Chapter 4

To put it bluntly, I despise certain publicity-seeking, incompetent advisors who, having barely served a few days as soldiers, distort the genuine emotions within the military just to make their articles look appealing, resulting in a situation where no one believes them anymore

Moreover, very few people understood what the concept of this special forces unit was at that time, so others thought it was just a temporary unit that would only undergo training for a while, resulting in the allocation of supplies not being so timely.

I was just curious and wanted to go take a look

This is the extent of care provided by one's biological parents

The snowy night in Xinjiang, that kind of cold is capable of freezing a person's soul to the point of howling as it escapes from the body

If training becomes lax, it will definitely be met with both scolding and heavy punishment, but in life, it is truly ... ...

We, the urban soldiers, suffer from stomach issues due to drinking water, while the brothers in the Yimeng Mountains suffer from stomach issues due to what they eat

However, the stomachs of us urban soldiers are somewhat unable to withstand it

Ah, the winter in that place of Xinjiang

I just laughed and said, isn't this a bit ridiculous

Just before dawn, a guy from the Yimeng Mountains suddenly jumped up and dashed out, probably having overeaten noodles the night before

Why do you still believe in superstitions? Did your family perhaps give you some interesting items like incense ash from the Buddha's altar?

I recall that during my future years in the military, I endured similarly, though not by giving the house to the new recruits, but rather by undertaking some mundane tasks or participating in outdoor survival training and the like

By the flickering starlight, I saw clearly that it was Kuangming

Let's talk about what happened on the first night

It is precisely because of this that I have come to understand what is meant by the concept of local attachment and the difficulty of leaving one's homeland

In fact, I am quite blunt, and I particularly detest those who speak in clichés and empty phrases, who readily resort to typical examples to praise the military, delivering emotionally charged yet insincere and superficial official rhetoric that can be nauseating for half an hour.

The brothers from the Yimeng Mountains are all straightforward individuals. Even if there are a few large dates in that package, they will be taken out to share; it is impossible for them to enjoy something good without offering it to us

That fellow went just like that and successfully resolved the issue

They, including my instructor, squeezed into three rooms for the night, relying on just a few blankets and several military overcoats

Although the meals in this army cannot be considered gourmet delicacies, they are certainly sufficient and quite rich in oil. Especially at lunch and dinner, there are always two meat dishes, and the fatty meat slices are often left untouched by the city soldiers who tend to be picky eaters. Naturally, these leftovers end up in the stomachs of those brothers who enjoy rich food.

At that moment, I was puzzled

Think again, since we have already started to talk nonsense, let’s go all the way. After all, in this day and age, it’s trendy to expose one’s privacy. Who knows, if I reveal this, maybe more people will read my nonsensical book

Speaking of which, at that time, due to the lack of necessary supplies, quite a few strange incidents indeed occurred in our training camp

Could it be appendicitis

Not long after, that guy returned, holding his stomach and groaning in the room

Our base is a semi-abandoned site from before the 1980s. It has been used by the road maintenance crew, by local Uyghur herders, and possibly by smuggling camel caravans that transport Pakistani shawls and Indian herbal oils.

That fellow responded with a series of murmurs, saying that it wasn't the case, but rather that he was in the restroom, and despite the cold wind making it difficult, he couldn't relieve himself no matter how hard he tried, and he felt as if he was about to burst

It is quite cold outside, yet Kuang Ming is only wearing a shirt, the kind issued by the military, and has draped a cotton coat over it. It is evident that he has just gotten out of bed and has gone outside to fetch some coal blocks from the coal pile to bring to us

The bond formed through shared experiences and hardships is the strongest.

Why is there still complaining after this has been resolved

With such a commotion, that fellow's deeds quickly became known

The Yimeng Mountains, especially in the old revolutionary areas, are home to many brothers who have come from difficult backgrounds. Even those whose families are somewhat better off only enjoy a bit of meat and vegetables during festivals, and occasionally catch a fish from the river to make soup, which must first be served to the elders in the family. The amount of oil and fat in their stomachs is indeed quite scarce

This is iron

Hurry up and shouted from under the blanket, "Bro, what's wrong with you? Is it your intestines that hurt?"

Most of the brothers from the countryside have no problem drinking this. Especially those from the Yimeng Mountain area in Shandong, who are inherently quite strong; drinking a bit of freshly melted snow water poses no issues at all, and they keep praising the sweetness of this snow water.

Thus, the camaraderie among brothers in the military is characterized by such directness and frankness

This can be said to have put the cooking team of that time in a bit of a difficult position

Is it not said that there are intelligent people in this world

At that moment, the door creaked open, and a figure entered, holding a small basket of coal. Silently, they walked over to the stove, gently lifted the stove lid, and added coal to the fire.

The two of them quietly conversed, quietly closed the door, and quietly left

In the evening, everyone turned off the lights and went to bed early. No one in the room spoke much, and since it was the first day, everyone was still unfamiliar with each other, so they went to bed early, lost in their thoughts.

This is not the time; the stove is about to go out in the middle of the night

Before Kuangming could step outside, the instructor peeked through the door into the house and quietly asked Kuangming, "Haven't these little ones frozen?"

But my veteran brothers bear the hellish cold with their scarred bodies, leaving warmth for us new recruits who have just donned our green vests

What do you think it looks like when someone wears a coat to the restroom while hanging a wool hat with ear flaps in front like a hammer

It is almost exactly like this bird feather, with not much difference.

In that case, not only is the temperature in the room high, but by evening, the water vapor gradually disperses, making breathing smooth and absolutely preventing dryness of the mouth and throat, even better than central air conditioning. By dawn, a full bucket of hot water is just the right amount needed for the family to wash their faces and brush their teeth at the appropriate temperature

Xinjiang, in the evening of December

The long-dry stomach and intestines suddenly had to endure such an abundance of oil and water, and those brothers from the Yimeng old district naturally found their digestive systems unaccustomed, leading to an endless cycle of metabolism.

