1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 2 Going Home
Arrived at the brigade
Zhou Xu got off the bus.

They arrived at the entrance of the brigade's threshing ground, which was very useful.

Because this is a flat area.

So large meetings, grain drying, movie screenings, and other activities were all held here. And because the grain drying area had a lot of foot traffic, the brigade's notice board was also placed here.

Zhou Xu got out of the car and looked at the big-character posters.

There were news reports criticizing the "household responsibility system," notices to "educated youth" to return to their hometowns, and news from the magazine "Literature and Art of XX City" soliciting literary works for a minimum of three yuan per thousand words...

"Three yuan for a thousand words..." Zhou Xu muttered.

For seven or eight years, you got three yuan for every thousand words you wrote! That could buy twenty or thirty kilograms of grain!

"What's wrong? Xu'er wants to write an article?" Zhou Youcai listened to him muttering to himself, a blade of grass he'd plucked from who-knows-where dangling from his mouth, looking utterly incredulous.

These days, literary youths are everywhere; nine out of ten are literary youths, and the other one is a poet.

However, there aren't many people who can actually write for magazines. Not to mention this small village, even in this small county, not many people can get their articles accepted by the big newspapers that advertise city-level magazines. So the people in the village don't even dare to dream of getting high prices.

Zhou Xu silently thought about submitting the article, but didn't say it aloud.

There is a magazine within the military called "PLA Literature and Art".

Mo Yan was 24 years old when he wasn't promoted to officer and retained in the army. He was very anxious. Finally, he saw a newspaper calling for submissions. He wrote novels frantically and submitted them to "PLA Literature and Art," and only after his work was accepted was he allowed to stay in the army. Then, Xu Huaizhong recommended him to the PLA Academy of Literature and Art.

However, people like Mo Yan and Yu Hua are truly talented writers who achieved remarkable success despite starting out in their careers later in life.

"..."

"What are you thinking? Why aren't you answering when I call you?" Zhou Youcai patted Zhou Xu on the shoulder from behind.

Zhou Xu snapped out of his reverie, his mind filled with too many thoughts: "I was thinking, since the military has cultural troupes, are all these kinds of writers in those troupes?"

Zhou Youcai said, "That's obvious, let me tell you! The girls in that performing arts troupe can all dance ballet, they're fair-skinned, beautiful, and have long legs... they're all like ladies from capitalist countries!"

"Ahem, don't frame people!" Zhou Xu coughed. "Don't label someone without having seen them."

"Just kidding, just kidding."

However, he was right. In fact, most of the girls who could enter the performing arts troupe came from relatively wealthy families and had the opportunity to receive training when they were young.

Gong Xue, Zhang Li... both came from families of civil servants, so they started learning dance from a young age. One of them joined the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe, and the other went to Zhanqi.

……

"I'm going home now, see you later!" Zhou Xu waved goodbye after exchanging a few words with Zhou Youcai.

Their house wasn't big, and the picture on the front was no longer a portrait; it had been replaced with a picture of their teacher.

Zhou Xu shivered from the cold and then began to take off his clothes.

October in the South isn't cold, but you still need to wear long sleeves. "Ah Qiu" sneezed and poured hot water from the ceramic kettle. A rascal like him never saved hot water; it was always left by his elderly mother. He wiped his face with the hot water.

I instantly felt much better, and then I wiped myself down.

In front of that red-printed, oriental-themed mirror, I could see my own sharp muscle lines and facial contours.

"Tsk, still pretty handsome." He'd only appreciated half of it.

Shouts rang out from outside.

"...My youngest son is back?" It was his elderly mother, Zhang Qiutian.

"Hey! Mom, I just got back! Let me get you some water!"

The autumn harvest has just ended these past few days, and the brigade is busy handing over the grain to the state and then distributing the grain according to work points. This should be the most interesting thing for the brigade at the beginning of the year.

My father, Zhou Guoping, is the brigade leader. He's been very busy these past few days, since the brigade listens to him on everything and can't do without him.

I just got back from the big meeting today.

