Driving back to the city center, Song Ran did not hear any more gunfire along the way.
We arrived at the field hospital at around 6 or 7 pm. It was bustling in front of us. A large group of East country soldiers and civilians were rushing into a lane, and many foreign volunteers and Doctors Without Borders were among them.
Li Zan parked his car in front of the hospital and asked a passing doctor, "What's going on?"
"attend a wedding."
"wedding?"
"There is a soldier from Ale who is getting married. I heard that the girl proposed to him. She said that they would hold the wedding before going to the battlefield."
Song Ran glanced at the crowd and asked, "Anyone can participate?"
"Of course, it's already this time. The girl is getting married now to encourage her lover. And to encourage everyone in the city."
Li Zan and Song Ran didn't say anything, each with their own thoughts.
Li Zan parked the car and looked back at Song Ran, as if inviting him: "Want to go and see it?"
Song Ran nodded.
Not to mention that this wedding was extraordinary and she couldn't miss it. Besides, she wanted to stay with him for a while, even if it was just for a while.
The two followed the crowd into the alley and soon stepped into a ruin in the alley.
This was originally a temple, with a towering pavilion in the middle, a place for prayer and wedding ceremonies. But the pavilion was blown up, leaving only the dome and spires of the temple on the ruins. Candles were erected on the broken railings around, and the broken steps were covered with various wild flowers picked from the suburbs. If there were not enough, olive leaves were used to make up for it.
Outside the pavilion ruins is a circle of open space, with a large piece of military green felt spread on the ground, serving as a blanket for guests to sit on.
There was originally a circle of corridors on the outer layer of the open space, but the corridors, walls, and nearby houses were all razed to the ground, and this place became an infinitely open place.
The people coming later could see the wedding from afar even if they were standing on the ruins a few houses away.
There was no wedding candy, nor cigarettes or alcohol. Many soldiers and foreigners generously contributed snacks, biscuits, peanuts, bread, etc., for the children who were waiting to join in the fun to share.
Song Ran and Li Zan arrived early and found a seat on the inner felt mat.
Li Zan asked people around him why they didn't hold the wedding in another temple. The locals said that this was the place where the couple was baptized when they were born, and it had great commemorative significance.
Song Ran: "No wonder."
Li Zan glanced at the felt on the ground and said, "If it weren't for the war, there should be a beautiful Persian blanket underneath."
Song Ran: "There should be wedding candy at the door."
As they talked, they both recalled the wedding they attended in the Liangcheng military camp last year.
Song Ran sighed a little: "But this kind of wedding is also good. Strangers come to bless them. Everyone is waiting and watching, so it's not awkward."
"Yes." Li Zan said, "You hate embarrassment the most."
He didn't know that he had said this once when he was drunk that night. But Song Ran remembered it clearly. He said that when they got married, all strangers should leave to avoid embarrassing her.
It would be great if there were no war in the world...
Song Ran took a deep breath, blinked his eyes, and looked up at the sky. The sun was about to set, and its afterglow enveloped the ruins of the temple, making the colored glass windows on the dome sparkle.
"So beautiful." she murmured.
Li Zan looked over and stared at the gorgeous sunset in the stained glass.
Night is falling.
How nice it would be if I woke up and found it was already three months later.
She asked: "What do you do when you fight terrorists? Is there a division of labor?"
“Most of the time it’s a blasting mission.”
She thought for a moment: "Is it like in the movies? Lurking in the enemy's line of fire with heavy explosives?"
"almost."
Song Ran felt a sharp pain in his heart. He stared at the colored glass persistently and asked, "Have you ever encountered a very dangerous situation?"
Li Zan said, "Not bad."
"Have you ever been injured?"
Li Zan was silent for a moment, as no one had ever asked him this question before. But she asked it twice today.
Song Ran turned to look at him.
He smiled faintly: "Didn't I say that? I was hurt, but I'm fine now."
"Is it serious?"
"Nothing serious. Just minor injuries."
She didn't know whether to believe it or not, but she didn't ask any more questions.
More people came to the area. Soldiers with guns also came to maintain stability.
Song Ran set up his camera. Although supplies were scarce during the war, people kept everything clean and tidy. Some girls even wore brightly colored clothes. The homeless children also washed their hands and faces outside the door, running around happily in the crowd.
There was laughter everywhere.
If it weren't for the ruins, it would be impossible to see the shadows and trauma left by the war.
