to protect her! She is just stealing! The adulterer is upstairs.
Since Pai Jia is witnessing this, we should rush forward and catch this traitor on the spot!"
"You don't think this man is lying naked on the bed waiting for us to catch you, do you?" Tan Shuangxi said leisurely.
"Even if he is wearing clothes, a man and a woman are living together in the same room, and there is evidence of eating and drinking together, what is it but adultery?" Zhang Laicai said angrily, "If you catch him, beat him half to death first. Even if you can't convict him at the police station, you will still be punished.
Brother Haonan said this!"
"You also know that you can't convict him." Tan Shuangxi said, "Yes, he was beaten, and you were happy. Tan Haonan also put on the cuckold for real - not only did he put it on, but everyone in the world knew about it.
.Besides, what if this didn’t happen at all? Maybe it was her relative, maybe a neighbor, or maybe he was the messenger, and she was just left to chat! She is a woman, not a prisoner."
Zhang Laicai thought about it and found that it was indeed the case. He still couldn't swallow his breath and said angrily: "I saw a chief wearing that hat. No matter how rich Tan Haonan's family was, they would never buy it! This adulterer's family is very rich.
Rich! Brother Haonan is fighting in the front, and she is messing around with people in the back! She is quite good at picking people..."
"I can't say whether she messed around or not, but she is sincere to Brother Haonan. I can see that."
"When did you understand women so well?" Zhang Laicai said in a muffled voice.
"Yes, how could I understand?" Tan Shuangxi thought silently. He should not think about getting married before he is discharged from the army. He didn't want his woman to cry holding a piece of paper one day. Men shouldn't do this.
"Brother Haonan has left, do you still want to be used as someone else's backing to talk about?" Tan Shuangxi persuaded him when he saw that he was still sulking.
"That's right," Zhang Laicai was discouraged. "It's too ugly to make such a fuss."
Tan Shuangxi picked up a piece of jellyfish skin and put it into his mouth: "In the final analysis, Brother Haonan knows nothing. Living people have to continue to live their lives. I have spent more time with Brother Haonan, and I know more or less what happened to them.
Some: She treats Haonan really well, she is not being hypocritical..."
He remembered that Tan Haonan had said that almost all of his salary was used to buy books, newspapers and stationery. Just submitting articles and writing letters to literary friends every month cost a lot of postage, but his wife never complained.
"...The key is that she understands me, do you understand? She knows what I want and want. I have a tacit understanding with her and I feel very comfortable..."
Recalling these words of Tan Haonan, Tan Shuangxi couldn't quite understand what "understanding me" meant, but he could understand the mood of this "brother".
Did she really have sex? He didn't want to believe it, but what Zhang Laicai said was conclusive. If they were so loving, why would other men get involved...
Zhang Laicai took a swig of wine and said, "I don't care if it's hypocritical, but I just feel that Brother Haonan is so wronged!" He opened the front of his military uniform as he spoke, "I feel sorry for him.
It’s so congested.”
"Just stop thinking about it. There are so many things that you can't figure out. If you want to think about them all, why don't you choke yourself to death?"
While talking, the waiter shouted and brought a steaming small casserole. He whispered: "Stew Yangbao, you two can eat it while it's hot."
Opening the lid, there is a white soup inside, sprinkled with green garlic leaves, and the crystal clear Yangbao is trembling in the slightly boiling soup. As the boss said, there is no fishy smell at all, only a strong aroma.
"Come and eat. After eating, go with your best friend in the evening." Tan Shuangxi said with relief, "If you are tired, have a good sleep. There is still work to do tomorrow."
Suddenly, the sound of military music playing flutes and snare drums sounded outside, as well as the noisy cheers of many people. The two looked at each other, and Tan Shuangxi called the waiter: "What's going on outside?"
"This is me who is sending off the new recruits for the expedition!"
The two of them dropped their glasses and came out to watch. They saw the military drums and flutes playing the "Farewell Song" on the street. During the passionate march, a group of people walked around surrounded by several young men wearing original-style military uniforms without military rank or branch marks.
Passing by, someone held a banner that read: "Farewell to the 17th Grade A and Three Cards of Dongmen Town..." followed by several names.
Under the banner are three young people with shy smiles - they have probably never been so prosperous in their lives. Flags are flying above their heads. The leading figures on the street are: the president of our brand A Chamber of Commerce, the brand president and
Chief A, the president of the Paijia Women's Association... all came to see them off. The people waving flowers and flags, the police clearing the way for them, the passing citizens cheered them, and some threw confetti.
They tried hard to look brave and fearless and walked to the beat of marching drums.
Seeing two Fubo Army soldiers on the street, the three young men suddenly stopped together and saluted them unevenly. Tan Shuangxi and Zhang Laicai hurriedly returned the salute together.
"Serve the Senate and the people!" "Liberate China!"... With the loud slogans, the music sounded again, and the farewell team continued to move forward.