The memorial service was held as scheduled in a sad atmosphere. Many senior officials attended with their families. Qiao Xinwei also followed Jiang Hao to the memorial service. Although she had been mentally prepared for it, the scene still shocked her.
Endless.
This is a national humiliation. Every soldier who sacrifices is a hero.
This was the first time for Qiao Xinwei to attend such a grand occasion with Jiang Hao. She met many people, some of whom she had often seen on the news broadcast, and many of whom could not remember their names at all. She did not dare to look too much, and her steps were tight.
He followed Jiang Hao closely, fearing that he would lose him if he wasn't careful.
The memorial service started at eight o'clock in the morning and lasted until four o'clock in the afternoon. It lasted eight hours without any pause. Many senior officials spoke, and family representatives also spoke. The atmosphere was so oppressive that it made people breathless.
Can't help but feel angry.
However, no one left the show midway.
After the memorial service, some people in military uniforms were reluctant to leave for a long time. The victims were their brothers and sisters, and they were more grieved than others.
Jiang Hao found his father and said, "Dad, Mom, you go first, I want to stay for a while."
Jiang Zhizhong nodded and said, "That's fine."
Lin Caiyin: "Ah Hao, you are a good mother and I am happier than anything else. Don't be arrogant in everything. Think of Xi Bao."
Jiang Hao remained silent. Qiao Xinwei said, "Mom, Dad, please take care of Xi Bao. We'll pick him up when we're done here."
Lin Caiyin: "It's okay. We are happier with Xi Bao. If it's late, we won't pick him up. It's the same if Xi Bao sleeps with us."
An old leader next to him shouted: "Mr. Jiang, let's go together?"
"Okay, okay." Jiang Zhizhong turned around and warned, "We are leaving, you should pay attention to yourselves."
"Yeah." Jiang Hao agreed.
After a period of confusion, Jiang Hao finally met Feng Qingruo, Guo Xueyan's wife, in the lounge of the family area.
Feng Qingruo saw Jiang Hao coming with his wife. This was the first time she saw the legendary Jiang Hao's wife. There was a rumor in the army that Chief Jiang had betrayed his family and his wife for military orders, so after completing the last
He retired after the major drug trafficking case. Jiang Hao retired at the right age and during the rising period of his career. How many people are feeling sorry for this. This leader with a great career, for the sake of his family, he retired.
, withdrew.
After a while of polite greetings, Feng Qingruo looked at Qiao Xinwei closely and said sincerely: "Mrs. Jiang, I have heard about you for a long time. You are a celebrity among our military wives."
"Ah?" Qiao Xinwei was stunned.
"Chief Jiang," Feng Qingruo's eyes shifted to Jiang Hao, "Xueyan has always respected you and always set an example for you."
Jiang Hao: "Sister-in-law, please don't say that. Don't call me chief, call me Jiang Hao. Please express my condolences. If you have any difficulties at home, you can tell me directly. We are all in the same community."
Feng Qingruo smiled. Her expression was extremely contradictory. There was a hint of fear in her complicated eyes, and at the same time there was a sense of risk-taking, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare to say it.
Jiang Hao also noticed it, "Sister-in-law, if you have any difficulties, just tell me. As long as it's within my ability, I will definitely help you."
Feng Qingruo mustered up the courage and said something he might never say in his life, "Chief Jiang, you have always been a role model for learning Yan. Whenever I have any complaints, he will tell me, 'Think about Chief Jiang and then think about it.'"
Do you think we are quite happy? Yes, at that time, I did feel that compared to the sacrifices you made for the army, our family Xueyan was really nothing. Later you quit and recommended Xueyan, but he was actually not that
He knew that his abilities in all aspects were not as good as yours, so he told me, 'I'd better go to the training camp and stay for a while to practice. I can't be too far behind Commander Jiang.' So he went.
, I couldn’t come back after I went there.”
As he said that, Feng Qingruo turned back to look at Qiao Xinwei, and the tone of his words was not right, "Mrs. Jiang, the reason why I say you are a celebrity among our military wives is because you have a husband with enough military exploits.
Moreover, this husband is able to put aside the overall situation and devote himself wholeheartedly to you."
Jiang Hao's face was heavy, and so was Qiao Xinwei's.
"Maybe it's because my family, Xueyan, doesn't have this destiny. His skills are inferior to others and he still needs to be given orders at the last moment. This is just me complaining. Don't take my words seriously. Haha, I just want to ask, which soldier doesn't want to go home, and which soldier doesn't want to go home?
There are juniors and seniors, and which soldier is helpless? Why can Commander Jiang choose to change careers with everyone’s understanding? Why is my family, Xueyan, still being pushed forward even though he knows he has no ability? Why?”
Feng Qingruo became excited as she spoke. When others heard this, they took her arm to stop her from continuing, "Sister-in-law, don't say this to Chief Jiang."
Jiang Hao: "It doesn't matter...Sister-in-law, if you have anything to say, say it all."
