Thick clouds cover the northern region, with the first snowfall. The cold wind is like an icy needle, piercing towards the Linjiang outpost of a certain unit of the Northern Theater Army. New recruit Zhang Chenhang looked out the window at the vast expanse, with a mixture of novelty and nervousness in his eyes. Beside him, the sentry officer Xu Zeyi was also gazing at the wind and snow, murmuring, "It's time to paint the boundary marker red." A gust of cold wind whistled by, and Xu Zeyi suddenly snapped out of his mind - the old squad leader Mao Jiale, who had once painted him red, had already retired from the army last year. Now that he has grown into a sentry officer, he shoulders the responsibility of leading new recruits. Memories drift back a few years with the snowflakes. It was also a snowy day, and when Xu Zeyi first arrived at the outpost, the cold and lonely environment made him feel lost in his heart. Veteran Mao Jiale led him to the boundary marker. The stone tablet is covered with wind and snow, and the red characters "China" can be faintly seen. This is the color engraved in the hearts of warriors. ”As Mao Jiale spoke, he took out an oilcloth box from his pocket - inside was a calligraphy brush and a can of paint protected by body temperature. He bent down to brush away the snow and painted the boundary marker red. In the white snow, the red suddenly came alive, like a ignited flame. The boundary marker is the imprint of the country, and this red is the background color of soldiers, as well as the belief in their hearts. ”This word has been imprinted on Xu Zeyi's heart ever since. The whistling wind brought Xu Zeyi back to reality. He turned around and said firmly to Zhang Chenhang, "Get ready, let's go paint red." He took out the familiar oilcloth box, put it close to his body, and stepped into the wind and snow. On the way, Xu Zeyi talked about the scene of the day when Mao Jiale was discharged from the army. It was also a snowy day, and the veteran specially came to the boundary marker, painted it red for the last time, and took a photo with the boundary marker for the last time. This boundary marker, this red one, will be handed over to you from now on! "These were the last words left to Xu Zeyi by the old squad leader before leaving the outpost. Finally, they arrived at the boundary marker. The wind and snow continue, and the boundary markers remain silent. Zhang Chenhang. "Xu Zeyi turned around and solemnly handed over the oilcloth box with body temperature." Today, you come and paint it red. "Zhang Chenhang was stunned for a moment, then straightened his chest and took over this" heavy responsibility. He bent down, dipped in bright red, and focused on painting the stone tablet. At that moment, the inexperienced profile of the new recruit overlapped with the faces of the old soldiers. Xu Zeyi watched the scene quietly, a warm current flowing in her heart. The wind and snow have no intention of stopping. But the red on the boundary marker, which was just described, stubbornly shone brightly, as if possessing the temperature to withstand the cold. (New Society)