Old Ma had been discharged from the army.
A good soldier who had served in frontline field units for over a decade, taken first place in the division's five-kilometer cross-country race, and possessed excellent military skills, had been discharged.
When he returned to regimental headquarters to complete the paperwork, just as in the original story, the soldiers of Third Company and the men Old Ma had once led all came to see him off.
Wang Yan and Wu Liuyi came as well. Though they had met fewer than ten times over the past half year, they had already become good friends, good comrades, and good partners. Everyone got along very well.
Xu Sanduo cried. He was not the only one—many people's eyes had reddened. Shi Jin, for instance, and Third Company's political instructor, He Hongtao.
Old Ma was quite well-liked. You couldn't tell on the grassland, but once he returned to regimental headquarters, he seemed to know people everywhere he went, and someone would offer him a cigarette wherever he stopped.
Of course, he still couldn't compare to Wang. After all, when Wang went to see the regiment commander or political commissar, he would sit there with one leg crossed over the other and smoke, then leave with two packs in hand...
Wang Yan stood with Wu Liuyi and saluted Old Ma from afar.
Old Ma stood at attention in the distance and solemnly returned the salute. Perhaps it was the most standard military salute he had given in years.
Then he smiled and waved before turning to leave.
Xu Sanduo was still choking back sobs. Wang Yan walked over, dragged him out of the formation, and kicked him in the backside, sending him stumbling.
"Go. See the old squad leader off."
Xu Sanduo pursed his lips, then suddenly burst