1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 90 This privilege! You're really not his relative? (Seeking monthly votes)

Zhou Xu sounded slightly sour when he said that.

I'll have to wait another year or two before they leave.

"It's alright, you'll be there quickly, sir."

"But your training is different from that of the Commander's Military Academy, right? It takes two years for you to go through that kind of training, doesn't it?"

The training program targets serving officers from military arts troupes and cultural departments, with a two-year duration. This is a specialized course; regular graduates would need four years.

"Pretty much. Maybe we'll meet again at school next year, and we'll still be your seniors!" He Jing said with a smile.

"I hope so, and good luck to you all!" Zhou Xu said.

The next day, the group took a car and returned to the performing arts troupe.

Zhou Xu rested in his dormitory for a day and felt completely refreshed. He couldn't sit in a car for too long, and he always felt relaxed after a car ride.

Of course, after spending the past two weeks traveling, Zhou Xu finally completed the first draft of his novel.

This time he learned his lesson and directly gave the novel manuscript to Zhou Zhigang.

After Zhou Zhigang finishes the initial review, it can be sent directly to the magazine without going through the literature and art department, otherwise someone else might try to take advantage of it.

"Is this your new novel manuscript?"

Zhou Zhigang was slightly surprised to see Zhou Xu carrying a stack of papers as he came in. Zhou Xu smiled and nodded: "Yes, it's the new novel I wrote this time."

"You've been preparing for three or four months, haven't you?"

It's been almost four months since Zhou Xu submitted his manuscript "Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain" in April, and now it's the end of August. He's been researching it for almost four months, and writing 100,000 words a month would amount to 400,000 words.

Of course, Zhou Xu's novel does seem to have quite a lot of words.

"Pretty much. After 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain' was published, I rested for more than a month before starting to prepare a new novel. Commander, would you like to take a look?"

At this point, Zhou Zhigang turned to a page of a novel, looked at Zhou Xu's new novel, and said with a smile;

"Your new idea is pretty good! There are very few works of this type now, a spy thriller? Is it referencing 'The Gunshots of the Secret Service,' which was released in June?!"

“I had some reference points; the idea came from watching their movies,” Zhou Xu said slowly.

"Your writing is better than the movie; the movie doesn't have such an exciting plot!"

"Thank you, chief."

"By the way, should I still submit this novel to 'PLA Literature and Art'?" Zhou Zhigang lit a cigarette and looked up at Zhou Xu.

Zhou Xu immediately shook his head and said, "The editors from People's Literature called me last time; they wanted me to send them this novel."

"You agreed?" Zhou Zhigang asked.

"Hmm, let's try different magazines!"

Zhou Zhigang nodded. Perhaps Zhou Xu was a little averse to "PLA Literature and Art" because of that incident? Anyway, anything is possible. After all, if someone doesn't want to give it to "PLA Literature and Art," then there's no need to force them, right?
Zhou Zhigang, who is also involved in literature, felt that People's Literature had a more prestigious background.

"Okay, after I've read it and I think there are no problems, I'll help you submit it to People's Literature!" Zhou Zhigang waved his hand to let Zhou Xu leave.

Seeing that Zhou Xu hadn't left, Zhou Zhigang turned back to look at him and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Zhou Xu paused, then asked with a fawning smile, "Reporting to the commander, do we need to apply for permission to use electrical appliances in the military? I'd like to apply for permission to use a fan! Of course, I'll buy it myself!!"

"Oh! About using a fan? You're from Enshi, right? People from mountainous and hilly areas are definitely not used to this place at first!"

Zhou Zhigang thought for a moment. Most soldiers would be refused permission to use electrical appliances if they asked him, but… well, Zhou Xu was different! He was more understanding of capable cultural performers.
"Okay, once you've filled out this document, just give it to your political commissar!"

After saying this, Zhou Xu grabbed the documents and ran away.

In this day and age, the military has strict restrictions on the use of electrical appliances. Bringing such appliances in requires approval, so Zhou Xu couldn't resist asking Zhou Zhigang for a little bit of his way.

However, his willfulness was not excessive.

Logically speaking, a work as influential as "Garland at the Foot of the Mountain" should be awarded a second or third-class merit in literature and art.

However, since Zhou Xu had just received a first-class merit award and applied again less than half a year later... there was really no precedent for this.

Therefore, Zhou Zhigang is satisfied with such a small reward.

Zhou Zhigang continued to bury himself in the novel, this spy novel...

The story is fictional, but it has a certain prototype, which is of course the group of real hermits who existed in the past.

As Zhou Zhigang read the novel, he unknowingly read until the early hours of the next day. A major drawback of long novels is that they are padded... Even famous works are padded, and online novels are even more prone to padded content.

