Chapter 65

  I made a phone call back home to tell Zhu Yan that I wouldn't be coming home for dinner, and told her to go ahead and eat without waiting for me. I went into Old Wu's office and saw him busy at work. I walked over with a smile and said: "I say, Deputy Director, still busy?!

  Old Wu raised his head and took a look at me, responding: "It's you, what's up? My Commander Tang has some free time today to come here, is there any new instruction?"

  I deliberately said with a smile: "What's that, Old Wu? Look at what you're saying! How dare I give you directions? It's already good if I'm not educated by you!"

  Old Wu's face showed a hint of a smile as he said, "Cut the nonsense! Quickly tell me what you want!"

  I said with a smile, "It's nothing big, just thinking that it's been a long time since we people from the 7th Army got together, want to have lunch together, get together, and make some noise!"

  Lao Wu listened and said with some surprise, "Eh? I say you're usually so stingy, how come you're being so generous today? Rare indeed!" Just as I was about to retort, he continued with a difficult expression, "But today's matter isn't finished yet, probably no time for that today?"

  "I'm so angry! How could you? I rarely invite you out and you don't even go? Fine, if you don't go, then don't think about getting anything done. I'll just waste my time here today, see what happens!"

  Old Wu said unexpectedly: "How can you threaten me? I just won't go, see what you can do to me?"

  "I said: 'Alright, you just wait!'"

  As I walked, I thought to myself: This workaholic! Let's take a break and pick him up. First, I went to Old Cheng, Old Lan, Yang Zhi, and the others, told them that I'd treat them to dinner later, and then brought them to the military district's reception office to arrange things. After that, I returned to the headquarters, called out to Chase and a few other bodyguards to follow me to the door, and instructed them to wait at the entrance while I walked into Old Wu's office with a smile: "Old Wu, let's go!"

  Old Wu looked at me again and said in a bad temper: "If you don't want to go, then just don't go. Stop nagging."

  I continued laughing and asked: "Really not going?"

  Old Wu replied with unusual certainty: "I won't go!"

  I immediately put away my smile and said seriously: "You're still being arrogant after I've given in to you? You refuse a toast and now you'll drink a penalty cup! Guards, take him away!"

  Chas rushed in and was about to go up when Old Wu saw that he had to eat this meal, so he immediately said: "Stop! Can't I go?" After finishing speaking, he cleaned up the table and said: "Lead the way ahead."

  I saw it and said with satisfaction: "That's right, Comrade Wu!"

  When we walked into Lao Cheng's private room, Lao Cheng saw that Lao Wu looked a bit angry and asked: "What's wrong, Lao Wu? What happened?"

  Old Wu said to me, "Go ask Tang Koumen, the big military commander!" After finishing speaking, he sat down with a thud. I then smiled and told everyone what had happened, and they all burst out laughing. Old Wu looked at everyone laughing and slowly started smiling too. I immediately ordered the dishes to be served, opened the wine bottle myself, and personally filled everyone's cups, including my own. Standing up, facing Old Wu, I said, "Old Wu, I was wrong earlier, now I'm apologizing to you." After finishing speaking, I tilted my head back and downed the wine in one gulp. Old Wu saw this and sighed, saying, "You're giving me a hard time, aren't you? You know I can't drink..." He then stood up, downed his wine in one gulp as well, and showed everyone the empty cup. I led the applause, shouting, "Good job, Old Wu!" After Old Wu sat back down, I refilled his cup with wine, as well as my own, picked up my cup, and said, "Come on, let's all finish our wine! It's been a long time since we've had a lively gathering. Let's do it!" Everyone stood up, their cups clinking together in the middle of the table, and they all shouted, "Cheers!"

  As time went by, everyone had drunk six or seven parts, and I said: "It's been a long time since I've had such a drink, refreshing!"

  Lao Yang from the political department heard that and said: "Everyone can get together to drink, what's there not to be happy about? Don't know if we'll still be able to do this in the future."

  Lao Lan said with some anger: "What are you talking about? It sounds like good days are gone and won't come back. Old Yang, you've misspoken! You must be punished with a drink, take responsibility!"

  Old Yang glared and said, "Isn't that so? I heard that the top is about to send cadres down, and the military control in Xizang Province will be lifted immediately. A local government will be established locally."

  I laughed and said: "That's normal, it's almost been a year, it should be like that! What are you blindly thinking about!"

  Old Yang pointed to himself and said, "Am I daydreaming? Commander! Don't you know that Xizang Province is the only place in the country that has not been controlled by the central government? The central government doesn't worry about you forming factions? I dare say that as soon as we set up our own mountain stronghold, we will be transferred and scattered. After finishing speaking, he downed another glass of wine and continued to say: "I, Old Yang, am also an old revolutionary, and I have been in the army for 30 years, except for when I first joined the army, I was only in the 7th Army, where I had the most enjoyable time! Everyone was not scheming or playing tricks on each other, they were all working for the country, for the people, doing practical things! I don't have much to worry about, but I do worry about you, Commander. You have only been in the army and party for 4 years and have already reached your current position, which makes us envious, let alone others. Who wouldn't be jealous of you? Who wouldn't resent you? Everyone is working hard for themselves, even after a lifetime of work, they don't have a position as high as yours. Will others accept it? Commander, your sharp edges are too exposed!"

  Lao Cheng sighed and said, "Don't say anything else, just remember one thing: we are all from the 7th Army. No matter where we are in the future, as long as we hear that a comrade from the 7th Army needs help, we must help. We should help each other like family!"

  "That's right! Old Cheng is absolutely right!" The others all chimed in with their agreement.

  Old Wu rarely said: "I don't say much, I just want to say that we all came out of the same trench. From now on, as long as the commander gives an order, we'll do it."

  I was stunned and didn't expect Old Wu, who usually had a cold face, to say that. I was moved and said: "Come on, everyone fill up their wine glasses! Yes, all full, good, cheers!"

  That day we all got drunk, afterwards Zhang Zhengwei laughed and said that basically the whole headquarters was paralyzed, no one could sign orders. I heard it and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

  After a few days, I attended the awarding ceremony of the title of combat hero and brave citizen, followed by a tight inspection of the progress of ideological education work among prisoners. Suddenly it was September 29th, I received an order to report to the Chairman in Zhongdu during the National Day period, on October 1st the Chairman would meet with me and listen to my report, after hastily handing over my work, I immediately boarded a plane bound for Zhongdu with Chas and 7 other guards.