"What did you say?" Luo Zhan stood on the steps of the back door of the hospital, surprised by what Li Zan had just said.
Li Zan closed the back door of the hospital and looked at him: "I said, I want to join the special joint force."
The Special Joint Force is a special operations force established by the peacekeeping headquarters with authorization from the Timor-Leste government and in response to war situations. It has the same frontline combat rights as Timor-Leste's own troops on the battlefield.
Luo Zhan emphasized: "That was a real war."
Li Zan smiled: "I don't plan to play either."
Luo Zhan's eyes were slightly solemn, he glared at him, and said, "This requires your instructor's consent! You are a bomb disposal soldier specially trained by the Jiangcheng Military Region. If you want to be good at anything, the higher-ups will ask me for someone, who will I go to?"
Li Zan stopped laughing and said, "Isn't training me just for actual combat? What's the use of hiding behind me all day long?"
Luo Zhan frowned, took out a cigarette, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't have to say anything about this matter. We will discuss it with the army and let you know the result."
"Okay." Li Zan turned around and left.
"Li Zan." Luo Zhan called him, "Chen Feng wants you to come over to enrich your resume, make some achievements, and then go back so that you can be promoted to military rank."
"If you can remain indifferent in the face of massacre, no one can be a soldier."
…
When Song Ran returned to the explosion site, the cordon had been removed and the street had been briefly cleaned, but the black traces left by the large pool of blood could be seen.
After taking a few videos, she was about to leave when she saw a dirty little boy sitting on the roadside, hugging her, with his mouth pursed, looking stubbornly at the explosion site, wiping tears while watching.
Song Ran took out the apple that he had been reluctant to eat and handed it to him. His shiny black eyes looked at her, then at the apple, and he took it without saying a word, holding the apple tightly in his little hands.
Song Ran wanted to touch him, but no, she turned and left.
Song Ran was sorting through photos in the hotel that night, and one of them shocked her greatly—soldiers picking up a dead child from among the rubble and corpses. She did not do any processing to the photo and directly posted it on Twitter with the title carry.
Just after sending it out, a message came in. It was a reporter from the British xx agency, asking if it could be reprinted. Song Ran replied in agreement, and new news came in. People kept applying for reprinting, so she simply made the authorization public.
At this time there was a knock on the door, it was Sasin.
Song Ran didn't see him all day and was very worried: "Are you okay today?"
"At least he's alive." Sasin shrugged, smiling helplessly and bitterly.
"I'm sorry about the explosion."
"No need. This country has already endured enough disasters like this. However, I thought Garo was at least safe, but it seems that is no longer the case."
Song Ran didn't know how to comfort him.
"Song, I'm here to say goodbye to you."
Song Ran was surprised: "Where are you going?"
"A place closer to the war." The young man who had just turned twenty said, "I don't want to stay in the rear anymore. I want to go to Hapo."
Hapo is on the border and is the site of a three-way battle between the positive and negative forces and the extreme forces.
The road ahead was dangerous, and Song Ran felt infinitely sad: "Saxin, please be safe."
"May you be safe too, Song. I'll be praying for you."
Song Ran didn't sleep well that night.
The cruelty of human beings and the insignificance of life made her powerless. Being in the Eastern Kingdom, she felt like being thrown onto an isolated island, in the wilderness, far away from civilization. But she couldn't even pick up a pen to write down her emotions.
I tossed and turned late at night before falling asleep. I was woken up by Liu Yufei's phone call early the next morning, and I realized that something big had happened.
Liu Yufei said that the photo carry was spread all over the world, so she was immediately prepared to connect with the country and do a live news interview. Before hanging up the phone, he said: "Song Ran, do your best. The people on the stage will praise you."
Song Ran was confused and didn't understand what was going on. She finished washing and set up the equipment to connect to the live broadcast room. This connection took a long time, nearly five minutes. Song Ran was confused, but answered the host's questions calmly.
After the connection was completed, she took some time to surf the Internet, and then she discovered that the photo had gone viral—
The photo appeared on the front pages of various countries in Europe and the United States, and her title carry was used. Her original picture has received millions of likes and retweets, and the comment section has been flooded with texts from various countries.
Domestic work groups are also flooded with comments.
Xiaoqiu: "Do you know what the British xx newspaper said? They said this was a photo that changed history."
Song Ran: "It's not that exaggerated... The xx newspaper has always had this tone when writing news."
Xiaodong: "But that photo was taken so well. I burst into tears when I saw it! I really wanted to cry!"
