Chapter 1 — My Own Spring

The major general's husband suddenly discovered that since the fifth year he wrote the name of his fallen comrade's sister in the military relatives section, his young wife had no longer sent him any messages. He called her from the station, she closed her eyes and pretended not to see. Every time he returned home after returning to the unit, there were only cold leftovers on the table. Finally, in the fifth month of her continuous silence, Pho Nghien Tu returned home after finishing her training. As soon as she opened her mouth, she asked: "Why don't you come pick me up today?" Before, every time he returned, no matter how windy or rainy it was, I would always wait at the barracks gate three hours in advance. But since I found the military relative registration form in his pillow, my heart has died. Especially when I saw in the photo placed next to him, Tham Chi Dao standing next to him, behind was a vast training field and a military flag fluttering, her smile was more dazzling than the sunlight in the Gobi desert. On the back of the photo is Pho Nghien Tu's handwriting: 【You are the only faith in my military life.】 At that time, my whole personality changed. So, at this time I sat in front of the tea table peeling walnuts, watching the military news on TV, and after a long time said one sentence: "A bit busy." I stuffed the walnuts into my mouth and went to the kitchen. He walked over and tried to hug my waist from behind. Every time he did this, I smiled, turned around, stood on tiptoe and wrapped my arms around his neck. But this time my body reacted faster than my mind, taking a step back to the right, away from him. He didn't pay attention and started rummaging through his luggage. "This training trip was quite far, I didn't have time to buy anything good, I only brought back a scarf. "Chi Dao said all you women like this." The scarf is dark blue, the place of production listed on the label is a place I have never been to. A feeling welled up in my heart... The major general's husband suddenly discovered that since the fifth year he had written the name of his comrade's sister who had died in the section of military relatives and wife. The child no longer sent him any messages. He called her from the station, she closed her eyes and pretended not to see. Every time he returned home after returning to the unit, there was only cold leftovers on the table. Finally, for the fifth month, she was continuously silent. Pho Nghien Tu returned home after finishing her training, and as soon as she opened her mouth, she asked: "Why didn't you come to pick me up today?" Before, every time he returned, no matter how windy or rainy it was, I said yes. I planned to go to the barracks gate and wait three hours in advance. But when I found the application form for military relatives in his pillow, my heart died. Especially when I saw in the photo next to him, Tham Chi Dao stood next to him, behind the vast training ground and fluttering military flags, her smile was brighter than the sun on the Gobi desert. On the back of the photo was Pho Nghien Tu's handwriting: 【I am The only belief in his military life. At that time, my whole personality changed. So, at this time, I sat in front of the tea table, peeling walnuts, watching the military news on TV, and after a while, I said: "A bit busy." I stuffed the walnuts into my mouth and went into the kitchen. He walked over, trying to hug my waist from behind. Every time he did this, I would turn around, tiptoe and wrap my arms around his neck I reacted faster than my mind, took a step back to the right, away from him. He didn't pay attention, and started rummaging through my luggage. "This training trip was quite far, I didn't have time to buy anything good, I only brought back a scarf. "Chi Dao said all you women like this." The scarf is dark blue, the place of manufacture is listed on the label as one.

