Zhuang Zhenguo sat on the sofa at home, with a pot of Pu'er tea next to it, and the cup was filled with tea, radiating heat.

The operation was very successful that year. Every three months, Zhuang Zhenguo has to go to the hospital for a follow-up examination to ensure that the cancer does not recur.

But after that, the liver was damaged, and the wine could not be touched again. In the past, Zhuang Zhenguo liked drinking, but now his wife Liang Shaoqin has put away all the alcohol-carrying things at home.

Life after retirement is so boring. Fortunately, the years are safe and the country is prosperous. Now life is much better than before.

Zhuang Zhenguo was satisfied.

Every year on Qingming Festival, Zhuang Zhenguo would go to Malipo. With his comrades who still survived that year, he put on a 78-style military uniform, a 78-style military cap, tied up his armed belt, hung a green kettle, and held the red flag of his troops. He came to the martyrs' cemetery, poured a glass of wine, lighted cigarettes, and sat there to chat with his old comrades.

When people get old, they are prone to recalling the past.

What else is not satisfied with?

It seems to be gone.

Now both sons have their own lives. Zhuang Buping is still doing his business and is doing well; Zhuang Yan also performed well in the army and had his own small family, and his daughter-in-law Lin Qingying is even more in words, so she can only describe it in two words - Excellent.

The only regret is that Zhuang Yan rarely has the opportunity to go home, and sometimes he can't come back once a year.

Just like before, I had to come back for the Spring Festival, but later I called again and said that I would participate in a closed training camp and would go abroad to compete later.

Going abroad to compete?

Going to E Country?

In this regard, Zhuang Zhenguo felt that his son had already made a fortune.

However, he still felt that he was not promising enough.

What is going abroad?

I also came out back then, and it was hit by bullets all the way.

My son is just going to the competition.

A competition? Isn’t it just a competition?

It's no big deal.

The phone placed on the table suddenly sounded melodious music. Zhuang Zhenguo took off his eyes, tilted his head to look.

"Hello?"

This phone number is familiar, and it is the phone number of the original unit, starting from 2173, dedicated to various departments under the Binhai Municipal Government.

"Who can I ask?"

"My cousin! It's me, Li Pingyang."

A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Oh, it's Pingyang." Zhuang Zhenguo was a little surprised: "Are you looking for your sister? She is not here and goes shopping for vegetables. You can call her cell phone."

"No, no, I'll look for you." Li Pingyang said: "My sister will be back later, right?"

"Of course I'll come back." Zhuang Zhenguo laughed and said, "Where can she go if she doesn't come back?"

Li Pingyang is Liang Shaoqin's cousin and is a section chief in the armed forces department.

I usually walk around and usually gather on holidays.

But today is not a festival, why did you suddenly call?

"It's good to come back, I'll come here in person later." Li Pingyang said.

Zhuang Zhenguo picked up the teacup, slowly sipped the tea, and said, "Come here? OK, is there anything wrong?"

"Brother-in-law, I'm here to report you good news!" Li Pingyang said happily: "So solemn, it's really a good example for the old Zhuang family. He has made a contribution! First-class merit! Later, the deputy district mayor of the district government in charge of the armed forces department, the minister of our armed forces department, and me, will come to your house in person to deliver the good news and plaques!"

"Ah?" Zhuang Zhenguo sprayed out a sip of tea, choking and coughing repeatedly: "First-class merit?!"

"That's right!" Li Pingyang said: "Zhuangyan went abroad to participate in an international scout competition, led the team to win the championship, and won the first-class merit once!"

Zhuang Zhenguo was already stunned and could not speak.

"Cousin-law, cousin-law..." Li Pingyang asked a few times on the other end of the phone, worriedly saying, "Are you okay? Don't be too excited. We will arrive in about two hours. Just make sure someone is at home. By the way, call my cousin to go home quickly. How can she not be here at this time?"

"Oh... OK... OK..." Zhuang Zhenguo murmured, the line broke and a beeping busy sound.

He sat on the sofa in a daze for a while, suddenly put down the phone, got up and walked back to the room.