The sun sets and night falls.
Several girls in pink dresses came over holding candlesticks. The surroundings gradually became quiet, and even the children stopped playing.
The girls walked to the pavilion and lit the rows of candles on the railings. The flickering candlelight danced in everyone's eyes.
The musician rang the bells, and the clear sound rang rhythmically in the night wind. Everyone looked in the same direction at the same time. The bride and groom in red were walking slowly towards them, holding hands and smiling.
The groom was handsome and elegant, and the bride was pretty and shy. They walked cautiously onto the ruins, supporting each other as the bells rang and everyone was watching, and stood beside the broken dome of the temple.
There, an old man in traditional costume was waiting for them with scriptures in his hands.
The old man stroked the spire of the temple and recited scriptures in the night breeze.
There were hundreds of people crowded on the open ground and on the ruins, and everything was silent.
The old man's kind and vast voice echoed.
After the chanting, the newlyweds exchanged vows, and the witness wrote the marriage certificate on the spot and gave it to the other party.
The newlyweds hold the marriage certificate and hug and kiss each other.
Until this moment, someone applauded. The newlyweds waved to the strangers.
The musicians beat drums, played violins, rang bells, and sang, and the music rose up wildly.
The children were screaming, laughing, and jumping around.
The uncles and aunts sang songs blessing love with their broad and loud voices.
The people sitting on the felt stood up and rolled up the felt to make room. The bride and groom were the first to go out and dance happily. Soldiers, doctors, men and women rushed to the open space and danced wildly.
Song Ran and Li Zan moved to sit on the ruins, and were infected by the warm and cheerful atmosphere, with smiles on their faces.
The group of girls in pink came again, holding clear water and olive branches in their hands. They poured the clear water on their heads and prayed for peace.
The girl walked up to Li Zan and tapped his forehead, and Li Zan nodded in thanks. She tapped Song Ran's forehead again, and Song Ran responded with a sweet smile.
Night, candlelight, singing, dancing shadows.
Song Ran held his chin up and looked at it, and suddenly said, "I was wondering, if there is an accident tomorrow, will this wedding be a blessing or a disaster?"
Li Zan was silent. If he stayed and took on everything, he was willing; if it was her, he was unwilling.
Song Ran turned around and asked him, "What do you think?"
He met her burning gaze and said, "It's unfortunate. If the groom dies on the battlefield, the bride will become a widow. All the memories of tonight are the deepest pain."
Song Ran smiled: "I feel very happy, at least I have memories, right?"
Li Zan said: "Looking at happiness makes you feel good. But when you experience pain, will you regret it?"
People's minds are always changing; just like when her mother was about to die, she almost collapsed.
"It seems like a difficult question. So..." She looked at the crowd, where there was music and singing.
And him.
"I hope the sun doesn't rise tomorrow."
Li Zan looked at her. The candlelight in the distance was reflected in her eyes, which were bright and glittering. There was a faint smile on the corners of her lips. Perhaps because of the night and the starlight, her cheeks were particularly white and tender. It seemed that the sunshine in the East could not do anything to her.
There is no way to deal with her...
He also hopes that time will stay here forever.
He was still staring at her. Her long eyelashes drooped and her eyes turned to meet his gaze.
Lee Chan asked, "Want to dance?"
She pursed her lips and nodded slightly.
They stood up and walked to the open space. He put his arm around her waist and she put her arm around his shoulders. The music was loud and the dancing was cheerful. But they turned a deaf ear and turned a blind eye.
They had their own music in their hearts, melodious, slow, and in sync without any agreement. He gently held her back, and she quietly moved closer to his shoulders, moving forward, backward, and slowly spinning with each other's steps.
He raised his hand slightly, and she distanced herself from him, then turned back into his arms and moved with his steps.
In the small space, there is only each other's breath, familiarity and peace.
At that moment, it was as if the music disappeared and time stood still. Above the ruins, everyone was still and no longer existed.
There was only him and her, slowly dancing between heaven and earth.
Until finally, the dance was over.
The loud and lively music returned to my ears.
Their eyes met. Li Zan was about to say something, but Song Ran spoke first: "A Zan."
"Um?"
She looked determined: "When the war is over, I will definitely come to find you."
He nodded: "Okay."
At this time, there was a burst of joy from the other end of the crowd, and many people were applauding.
Song Ran took a look.
"Want to go take a photo?"