We must quickly investigate the cause, as the population density in the military camp is extremely high. If there are any infectious diseases, it could indeed lead to serious problems.

Now it is our turn, and the road leading to the base has turned into a wild terrain. The veteran brothers of the transport convoy are truly using their engineering shovels to make a few repairs to the road surface in order to deliver supplies to us

I originally did not want to elaborate on my feelings as a social misfit just entering the military camp, as I find it rather uninteresting. Anyone, upon entering a highly disciplined and unfamiliar environment, will inevitably feel nervous, fearful, and somewhat out of place. Whether one seeks to engage in idle chatter or remains silent, adopting the pose of a contemplative thinker, is merely a reflection of this discomfort.

The military doctor was utterly perplexed by the commotion

So isn't it said in today's society

First, several brothers, unable to wait for the water to boil, recklessly drank the snow water and soon found themselves rushing to the toilet. This trend quickly spread. The situation became so chaotic that the yellow gentian in the team doctor’s small medicine box became a sought-after item. In the end, the doctor had to strictly control the distribution, personally delivering the medicine to the mouths of each ailing brother, ensuring that no extra pills were given.

Therefore, on the night we arrived, the remaining coal in the entire base, after preparing one dinner, was only sufficient to provide heating for seventy percent of the rooms.

At that moment, I just felt hot

At that time, there were two particularly notable examples.

The instructor nodded and said, "If we get through tonight, there will be coal tomorrow"

At that moment, I was somewhat dazed but felt that this guy was quite courageous; he dared to rush out on such a cold day. This is to say that when one is in urgent need, they can indeed go to great lengths, even to the point of climbing onto the roof to tear off the tiles, and that is no exaggeration

I remained silent, simply watching Kuangming standing by the stove wrapped in his coat. It was only when the flames regained their vibrant red that he reluctantly tightened his coat and walked outside

Especially during the first few days after the training camp was established, the water truck had not yet arrived, so we had to make do with the freshly melted snow water, which was icy cold

First, regarding the issue of drinking water, the rivers in Xinjiang primarily consist of melted snow from the snow-capped mountains. After traveling through dozens to hundreds of kilometers of soil, enriched by natural essences, it essentially meets the standards of pure water, being exceptionally clear and sweet

Without a stove in the house, it is not just a matter of crawling out from a warm bed; even extending one's feet outside the blanket for three minutes can freeze a person awake

As I write, it seems that what I am writing is perhaps a bit too sentimental, making it appear somewhat insincere to the reader

It is unbearable for our group of friends, who have been accustomed to a life of comfort in the city, as he is not used to drinking like this

One cannot say that in order to cater to the appetites of the brothers, we should differentiate between urban and rural cooking methods

Then let's add a joke for everyone to enjoy and have a good laugh

That day, just after finishing dinner, I saw several brothers from the Yimeng Mountains holding a tea cup. They poured a cup of water, then sprinkled something into the cup before taking a sip.

Thus, I pulled back the blanket and slept uncovered

Upon investigation, a rather amusing cause of the ailment was uncovered

I estimate that twenty people in a house have already been awakened by the cold, yet no one wants to leave their blankets, just watching to see who will be the first to give in and get up to add more coal.

Who knew about the practice of controlling the fire when they first lit the stove?

I remember that the brother said the soil they carry with them is referred to as "Old Mother Soil" in the Yimeng old district

What is iron

Thus, those drill instructors, our veteran brothers, the heroes who had come down from the battlefield in Vietnam, and those brothers who were only a few years older than us but bore many more scars than we did, gave us new recruits the rooms that could provide warmth from the fire.

The entire room feels like a greenhouse; outside, the cold wind howls, but inside the house, it is truly as warm as spring.

It is midnight, and I can no longer continue

Woke up frozen alive

If one were to say that drinking snow water leads to problems, one should have adapted to it long ago. Why then does this phenomenon only begin to appear after two weeks of drinking it?

Kuang Ming shook his head: "No! All the new recruits' houses have been heated and supplied with coal, they will definitely not freeze!"

Later, that guy was nicknamed "Wild Boar," which probably came about in this way

Does it resemble a wild boar sitting on the ground, preparing to wrestle with a black bear?

Just now, wearing that green vest, I really didn't have any concept of old soldiers caring for new recruits or the squad leader being fond of his subordinates; I just felt that this brother Kuangming is truly loyal!

Immediately, someone suggested that you wrap a coat around your waist and hold a cotton hat in front to block the wind and give it a try

It was not easy to control the situation here in the city regarding the restroom competition, but the brothers from the Yimeng Mountain area began to exhibit the same phenomenon, collectively treating the restrooms as their home

However, the next day, those brothers' stomachs really did feel better

At that moment, I felt a sudden tightening in my heart, realizing the brotherhood and loyalty of this man

Upon seeing my previous inquiry, a brother remarked that there is nothing of value, merely a bit of soil brought from my hometown. The elders at home said that if one travels far and experiences gastrointestinal discomfort, mixing local water with the soil from one's hometown and drinking it would suffice

Kuang Ming also nodded: "Instructor, you may go to sleep first; we will keep watch here and nothing will happen!"

Consider that the stove is filled with large pieces of smokeless coal from Xinjiang, which ensures an exceptionally strong fire. A large iron barrel can boil a bucket of water dry in twenty minutes, and the stove plate can become a bright red color.

Those who have used a heated stove know that before going to bed, one must pack a thick layer of fine coal dust inside the stove, and then make a small hole in the middle with a steel rod, placing a bucket of water on top of the stove.

All of us are born of our parents and raised by them