Chapter 660 320: You Have Your Connections, I Have Uncle Zhao! (Part 2)

Upon hearing this, Kangle instantly realized there was definitely something going on.

A remittance slip of three thousand yuan.

It could be said that it completely cuts off any relationship with bribery.

Three thousand yuan?

Isn't that an insult?

Kangle thought to himself, and then the elder slowly added:

"By the way, if I remember correctly, Commander Zhao is also from Shandong, which makes him kind of a fellow countryman to you."

"Shandong? Where in Shandong?"

"XX Mountain."

Kangle sat upright across from Zhao Yimeng, reflecting on the elder's words, quite sentimental.

Indeed, there are mistaken names, but never mistaken nicknames.

Zhao Yimeng remained silent, saying nothing.

Kangle also kept quiet, silently observing the person before him.

Truth be told, Zhao Yimeng's appearance is the epitome of a classic military figure.

But probably due to not having had a good night's sleep for a long time, his stern face showed signs of fatigue.

Beneath his star-like brows and sword-like eyes, there was a touch of sorrow, with the redness in his eyes clearly visible.

Could it be influenced by that remittance slip?

As Kangle thought this, Zhao Yimeng unexpectedly spoke first:

"Judging by your accent, you're also from Shandong?"

Kangle responded with a smile: "Yes, I'm also from Shandong, in Shanyin County."

"Oh, that's not far from XX. I grew up on XX Mountain."

Probably aided by the common regional accent, Zhao Yimeng spoke a bit more.

The atmosphere in the office became increasingly harmonious.

"Before I came, an elder mentioned to me that Commander Zhao received a remittance slip?"

The previously harmonious atmosphere abruptly halted at this moment.

Commander Zhao returned to being silent and reserved, while Kangle wisely took a sip of his tea.

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

"Since we're from the same place and you're a military journalist, take a look at this..."

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

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

Opening the envelope, he saw a few very brief lines:

Monzi, why are you sending money to your aunt again? She has money, don't worry.

"This money was sent to my comrade's mother, but every time I send it, it is returned, never received once..."

Zhao Yimeng's voice was low, his words filled with self-blame and grief, making listeners heartache.

A moment of silence followed.

After adjusting his mood, Zhao Yimeng looked at Kangle with a weary smile: "I wonder if you're interested in hearing a story."

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

At that moment, he felt a wave of excitement!

Throughout his unsuccessful attempts to interview the stern Commander Zhao, he finally succeeded!

Nothing else mattered, having firsthand information from Commander Zhao was enough to add a touch of gold to his resume!

Commander Zhao rose slowly, and Kangle followed to the southeast corner of the office.

On that wall, hung two old and slightly yellowed photographs.

Zhao Yimeng's eyes showed reminiscence as he pointed to the left photo and said:

"The story I want to tell has half a protagonist - him."

"His name is Wang Wenxi, his hometown is a small city in Shanxi Jinnan, originally he was the leader of our second platoon, but later died on the battlefield. At that time, I was the instructor of our company."

Before Kangle could carefully study this photograph, Zhao Yimeng pointed to the right photo and said:

"This photo is of his family at his gravestone, the kind-hearted old man is his mother, the young woman beside her is his wife, and the two youthful faces in front, one is his daughter, the other his son."

Huh?

Without giving Kangle time to think, Zhao Yimeng began his story.

——

You might already know, I come from a military family.

Back then I graduated from military school, and like you, worked in a propaganda department in a certain military unit.

Later, at my mother's strong request, I was transferred to Company 2 as an instructor.

To be honest, I really didn't want to go at the time.

I was a photography staff member at the propaganda department; many a pleasant task.

But at that time, I was restless, not doing my primary job very well, and didn't manage relationships with colleagues well either.

So upon my departure from the propaganda department for the company, everyone seemed calm, but deep down, they were quite happy.

I took the train and went to a far southern city.

When I first lay eyes on it, I was deeply afraid.

It was a small city; residents couldn't even use tap water.

But I realized I was afraid too soon.

The military vehicles at that time were all requisitioned due to tense border relations.

The squad leader urged us to pack quickly so we could catch the tractor.

Otherwise, if it got late and the villagers returned with their tractors, we would have to hike.

Once the tractor arrived, my legs were numb, trembling, thinking I could finally rest.

The squad leader blew the assembly whistle again.

Exhausted and thirsty, we rode carts with oxen into the setting sun and finally arrived at the company.

A deserted wilderness with no sign of civilization.

The second company at the time wasn't close to the border but had a good hundred-mile distance from the living area.

Looking around at the desolation, only a single thought remained with me: thankfully I didn't bring the camera along; otherwise, carrying those dozens of pounds of iron, I wouldn't have made it to the company.

Before leaving, I handed most of my luggage to the logistics team, who would help send it to Company 2.

I carried a small suitcase with me, containing a box of Soft Zhonghua and a few bottles of foreign wine.

I was carrying this small suitcase when I met Company Commander Liang Erxi.

With a tight grip on my hand, Liang Erxi was visibly excited:

"Welcome, welcome! The company has been looking forward to getting an instructor, like waiting for the stars and the moon; today, it finally happened!"

Liang Erxi left a lasting first impression as an honest farmer.

Dark complexion, tightly tense physique, standing at one-seventy. His eyes weren't large, but his lips were thick, tightly pursed into a line.

I knew at first glance: he must have enlisted under a wreath of sorghum flowers.

"Instructor, you look about twenty-six or seven."

"Not at all, I'm already thirty-two."

"That makes us the same age; both born in the year of the rat." He smiled genuinely: "But you seem seven or eight years younger than me."

"Alright, alright, the most your rat is capable is a field rat."

Hearing this, Liang Erxi smiled and introduced, "This is our company's drama actor, artillery platoon leader Wang Wenxi."

Afterwards, Liang Erxi introduced me to other platoon leaders in the company.

As the emergency assembly call sounded, I realized it was time to make an appearance in the company.

"Comrades!"

Liang Erxi couldn't keep a straight face, excitement as if something major had happened: "This is our new instructor."

Thunderous applause erupted, everyone eagerly looked at me.

"Comrades, Instructor Zhao voluntarily requested to be transferred to our second company! He came from the provincial city with quite a rich work experience."

His gaze swept across the company, different from his earlier joy, now his tone grew stern:

"Comrades, you must not misinterpret! Instructor Zhao isn't sent for training nor for experiencing life here; he's officially appointed as our second company's instructor!"

"All his documents have been transferred over, from today, seek his advice in all matters, resolutely follow the instructor's commands!"

"Please, Instructor, speak!"

Thunderous applause again.

"Comrades! I... don't have high proficiency or much experience; I'm... willing to work together with everyone to get our company's work done well."

"I... I've finished talking."

Actually, I usually have plenty to say, but that day, I really couldn't say much.

I only remember my heart racing fast, the wind blowing strong.

Probably because of the company commander saying, "Instructor Zhao isn't sent for training nor for experiencing life here; he's officially appointed as our company's instructor."

At the time, frequent separation from my wife wasn't a solution.

My mother then conjured a plan: let me go train for a few months first.

Once I had the experience, they could transfer me back openly.

The senior officer at the unit where I went, was a person of decisiveness, unyielding, couldn't tolerate even a grain of sand, didn't buy anyone's account.

In this aspect, I was somewhat concerned.

But my mother assured me, they'd grant this face-saving gesture.

Thus, I became the third company's instructor.

Of course, all personnel from Company Commander Liang Erxi down to ordinary soldiers were kept in the dark.

——

Kangle nodded knowingly, then posed a crucial question:

"So, at that time, were you transferred back?"