Chapter 655 - 320: You Have Your Connections, I Have My Uncle Zhao!

Upon hearing these words, Kangle instantly realized there was definitely a story behind this.

A remittance slip for three thousand yuan.

It can be said to completely sever ties with bribery.

Three thousand yuan?

Isn’t this an insult!

Thinking this, the elder casually added:

"By the way, if I remember correctly, Commander Zhao is also from Shandong, so he’s kind of a fellow townsman."

"Shandong? Where in Shandong?"

"Qimeng Mountain."

Kangle sat opposite Zhao Yimeng, recalling the elder’s words with deep emotion.

Sure enough, there’s only calling the wrong name, but never the wrong nickname.

Zhao Yimeng remained silent, not uttering a word.

Kangle also said nothing, just quietly observing the person in front of him.

To be fair, Zhao Yimeng’s appearance is the quintessential military look.

But probably hasn’t had a proper sleep for a long time, his stern face showing a hint of fatigue.

Beneath the starry eyebrows and sharp eyes, there was a hint of sadness, with the redness in his eyes clearly visible.

Could it be influenced by the remittance slip?

As Kangle wondered, Zhao Yimeng unexpectedly spoke first:

"From your accent, are you also from Shandong?"

Kangle laughed in agreement: "Yes, I’m also from Shandong, in Shanyin County."

"Oh, that’s not far from Yi Meng, I grew up around Qimeng Mountain."

Probably aided by the familiar hometown accent, Zhao Yimeng spoke a bit more.

The office atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.

"Before I arrived, an elder told me Commander Zhao had received a remittance slip?"

The originally harmonious atmosphere abruptly came to a halt at this moment.

Commander Zhao returned to his silent and reserved demeanor, while Kangle tactfully drank tea.

Just as Kangle was about to finish his pot of tea, Zhao Yimeng finally spoke.

"Since we share the same hometown and you’re a military reporter, take a look at this..."

He took a letter from the drawer and handed it to Kangle.

Kangle glanced at the envelope address, the remittance slip was sent from a county in Shanxi.

Opening the envelope revealed a few brief lines:

"Mengzi, why did you send money to me again? I have money, do not worry."

"This money was sent to my comrade’s mother, but every time I sent it, it was returned, never accepted once..."

Zhao Yimeng’s voice was deep, his words filled with guilt and pain, stirring sadness in the listener.

Another bout of silence.

Adjusting his mood, Zhao Yimeng looked at Kangle and showed a weary smile: "I wonder, would you be interested in hearing a story from me?"

Kangle eagerly nodded: "Of course, please go ahead."

His heart was filled with excitement!

The ever-elusive Commander Zhao, he actually succeeded in getting an interview!

Not to mention, just the firsthand information he obtained from Commander Zhao, would undoubtedly add a shine to his resume!

Commander Zhao slowly stood up, and Kangle accompanied him to the southeast corner of the office.

On the wall hung two old, somewhat yellowed photographs.

Zhao Yimeng’s eyes revealed a sense of nostalgia as he pointed to the left picture:

"The story I’m about to tell has half of its protagonist as him."

"His name is Wang Wenxi, originally from a small town in Shanxi Jinnan. He was a squad leader of our second platoon, later sacrificed on the battlefield. At that time, I was the instructor of the company."

Not having time for Kangle to thoroughly examine the photo, Zhao Yimeng pointed to the right photo:

"This photo depicts his family in front of his tombstone, the elderly kind woman is his mother, and the young person beside her is his wife. Those two slightly childish-looking children at the front, one is his daughter, the other his son."

Hmm?

Without giving Kangle more time to ponder, Zhao Yimeng began to narrate the story.

——

You should know somewhat, I come from a military family.

When I graduated from military school, like you, I worked in the publicity department of a certain army.

Later, under my mother’s strong urging, I was reassigned to the third company as an instructor.

Honestly speaking, back then, I was reluctant to go there.

I was then a photography coordinator at the publicity department, which was a delightful position.

However, I let arrogance cloud judgment, poorly performing at my duties, and mishandling relations with colleagues.

