Deep in a secluded mountainous corner of the southwestern border stood the garrison of Squad 1777, Azure Huaxia Front.
May 7, 1994.
With only four days remaining until the captain's wedding, the festive spirit of a celebration had already begun to envelop the entire compound.
Early in the morning, the mess squad bought a large, fat pig from the village down below and led it back, arranging dates to borrow extra tables, chairs, and dinnerware while they were at it.
A few villagers took the opportunity to ask if they could come up to the barracks to offer congratulations and share a cup of celebratory wine at the unit leader's wedding.
The squad had maintained warm ties with the local villagers over the years, but because many Azure officers were sure to attend that day, they had to decline politely.
These past few days, the male soldiers in the squad, carefree as ever, hadn't noticed anything unusual. Aside from daily training, they spent their time gossiping about only two matters.
One was about Han Qingyu and the others.
As the pride of Squad 1777, to avenge their comrades who had perished on the plateau that year and to clear the wrongful grievances they had carried for so long, they were finally going to take Alphonse's head. Three top-tiers, eight supers, countless guns, ten thousand men...
The entire world knew about it now.
Whenever people in the outside world spoke of the origins of those past events, they invariably mentioned Squad 1777, filling both old and new squad members with immense pride.
The other matter was far more practical: how they were going to prank Captain Lao on his wedding day.
The female soldiers, however, were another story.
Some had only joined the squad over the past two years and had never even laid eyes on Major Qing and his companions.
"Major Qing, the dead iron straight man."
"Plague-Chicken Fei, the flamboyant God of Guns."
"Lieutenant Wu Xu is very quiet and might occasionally ask you for directions. Don't find it weird, and don't assume he's striking up a conversation because he likes you. Just tell him the way."
"Inside that iron armor is an older or younger sister."
"When you see Tangtang, call him Uncle—Uncle Tang will do."
All of this had been passed down by the veterans, repeated more times than anyone could count.
The girls eagerly hoped Major Qing and the others could return to attend Captain Lao's wedding, so they could see with their own eyes those comrades who had lived only in legends.
Yet, having heard the news and knowing their current circumstances and what they were setting out to do, the young female soldiers didn't dare hold out real hope.
"Hey, have you noticed?" After chatting about Major Qing, one of the girls huddled in the group suddenly raised an eyebrow with a sly smirk.
Several others smiled meaningfully and nodded.
One made a discreet curve over her stomach with both hands and giggled. "Just a little, but it should still be easy to hide by the wedding day."
"Mm-hmm. You can tell just from how Sister-in-law walks down the stairs every day. And the way Captain Lao looks at her—it's like he's watching a fragile piece of jade."
"Sister-in-law walks with extra care, too."
"Tee-hee, is this what people call boarding the train before buying the ticket? By the way, do you think Captain Lao will have a son or a daughter?"
"A son," one of the female soldiers said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because I've seen it three times already," the soldier said. "Captain Lao slipped into the mountains all by himself to pick wild fruit, and what he brought back in his bundle were green bayberries and green apricots... Haven't you heard that sour means a boy and spicy means a girl?"
Right in the middle of their discussion, someone abruptly hissed, "Shh!"
Captain Lao walked over, catching their glances as he looked at the gathered female soldiers... Having overheard a bit of it, he gave a guilty smile and asked, "What are you all chatting about?"
"Oh, we were just discussing whether you and Sister-in-law will have a son or a daughter in the future, Captain Lao," one of the girls teased deliberately.
Panic flickered in Lao Jian's eyes.
"Do you want a son or a daughter yourself, Captain Lao?" Seeing his reaction, another girl prodded on purpose.
"I... either is fine with me," Captain Lao replied nervously.
"Well, we'll know once Sister-in-law gets pregnant. Sour for a boy, spicy for a girl—have you heard that saying, Captain Lao? If she craves green bayberries or green apricots during pregnancy, the odds of having a son are pretty high..."
