1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 98 Year-End Meeting (Please Subscribe)

General Political Department Press Office!
The higher-ups rushed over: "Hey Lao Zhang! Did you write this article?"

“Yes! I interviewed Comrade Zhou Xu last time!” Zhang Lingxiao shrugged.

"Won't what you're saying... well, might have some impact? The wind direction hasn't been determined yet!" The leader shook his head.

"The newspaper has agreed, it's passed the final review, and no one has called for a halt. What's the problem?! Boss, you're overthinking it. Don't the higher-ups like Zhou Xu enough?"

Correct!
No matter what, Zhou Xu is a military writer! Military writers, regardless of whether their novels contain romance elements, are still serving as cultural propaganda for the military! Is there a problem?
As long as no major problems arise! As long as everyone admires the heroic image of the People's Liberation Army depicted in the novel after reading it, then this is the only correct thing to do!!!
Therefore, many celebrities often maintain good relationships with their local organizations and engage in various collaborative promotions... As long as these celebrities and actors don't run into problems in the future, the local authorities will do their best to protect them.

These are all based on the same principle.

Zhou Xu's cultural propaganda is fine, and it's easy for the military to get involved.

The editor-in-chief of a deputy ministerial-level unit like the PLA Daily is at the rank of major general. The fact that they review articles already speaks volumes about the higher-ups' attitude.

"Alright? But you wrote a very good article; at least you've gained some fame."

Zhang Lingxiao smiled slightly: "Comrade Zhou Xu has a bright future! He may achieve great literary success."

-

A lecturer at a certain School of Arts at Wuhan University received a new publication from the PLA Daily.

Her small hands trembled with anger for a moment: "This...isn't this a veiled attack?"

Although he wasn't sure if the comment was criticizing him, it was clear that it refuted his views in many places.

But at this moment he felt quite powerless. After all, it was an article strongly supported by the PLA Daily, and Zhou Xu was a combat hero. Was he wrong to say that Zhou Xu was not right?
It seems like I'm the one who's wrong! How could I possibly be more right than him?

"I..." After reading it, his face turned ashen with anger.

This time, public opinion quickly turned one-sided. Although "Lurking" is not of high literary quality, it has gained a certain status in the literary world because it set a precedent.

……

"Who wrote this article?" Lei Yuansheng looked at the PLA Daily with great curiosity.

“Zhang Lingxiao interviewed me last time,” Zhou Xu said slowly and deliberately.

"Well, it's actually not bad, is it?" Lei Yuansheng was looking at the newspaper with great interest.

The other colleagues also picked up the newspapers and glanced at them one by one.

"Not bad, not bad!!!" Su Yunping nodded as well.

"Zhang Lingxiao is from the press office, right?"

"He was a leader during the counterattack; we had a pretty good relationship back then!!"

Lei Yuansheng looked at him and couldn't help but frown: "Xiao Zhou, you know a lot of leaders! I don't know as many leaders as you do!"

“Then you also need to be talented enough to recognize it!” Su Yunping said.

"Hey! Don't discourage me, maybe I'm talented!"

"By the way, there's a meeting in two weeks, so don't go home early!" Bai Hua said, leaning over.

After reading the article, the editorial team discussed it and began asking Zhou Xu various questions.

Bai Hua waved his hand: "Xiao Zhou, you can lead that training class for the next few days!"

Zhou Xu looked at Bai Hua with a bewildered expression and quickly asked, "Why?"

"Because their captain took leave, we had no choice but to put them in your hands! You're the only one among us who has experience with basic training!"

Lei Yuansheng waved his hand: "I was assigned here directly after graduating from the music academy, so don't count on me."

Gao Ruxing shook her head: "Back then, I didn't have any basic training. I joined the army at fourteen, in the combat drama troupe."

Zhou Xu paused for a moment, then thought, "That makes sense."
"Alright, Director, I'll take over the shift for a few days and see how it goes."

……

Zhou Xu stood in front of a group of new recruits. Although they had been there for two months, there was still one more month before their basic training was truly over.

He glanced at Zhang Xiaoyu, who was round-faced, but actually not fat; she had a square face.

"Little octopus! You're standing crooked! Align yourself!!"

There was nothing he could do. In a recruit training unit like this, he would probably get kicked by the squad leader, but... Zhou Xu was still quite frustrated with this group of trainees who were both children and girls.

"Oh!" Zhang Xiaoyu stood up straight.

"Tao Huimin, you too... come a little closer!"

