Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

When the red light came on, Zhang Anbang stepped on the brake, turned to look at Gu Xiaonan and couldn't help but smile. "Xiaonan, I really don't want to. We planned to get our marriage certificate tomorrow, but you're already thinking about poaching your father-in-law today. That's not appropriate."

My father-in-law will probably accuse me of favoring outsiders, and besides, we don't use it that often. Also, this car depreciates as soon as we buy it, and it's a hassle for us to maintain it.

On the surface, this car only seems to cost money for gas, but in reality, it's not that simple. This car has a relatively high fuel consumption, consuming 14 or 15 liters per 100 kilometers. Currently, the price of gas is over 3 yuan per liter.

Let's assume we don't use it much, just for daily commuting and when we go to your house on vacation. That adds up to about 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers a year, so the fuel cost would be 3,700 to 3,800 yuan.

In terms of insurance, vehicle damage, third-party liability, theft, no deductible plus vehicle and vessel tax, it costs more than eight thousand a year.

Maintenance costs: a minor service costs four or five hundred yuan, twice a year would cost a thousand yuan. A major service, even if you don't drive much, costs two or three thousand yuan every three years, averaging about a thousand yuan a year.

As for consumable parts, there are all sorts of things like tires, brake pads, batteries, windshield wipers, and windshield washer fluid. Some need to be replaced every few years, some every so often, and some need to be refilled when they run out.

All this stuff adds up to at least four or five thousand a year on average. Just think how much it costs to keep this iron behemoth a year!

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Xiaonan's voice rang out, "All these things add up, maintaining this big metal lump will cost 18,000 or 19,000 yuan a year. Is it really that expensive to maintain a car?"

Zhang Anbang nodded. "Yes, it will cost that much money, almost the same as my annual salary plus subsidies."

Of course, Zhang Anbang is referring to his current normal income, which includes his position, rank, basic allowance, years of service, rank-based allowance, training post allowance, regional subsidies, and welfare benefits—a comprehensive income from all these sources.

All of this adds up to a monthly income of over 1,800 yuan, which is neither high nor low. However, the only advantage is that he receives this 1,800 yuan in cash and doesn't spend much.

Unlike those who earn 3,000 a month and only have 1,000 left after covering basic living expenses, this is what it's like to be in the army. There are basically no expenses for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, although it's still lower than his income when he was in the Old A unit.

"Hey, wait a minute, you're the deputy head of the training department, not in logistics. How could you know so much about the cost of a vehicle for a year? Even someone in logistics wouldn't know this much."

After all, for those projects you just mentioned, the military reimburses all the vehicle expenses directly, so individuals don't have to pay anything themselves.

Zhang Anbang watched the green light turn on, calmly shifted into Drive, released the handbrake, and as the car started moving, he slowly said, "Guess."

"It's no guess. Many boys prefer firearms and off-road vehicles, especially those of you who lead troops year-round, the proportion is extremely high."

Although you've handled plenty of guns and vehicles in the military, who wouldn't want their own? You must have thoroughly researched the maintenance costs of a vehicle through other channels, right?

Zhang Anbang gripped the steering wheel with one hand and gave a thumbs-up with his other hand, "So smart, no wonder she's my wife."

Gu Xiaonan lightly patted Zhang Anbang's hand, which was giving a thumbs-up, and said, "Stop being so conceited. My intelligence is innate, not something I became intelligent after becoming your wife. Besides, we haven't registered our marriage yet, so I'm not your official wife yet."

Zhang Anbang replied with a sly grin, "Serious? You don't mean you have an improper wife, do you?"

"Get lost, Zhang Anbang. What are you saying? We haven't seen each other in so long, and the first thing you do today is make me angry. Aren't you afraid I won't go to get our marriage certificate with you tomorrow?"

"Haha, how could that be? Everyone knows my wife is beautiful inside and out, broad-minded, tolerant, open-minded, intelligent, sensible, knows her place, understands the big picture, considers the overall situation, is pure-hearted, gentle and proper..."

"Stop," Gu Xiaonan said, raising her hands to make a stop gesture, "Comrade Xiao Zhang, where did you learn this routine? Did you get taught again?"

I'm warning you, you're not allowed to keep learning random things from your company commander. What kind of rubbish are you learning?"

"Yes, Director Gu, we will strictly follow your instructions."

"Hahaha," Gu Xiaonan couldn't help but laugh again at Zhang Anbang's serious expression.

……

In mid-March, the chill in the capital had not yet completely dissipated, and the spring breeze blowing in through the half-open car window still carried a biting cold.

Under Zhang Anbang's control, the car continued to move smoothly along the smooth asphalt main road.

Along the way are rows of military camps with red brick walls, towering and orderly, the gray and white walls contrasting with the sparse branches, exuding a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The poplars and Chinese scholar trees lining the road haven't sprouted leaves yet; some bumps have appeared on their bare branches.

The forsythia at the base of the wall was covered with tiny, tender yellow buds, breaking the silence of the chill and bringing a unique vitality to early spring.

As the two chatted and laughed, the car drove west onto the main road of Fuxing Road. When they reached the middle of the road, the view suddenly opened up.

On the north side of the road stands the majestic Military Museum building, its gilded August 1st Army emblem on the roof standing out prominently in the warm early spring sun, while the white marble soldier statues on both sides of the entrance are clearly defined and solemn.

The roadside trees were also bare, with no new leaves yet, and pedestrians would occasionally stop to look at the exhibition hall.

The street was lined with bright red banners promoting national defense, and the two of them were immediately struck by the solemn and intense atmosphere of the military camp that they were extremely familiar with.

The outer embankment of Yuyuantan has also shed its winter silence. The ice on the lake has melted, and the clear water shimmers with a cool light, attracting tourists to step on it.

The weeping willows along the embankment have sprouted tiny, tender yellow buds, which, from a distance, look like they are shrouded in a faint, ethereal golden mist.

The branches of the mountain peach trees along the roadside were slightly tinged with rouge, and each one was a plump bud, full of the promise of spring. Judging from this, in just a few days, the branches would be covered with light pink blossoms.

Continue straight along Fuxing Road, cross Xinxing Bridge, and arrive at the Gongzhufen area. The journey westward is smooth all the way.

On both sides of the road are rows of old-fashioned residential buildings, and the continuous red brick walls of the military camp are neat and solemn. The sentries at the intersections stand tall and stand at attention.

Several early-blooming white magnolias peek out from deep within the courtyard wall, their elegant and clean white petals standing out brightly against the gray tones of the buildings and walls.

Scattered food stalls along the street emitted steam, and the sweet aroma of roasted sweet potatoes and sugar-roasted chestnuts wafted into the car through the wind.

After passing Princess Tomb and Wanshou Road, there are rows of military camps, with sentry posts standing guard, strict military discipline, and a quiet and solemn atmosphere.