My Little Poplar - Chap 117

After Yan Shaozhen’s transfer back to Beijing, Yu Fengcheng moves to Chen Jing’s dormitory.

After half a year, there is finally a shadow and a voice other than his in his dormitory but he knows it’s not Bai Xinyu.

He and Chen Jing came from the same class, they were always close but at first, Yu Fengcheng rarely spoke, especially when Chen Jing mentioned Bai Xinyu, Yu Fengcheng would immediately fall silent.

But gradually, Yu Fengcheng started to talk about Bai Xinyu, even if it was just to talk to Chen Jing about their old days in the Recruit Company, in the Third Squad. Chen Jing was the only person in the whole of the Snowleopard Brigade he could talk to about Bai Xinyu, he needed someone to help him remember the details, the bits and pieces of Bai Xinyu, it would warm his frozen heart, even if it was just from hearing the name from someone else. He needs Chen Jing to remind him from time to time that Bai Xinyu has not disappeared from his world, they are just not in the same place.

One day, Yu Fengcheng saw Chen Jing sewing on a vest, he took a look, he saw Chen Jing sewing his name on the vest, he remembered that many old the Snowleopard had the tradition of sewing the name of one’s nearest and dearest on the left breast of one’s clothing, both a blessing.

Thinking of all the missions the Snowleopard have been on, all of which have been dangerous and could have killed them at any time, this twisted name is the softest part of these hardened warriors’ hearts, the one that keeps them alive.

Chen Jing looked at him and said, “I sewed my parents names’.”

Yu Fengcheng nodded and said, “Lend me your needle and thread.”

Chen Jing threw him the needle and thread bag.

He turns out his vest, his long fingers touching the left side of his chest. He remembered the first time he had seen a veteran do this and thought it was a bit of a twat, now he understood, when desperately missing someone and not being able to hug them, it really needed something to distract them a little, otherwise the weight of the thoughts could be too much and could crush them.

Chen Jing said: “Whose name are you going to sew?”

Yu Fengcheng didn’t answer, he threaded the needle, first he sewed a simple character “Bai”, the character was crooked, it looked like it had been mutilated, Yu Fengcheng looked at the character, his nose felt sore. He took a deep breath, he leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling with wide eyes.

Chen Jing came over, took one look at the character ‘白’ and said, “You’ve sewn a five stroke character so twisted, the character ‘新’ is definitely going to be on your stomach.”

Yu Fengcheng shifted his gaze to him and said, “Sergeant, I want to go back to him, right away.”

“Immediately is unlikely, you have two years of normal enlistment and family leave, go back in the New Year.”

Yu Fengcheng said with a bitter smile, “Two months to go…”

Chen Jing patted him on the shoulder and said, “Xinyu has sent a lot of money to Zhao and Golden Eagle’s family.”

“I know.”

Chen Jing sighed: “I’ve been in the army for so many years, he’s the most unexpected soldier, from the day he joined to now, it’s like he’s been rebuilt but when you think about it, it’s because he’s kind, he has potential, that he’s the man he is today, the army has inspired him and he’s given back to the army, in short, he’s a real trooper. I don’t think anyone who came into contact with him will ever forget him.”