1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 32 Mountain People

Three days passed in an instant.

There is no two-day weekend system now, it's a one-day weekend system, which means you only get one day off per week. Of course, it's unclear whether the two-day weekend system was implemented in later generations, right?
Sigh! Of course, these days, even with regular workdays, there aren't many holidays, and the Chinese New Year holiday is only three days.

Because of the security situation, Zhou Xu couldn't get a month's annual leave and couldn't go home to show off, but the political commissar gave him three days off, which meant he could freely enter and leave the cultural troupe.

Zhou Xu borrowed a bicycle from Gao Ruxing in the army.

I rode my bike to the entrance of the regiment.

I was allowed to leave after showing my identification.

There's a university at the foot of Nanwang Mountain, Nanwang Mountain Vocational and Technical College, pshaw... it should be the China University of Geosciences, which has a spirit of hard work and simplicity, and sings tango... um, tango.

In his previous life, Zhou Xu studied at the foot of the mountain; in this life, he serves as a soldier on the mountain.

It's like I've been connected with Nanwang Mountain for two lifetimes; I've lived in the mountains for two lifetimes.

Pshaw, apart from China University of Geosciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology is also next door... This area has a relatively high concentration of universities.

Optics Valley is also nearby.

However, Optics Valley has not been established yet; this area is a relatively remote suburb.

To the north lies the boundless East Lake, with its wide expanse, winding shoreline, crisscrossing waterways, and crystal-clear waters. Along its shores are pavilions such as Xingyin Pavilion, Tingtao Pavilion, Shuiyun Village, Canglang Pavilion, and the Lakeside Gallery.

Heading west will take you to the center of Wuchang District, which is where the Yellow Crane Tower and the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge are located. The Yellow Crane Tower is currently unrenovated and looks dilapidated.

The remaining museums that people rave about, like the Sword of Goujian, King of Yue, and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall... there are so many, I won't go into detail.

Zhou Xu naturally wouldn't visit these tourist attractions, which were inferior even to those of later generations; he was already tired of seeing them.

He rode his old-fashioned bicycle to Jiefang Road.

Jiefang Road was once the site of the Huguang Governor-General's Office. At the southern end, within the Wuchang Shipyard, lies the former site of the Huguang Governor-General's Office from the Qing Dynasty. Zhang Zhidong served as Governor-General of Hubei Province here for eighteen years and established China's earliest department store, the Lianghu Quanye Market, on Jiefang Road. On one side of the Simenkou Overpass on Jiefang Road is the site of the Ewang Mansion of Yue Fei, the Prince of E during the Southern Song Dynasty. Yue Fei supervised his troops here for seven years, training the renowned Yangtze River Navy.

There are buildings from the Republican era along the street, with a distinct Republican-era national decorative style, as well as unique street factory building facades.

There's a long-established brand here called Cao Xiangtai.

Cao Xiangtai's pastries are very popular among citizens, and his mung bean cakes attract long queues of people to buy them before each festival.

Zhou Xu went to queue up for the Chinese New Year this year.

I bought some mung bean cakes, and then went to the department store to buy some more delicious food.

When I go shopping, it's all about buying things, and I don't have a girlfriend to go shopping with.

……

He soon returned to his unit.

I feel a bit like Xu Sanduo when he first left the army. I'm a little out of touch with society. The cultural troupe is still better.

Upon entering the performing arts troupe, the group of people were all smiles and decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations.

Every year during the Spring Festival, the cultural troupe holds an internal gala, which is then attended by all comrades who remain in the military and their families.

Of course, there are preparations for war this year, and the Spring Festival Gala will still be held, but it is impossible for all comrades who remain in the military to come and watch the performance. It will be a selective invitation to a few thousand people.

There will definitely be performances and outings to show appreciation.

The performing arts troupe is currently decorating the playground, with some putting up couplets and others hanging lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere for the Chinese New Year.

The political commissar bumped into Zhou Xu and waved.

"Hello, political commissar."

The political commissar smiled slightly and took out a red envelope from his pocket.

"for you!"

"It's not even the first year of junior high yet!"

“I’ll be busy with work after the New Year, as I’ll be transferring within the group, so I won’t have time for these things. I’m giving you the red envelope in advance.”

Zhou Xu took the red envelope and then handed over a pack of cigarettes he had prepared: "Then I'll consider this my early New Year's greetings to the political commissar." The political commissar was delighted, not expecting this kid to be so sensible: "Yes, remember to come watch the performance tonight, we've saved seats for you all."

Zhou Xu finished chatting with the political commissar.

The comrades in the cultural troupe saw Zhou Xu and waved.

Zhou Xu always carried a notebook and a pen in his hand, and had a DSLR camera around his neck, as he was considered a reporter within the cultural troupe.

He Jing greeted him, "Writer, are you still writing reports during the New Year?"

Zhou Xu looked at the crowd.

The performing arts troupe arrived today in perfect unison, all wearing thick cotton-padded coats, chatting and laughing.

Zhou Xu nodded: "Hey! I have to write one report a week. I finished mine over the Chinese New Year, so I'm free this week."

Because of the frequent interviews required, Zhou Xu is becoming increasingly familiar with the performing arts troupe.

Among the female comrades, He Jing is the most central figure, while among the male comrades, Chen Hai is the most central figure.

Both of them have a chance to be promoted because of their excellent performance.

Are you rehearsing?

"Yes, our dance troupe will be performing 'The Red Detachment of Women,' 'Ode to Yimeng,' and 'Grassland Women Militia' later. Would you like to come and watch?"

"Of course, since I live in the cultural troupe, I'll definitely celebrate the holidays with them."

Chen Hai laughed and said, "Oh, I thought all the teachers in the creative studio were going home for the Chinese New Year!"

“Those teachers all have homes in the city, so naturally they have to go home. I can only stay here.”

Lei Yuansheng coughed: "Am I not human?"

“Yes, yes, you’re the conductor. How can the band function without you?” Zhou Xu said with a smile.

Mai Sui said with a smile, "Comrade Zhou Xu, please take a picture of us!"

Zhou Xu replied, "So, this photo of mine will be published in my report? You don't mind using your image, do you?"

He Jing joked, "What's the big deal? We perform every day, and people watch us every day, so why would we be afraid of being seen?"

"Then you all stand together."

Zhou Xu held up his camera, and several pretty girls stood in the middle, with Lei Yuansheng on the far side. He snapped a photo with a click.

I chatted with this group of people for a few more minutes.

"..."

time flies.

The stage on the playground has been set up, and the simple benches have been placed in accordance with the required number.

In the afternoon, troops arrived one after another.

They marched in unison to the outside of the playground and took their seats as instructed.

Looking at the scene, Zhou Xu sometimes felt that his leisurely job was much easier and freer.

Soon, he met a group of acquaintances.

The soldiers over there were sitting upright in front of the stage, but soon they started making a lot of noise.

He walked over with his camera: "Instructor, Squad Leader Li!"

Squad Leader Li looked up at Zhou Xu and smiled; "It's Zhou Xu! You've become a cameraman now?"

"I was just a general worker in the cultural troupe, doing odd jobs like writing reports and taking photos."

The instructor laughed and said, "Aren't you being modest? Aren't you the most sought-after member of the cultural troupe now? You're just a menial worker! If you're a menial worker, then what are we?"

"Haha, the instructor is really good at joking."

(End of this chapter)