Wishing to be a tall and upright oil citrus tree in the early morning, He Mao, the squad leader of a border defense brigade of the Southern Theater Command Army, led two sentries to face the first ray of sunrise and set foot on the road to the observation post of the position. Every time he handed over his post, He Mao would come to the observation post, where his "old comrade in arms" - a citrus tree that had stood at the highest point of the position for decades like a day. According to the older generation, as early as the formation of the company, this tree was guarded here. The oil citrus tree bears fruit once a year, with a bitter and slightly astringent taste. Many people frown and wish to spit it out immediately after taking the first bite. Only the old squad leader who has been stationed in the company for many years will smile and tell the young soldiers that when you take the second bite, you can feel its sweetness and sweetness... In the hearts of the company officers and soldiers, eating oil oranges gradually has the meaning of "bitter first, sweet later". Every year when the fruit ripens, veterans often bring new recruits to the tree to pick the fruit and taste its flavor. Local people say that oil citrus fruits also have anti-aging effects, and in the hearts of officers and soldiers, they have an additional layer of "perseverance" meaning. "The spirit is never old, always young." He Mao often said to the young soldiers around him, "The conditions of the outpost are difficult, and we defend every day, relying on this spirit of" taking pleasure in hardship and taking pride in hardship. ". For decades, the platoon underwent adjustments and reorganization, and the guard officers and soldiers changed one after another. The oil citrus tree always stood tall next to the outpost. Every time new recruits leave the company, veterans are discharged, and duty is rotated, the company will hold various ceremonies under the oil citrus tree to receive spiritual baptism. That year, He Mao took a bumpy day by car to report to the company. He remembered the first time he was on duty at the observation post, when the old squad leader handed him an oil citrus fruit. The bitter taste still lingers in his memory. Until later, he gradually strengthened his determination to root in the border defense and tasted the sweetness of the oil oranges. Once, He Mao's mother came from her hometown in Hubei to visit the military. Seeing the harsh environment and high-intensity training in the military, she quietly wiped away tears as she felt sorry for her son. He Mao took her to the bottom of the oil citrus tree and handed her an oil citrus fruit. His mother took a bite and her expression changed, starting to pout. "Chew for a while longer, and you will taste a sweet taste," He Mao said with a smile. The taste of being a soldier is like tasting oil oranges - when you first arrive, everyone feels bitter and homesick, but the longer you guard, the sweeter your heart becomes, because soldiers guard the borders of our country and the lights of countless families behind you. Seeing He Mao's determination, his mother burst into tears and smiled, "Work hard, my father and I will always support you." After many years of enlistment, He Mao had the opportunity to work in a better environment army. But he felt that there were always shortcomings in other places, so he resolutely chose to stay in his hometown in his heart. In 2016, he returned from studying at a non commissioned officer school and underwent a rotation of duty at the end of the year. He voluntarily applied to protect his position, which brought him closer to the oil citrus tree. After each handover, he would stand under the tree for a while; Sometimes when encountering unpleasant things, I will also pick a fruit and slowly chew it in my mouth, savoring my original intention. The road to the sentry post is difficult to walk, and when it rains, it becomes muddy and slippery. He Mao and his comrades carry cement and lay stone bricks on their backs; The battlefield is blocked by vehicles, and supplies need to be carried by hand and shoulder. He led people to cultivate a vegetable field on the mountaintop, and the officers and soldiers all said, "Captain He is the oil citrus tree in our hearts."