A year passed in the blink of an eye. This morning, Li Xiang went out to work in the fields. When he passed by the entrance of the village, he suddenly found that many people had gathered in front of the village committee. Out of curiosity, Li Xiang walked over to check. When he saw a banner hanging at the door of the village committee, he realized that this was the start of the annual military recruitment again.
As Li Xiang approached the door of the village committee, he saw a banner with the words "Respond to the country's call, join the army, and protect your family and country!" When he saw the poster at the door, he felt an inexplicable excitement in his heart, as if he saw himself wearing a military uniform and holding a spear in his heroic image.
However, he quickly gave up this idea. At present, my family's situation is very difficult. My father is lame and cannot work in the fields. My mother is frail and sick. My sister is still in elementary school. The family's financial source mainly depends on him working in the fields alone. It was an honor to join the army, but the burden of family prevented him from letting go easily.
Li Xiang stood at the door of the village committee, looking at the enthusiastic applicants with mixed feelings in his heart. Although Li Xiang yearns for the military camp, his family situation now prevents him from going to the military camp to pursue his dream. He can only silently pick up the hoe, go to the fields, and start working for the day.
In the morning, Li Xiang plowed more than ten meters of land in his own field. He was just about to sit down and rest for a while. When he turned around, he saw an officer standing behind him. When the officer saw Li Xiang resting, he walked straight to Li Xiang.
"Little comrade, what's your name?"
Li Xiang quickly stood up politely and greeted the officer: "Hello, Uncle PLA, my name is Li Xiang."
This year, the person responsible for receiving the troops was an officer with one rank and two stars. At this time, Li Xiang had no idea about the military ranks on the shoulders of soldiers. He only knew that soldiers looked particularly handsome and enviable after putting on their military uniforms.
"Comrade Li Xiang, I see that you are not very old, but your body is quite strong. Being able to turn over a field of more than ten meters means that you have good physical fitness."
The officer said, pinching Li Xiang's arm with his hand and feeling the muscles on Li Xiang's body.
"Hehehe..." Li Xiang giggled.
"I see that you are in good physical condition. Have you ever thought of joining the army as a soldier?" the officer asked with a smile.
"Uncle of the People's Liberation Army, can I pass the military academy if I join the army?"
It was a break anyway, so Li Xiang simply chatted with the officer.
"Of course you can, but you need to have a high school diploma to get into the military academy. Comrade, have you ever attended high school?"
"Yes, I attended, but dropped out in the last semester."
Speaking of this, Li Xiang felt a little sad.
"That doesn't matter, as long as you go to high school, but why did you drop out?"
"Oh~, my family had no money to pay tuition, and then I dropped out of school." Li Xiang responded with a sigh, feeling a little sad when thinking about those past events.
"Oh, that's it. Then your academic performance must be very good."
The officer saw that Li Xiang was a very motivated person.
"Well, he ranks first in the class every year." Li Xiang said, throwing pebbles.
"Oh! The army needs talents like you. Let's do this. Tomorrow you go to the village to sign up and go to the army with me. I guarantee that you can be admitted to the military academy."
The officer patted Li Xiang on the shoulder.
"Uncle of the People's Liberation Army, but...," Li Xiang hesitated, "but I can't go to the army."
"Why is that? Don't you want to be a soldier?" the officer asked in confusion.
"It's not that I don't want to, it's because..."
At this time, Li Xiang was about to express his sufferings. Not far away, his mother came to the field and called Li Xiang to go home for dinner. "Xiangzi, the food at home is ready. Come back to eat quickly and come back to work in the afternoon."
"Mom, I understand."
Li Xiang responded loudly, then hurriedly packed up the guys and prepared to rush to his mother. After working hard all morning, I was so hungry that my chest pressed against my back.
"Uncle PLA, goodbye."
Li Xiang greeted the PLA officers and left.
The People's Liberation Army officer looked at Li Xiang's back, thought of the way Li Xiang was hesitant to speak just now, and guessed that there must be something hidden in Li Xiang's family. Through the conversation with Li Xiang just now, the receiving officer began to like Li Xiang, so he planned to go to the village chief to find out about Li Xiang's family situation.
