"They're back … they're back …" The team members on the wall shouted as they pointed outside.
Uncle Yun and Yutou had returned. They were carried back. Uncle Yun was lying on the stretcher, looking at the team members who had gathered around him. Yutou was lying on the stretcher beside him. Yutou was fine. There was a bump on his head, and a piece of flesh on his shoulder was bitten off by a bullet. He could have learned from Huang Quan in a sling, but the stubborn women pushed him onto the stretcher and carried him back.
Compared to Uncle Yun, Yutou was not used to such treatment. His young face was red. In his opinion, Uncle Yun's leg was injured, but he could walk back on his own. Now, it seemed like he was pretending to be sick.
The entrance was bustling with activity. The team members beamed with joy and greeted the two people on the stretcher. From time to time, someone patted Taro's head and gave him a thumbs up while praising him loudly. Taro had never been praised like this before. The simple child's face was so red that it could drip blood.
When the two people were carried to Zhang Xiaoqiang, Zhang Xiaoqiang nodded at them. His eyes were filled with relief. The burden that had been weighing on his heart was lifted. Not only him, Zhang Huai'an and Huang Quan were also happy. "It's good that you're alive. It's my fault for not being considerate.
"It's good that you're alive, it's good that you're alive. It's my fault for not being considerate enough to let you suffer. Go, tell the doctor to stop playing with his stuff and heal us warriors. If there's anything missing, let the search team snatch it. If there's nothing in town, then go to the city. They are heroes!"
As Zhang Xiaoqiang shouted, the team members standing at the side cheered, "Heroes!
Heroes … "
The two of them were carried into the depths of the camp. Taro Tou looked at Uncle Yun with an excited expression and said,
"Uncle, did you hear that?
We are heroes! We are heroes! "
Uncle Yun was not as excited as Yutou. He looked at the white clouds in the sky quietly, and his heart was filled with desolation. He thought of his father. The word "hero" was so heavy that he could not bear it.
"We are very sorry that your people were injured. We are willing to provide all the materials and personnel needed, and we hope for your forgiveness. Yesterday …"
The one who spoke was Zhao Xiaobo. She represented the female battalion and spoke to a room full of men. She was a little nervous. Her eyes kept glancing at Yomi, who was sitting at the side with a straight face, until she was interrupted by Zhang Xiao Qiang.
"They are my team members, our official armed team members. They have long been prepared to be injured or even die in battle. No one expected last night's accident, and no one wanted to encounter it. As you said, the attackers were all killed, and the instigator was beheaded. This is the end of the matter. I just want to ask one thing."
Speaking of this, Zhang Xiaoqiang saw Zhao Xiaobo's body tense up. He felt a little puzzled. He thought that it was impossible for two old and weak people to block the attack of hundreds of people. It should be the female battalion, Uncle Yun, and Yutou who blocked the attack. This surprised him again. If the female battalion was really so brave, why were they so weak during the day?
Were they acting? Who were they acting for?
"How many casualties did you have?"
Hearing that Zhang Xiaoqiang finally asked about this matter, Zhao Xiaobo was stunned. The thing she was most afraid of happened. She couldn't help but look at Huang Quan, but she saw Huang Quan staring at her with burning eyes. Obviously, he also wanted to know.
"I … I … I don't know how to say it. We thank you for the help you provided, and we are willing to provide 100 rifles and 10 base ammunition. We are most grateful. At the same time, we are willing to take out some food and other materials as compensation …"
Zhao Xiaobo was upset. She looked around and wanted to use weapons and food to divert everyone's attention.
Zhang Xiaoqiang didn't speak and stared at her eyes. Zhao Xiaobo's eyes flickered. She didn't dare to look at Zhang Xiaoqiang. She looked for help at the only man she was familiar with here, Huang Quan.
Huang Quan saw Zhao Xiaobo's uneasiness. He seemed to have guessed something in his heart. His eyes were like fire, and his face was red. He didn't want to lose his temper in public. His right hand held the armrest of the wooden chair tightly.
"Pa …" The porcelain pieces flew, and the tea splashed. The white porcelain teacup in her hand was crushed by Zhang Xiaoqiang with one hand. The flying porcelain pieces crossed a high arc and fell at Zhao Xiaobo's feet. She almost collapsed to the ground. The fear turned into tears in her eyes.
"Say it … I'm waiting …"
Zhang Xiao Qiang crushed the teacup in his hand, but his face was still calm. Everyone in the room saw Zhang Xiao Qiang and Huang Quan's abnormal behavior and guessed what was going on. They looked at Zhao Xiao Qiang in the middle of the field with unfriendly gazes. The sound of teeth grinding could be heard in the room.
