After the New Year's Eve dinner, the recruits came to the company headquarters conference room one after another. On the table in the company headquarters conference room, the company commander specially prepared various candies and drinks for everyone. At the same time, the Spring Festival Gala was playing on the LCD screen. The program being played at the moment was Zhao Benshan's comedy sketch "Selling Kidnappings".
"Hey, what a big liar, what a big liar."
"What a big lie. In front of everyone, please don't call me by my stage name, okay?"
"The child's father."
"Why."
"I told you not to sell this kid!"
"Don't say that. I won't sell it. I made this pair of crutches with work and materials. I didn't sleep for a whole day and a night. If I don't sell it, won't I be compensated?"
…
Seeing the wonderful conversation between Zhao Benshan and Gao Xiumin on the screen, the recruits laughed one after another. Li Xiang was eating melon seeds while enjoying the sketch. Although this is not my own home, it is still full of joyful atmosphere, giving people the warmth of home.
"Comrades, is this skit good to watch?"
At some point, the company commander also walked in and sat in the middle of the crowd.
"It looks good! It's so funny!" the recruits replied one after another.
"It looks good, just watch it for a while."
Afterwards, the company commander stood up and prepared to leave the conference room. Before leaving, the company commander added to everyone: "Comrades, tonight is New Year's Eve. You can watch the Spring Festival Gala here, and you can also move around freely. In addition, Feel free to eat the candies, melon seeds, etc. on the table. But you must maintain discipline and order, you know?"
Upon hearing the news, the recruits were excited and cheered.
"I understand, company commander."
…
According to the Chinese New Year custom, dumplings are eaten the next morning. Similarly, the army also prepared dumplings for everyone. However, recruits in each class need to make dumplings themselves, and the cooking class only provides noodles and dumpling fillings. This not only allows everyone to feel the flavor of the New Year, but also reflects the humanistic care of the army.
The first squad leader brought the first class recruits to the cooking class, brought over a plate of dumpling fillings and a bag of dumpling wrappers, and started making dumplings for everyone.
"Comrades, start making dumplings now. You can make as many dumplings as you want. You can eat the dumplings you make yourself. You are not allowed to waste them."
Before starting to make dumplings, the squad leader told everyone to be thrifty, because thrift has always been a good tradition in the army.
However, after the squad leader finished speaking, except for Li Xiang who started making dumplings, the other recruits stood still and had no idea what to do.
"Why are you all standing here? Hurry up and make dumplings. The cooking team is still waiting to cook."
Seeing everyone standing still, the squad leader asked strangely.
"Squad leader, how do you make these dumplings?" the recruits asked in unison.
As soon as these words came out, the squad leader and Li Xiang looked at everyone with dark expressions on their faces, not knowing what to say.
"Li Xiang, why don't you teach us how to make dumplings?"
"Okay." Li Xiang agreed immediately.
"Actually, making dumplings is very simple. You only need to watch me make them once."
Li Xiang first took a piece of dumpling wrapper and spread it flat on his left hand. Then he used a spoon with his right hand to dig out a spoonful of dumpling filling on the plate and put it on the dumpling wrapper. Then close the dumpling wrapper and use your hands to make a jagged shape on the edge of the semicircular dumpling wrapper. A complete dumpling is ready.
"Did you understand just now?" Li Xiang asked everyone.
Although making dumplings is very simple, everyone still shook their heads and said no.
"Okay, let me demonstrate again."
Li Xiang picked up the dumpling wrapper again, wrapped a dumpling, handed it to Gao Jie next to him, and said, "Gao Jie, give it a try."
Gao Jie took the dumpling wrappers and fillings and carefully imitated Li Xiang's movements, but the dumplings he made had a weird shape and the fillings flowed out from the gaps in the dumpling wrappers. Seeing this scene, everyone couldn't help laughing.
"It doesn't matter, just take your time and practice a few more times and you'll be fine." Li Xiang encouraged.
After a lot of hard work, although the dumplings are wrapped, the shapes of the dumplings are weird and all. However, no one dislikes it, after all, these dumplings are made by everyone themselves.
After the dumplings are wrapped, the squad leader sends the dumplings to the kitchen for heating. After a while, the squad leader brought the hot dumplings to the recruits.
"Come on! Eat dumplings!"
Li Xiang picked up the chopsticks, picked up the dumplings he made, and tasted them carefully.
"Well, this dumpling tastes good!"
"Yes, it tastes really good." Gao Jie also echoed.
Then, everyone ate dumplings and chatted, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
…
After eating the dumplings, Li Xiang thought of his parents and little sister who were far away in his hometown. So I decided to call home to see what my parents and sister had eaten at home and whether there were any delicious New Year's rice dishes.
When Li Xiang came to the public phone booth, he did not expect that all the dozen phone booths were occupied by recruits. At the same time, there was a long queue next to each phone booth. Li Xiang had to stand behind one of the teams and wait for his turn before calling home.
Half an hour later, it was finally his turn to make a call. Li Xiang immediately picked up the phone and dialed his home phone number.
"Hello! Mom, I'm Li Xiang."
"Xiangzi, have you had breakfast?" Li Xiang's mother's face immediately filled with a smile.
"Well, eat. As soon as I finish eating, I'll come over and call you."
"Oh, what did you eat for the New Year's Eve dinner last night? Is the food good?" Mother asked with concern.
"Well, the New Year's Eve dinner was very good. There was chicken, fish, and seafood."
"Ouch! There's also seafood, that's really good."
The mother was relieved when her son said that he could eat seafood. It seemed that the food in the army was very good. Because in their village, even wealthy families cannot eat seafood all year round.
"Mom, what did you eat for New Year's Eve dinner? It's the New Year, so you can't make yourself miserable."
"Xiangzi, don't worry, your sister and I both ate well. We ate meat and fish just like you did at night."
At this time, Li Xiang's sister grabbed her mother's phone and said on the phone: "Brother, mom lied to you. During the New Year's Eve dinner, mom cooked fish and meat, but dad and mom didn't eat a bite."
Hearing this, Li Xiang felt sour in his heart. He knew that his mother must be reluctant to eat it.
"Mom, didn't I give money to my family? Why are you still reluctant to eat?"
Li Xiang complained that his mother was reluctant to eat meat, and his voice was a little excited when he spoke, causing the recruits next to him to look at Li Xiang strangely.
"Xiangzi, it's not that mom is reluctant to eat. She has to save the money you sent back and pay for your sister's tuition."
Li Xiang felt even sadder when he heard his mother's explanation. He didn't expect that the money he sent to his family was still not enough to cover the family's expenses, and even his mother and father were reluctant to eat well.
"Mom, I will send more money back in the future. You must take good care of yourselves." Li Xiang said.
The mother was silent for a while on the other end of the phone, and then said, "Xiangzi, you should take good care of yourself outside and don't worry too much about things at home."
After hanging up the phone, Li Xiang felt a little heavy. The recruits nearby saw this scene and asked with concern: "Comrade, what's wrong with you?"
"No, it's nothing."
Li Xiang raised his head and hurriedly concealed his inner melancholy.
"It's okay, comrade. Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, so be happy."
The recruit next to him comforted Li Xiang, then walked to the phone and started calling his home.
"Um."
Li Xiang nodded and returned to the dormitory.
On the way, Li Xiang's ears were still echoing with his sister's words. Li Xiang felt very sad when he thought of his parents scrimping every day in order to save some money. Therefore, Li Xiang made up his mind to work hard in the army. When he makes a name for himself in the army, his parents can live a good life.
