plumnovel Chapter 0106: The End and the Beginning
Chapter 0106: The End and the Beginning
Zheng Yingqi, who felt he wouldn't be destined to be single, and two others who seemed destined to be single, arrived in front of room 1022—from inside came Gao Cheng's voice:
"Oh, this patient's really comfortable, even asking for a cigarette? What, does he think I can't see patients if I don't have cigarettes with me?"
Well, this sounds like Wu Liuyi is having a craving for cigarettes.
Cheng Cai was a little embarrassed, not expecting Gao Cheng to be inside. Xu Sanduo, on the other hand, was overjoyed. He hadn't said goodbye to Gao Cheng before, and he always felt regretful. Zheng Yingqi, however, wanted to slip away. There was nothing he could do. It wasn't a guilty conscience. It was just routine operation during the exercise.
Just as Zheng Yingqi was about to slip away, Xu Sanduo had already excitedly pushed open the door and gone in. With a creak, Cheng Cai and Zheng Yingqi didn't have time to run away.
"Hmm, the three kings of soldiers from 702 are all here!" Gao Cheng's anger surged as soon as he saw the people at the door. Damn it, they all left without saying goodbye!
Luckily, I was waiting patiently, and here it came!
"Company Commander!" Xu Sanduo called out excitedly, saluting with a simple smile.
"Hey, a soldier's salute is too much for a prisoner like me." Gao Cheng sneered, the sneer directed at Zheng Yingqi—he had already come up with an excuse to kick Zheng Yingqi, but there were too many people around, so he held back.
"Company Commander, no, Battalion Commander, this is too much." Zheng Yingqi smiled obsequiously, while Gao Cheng snorted coldly. This tone really suits your style, just like the National Revolutionary Army—killing prisoners.
"Alright, alright, stop playing the victim. Leave the stuff here—well, you've got guts to slap me in the face." Seeing the heavy gifts, Gao Cheng started to mock again. Anyway, he hadn't managed to kick anyone, so he was still in a bad mood.
Zheng Yingqi smiled wryly and stepped forward: "Company Commander, I'll settle the score for the kick you owe me, but I'll let you kick me again."
Gao Cheng pretended to kick, but Zheng Yingqi immediately jumped to dodge. Everyone burst into laughter, and Gao Cheng laughed until tears streamed down his face.
Zheng Yingqi was also laughing, but then he fell silent. Finally, he said, "When Sanduo and I arrived, the Seventh Company had already started up again."
"They're up... It's good that they're up, it's good that they're up—it's a good thing they're up!" Gao Cheng said, but then he became melancholy. The 7th Company had risen up, but was it still the Steel 7th Company?
Wu Liuyi was thinking, the Seventh Company has started again, but will it still be as excellent as before? Will it bring shame to the first five thousand soldiers?
The atmosphere froze again. The Steel Seventh Company—the last hundred-plus people will always be a source of pain!
"Alright, let's not think about this anymore—you guys see the patient's here, go and touch him, see this unlucky fellow!" Gao Cheng left the four of them alone and went outside to smoke. Perhaps to tease Wu Liuyi, he deliberately put the cigarette in his mouth.
Wu Liuyi was so tempted that he wanted to jump down, even though his leg was in a cast.
"Quit smoking." Zheng Yingqi unceremoniously took a piece of fruit from the gifts they brought and started eating it. Unlike most people who visit patients, he didn't ramble on about how to feel, what the doctor said, or what he would say if he got better.
"I'm a heavy smoker, quitting is a long shot," Wu Liuyi said pitifully. "Chengcai, can I have a cigarette?"
Cheng Cai hurriedly pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. The cigarettes he pulled out were Hongtashan. "Who are you asking for cigarettes from, as if you're doing me a favor?"
"Want to try it?" Zheng Yingqi looked at Wu Liuyi with a half-smile. Wu Liuyi felt guilty under Zheng Yingqi's gaze, and finally gritted his teeth: "Exciting! I've given up excitement!" (Can someone translate this?)
Zheng Yingqi was completely confused, not understanding what "excitement" meant, but upon hearing that he had to quit smoking, he put his doubts aside and said with a smile, "Finally, I feel a sense of accomplishment."
Wu Liuyi spat in annoyance, "What kind of sense of accomplishment is this—is this supposed to be showing off?"
