Meng Yan's Transformation

"Brother Ziqiang, wake up soon, I want to hear more, I want to hear more! What is there in heaven? What is there in hell?" Xiao Mengyan shouted while shaking Zhan Ziqiang.

"No more talking, no more talking. I have to go to work. I'll tell you when I have time!" Zhan Ziqiang said as he stood up and walked down the firewood stack.

For the first time, Xiao Mengyan inexplicably felt that death was a very beautiful thing that she longed for, because only death could lead to heaven.

Without waiting for spring, the winter conscription work began. When Zhan Zifeng learned that the army had come to Fendou Commune to recruit soldiers, he was ecstatic, because being a soldier had been Zhan Zifeng's dream since childhood. So Zhan Zifeng found the production team leader to go to the brigade to find the militia company commander, and then went to Fendou Commune to sign up.

Zhan Zifeng went to the production team every day to inquire about the registration results.

About five or six days later, he came to Zhan Yu's house from the production team with a smile on his face.

"Zhan Zifeng has signed up for the army. The militia company commander and I have gone to the commune to sign him up. In a dozen days, all the young applicants in the commune will have to undergo a conscription physical examination. Zhan Yu, Yunqing, you should prepare for Zhan Zifeng and wait for the physical examination notice!" The production team leader said to Zhan Yu and Yunqing.

Zhan Zifeng, who was loading grain in the warehouse, heard the production team leader say that he had been registered. He jumped out of the warehouse with joy: "Thank you, team leader, thank you, team leader!..." Zhan Zifeng said as he nodded and bowed to the production team leader.

"You're welcome, you're welcome! When you really become a soldier and work hard in the army, and have a bright future, don't forget to buy a bottle of 'Shaodaozi' for your uncle!" said the production team leader, patting Zhan Zifeng on the shoulder.

"I will never forget it. I will definitely buy a few more bottles of 'Shaodaozi' for the captain uncle!" Zhan Zifeng said with a smile from ear to ear.

"Don't worry, captain brother. It's just 'Shaodaozi' wine! I promise to make you drunk! Our Zhan family is not ungrateful people. Zhan Zifeng has forgotten his father Zhan Yu! Hahaha!" Zhan Yu said.

"Zifeng is more sensible and calm than other children. He was admitted to high school. Due to the family's tight financial situation, he gave the opportunity to study to his younger brother Zi'an. He didn't finish high school. Zhan Yu and I really feel that we owe Zifeng. If he can become a soldier, it will be a chance for him to make a name for himself. This is also thanks to the captain's brothers. Everyone in the Zhan family will remember this kindness and will never forget it!" Yunqing said to the production team leader.

"Sister-in-law, you are too kind. You are the pride of our village! When I went to the commune and told them that I was going to register your son, Yunqing, they all asked if it was Yunqing, the talented girl who could write calligraphy with both hands and paint Chinese paintings! Listen, your name is very famous! No one knows the name of my production team leader Liu Changfu, so I have to use the name of sister-in-law Yunqing before people will pay attention to me! Please give me a calligraphy piece that day, and I will frame it and put it in the main hall of my house!" The production team leader said to Yunqing.

"Brother Captain, you are exaggerating too much. You are too flattering. What are you talking about granting or not granting? If you need my calligraphy, I would be very grateful if you don't mind. It would be such an honor for me!" Yunqing said.

"Come in! Come in and have a drink of water first!" Zhan Yu just realized that several people were standing in the yard.

"Hahaha, I'm so happy that I forget everything!" said the production team leader.

Eleven days later, the production team leader came to inform Zhan Zifeng that he had to go to Fendou Commune for a conscription physical examination the next day.

The weather was particularly cold on the day of the physical examination. The north wind was blowing, and it felt like a knife cutting people's faces. Zhan Zifeng walked from his home to the commune. Although the cold wind made Zhan Zifeng shiver, his heart was warm, because if Zhan Zifeng passed the physical examination, he would be closer to joining the army.

When Zhan Zifeng arrived at the Fendou Commune, most of the young applicants had already lined up. Seeing this, Zhan Zifeng hurried to the end of the line and stood there.

The conscription physical examination was conducted at the health center of the Fendou Commune. The first item of the physical examination was the ENT department. Zhan Zifeng had a slight scar on his lower jaw, which was the mark of a fall from a tree when he was a child trying to rob a bird's nest. During the physical examination, the doctor was impressed by Zhan Zifeng's handsome features and ignored his scar. Then the internal medicine and surgery department were examined, followed by a chest X-ray, and the last item was a blood test. Without exception, Zhan Zifeng passed every item successfully, and the doctor gave him a qualified result.