"Yeah." She went to get the camera.
Li Zan: “Together.”
The two men squeezed through the crowd.
It turned out that a boy was dancing hip-hop, and a girl dared to challenge him. Soon, more boys and girls started dancing.
Song Ran held the camera, enjoying the recording, but saw a familiar figure -
Pei Xiaonan tied her T-shirt into a knot, revealing her sexy belly button, with her hair loose, and she twisted her waist sexily to the music.
Song Ran pointed the camera at her, but was pushed from behind. Looking back, Li Zan had been pushed away and disappeared.
The way back was crowded with people, so Song Ran climbed up the ruins and took a detour.
The singing was still going on, the dancing was still going on. She walked back to the original place and saw Li Zan sitting there through the crowd of figures.
Waiting for her.
Just as she was about to step forward, she saw Pei Xiaonan sitting in her seat, talking to Li Zan with great interest. Li Zan responded with a faint smile.
Pei Xiaonan jumped up happily, swaying her waist charmingly and sexily to the music, took Li Zan's hand and was about to leave.
Several figures passed by, blocking the view.
Song Ran hurriedly took two steps forward, and the figures dispersed, leaving no one there.
She looked around, but neither Li Zan nor Pei Xiaonan was there.
Her chest suddenly rose and fell violently, and she breathed hard. Suddenly, all the sounds around her disappeared, and all the dancing seemed like madness.
She could only hear the sound of her own deep breathing, one after another.
She walked out against the crowd.
Temples, weddings, singing, dancing, all were left behind and became hazy background noise.
She walked back along the alley, but the alley was too deep and narrow, and at night, the high walls blocked the moonlight, so she couldn't see clearly.
She felt the wall, followed step by step, unable to find the direction. A warm and tender little hand stretched into her palm. A little girl said softly: "Can't you see clearly? Follow me."
The little girl's voice was like a clear spring, instantly comforting her. She held the little hand and followed her. She heard the crisp and soft sound of the little girl's bare feet stepping on the bluestone slabs, like the most beautiful music.
Song Ran let her hold his hand and slowly walked out of the alley and reached the street.
The moonlight was spreading, and Song Ran could see her clearly. She was a beautiful girl with soft curly hair and big eyes, about eight or nine years old.
Song Ran said: "Thank you."
She smiled sweetly and waved her hand, revealing her cute little fangs.
Song Ran took a photo of her as a souvenir. The child happily went into the alley and ran away barefoot.
She put her camera into her bag and prepared to leave when a figure quickly rushed out of the alley, giving her a fright.
Li Zan panted slightly and stared at her: "Why didn't you tell me before you left?"
"You're busy." She turned around.
Li Zan took a step forward, grabbed her arm, turned her over, and suddenly asked, "Are you jealous?"
Song Ran blushed, her fingers tightly grasped the straps of her backpack, and asked him, "Why should I be jealous? What is my relationship with you?"
He looked at her quietly and asked, "It's okay, why are you running away in anger?"
Song Ran gritted her teeth. She looked at his face and couldn't say anything harsh.
In fact, she was not jealous. She knew very well that he did not like Pei Xiaonan and would push Pei Xiaonan's hand away. But she just felt extremely sad at that moment. Why couldn't she just walk forward openly? What exactly was going on between them now
Her heart felt like it was being stabbed by a knife, and she said rebelliously, "He's my ex-boyfriend after all."
Li Zan's eyebrows twitched, his expression was blank for a moment, and he didn't know how to answer. He seemed to be asking for confirmation: "Have we broken up?"
She was also stunned and asked softly, "I don't know, are we breaking up?"
She covered her face in pain, feeling that she was being self-contradictory and shameful. She was the one who suggested not to contact him anymore, so how could she have the face to ask such a question? But…
"I regret it." She suddenly said this, tears filling her eyes. "I regretted it the moment I sent the message. I didn't want to break up! I thought you would..." She sobbed, "Why did you really ignore me?!"
She was so ashamed that she hugged her backpack and ran away.
"Ran Ran," he explained hurriedly, his heart aching, "I didn't ignore you..."
"I know! I know you have something on your mind, but you won't tell me when I ask you, what else can I do?" She didn't dare to look at him again. She couldn't bear this kind of confrontation at all, and just wanted to escape.
