The three of them continued to shuttle back and forth on the crowded streets, picking up delicious snacks and lanterns to decorate the festive atmosphere among the shops and stalls. After a while, Li Xiang and Gao Jie were covered with large and small bags of New Year's goods.
After returning to the company, the New Year's goods brought back were sent to the company headquarters and shared with everyone while waiting for the Spring Festival Gala in the evening. The purchased lanterns, Spring Festival couplets and other items were distributed in a long row to each class, and each class was asked to start posting Spring Festival couplets, hanging lanterns and pulling up banners according to their assigned tasks.
The first class received the task of posting Spring Festival couplets. After receiving the task, the first squad leader found scissors and tape, and led the first squad of recruits to paste the Spring Festival couplets one by one, starting from the company headquarters.
"Oops! Monitor, I need to pee urgently. I need to go to the toilet first." Just as he was about to work, Li Xiang suddenly wanted to go to the toilet.
"Go ahead."
The squad leader waved his hand and signaled Li Xiang to go to the toilet. After Li Xiang left, the squad leader led other recruits to continue posting Spring Festival couplets. When Li Xiang came back from going to the bathroom, the Spring Festival couplets on the company headquarters door had already been posted. Li Xiang looked up at the words on the Spring Festival couplets and found that the squad leader had pasted the couplets upside down.
"Monitor, why are you pasting these Spring Festival couplets backwards?"
Because Li Xiang often posted Spring Festival couplets when he was at home, Li Xiang was very familiar with the method of pasting Spring Festival couplets.
"What? The Spring Festival couplets are pasted backwards? How is it possible? I have always pasted them like this." The squad leader looked at Li Xiang inexplicably.
"Monitor, is posting couplets a traditional culture left by our ancestors? In ancient times, did we read and write from right to left?"
Li Xiang asked the squad leader.
"yes."
The squad leader thought there was nothing wrong with Li Xiang's repeated questions.
"That's right, so when we post couplets, don't we need to post them on the right side first and then the left side?"
The squad leader thought for a moment, looked at Li Xiang in disbelief, and thought, "Have I pasted the Spring Festival couplets upside down for so many years?"
Li Xiang looked at the confused expression of the squad leader and explained with a smile: "Squad leader, in fact, there is no absolute right or wrong in this statement. In ancient times, writing was indeed from right to left, so when pasting couplets, paste the right side first and then the other. Left side. But now we all write from left to right, so when pasting couplets, you can paste the left side first and then the right side, or you can paste the right side first and then the left side."
The squad leader suddenly realized that there was no absolute right or wrong answer to this question, it just varied from person to person. He said with emotion: "It seems that we are old and can't keep up with the times. I still have to learn some knowledge from you."
Li Xiang said with a smile: "Squad leader, you are worrying too much. It's just that common sense like posting Spring Festival couplets is a bit unpopular."
"By the way, Li Xiang, how do you know these unpopular knowledge?" The squad leader looked at Li Xiang curiously.
"Squad leader, it's because I'm more interested in the words in the couplets. Once, I went to the village chief's house to visit, and I felt very awkward reading the couplets in his house, so I asked the village chief if he had pasted the couplets upside down. After the village chief explained to me, I learned that the village chief posted the couplets according to ancient customs, and I read the couplets in the wrong order." Li Xiang explained to the first class leader.
"Li Xiang, I didn't expect you to have a hobby in literature! It seems that I will have to ask you for advice on literature in the future." The first squad leader said modestly.
"Monitor, thank you for your praise. I'm not as good as you thought." Li Xiang waved his hand repeatedly.
"Come, comrades, let's change the position of the Spring Festival couplets according to the ancient customs."
So, the squad leader and Li Xiang re-adjusted the position of the Spring Festival couplets, pasting the Spring Festival couplets on the right to the left, and the Spring Festival couplets on the left to the right. Although the location has changed, the beautiful meaning of the Spring Festival couplets is still conveyed to everyone.
One class put up the Spring Festival couplets, and other classes also completed the task of hanging lanterns and banners. After the army barracks were decorated by the officers and soldiers, the courtyard was filled with lanterns, and the festive New Year atmosphere instantly arose.
"It's Chinese New Year,..."
The recruits could not help but cheer on the playground to welcome the new year. They cheered and jumped as if they had forgotten their identities and responsibilities.
At this time, the platoon leader felt that the camp was in a mess, so he walked to the playground and said with a straight face: "What are you doing? The military camp is not a vegetable market? You are not allowed to yell like that."
After being reprimanded by the platoon leader, the recruits had no choice but to return to their dormitories disappointed. As soon as Li Xiang walked to the door of the dormitory, a platoon leader blew the assembly whistle.
"dinner time!"
A platoon leader shouted to the entire company of officers and soldiers.
Hearing the word "dinner", the officers and soldiers of the whole company immediately became excited and ran out of the dormitory to gather together, because everyone knew that a sumptuous dinner was prepared in the canteen tonight, waiting for everyone to enjoy.
Walking into the cafeteria, the dining table in the cafeteria was already filled with various delicacies, including stewed chicken soup, braised carp, braised pork ribs, Dongpo elbow, etc. These meals fully catered for the different eating habits of the recruits from all over the world.
Usually at this moment, the recruits know that the company commander must give a speech, so everyone sits in their seats and waits for the company commander to make a speech.
"Now, I'd like to ask the company commander to give us a New Year's speech."
Sure enough, a platoon commander stood up and invited the company commander to give a speech. After receiving the invitation, the company commander stood up and walked to the center of the canteen.
"Comrades, since you entered the military camp, you have been training hard day and night. I am very happy to see you transform from a social youth into a qualified soldier. I am also proud of you.
Today is New Year's Eve, we have prepared a sumptuous dinner for everyone, please enjoy it. At the same time, I also wish you all good health and all the best in the new year, perfectly spend your recruit training period, and eventually become a qualified PLA soldier. "
After finishing speaking, the recruits burst into warm applause.
"Company Commander, we also wish you good health and all the best!"
After the applause ended, the recruits, led by the platoon commander, blessed the company commander in unison.
"Comrades, put your glasses up, let's celebrate the New Year together with Coke instead of wine."
The company commander first raised the cup, and the officers and soldiers of the whole company raised their cups one after another. Although the troops were not allowed to drink, it could not stop everyone from celebrating the Spring Festival.
"Happy Spring Festival!"
The whole company cheered together.
"Okay, let's enjoy the delicious food. Let's eat well, drink well, and have fun tonight." The company commander called on the soldiers.
As soon as the company commander finished speaking, Li Erniu stood up quickly, picked up a large piece of pig's trotters, and began to eat it as if no one was watching. Halfway through the pig's trotters, he suddenly realized that everyone around him was looking at him, so he raised his head and looked at everyone with a smile.
"Sorry, I can't help myself when I see pig hooves."
"Hehehe... It's okay, Li Erniu, you can eat. You can eat freely today. No one will fight with you. There are still many dishes on the table." The squad leader responded with a smile.
Then, the squad leader said to the other recruits: "Do you see, tonight all of us have to learn from Comrade Li Erniu. Let's eat meat and drink drinks. Just like the company commander said, eat well, Drink well and have fun.”
Seeing that the first squad leader also issued a call, the recruits of the first squad leader let go of their restraints and ate happily like hungry tigers pouncing on food, and Li Xiang was no exception.