Growing bolder, the female soldiers teased him relentlessly.
"Ah? Is... is that so? Haha, well, you girls go on chatting, I still have things to do."
Amid their muffled giggles, Captain Lao hurried away in fluster, turned a corner, and headed toward the kitchen.
***
"Shoo! I already gave you a bone! Can't you just get the hell out? Bu Mang!"
From a distance, the scolding shouts of Head Chef Lao Fang drifted out from the kitchen.
"This damn thing isn't cured bacon! It'll burn your tongue, you hear me? You steal my cured bacon every single year, you damned mutt... And even if you steal it and carry it back to the sentry post, Brother Wu Xu isn't coming back to eat it! Yet you still steal it year after year!"
"This is fried pork for Captain Lao's wedding feast, understand? Shoo! Scram!"
"Awoo-woof!" Bu Mang protested indignantly.
"Yang Qingbai! Yang Qingbai!" Lao Fang had no choice but to yell toward the outside.
"What is it?!" Yang Qingbai called back from outside.
"Come take your dog and cat away! They're ransacking the kitchen!"
"Oh, on it."
As Yang Qingbai was carrying Bu Mang and Mangmang Mangmang out of the kitchen, he ran right into Lao Jian coming in. Forgetting to salute, he blurted out, "Captain Lao."
"Hey." Lao Jian halted.
"By the way, Captain Lao, you seem exceptionally happy these past few days. Could it be..." Yang Qingbai wanted to say he had sensed a kind of happiness beyond merely taking a bride. He had noticed it and guessed at it, and now he wanted to ask.
Lao Jian looked at him, roughly guessing what he intended to ask.
Thinking it over, telling Yang Qingbai normally wouldn't have been an issue, but Tu Zi's message had explicitly cautioned that not a word must be breathed to anyone, lest it invite massive trouble.
Considering those kids were currently at the very eye of the storm, Lao Jian had kept the matter locked tight in his chest these past few days, not even telling Shang Nianhua.
"Nonsense! The man's getting married, how could he not be thrilled?" Head Chef Lao Fang, unaware of the actual situation, shouted teasingly from inside with a laugh.
"Fair enough, I'll wait," Yang Qingbai thought to himself. They really must be coming back.
Only after he left with the cat and dog did Captain Lao step into the kitchen.
"What, worried about the food? Coming to inspect in person?" Lao Fang joked, turning his head while bustling beside the stove.
He was an old-timer in the squad, having been there since Squad 1777 was first founded. Over the years, he had cooked for everyone, berating anyone caught sneaking food only to turn around and whip up a special treat for them. Because of that, he was deeply beloved and held in high esteem.
"No, with you handling things, what would I have to worry about?" Lao Jian looked around in all directions, walked closer, and said in a low voice, "Listen, Lao Fang, there are a few dishes you must make sure to prepare."
"What dishes?" Thinking it was probably the preferred tastes of some leader from the regiment or the army, Lao Fang picked up the menu and pen he had prepared earlier.
"Pork braised in distiller's grains; potherb mustard stir-fried with pork cracklings; dried bamboo shoots cooked with plenty of oil, but don't stew them with meat broth, in case there are bone fragments..."
Lao Jian waited for him to write it down, slowly reciting a few dishes.
The hand Lao Fang used to write abruptly froze. He raised his head and stared straight into Lao Jian's eyes.
"You... you guessed it?" Lao Jian let out a helpless breath, his tone a bit flustered.
"Yeah." Lao Fang nodded, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile even as his eyes instantly reddened.
The head chef remembered exactly who loved each of these dishes. If it were just one or two, he might not have realized, but when all of them were put together, he immediately knew.
"Shh, just between the two of us. Not a word to anyone right now. I haven't even told my wife," Lao Jian hurriedly cautioned.
"Got it."
Lao Fang nodded forcefully. Turning around, he wiped away his tears and began picking through the pork cracklings, selecting the best-looking pieces and setting them aside.
Chapter 554