Of course, Zhou Xu's novels also have some lighthearted, everyday moments, but overall they are fast-paced and Zhou Zhigang thoroughly enjoyed reading them.

On the third day, it was sent to Zhou Xu and went directly to People's Literature.

……

at this time.

After finishing his novel, Zhou Xu returned to his leisurely life as a librarian.

The only downside was that by August, it was already the hottest time in Wuhan.

This heat becomes tangible, to the point that if you stare into the air, space will occasionally distort.

Whoosh! As soon as I reached the door, the wind that hit my face burned like fire.

Zhou Xu felt he needed a high-temperature allowance for working and training under such a blazing sun!

At this moment, Zhou Xu immediately came out of the performing arts troupe with his documents.

He went outside and bought a straw mat and a fan.

The fan is a "Bat" brand fan.

Produced by Nanjing Changjiang Machinery Manufacturing Plant (Factory 720). The "Bat" brand fan was known for its "military-grade" quality and enjoyed high popularity in the market at the time.

After all, following the speech a few years ago, the military industry began to shift towards civilian production, and this Bat brand is a precedent. It has a strong wind, but it's expensive, costing seventy yuan.

Cooling mats are cheap, only a few dollars.

Zhou Xu carried the fan into the room.

I plugged it in, sat on the bed with the bamboo mat laid out, and turned the fan to its highest setting. The three blades flapped around like "a bat that never tires of flying"!

At this moment, Zhou Xu called over a few close friends, and the group sat on the bed and the floor...

The wind blew across my cheeks and over my chest.

"It's so cold!!"

"This fan is a real gem!"

"Ah! That feels so good!!"

The group of people sighed about life, after all, the Bat-brand fan was indeed very cool.

When Political Commissar Huang entered the room, he also felt the strong wind and couldn't help but shiver slightly; it was indeed very cool.

He glanced at everyone, then looked at Zhou Xu with a strange expression, and couldn't help but ask, "Zhou Xu, just tell me the truth? Chief Zhou really has nothing to do with you?"

Mai Sui, Chen Hai, and the others also stared at Zhou Xu with wide eyes, after all... who could believe in such a privilege?

Zhou Xu was stunned for a moment: "Old political commissar, the leader is from Jiangxi, and I am from Hubei. We have absolutely no connection!"

A group of people were almost completely incredulous! Political Commissar Huang nudged Zhou Xu's backside, and Zhou Xu obediently relinquished the central throne:
"What was that saying?"

"What?" Political Commissar Huang slapped his forehead, pretending to be serious: "The army isn't for you to enjoy yourself! If you want to enjoy yourself like this... you'd better get discharged and go home as soon as possible..."

"Political Commissar, don't scare me."

"I'm not kidding, but I really didn't expect Old Zhou to actually sign it for you!?" Political Commissar Huang himself didn't understand why his old leader Zhou Zhigang had changed so much.

It was strange how they treated Zhou Xu last time, and now they're giving him special privileges again?

He Jing raised her hand, not daring to be as nonchalant about the political commissar as Zhou Xu: "I think the old commander feels guilty towards Comrade Zhou Xu, who was a combat hero after such a big incident last time..."

The political commissar thought for a moment and said, "That's true, but since you've already taken advantage of this privilege, you still need to keep up the good work. If your next work is just as outstanding, you might even get a third-class rating at the end of the year!"

Hearing this, Zhou Xu couldn't help but blink. A level three screenwriter! That's at least a deputy battalion commander.

My mouth is watering.

However, he felt it was a bit like a pancake.

Zhou Xu lay on the bed, enjoying the cool breeze. He felt that it was perfectly fine to enjoy himself and that he shouldn't have any idea that suffering a loss was a blessing.

As long as I can do my job of promoting arts and culture well, what's wrong with enjoying a little happiness?

The wind blew for quite a while.

The political commissar and several friends had all left. The political commissar said with concern, "Don't turn on the wind so hard at night, otherwise it's not comfortable to go out!"

Zhou Xu nodded vigorously.

night.

Zhou Xu had a dream that was neither good nor bad. In the dream, his fan broke down, and the blades flew out and hit his hand.

"hiss!"

Zhou Xu was awakened by the pain, but not because the fan blades flew off; rather, his flesh was stuck in the gap of the bamboo mat...

He couldn't help but shudder in pain.

However, those who have slept on a bamboo mat should be able to understand the feeling!

……

He jumped up immediately! He remembered there was something else!
Oh right, it's Mai Sui and the others who are leaving.

After getting dressed, Zhou Xu went to the cafeteria.

There are very few farewell parties in the military, even for those going to school. They just cooked a pot of dumplings in the morning.

