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墨書 Inktalez
Nansha, Yongshu Island. The humid and warm sea breeze gently brushed against Zeng Yadong's face, bringing with it the salty spray of the ocean, a refreshing sensation that soothed her. Wheat was dozing under a large banyan tree, holding a book with an unreadable cover. The hammock swayed lightly with the rhythm of the sea breeze as Zeng Yadong turned over comfortably, her bare skin marked by the imprint of the netting, clearly having lain there for quite some time. "Girl? Are you asleep?" Zeng Yadong stretched lazily and reached out to tap the brim of the little girl's hat. The girl stirred lightly and woke up immediately. "Huh? No," she said, wiping drool from her mouth and offering a shy smile, sticking out her tongue. "I'm just a bit sleepy."
"Go back to sleep then; you don't want to catch a chill," Zeng Yadong chuckled lightly, jumping down from the hammock and picking up her coat hanging from a branch. "Let’s sneak back."
"Maybe not," Wheat said, rubbing her sleepy face and hesitating. "We’ve already been bold enough sneaking out; what if we get caught when we go back?"
"True enough. Let’s wake up a bit before heading back to work," Zeng Yadong agreed without pushing it further. She rolled up the hammock ropes and stuffed them into her backpack, looking out through the banyan trees with a sigh. "What a strange weather; it’s still so hot in December."
"Dong Dong, aren't you from Guangdong? Aren't you afraid of the heat?" Wheat helped her gather her things, quickly putting on her clothes and shaking the book in her hand with a smile. "The book says this area has a tropical maritime monsoon climate with an average annual temperature of 28 degrees Celsius; in summer, the surface temperature can reach about 60 degrees!"
"But it should be winter now; isn't there supposed to be a big temperature difference? I don’t see any drop in temperature," Zeng Yadong said, shaking her damp long hair and pinching the little girl's nose playfully. "Besides, why should people from Guangdong not fear the heat? Go ask those Black men if they’re afraid."
"I won’t! Just seeing them scares me," the girl shook her head vigorously, recalling a few Black men on the island that made her uneasy. "They speak Chinese pretty well."
"Don’t be scared; Sister Dong has your back. Those guys have been in Guangdong for who knows how many years; speaking Chinese is nothing for them—they can even play mahjong and make dumplings," Zeng Yadong said as she stretched her limbs before tossing her backpack onto a tree branch and leading Wheat out of the banyan grove towards the runway.
The "Runway" was an old name; now it had become a construction site where men and women worked hard under the scorching sun, creating an atmosphere of fervor. From afar, two three-story concrete buildings had already risen at the end of the runway, still rough-cast but topped with bright red national flags fluttering in the wind. The settlement mentioned by Establishment was right here, on this artificial island located at the northernmost tip of the Nansha Islands.
Once known as Yongshu Reef, when troops were stationed here in '88, only an ocean observation station could be built. Years later, that small reef had transformed into Nansha's largest artificial island, boasting five ocean observation stations, seven communication stations, a 4,000-ton wharf marked by a prominent sovereignty monument, nearly 3,000 meters of military airstrip, and vegetable greenhouses covering 500 square meters. Most importantly, when fixed-wing airports were established, power demands surged across the island leading to additional solar power station installations.
None of this appeared in Establishment's early announcements; people thought their new home would be similar to Flower Bird Island—perhaps better living conditions but not too different overall. So when New Pu Ocean docked and everyone disembarked in shock—even Zeng Yadong, who had been indifferent—was astonished.
Establishment's higher-ups first moved into observation stations and arranged for some women and children (mostly female relatives) to stay in the only two-story small building before Brothers in Arms led over a thousand people on an island tour. Aside from large infrastructure mentioned earlier, there were bunkers, machine gun positions, libraries, dining halls, medical rooms, storage rooms, pigsties, Stilt House Club… and an asphalt road named 'Patriot.' People saw mountains of food supplies piled high in storage rooms… they saw over ten fat pigs rolling in mud at the pigsty… they saw clean tables and chairs along with pots and pans in the dining hall… they saw greenhouses filled with vegetable varieties from all over the country…
Women moving into the two-story dormitory were also amazed by four bunk beds arranged neatly in each room and marveled at blocks of tofu cut like they were hewn by axe—only regretting that there were no bathrooms inside; each floor had a communal shower room while restrooms were across the hall. It was no exaggeration to say that public toilets were as clean as dormitories; even dust on toilet seats could be blown away effortlessly.
