Starting from 1950

Chapter 119 A Joyous Event is Approaching

After watching the program, employees from various units in the rear areas either went home to make dumplings for the New Year if they were on the day shift, or sighed a few times and went back to work if they were on the night shift.

Besides discussing the episode they had just watched, most people would also talk about when the front lines would achieve victory.

Most people guessed that it would only take two or three months, and some more radical ones even thought that the enemy could be driven into the sea in one fell swoop after the Lantern Festival.

As soon as Su Yang got home, he quickly switched the focus to Xiao Yu.

Xiaoyu's view unfolded in the freezing wind of minus twenty degrees Celsius, below which stretched a long yellow dragon winding along the rugged mountain road.

The nearly 40,000-strong contingent moved silently and swiftly toward Pocheon.

As night fell, Xiaoyu's eyesight was greatly weakened, and Su Yang mentally commanded it to lower its head to see clearly.

The 352nd Regiment, as the vanguard, was at the forefront.

The torrents carved deep tracks into the snow.

The mules and horses puffed out thick white breaths as they dragged the wheels of the heavy mountain guns deep into the mud and snow. The drivers' foreheads were bulging with veins, and their whips cracked loudly.

The infantrymen, carrying heavy packs and weapons, walked with heavy, hurried steps, making a dull, continuous "crunching" sound as they stepped on the frozen ground and muddy snow.

No one spoke; only heavy breathing filled the air, gushing from countless young and weary mouths and noses, only to be instantly torn apart by the cold wind.

Despite being the regimental commander, Luo Pojun did not board the mule cart to increase the load on the mules and horses.

The entire 352nd Regiment was not without vehicles.

On the contrary, because of the previous great victories in Junuri and Sansori, they captured far more vehicles than their allies.

However, this time they turned from the western front to the eastern front. The eastern front is mountainous, and the planned four-day forced march required them to avoid enemy reconnaissance planes during the day. Trucks were difficult to hide, so they simply didn't bring them.

"Commander! Have some water!" Wei Han said hoarsely, struggling to unfasten the water bottle from his waist and hand it over.

The kettle was made of aluminum and was ice-cold; the water inside had long since frozen into lumps of ice.

Luo Pojun didn't take it, but just waved his hand, his gaze piercing through the vast snow fog, staring intently at the mountain pass that was faintly visible ahead.

"Pass the word down: after we cross that ridge, rest for another five minutes and wait for the main force!" His voice was dry and hoarse.

"Commander! Third Company..."

"...A soldier from the Third Company has fainted!" A communications soldier ran up from behind, panting, to report.

Luo Pojun's heart tightened, and he abruptly stopped, almost stumbling.

"What's going on? Medic! Quick!"

There was a slight commotion and a pause in the procession.

The medic, carrying his medicine kit, stumbled over.

The one who fainted was a young recruit with a youthful face, who had recently been transferred to the front lines from China. He was curled up on the cold ground, his cheeks sunken and his lips bloodless.

The medic checked his breathing, then looked at his eyes, and sighed, "Malnutrition and exhaustion from the sudden forced march, he's fine."

Luo Pojun clenched his fists. He looked at the recruit's immature and ashen face, then turned to look at the seemingly endless mountain road ahead. With a calm expression, he waved his hand, "Put him on the mule cart!"

As the head of a regiment, he never showed any mercy.

The soldiers of the 50th Army held the line at the forefront of the western front for a full ten days!

This bought them precious time to assemble and relocate. They must win this counterattack in Hengcheng!

Otherwise, the sacrifice of the 50th Army would have been in vain!

Su Yang watched for a while, feeling uneasy. He instructed Xiao Yu to report any issues promptly, then turned his gaze back to Shenzhou, to the Limin Flour Factory residential compound, where the warm atmosphere of daily life dispelled the winter night's chill.

The fire in the stove inside was burning brightly, the red flames leaping and warming the small room, making it almost impossible to feel the minus twenty degrees Celsius outside.

The pot was bubbling with plump, white dumplings, steaming hot. The rich aroma of the meat filling mixed with the fresh scent of cabbage filled the air, making one's mouth water.

Several dishes were already laid out on the table: a large plate of thinly sliced, glistening wild boar meat in soy sauce; a steaming bowl of...

The milky white and rich venison and radish soup is garnished with bright green scallions; a small dish of refreshing cold offal salad; and several kinds of crisp pickled vegetables.

Ruan Sumei wore a faded blue apron around her waist, with the sleeves rolled up high, and fine beads of sweat on her forehead.

