Oath under the red willows
Author: Zhao Xiaoqing
The snow fell on the plateau, spreading a thick layer of "quilt" on the snow-capped mountains and barren land in the distance. Wang Rui, the instructor of the Hongliutan Locomotive Station, had just returned from the patrol line, and received a call from his wife Xia Jing.
Xia Jing, a teacher in Qujing, Yunnan Province, told Wang Rui on the phone that she would come to Hongliutan again to celebrate the New Year with him and see what they had planted together.
Looking through the window, the red willows stand proudly in the wind and snow, letting the wind and snow blow, stubbornly fighting against nature. Looking at the tenacious red willow in front of me, the sweetness of the past welled up in my heart.
Two years ago, Xia Jing, who had just received her certificate, came to the plateau alone to visit her husband, who was thinking about it day and night. Afraid that Wang Rui would be worried, she didn't tell him. Starting from her hometown of Qujing, Yunnan, taking a plane to Kashgar Airport, and taking a car, this young military wife inquired all the way and walked for three days before arriving at Hongliutan.
Unfortunately, the line was blocked that day. Early in the morning, Wang Rui took the officers and soldiers of the company to a far away place to rush repairs. When night fell, they dragged their tired bodies back, and when they saw his wife, Wang Rui was surprised and a little distressed at the same time.
During that time, Wang Rui had to take the officers and soldiers of the company to patrol the line and carry out daily training during the day. Unable to be by her side at all times Xia Jing, Xia Jing was also happy alone, and after obtaining the consent of the leader of the maintenance station, she gave full play to her painting expertise and painted a picture of plateau officers and soldiers patrolling the line in the wind and snow on the wall of the Hongliutan camp.
But within a few days, Xia Jing had altitude sickness and had to go back early. Before going back, this stubborn military sister-in-law insisted on planting a red willow of her own, "Let the red willow accompany you on the plateau instead of me." After careful irrigation, Xia Jing set out on the way back.
Spring goes to autumn, and a stubble of red willows turns green and yellow. The red willow planted by his wife also grew up slowly under Wang Rui's careful irrigation.
The second time she went to the plateau, Xia Jing took the medicine half a month in advance under Wang Rui's repeated advice. Although she had made all kinds of preparations, the moment she saw her husband, she still couldn't hold back her tears, her husband's face was tanned by the strong ultraviolet rays of the plateau, and his lips were black and purple because of lack of oxygen, when Wang Rui took Xia Jing's luggage, Xia Jing turned her back and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.
The sister-in-law came, and the company suddenly became lively. Xia Jing not only brought flower cakes and cloud leg moon cakes from her hometown to the officers and soldiers, but also cooked delicious Yunnan dishes for everyone. Eating the food of his hometown and looking at his virtuous wife, a strong sense of happiness filled Wang Rui's heart.
Distant border passes, holy snow-capped mountains, sacred boundary monuments...... These pictures constitute the most beautiful scenery in Xia Jing's heart.
Once, Wang Rui led the team to patrol the line, and Xia Jing offered to go together. On that day, the snow fell one after another, but they could not resist the fiery hearts of the officers and men on the border area, their footprints were deep and shallow, walking in the vast snowy field, the bright red flags were waving in the wind, and their upright figures stood in the wind.
Wrapped in a thick coat, Xia Jing struggled to walk step by step, and she had to stop breathing every few steps, but she insisted on walking down with everyone. When they arrived at the boundary monument, the soldiers lined up in a neat line and saluted solemnly. The bright red flags fluttered in the wind, and the tall figures of the officers and men stood tall in the wind. At that moment, I was shocked and admired...... A lot of emotions welled up in her heart, and Xia Jing couldn't help but burst into tears.
What Xia Jing didn't know was that a unique plateau marriage proposal ceremony was brewing in Wang Rui's heart, and on the weekend, they strolled through the camp as usual. Walking in front of the red willow, while Xia Jing was watering the red willow, the long-"hidden" clerk quietly handed Wang Rui a wreath woven by the red willow.
Wang Rui knelt down on one knee: "Xiaojing, there is something I have wanted to do for a long time, I want to propose to you under the witness of Hongliu and the comrades around me, are you willing to marry me?"
Xia Jing was excited and happy, and her face was smeared with an imperceptible red. took the wreath from Wang Rui's hand, and saw him slowly take out a ring box from his camouflage pocket. "The wreath was freshly plucked from the red willow, the ring we bought on our last vacation, and I have been carrying it with me, and I have been looking for the right time to give it to you. Now I feel the time is ripe. ”
At this time, Xia Jing was already in tears, she slowly stretched out her right hand, Wang Rui gently put it on her and kissed her hand gently. The onlookers couldn't hold back their excitement and cheered.
She said on the phone that she also wanted to stand guard with her husband on Chinese New Year's Eve, and on the day of the reunion of thousands of families, they would stand together on the border defense line of the motherland to welcome the arrival of the new year and guard the border defense for the motherland.
Source: Xilu Qiangjun