The army auditorium was packed inside and out. Almost all the soldiers in the regiment were there. However, despite the large number of people, they were all well-organized. There was a long queue in front of each of the seven people, especially the longest queues in front of Su Ran and Chen Tao.
Ye Dansha came not long after, limping on purpose. Li Heizi was right. Now everyone only knew that she couldn't join the recruit class because she sprained her ankle. If she didn't come, others would think too much.
The signing event lasted until 8:30 in the evening. If Captain Sun hadn't set a time limit, no one would have known when the signing would end. Even so, everyone's hands were so numb that they were about to break.
When we got back to the dormitory, we should have started packing our luggage, but everyone just sat there blankly, not wanting to move.
Looking back to when I first came here, I couldn’t wait to turn around and leave. I was looking forward to it and enduring it every day, thinking: when the military training is over, I will immediately pack my bag and leave, and never come back.
However, when the day to leave really came, I didn't want to leave and was reluctant to leave.
They have become accustomed to this simple yet fulfilling life, and to the serious yet humane atmosphere here. They like the honest and kind looks and simple and warm smiles everywhere, the lack of conspiracy and deception, and no one will step on you when you are down. There will only be sincere comfort and enthusiastic help.
How nice!
But no matter how much you don't want to leave, you have to leave.
The next day, everyone got up at daybreak, put on their casual clothes, folded their clean training uniforms neatly, and began the final and most careful tidying up of their rooms.
Squad Leader Li and Instructor Yang are here.
After taking a look at the spotlessly clean dormitory and then at the faces filled with sadness and sorrow, the two of them felt very depressed.
When people get along for a long time, they will have some feelings for each other.
"Everything is ready, let's go!" said Li Wei.
Yang Fan clapped his hands, and a team of soldiers came in and silently picked up everyone's luggage.
A minibus was already waiting downstairs.
There is no one else.
Originally, Captain Sun wanted to hold a farewell ceremony for them, just like the one he did every year when he sent off retired veterans.
They themselves refused because they were afraid that they could not bear the scene of farewell. Last night's autograph session was just like a farewell.
The soldiers helped them load their luggage into the car.
The driver started the car. Ye Dansha took two steps, but found that everyone else was standing there motionless, so she had to stop as well.
"Let's go. You still have to catch the train and the plane. Don't waste time." Li Wei advised.
Everyone remained motionless, standing there with their heads down.
Yang Fan forced a smile and said, "Well... we will still meet in the future, it's so convenient to contact each other now."
Su Ran raised her eyes and said sincerely: "Class monitor, please line us up again and lead us in the drill again!"
Originally, everyone wanted to leave quietly and not cause trouble for the troops, but just leaving like that felt like something was missing, like a ceremony missing the last step.
Su Ran's suggestion was immediately responded to. Everyone raised their heads and looked at the squad leader and Instructor Yang expectantly.
Li Wei looked at the bright eyes and vaguely remembered how they looked when they first came. They were smiling and didn't take the military training seriously at all. They came with the mentality of having fun. When he talked to them about the rules, they were full of disdain. The words "absolute obedience" were a joke to them. They always had countless questions in their minds: Why
And now, they finally understand what a soldier is like, but they are leaving.
Li Wei's expression gradually became serious, and he said loudly: "New recruits, everyone, line up and assemble."
The eight students lined up quickly, faster and more orderly than any other time before.
"Look to the right... At ease... Stand at attention..."
"The last training task for today is to walk around the field once, and everyone turn right..." Li Wei walked to the far right of the team: "Run..."
Leading the team to run to the playground, in uniform steps, da da da...
On the playground, the soldiers were training. When they saw Li Wei and the recruits running over, they stopped spontaneously and made way. When this special team without military uniforms ran past them, the soldiers saluted and said goodbye to them.
Everyone's eyes began to redden.
I don’t know which team started singing first.
"A tough company, tough soldiers, tough thoughts are red, tough bullets have eyes, tough bayonets are stained with blood, the attack is like a strong wind, and they hold fast to the iron Great Wall, tough..."
The singing quickly spread across the playground and turned into a chorus of the entire group.
The soldiers' loud voices, their songs without any singing skills, were like a raging mountain torrent, instantly washing away everyone's suppressed emotions.
Liu Yayi started crying first, and then everyone started crying.
Even a calm man like Shen Yifeng couldn't help but burst into tears.
They just ran while crying, wishing that the track had no end so they could keep running.
After running a lap, Li Wei held back his tears and led the students out of the playground and back to the minibus.
"Everyone stand at attention. Today's training mission ends here." Li Wei didn't dare to look at the students' faces. They were crying so sadly.
"Last order, get in the car." Li Wei said loudly.
Everyone cried and hugged Li Wei and Yang Fan in turn, then rushed to the car with their heads down, crying loudly in the car, completely disregarding their image.
The car, carrying eight people, slowly drove towards the gate with a lot of reluctance.
Li Wei and Yang Fan watched the car go away until it disappeared from sight. They rubbed their eyes at the same time.
"Damn it, these guys have brought tears to my eyes." Yang Fan said sullenly with a stuffy nose.
Li Wei sniffed and said, "Yes, this kind of scene happens every year, and it makes people uncomfortable every time."
"I wonder if we will cry like women like them when we retire from the army." Yang Fan said self-deprecatingly.
The army may change but the camp remains the same. No matter how deep the feelings are, there will come a day when we will part.
"I really can't bear to leave them." Li Wei looked at the direction the car was leaving, feeling very sad.
Yang Fan patted his shoulder and said, "Let's go! It's time for us to go back to the team."
Inside the minibus, some people were still sobbing and the atmosphere was depressing.
Su Ran opened the window and looked back at the gradually blurry buildings shrouded in a thin morning mist. In her heart, she silently said goodbye to everyone she could call out by name or not.
Goodbye, Squad Leader Li.
Goodbye, Instructor Yang.
Goodbye, Captain Sun.
Farewell, brothers who have shed blood, sweat and tears together...
Thanks to fate, she got to know such a group of the most respectable and lovely people.
(End of this chapter)