On that war-torn battlefield in a foreign land, tens of thousands of warriors were buried, tens of thousands were wounded or missing.
They used their flesh to withstand the enemy’s barrage of more than 300,000 artillery shells, enduring attacks of such scale over seventy times. Time had blurred many things, but the years of combat on that battlefield were unforgettable from beginning to end.
The men who came down from the battlefield often searched for their comrades in arms in their dreams at midnight, that bond forged in battle, surpassing all else.
Qin Jian nodded, "Yes, indeed. If you had not left the battlefield, assuming you didn’t shed this uniform, you would have probably held a rank not lower than mine. Don’t call me chief anymore in the future."
"It’s a habit," Cheng Yu said with a smile.
An Hao rarely saw Qin Jian talk so much with a woman, so their shared past must have triggered an emotional resonance.
Figuring it was getting late, she decisively grabbed Qin Jian’s hand, "Let’s go! You two can catch up some other time."
"Alright," Qin Jian took An Hao’s hand and bid farewell to Cheng Yu, "Goodbye, Teacher Cheng!"
Cheng Yu nodded, "Goodbye!"
Qin Jian and An Hao left, walking on a cobblestone path, feeling the leisure and ease of time.
"Having gone through the baptism of gunfire, I now find our present life incredibly precious," said Qin Jian, moved by his thoughts.
An Hao noticed that Qin Jian hadn’t quite stepped out from the brief surge of emotion, so she stopped and asked him, "Did you just experience a sense of encountering an old acquaintance in a foreign land?"
Qin Jian was startled, "Why do you say that?"
An Hao kept silent, blinking her eyes slightly, then pressed on, "Tell me, what do you think of Teacher Cheng Yu?"
"Your teacher, and you’re asking me? Naturally, I have no idea." After responding, Qin Jian saw the flicker of jealousy in her eyes and suddenly understood something. He couldn’t help but laugh, "Wife, may I ask you something?"
"Do you smell a hint of sourness?"
An Hao shook her head, "Where would that sourness come from?"
No sooner had she finished speaking than she realized what he meant. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she clenched her fists, ready to punch his chest, "You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You’re making fun of me!"
"Do you care about that Cheng Yu?" Qin Jian asked, looking down at her.
"Not really." An Hao couldn’t quite articulate her feelings. She hadn’t been concerned before, but listening to their brief exchange, it seemed she had become a little bothered, "You have shared memories with her. You’ve had experiences together! And between you and me, there’s nothing!"
"So, are you worried or just a bit jealous?"
"Both," An Hao admitted truthfully, wanting Qin Jian to know her most sincere feelings.
The smile faded from Qin Jian’s face. He lifted his hand to hold An Hao tightly in his arms. His rough palm grasped her hand, resting it over his heart as he said, "Wife! In my eyes, there is only one woman, and that’s you! Believe me! The promise I made to you on our wedding day, I remember it clearly! What’s more important is, you’ve always been the one I deeply love! If I had to choose, I’d rather she, not you, had shared the battlefield with me! Because I hope you are safe and happy! The one I care about is only you."
"Is this a heartfelt confession?" An Hao was touched, "Maybe I’ve been a little too sensitive..."