"They are very brave. They have been on the front line and never retreated. They have repelled the enemy's attacks several times and won time for us to launch the raid. They are the greatest heroes. We will always remember them. We are willing to be your most loyal friends …"
"Wait … You said that they have been on the front line and never retreated?
I believe this. My team members have been tested by blood and fire. What I want to ask is your casualties. You said that you launched the raid. I mean, it was your Mu Peipei who launched the raid alone, right? "
Hearing Zhang Xiao Qiang's gloomy and cold words, Zhao Xiaobo's pretty face was drained of blood. Her cheeks were pale, her lips were pale, and her lips were trembling slightly. Her frightened eyes were out of focus.
"We are sorry for them … You know, you saw it during the day …"
"Crack …" The white porcelain pieces in Zhang Xiaoqiang's hands turned into porcelain powder. This small sound was like thunder striking Zhao Xiaobo's heart. She could no longer stand. She fell to the ground and trembled. She didn't know if Zhang Xiaoqiang would vent his anger on her. She was terrified.
"How many years have you been a soldier?"
"Almost three years!" Zhao Xiaobo answered Zhang Xiaoqiang's question subconsciously.
"Hehe … The two of them are not bad. Very good. Two farmers. Two farmers who have been soldiers for less than two months. They fought alone without backup. They used themselves as bait to block the attack of hundreds of people. They were seriously injured but they didn't retreat. They deserve to be called heroes. They didn't bring shame to the hot spring base.
I was wrong. I was really wrong. I thought they would run back. They didn't. They were fighting in the name of the team. I was wrong. I became timid and lost my pride. I am sorry for my team members. "
When Zhang Xiao Qiang said these words, his face was calm and his voice was soft. He was not looking at Zhao Xiaobo or the crowd, but at the vast sky outside the door. There was a creaking sound in his hand, and dark red blood flowed out, dripping on the ground under his hand like plum blossoms.
"Huang Quan!"
Zhang Xiaoqiang suddenly looked at Huang Quan and shouted. His shout made Zhao Xiaobo, who was sitting on the ground, tremble.
"Here!"
Huang Quan bounced up from the wooden chair and saluted. He stared at Zhang Xiaoqiang's eyes with a burning gaze. He didn't look at Zhao Xiaobo anymore.
At this moment, Huang Quan was like an angry King Kong. He was tall and straight. His face was cold. He clenched his teeth so that the curve of his cheeks was clear. He had the valiant spirit of an iron-blooded man.
"The two team members will be promoted to second-class non-commissioned officers immediately. They will enjoy double the treatment. Write their deeds on paper and let the children learn every day. Let them know the achievements of our team members. As long as the base is not destroyed, their achievements will last forever."
"Yes!"
Huang Quan saluted and turned to go out. He still didn't look at Zhao Xiaobo, who was staring at the tip of his shoes on the ground.
"Who is that?
I don't want to know your name. You go back. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with us in the future. We don't want the things you said. I won't exchange the lives of my team members for those things. If I want them, I will go out and rob them … "
Zhao Xiaobo raised his head in surprise and looked at Zhang Xiaoqiang in surprise. He didn't expect that Zhang Xiaoqiang would let her go so easily. Zhao Xiaobo heard the decisiveness in Zhang Xiaoqiang's words. This was not in line with her intention. She wanted to take this opportunity to formally form an alliance with the team. Unfortunately, she didn't understand the world of men.
"Please … please listen to me …"
"Get lost!"
Zhang Xiaoqiang shouted and interrupted Zhao Xiaobo's self-defense. Zhao Xiaobo didn't dare to say more. He climbed up from the ground with a dirty face and jumped out of the door …
Zhao Xiaobo disappeared outside the door. No one in the room spoke. Zhang Xiaoqiang felt a burst of regret. He didn't expect that the two people he abandoned as cannon fodder would show bravery beyond his imagination. Suddenly, he returned to the Clear Vow Meeting. The two men, one old and one young, broke their fingers with them. They were willing to live together and ask to die together.
And he, Zhang Xiaoqiang, the actual leader of the team, made a slip of the tongue. He didn't ask people to go out and ask for help at the first time. His heart was placed on the interests of the camp. In the balance of interests, he gave up the two team members who were willing to die with him.
Zhang Xiaoqiang didn't want to think about it anymore. It was useless to say more. A mistake was a mistake. He didn't want to continue to regret it. He made up his mind that he would never give up a team member again. He would never trade interests for the lives of the Hengliang brothers.