Grandpa and Grandma, I Have Been Awarded "Outstanding New Soldier"

Do you remember the new recruit Zhang Haoshuang, who cried while thanking his grandparents when he enlisted? On April 7 of this year, the "Grassroots Transmission" section of the PLA Daily reported on Zhang Haoshuang's story of joining the army with a grateful heart—"There is a Kind of Gratitude Called Joining the Army." Two months have passed; how is Zhang Haoshuang doing in the army now? What experiences has he encountered, what changes have occurred, and what progress has he made?

Recently, we contacted a comprehensive training base of the Xinjiang Military District again, inviting Zhang Haoshuang, who has been awarded the rank of Private, to share his training story with everyone. Please stay tuned.

——Editor

Grandpa and Grandma, I have been awarded the title of "Outstanding New Recruit"

■ New Recruit Zhang Haoshuang, Comprehensive Training Base of the Xinjiang Military District

At the rank conferral ceremony, the moment I put on the rank of Private, I felt an immense pride inside: "Now I am a real soldier!"

Gently touching the "one stripe" on my shoulder, the bits and pieces of my training over these days resurfaced in my mind—

When I first enlisted, due to my larger physique, my physical fitness became my weak point. Initially, my performance in pull-ups and the 3000-meter run was not ideal. To catch up, I ran two extra laps while others were running, practiced pull-ups for an extra 10 minutes, and even practiced push-ups and sit-ups at a set time and quantity every night... But even with such effort, my results still lagged behind. During that time, I felt very down, but fortunately, my comrades did not give up on me.

During one 3000-meter run, I felt short of breath and my legs wouldn’t move halfway through. Just as I hesitated whether to stop, I heard my comrades encouraging me: "Zhang Haoshuang, keep going!" "Come on, run with my pace!"... And so, the cheers and encouragement from my comrades accompanied me as I crossed the finish line. That day, I reached a passing level for the first time.

The camaraderie among comrades made me feel that the army is another home for me, and it reminded me of my grandmother's words: "Think of everyone first, then your own family. When you dedicate yourself to the country, you gain a new home."

Not long ago, I received a package. When I opened it, I found several pairs of cloth shoe insoles sent by my grandmother, along with a letter: "Training in the army is tough, I sent a few more insoles, please share them with your comrades; you are all good kids protecting the home and country..." Although it was just a few short sentences, I could feel my grandmother's care and concern.

Later, when I spoke with my grandfather on the phone, I learned that since I enlisted, they have been particularly attentive to military news and check the weather forecast for my city every day.

Once, I saw a report on my unit conducting a 30-kilometer training exercise in the Gobi Desert on my phone. My grandparents said, "It's so hot, and you're walking so far; your feet must be blistered..." So my grandmother made insoles for us, and each pair was embroidered with the words "Safety" and "Struggle."

I once heard my grandmother say that during the war years, to support the soldiers at the front, they worked day and night making cloth shoes and sewing military uniforms. Sometimes, when a needle pricked her finger, she would wrap it with a piece of coarse cloth and continue working. During the most difficult years, when there was no extra fabric in the base, my grandmother would take apart her winter cotton jacket, carefully extract the cotton, clean it, and sew it into military cotton clothing. She told me that the most common saying among the villagers at that time was: "We hope that after the war, all the children can return safely."

Previously, when someone asked me why I chose to enlist, my answer was "gratitude." Now, if someone asks me what I have learned besides gratitude since coming to the military camp, I would answer: I have learned to fight, learned to bear responsibilities, and more importantly, I have learned what it means to be part of a collective, what it means to take responsibility, and what it means to never abandon or give up. The road ahead in my military career is still long, and there is much more for me to learn.

By the way, we just completed our new training graduation assessment, and at this moment, I want to happily say: "Grandpa and Grandma, I have been awarded the title of 'Outstanding New Recruit'!"

(Yan Shuikun, Special Correspondent Ding Lei from the PLA Daily)

Testimony from the Experience

How Much Love is Sewn into Grandma's Insoles

■ Wu Di, Political Work Officer of the Xiangcheng City Military Affairs Bureau

"Child, seeing you wear the rank, I am happier than anything else. You focus on your training and don’t worry about us..." On the other end of the video, over 90-year-old Grandma Zhang spoke with a trembling yet firm voice. Zhang Haoshuang's grandfather also tried to straighten his back, reminding him word by word: "Do well in the army and be a good soldier!"

This day was the day Zhang Haoshuang received his rank. Since Zhang Haoshuang's grandparents are too old to attend the ceremony, I took it upon myself, at the request of the two elderly people, to travel to the military camp to witness Zhang Haoshuang's transformation and growth. At the same time, another comrade from our military affairs bureau also arrived at the grandparents' home to help connect the video call, allowing the two elderly people to witness their grandson's glorious moment "in the cloud."

As the ceremony concluded, I solemnly handed the new insoles made by Grandma Zhang to Zhang Haoshuang: "Before you left, the elderly person repeatedly instructed me to hand them to you in person." Zhang Haoshuang received them with both hands, gently touching the fine and even stitches, and his eyes turned red: "Recently, the insoles that Grandma sent, everyone is reluctant to wear them; we wash them very carefully..."

Zhang Haoshuang told me that when he was young, his grandmother often made shoe soles under the light. Now, at over ninety, her hands have become a bit shaky, but the stitches are still fine, as if she has sewn in all her thoughts and concerns.

"Everyone, let’s all try on the new insoles made by my grandmother!" Zhang Haoshuang turned around and shared the insoles with his comrades nearby. The new recruits' faces were filled with happiness as they received the insoles.

I stood by and watched, feeling a warm current surge in my heart. At this moment, the insoles are not just objects to put underfoot; they represent a ninety-year-old woman's deepest expectations for her grandson and the simplest support from an ordinary family for the cause of national defense.

Our Xiangcheng is a revolutionary old area. A few pairs of insoles may not weigh much, but they represent the deep affection between the people and the army. Back then, countless women spontaneously gathered fabric, twisted hemp ropes, and worked overnight to produce military uniforms and shoes to support the front lines. Now that the smoke of war has long dissipated, the traditions of the old area have not been lost. Although the insoles are thin, they show me the unchanging affection of the people for their soldiers, which still flows silently and nourishes the hearts of the soldiers in the military camp.

With this deep concern and expectation, I believe that Zhang Haoshuang and his comrades will surely walk steadily and far on the road to strengthening the army.

Source: PLA Daily