In front of the large wardrobe, he squatted down, opened the door of the wardrobe, opened the bottom drawer, took out a large iron box from it, and opened it.

Lying inside was his military medal, with a total of eight.

Due to the age of time, the ribbons are a bit old, but the military medal is still golden. There is a heavy feeling in your hand, and a sense of honor suddenly surges in your heart.

Soon, a trace of sadness came.

Those sacrificial comrades flashed in front of their eyes.

Zhuang Zhenguo sighed, carefully put the military medal, then closed the iron box, put it back to the original place, and sat down on the sofa in the living room.

Over the years, Zhuang Yan has made more and more contributions. Zhuang Zhenguo recalled that his son had been in the army for nine years and had won four second-class merits, three third-class merits, and other gold medals such as top training students, so he could not count them.

In the second year of his military service, Zhuangyan returned home once.

At that time, I almost lost my life because I was seriously ill.

When Zhuang Yan came back, she sat in front of the hospital bed and talked with her for a long time, which was also the beginning of the reconciliation between the father and son.

I remember that time, Zhuangyan said that you must exceed your meritorious service and you will definitely win more military medals than you.

This time, this first-class merit is already the eighth military merit.

In terms of quantity, it has been flat.

Sitting on the sofa and thinking for a while, he picked up the phone and wanted to call his son Zhuangyan.

As soon as I picked up the phone, it rang.

Take a look.

It's a coincidence!

It was actually my son's solemn phone call.

Hurry up and listen.

"Son..."

"Dad!" On the other end of the phone, the solemn tone sounded very pleasant.

Could it be that he knew that he had made contributions and that the Armed Forces Department was going to send good news to his home today, and the time was clear?

"There is something important to tell you."

"Do you know?" Zhuang Zhenguo asked.

"What do you know?" Zhuang Yan was a little strange.

Zhuang Zhenguo said: "The Armed Forces Department called here just now, and your cousin said that they will send you a good news and a plaque with the government's people later."

Zhuang Yan suddenly realized: "Oh, it's about making meritorious service."

Zhuang Zhenguo felt that Zhuang Yan didn't seem to be very excited about the matter of meritorious service, so he said, "I don't seem very excited when I listen to your tone."

Zhuang Yan said: "Actually it's nothing. In fact, it's not my credit alone. Besides, it's not the first time I've made a contribution. Are you so excited?"

"Look, you are so proud!"

When I heard my son's usual tone, I was angry: "Look at what your attitude is!"

"What's my attitude..." Zhuang Yan heard that Zhuang Zhenguo was already angry.

He couldn't understand why? Why did he go wild?

"Dad, don't be angry, be careful to hurt your liver."

"You don't have to worry about whether I hurt my liver or not!" Zhuang Zhenguo was really angry: "You think you are amazing! You have made too many merits. Are you saying that you are very powerful? Compared to my comrades lying on Malipo, you are a bullshit! Isn't it just a competition? You are so embarrassed to get a first-class merit? If it were me, I would have gone back quickly!"

Zhuang Yan then realized that his father was angry about this.

Thinking about it, I didn’t care about my father’s feelings.

Many of the heroes who died in southern Xinjiang back then only had third-class merits and second-class merits. They won first-class merits and sang high-profile with their father who had fought wars. They acted calmly, so it was no wonder that the old man would go wild.

"Dad, don't be angry, can I be wrong? Don't you tell me, I really went to the commander to retreat, but the commander refused to agree, saying that this was decided by his superiors and I don't want it, that's just disobeying the order."

Zhuang Zhenguo also knew these things. In fact, he just scolded his son just now, just because of his solemn attitude, he felt a little drifty and drizzled him with cold water.

Since all the children admit their mistakes, let's just forget it.

What's more, it's really no joke to get a first-class merit in peacetime.

Since the superior has approved it, my son must have done a good job.

Thinking of this, my mood finally got better.

"You said, what's wrong with me calling?"

After a breath of relief, Zhuang Zhenguo turned to the topic.
To be continued...