Chapter 001 Responsibility

This marks the third year since Tang Lang chose to retire from the military and return to his hometown

His home is in a small mountain village on the southwestern border of Huaxia. There is a vast subtropical rainforest here, with overlapping mountains and beautiful surroundings. However, apart from the local people who are unwilling to leave their hometown, few outsiders come to this place

Tang Lang carefully held a flashlight in his mouth, using his beloved tiger tooth military knife to scrape away a layer of loose soil from the ground. Slowly, a piece of dark green metal emerged, and he continued to clear the surrounding earth. With a delicate motion, he reached out, skillfully unscrewed the bolts, lifted the cover, and removed the detonator, placing it aside

A month ago, he went to visit his sister and brother-in-law who had settled in the county town. His little nephew waved his chubby little hand and shouted, "Uncle, lollipop." Remembering this, Tang Lang couldn't help but smile, as his veteran's allowance was all deposited in his sister's account. If it were just for lollipops, it would be enough to support that chubby kid for a lifetime

This is his harvest for most of the day today

In the vast desert, Tang Lang received the news of his father's departure. He felt nothing else, only that the wind in the desert that day was very cold, so cold that it took his breath away

However, my father would surely be very happy to hear another piece of news. The mine clearance soldier he saved often comes to visit our home and has unexpectedly fallen in love with Tang Lang's elder sister, who is several years his senior. He even managed to invite the commander of the border defense troops to our home to propose, making it a situation where she has no choice but to marry him

Tang Lang had never imagined that there would come a day when he would choose to take off the olive green garment that he cherished so deeply

I am afraid that those who desperately tried to retain Tang Lang could only watch their comrades leave resolutely. Seeing that once bright and sunny sergeant, who was the top in all military skills in the Northwest Military District, reduced to this state, they would surely cry out in anguish

He wishes to follow in his father's footsteps, even if one day he dies like his father did

Take it off, also because of him

Three years have passed, smoothing out Tang Lang's sorrow. At least he can easily pour a glass of Maotai in front of his father's tombstone, light three cigarettes, and boldly tell his father how many landmines he has cleared. Although he knows that this is certainly not the news his father would want to hear, he challenges, if you have the ability, come out and hit your son! Even if it means death, Tang Lang would accept it. Although he knows that this is certainly not the news his father would want to hear, he challenges, if you have the ability, come out and hit your son! Even if it means death, Tang Lang would accept it.

The face of his father has become somewhat blurred in Tang Lang's memory! He really wishes to see it once more

The tip of the knife seemed to have touched something hard, causing goosebumps to rise on Tang Lang's body. Although he had been in close proximity to death countless times over the past three years, he still maintained a sufficient sense of awe towards such things, which is one of the main reasons he remained unscathed to this day

However, the object that appeared before him left Tang Lang, whose nerves had long been incredibly resilient, somewhat bewildered

What awaited him were his elder sister leaning on a cane and the cold gravestone of his father

What Tang Lang's father spoke of the most was not his charge into battle to seize the position, nor was it about how he had three fingers shot off by stray bullets. Instead, he constantly recounted his nightmares, dreaming of being in his position; dreaming of his comrade who was blown in half by a mortar shell; dreaming of descending the mountain to fetch water for his comrades, only to be shot in the head by an enemy sniper; ... dreaming of lying in the swamp to ambush them, with the faces of the enemy soldiers being gnawed to pieces by leeches ... Instead, he constantly recounted his nightmares, dreaming of being in his position; dreaming of his comrade who was blown in half by a mortar shell; dreaming of descending the mountain to fetch water for his comrades, only to be shot in the head by an enemy sniper; ... dreaming of lying in the swamp to ambush them, with the faces of the enemy soldiers being gnawed to pieces by leeches ...

At the end of the last century, the Republic taught a lesson to the bandits on the land further south and engaged in a protracted tug-of-war here that lasted for several years

After the war, the mountains and rivers remained unchanged, and the rainforest regained its beauty, but it also left behind a terrifying hidden danger—dense and scattered landmines.

