"Wow! A shrunken brigade commander!"
"Look, he smiled at me, he’s so adorable. Why does he seem so joyous?"
"He looks so much like the brigade commander with those eyebrows and eyes. They’re the spitting image of each other, just that the commander is dark and lean, while the baby is chubby and fair. Your sister-in-law must have taken good care of him! It’s hard work!"
Following someone’s comment of "it’s hard work, sister-in-law", many of the soldiers who had been looking at Xibao turned around simultaneously and saluted Feng Qingxue, saying unanimously, "You’ve worked hard, sister-in-law!"
Needless to say, they were reminded of their own families.
Those without wives and children were reminded of their parents, and those with families were reminded of their wives and children.
The soldiers sacrifice at the front line, their wives sacrifice at home, taking care of the elderly and the children, all the family burdens rest on their shoulders.
Their salute was so proper, and their voices, so sincere.
Feng Qingxue’s nose turned sour, she politely pulled down her scarf, her smile serious as she said, "I married a soldier. From the first day, I knew that these are things I’m supposed to do. The well-being of an elderly or a child is my responsibility. Your duty lies with the nation, my duty lies at home. With you soldiers defending the border, we at home fear nothing, and all the hardships in life are actually sweet. The sorrow is only a fraction of the sweetness. I have no regrets nor complaints."
The commander applauded and said, "Well said!"
He had come out for a stroll, to inspect the training of the soldiers, and unexpectedly found it lively here, so he came over to watch.
Hearing the commander’s voice, the soldiers immediately cleared a passage.
The commander walked over, his gaze at Feng Qingxue was full of approval, along with a touch of affection that the elders have for their juniors, "You’re Lu Jiang’s intimate comrade, I remember old Ye telling me your name is Feng Qingxue?"
Intimate comrade? Yes, many soldiers refer to their wives as intimate comrades.
Feng Qingxue curtsied to him, "Yes, commander, I am Feng Qingxue, Lu Jiang’s comrade."
"Your statement should be reversed. It is because of the selfless sacrifices you military wives make at home that we soldiers can work without concern on the front lines." The commander said this and then continued, "The environment in our military area is not good. You and the child just arrived. Go and rest first. When you’ve had a good rest, come and see where Lu Jiang lives! You youngsters. Disperse, disperse! Don’t block your sister-in-law from resting. Do you remember how you were all knocked out for days when you first arrived here as new recruits?"
The commander’s words made the large group of soldiers scatter like birds. As they left, they couldn’t help but turn back to look at Xibao.
The area cleared instantly, leaving only Lu Jiang’s family of three, Ye Zhengjun and Zhao Yong who aren’t easily tricked, and Han Ping and Sang Hong who were helping with the luggage. Of course, the commander was still there too.
"Come, come, let me hold this chubby little guy!" The commander reached out for Xibao.
Most of them never got to witness their own children grow up, so seeing Xibao for the first time naturally stirred their hearts.
Ye Zhengjun protested, "I haven’t even held him yet, Commander, it’s first come, first served, you know?"
"What? What? Old Ye, what did you say? I’m getting on in years, my ears aren’t good, I didn’t hear you!" The commander very assertively picked up Xibao, "Oh my, that’s heavy, really heavy. He’s indeed a chubby little guy, must weigh over thirty pounds, right?"