Chapter 615 Training 3
As He Yuzhu slowly left the gate of the courtyard with a slightly staggering but relieved step, the courtyard, which was originally immersed in a subtle tranquility, was disturbed by a stone accidentally thrown into the lake, and instantly appeared layers of delicate and vivid ripples. This fluctuation started from the gate of the courtyard and gradually spread to every corner of the courtyard, making the whole space full of vitality and laughter.
The men, the militiamen who had gone through hard training day after day and had countless stories and emotions in their hearts, still sat around the stone table that had witnessed countless laughter and tears. Although the surface of the stone table was slightly mottled and the edges were smoothed by years, it was like a silent history book, recording the laughter and tears of every generation in the courtyard and carrying countless precious memories.
At this moment, they were either talking and laughing loudly, recounting the thrilling moments and interesting episodes in the training, with exaggerated gestures, as if they wanted to present those wonderful scenes directly in front of everyone; or they bowed their heads in thought, with their eyes flashing with deep nostalgia for the past years, with low and magnetic voices, slowly uncovering those long-forgotten past events, making the audience seem to be able to travel through time and space and experience those unforgettable moments.
On the other side, the women also found their place in this lively atmosphere. In a corner of the yard, they were busy and orderly preparing a special welcome ceremony for the returning warriors. The cool tea, brewed with fresh tea leaves, exuded a light fragrance, as if it could instantly dispel the summer heat; the exquisite snacks, with good color, fragrance and taste, every bite is the ultimate temptation to the taste buds, and is also the best reward for the hard work of the men. The sunlight shines through the gaps in the leaves, sprinkling on their busy figures, adding a bit of softness and beauty to this warm picture.
Amidst the laughter and joy, Liu Haizhong's voice was like a magnet, firmly attracting everyone around him. His face was filled with pride and satisfaction, which came from the bottom of his heart. He began to talk about the details of the militia training, and every detail was vividly described by him, as if those past events happened yesterday and were within reach. His story was like a string of dazzling pearls, connecting one wonderful moment after another, making people intoxicated.
When he gets excited, Liu Haizhong even stands up and imitates the standard movements from the training days. Although the years have left their marks on him and his movements are no longer as smooth and precise as they were back then, the sense of power and rhythm that emanates from his inside out can't help but move people. Each of his movements seems to be telling the story of that passionate and enthusiastic time, making people feel as if they have witnessed the elegance of that era with their own eyes.
What's more interesting is that Liu Haizhong occasionally interspersed some humorous conversations between his comrades. Those words full of wisdom and humor were imitated vividly by him, which made everyone present burst into laughter, as if they really traveled through time and space and returned to that era full of passion and friendship. At this moment, the whole courtyard was surrounded by an indescribable warmth and joy, and everyone was immersed in this rare tranquility and beauty.
Just as everyone was immersed in Liu Haizhong's vivid narration, as if they had witnessed the heroic deeds of his "Speedy" comrade with their own eyes, he suddenly changed the subject, deliberately lowered his voice, and said with a bit of mystery and joking: "Do you know? In our militia team back then, there was a powerful figure known as 'Speedy'. His speed, hey, that was enough to catch up with the wind!"
As soon as these words came out, it was like a huge stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up waves. Everyone's eyes suddenly lit up, as if countless small lights were lit up, and they all cast their eyes full of curiosity and expectation. They stretched their necks one by one, their ears perked up, afraid of missing any details, and eagerly waited for Liu Haizhong to reveal the mystery of this "speedster" and his amazing legendary story.
Seeing this, Liu Haizhong raised a smug smile, as if he had mastered some great secret. He cleared his throat, deliberately kept the audience in suspense, and then slowly spoke: "That boy is not very tall, and he is inconspicuous even in the crowd. But don't underestimate him, once he starts running, his speed is like being chased by the wind! Every time he performs a mission, he always takes the lead and rushes to the front of the team, like a wild horse that has broken free from its reins, and no one can catch up with him."
At this point, Liu Haizhong paused deliberately to whet everyone's appetite. He gestured with his hands, as if he was trying to recreate the scene of that year, his face filled with sincere admiration and nostalgia for his "Speedy" comrade.
"Take for example the time when we went to hunt down a group of cunning bandits. The terrain there was so complicated! There were crisscrossing ravines and dense woods everywhere, just like a maze. For ordinary people, it would take a lot of effort to find the way, let alone chase the bandits. But such an unprepossessing boy, relying only on his own two legs, actually caught up with the bandits! Tell me, isn't this quite amazing?"
Liu Haizhong's words were full of praise and admiration for his "speedy" comrade, as if he was the hero in his heart. Everyone sat together and listened to his narration attentively, each of them was fascinated and enjoyed it. Whenever he talked about the thrilling parts, everyone would exclaim in amazement and laugh happily from time to time, as if they had returned to that passionate era with Liu Haizhong.
At this moment, Xu Damao, who had been sitting nearby and listening quietly, suddenly interrupted and said, "Second Uncle, your story is so wonderful! I am excited and curious when I hear it. But I want to ask, who is the fastest runner in our courtyard? You old man, please give us a good evaluation! Maybe there is a 'speedster' hidden here too!"