Xiaochun: "At first, the international media's interest in the Dongguo War subsided during this period, but now it has increased again. You are indispensable!"
Song Ran didn't realize how great this was and was about to put down her phone and go to work.
At this time, Shen Bei poked her privately and asked about the peacekeepers' demining interview.
That program hasn't aired yet, but Shen Bei watched the editing in advance. Song Ran's shooting materials are very good, including clearing mines, running on hillsides, carrying wheat, and giving lectures, which are both tense and comfortable. The leaders' commendations showed the true life and work of peacekeepers.
Shen Bei asked: "Is your work going well there?"
"It went pretty smoothly."
"Is it hard to follow along?"
"It's okay. It's just that the weather is very hot." Song Ran was typing while trying to figure out her purpose.
"Are they easy to get along with?"
"It's all very good."
Song Ran waited for a while, but Shen Bei didn't continue.
She felt inexplicably uneasy. Her filming of Li Zan was just work, Shen Bei shouldn't be so sensitive.
She felt a little guilty, but when she thought about it, she didn't do anything and she had a clear conscience.
In the next three days, Song Ran did not go to the station again.
It wasn't until the fourth day that the front desk of the hotel told her that Luo Zhan had something to ask her and asked her to come.
A few days have passed since the explosion, and the injured soldiers have long been discharged from the hospital and returned to the army. The haze hanging over the city gradually dissipated.
It was dusk, the setting sun was slanting, and it was like small needles pricking the skin.
I don’t know when this damn place will get cooler. Song Ran was thinking to himself when he suddenly heard a commotion in front of him. It turned out that a few soldiers were making trouble in the vegetable field.
Li Zan is also there, wearing a military green T-shirt and camouflage pants, catching chickens with a few comrades.
"Fuck! He ran away again!"
"It's blocked! Where are you blocked?"
The young men usually have no problem using guns to defuse mines, but now they are helpless when faced with a big hen. Everyone chased her, but the hen was very nimble. Now she burrowed under the cucumber seedlings, and now she jumped on the loofah stand. She flew and ran, with her wings flapping and her chicken feathers flying everywhere.
Song Ran couldn't help laughing and turned on the camera to capture this relaxing moment.
While filming, the hen ran away and jumped towards the camera. Song Ran backed away while protecting the camera, and when she saw the chicken hitting her head, Li Zan saw it right and grabbed its wings.
The hen fluttered hard and slapped a pile of chicken feathers on Song Ran's head.
Li Zan grabbed both wings of the chicken. Now it gave up its struggle and lowered its head obediently.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"It's okay." Song Ran quickly raised his head to glance at him, then lowered his head to pick up the chicken feathers in his hair.
Li Zan raised his hand to help her pick it up; she caught a glimpse of it from the corner of her eye and turned her head pretending not to know.
By chance, Luo Zhan, who was standing at the door of the office, asked with a smile: "Reporter Song, what good material did you capture?"
"Just catch the chicken." She took advantage of the situation and walked away from Li Zan.
Li Zan handed the chicken in his hand to his comrade and followed Song Ran with his eyes.
Luo Zhan said: "The demining program hasn't aired yet, right?"
"Not yet. Not until Saturday."
"Okay. Help these young men to publicize it more." He joked, "By the way, we are looking for marriage."
Song Ran also followed the joke and asked for reward: "Then I helped, what benefits can the team give me?"
Luo Zhan thought about it and said, "Let's do this. If you like someone in this camp. No matter who it is, as long as they are not married, just ask and the organization will arrange it for you!"
"Wow!" A group of soldiers cheered loudly.
Song Ran's face turned red instantly.
Li Zan sat on the edge of the field and glanced at Song Ran quietly. Her face was as red as a tomato.
Luo Zhan smiled: "Why are you blushing? Is it possible that you really like someone? Tell me, I will make the decision for you."
Song Ran frowned: "Political Commissar, do you have anything else to do? I'll leave if it's okay!"
"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore, let's go into the office."
Luo Zhan turned around and entered the room. A group of soldiers who were familiar with Song Ran refused to let him go. They sat on the ground whistling and making noises. Song Ran turned back and glared at them, picked up a piece of mud and threw it at Soldier A.
"Oh my god!" Soldier A had quick eyes and hands. He raised his hand to block the attack, and the mud chunks shattered and exploded. The largest chunk hit Li Zan on the side of the head.
"..." Li Zan looked innocent and opened his eyes slightly at Song Ran.
Song Ran: "..."
She turned around and entered the office without saying a word.
