1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 75 Whistleblower Materials
The Discipline Inspection Commission at this time.

The discipline committee is (I won't write "Discipline Inspection Commission" as it would be sensitive). In September 1978, the Central Committee issued the "Notice on Regimental Level and Above..." and the Party's Discipline Inspection Commissions were successively re-established in all regimental and above units throughout the country.

Therefore, the newly reinstated discipline will naturally be subject to stricter scrutiny.

Director Liu took out the complaint and report letters from the past few days from the mailbox.

The letters were opened one by one; the whistleblower letters were always received once every week or so.

Of course, some of these claims are true, but many are also fabricated or frame-ups...

Director Liu saw a letter: "Regarding 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain'..."

He did read on, and the three comments devoted a lot of space to Zhou Xu's novel. The method of taking things out of context was very ingenious, and Director Liu frowned slightly.

"How could this novel be so despicable? It smears our recently concluded counterattack and smears the reputation of our heroic comrades!"

Director Liu slammed his fist on the table indignantly and immediately made a phone call: "Hello! Is this the Security Department of the Wuhan Military Region? I'll be sending your submission to your military region in a couple of days. There's a comrade named Zhou Xu who's incredibly audacious! His intentions are despicable!!"

The group of people were stunned, not expecting that Director Liu would have such a strong reaction to Zhou Xu's novel.

Of course, he only read the parts out of context, so he naturally felt that his anger was justified.

The disciplinary committee quickly began to take action.

-

Mid April.

Military camp.

Zhou Xu continued to go out with the cultural troupe to perform for the troops. After the performance, sitting on the truck, Lei Yuansheng said, "I'm really tired today."

Zhou Xu then climbed up into the truck.

Several more members of the performing arts troupe came up one after another.

"Give me a hand!" said Mai Sui, the female comrade.

Zhou Xu reached out and helped her up, and He Jing also reached out her hand.

"I'll lend a hand too!"

Once in the car, Zhou Xu immediately sat down next to Lei Yuansheng, and Mai Sui and the others followed suit.

Zhou Xu asked, "Maisui, are you engaged to your boyfriend?"

Mai Sui nodded: "Pretty much. The wedding is in July, Writer. Do you have time to attend?"

"Of course, we're comrades-in-arms." Zhou Xu and Mai Sui's relationship was more of a friendship than anything else.

He Jing glanced at it slowly and quietly put a letter in her hand into Zhou Xu's bag.

Chen Yong quickly got into the car and asked, "Are we going to make dumplings when we get back today?"

He Jing took a deep breath in fright: "You guys need to go to the cafeteria to help with making dumplings, otherwise the cafeteria will be too busy."

"I'll help if I can, I've been making dumplings since I was a kid! Does everyone want to eat dumplings?" Chen Yong asked, looking around.

The members of the performing arts troupe come from all over the country.

To be honest, back then, many people in the cultural troupe were indeed second-generation rich kids, big and small... because joining the army meant you didn't have to go to the countryside...

A group of people said, "Eat! I'll help too."

Of course, when it comes to helping, most of them are from the north, since most people who like to eat dumplings are from the north.

"Where is Comrade Zhou Xu?" Chen Yong asked, looking at Zhou Xu.

Zhou Xu chuckled and said, "I don't care. Just tell the cafeteria what you want to eat."

Chen Yong glanced at He Jing defiantly and said, "Look? Everyone agrees."

He Jing took a deep breath: "Whatever."

Mai Sui leaned close to Zhou Xu's ear and whispered, "Chen Yong has always liked He Jing, and he was planning to confess his feelings last time!"

Zhou Xu replied, "Oh! How long have you two known each other?"

"It's been three or four years, hasn't it!?"

The car started moving.

The truck became noisy, with a group of people chattering away. They soon arrived at the entrance of the Victory Cultural Troupe, and as soon as they reached the gate, a group of people ran to the canteen to help make dumplings.

Zhou Xu was about to follow when the clerk called out, "Comrade Zhou Xu has a phone call!"

He followed the clerk directly to the office.

When was that call?

"Just last night, when you went out to perform for the troops, it was the People's Liberation Army Literature and Art magazine that called. I don't know what they wanted."

Zhou Xu nodded and then made the call.

Liu Jiaju's voice came through the phone very quickly: "Comrade Zhou Xu."

"Editor Liu."

"Well, didn't you say last time that you would start preparing a new work as soon as you returned to the performing arts troupe? I want to ask when your new work will be sent over!" Liu Jiaju asked.

Zhou Xu wasn't quite sure what was going on either. He said, "I sent it to the General Political Department for review at the end of March. Maybe it's still in the Literature and Art Department?"

Liu Jiaju nodded: "Have you submitted your work to our magazine yet? I've been waiting for almost half a month and haven't found a novel!"

"I'm not sure either. Maybe the review process is stuck? Let's wait a few days and see," Zhou Xu said slowly.

Liu Jiaju, supporting his back, said, "Okay, if the novel hasn't arrived in a few days, I'll go to the Literature and Art Department to check. I'm afraid they might have accidentally sent the manuscript to the wrong place."

"Thank you for your help, Editor Liu."

"..."

Zhou Xu left the clerk's office and opened his bag.

He found a letter inside and curiously opened it. He noticed that the handwriting was quite delicate!
Zhou Xu read the message again: "Comrade Zhou Xu, actually I've been paying close attention to you ever since the day you arrived. I think you're talented... T-T."

After reading the entire letter, Zhou Xu understood the gist of the matter: a girl experiencing her first love. However, he certainly didn't have any such plans right now.

After all, I'm only 19 years old and in the prime of my career. Women are just obstacles on my path to advancement... Sigh.

With that in mind, he went back to his dormitory and wrote a letter.

Just as he stepped out, Mai Sui called out, "Comrade Zhou Xu, dumplings are ready! Come over here quickly!"

"..."

Zhou Xu went to the cafeteria and bought a box of dumplings from the window.

These were just handmade by the members of this performing arts troupe; they taste alright.

Chen Yong said, "Pork and chive dumplings are still the best!"

"Tch! I told you, dumplings made with pure pork are the best," He Jing replied.

Mai Sui shook her head: "Alright, just eat whatever you like, okay? Why do you have to start arguing and fighting?!"

During the meal, Zhou Xu glanced at He Jing sitting across from him and suddenly said, "Comrade He, is there something we can talk about later?"

He Jing nodded slowly, her hand holding the fork trembling slightly. After all, this was the first time she had been so brave, so she was naturally very nervous.

Zhou Xu smiled slightly.

After finishing their meal, the two walked to the side of the cafeteria. Zhou Xu handed the letter in his hand to He Jing and continued, "I can't answer your question right now. I'm still injured and I'm a little lame!"

“I don’t care about what you’re saying…” He Jing paused.

But before she could finish speaking...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

A loud roar suddenly came from outside.

A car appeared on the playground.

Everyone was stunned for a moment. The political commissar then rushed out, only to see the security department handing him the documents: "This is Comrade Zhou Xu's report. Political Commissar, please take a look!!!"

The political commissar looked surprised. A report?
He was stunned for a long time.

Then he went into the room and summoned Zhou Xu: "Comrade Zhou Xu, you have received a report. Stay in your dormitory for the next few days and don't move around too much. I'll go and check on the details."

Zhou Xu was taken aback for a moment, but he trusted the political commissar: "Okay."

(End of this chapter)