Chi Yong spent the whole night like this. Some people noticed that he did not sleep, but no one cared about him. They reminded him that in the post-apocalyptic world, everyone had to be responsible for their own decisions.
Holding onto his rifle, Chi Yong stared at the darkest sky in the early hours of the morning. He seemed to be waiting for the first rays of dawn to drive away the darkness and dispel the gloom in his heart. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps clanking on the steel deck stopped beside him. Before he could see who it was, someone suddenly sat down beside him. Turning his head, he saw his captain, Ma Da.
"Still thinking about Liu Biao?
What's there to think about? He's already like that. If he wasn't killed by you, then he was killed by the vice-captain. Do you really have the heart to watch those things tear him into pieces and eat him? "
Chi Yong turned his head away from Ma Da. He twisted his body and slid to the floor, using his backpack as a pillow.
"Captain … You don't have to persuade me … I know … In that situation, if it was me, I would also be willing to be happy. It's just that my heart feels terrible … A few hours ago, we were eating together … He was a driver, a taxi driver. If it was in the past, we wouldn't have known each other. Everyone has their own way of living. He couldn't enter my circle, and I couldn't enter his circle. But now, he's my closest person … my only family …"
After saying that, Chi Yong began to sob. He hugged his helmet and buried his head in the sobs. Listening to Chi Yong's sobs, Ma Da sighed. Chi Yong was too young. He was not even 23 years old. It was normal for him to be emotionally unstable.
"He and I were soldiers together. At that time, we didn't know each other. Our friendship was forged through killing on the battlefield. Through life and death, he became my big brother, and I became his brother. What's so good about that? He was always thinking about me. In order to let me eat a few more mouthfuls of meat, he fought many times with others.
I'm an only child with no brothers or sisters. I don't know how other people's big brothers act, but he's my big brother. Our friendship can't be faked. If only one of us could live, he would definitely fight to die.
Sob … sob sob … I shot … I killed him … I killed my own brother … Why wasn't I down there? Why wasn't he the one on the boat? Even if I died with him … "
Hearing this, Ma Da frowned. Chi Yong had the desire to die. Humans in the post-apocalyptic world were very strong, but also very fragile. Their nerves were constantly stretched taut, and in order to survive, they were willing to fight and snatch. But once their hearts met with an unbearable blow, they would think of escaping, wasting the chance of survival that many people yearned for. The post-apocalyptic world was a cruel elimination competition, if one could not persevere, they could only wait to be eliminated.
"Bullshit, do you really want to die that badly?
Why don't you jump off the boat yourself?
It wasn't easy for him to live until now. Did he have to suffer for nothing?
If your parents were still alive, what would they think?
After you die, what will you say when you see Liu Biao?
Kid, what's in your head? "
Chi Yong did not speak. He held his rifle tightly, his index finger gently stroking the blade of the folding bayonet.
"Don't think about this in the future … Your life is no longer your own. There will be ten lives waiting for you. If you go to war with the thought of courting death, you will cause the death of your squad."
When Ma Da said those words, Chi Yong was still in a daze. He did not understand. What team? What team leader? He did not understand.
"Bang …" Ma Da punched Chi Yong's helmet, causing him to fall to the ground. Chi Yong stared at Ma Da in a daze and asked with a trembling voice, "What does a squad leader have to do with me?
I'm not even an official soldier? "
"Militia Squad Leader Chi Yong!"
Ma Da stood up and shouted loudly. His shout woke up the sleeping personnel. They opened their vacant eyes and looked around. Then, they focused on Ma Da who was standing at attention.
"Here …"
Chi Yong crawled up and stood perfectly straight in front of Ma Da. At this time, Chi Yong's comrades also stood up.
"I hereby appoint the 8th Militia Squad. Group 1 Squad Leader Chi Yong as the Squad Leader of the 8th Militia Squad. I hope that Squad Leader Chi Yong can maintain discipline in future battles and strive to be the first. In addition, he will be promoted to Rank 1 Petty Officer and join the official squad …"
Chi Yong was dumbfounded. His comrades were also dumbfounded. It was not easy for a militia to become an official squad. This was because all the official squad members of Zhang Xiaoqiang's fleet were Rank 1 Petty Officers. Being a Petty Officer was a lifetime profession. In the future, they would not need to worry about their health or death. Even if they were crippled or crippled, Zhang Xiaoqiang would still take care of them.
Militia was equivalent to new recruits. After an official squad member died, their corpses would be transported back to the camp and placed in a sealed coffin before being transported back to the base's Osmanthus Mountain to enjoy a military funeral. As for the militia, if they had time, their corpses would be buried. If they did not have time, they would be set on fire and buried after the battle. In the post-apocalyptic world, corpses were food for mutated beasts and zombies.
In other words, Chi Yong had quietly become a person who could preserve his corpse. Although the people of the post-apocalyptic world did not care about such things, who did not want to have a grand funeral after death?
"This … this … this … Is there a mistake?"
Chi Yong stuttered. His eyes were not on Ma Da's serious face. His hands were constantly rubbing his trousers, not knowing where to put them.
"Squad Leader Chi Yong … This is what you deserve. I hope you can go one step further …"
Ma Da smiled and encouraged Chi Yong. He admired the young man in front of him. He was decisive and did not hesitate. Although he would regret it later, it was a hundred times better than hesitating before the battle.
"Then … What about you, Squad Leader Ma?"
Chi Yong did not dare to imagine what Ma Da would do if he was promoted.
"You are still my soldier. My new position is the squad leader of the 4th Militia Squadron. You are still my subordinate. Now, I can be considered a squad leader among the official squad members. Haha … You guys fought well, and I also commanded meritorious services."
Ma Da was originally depressed about being a squad leader, but he did not expect that he would be promoted to a rank 2 officer. Now, he had three squads of militia under him, and each squad had 30 people. In other words, he was commanding a large force. In the future, he might even be promoted to a rank 3 officer or a second lieutenant.
Ma Da's comrades were stunned. In the blink of an eye, their comrade had become an official squad member. Although Chi Yong had received an award during the commendation ceremony and received the position of a squad leader, it was just that the guns used were different. There was no difference between a Type 63 rifle and a Type 81 rifle. Their status and benefits were the same. The only difference was that the squad leader had to worry about some trivial matters, while they were happy to be free.
Chi Yong was also stunned. He had killed his big brother with his own hands, but he had received the position and status that his big brother had dreamed of. He could not accept this, and felt that he had stolen it from Liu Biao.
Ma Da saw Chi Yong's expression and thought that he was still sad for Liu Biao. He took a step forward and patted Chi Yong's shoulder. "The deputy chief commander has ordered to recognize Liu Biao as an official squad member. Everyone saw Liu Biao's achievements last night, so you don't have to be sad. I think that if Liu Biao knew that he died in battle as an official squad member, he would be happy."
"But … But Big Brother has already been burned to ashes …"
Chi Yong's eyes stared at the side of the ship, as if his big brother was standing there smiling at him. He felt a heartache.
"It's nothing … If I die in battle one day, maybe I will be cremated just like him. When we win, you can still find his ashes and transport them back to the camp. Let Manager Wang make the best coffin and transport it back to the most beautiful Osmanthus Mountain. We will fire a gun to send him off …"
Chi Yong instantly turned into a different person. The previous dispirited, dejected, self-blaming, and sadness had all disappeared. He straightened his back and bared his chest. His eyes were filled with vigor as he stared into Ma Da's eyes. He nodded heavily. He wanted to fight, to fight for the sake of finding his big brother's ashes.