If it were not for his inherently optimistic nature, he might have come to resent his father from that point on

A landmine, carried out by a mountain flood, lay hidden beneath the roots of a dead tree. Tang Lang's father, noticing the signs, could have turned and escaped, but he still threw himself down wholeheartedly. He died, while a soldier beside him, who was a few years younger than Tang Lang, was injured but survived

Since the year when my sister stepped on a landmine, my father has stopped drinking. His daily work consists of guiding the mine clearance soldiers dispatched by the Republic and accompanying them in their mine clearance efforts

Today, we are going to begin a thorough investigation of a new area, delving deeper than before. Tang Lang is fully focused, taking a deep breath, and gently probing a suspected location with a tiger tooth dagger.

In the impression of Tang Lang during his childhood, his father was not a good figure. He was an alcoholic who would beat Tang Lang's mother when drunk. After his mother passed away due to a serious illness, he completely became a bachelor, and when intoxicated, he could only lean against the bedside, murmuring to himself

When he is awake, it should be the time when Tang Lang is both the happiest and the most fearful. The happiness comes from him recounting the stories of his battles against the invaders on this land, while the fear stems from the fact that war is truly terrifying

Tang Lang left with a red flower in hand, wiping away tears

Those landmines seem to possess a life of their own, always detonating when you are least prepared, taking away a leg or another life. Over time, all the young people in the village who could leave have departed

"Gaga, today's luck is quite good, it's the sixth one." Tang Lang said with satisfaction, smacking his lips, as he carefully scraped the soil with a tiger tooth knife.

However, on the day he turned 16, his father's attitude finally changed, and he took the initiative to send him down the mountain and out of the village to the army. The price was the loss of a leg for his sister, who was three years older than him. She stepped on a landmine while working in the fields

It is the happiest thing for Tang Lang that his elder sister married for love

Tang Lang benefited from his father, who had once served in the military. At the age of 16, he enlisted and left the familiar jungle for the far western Gobi Desert. The military is a great melting pot; ten years of harsh desert winds and frosts were sufficient to transform a 16-year-old boy into a resilient guardian of the Republic

That decision was already made when he officially began to write the application for retirement to his superior

The Huya saber has lost its former sharpness and brilliance, appearing dull and gray, much like the scythe set aside beside it. Just like its owner, who is dressed in a gray, patched camouflage uniform, bearing a face weathered by the elements.

Is this the latest model of the "anti-infantry mine"

The 58-type anti-infantry mine, of Soviet design, is a pressure-activated type with a metal casing, and it is estimated to be around fifty years old. Tang Lang took out a somewhat stale rice ball from his bag, finished it in a few bites, lit a cigarette, and through the light blue smoke, squinted his eyes to gaze at the distant mountains, his grayish face filled with determination. "If we push a little harder for a while longer, if not, we will have to sleep on the mountain tonight."

Put on olive green, for the sake of father

However, Tang Lang wore a satisfied smile on his face

The sky had already begun to darken, and the sunlight filtered through the forest, taking on a dim yellow hue. Tang Lang shook the water bottle but refrained from drinking. Instead, he casually plucked a piece of banana leaf to chew on; the leaf juice could quench his thirst and also invigorate him.

From a state of confusion to adolescence, Tang Lang grew up amidst his father's moments of clarity and periods of stupor. Tang Lang's dream was to become a scout like his father. However, on the eve of the Lunar New Year when he was about ten years old, after boasting with his companions while holding a wooden gun, he was severely beaten by his father.

At this moment, there were already five detonators lined up beside him

The father, who had never laid a finger on him, went into a frenzy and struck with his belt more fiercely than ever before! Without a mother, the young Tang Lang could only hide in the arms of his three years older sister, silently shedding tears.

Ten years later, he returned to his hometown wearing a combat uniform without epaulets, adorned with a red flower and carrying a tiger tooth military knife specially approved by the border defense commander, without tears