Lin Qiye frowned, "What do you mean?"
Zhao Kongcheng smiled slightly and took out a cigarette from his pocket calmly, "Do you mind?"
"mind."
Zhao Kongcheng: …
Zhao Kongcheng put away the cigarette helplessly, leaned back in his chair, a hint of reminiscence appearing in his eyes.
"When I was young, I was just like you."
"Honestly, this opening is a bit cliché."
"… "
"It's okay, just continue."
"My father died of illness when I was six years old. My mother worked two jobs to barely raise me." Zhao Kongcheng rubbed the cigarette box with his hands, his voice very calm.
"The pace of life was very slow in those days. My mother's expectation for me was to finish junior high school well, then come back to be a village cadre, marry a young wife, have a few children, and live happily together as a family.
You know, young people always have a rebellious period.
When I graduated from junior high school, my grades were pretty good, so it wouldn't have been difficult for me to go back and become a village cadre, but I ignored her opposition and resolutely joined the army.
In fact, she didn't object, but she seemed a little unhappy. The day I left home, she stood at the door and just looked at me silently. When I walked to the road behind the house, she was looking at me. When I walked to the village gate, she was still looking at me...
Later, I walked to the city station, but I couldn't let go of my worry, so I sneaked back to take a look... and found that she was still standing there, looking in the direction I was going, in a daze.
To be honest, at that time I really thought about staying here and not leaving, but in the end I hardened my heart and joined the army. "
Zhao Kongcheng sighed and continued, "Later, my military rank rose higher and higher, and I joined the special forces. Because I was good at close combat, I was transferred to the Night Watch.
After that, I went back home during the holidays to visit my mother, and I found out… "
Zhao Kongcheng paused suddenly when he said this.
Lin Qiye asked cautiously: "Your mother... passed away?"
"No, she remarried."
Lin Qiye: …
"My mother worked too hard when she was young and her health was damaged. She originally wanted me to return to the village to be a cadre so that I could take care of her, but I didn't think about this at the time and chose to join the army.
Later, she couldn't stand being alone anymore, so she got married, at least there would be someone to take care of her when she got old.
Unfortunately, I had already joined the Night Watch at that time, and could not stay with her for a long time to take care of her in her old age. To be honest, I was really relieved when I heard the news that she was getting married. "
Lin Qiye hesitated for a moment, "So, what is the purpose of you telling me this?"
Zhao Kongcheng stood up slowly and looked into Lin Qiye's eyes. "We all have things we cherish, but as we grow up, we subconsciously ignore their existence out of habit, and instead let other things attract all our attention...
I was like that back then, but you are different, Lin Qiye.
You are smarter and more sensible than I was back then. You have your own ideas and you want to stay with your family and accompany them.
This is really good.
Since you have chosen this path, then keep going on it.
As for protecting the world, leave it to us."
He turned around, picked up the kraft paper on the table and handed it to Lin Qiye.
"I just met your aunt. In this era, there are really not many good people like her. I know your family's current situation. You can take this money."
Lin Qiye didn't hesitate at all, "I don't want it."
"I am a night watchman. I have no shortage of money."
"Then I don't want it either."
"This is for your aunt, you have to take it!"
"My aunt wouldn't want it either."
The corner of Zhao Kongcheng's mouth twitched slightly, and he stared at Lin Qiye for a long time, neither of them giving in.
After a while, Zhao Kongcheng spoke again, "Lin Qiye... I am old, and I cannot bear to see the regrets that happened to me happen again, even if it happens to someone else."
"Then you can close your eyes and don't look." Lin Qiye's attitude was very firm, "Although our family is poor, we have our own bottom line. I will not take the soldiers' money.
What's more, my eyesight is better now, I have the ability, and I won't let regrets happen. "
Zhao Kongcheng opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing and just smiled bitterly.
"Wouldn't it be nice if you take this money back to give to your wife and children?" Lin Qiye spoke again.
"I told you, the welfare system of the Night Watch is very good. Even if I die on the battlefield, my wife and children will never have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of their lives. Moreover, they will be able to go to a good university and have a bright future." Seeing that he could not convince Lin Qiye, Zhao Kongcheng could only put the cowhide bag back.
"So you don't have any dreams yourself?"
"My dream?" Zhao Kongcheng sat back in his chair, his eyebrows raised. "I do have a dream, since I was a child."
"What is it?"
"Become a general in the army! Then, with numerous medals hanging on my chest and wearing a military uniform, I will return to the village in glory, letting those who look down on my mother know that my mother's son... is a general!" A dazzling light appeared in Zhao Kongcheng's eyes.
Lin Qiye was startled. For some reason, looking at Zhao Kongcheng in front of him, he seemed to think of Li Yifei again...
They seem to be the same kind of people.
"Are you the boss now?"
"No, it's still a long way off." Zhao Kongcheng said with a wry smile, "Besides, as a Night Watchman, I can't walk around with my medals of honor. This dream... is just a dream after all."
Lin Qiye was silent.
"Okay, since that's the case, it's time for me to leave." Zhao Kongcheng stood up, walked in front of Lin Qiye, and stretched out his right hand.
"I wish you a bright future, Lin Qiye."
Lin Qiye stared blankly at Zhao Kongcheng's face, which seemed to be less greasy...
He stretched out his hand and clasped it tightly. "I wish you great achievements one day, General Zhao."
Zhao Kongcheng smiled, turned around and walked out of the house.
"Wait, your emblem." Lin Qiye stopped him, picked up the emblem on the table and waved it.
Zhao Kongcheng slapped his head, "Look at my memory, I almost forgot! This is my life!"
Zhao Kongcheng took the emblem, flipped through it, and seemed to have thought of something. "By the way, did you see the words at the end?"
"Yes."
"How is it? Isn't it handsome?"
"Very cool, did you write this?"
"No, this is the oath we made when we joined the Night's Watch." Zhao Kongcheng threw the emblem like a coin, caught it steadily, and put it in his pocket, "But... I like it very much."
"etc."
"what happened again?"
"It's raining heavily outside, take an umbrella."
"Thank you, but I won't return the umbrella."
"Take it. Consider it... your reward for protecting the Earth."
"Interesting. OK, I'm really leaving."
"goodbye."
Zhao Kongcheng opened the door and walked out with a black umbrella. Lin Qiye stood by the window and watched him leave silently.
In the rain, he rubbed the emblem with his fingers in his pocket and whispered:
"When the dark night finally comes,
I will stand before tens of thousands of people.
With the sword facing the abyss,
Bloodstained Sky..."
…
The rain is getting heavier.
Zhao Kongcheng calmly got into the black van holding an umbrella, took out a cigarette box from his pocket, and prepared to enjoy a brief moment of peace and quiet.
Just then, his headset suddenly rang!
A man's voice came out from it.
His hand holding the cigarette trembled violently and his pupils suddenly contracted!