Near the Mid-Autumn Festival, the unit moved to the construction site on Taiwu Mountain to participate in the building of a power plant.
This was a challenging task, as the entire plant was being constructed inside a granite cave on the mountain. The soldiers of the engineering company spent their days blasting rocks, digging tunnels, and hauling stones, often ending up covered in dust. The only upside was that staying inside the cave meant they didn’t have to worry about artillery attacks from the enemy during the day.
However, the cave was damp, and their blankets would quickly become moist. As Ashan wrapped himself in what felt like a damp blanket, he couldn’t help but recall memories of the flooding back in his village and the warmth he felt when they received relief blankets from the Ministry of Defense. The past days in the military dependents' village played out in his mind like scenes from an old movie.
When the annual Mid-Autumn Festival arrived, the company commander decided to reward the soldiers for their hard work on the construction project. He arranged for the company kitchen to slaughter a large pig they had been raising and prepared a feast, which was delivered to the site in a large military truck so that the soldiers could properly celebrate the festival.
Adding extra dishes to the meal was always a highlight for the soldiers, and soon they were enjoying large cuts of meat and toasting each other with metal cups or rough bowls. Before long, the officers' faces turned red from the drinks, and those who liked to drink eagerly seized this rare opportunity to indulge.
Amidst the lively gathering, a soldier stationed at the company headquarters called the commander, reporting that a shipment of mooncakes and letters from Taiwan had just arrived from the base. The commander was asked whether to send someone to collect them for distribution at the site. Since mooncakes are traditional for the festival and letters from home were the most cherished morale boosters, the commander decided to send someone right away.
He called over the driver and asked if he could still drive after drinking. The driver confidently replied that he had only had a few drinks and was far from being too impaired, even offering to walk in a straight line to prove it. He assured the commander that he would be ready to drink properly after completing this errand.
A few kitchen staff joined the trip to return with some cookware and large pots, while Ah-Tu eagerly volunteered to go along and help out, wanting to serve his fellow soldiers. As the group boarded the truck, they cheerfully shouted that they'd be back soon to continue the celebration.
在近中秋節的時候，部隊進駐到太武山工地，參與發電廠的構築工程。
這是一個非常艱鉅的任務，整個發電廠是要建造在太武山的花崗岩洞裏，所以炸山、挖洞、運石，讓這些工兵連的弟兄整天都是灰頭土臉。唯一撿到的是弟兄們這次是住在岩洞裏，單日裏就不必擔心老共的炮擊了。
不過岩洞裏濕氣很重，棉被很容易就受潮了。阿三蓋著這好像滲了水的棉被時，不免回想起以前在村子裏淹過水的情景，又記起後來從國防部領到救濟用的棉被時的溫馨。過去在眷村的日子就像是一部老電影一樣，在阿三的腦海裏一幕一幕地放映著。
一年一度的中秋節到了。連長為了犒賞連上官兵構工的辛勞，特地要連部伙房殺了平常餵養的大肥豬，做了豐盛的菜餚，用大軍車運到工地來，讓兄弟們好好過個中秋夜。
部隊裏加菜是件弟兄最高興的事，只見大伙兒們粗獷地吃著大塊肉，互相用鐵杯或粗碗敬酒。不一會兒就見長官們個個都被灌的紅了臉，平常貪杯的弟兄這下也逮到了難得機會，非喝個痛快才罷休。
就在酒酣耳熱的時候，連部留守的士兵來了個電話，向連長報告營部剛剛轉來一批勞軍的月餅及台灣寄來的信，是否要派員來拿到工地分發。因為月餅是應景的食品，而台灣家人來的信件是弟兄們最期盼的精神糧食，所以連長就決定立即派人回連部去拿取。
召來了駕駛兵，特地詢問他喝了酒能否開車，這駕駛兵表示才喝幾杯還早呢！不信來回走幾次直線給長官瞧瞧，得會兒回來後才要真正開始拼酒呢！
幾位伙食兵也乘這趟車運些炊具及大鍋子回去，阿土也興沖沖地要求跟著出個公差，為弟兄們服務。一夥人上了軍車，還吆喝著說得會兒回來，還要好好喝幾杯。