Zhou Xu stood in front, looking all prim and proper... ugh, he was just putting on airs!

Actually, he's only nineteen years old, and it's a little awkward for him to train a group of people, but there's no other way since the captain took the day off.

"You've all gotten up this morning! Let's start with a song. Since you're all from our song and dance troupe, your singing has to be better than the other recruits. Let's start with... 'The Song of a Strong Army'!"

Zhou Xu has now made "The Song of a Strong Army" the representative song of the cultural troupe. Now, everyone knows the Victory Cultural Troupe's "The Song of a Strong Army"!

"Three, two, one! Listen to the bugle call of the new journey! Ready, go!!!"

Zhou Xu started singing, but these girls all came from drama and opera troupes, so they definitely didn't sing off-key!

"Listen, the bugle call of the new journey has sounded, the goal of building a strong military beckons us forward, and we must shoulder the responsibility for a strong nation..."

Zhou Xu clapped his hands: "Not bad, not bad!"

He walked around, looked at the group, and then said, "Little Octopus, lead the way! Three kilometers, ready, set, go!!!"

"Huh?" The little octopus dared not object.

They lined up.

They all ran in opposite directions, and Zhou Xu, seeing the group, had no choice but to run along with them...

However, during basic training, the three-kilometer run for him was increased to five kilometers, while the runners for the girls were increased from one kilometer to three kilometers... Those who can sing actually have decent lung capacity.

Zhou Xu ran alongside, but at a much slower pace.

……

The three-kilometer journey ends here.

"Standing!"

A group of people stopped in their tracks.

Panting heavily, Zhou Xu glanced at them and realized that the girls were indeed a bit weaker, after all, they were still developing!
However, he treated these girls like children. After glancing at them, he said helplessly, "Why don't you rest for half an hour and then go eat?"

"Oh! Thank you, Teacher Zhou!"

After training, Zhou Xu left.

The little octopus said, "Teacher Zhou is still the gentlest. The original captain shouldn't come back."

"Heh, Captain heard that. You'll get your comeuppance sooner or later!"

Tao Huimin nodded in agreement.

-

Another half month passed.

In December, even performing arts troupes hold their year-end conferences.

"Morning!"

Good morning to you too!

Zhou Xu greeted a group of colleagues in the studio, and then followed them into the studio's meeting room.

There were still about a few dozen people, and the meeting was naturally chaired by two people: the political commissar and the regimental commander.

The troupe leader is Qian Yunhua, and the deputy leader is Liang Liang! Zhou Xu rarely has time to meet these two very busy people, because the political commissar is responsible for taking care of the troupe's daily life, since he is in charge of maintaining order within the troupe!
Qian Yunhua is a troupe leader who started out as an actor.

As for Liang Liang, he is a first-class screenwriter... which is Zhou Xu's future dream. After becoming a first-class screenwriter, he will naturally become a regimental commander or political commissar or something similar!

Pooh!
Qian Yunhua coughed and said, "This year's year-end meeting summarized some things... gibberish... that's about it."

Finally, I'd like to thank Comrade Zhou Xu!

Zhou Xu was also stunned and looked up at Qian Yunhua!

A group of people also looked at Zhou Xu.

Qian Yunhua said, "Let's talk about Comrade Zhou Xu's literary achievements first! I've heard about them all. 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain' achieved an excellent sales record of one million copies, and 'Lurking' surpassed 'Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain' with sales of 1.1 million copies!!!"
In addition, before the war, Comrade Zhou Xu composed a song called "The Song of a Strong Army," which is still considered an excellent song within the regiment!

Qian Yunhua simply had little contact with Zhou Xu. It wasn't that he didn't know such an outstanding member of the group; for example, he had also contributed when they were rescuing people, but he hadn't done so as well as that leader.

"Ahem!" Liang Liang coughed. "Everyone, let's applaud!!"

Blah blah blah...

Zhou Xu was helpless. That's it?
What about rewards?
What about a third-class merit?

Give it to me!!!

Qian Yunhua continued, "This year's Outstanding Worker award will be given to Comrade Zhou Xu within the Youth League. Does anyone have any objections?"

"no!"

Zhou Xu stepped forward and received a flag, followed by a reward of one hundred yuan.

Okay! Actually, there is a reward, but it's not much.

After all, there have been two evaluations this year, but there will definitely be another one in the future; the political commissar has also talked to him about this.

After finishing, Qian Yunhua moved on to other things.

"Secondly, as everyone should already know?"