Mai Sui and He Jing ate slowly with their heads down.

Zhou Xu walked over and said, "I overslept last night and just made it in time."

"It's okay, we'll leave later!"

Zhou Xu looked at the two of them and said, "Remember to keep in touch if anything comes up in the future."

“We’ll get in touch, but remember to answer the phone,” He Jing said, looking at Zhou Xu’s face.

"Oh, right, there are still some things I haven't had a chance to give you yet. I bought them yesterday when I went out to buy some things." Zhou Xu took the items out of his pocket.

They are three different fountain pens.

The three of them held the gifts, and Mai Sui said, "I feel embarrassed to keep receiving gifts from you."

"You'll be a cadre by the time you graduate, right? Just remember to take care of me,"

"Comrade Zhou Xu, you're joking. We've graduated, but we don't know where you've been promoted to." After exchanging a few jokes, the group parted ways at the door.

Watching them get on the bus.

Zhou Xu also wanted to clear his head, so he went to the cafeteria and got a bowl of dumplings.

Because I got up late, there were still some dumplings left.

The "good guy" only eats the broken dumplings; he's not a pushover, he chooses the good ones. Pushovers never have a good ending.

……

They had just seen this group of people off.

I feel a little sorry for the dance troupe, all alone. But Zhou Xu can finally relax and slack off.

Zhang Fangfang, accompanied by Li Ziqiang, skipped and hopped to Zhou Xu. Looking at Zhou Xu with her beautiful big eyes, she exclaimed, "Comrade Zhou Xu! Our drama troupe needs you!!"

Zhou Xu stuffed a dumpling into his mouth, and looking up at the two of them, he, not exactly a pushover, said, "What does the drama troupe want with me? I have files to sort out this afternoon!"

Zhou Xu finally understood Zhou Zhigang's deeper meaning. By going to the archives, he could refuse others even if he didn't create anything, and he could slack off every day with a salary.

"Really no time? Our drama troupe just finished rehearsing a new play, and we're planning to show it to Teacher Zhou Xu!" Zhang Fangfang looked at Zhou Xu pitifully.

Li Ziqiang added, "Teacher Zhou is a know-it-all; he's proficient in poetry, novels, and definitely scripts! Could you help us take a look?"

Zhou Xu was bored and was persuaded by the two to leave.

He didn't go because a beautiful female performer was being affectionate; everyone knows that Zhou Xu has never been interested in women.

They arrived at the drama troupe.

Their stage was set up inside the cultural troupe's auditorium, not far from the canteen.

Zhou Xu came over, glanced at the familiar figure in front of him, and said: "Director."

Bai Hua turned around and smiled, "Little Zhou is here! I was just thinking of showing you our new play rehearsing!"

"You wrote this? I'm a complete novice, what can I possibly say?" Zhou Xu scratched his head, looking slightly helpless.

Bai Hua waved his hand and said, "It's alright, you're quite insightful. Xiao Li showed me your little poem last time. As they say, if you understand one thing, you understand everything!"

Does being able to write poetry automatically mean you can write plays? It seems many poets can indeed write plays! Shakespeare, Cao Yu…

Zhou Xu nodded helplessly.

The main cast includes Zhang Fangfang and Han Rong!

As for this play, it is Bai Hua's "Tonight the Stars Are Bright".

Set against the backdrop of the Huaihai Campaign, the story reveals the inner world of several young soldiers in the People's Liberation Army. With aspirations for the future People's Republic of China, they bravely sacrificed their lives one after another, poetically presenting their souls and ideals.

Hmm... do you think Zhou Xu dares to comment?
After the performance, Bai Hua looked at Zhou Xu and asked somewhat uncertainly, "What did you think?"

"Hmm...that's good!"

"Hey, don't flatter me just because I'm the boss. I want the truth!"

Zhou Xu glanced at Bai Hua with a hint of suspicion and asked, "Do you really want the truth?"

"Just saying whatever comes to mind, it's for the soldiers to see!" Bai Hua said.

Zhou Xu cleared his throat: "It's just too poetic... Director, you're a poet, and your lines are all kinds of poetic sentences, but the soldiers may not understand poetry."

Furthermore, it contains some "slogan-like" expressions characteristic of the 70s, such as the characters' aspirations for the "future republic." These kinds of expressions would be more impactful if written in dialect or colloquial language!

Zhou Xu stopped speaking as soon as he finished.

"..." Bai Hua held the script in deep thought: "Yes! Thank you, Comrade Zhou Xu, your suggestion is excellent! Can we invite you to observe the next performance again?"

Zhou Xu looked at the other actors and nodded hesitantly.

(End of this chapter)