1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 26 Studio

The instructor said, "You can rest in the room for a bit, and I'll take you to get an introduction later."

Zhou Xu nodded.

Then he lay on the bed, his mind blank.

The current official actors in the performing arts troupe are all cadres, that is, at the platoon leader level. They are at the same level as his squad leader, and Zhou Xu is now equivalent to a platoon leader.

Moreover, promotions in performing arts troupes are easier than in ordinary grassroots positions. One can be promoted one rank after serving for three years. Of course, if you are an outstanding actor, such as Geng Lianfeng from the Zhan You Tuan, Yong Xi from Zhan Qi Tuan, and Han Hong from Zhan Qi Tuan, you can be promoted even faster and you can get the rank of general.

Of course, the creative staff have even greater potential, such as the few top-level writers like Comrade Yan Su.

"..."

However, aside from the occasional collaboration between the creators and the actors when creating new material, the creators generally don't have much interaction with the performers in the cultural troupe.

The Shengli Cultural Troupe typically includes basic performance units such as actors, band, and stage design team, and may also have related departments such as creative studio.

Zhou Xu belongs to the creative studio.

in the afternoon.

After taking a nap, Zhou Xu touched his chest muscles. A month of high-intensity training had actually made his muscle lines more defined!

It was still the instructor who woke him up.

Zhou Xu put on his military uniform and, still a little dazed, followed his instructor out of the dormitory, where he encountered the cultural troupe members who were also resting there.

"Hey? Instructor? Is this new to the cultural troupe? From the band? Or the dance team?" The curious comrade asked after saluting.

The instructor looked at the group of onlookers and said slowly, "They're not here to jump around with you. This is a talented person transferred from the unit! A military writer! Here to create! You'll have to take good care of the new comrade if he encounters any difficulties in his life!"

"Huh? A creator?"

"So young! To be able to write at such a young age!"

A group of people stared at the young and handsome Zhou Xu, who was 1.8 meters tall and had a well-proportioned figure. If they hadn't been told, they would have really thought he was a dance soldier who had been transferred over, because he was just too good-looking.

"Hello, please take care of me in the future. I live next door!" Zhou Xu extended his hand to shake hands.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing with these people, let's go see the director first." The instructor pulled Zhou Xu outside.

A group of people were still holding basins and watching.

So those who wanted to watch the spectacle leaned against the railing.

Watching Zhou Xu and the instructor walk away in that direction.

"Really? So young to be a creative writer? Aren't the teachers in the creative studio at least in their thirties or forties?"

"I think it's fake. His father is probably our regimental commander!"

One soldier nodded: "You know what? What's the name of the second-in-command in our political department?"

"Zhou Zhigang!"

"That matches up, doesn't it? This eighteen-year-old 'genius' also has the surname Zhou!" the soldier named Long Ping said sarcastically.

A group of people suddenly realized: "Those who come to the studio are either talented or have been given a prestigious degree!"

"This guy's obviously got a gilded visa!"

"Tsk! Shameless! These second and third-generation Red elites!!!"

Long Ping laughed and said, "Your dad is a regimental commander, and you're a company commander now. You just didn't have a good father. Hehehe, what's so great about being a nepotism believable!"

"What are you saying! Go to rehearsal after you've rested, stop chattering here!" The dance team's squad leader walked over and slammed his hand on the door.

The group of people didn't dare to say a word and immediately shrank back.

……

Zhou Xu followed the instructor to the creative studio, which was located in the main building of the cultural troupe. There was an office on the second floor that had been set aside for them to use, similar to an editorial department.

Knock on the door.

A group of people were sitting, some smoking, some chatting; they were all elderly people in their forties or fifties, many of them quite old.

The instructor knocked on the door and entered the room.

"Director Chen!"

Chen Youhua, pen name Baihua, is the director of the creative studio of the Shengli Art Troupe, as well as a writer, poet, and screenwriter. Of course, his main job now is as a screenwriter for a drama troupe. He has written many works, including: the poetry collection "Remembering the Jinsha River", the film script "Tonight the Stars Are Bright", and the play "Dawn".