Zhou Xu looked left and right, what did he know?
What the hell do you know?!

Qian Yunhua glanced at his blank expression and continued, "There will be an arts competition next year. Simply put, it's news from above; the General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army's Cultural Department is holding the first all-army singers' competition since the reform and opening up!"

Meanwhile, there will be a series of dance and singing competitions in July and August. Although it's a bit early now, let's all start preparing after the Lunar New Year!!!

Liang Liang said, "By the way, Xiao Zhou, although you're a newcomer, your 'Song of Strengthening the Army' was submitted to the General Political Department for feedback last time. I heard there's a chance for the whole army to study it. Congratulations!"

Of course, I'm mentioning this here to encourage you and to keep creating more songs, including participating in song competitions!

Qian Yunhua said, "We don't force anyone to participate in the competition, we're just offering encouragement!"

Liang Liang nodded.

Zhou Xu scoffed. "Tch! He talks about encouragement, but then he just wants everyone to participate!"
He was just complaining; he said participating depended on luck, and he would participate in the competition when he had time.

Winning a prize in such a military-wide competition would be very helpful for his future promotion.

Zhou Xu had only one thought: if he could get up there, he should... whatever else!
"Alright, the meeting is over. That's all for now!" Qian Yunhua left with the documents.

Liang Liang quickly followed.

The group dispersed, some leaving.

Zhou Xu also went to eat.

Late December.

Political Commissar Huang came over and informed Zhou Xu, "Your family visit leave has been approved! Let me know when you're going back!"

"Alright, Political Commissar." Zhou Xu took his leave documents for visiting relatives.

I'm definitely going back this year.

However, with the Lunar New Year approaching, the matter of providing assistance has been expedited again, and several more trips have been made to grassroots military units in various parts of Hubei...

The performance was over, and it was the 20th of the lunar year.

Zhou Xu then formally brought up his family visit leave.

As he was packing his things in his office, Bai Hua still came over and said, "Hey Xiao Zhou... you're going back already? I was planning to let you see my play at the New Year's party this year!"

"Ahem!" Lei Yuansheng couldn't stand it anymore and coughed, saying, "Director, you really treat our young comrade like a beast of burden! He was originally from our song and dance troupe, but you always ask him to help you revise your plays."

Bai Hua glared at Lei Yuansheng and immediately said, "The creative studio belongs to the cultural troupe, not just the drama troupe or the song and dance troupe!"

"Director, when I get back, I'll definitely come back to visit again if I have time." Zhou Xu slung his bag over his shoulder, waved to the two men, and left.

He carried a small package on his back and arrived on the street in a jeep.

"goodbye!"

Goodbye, Teacher Zhou.

Zhou Xu's purpose in coming to the street was very straightforward: to buy things. After all, he had come to the provincial capital, so how could he not buy something to take back with him?
Bring some pastries and snacks, and two bottles of Yellow Crane Tower liquor.

After preparing a bag, he went to Wuchang Station.

If you leave the military region at twenty, you should be able to get back to your hometown around twenty-five. In the future, Enshi Prefecture will have an airport in ES City. If you take a plane, it might be faster. But now, Zhou Xu not only doesn't have a plane to take, but there is also no direct train.

Zhou Xu first took a train to ES City, and then transferred to a car to go to Lichuan.

This whole ordeal took several days, and finally, he arrived at the bus station, looking quite travel-worn.

After getting off the bus, I saw Zhou Guoping standing amidst the snowflakes. It snows in Lichuan too, but it doesn't accumulate to a very thick layer.

Unless it's a rare, heavy snowfall, like the one that only happens once every few years, Zhou Xu remembers once when he was studying in the county town and encountered a once-in-a-decade snowfall that year, making it impossible for cars to go to the countryside! He was forced to stay at school for more than ten days.

"Dad!" Zhou Xu greeted his father immediately upon seeing him.

Zhou Guoping was very pleased to see Zhou Xu in his military uniform. He immediately walked over to Zhou Xu and picked up his luggage.

"Your outfit is quite suitable," Zhou Guoping said slowly.

"It must be cold on the road, right? This year it's been unusual for us to have several heavy snowfalls."

"People on the bus are all bundled up, so there's nothing to feel cold about," Zhou Xu said, shaking off the snowflakes.

"That's just in time to catch the bus that goes to the countryside..."

Zhou Xu shook his head: "Dad, come with me to the store to buy something!"

"What is it?"

"You'll know when you go there!"

(End of this chapter)