Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

As soon as the number 228 was announced, Wang Chenggang said, "Comrade, including the wooden frame, it's a total of 228 yuan. You can give me 220."

I'll call the Roman-style shop in a bit. The deposit is 200, and you can come to my shop at 7 pm next weekend.

I'll go with you guys then. It's been a long time since I've seen old friends, and I'll get to study there a bit.

Zhang Anbang took out his wallet from his pocket, counted out four hundred and thirty yuan, and said, "Okay, then I'll trouble you, old squad leader. No need to round it down. We'll be there on time next Sunday."

If other people had rounded down the price, Zhang Anbang would have accepted it. But this old Wang was very sincere, and his photography skills were indeed very good. He was very satisfied with the photos he took, and since they were old comrades-in-arms, he simply rounded down the price in the opposite direction.

This is a kind of comradeship mentality in the military. As long as you have worn a military uniform and served in the military, you share a common set of memories by default: emergency assembly, whistles, canteen meals, queues, guard duty, and obeying orders.

So even if they don't know each other, once they hear that the other person is retired, they will put down a lot of the unfamiliarity and distance, and they will have more trust in their hearts and subconsciously regard each other as one of their own.

When Lao Wang retired, Zhang Anbang had only recently joined the army, and the two had never crossed paths before. The reason they became so close simply because they recognized each other's identities is because of this.

Of course, these people are from different units and don't know each other. They just served in the military and call each other comrades-in-arms because of identity recognition, politeness and respect. They are willing to be more considerate and lend a helping hand if they can, but they don't have a life-or-death friendship.

Furthermore, if it is discovered that one of them is undisciplined, of poor character, or smears the military, even if they are both veterans, others will no longer regard them as trustworthy comrades-in-arms, and their endorsement will be withdrawn immediately.

The two walked out of the Xicui Printing and Printing Store side by side. Gu Xiaonan spoke up, "Comrade Xiao Zhang, we can't go to someone's restaurant empty-handed, can we? Let's go buy some fruit."

"Okay, I'll listen to you. After all, my sister-in-law is home, and it wouldn't look good to come empty-handed. Let's take a stroll around."

The fruit stand in the compound is cheap, but the selection of fresh fruit is too limited, and they're all pre-packaged gift boxes with no choice. I'll just pick some from outside.

The two strolled towards the west gate of the 301 Hospital. The west gate leads directly to the main road of Shawo Street, and to the south and west lies the old Shawo bungalow community.

The area is densely packed with narrow alleys, making it the most densely populated area of ​​alleys in the surrounding area. As soon as you enter the alleys, you'll find many small shops and vendors gathered here.

From seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables to Xiao Ma Fruit and Vegetable Shop, Lao Chen Fruit Shop, flower shops, photocopying and printing shops, the Regent Hotel, all kinds of restaurants, affordable pharmacies, and medical equipment stores, you can find almost anything here.

Although 301 is a military hospital, it does not only treat leaders and soldiers. It has a dual function: first, to provide medical care for the military, and second, to be a top-tier general hospital open to the whole country.

By 2004, 301 Hospital had become one of the top centers for the diagnosis and treatment of complex and rare diseases in the country. Regardless of whether one had military connections, one could register for medical treatment and be hospitalized normally.

Every day, critically ill patients from other places flock to this place, and the outpatient clinic is packed with people. People start queuing up to register as early as the early morning, which has led to a proliferation of scalpers.

However, ordinary people do not enjoy the same priority treatment as military personnel. They are behind military personnel in queuing and waiting for beds. In addition, ordinary patients basically have to pay out of pocket or go through the capital's medical insurance.

They cannot go to the military clinic area or the military service center inside the hospital to buy things; they can only go to Ximen Shawo Street.

The entire area of ​​sandy hollows has been transformed into small hotels, snack shops, flower and fruit stalls, and medical equipment rental shops, all relying on the livelihoods of these out-of-town family members who come to accompany them.

The two weaved through the crowded shops, vendors, and people, and soon bought several pounds of strawberries and cherry tomatoes.

Seeing the pineapples that the vendor in front of him had peeled, Zhang Anbang bought one as well. "Alright, honey, let's go home. This is enough. If we eat too much, it will go bad. Those two aren't exactly idle people; they don't have much time at home."

When the two strolled back to the compound and knocked on Yuan Lang's door, it was already past eleven o'clock. The door opened, and they saw the fruit Zhang Anbang was carrying.

Yuan Lang immediately smiled and said, "Oh, you're here, why did you bring anything?"

Seeing Yuan Lang's smiling expression, Zhang Anbang immediately spoke up, "What you said makes sense, but you're overthinking it. I originally bought it for my wife, not for you."

With that, Zhang Anbang turned and walked towards his own front door.

Yuan Lang grabbed Zhang Anbang's arm. "Hey, kid, why do you believe everything you hear? Don't you understand the importance of politeness? If you really take it home, how can you bring yourself into my house empty-handed?"

Zhang Anbang chuckled, not shaking off Yuan Lang's hand, and said in a cheeky tone, "What's there to be embarrassed about? You're so shameless to ask, why should I be embarrassed to do it?"

Gu Xiaonan couldn't help but laugh as she watched the two of them tug at each other in a cheeky manner at the door. Yuan Lang's wife, the head nurse of 301, kindly took Gu Xiaonan's hand and said softly, "Don't mind those two crazy guys."

Let me tell you, there aren't many normal people in frontline field units, especially those in command. Those two, in particular, are the most abnormal people I've ever met—yes, the most shameless.

"Haha," Gu Xiaonan followed Yuan Lang's wife into the living room and couldn't help but say, "He is indeed quite cheeky at times, but he's also rather cute."

"Sigh," Yuan Lang's wife sighed, "it seems you're a little abnormal like me."

"Ah," Gu Xiaonan paused for a moment, then laughed again, "Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that? What do you mean we're a little abnormal too?"

Yuan Lang's wife brought out a fruit platter with washed loquats. "Come on, have a taste. I don't know where Yuan Lang bought these. They're quite rare. When I was in the hospital, people rarely brought them when visiting patients. Let's eat and talk."

Gu Xiaonan listened to the advice and took a loquat. She pinched the stem and gently tore off the thin skin. "Hmm, it's sweet and refreshing, like pudding. It's quite delicious. Sister-in-law, tell me quickly, I'm really curious."

"Okay," Yuan Lang's wife said, picking up a loquat and eating it as she spoke. "It's quite amazing how I met Yuan Lang. I was working at the division's medical camp at the time."

At that time, I was accompanying the troops on exercises, providing logistical and medical support. Then, a trainee platoon leader from the Tiger Regiment appeared, wearing a red tag. During the exercise, the two sides were fighting fiercely, and many soldiers were injured.

The intern platoon leader with the red badge suddenly developed appendicitis. It had been four or five hours, and there was no time to delay, otherwise there was a risk of perforation at any moment.

Once the perforation occurs, fecal matter and pus will flow into the abdomen, causing acute diffuse peritonitis, which is life-threatening at any time. When I was sent to the field hospital, one sentence spoken by the trainee platoon leader still resonates with me to this day.