"This is Zhou Xu, the writer whom Commander Zhou transferred here. He's the young comrade whose works were published in 'PLA Literature and Art'!" the instructor introduced to Bai Hua.

Zhou Xu immediately saluted: "Good morning, Director!"

"Hello, please come in!"

"Thank you, Director." Zhou Xu entered the room and stood next to Bai Hua. He carried a bag, stood tall and handsome...

Bai Hua clapped his hands, stood at the door, and introduced to the group of people: "Everyone, stop for a moment! Today we have a newcomer in our creative studio, the young man next to me! He comes from Lichuan, Hubei, and is an excellent writer."

A group of people followed and looked over.

Bai Hua continued to lead Zhou Xu inside.

"This is your seat."

A very ordinary narrow table.

Zhou Xu nodded: "Thank you, Director."

"Hey! It's okay, we'll be comrades together for a few more years!"

Once someone joins a performing arts troupe, the creative studio won't let them leave easily, since it's already the top creative unit in each military region.

"Let me introduce you. This is Comrade Gao Ruxing, the composer of our cultural troupe."

Gao Ruxing composed quite a few songs, but one of the more famous ones is probably "Tibetans Sing for the People's Liberation Army".

"This is Comrade Lei Yuansheng, who is also a composer in our cultural troupe. He was transferred here a couple of years ago and is currently the conductor of the orchestra of our Wuhan Military Region Peking Opera Troupe!"

"This is Comrade Suo Yunping, a playwright for our military region's drama troupe, and also the vice chairman of the Wuhan Writers Association!"

He's a vice chairman of the city's writers' association, which isn't a low position.

Of course, apart from these senior colleagues who are quite famous in the studio, there are also some middle-aged and young colleagues in their thirties and forties. Zhou Xu got to know them before sitting down.

Bai Hua said, "By the way, you're a new writer in the studio, so take some time to familiarize yourself with the place. Whether it's gathering material, conducting interviews, or researching, just let me know if you need anything. The military region will do its best to accommodate you!"

"Thank you, director."

"It's alright, you go ahead with your work, I'll be going now."

Bai Hua then left.

After all, there's nothing much going on; the military doesn't usually hold welcome parties for new comrades.

Zhou Xu sat down.

The group of people nearby were twenty or thirty years older than him, and they had almost nothing in common to talk about. They weren't particularly curious about Zhou Xu either.

Lei Yuansheng is one of the younger ones, not even thirty yet, so he's the most curious about Zhou Xu.

"Hey! Comrade Zhou Xu?"

They handed him a cigarette.

"Thank you, Comrade Lei." Zhou Xu smokes, but not often. He'd get addicted if he smoked too much, but now that he's in a relationship, it would be immature not to smoke!
After all, I might really have to work here for three years, and I really can't stand the loneliness without a single friend.

The two lit two cigarettes, and the studio filled with smoke.

"Hey? Are you from the Academy of Arts? You were transferred here?" Lei Yuansheng asked curiously.

Zhou Xu said, "No, I just wrote a novel that's about to be published in a magazine. The leader thought I could write books, so he transferred me here."

"Old Gao, didn't I tell you? I'm not from an arts academy, so here's the money!"

Gao Ruxing happily gave Lei Yuansheng the money: "This kid just bet me whether you graduated from the School of Literature or not, otherwise how could you have been transferred directly to this unit?"

"I have to say it, right? There's no such thing as an eighteen-year-old college student! He's obviously a talented special agent!" Lei Yuansheng took a puff of his cigarette, his tone a bit quirky.

Zhou Xu understood the implication. After all, he was specially transferred here, and being so young, it was common for many people to be surprised and jealous of his appearance.

Moreover, Lei Yuansheng in front of him was a proper college graduate who had been transferred here after several years of experience after graduation, so naturally he didn't like people who were specially transferred.

Gao Ruxing said with a smile, "Comrade Zhou Xu, please don't take offense. The studio is usually quite boring, so everyone just likes to watch jokes! We'll treat you to dinner later!"

(End of this chapter)