The Zhan family was a poor peasant family, and Zhan Zifeng had attended high school. Zhan Zifeng knew that once he passed the conscription physical examination, he would be a soldier. So at noon that day, after the physical examination, Zhan Zifeng walked home with a brisk pace, humming a little tune along the way, and his mind was filled with the image of himself wearing a green military uniform. It usually took more than an hour and forty minutes to walk home from the commune, but today, Zhan Zifeng only walked for more than fifty minutes and arrived home.

As soon as I walked into the yard, my mother Yunqing came over with concern and asked about the results of the physical examination.

"Mom, everything went smoothly today! It really went smoothly! But when it came to checking my facial features, the doctor hesitated for a moment because of the scar on my lower jaw. My heart was in my throat. I was really afraid that I would not pass the examination! In the end, the doctor gave me a pass in every item!" Zhan Zifeng said with a very happy smile.

After hearing what Zhan Zifeng said, Yunqing's nervous expression finally relaxed.

Zhan Zifeng knew that his mother Yunqing wanted him to join the army. Although Zhan Zifeng could not go to high school, could not go to college, and worked as a farmer in the production team, his mother Yunqing did not want Zhan Zifeng to live a life of working hard all his life. Now that there was an opportunity to join the army, his mother Yunqing naturally wanted Zhan Zifeng to give it a try.

As Zhan Zifeng expected, on the seventh day after the conscription physical examination, the production team leader, the militia company commander, the old breeder and the production team accountant came to Zhan Yu's house. As soon as they entered the yard, the militia company commander laughed and said loudly: "Sister-in-law Yunqing! I said Zifeng is a good kid. Look, Zifeng's enlistment notice has arrived. I'm here to give it to Zifeng."

Zhan Zifeng was a breeder and accountant in the production team. He was about to enlist in the army, so he could no longer do both. Today, I will hand over the job to the accountant and the old breeder.

Zhan Zifeng was a very careful person. After repeated calculations by the production team's new accountant, it was found that the recipient's accounts recorded by Zhan Zifeng were exactly the same as the payee's accounts, which meant that the accounts were balanced. Balanced accounts also meant that there were no problems with the accounts recorded by Zhan Zifeng.

After the handover was completed, it was already noon, and Yunqing warmly asked the production team leader, the militia company commander, the old breeder and the new production team accountant to stay for lunch. However, the four knew that the Zhan family was in a very difficult situation and were unwilling to cause trouble for the Zhan family. Even though Yunqing repeatedly asked them to stay, the four still left.

In the next few days, Xiao Mengyan told everyone she met: "My brother Zifeng is going to be a glorious PLA soldier!" Everyone was surprised. They felt that Zhan Zifeng was too honest and could not endure the hardships of the army. But Zhan Zifeng was determined to change his fate and resolutely chose to enlist.

The morning before Zhan Zifeng left home, Zhan Yu came back from the emergency room of Lin Commune. That night, the whole family had the last meal of Zhan Zifeng at home. During the meal, Xiao Mengyan pouted and said, "Brother Zifeng, can you still go fishing with me during my summer vacation? What if I miss you?"

The whole family felt very upset after hearing this... Zhan Zifeng made up his mind that he would work hard in the army and strive to make a career and change the fate of himself and his family!

That night, Zhan Zifeng thought a lot and fell into a deep sleep very late.

The next morning, Yunqing woke up Zhan Zifeng just after daybreak and urged him to wash up quickly. After Zhan Zifeng got dressed and washed up, Yunqing brought him a bowl of dumplings she had made earlier. Zhan Zifeng was the only one who had the dumplings. Just as he was about to eat, he saw the expectant eyes of his brothers and sisters standing beside him. Zhan Zifeng couldn't bear it, so he shared the dumplings in the bowl with his brothers and sisters while Yunqing was away. Seeing his brothers and sisters eating voraciously, Zhan Zifeng's eyes became wet.

After dinner, it was dawn. Zhan Zifeng, wearing a big red flower on his chest and carrying a lot of bags, went to the brigade accompanied by his family to meet up with other recruits, and then went to the commune together.

When the new soldiers had gathered and were led by the militia company commander to walk to the commune, Yunqing and the children of the Zhan family followed the team for a long time. Little Mengyan suddenly ran forward and cried, "Brother Zifeng, we are waiting for you to come back!..."