When Liu Haizhong heard Xu Damao's sudden question, he was stunned for a moment, then he looked up and laughed as if he was amused, and scolded with a smile: "Hey, you little brat, the question is quite interesting! In my opinion, who is the fastest runner in our courtyard? Of course it's our chef He Yuzhu! Although he spends most of his time in the kitchen, busy preparing meals for everyone, don't underestimate his legs, they are famous for their nimbleness! If you don't believe me, find an opportunity to compete with him some other day, and I guarantee that you will lose with conviction!"
As soon as Liu Haizhong finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter in the yard. Everyone cast curious glances, as if they were all imagining the scene of He Yuzhu "flying" in the kitchen. The scene was both funny and warm.
At this moment, the sun was shining on the bluestone road of the courtyard, adding some vitality and vigor to this ancient courtyard. He Yuzhu walked briskly and slowly returned from other residents' homes in the courtyard. He was holding the seasonings he had just borrowed from his neighbor, with a gentle smile on his face. When he heard the humorous words of Liu Haizhong, the corners of his mouth rose involuntarily, revealing a bright smile, as if he was infected by this joy.
He walked up to her with big strides, patted her shoulder with his hand, and said with a smile: "Second uncle, you are such a joker! I am just running around in the kitchen, busy preparing meals for everyone. How can I compare with your heroic spirit in the militia? Back then, you were a well-known capable person in our hospital. You were really fast and capable!"
As soon as He Yuzhu finished speaking, the people around him burst into even louder laughter. This laughter was like flowers blooming in spring, gorgeous and beautiful, spreading quickly, making the entire courtyard full of vitality and vigor. Even the scorching heat brought by the hot summer seemed to be dispelled by this strong atmosphere of joy.
As everyone was immersed in laughter and joy, a tall figure approached from afar. Everyone looked closely and found that it was Liu Ping'an. He was wearing a brand new and neat military uniform, with a tall and straight figure like a pine tree, and a steady and powerful step, looking particularly energetic. On that resolute face, there was a serious and earnest expression, and his eyes revealed a kind of firmness and confidence, which made people respect him.
Liu Ping'an's arrival instantly quieted the originally lively courtyard. Everyone stood up and welcomed his return with the warmest applause. Liu Ping'an smiled and nodded to everyone, then walked to Liu Haizhong and whispered a few words. Although his voice was low, every word was full of power, making people feel his inner determination and persistence.
After the conversation, Liu Pingan turned to face the crowd and said in a loud voice: "Dear villagers, thank you for your continued support and trust in our militia. Today, I came back to tell you a good news. Our training has achieved remarkable results and everyone has made a lot of efforts. I believe that in the days to come, we will be able to protect this land and our homeland."
As soon as Liu Ping'an finished speaking, warm applause and cheers rang out in the yard again. Everyone said that they would continue to support the work of the militia and jointly protect this beautiful home. In this courtyard full of joy and unity, everyone contributes to this land in their own way.
Liu Pingan looked around and saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him, like thousands of arrows shot at the bull's eye. The heavy trust and expectation made his heart warm. He took a deep breath, raised his voice, and his voice resounded throughout the courtyard like a bell, and said loudly: "Dear neighbors, please be quiet for a moment and let me say a few words from my heart. I have some exciting good news here, and I guarantee that everyone will be happy to hear it!"
When everyone heard this, the originally noisy scene suddenly became silent, like a movie that was suddenly paused. All eyes, whether it was the kindness of the elderly, the innocence of the children, or the eagerness of the young people, were all attracted to Liu Ping'an as if he was a magician who was about to reveal the answer to the mystery.
Seeing this, Liu Pingan raised a confident smile and cleared his throat slowly, as if he was making final preparations for the important news that was to come. Then, his words were like a spring breeze, warm and powerful: "Everyone, over the past few days, our Siheyuan militia has been training hard day and night regardless of wind and rain! Sweat has filled every corner of the training, and has also witnessed the growth and transformation of each of us. This is not only an improvement in physical fitness, but also a sharpening of will and a cohesion of team spirit. And all these efforts have not been in vain, we have made remarkable progress! This is the result of everyone's concerted efforts and joint efforts, and it is the common glory of our Siheyuan!"
At this point, Liu Pingan paused deliberately, and his eyes swept over everyone, as if to confirm whether they felt this honor and pride. Then, his voice became more excited: "However, in order to be able to more comprehensively and deeply test the fruitful results of everyone's hard work, and at the same time to further enhance the powerful combat effectiveness of our team, the superior leaders, after careful consideration and repeated weighing, resolutely issued an important decision - that is, to organize a large-scale and competitive militia competition! This is not only a competition, but also a great opportunity to show the style of our Siheyuan and the strength of our militia team! And by then, our Siheyuan will be fortunate to be one of the strong representative teams to participate in this grand event! This is not only the glory of our Siheyuan, but also the pride of each of us!"
As soon as Liu Ping'an finished speaking, the whole courtyard was like a ignited gunpowder barrel, instantly falling into a sea of jubilation and enthusiasm. The men, who were usually full of energy, could not contain their excitement and joy at this moment. They were eager to try, as if they could not wait to show their heroic spirit on the field and prove everything with their strength. The women, gentle and virtuous, also gathered around at this moment, clasped their hands tightly, with a firm light in their eyes, and kept cheering for them. Everyone's face was filled with pride and eager anticipation for future competitions. The children also gathered around the adults, jumping excitedly, as if they could also feel this glory and joy, and the seeds of dreams were planted in their little hearts.