"No, Liu Yi, don't misunderstand," Xu Sanduo quickly said. Wu Liu Yi was speechless; this guy was truly a master at causing trouble.
"Definitely, after all, we're the winners," Zheng Yingqi said. Xu Sanduo inwardly complained, "Zheng Yingqi, how can you say that?" Unexpectedly, Wu Liu laughed triumphantly, "Hahaha, I'm a winner too! If I hadn't been seriously injured and needed at least a hundred days to recover, it's really hard to say who would have stayed and who wouldn't!"
Cheng Cai looked at Zheng Yingqi and thought, "Sure enough, this guy understands Wu Liuyi well. A few words from him are enough to make Wu Liuyi happy for a long time."
The group chatted and laughed, and Wu Liuyi said with some regret, "If I had been luckier and my leg hadn't been broken, we would have made a name for ourselves at the Banyan Tree this time. All four soldiers from 702 would have joined the elite unit, which would have been an amazing story!"
"Right, then 703 has nothing to do with it!" Cheng Cai said with a smile.
"But don't get cocky, you three. Don't think you can look down on us just because you've joined the Old A. By the way, the company commander just came over and said he's already working on transferring me to the division's reconnaissance battalion. Who knows who will be stronger or weaker in the future!" Wu Liuyi said smugly, as if nothing had happened.
Seeing Wu Liuyi like this, the three of them were relieved.
"Alright, it's almost time—you've all visited, shouldn't you be going?" Wu Liuyi noticed that Cheng Cai kept checking the time, so he knew they didn't have much time left and decided to urge them on.
"Take good care of your injuries. When we come to the Division Reconnaissance Camp to cause trouble next time, remember to jump out and spar with us! We'll see who's stronger then!" Zheng Yingqi said. Wu Liuyi immediately became spirited, waving his fist: "No problem!"
"Don't worry, Liu Yi, I'll definitely come to visit often in the future." Xu Sanduo said this in his distinctive way, and Cheng Cai replied, "Take care!"
"Get out of here!" Wu Liuyi waved impatiently. After the three left, he stared blankly at the door before muttering:
Thank you!
No sooner had he finished speaking than the door creaked open again, revealing Zheng Yingqi.
Zheng Yingqi said mysteriously, "I have something to tell you, but you have to cover for me—when you go to the division's reconnaissance camp, don't betray me!"
Wu Liu was completely baffled as to why Zheng Yingqi insisted on saying that, until he met Ma Xiaoshuai and finally understood the reason behind the Division's deep-seated malice towards 703. Only then did he realize, "So that's how it is..."
……
Gao Cheng waiting in his car at the hospital entrance made a clear sense of his intentions.
The three got into the car, and Gao Cheng, like a professional driver, asked, "Regimental headquarters?"
Xu Sanduo explained, "Yes. We have to report at five o'clock."
Gao Cheng drove off, barely saying a word the whole way—he didn't know what to say, and after a long pause, he finally managed to stammer, "You guys did a good job."
"Just playing normally—there's nothing I can do, we're just that strong." Zheng Yingqi said deliberately, but such "arrogance" did not make Gao Cheng laugh. He could not forget the two disheveled figures, one carrying a wounded soldier and the other dragging a heavy backpack as they ran wildly, and he could not forget the way they roared "Steel Seventh Company! Kill!"
This is his pride, but it is also a pain he can never forget.
So they fell silent again, all the way to the regimental headquarters.
The three got off the bus. Cheng Cai wanted to rush to the place where he could change his fate and wait for a new beginning, but Zheng Yingqi and Xu Sanduo stood by the bus, not knowing how to say goodbye to Gao Cheng.
Gao Cheng stared blankly at the two men, then paused for a moment before saying, "Yes, the Seventh Steel Company has ended; it's been seven months."
"Company Commander, as long as the spirit of the Steel Seventh Company lives on, the Steel Seventh Company will live on forever," Zheng Yingqi solemnly said to Gao Cheng.
Xu Sanduo wasn't as eloquent as Zheng Yingqi; he simply nodded firmly.
"Go on, a new beginning—good luck!" Gao Cheng shouted, drawing many surprised looks. Then he stepped on the gas, and the jeep sped off, quickly disappearing around the corner.