Li Zan lowered his head, slowly fiddled with the dirt on his hair, brushed it, and curved the corners of his lips.
On the side, the comrades were extremely happy, whispering and chatting privately.
Soldier A: "Hey, don't you think Reporter Song is particularly cute?"
Soldier B: "I've discovered it a long time ago. He's so cute and cute. He can't help but tease him. He blushes when teased."
Soldier C: "I just think she's quite gentle, hehe." Turning around, "A-Zan, right?"
"..." Li Zan said, "I don't have much contact. I don't know."
After a few seconds, he silently added, "My work is very serious and reliable."
Soldier D interjected: "Hey! Let me tell you when she is the cutest. She is very serious. When filming, you suddenly come up and call "Reporter Song!" She was so frightened that she turned around and looked at her with a special expression. So cute, I want to pinch her face.”
Before he finished speaking, he was surrounded and beaten by the people around him: "You are acting like a hooligan!"
Soldier D covered his head: "You can't even think about it?"
"No!"
The crowd was in a commotion, and Li Zan was spinning a vegetable leaf in his hand.
He thought about the scene they described and couldn't imagine it.
…
In the office, Luo Zhan made his intention clear to Song Ran.
They want to send a soldier to the special joint force. Since it is the first Chinese soldier to join the team, they hope that when they join the team for training, Song Ran will follow him to report.
Luo Zhan said: "We also have other radio reporters stationed here, but the content you do is more down-to-earth and does not have such a strong propaganda meaning. Both the superiors and the audience like it very much. So I would like to ask for your help this time."
Song Ran was flattered: "How do you say it's help? I'm honored to give you this opportunity."
Luo Zhanxiao: "That's good. I'll trouble you to follow Li Zan for interviews these two days."
Song Ran was stunned: "Li... Second Lieutenant?"
"Yes. Second Lieutenant Li is a very good soldier, and his superiors value him very much. He also represents the country by joining the team this time. Song Ran, you must take good photos."
Song Ran nodded slowly: "Yes."
…
Early the next morning, Song Ran rushed to the gate of the station, and Li Zan just arrived.
The training ground is at the US military station, only one street away and can be reached in a short walk.
At seven-thirty in the morning, the sun was shining brightly, but the city had not yet woken up, and there were no other pedestrians on the street.
The two walked side by side in silence, with only the sound of fallen leaves being stepped on by their feet. Song Ran would lower his head and fiddle with the camera in his hand from time to time to relieve his embarrassment.
Li Zan suddenly asked: "Is your place far from here?"
"Ah?" She looked up at him and then looked away, "It's not far. Turn left in front and walk two streets to get there."
"Currently, the government troops are retreating steadily, and the situation in Garo is not good either. Try not to walk around on the streets unless nothing happens."
Song Ran nodded: "Oh. Got it."
After a few seconds, Li Zan suddenly laughed and said, "You can still run around, right?"
"..." Song Ran touched his ears, "Am I a reporter... How can I squat in a hotel every day?"
"That's right. I haven't seen you in the past few days. I guess you went shopping."
"..." She replied politely, "There are a lot of things I want to record, and it's not easy to stay in the military camp every day."
"That's true." He said no more.
After walking through the intersection, Song Ran looked up at him inadvertently. The sun shone on his face, making his face look more delicate. While watching, he turned around and looked at her.
She felt nervous, pointed at the scabs on his face and neck, and said, "Are you okay?"
He touched it casually, not caring: "It's okay."
"Will it leave scars?"
He was funny: "Men don't care about this."
When they arrived at the gate of the US military station, while Li Zan was waiting to verify the information, Song Ran was taking photos and recording - she had never been here before.
The American soldier standing guard said he could go in. Li Zan turned around to call Song Ran, but saw that she was still taking pictures seriously.
He looked at her for a long time, not knowing what to think. He walked slowly over, stood a few steps away from her, and suddenly called out forcefully:
"Reporter Song!"
"Ah?" She was startled and turned around hurriedly, her expression confused and surprised, "What?"
Li Zan stared at her, smiled suddenly, pointed inside with his chin, and said, "You can go in."
"oh."
He followed her and couldn't help but chuckle when he remembered that expression.
…
Song Ran turned off the camera before entering the courtyard. Unauthorized photography is not allowed here.
The military camp here is not much different from the Chinese garrison, but the soldiers coming and going give people a clear sense of difference - Caucasians have a natural advantage in body shape, and those who serve in the army are more tall and powerful.
Soldiers gathered at the training ground came from seven countries. Except for Li Zan, the others are all European and American whites and European and American blacks. Li Zan is as tall as them, but not as strong as them.
