Submitted by Zhang Guangqing
Picture / from the Internet
In December 1973, I enlisted in the army. Although the date of payment on the enlistment notice was December 13, 1973, the day our recruits arrived in the army was on the evening of December 22, 1973.
Before we left for the troops, the fathers and villagers in our hometowns welcomed us with gongs and drums, firecrackers, and the new recruits; after we arrived at the recruit company, the company commanders, instructors, and veteran squad leaders also cared for us and took good care of us. This shocked me, who had just turned 19 years old at the time, and at the same time, strengthened my determination to become a soldier.
During the next three months of recruit training, the most memorable experience for me was when the first allowance was paid. I remember that at that time, just after the second month of our recruit training, the veteran squad leader gave us the allowance for the first month after we joined the army. Today, 50 years have passed in the blink of an eye, but I still remember very well that the allowance given to us by the veteran squad leader at that time was three two-dollar bills per person. In the 70s, the allowance for the first year of military service was 6 yuan per month, 7 yuan per month for the second year, and 8 yuan per month for the third year (for the first six years of military service, the annual allowance was 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, and 21 yuan per month, respectively).
When I got the six-dollar allowance, I was so excited, nervous and happy. After all, I came from the countryside and had just turned 19 years old, and it was the first time I had received a "salary" when I grew so old. Although it seems that the six yuan is nothing now, at that time, it was undoubtedly a small "huge amount". You know, in the 70s, when I was a soldier, toothpaste was 0.4 yuan a piece, soap 0.35 yuan a piece, matches 0.02 yuan a box, a towel 0.5 yuan a piece, an egg 0.05 yuan a piece, a stamp 0.08 yuan, and an envelope 0.01 yuan. Even if you occasionally improve your food and go to a restaurant for a beautiful meal, it won't cost 3 yuan.
In addition to the allowance, there is another thing in the recruit company that I still remember vividly. I remember that it was the second day after I came to the recruit company, and just after lunch that day, the company commander and the instructor came to our dormitory together (our company commander's surname was Gong, a soldier who enlisted in 1964; our instructor's surname was Wu, a soldier in 1965). When we entered the dormitory, the company commander asked us recruits with a smile if they were suitable for the life of the army in the past two days, whether they were Xi Xi used to eating and whether they could sleep well at night, and so on.
Hearing the company commander's inquiry, the more active recruits in the squad also opened their mouths, "Report to the company commander, the life of our recruit company is very good, and we can eat enough, we are very satisfied." Listening to the recruit's words, the company commander smiled and patted him on the shoulder. At this time, the instructor also carefully helped us to put the toiletries on the table neatly. When I saw this scene, my heart was warm.
After the company commander and instructor left, the veteran squad leader who took us said with a smile, "You soldiers are really lucky, these two company leaders of our company have very good tempers, but they don't have any fights." I think back then, when I was in the recruit company, our company commander was short-tempered, and no one dared to greet him. After listening to the squad leader's words, he also opened the conversation, so everyone began to discuss enthusiastically.
But after listening to the squad leader's words, I was confused, so I asked the squad leader in confusion, "Squad leader, I just heard you say that the company commander, will we also call the company commander and the instructor the company commander in the future?" After listening to my inquiry, the squad leader smiled, and then told me about the title in the company. In a company, the company commander generally refers to the chief and deputy officer of the company, and the company commander, instructor, deputy company commander and deputy instructor can all be called the company leader. In the face of one principal and multiple deputies, the main position is directly called the position, and the deputy position is generally called "surname + position". In addition to the leader, the squad leader of the squad and the platoon leader of the platoon are called positions. For the rest, the comrades-in-arms of the brother squad and platoon are more easy-going, and they can be called by their names directly.
Immediately afterward, after three months of recruit training, I came to the fifth squad of the second company of the first battalion and became a soldier. During the days of the fifth shift and half a year, although the daily work was very heavy, the squad leader and the veterans also took good care of me, which made me feel the warmth and warmth that can only be found at home. Therefore, even after more than 40 years, when I think about it now, those days are very beautiful.
Later, at the end of September 1974, I was a soldier for half a year, because of the experience of successfully publishing a board newspaper, and the handwriting was not bad, so I was directly transferred to the company headquarters by the company commander and became a clerk. In the clerical position, I worked for three years. In the past three years, I have been to the battalion headquarters and regiment headquarters many times because of work needs. That is, when I went to the regiment headquarters, I took the experience of riding the regiment commander's jeep, which I still remember.