She was deftly scooping the freshly cooked dumplings into bowls, the plump dumplings crowding together, looking white and adorable.

"Xinxue! Stop teasing Xiaobai! Quickly bring over the minced garlic and vinegar! Suyang! Go get that bottle of Lao Baigan I brought! It's New Year's Day, have a couple of drinks with your Uncle Zhang and Aunt Wang!" Ruan Sumei's voice carried a hint of busy reproach, but more so a strong festive joy.

"Coming, coming!" Wu Xinxue responded crisply, put down the little white wolf cub in her arms who was curiously looking at the dishes on the table with its wet blue eyes, and ran lightly towards the kitchen.

She was wearing a brand-new floral cotton-padded jacket, which made her face look rosy and radiant with youthful glow.

Su Yang got up to get the wine as instructed, and casually rubbed the little white fluffy head that was near his feet.

The little guy rubbed against his palm contentedly, making soft purring sounds, then toddled back to Wu Xinxue's feet, its little nose constantly sniffing the aroma of meat in the air, its blue eyes full of longing.

Zhang Zhenguo and Wang Cui sat at the kang table.

Both of them had taken off their cotton-padded coats and were only wearing the same style of dark blue sweaters, which were obviously made by the same person.

Since there's no holiday this year, Su Yang, Wu Xinxue, Wang Cui, and Ruan Sumei discussed it and decided to have dinner together on New Year's Eve to celebrate the New Year.

I just didn't expect Zhang Zhenguo to come with Wang Cui.

However, with so many people, it was lively. Everyone pooled together the meat they had received from the factory a few days ago and made a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.

"Dumplings are here!"

Five bowls of dumplings were served one after another.

Zhang Zhenguo rubbed his hands together, looking at the table full of hearty dishes, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Tsk tsk, this year's New Year is really something! Look at this! Wild boar stew! Venison soup! The dumpling filling smells so good! I was just gnawing on frozen cabbage stalks yesterday."

Wang Cui couldn't help but glare at him, and said reproachfully, "Why didn't you come to my house for dinner yesterday?"

Zhang Zhenguo chuckled: "Isn't this to avoid suspicion before marriage?"

Su Yang was stunned upon hearing this. "Uncle Zhang, Aunt Wang, you two are getting married? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why would I tell a little brat? What if he starts spouting nonsense at the factory?" Zhang Zhenguo glanced at him irritably.

"Wow! Aunt Wang, are you and Uncle Zhang really planning to get married?" Wu Xinxue was stunned by the news and it took her a while to react before she started shouting.

Ruan Sumei quickly grabbed Wang Cui's hand, feeling happy for her too, and asked cheerfully, "When are you going to hold the ceremony?"

A blush appeared on Wang Cui's face. She glanced quickly at Zhang Zhenguo and whispered, "We submitted a report to the factory three days ago, and it was approved yesterday. Zhenguo and I discussed it and decided to keep things simple. We'll get our marriage certificate on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, buy some wedding candy to share with everyone, and that'll be it."

"The seventh day?"

Ruan Sumei frowned, and said hesitantly, "Can't we wait until after the first month of the lunar calendar to get married?"

Su Yang laughed and chimed in, "Aunt Mei, that's old-fashioned thinking. Uncle Zhang and Aunt Wang are revolutionary fighters; we don't talk about that."

"Not getting married in the first month of the lunar calendar" is a widely circulated traditional folk taboo, especially in the north.

Because "正" (zhèng) and "争" (zhēng) are homophones, the first month of the lunar calendar is considered unlucky, as it is believed that couples are prone to quarrels and arguments after marriage, leading to unrest in the home.

Moreover, the first month of the lunar calendar is the beginning of the year, when all the gods return to their places. The elaborate rituals and firecrackers of weddings are seen as disturbing the gods and may incur the wrath of "Tai Sui," affecting the newlyweds' fortune.

"Aunt Mei, you're the deputy director of Workshop One now, a real cadre. You can't be so superstitious," Wu Xinxue said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, yes! I was indeed lacking in awareness."

Ruan Sumei smiled after thinking about it and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Dumplings should be eaten while they're hot, let's eat them quickly, or they'll stick together!"

"Yes! Let's dig in!"

Everyone started eating.

Su Yangwu picked up a dumpling and gently blew on it.

Little White immediately nestled beside his legs, tilting its snow-white head back and gazing at him longingly with its bright blue eyes, making soft "woof" sounds in its throat, and wagging its tail tip slightly, full of yearning.

"Little glutton." Wu Xinxue was amused by it and picked up a dumpling from her own bowl and tossed it to it.

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