The People's Liberation Army officer came to the village committee office, and the village chief quickly greeted him warmly. "Comrade of the People's Liberation Army, you are here. Sit down quickly and I will make you a cup of tea."
After walking for a day, the PLA officer was really tired, so he sat down.
"Village Chief Li, there is a man named Li Xiang in your village. Do you know about his family's situation?" the People's Liberation Army officer asked the village chief while drinking tea.
"Li Xiang, let me think about it..."
The village chief rubbed his chin.
"Oh, I remembered. You must be talking about the children of the Li Jiaxiang family. Alas, this child has a really hard life. He was originally a good candidate to go to a prestigious university. Unfortunately, his father fell and fell on the construction site. He is disabled and the family has no labor force, so the child has no choice but to drop out of school."
As he spoke, the village chief sighed and shook his head.
"Oh, that's it." After listening to the village chief's story, the People's Liberation Army suddenly understood the reason why Li Xiang was hesitant to speak.
"What? Do you know this kid Li Xiang?"
The PLA officer suddenly mentioned Li Xiang, and the village chief thought that the PLA officer and Li Xiang knew each other.
"He and I just met. On the way here, I saw Li Xiang working in the fields. When I saw him, I remembered what I looked like back then, so I wanted to take him to the army. To develop." The People's Liberation Army officer was afraid that the village chief would misunderstand, so he explained to the village chief. "It turns out that his father has bad legs and feet. No wonder I asked him if he wanted to join the army, but he was always hesitant."
"Li Xiang, this kid, is quite sensible. When he was in school, his academic performance was always very good and he was also very sensible. If it weren't for this incident, Li Xiang would have a bright future." The village chief continued to praise Li Soar.
"Village Chief Li, when you say this, I like this child more and more. It would be a pity not to be a soldier. How about this? Let's go to his home to understand the situation first and see if there is anything we can do. To help this child, I think this child cannot just stay in this mountain all his life, he should get out, and he also has the ability to get out."
The People's Liberation Army officer cherishes talents very much, and he does not want to give up easily on talents like Li Xiang.
"Okay, let's go, let's go to his house and have a look."
Village Chief Li is a cheerful person, and upon hearing the officer's suggestion, he immediately agreed. The two then set off and walked towards Li Xiang's home.
…
Li Xiang's home is located at the east end of the village, near a dense forest. This is a dilapidated adobe house with moss-covered roof and mottled walls. In front of the house is a vegetable field, where some vegetables and corn are grown, but due to lack of management and care, they do not grow vigorously. Behind the house is a hill with overgrown weeds and sparse trees.
The People's Liberation Army officer and the village chief walked into the yard of Li Xiang's house and saw that the yard was filled with various debris and some worn-out furniture, and Li Xiang was feeding the pigs with a bucket.
"Xiangzi, I'm feeding pigs at home." The village chief greeted Li Xiang after entering.
Li Xiang turned around and saw that the village chief and the People's Liberation Army officer had arrived at his home. He quickly put down the bucket in his hand, wiped his hands, and greeted the two of them into the house.
"Village chief, uncle of the People's Liberation Army, you are here, come and sit in the house."
Before entering the door, Li Xiang shouted to the inside of the house: "Dad, Mom, we have a guest at home."
After entering the house, Li Xiang found that the tables and benches at home were covered with dust, making it impossible to sit down. He quickly found a rag, wiped the dust on it, and then invited the village chief and PLA officers to sit down.
"I'm really sorry. The house is a bit messy. I've been too busy these days and haven't had time to clean it up."
Regarding the environment at his home, Li Xiang explained to the PLA officers with some embarrassment.
"Xiangzi, let me ask you something. Do you want to be a soldier?" The village chief got straight to the point and asked Li Xiang directly.
Seeing the village chief mention the word "soldier", Li Xiang understood the purpose of the two men's visit, so he smiled awkwardly.
"Village Chief, I... I thought about it, but..."
"Xiangzi, if you have any difficulties, just tell me directly, and the village will find a way to help you solve it."
The village chief has a straightforward personality and never minces words.
"But if I join the army, what will happen to our family's living expenses?"
Li Xiang thought for a moment and expressed his concerns.
