After a week of long march, Zhu Ping'an and the newly recruited Yiwu soldiers finally arrived near Taohuaji before sunset.
As the sun sets, under the red afterglow, a magnificent, solemn, strict and orderly camp appears in the sight of the Yiwu recruits in the distance.
“We’re here. We’re finally here.”
The new recruits saw the Taohuaji parade ground camp from afar and started shouting excitedly.
After more than a week of long march, we can finally take a break.
"Look, the seniors are waiting for us."
As they approached, the Yiwu recruits discovered the Zhejiang Army veterans waiting in neat rows outside the camp gate.
Zhu Ping'an had sent someone to rush to Taohuaji training ground yesterday to inform the public of the arrival of the new recruits, and ordered the camp to prepare for the welcome and to make preparations for their food, clothing, housing and transportation.
So, today the old soldiers lined up outside the camp gate early in the morning waiting for the new recruits.
The veterans were dressed in neat uniforms and in neat formations. Having trained for months, they had their own air of military might and looked very intimidating.
The new recruits in Yiwu looked at their messy attire and the queue that they had thought was neat before but now looked like a mob, and they couldn't help feeling ashamed of themselves.
"Welcome the new brothers of the Zhejiang Army."
When the new recruits of Yidiao were feeling ashamed of themselves, the veterans of the Zhejiang Army suddenly applauded warmly to welcome them.
Hearing the warm welcome, the shame on the faces of the Yiwu recruits was replaced by flattery, and their hearts couldn't help but feel warm.
What's even more heartwarming is that not only did they receive a warm welcome from the veterans, but after they entered the camp, there were also pots of steaming pork, white pine, and winter melon meatballs with a rich meaty aroma, baskets of hot steamed buns as high as a hill, and buckets of gurgling West Lake beef stew to warmly welcome them.
After more than a week of long-distance march, the Yi Niao recruits, who were dusty, thirsty and hungry, were treated to a sumptuous hot meal that was beyond their imagination as soon as they entered the Zhejiang Army camp. It not only warmed their stomachs but also their hearts.
Therefore, the sense of belonging of the Yiwu recruits to the Zhejiang Army increased greatly the moment they entered the camp.
At this moment, many people suddenly felt a sense of emotion in their hearts: I am fortunate to join the Zhejiang Army in this life, and I will still be a Zhejiang soldier in the next life.
"Let's not waste any more time. They are veterans and you are newcomers, but we are all one family in the Zhejiang Army. Let's eat first, then arrange the tents, and then have a good night's sleep. We can talk about the rest tomorrow. Now, let's eat!"
After Zhu Ping'an led the Yiwu recruits into the camp, he waved his hand and ordered the meal to start without further ado.
"Your Excellency is wise, let's have dinner..."
"Thank you, sir."
The group of Yiwu recruits thought that the master was going to give a long speech, but unexpectedly he just ordered the meal to start. They were so excited that their mouths stretched to their ears, and they kept shouting that the master was wise.
"Old brothers, let's not rush. Let the new brothers eat first." The old soldiers of the Zhejiang Army took the initiative to carry forward their style and let the Yiwu recruits eat first.
"Come on, come on, new brothers, don't worry, there's enough food for everyone, just line up and get some."
"Hey, I'm not bragging, but our Zhejiang Army's big pot rice is the best in the area. It has big slices of pork, fried meatballs stuffed with fine meat, tofu slices soaked in gravy, and fragrant and tender white cabbage. One bite and your mouth is full of oil. It's simply the most delicious food in the world."
The cooks waved big spoons and greeted the new recruits from Yiwu warmly. Their hands were not trembling at all when they cooked. They were very steady. They used big spoons to cook the meaty parts and scooped up a lot of food. Every new recruit from Yiwu received a big bowl of big pot dishes. There were countless bright and thick slices of meat, not to mention meatballs. The bowl was full and there was almost no room for tofu and cabbage.
Each person also received three large steamed buns and a large bowl of West Lake beef soup. The cooks kept reminding them that there were plenty of steamed buns, so they could eat as much as they wanted. When they were done, they could come and get more, as they would be guaranteed to have enough.
"Hehehe, new brothers, please be careful when eating..." an old soldier said to the new recruits with a big laugh.
ah?!
The recruits holding the bowls were stunned and looked down at the bowls. Was there sand in the bowls, or was the food not clean
Otherwise why should we be more careful when eating? !
"Hahaha, it's because the big pot dishes cooked by our Zhejiang Army are so delicious, and we're worried that you might accidentally swallow your tongue, so we asked you to be careful when eating, hahaha..."
Seeing this, the old soldier laughed triumphantly.
The new soldier looked at the old soldier with a smile on his face...
"Fuck, damn Hu Laoqi still has the energy to tease the newcomers. It seems that the training in the morning was not enough. Now, immediately, run three laps around the camp for me. If you can't finish, don't want to eat..."
The sentry stepped forward and kicked Hu Laoqi, who was teasing the new recruit, and scolded him. He pointed outside and gave loud orders.
"Ah? Three circles?" Hu Laoqi was as sad as if he had lost his parents. He begged for mercy from the sentry with a grin, "Sentry, just treat me like a fart."
"You think it's too little? Okay, now run four laps for me!" The sergeant said with a dark face and glaring eyes.
"No, no, no, my sentry grandfather, please have mercy on me and let me run three laps. If I run four laps, I really can't handle it."
When he heard that another round had been added, Hu Laoqi was so scared that his face turned pale and he clasped his fists and begged for mercy.
"Five laps now..." the sentry said with a dark face.
"I run, can't I just run..." Hu Laoqi didn't dare to talk anymore, he stood up and started running.
"Hahaha, Hu Laoqi, it's no use calling the sentry commander grandpa, you have to call him ancestor..."
"You deserve it, Hu Laoqi. Who told you to talk nonsense all day long? Are you satisfied now?"
When the veterans saw Hu Laoqi running in circles with his butt sticking up, they whistled, laughed and scolded him.
The new recruits couldn't help but laugh as well. Amid the laughter and joy, the feeling of being away from home suddenly disappeared.
"It's time to eat, it's time to eat."
"Well, what the elder brother said is right. This big pot of food is really delicious. It's so delicious that I almost swallowed my tongue."
"This big steamed bun just out of the pot is also very fragrant, soft and fluffy. Dipping it in the soup from the big pot, it smells so good that I want to call for my mother..."
"Hey, it's been half a year, and I finally get to eat meat again. It's so delicious..."
The Yiwu recruits wolfed down the big pot meals, feeling that joining the Zhejiang Army was the wisest decision they had ever made in their lives.
They hadn't had such a delicious meal in Yiwu for many years, even the New Year's Eve dinner was not as good as this one. Yiwu has little land and many mountains, and farming is not enough to feed people. Although there are mines, they are all small mines, and they have to fight for mines for many years. Most of the time in a year is spent fighting and fighting for mines. Life is hard.