Colorful years

In the turbulent year of 1952, Teacher Bao Jiajun quietly entered the world, filled with boundless aspirations for the future.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, he had stepped into the threshold of thirty-seven years old. That year, he was exactly ten years older than Zhang Cong. Fate is always so wondrous, bringing these two people who would otherwise have no connection together together in the torrent of destiny.

Their meeting seemed like nothing more than a chance encounter in the vast sea of ​​people, full of randomness, but upon closer examination, it seemed as if it were preordained.

In the beginning, they were like two parallel lines that would never intersect, each immersed in their own little world, busy with their own work, completely unaware of the other's existence.

The teacher, Bao Jiajun, works at the "National Unity" magazine in Kyoto, where he serves as the editor-in-chief. His days are filled with various manuscripts and editing tasks, making his life fulfilling and busy.

Meanwhile, Zhang Cong, thousands of miles away, was working diligently in the Publicity Department of the Xiangxi Prefecture Party Committee. Although they were in different regions and engaged in different jobs, they were both quietly dedicating themselves to the cause they loved.

The vast distance between them and the huge difference in their social status created an insurmountable chasm between them, making it almost impossible for them to meet or even get to know each other.

But fate always likes to play tricks on people. The invisible and intangible red thread in its hand quietly takes effect at the most unexpected moment, tightly binding two people who were originally unrelated together.

It all started with the grand news coverage of the 30th anniversary celebration of Xiangxi Prefecture. To ensure the smooth progress of the news coverage of this celebration, Teacher Bao Jiajun personally led a team to Xiangxi Prefecture.

Zhang Cong was responsible for receiving and accompanying Teacher Bao throughout the entire process. For the next month, Zhang Cong remained steadfastly by Teacher Bao's side, and the two shared many unforgettable moments.

Through repeated conversations, their understanding deepened, and the distance between them gradually narrowed. They began to discover that they shared an immense passion and pursuit for journalism, a common belief that drew them closer. So, they started discussing current news topics together, writing articles together, and even planning their future dreams together.

It was a cold winter day, and snowflakes were falling thickly, transforming the entire town into a silver wonderland. Teacher Bao Jiajun and Zhang Cong sat in a small tavern, the roaring fire warding off the chill. They raised their glasses in celebration, toasting to their friendship and cheering for the approaching spring and new dreams.

In early February of 1989, the chill of early spring had not yet completely faded, and a slight coolness still lingered in the air. On such a chilly morning, a crisp telephone ring broke the tranquility of Zhang Cong's home.

Zhang Cong hurriedly ran over to answer the phone, and when he heard the familiar and friendly voice on the other end, he was instantly stunned.

"Zhang Cong!" Bao Jiajun's voice trembled with excitement on the other end of the phone, filled with anticipation and excitement.

"I have some fantastic news to tell you! After a long period of hard work, I am now working on establishing a brand new newspaper – the China Ethnic News! All the work is progressing rapidly. Once the 'three-fixed' plan here is finalized, I will immediately transfer you to Beijing. We, as mentor and apprentice, will work together to create a magnificent undertaking that belongs to us!"

After hearing Teacher Bao Jiajun's words, Zhang Cong felt his head buzzing and was momentarily at a loss for words. This sudden good news made him feel as if he were in a dream, and he could hardly believe it.

For a long time, developing his career in Beijing and dedicating himself to the news and media industry had been a deep-seated dream of his. And now, this long-awaited opportunity had fallen into his lap like a pie falling from the sky, without any warning.

Zhang Cong stared blankly at the receiver, his mind uncontrollably conjuring up a series of wonderful scenes of his future struggles in Beijing: a spacious and bright office, advanced and complete news gathering and editing equipment, a busy and fulfilling work rhythm...

Thinking of these things, his heart began to beat faster involuntarily, and a surge of indescribable excitement and gratitude welled up deep within him.

He knew that without Professor Bao Jiajun's appreciation and guidance, he would hardly have had such a rare opportunity. At this moment, he couldn't wait to head to Beijing immediately to begin this new journey in his life and make a name for himself in the vast capital city.

However, life is always full of surprises. Just as they were happily awaiting the official establishment of the China Ethnic Newspaper, an unexpected turn of events quietly occurred.

Due to some complicated and unspeakable reasons, teacher Bao Jiajun was severely punished with expulsion from the Party and public office, and the burgeoning China Nationalities Daily was tragically cut short. This news was like a bolt from the blue, plunging Zhang Cong from the heights of fame to the depths of despair.

He couldn't accept this cruel reality, and his heart was filled with loss and frustration. He sat alone by the window, watching the snowflakes fall outside, feeling utterly lost.

He considered giving up, considered running away, but whenever this happened, he would always remember Professor Bao Jiajun's unwavering gaze and his passion and dedication to journalism. This made him realize that only by bravely facing reality could he escape his predicament and embrace new challenges and opportunities.

So he picked himself up and started afresh. He returned to his familiar hometown and continued his work in news and publicity. Although deep regrets still lingered in his heart, he understood even more clearly that only through continuous effort and struggle could he realize his dreams.

Time flies, and several years have passed in the blink of an eye. Zhang Cong has gradually made a name for himself in the local news scene, becoming a highly regarded journalist.

When the night is quiet, Zhang Cong always thinks back to the time he spent with teacher Bao Jiajun. Those stories about dreams, perseverance, and courage are like a guiding light, illuminating his path forward.

He knew that no matter how difficult and bumpy the future might be, as long as he had dreams, love, and perseverance in his heart, he would surely be able to forge a bright path of his own.