It was one day in December 1976, and on that day, I went to the regiment headquarters with the clerk of the Third Company (surnamed Zhang, who was the same year as me and was one year younger than me). At that time, our regimental headquarters was located in a ravine, about 20 kilometers away from our company's camp. Since there was no bus, every time I went to the regimental headquarters, I had to stand on the side of the road and wait for the passing bus to take me to the regimental headquarters. In the past, there were a lot of passing cars, but that day was not a coincidence, seeing that the cars were driving from the direction of the regiment headquarters, but none of them went to the regiment headquarters.
Finally, after waiting for Xiao Zhang and I for half an hour, a local car drove in the direction of the regiment headquarters. Although we waved vigorously to stop, they ignored them, instead increased the throttle and whistled directly past the two of us. Seeing this, there was no way, Xiao Zhang and I could only continue to wait. But that day, it was also strange, and we waited for another hour, but still no army car came. Seeing that it was almost ten o'clock, Xiao Zhang and I smiled helplessly, so we had to start walking in the direction of the regiment headquarters on foot. As we walked, we looked back to see if there was a car.
It was very cold that day, and the north wind was blowing, like a sharp sword, constantly stabbing Xiao Zhang's ears and cheeks. Because we were wearing masks, the breath was constantly solidifying on our eyebrows, like ice thorns, covering our eyes, making us unable to see the road clearly. But there is no way, the mask cannot be taken (as soon as it is removed, the wind is poured into the mouth and nose). So, the two of us just lowered our heads, bent our waists, and walked on the way to the regiment headquarters one after the other.
I walked with Xiao Zhang for half an hour, and just as we were hungry, tired, and exhausted, a jeep suddenly "creaked" and stopped beside us. Seeing this, Xiao Zhang and I also stopped, at this time, a person suddenly got out of the jeep, I rubbed my eyes, and found that the person who came down was our regiment leader (our regiment leader's surname is Zhou, and he is very kind). Seeing that the head of the regiment was coming, Xiao Zhang and I hurriedly wanted to salute him. But unexpectedly, the regiment commander waved his hand directly, and then asked us which company we were, where we were going now, and what was the matter.
Seeing that the regiment commander asked, Xiao Zhang and I also answered truthfully, saying that the two of us were going to the regiment headquarters, but because there was no bus on the way, it was almost noon, so we had to walk first. After listening to what I said to Xiao Zhang, the regiment commander smiled and said, "It just so happens that we are going back to the regiment headquarters." With that, the regimental commander led us to the jeep, then opened the rear door and motioned for us to get into the car. But when I looked into the car, I saw that there were already three people in the back seat (two staff officers, one officer). Seeing me and Xiao Zhang standing next to the car, the two staff officers and an officer were embarrassed, and their intentions were very obvious, that is, there was no place in the car, and there were no two people sitting in the car.
Seeing this, Xiao Zhang and I also retreated again and again, and then said in unison: "No need, head of the group, let's go slowly, there will definitely be a car on the road later." After listening to our words, the head of the regiment said directly: "This rough road is a special road for our construction, and it is okay to sit five people in the back row." Besides, it's so cold, everyone can squeeze in and get warmer. You two don't get in the ink, get in the car, and you'll be at the regiment headquarters in a while. As he spoke, the head of the regiment pushed us into the car and told us to squeeze us.
The two staff officers and an officer, seeing that the regiment commander was so resolute, began to sit together to make room for the two of us. Xiao Zhang and I sat alone, squatted alone, and finally got into the car. Seeing this, the regiment commander smiled and closed the back door of the car, and then also got into the car (sitting in the front passenger seat). After getting on the bus, the regiment commander asked the two of us to take off our fur coats and give them to him, so that we could sit more comfortably. Immediately afterwards, the head of the regiment asked the driver to drive, and along the way, the head of the regiment had no shelf, and talked and laughed with us, and chatted very happily.
In this way, before we knew it, we were at the regimental headquarters. After arriving at the regiment headquarters, the regiment commander personally sent me and Xiao Zhang to the guest house, and then arranged the canteen to cook for the two of us. In addition, the regiment commander also praised the spirit of the two of us who are not afraid of the cold and hardships, and who have to come to the regiment headquarters even on foot. After that, the head of the regiment sat and chatted with the two of us, and did not leave quietly until he saw the cook bring us a steaming meal. At that time, watching the head of the regiment leave the back, my heart was suddenly sour, and tears flowed unconsciously, how approachable and good the regiment leader.
To this day, perhaps the regimental commander has long forgotten what seemed to him to be a trivial matter at that time. But for me, even after decades, this incident is still deeply engraved in my heart, and every time I think about it, it brings tears to my eyes.
-ENDS-
#文章首发挑战赛#
#看见人间百态#