Military career: Starting with a recruitment letter

Chapter 8 Visit from the People's Armed Forces Department

Especially looking at the letter, Chen Mo sincerely wrote about all the preparations he had made to join the army, as well as his humble assumptions about the future development of the army.

Cao Deming just found it unbelievable.

"Is this really written by a high school student?"

Cao Deming frowned, trying hard to suppress the turmoil in his heart.

It’s no wonder that the political commissar praised me just now. If he had seen the letter first, I’m afraid he would have praised me even louder than the political commissar.

"I can't confirm whether this letter was written by a high school student." Dong Guoqiang sat down on the chair and shook his head. "But judging by the signature and the address left, it is indeed a student from No. 1 High School."

"Before you came back, I called the civil affairs department in Fu County, the family planning office in Shiqiao, and Xinglong to confirm."

"I also called a high school. The signature and address on the letter are correct. There is indeed a high school student named Chen Mo."

"No one from Chen Mo's family has joined the army in recent years. Even in his village, there are only a few who have joined the army."

"The head of the family is a carpenter who does odd jobs to supplement the family income. He has a very ordinary political background and his living conditions are considered below average in the village."

"I really can't imagine how a half-grown child who has been studying all his life could understand the standard writing of official documents and write so skillfully, and how he knows so much about the military."

"Yeah, I can't figure it out either." Cao Deming hesitated for a moment, picked up a pack of old yellow cigarettes from the table, took out a cigarette, struck a match and lit it.

Take a deep puff, and the entire cigarette will shrink visibly quickly.

The whole office fell into a brief silence, with only two old smokers puffing away.

half an hour.

Political Commissar Dong Guoqiang was the first to speak: "How about this, to ensure the authenticity of the letter, I will go to Xinglong."

"Regardless of whether this letter was written by this kid named Chen Mo, we should at least find out what's going on. It's better than just guessing here."

"This is a rare talent. Personally, I'm more inclined to believe that this guy is born with a keen sense of military affairs and is well-versed in various military publications and official documents."

"Don't jump to conclusions so quickly. Let's see first. I'm going too."

Cao Deming stood up. Now that he had seen the letter, he could no longer sit still in the office.

Although the content of the letter did not involve any leak of secrets, it was too strange. A high school student had a deeper understanding of the army's rules and regulations and the future development of the army than he, the leader of the Human Armed Forces Department.

It would make sense if there were veterans in the family who had retired, or other people who were influenced by him, but according to the political commissar's description.

The other party's family obviously does not meet these conditions.

"Old Dong, you just said that this child's family isn't well off. No matter what the outcome is, we still have to bring some things with us, just as a token of our consolation to the family of the child of appropriate age."

"I'll arrange for someone to buy some rice, flour, grain, and oil, and also cut a piece of pork to take with me."

"Okay, I'll get ready too."

Dong Guoqiang stood up, picked up his hat, put it on his head, adjusted the brim, and strode out of the office.

Xinglong Village.

Chen Mo sat at the door of his main room all afternoon to bask in the sun. It was almost dark, but there was still no movement outside.

Chen Mo couldn't help but feel a little confused.

After all, according to his understanding of the People's Armed Forces Department, the two leaders would definitely come to check on the situation after seeing the letter, given the other party's responsible style of action.

It's impossible to remain indifferent after reading the letter. I have to come and find out his background.

"Could it be that the letter didn't arrive?"

"It shouldn't be."

Chen Mo looked up at his sister Chen Jing, who was squatting next to the well in the yard, drawing circles on the well handle with a piece of chalk she had gotten from somewhere.

As for my younger brother Chen Feng, I don't know where he went to play. My mother went out in the afternoon and is not at home now. My father is making window frames for others and has not come back yet.

Chen Mo simply stood up, stretched and said: "Xiao Jing, are you hungry? Let me cook first."

"I guess it will take a while for my parents to come back."

"I'll go light the fire." When the little girl heard that she had to cook, she dropped the chalk and ran into the house as fast as a little rabbit.

After a while, he ran out with a lit candle in his little hands.

"When you light the fire, go slowly and stay away from it."

Chen Mo gave some brief instructions, washed his hands in the yard, and started to prepare the batter with a bowl.

Although the old house had disappeared for more than ten years in his previous life, people have muscle memory. Even if they can't tell where many things are, they can still find them when they are needed by following their feelings.

The little girl curled up her small body and sat in front of the stove to make a fire, while Chen Mo was busy adding water, peeling and cutting the sweet potatoes into pieces.

By the way, I picked a cabbage from the vegetable garden in the yard, peeled off the outer leaves, and prepared to stir-fry the cabbage with vinegar.

When the brother and sister were busy preparing dinner, the door of their house was suddenly pushed open.

"Fenglan? Is Fenglan home?"

"Study Army?!"

"Hey, here we come."

Chen Mo was cutting cabbage. When he heard the noise outside, he quickly put down the kitchen knife and walked out.

Seeing that the person coming was the aunt next door whom he met when he went out this morning, Chen Mo smiled and said, "Aunt, my parents are not at home. Just tell me if you have anything to say."

"oops."

When the aunt next door heard that no one was at home, she slapped her thigh and shouted anxiously: "Where have they gone? Why are they not at home?"

"A four-wheeled vehicle is approaching the village entrance. The people there are wearing military uniforms and are asking where your home is."

"Xiao Mo, hurry up and go find your parents. It's already dinner time, why aren't you home yet?"

"coming!!"

Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that his judgment was correct.

The letter I mailed this morning actually brought someone here.

"It's okay, Auntie. That should be the county's People's Armed Forces Department's car. I can receive it at home myself."

"Xiao Jing, light the fire carefully. Don't put too much firewood in. Keep the fire small."

Chen Mo gave a brief explanation and then tidied up his clothes.

Secretary Chen's temperament suddenly became more active as he was about to meet an old acquaintance in military uniform.

Chen Mo ran to the side to wash his hands.

Walk quickly to the gate.

The people from the People's Armed Forces Department had indeed arrived. On the main street outside the door, three figures wearing Type 87 military uniforms, each holding something in their hands, were walking towards their home in a mighty procession.

At dinner time in rural areas, many homes have their doors open.

Many people even squat on the roadside and chat while eating.

A car entered the village and alarmed quite a few people.

The three of them were followed by a group of neighbors who were joining in the fun, holding bowls in their hands and sucking on chopsticks in their mouths.

Chen Mo has already recognized it.

The person walking in front was Dong Guoqiang, the political commissar of the Fucheng People's Armed Forces Department. In his hands were a barrel of soybean oil and a piece of something that looked like pork wrapped in oil paper.

This attracted the attention of the surrounding neighbors.

In the late 1990s, every household in the countryside basically prepared their own cooking oil in glass or iron cans and boiled some lard.

Barrels of soybean oil like this only appeared in the town’s market in the past two years.

This is still a rare thing.

(End of this chapter)