Zeng Yadong visited the library next door to Stilt House Club where large banyan trees stood between two buildings swaying gently in the sea breeze that carried natural fragrances through the forest; it was not large but neatly organized with twelve rows of bookshelves containing everything from storybooks to national defense strategy outlines—there was nothing one couldn’t find there. The club had billiard tables and table tennis tables while upstairs featured game rooms with rows of brand-new computers behind glass doors at one end; faint scents of disinfectant lingered in medical rooms equipped with all necessary medical facilities…
Was this really a refuge? No—it truly felt like home. The artificial island wasn’t large; on maps it appeared merely as a small dot but for these survivors it was almost paradise-like—not just because it had various facilities but more importantly because there was no danger or threat.
If one had to pick at this utopia’s flaws it would only be housing issues since there weren’t enough stationed personnel for all survivors—the two-story small building and observation stations sufficed. Establishment leaders didn’t give survivors any chance to complain; immediately after touring they issued their first order—build houses.
Clearly everything was under Establishment's control; decisions had already been made during their journey here along with reasonable frameworks established through preliminary assessments aimed at getting life on the island back on track as quickly as possible. Survivors hardly needed to worry about anything—they just needed to follow orders.
New Pu Ocean had conducted surveys door-to-door during its voyage including health conditions, education levels, vocational skills etc., so task assignments went smoothly once they arrived onshore. All previously mentioned places received corresponding personnel assigned whether it was growing vegetables or cooking meals or tending pigs or providing medical care—each position matched with suitable candidates; those possessing life skills or vocational skills became highly sought after while combat personnel who could fight found themselves relegated to laborers temporarily.
However this was only temporary since machine gun positions and bunkers needed them while maintaining security on the island required their presence too. But before that they first needed to build their own houses.
Thus all survivors without immediate “employment” gathered at the airport where tasks were assigned under guidance from some personnel before heading to transport materials and equipment from Sea Vessels docked at port according to instructions given by insiders starting an enthusiastic nationwide house-building movement.
Unfortunately for Zeng Yadong and Wheat they were also assigned to construction teams because Zeng Yadong used to run a private shop but there weren’t any stores available here for her so she could only choose washing or construction work; Wheat was similar—despite having performed excellently at Launch Base she was essentially just a student.
The sisters resolutely bid farewell to laundry teams diving headfirst into construction sites becoming beautiful scenery amidst brick-moving laborers. Fortunately for them being connected helped as soldiers from Shaoshan took good care of them while men on site displayed rare qualities of gentlemanliness—allowing them to slack off occasionally.
So while men labored under blazing sun moving bricks and dusting off debris both sisters lounged comfortably wearing swimsuits brought from their ship enjoying cool shade beneath banyan trees.
Life plunged from ordinary into hell then ascended back into paradise so suddenly that no one cared if two young beautiful girls slacked off—though no one minded they couldn’t overdo it since there were other girls on this island too so they kept their laziness within limits taking breaks yet returning dutifully to work afterward.
It must be said that maintaining regular lifestyles could change much including attitudes and emotions. Before arriving here Zeng Yadong’s mental state had been poor constantly worrying about companions harboring no hope for future whatsoever. Yet within just days lethargy faded away gradually replaced by youthful vigor and optimism returning bit by bit as dark memories slowly dissipated over time leaving behind lingering negativity fading silently away.
To borrow an extremely cliché phrase—Zeng Yadong radiated vitality once more. If Dong Dong could emerge from gloom how could Wheat remain despondent? Of course not! The two girls unconsciously embraced their past memories fully opening their hearts to accept new lives ahead.
Burying pasts didn’t mean forgetting those who once lived—the departed friends still lingered deep within their hearts regardless if it was Zeng Yadong or Wheat or anyone else—they all harbored many unfulfilled promises many long roads yet traveled many friends yet reunited.
They looked forward eagerly towards days when reunions would come soon hoping that when they finally gathered everyone would wear beautiful smiles instead of bone-chilling despair.
Underneath blazing sun accompanied by sea breeze reminiscent of summer Zeng Yadong held Wheat’s hand both wearing genuine smiles behind them lay bustling construction sites ahead stretched endless azure seas while companions continued onward into distance.
No longer burdened by pain they believed long roads eventually lead somewhere meaningful. “Since we never chose goodbye why worry about not reuniting someday?” Zeng Yadong remarked.
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