Feng Qingruo was not malicious, but she was resentful towards Jiang Hao in her heart. She could not hide this emotion, "Chief Jiang, I'm sorry. Please forgive the unreasonable complaints of a middle-aged widow who suddenly lost her mainstay. I
I really feel that you cannot shirk your responsibility for the death of Xue Yan and the soldiers in the third platoon. If this is a war, and you are a deserter who shrinks in the name of protecting your family."
In the end, Feng Qingruo was still pressed down by the two lieutenants next to him. Even Guo Xueyan's parents secretly accused her of what she was saying.
Jiang Hao said nothing, but his livid face could not be concealed, and Qiao Xinwei was also stunned. She turned to look at Jiang Hao. She would never forget Jiang Hao's expression at this moment. He was unusually silent.
and calm.
In the two days after the incident, Jiang Hao said only a handful of words. Basically, Zai Xi asked him questions, and he only gave a perfunctory answer. His whole body was trapped in guilt and grief. Today, Feng Qingruo
His words, especially the word "deserter", deeply hurt his heart.
Many people tried to persuade him to enlighten him, but only Feng Qingruo said something that he agreed with, that he was a deserter.
On the way home, Jiang Hao couldn't drive at all. When the car drove a hundred meters away, he stepped on the brakes and stopped. The sky outside gradually darkened, the cold air swept wildly, and his heart was also crazy.
I felt so guilty that I twitched with guilt.
Qiao Xinwei held his hand and said calmly: "I'll drive, you take a rest."
The positions were exchanged, and Qiao Xinwei got into the cab. She had not driven for four years. A novice had not touched the steering wheel for four years. You can imagine how slow she drove.
When making a U-turn, there was a sudden "click" sound, and Qiao Xinwei slammed on the brakes. She thought to herself, Oh no, the front of the car must have hit the green belt. She looked at Jiang Hao nervously.
Jiang Hao didn't say anything. He just stretched out a hand and held her hand along with the steering wheel. He controlled the steering wheel and said softly: "Step on the accelerator."
"ah?"
"It's okay, just relax and step on the accelerator slowly."
Qiao Xinwei did as she was told, and slowly stepped on the accelerator, and the car slowly drove into the normal lane. She hadn't driven for many years, and she couldn't control the direction well. She turned the steering wheel too much and hit the flower bed.
.
"sorry."
"It's okay, the car won't be in the way."
Qiao Xinwei took a breath and said, "I'm sorry, not only because of the front of the car, but also because..."
"Stop talking." Jiang Hao interrupted.
Qiao Xinwei bit her lip and swallowed the bitterness in her heart. She knew that he was uncomfortable, and she wanted to comfort him and share some of his pain.
Jiang Hao said lightly: "Have a good drive. Let's go have a meal first. We haven't eaten for a day...and then go home. I have something to talk to you about. Xi Bao will let him sleep at my parents' house for one night."
.”
"Okay." In fact, Qiao Xinwei thought the same way. Things were so messy and she was really afraid that she wouldn't be able to take care of them.
It was getting late, and after a while, night had fallen. They ate something casually at a restaurant outside the community. Jiang Hao only took two mouthfuls of food and then put down his chopsticks. The food was completely tasteless.
"You haven't eaten well for two days. You should eat a little today anyway, otherwise your body will collapse."
Under Qiao Xinwei's persuasion, Jiang Hao reluctantly took two more bites. He took the rice bowl, stared at the white rice in the bowl, and said, "I remember a practical exercise. I was trapped in a deep mountain forest with a small team.
After four days and four nights, there was nothing to eat. Xue Yan suddenly took out a small bag of rice from his pocket. Everyone made a fire to cook, which was probably only two bowls of rice. The slander made everyone drool, but they all
He said he was not hungry, but insisted on giving me food. If he was not hungry, who would believe him, haha..." He smiled bitterly.
"Then how was it resolved?"
"Then it was divided equally. Twelve people were given two bowls of rice, each with two mouthfuls. Because this was a military order from me, they must obey it."
"What happens next? Did you win that drill?"
"Of course, we are an ever-victorious army." When Jiang Hao said this, his lips showed unprecedented pride. They were the best special forces soldiers he had personally selected and trained.
The more memories he had, the more pain he felt. Jiang Hao fell silent again as he spoke, staring at his rice bowl in a daze.
Suddenly, Qiao Xinwei held his wrist and said gently: "Go ahead."
Jiang Hao, who had his head lowered, raised his head mechanically and looked at her blankly and in surprise.
"Don't worry about the family. I will take good care of the children and be filial to my parents. Just go and be focused on it."
"..." Jiang Hao moved his lips, but could not speak for a long time.
"I know that you have made a decision and cannot shake it. I am saying this because I hope you will not be distracted when you go to the battlefield, and don't think about your guilt for me and the child. Jiang Hao, you are too worried about everything.
Throw it away and I will wait for you at home. If I can't wait for you... I can bear the worst outcome."
In the dark room, Jiang Hao pressed Qiao Xinwei against the wall. He held her face and bit her lips. Slippery and warm tears rubbed their faces. Maybe at this moment, he kissed her.
, having her is the best way for him to express his love for her.