1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 29 Selflessness (Please continue reading)

Generally speaking, it snows in Beijing in November.

It's already January, the time of year with the heaviest snowfall. This year's snow is exceptionally heavy, with a very thick layer of snow piled up, as if something is brewing.

The General Political Department Drama Troupe.

The political commissar suddenly walked in.

Gong Xue, Liu Jia, and their group were still rehearsing on stage when they immediately stopped.

The political commissar knocked on the door and then said in a very upright and deep voice: "The higher-ups have issued an order that the troops are now on high alert. All requests for annual leave this year will be rejected. At most, you can only have three days off, and you must be ready to be called upon at any time."

Many of the members of the General Political Department Drama Troupe are second-generation members of the military, and some also have connections with people in the military.

A few of them had already heard rumors from the grassroots that there would be a war this year, but as for where it would be fought, none of them knew.

Gong Xue suddenly shuddered.

Liu Jia noticed Gong Xue's strange behavior and asked with some concern, "What's wrong? Is your boyfriend on the front lines?"

Gong Xue immediately shook her head, her expression somewhat sad, yet also somewhat helpless: "I can't go back this year either."

Gong Xue is from Shanghai, but she served in the capital. She was sent to the north when she was sent to the countryside, and the army noticed her because she could dance.

Since being sent to the countryside, Gong Xue has not returned to Shanghai for several years.

Originally, the actors in the cultural troupe had more holidays than those at the grassroots level, and could take a month of annual leave. However, this year, due to preparations for the competition, Gong Xue only had three days of leave, and her plans to go home were ruined.

These days, taking the train from the capital to Shanghai takes at least two days, and the round trip doesn't even have enough time for the train ride itself.

"It's alright, it's alright. You can come to my house for the New Year. My brother is back anyway, so we can all have some fun together." Liu Jia smiled.

Then suddenly he took out a copy of "PLA Literature and Art" from his hand.

"Didn't I introduce that young soldier to you last time? Look, his novel has been published in a magazine these past few days."

Gong Xue exclaimed in surprise: "Huh? Even our drama troupe couldn't get our hands on this magazine, and you actually managed to get one?"

The drama troupe only subscribes to a dozen or so magazines each month, so Gong Xue can never get a new one.

Liu Jia said, "You forgot again..."

"That's right, your dad is a magazine editor, how could he not have magazines!"

"Alright, don't say that in front of others!" Liu Jia took Gong Xue's hand: "Let me show you first. Is there anything else you need me to bring? I'll buy it for you in the next few days."

"No, no, no."

Gong Xue waved her hand and declined Liu Jia's offer. She felt that most of the time, one shouldn't owe others too many favors, even if they are one's friends.

Liu Jia pulled Gong Xue to the changing room to rest.

Then the two went to the office and sat around the stove, feeling their whole bodies warm up.

Gong Xue, meanwhile, was looking down at the "PLA Literature and Art" magazine.

She was still quite interested in Zhou Xu.

In addition, Liu Jia had been praising Zhou Xu's talent to an almost supernatural degree, and she also wanted to see what was so good about this novel that had captivated Liu Jia.

I read each sentence of the novel.

Gong Xue quickly got into the zone.

Because I grew up under the influence of the magazine "Harvest," which was the front-page magazine in Shanghai, my literary cultivation is quite high.

She understood a principle: the more skilled a novelist is, the more likely they are to immerse the reader in the story with just a few words.

Zhou Xu's novels, on the other hand, have a unique flavor; at least the language is very concise.

I watched it from noon until the afternoon.

Liu Jia went outside to play for a while before she finished reading the novel.

Liu Jia was very excited, her expression suggesting she was sharing something with a friend and hoped the friend wouldn't be perfunctory. "See? Didn't I tell you he's a talented man?"

Gong Xue also knew how to make her feel satisfied, smiling and speaking softly:
"I think this novel is really well written. I can empathize with the hardships of the War of Resistance and the selflessness of the older generation."

"I told you so! Are you interested now? Or I can use my dad to set you up."

Gong Xue shoved her: "Really, stop joking like that, I'm talking about serious matters! After reading this novel, I feel so cliché. The older generation can make selfless sacrifices, and I'm not going to the front lines, why am I sad about not being able to go home!"

"Oh? Sister Gong Xue still has such noble ideas?"

Gong Xue pouted: "I'm not talking to you anymore, you'll just make fun of me again!"

“I’m not making fun of you. I think you’re absolutely right. I also like this novel and find it very enjoyable to read.”

The two started chattering away, having both encountered novels they liked, so naturally they had a lot to talk about.

Gong Xue said, "By the way, shall we write a letter over as well?"

"What letter?"

"Readers should write letters, right? In those letters, they should express their appreciation for the work and encourage the author to continue creating. If you like a work, you should support the author as much as possible," Gong Xue said.

“That’s right. Now that you’ve finished writing, I’ll take it back to my dad later. Their editorial department will send it to Comrade Zhou Xu.”

Gong Xue nodded, and she began to write as soon as she was told to.

Liu Jia also started writing while lying on the table.

The two of them wrote a lot of things.

~
That evening, Liu Jia weighed the two letters in her hand as she went home.

After entering the house, he quickly changed his shoes and ran to the stove to warm himself by the fire.

Liu's mother said, "Come here quickly! I heard from the old lady yesterday that there's going to be a war? Has your army said anything about it?"

The old lady that Liu's mother mentioned was naturally a veteran comrade from the family compound. The compound was full of hidden talents; who knows, some of the unassuming monks might have been generals in the past.

"The troops have declared a state of alert today."

"Then you'd better be careful."

"By the way, where's Dad?" Liu Jia looked around, preparing to look for her father.

"He's been really busy with work lately, he doesn't get home until 7 or 8 pm every day, wait a minute!"

Sure enough, it wasn't until seven or eight o'clock in the evening that Liu Jiaju leisurely strolled back.

"Dad! You're back? What have you been up to lately?"

Liu Jiaju had just been surrounded by a group of editors from the entire magazine, and now that he was finally home, he was naturally all smiles.
"The novel is doing well, so our editorial department receives a lot of letters. We have to reply to the authors urging them to update their work, and we also have to handle printing and communication. There's a lot to do."

"Wow? Is that Zhou Xu's 'Changjin Lake'?" Liu Jia said. "Quite a few people in our cultural troupe like it too. By the way, Dad, this is a letter my friend and I wrote to Comrade Zhou Xu. Could you please give it to him?"

Liu Jiaju was in high spirits. The top leader took the letter and put it in his briefcase: "Okay, I'll take it over to see when I have time!"

Liu's mother asked, "What letter?"

"What else could it be? It's about the work, of course!"

Liu's mother remembered Zhou Xu and said, "Comrade Zhou is very outstanding. You must seize the opportunity."

Liu Jia immediately shook her head: "Mom, don't talk about this. I still have some conscience. She's seven years younger than me. I can't bring myself to do it."

Unexpectedly, the first thing Liu Jia encountered upon returning home was the pressure to get married. She felt extremely frustrated. However, in this day and age, being twenty-five and still unmarried is indeed considered old, so it's understandable that her mother is anxious.

Even Liu Jiaju said today, "Hey! Your mother isn't wrong, Xiao Zhou is indeed very outstanding, a good person, and not bad-looking either!"

"Dad, stop talking, I'm going upstairs to read." Liu Jia immediately escaped from her parents' encirclement and ran upstairs.

……

(This is my first time writing, and I hope you will support and read it.)
(End of this chapter)