"Ran Ran!" Li Zan pulled her hard and accidentally pulled the backpack from her hand to the ground. He hurriedly grabbed and tightened her camera strap to prevent it from falling to the ground, but the backpack fell and smashed a bunch of objects.
He squatted down to help her pick it up.
"I can do it myself!" she exclaimed. But it was too late. Li Zan picked up a bottle of antidepressants.
He looked at her. In the dark night, his eyes were filled with surprise, confusion, heartache, and all the bitter emotions mixed together in his eyes.
She turned pale when he looked at her, and immediately denied it: "It has nothing to do with you. It's not because of the separation that I got sick."
This is adding insult to injury.
Li Zan's eyes were filled with pain, and he said word by word: "When you were with me... why didn't you tell me?"
Song Ran's hands and feet were already weak. She shook her head and said, "I thought I was almost well." She felt cold all over. She snatched the medicine from him and stuffed everything into her bag, as if she was stuffing her most unspeakable side into it. She murmured as she stuffed everything into her bag, "I'm getting better now, too. You don't have to..."
"I'm sorry." he said suddenly.
Song Ran was stunned and shook his head.
His voice was bitter: "I shouldn't have gone abroad when you needed me the most."
She just shook her head, her heart breaking: "I don't want you to say sorry, you didn't apologize to me. You are a soldier, what choice do you have? Don't feel guilty, I don't want this to happen... I should be the one to say sorry, I was in a bad mood, I shouldn't have said I won't contact you again." Her voice was getting lower and lower, almost breaking. She zipped up, got up and ran away again.
"Ran Ran..."
"I told you!" she said in an urgent tone, "Don't change anything just because I'm sick. Not because of this!"
"It has nothing to do with this matter!" He interrupted, his eyes red, "I didn't... I never thought of ignoring you. I just..." He suddenly choked up, his throat hurt as if it was about to tear.
"I said sorry, not because of the bottle of medicine. It's because..." He opened his mouth, tears flashing in his eyes, "I'm sorry, I came here even though I knew it was dangerous; I lied to you even though I knew you could guess that I was lying to you; I went ahead even though I knew I might die. Ranran..."
The person I feel most sorry for in this world is you.
I'm sorry, even though I knew it would bring you pain, I still fell in love with you and wanted to be with you.
"You said if I died tomorrow, would this wedding be a blessing or a misfortune? I used to think it was a blessing, just like you. If it was you who was leaving tomorrow, I would cherish every moment you were with me and remember you forever. But the one who stayed behind would suffer too much. After reading your text message, I realized that I was selfish and let you bear all the possible painful consequences alone..."
"No!" She interrupted, "A-Zan, you and I are the same. What I said that day was not sincere. I know you don't want to make me sad. You said that if you can't find you after the war... When you said that, I was sure. I was sure a long time ago. So I won't ask you anymore, I will cooperate with you. I just..."
She covered her face and cried so hard that her whole body trembled: "I'm scared... If something really happens, will you regret not hugging me at this moment? I will! I will regret it to death! I didn't want to break up in the first place." She cried and thought of something, and shook her head hurriedly, "I shouldn't say this at this time. Don't let me affect your emotions, don't be distracted; don't think about anything else, just go to the battlefield with peace of mind..."
"Ran Ran, listen to me..."
But at this moment, the whole city suddenly sounded a piercing and mournful air raid alarm. The light of the signal flare flashed across the night sky.
The war has begun.
Li Zan was stunned and his face changed suddenly.
Song Ran calmed down instantly, his eyes widened, and he said in a trembling voice: "A Zan..."
Li Zan suddenly pulled her tightly into his arms, holding the back of her head tightly and pressing his jaw against her face, as if they were going to part forever.
Tears welled up in her eyes: "A-Zan, you must be safe!"
She hurriedly hugged him tightly, but before she could feel the touch on her arm, he had already loosened his arms and grasped her shoulders tightly. His eyes were struggling and painful, and he quickly said: "Protect yourself. Don't leave the front line. I will come to find you after the war. Okay?"
She nodded quickly with tears in her eyes: "Okay."
Li Zan pursed his lips, touched her face, his eyes torn and broken, but in the end he could only leave her on the street and turned and rushed into the night.
The author has something to say: 1. What a coincidence, the release date of this chapter is September 18th. I woke up to the sound of air raid sirens in the morning.
2. The prototype of the Matuman Kurgan in the previous chapter is the Mamayev Kurgan in the Soviet Union. There are some changes and modifications.