Chapter 001: The Dream in Green Military Uniform

  "An iron-clad camp and water-like soldiers", at this time every year, the military camp is a sentimental camp, at this time every year, the season becomes an extra season, old soldiers are about to pack up their luggage, bid farewell to comrades who have been together day and night, bid farewell to the military camp where they grew up, and set foot on the journey back home.

  It's you, my old comrade. A few years ago, we responded to the call of our motherland, with dreams and aspirations in our hearts, braving the biting wind and cold winter snow, bidding farewell to our anxious parents and close friends who were always by our side, gathering from all over the country to this big family - the military camp.

  It's you, my old comrade, in the past hundreds and thousands of days and nights, you wore stars and moon, stood guard, crawled and rolled, tempered into steel. The "tent village" left by the wild field training has your selfless shadow, and the beach line has your loyal footprints...

  It is you, my old comrades, under the scorching sun, you endured mosquito bites and sweat-drenched faces, standing at attention until the very last moment; in one labor after another, you feared neither hardship nor fatigue, helping each other, completing tasks together, in the fight against typhoons and other emergencies, you were undaunted by danger, sacrificing your lives to hold the safety of people's lives and property above all else.

  You are the ones, ordinary veterans. You all have your own wishes when you enter the military camp. However, among you, due to various reasons, a large number of veterans may not achieve their progress and pursuit, some even fell ill or injured during work training, but you have no complaints or regrets. Because you know that it's not about what one does, but how one does it; after the storm comes a brighter rainbow. Because you know that being a soldier means dedication, dedication means sacrifice, because you know that the tense and orderly military life has given you strong willpower, given you the confidence and courage to overcome difficulties.

  This book is dedicated to those years of serving in the army together...

  Our story begins from the start...

  At a construction site in KM City, YN Province, workers are busy as can be. I am also busy at this time, an ordinary construction worker.

  At the construction site's bricklaying area, I was diligently moving bricks.

  Put the brick under the bricklayer's foot, the bricklayer is my brother, my brother's name is Xiao Jian, 24 years old this year, I am six years younger than him. Before, I heard my mother say that in the 1990s, before I was born, my mother had a second pregnancy. At that time, due to strict family planning control, she was caught by family planning personnel and taken to the hospital for an abortion. Later, when my mother became pregnant with me again, the family planning personnel took her to the hospital for an abortion, but fortunately, my mother had high blood pressure at the time, and the doctor said it was not suitable for an abortion, so I was finally born safely.

  I wiped the sweat from my forehead and smiled foolishly at my brother: "Older brother, is it enough? If not, I'll move some more over."

  "My brother glanced at the large pile of bricks on the ground and replied: 'Xiao Bin, that's enough, take a rest.'"

  That's right, I'm Xiao Bin, and in a little over a month, I'll be 18 years old on my ID card, which means I'll be an adult.

  After graduating from junior high school, I followed my parents to the construction site in YN Province's KM City to work. My second uncle has been in charge of engineering projects on the construction site in KM City for many years and is a real package leader. My father came here to help take care of the workers and was responsible for the progress of the construction site. My mother was in charge of the workers' meals every day, getting up early and working late into the night.

  My brother Xiao Jian has been following his second uncle on construction sites since he was a child, from being a small worker to becoming a professional master now.

  At this time, my brother put down the tool in his hand, took a sip of water from the water bottle and asked me: "Binzi, how's the suggestion I mentioned last time?"

  Sitting on the ground, I rubbed my slightly sore wrists and replied: "Older brother, I want to go, but I'm afraid mom won't agree."

  "Don't worry, I'll take care of mom's side. Our family can't all be workers. I'm too old now and it's not possible for me to join the army either. Only you can make it."

  "Alright, as long as you deal with mom, I'll definitely join the army." I patted my chest and guaranteed.

  Actually, I really want to be a soldier in my heart. That green military uniform is so sacred, and carrying a rifle is so domineering and cool.

  In the evening, I was in a temporary residence for workers with my family and more than 20 workers were eating dinner around a large round table. I was also having a meal, after working hard all day, finally able to eat the rice cooked by my mother and the fragrant side dishes.

  Under the table, my brother suddenly kicked my foot with his foot.

  At that time, I looked up at my brother with a puzzled expression. My brother pouted his mouth at me. I knew, my brother wanted me to bring up the topic of joining the army.

  "Dad and Mom, I want to join the army." I put down my chopsticks and shouted at my parents in our Fuzhounese dialect.

  Other workers from Yunnan saw me speaking in dialect and they all listened with a stunned expression.

  At this time, my old man put down his chopsticks, clapped his hands and shouted at me: "Good, good, Dad agrees."

  Just then, Mom also put down her chopsticks and scolded Dad in our local dialect: "What's good about it?"

  Come over, but my mother changed her tone and persuaded me: "Binzi, listen to mom, being a soldier is very hard, let's just do things honestly and make money, save some money and get married later."

  "I don't want to work, besides, my brother isn't even married yet, what's the hurry?" At that time, I only thought about joining the army and didn't consider these things at all.

  At this time, my brother also put down his chopsticks and said in our local dialect: "Mom, Binzi wants to join the army, just agree, isn't there a saying that one person joins the army and the whole family is honored?"

  Yes, it's good to have many soldiers. One person becomes a soldier and the whole family is glorious. Moreover, a small plaque will be posted on the wall at your home entrance with "Glorious Family" written on it.

  Older brother said that, older mother was even more anxious, immediately put down the bowl chopsticks, this time is Mandarin shouted; "I disagree, whatever you say I disagree."

  All YN workers understood this now.

  My dad and older brother tried to persuade my mom, but she wouldn't budge, so they stopped bringing it up. I pouted and refused to eat, putting down my bowl and chopsticks and walking out without even turning back.

  "Binzi, where are you going? You're not eating anymore?" My old mother saw this and hurriedly shouted at me.

  "I'm full." I replied without turning back and quickly left.

  My dad frowned and put down his bowl and chopsticks, saying: "Tell me, what's going on? You want to join the army, that's a good thing. Look at your attitude."

  "I... I just don't agree, being a soldier is hard, I'm afraid Binzi won't be able to take it." My mom said in a wronged and soft voice as she saw my dad scolding her.

  My dad shook his head in annoyance and walked straight into the room...