where I've never been. There was a feeling of sadness in my heart. He was always like that, using a small item to comfort me, as if thanks to that, I was able to participate in every step of his military life. After that, he naturally assumed that next time I would still stand in the same place and wait for him. Maybe because he couldn't see my joy when receiving the gift, he frowned: "Don't like it?" "Pretty nice." I pulled the corner of my lips. He frowned even tighter, reaching out to pull the collar of his military uniform: "Luc Sanh, are you still angry?" "I didn't let you join the army because the training conditions this time were too arduous, you won't be able to stand it." "Wait until next time the training location is better, I'll take you with the army." I didn't react. As if sensing that this was over, Pho Nghien Tu naturally leaned down and wanted to kiss me. I raised my hand, gently resting it on his chest. He stiffened. "You're tired." Pho Nghien Tu was silent for a few seconds and then patted my shoulder: "Then get a good night's sleep. Chi Dao said she had a military medal that she didn't know where to hide. She's always absent-minded, so I'll help her find it." "Um." After saying that, he didn't immediately leave, seemingly a bit surprised because I reacted so calmly today. Normally, every time he went to find Tham Chi Dao, my face would fall and I would question him if Tham Chi Dao was more important than me. Each time, Pho Nghien Tu helplessly explained that Tham Chi Dao's brother had sacrificed himself to save him, he had to take good care of her for her brother, and told me to sympathize more. Then without hesitation ran to her side. But this time, I just turned my back and didn't look at him anymore. The sound of the door closing rang out, and the house was once again swallowed by silence. A long time later, I stood up and walked towards the office. In here is Pho Nghien Tu's battle map. He once pointed to the symbols on it, saying that he would take me to see every inch of the country's mountains and rivers. I walked in and saw the poplar wood statue in Kashgar, the ice crystal sample in Mo Ha, the prayer wheel in Lhasa... Five years ago, his footprints had passed through border posts in seven provinces and regions, and I had never even stepped into the nearest barracks. At the bottom is a blue training diary, Con Luan Pass, Pamir Plateau, fortress on a rocky island in the South China Sea... Every page has traces of Tham Chi Dao. I gently caressed the cover of the notebook. Three years ago on his birthday, I stayed up four nights to sew it myself. The needle and thread were crooked, and my fingertips were punctured by the needle in many places. When he received it, he loved it and couldn't let go. He picked me up and spun me around and said: "It will record every place we go together." Now, the light in the office shines on those unfamiliar handwriting, as if mocking me for not knowing my own strength. Outside the door, footsteps were heard, deliberately walking lightly. Pho Nghien Tu pushed the door in, looked at the notebook in my hand, her face changed slightly but quickly returned to normal. "Why aren't you sleeping yet?" I didn't answer his question. He hugged my waist and explained casually: "Chi Dao insisted on labeling it, saying that if you look at it later, it will all be memories." "Um." I lowered my eyes and put the diary back in its original place. The phone in my pocket vibrated, it was a WeChat message from my best friend Wen Dich: 【The lawyer you asked me to ask before, specializes in handling military marriage cases, he asked when are you free to meet?】 I placed the phone on the table, the screen was still lit. Pho Nghien Tu instinctively lowered his head and glanced, his breathing immediately stopped. He stood there, suddenly impatient and laughed: "I thought something was wrong with you today, but it turns out it was just because I took Chi Dao with me a few times."

huh?” “Stop making trouble. The next training session will definitely take you, okay?" He loosened his collar, as if gently comforting an angry child. Without waiting for me to answer, he turned and walked directly towards the bedroom. After taking a few steps, he turned around again: "Chi Dao is a few years younger than you, but she understands things better than you. Can't you learn from her a little?" Self-pity rose up in my throat, but I quickly suppressed it. In the past, words like that from him would make me panic, make me rush to argue, make me doubt whether I really wasn't good enough. But now, there's only numbness in my heart. Over the past five years, I've always been waiting. Waiting for each time he returned to the unit. When I was alone and confused because of illness, the messages I sent. Then there was no word, and he left me again and again in the name of taking care of Tham Chi Dao. I looked into his eyes and nodded: "Okay, I won't make trouble anymore." After saying that, I didn't turn around and went straight to the guest room. In the following days, I quietly packed my things I gave the window sill to On Dich, and the rattan chair in the living room that I used to sit on was also dragged downstairs and thrown away. The traces of belonging to me are gradually fading from this house. "In the afternoon, I will teach Tham Chi Dao to read the combat map, you should come too." Pho Nghien Tu sat in front of the dining table: "Aren't you always complaining that you don't understand the map and don't even know where I am stationed?" Before, I begged him to teach me, but he refused. said: "I don't understand the things in the army, learning is just a waste of time." Now he took the initiative to let me learn, but I was just the one who had the opportunity to study with Tham Chi Dao. A knock sounded on the door, Tham Chi Dao stood outside the door, smiling sweetly. I didn't answer. The atmosphere stiffened for a moment, her eyes immediately turned red, her fingers rubbing her shirt: "Sister-in-law, are you not welcoming me?" I won't come anymore." Seeing her feeling sorry for herself, Pho Nghien Tu immediately frowned and pulled her wrist: "Where are you going?" He looked at me with an annoyed look: "Luc Sanh, I've already told you, Chi Dao is my sister." "If you can't stand her being by my side, then you don't have to follow this army anymore." Disappointment rose like ice water, making me cold from head to toe. Pho Nghia Tu stopped looking at me. Pulling Tham Chi Dao to the office door, he opened the door and walked in. Under the light of the map table, he spread out the giant military topographic map, bent down, and moved his finger from one station point to another. "This is Kun Luan pass, this is Than Tien Loan guard post." "The other year when stationed at Than Tien Loan, the temperature dropped to minus forty degrees, the entire defense line froze as soon as it fell." He tilted his head to look at Tham Chi Dao, his tone was gentle. easily: "At that time, I was so scared that I sent you many text messages, do you remember?" Tham Chi Dao covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes still had tears that she hadn't wiped away just now: "Fifty-two messages. You said it's okay, so I'm really not afraid anymore." The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the map table, the light reflected their shadows on the wall, close to each other. I stood outside the office door, like an outsider. I remember that time the news reported that the border was experiencing extremely cold weather, I was so worried at home that I stayed up all night, sending one text message after another. On the third day, he only replied with one word: "Busy." The snow and wind they had overcome together, I was completely clueless.