As the footsteps approached, the two men, both wearing straw raincoats, entered. Zhou Guoping shook his raincoat as he joined Zhou Xu in complaining:

"We really need to report this to higher authorities. This weather forecaster is completely inaccurate; the grain is all soaked, and it'll have to dry for several more days." "Hehe." Zhou Xu heard this, changed the water in the basin, and brought it over. He said sensibly, "Mom and Dad, wash your faces first."

"Hey, the report's out yet? Let me see your transcript first!" Zhou Guoping didn't even bother washing his face; he was just curious about his grades.

Zhou Xu handed over the damp envelope.

Zhou Guoping opened the "Enlistment Notice" in his hand. The paper inside the envelope was not complete, and the words "Enlistment" were written in black and white on the oil paper.

Seeing this, Zhou Guoping breathed a slight sigh of relief, stroking the enlistment notice repeatedly, his face full of satisfaction: "It's good that you passed the physical examination and enlisted. Once you're in the army, do your best and stay as long as possible! It will be easier to arrange a job after you come out!"

In this day and age, being a soldier isn't bad, not much worse than being a college student! Because you can get a job after you leave the army.

Zhou Xu could only say to his father, "If I can do the second phase, I will; if I can stay in the team, I will try my best to stay."

"It's good that you have this idea. Once you're in the army, do your best and try to get to the front lines. Back then, your grandfather was a militiaman who went up the mountain to fight bandits and Japanese devils."

Your father was carrying a gun and fighting the American imperialists in the freezing cold! Don't fall behind. We live in a peaceful era now, but war could still break out.

"The older brother might criticize us, so you should try to get a chance to go to the front lines!" Zhou Guoping said with a proud look on his face.

To be honest, others have three generations of oil workers. But for me, it's three generations of soldiers?
"Hmm." Zhou Xu nodded without saying anything.

Zhang Qiutian, being rather vulgar, slapped the old man's head and said, "Go to the front lines? What front lines? Where are there any front lines now? We only have one son, are you in such a hurry to send him to his death?"

"Incomprehensible." Zhou Guoping turned his head and sighed.

“You’re being unreasonable. You have three sons. If you go to the army, you’ll have two older brothers to carry on the family line. We only have one child! After serving for three or five years, you’ll come back and be assigned a job in the commune or town!” Zhang Qiutian argued.

"..." Zhou Guoping remained silent.

Zhou Xu didn't know what to say. His first thought was the same as his mother's, so he changed the subject and said:

"Mom, what are we having for dinner today? I'm starving!"

Zhang Qiutian said, "Oh! I steamed the rice when I went to the brigade meeting at noon. I'll go stir-fry some meat for you now."

"..."

His mother left and went inside to pack her things. Zhou Xu glanced at Zhou Guoping, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. He was also frustrated by not being understood by his mother and son, but he was never a strong person; on the contrary, he was rather tender-hearted.

Zhou Xu glanced at it, then left with his mother.

Times are different, and each era has its own ideas.

Zhou Xu tended the stove, constantly adding firewood. His elderly mother began cooking.

With a splash, the lard was poured into the large pot on the stove, releasing a fragrant aroma.

Then add chili peppers... and stir-fry a pot of chili pepper and pork.

I made a cabbage and tofu soup.

Finally, I stir-fried some pickled vegetables.

In recent years, being able to eat this much is considered a really good life.

The family sat together, and Zhou Xu quickly finished a bowl of rice, then ate a few bites of pickled vegetables before asking his father, "Dad, can you tell me about your trip to the North?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Guoping's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face:
"Do you know Shangganling? That movie? I actually went there! I was twenty years old back then. Because I was educated, the commander wanted me to be a communications officer, but I wanted to go to the front lines. He told me that since I was educated, I shouldn't run around. I miss my old commander..."

But the fighting escalated, so I went to the front lines anyway. This bullet hole… did you see it? It’s…”

Hearing his father's words, Zhou Xu was still very proud and nodded with a smile.

After the family exchanged a few words, Zhang Qiutian began packing her things.

Zhou Xu then trotted up the wooden house to the second floor. The room on the left side of the second floor was his room. As soon as he entered the room, he started rummaging through the table.

Finally, I found a fairly clean and tidy notebook, picked up a pen...

Listening to his father's story gave him some ideas. Since he was going to submit his work to "PLA Literature and Art", he should write some "military" novels.

(End of this chapter)