As the only Asian in the team, Li Zan naturally received a lot of special treatment - someone maliciously kicked dirt into his face when he was crawling forward, he was stepped on when climbing over a wall, his teammates were not given cover during simulated actual combat, and he was repeatedly " Manslaughter”…
Especially the American soldier named Benjamin, who never stopped making various little moves and ridicules.
Song Ran witnessed all this and felt aggrieved, but did not express a single opinion. This is a military camp, a place where men compete. If she intervened to complain, it would only make the situation more embarrassing.
The instructor was British and turned a blind eye to this and ignored it.
Fortunately, Li Zan did not show any anger and persisted patiently throughout the whole day. His results were not far behind and he ranked among the top three.
When the team dispersed in the evening, the "special treatment" was not over yet.
As soon as the instructor disbanded the team, Benjamin joked to a French soldier: "Their country is very interesting. War correspondents, send women; when soldiers go to the battlefield, send women too."
Song Ran was about to turn off the machine when he heard this and frowned.
At this moment, Li Zan's expression also changed a little. He clenched his jaw and looked at Benjamin with a fierce look for a moment, but it relaxed in an instant.
Li Zan walked past Benjamin quietly without saying a word.
But Benjamin noticed his gaze, smiled and patted his shoulder with his hand: "Madam, do you have any objections to what I said?"
Before he finished speaking, Li Zan suddenly grabbed his arm and threw him over his shoulder. Benjamin turned over, but did not fall. Instead, he threw Li Zan back when he stood firm. Li Zan was well prepared and quickly evaded, ducking behind him and wrapping his arms around his neck. Benjamin immediately crouched down and slipped away.
Neither of them could control it with one move, and at the same time they quickly let go of each other and opened a distance of two or three meters.
The training ground was filled with dust.
"Wow!!!" The surrounding soldiers immediately dispersed and formed a circle.
Li Zan looked directly at Benjamin, ripped off his bulletproof vest, sling, and pistol, and threw them all on the ground.
This is a sign of challenge.
"Oh!!!" the onlookers cheered loudly.
Benjamin laughed playfully and began to take off his vest.
Song Ran was afraid that things would get serious: "Second Lieutenant Li... this..."
Li Zan turned around and pointed at her: "No shooting!"
Song Ran froze in place, not daring to step forward.
Li Zan removed all the slings, daggers, and guns from his arms and legs and threw them on the ground; only a set of military boots and combat gloves were left on his body.
Facing Benjamin, who had also removed all his equipment, he clenched his fists and prepared himself to attack at any time.
Benjamin was also ready to face the enemy, and even the instructor stood aside to watch.
Benjamin was the first to attack. He quickly stepped forward and punched Li Zan on the right side of his face. Li Zan turned around to dodge and kicked Benjamin in the left leg. The latter also easily dodged.
The soldiers in the circle shouted and shouted for help.
Song Ran stared closely at Li Zan, not daring to express his anger.
After a brief period of testing each other, the two quickly entered the state.
Benjamin came for real. He took two steps forward as fast as he could and punched Li Zan directly at the temple. Li Zan barely dodged it, but another punch came in succession and missed his jaw. Li Zan twisted his arm and rushed forward, knocking him over and rolling him to the ground several times. The yellow sand was flying, and everyone wanted to get up first to seize the opportunity, but they were restraining each other and dragged each other to the ground one after another.
There was a buzz of people around, and all the American soldiers training nearby came to watch.
The two were struggling, and suddenly, Benjamin kicked Li Zan's abdomen, got up from the ground, and then stepped on his chest.
Li Zan quickly rolled away and kicked Benjamin's supporting leg with a sweep, knocking him to the ground. Just as Benjamin was about to stand up, Li Zan jumped up and hit him with his elbow, pressing his chest. He quickly grabbed a handful of Benjamin's shoes with his other hand, pulled out the "dagger" inserted in the shoe, and stabbed him instantly. Towards Benjamin's throat.
As soon as the "knife" fell, Benjamin stopped completely and raised his hands.
Li Zan gently lowered his clenched hand and made a slash on his throat - "slit his throat".
It was deathly quiet.
Li Zan took a breath, pushed Benjamin away, and stood up.
After a few seconds of dead silence, the crowd suddenly burst into applause.
Li Zan casually wiped the dirt from his head and face, walked to the side, picked up the vests, pistols, gun protective gear and other equipment scattered on the ground one by one. He glanced at Song Ran who was stunned and said, "Let's go."