So, when everyone knew I was leaving the publicity department and going to the battalion, they appeared calm, but internally, they were quite pleased.

Riding a train, I headed to a city in the deepest south.

The moment I saw it, I was deeply terrified.

It was a small city where even basic tap water was not available for its residents.

But I found I was scared prematurely.

At that time, all military vehicles were reassigned due to border tensions.

The squad leader urged us to quickly pack up, as we would soon be hopping onto a tractor.

If we waited until nightfall, the villagers would take their tractors back, and we’d have to trek through the countryside.

When the tractor reached the place, my legs were numb, trembling as I stood, thinking finally, I could rest.

Yet the squad leader blew the assembly whistle again.

Exhausted and thirsty, we rode a bull cart, accompanying the setting sun, finally arriving at the company.

Desolate hills, distant from human habitation.

Even though the third company was not near the borders, it was a hundred miles away from the living quarters.

Looking around at the barren surroundings, one thought lingered in my mind: Fortunately, I didn’t bring a camera with me; otherwise, that iron device weighing dozens of pounds, I certainly wouldn’t have made it to the company.

Before setting off, I handed most of my luggage to the logistics department, who promised to deliver them to the company later.

In the small suitcase I carried, I packed a big carton of soft center cigarettes and several bottles of foreign wine.

Dragging the suitcase, I met company commander Liang Erxi.

Commander Liang Erxi tightly shook my hand, clearly excited:

"Welcome, welcome! The company has been eagerly waiting for an instructor from above, waiting for stars and moon to appear, and finally, today, the wait is over!"

The first impression Liang Erxi gave me was of an honest farmer.

Dark-skinned, his body rigidly tense, standing tall at one meter seventy. Small eyes, thick lips, tightly pursed into a line.

In one glance, I knew he had surely joined the army wearing a millet wreath.

"Instructor, you look like you’re twenty-six or twenty-seven."

"Oh, no, I’m already thirty-two."

"So we’re the same age, both born in the Year of the Rat." His smile sincere: "But you seem like you’re at least seven or eight years younger than me."

"Okay, okay, you’re like a field mouse at best."

Upon hearing this, Liang Erxi laughed and introduced me: "This is our company’s drama actor, artillery platoon leader Wang Wenxi."

Then Liang Erxi introduced the other platoon leaders to me.

As the emergency assembly siren blew, I understood it was time for me to show my face in the company.

"Comrades!"

Liang Erxi’s mouth couldn’t stop smiling as if there was a grand celebration: "This is our new instructor."

Thunderous applause resounded, everyone stared eagerly at me.

"Comrades, Instructor Zhao voluntarily requested reassignment to our second company! He comes from a provincial big branch, possessing considerable work experience."

His gaze swept across the company, differing from earlier joy, now stern:

"Comrades, on this point, you must not misinterpret in any way! Instructor Zhao is neither here for temporary training nor for experiencing life; he is officially appointed by the higher-ups as our second company instructor!"

"All his files, including his organizational relationship, were transferred. Starting today, everyone should consult him on matters, firmly obey the instructor’s command!"

"Please, instructor, speak!"

Another round of thunderous applause.

"Comrades! I... am not skilled, lacking experience, I... am willing to work with you all to do our company’s work well."

"I... I’m done."

Actually, I am typically a fluent speaker, but that day, I truly couldn’t say much.

I only remember that my heart was racing, the wind was strong.

Probably due to the commander’s words: "Instructor Zhao is neither here for temporary training nor for experiencing life; he is officially appointed by the higher-ups."

Indeed, as I said at the beginning, I come from a military family.

I was reassigned to the company to fulfill my later employment goals after enlisting.

At that time, I was rarely with my wife; this couldn’t go on.

My mother devised a plan for me to gain grassroots experience for several months first.

In the army I joined, the chief had the nickname "Thunder God."

A resolute person, who meant what he said, intolerant of sand-in-the-eye attitudes, not acknowledging anyone else’s views.

——

Kangle knowingly nodded and immediately asked a critical question:

"So, were you reassigned back then?"