Era: Starting from the local police station

Upon arriving at the front yard, I saw several women sitting in the pavilion, each holding a needle and thread. Some were mending clothes, some were sewing shoe soles, and others were knitting sweaters.

A few teenagers were running around wildly not far away, their laughter ringing out from time to time.

In the pavilion, a young woman looked up and was stunned to see Jiang Zhenghua, a tall and strong man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, wearing a brown-green military uniform, carrying a bag on his shoulder, walking with a powerful stride.

He then turned his head and whispered to the woman next to him, "Aunt Meng, whose relatives came to visit our courtyard yesterday?"

Aunt Meng, who was sewing shoe soles nearby, didn't even look up: "I don't think so, I haven't heard of it."

The older woman sitting on the other side, mending clothes, said, "Old Meng's family, someone really did come to the yard yesterday. It was the third son of the Chen family in the back house. He brought some things from the countryside to visit his older brother. You were out buying groceries when he came, so you didn't see him. But he left after noon."

The young woman asked in a low voice, "Who is this PLA soldier? Why is he coming out of the backyard so early?"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked up.

Someone whispered, "Never seen it before."

At this moment, an elderly woman sitting by the pavilion, holding a child in her arms, squinted and asked uncertainly in a raised voice, "You...you are Jiang Zhenghua, the second son of the Jiang family?"

Upon hearing the aged voice, Jiang Zhenghua looked up and saw a group of women staring at him.

Since there were only a few families living in the courtyard when his predecessor went to join the army, he only knew this old lady.

He replied with a smile, "Hello, Grandma Xu, how are you still in good health?"

"Good, old lady, you're still in good health. When did you get back? Did you retire from the army, or...?"

Grandma Xu stood up shakily, her face beaming with smiles.

"I got home last night; I've returned from my military service."

Jiang Zhenghua walked over and nodded to the crowd as a greeting.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. I heard you went abroad to fight, you have no idea how worried your mother was, she cried every day, afraid that you..."

At this point, the old man's eyes reddened, as if he had remembered something.

Jiang Zhenghua then remembered that the old man's son had gone to make revolution and had disappeared without a trace.

He immediately changed the subject, asking, "Grandma Xu, whose child is this?"

Upon hearing this, Grandma Xu looked down at the child and saw drool at the corner of his mouth. She gently wiped it away with her hand and smiled, "This is Shanhe's youngest son. Your Aunt Zhao was busy tidying up the house, so I brought him out to sunbathe."

As he spoke, he looked Jiang Zhenghua up and down and praised him, "You're much stronger and more grown up than when you left. You're a real man now, no longer the hotheaded kid who used to lead Shanhe and the others to fight and cause trouble everywhere."

Jiang Zhenghua felt a little embarrassed and quickly asked softly, "Grandma Xu, which room do you live in? I'll come visit you when I have time. I've been craving your egg drop soup for so long, I've missed it so much all these years."

Grandma Xu smiled immediately and gently patted his arm: "Just like before, you have a sweet tongue and know how to coax people. I live in the room on the far right. Come over tonight and I'll cook for you."

Jiang Zhenghua patted the child's head and said to Grandma Xu, "I'll go over tonight. I have to go out for a bit, we'll talk when I get back."

"Let's get down to business. We'll have plenty of time to talk later."

Jiang Zhenghua nodded and took his leave, then quickly walked outside.

After he left, Aunt Meng hurriedly asked, "Grandma, is this Jiang family's second son, who's in the army?"

Grandma Xu watched Jiang Zhenghua's departing figure and said with a smile, "That's right. Five years, and he's finally back."

Aunt Meng lowered her voice and asked, "Didn't he perform meritorious service several times? People from the neighborhood committee and the army came to see him several times. Do you think the higher-ups might have arranged a job for him?"

"They will definitely arrange it. He just said that he is transferring to civilian work, not returning from military service."

Aunt Meng asked curiously, "What's the difference between being discharged from the military and being transferred to civilian work? Aren't they both the same—not leaving the army and going home?"

Aunt Li ran a needle along her temple and said, "There's definitely a difference. My husband loves researching these policies, you know. He told me that veterans, who are discharged from the military, are treated as workers; while demobilized soldiers are treated as cadres."

Aunt Meng exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear, is that so? Does that mean the Jiang family has another secure job?"

"It's not just a secure job, he's a cadre."

"Oh my, that's terrible!"

Someone said sourly, "You're right. There are six people in the Jiang family, three of whom have jobs. I don't know how they manage to live such a comfortable life."

"Zhenghua worked his way up with his life, so it's only right that the government arrange a job for him."

Grandma Xu glanced at these blind women and then lowered her head to play with the child in her arms.

In September 1954, an order to conscript additional soldiers was issued, and subsequent preparations were made for the implementation of compulsory military service, stipulating that 9 male citizens aged 18-22 should be conscripted to supplement the army.

Subsequently, the first Military Service Law was promulgated, which clearly stated that "male citizens who have reached the age of eighteen, regardless of ethnicity, race, occupation, social origin, religious belief and education level, have the obligation to perform military service in accordance with the provisions of this law."

Those who joined the army before 1955 were considered volunteer soldiers and had no fixed term of service.

However, conscription has a time limit. In this era, the army served for three years, the air force for four years, and the navy for five years. Once the term is up, they have to be discharged.

After conscripts are discharged, those from rural areas generally return to their hometowns to farm, while those from urban areas receive a one-time subsidy from the government. At that time, it depends on the arrangements made by the local street office, and they may not be able to find a job.

Jiang Zhenghua joined the army during the volunteer period, and after making meritorious contributions, he was promoted to cadre. He then returned to civilian life and was assigned a job by the state.

Jiang Zhenghua strode out of the courtyard and onto the street.

Following her mother's instructions, they headed straight for Yu'er Hutong.

Not far from here, I saw a shop facing the street. At the top was a wooden board with a red five-pointed star in the center. Next to it was a large wooden board with the words "Nanluoguxiang Bingmasi Hutong Supply and Marketing Cooperative" written in black on a white background.

He stopped in his tracks, turned around, and went inside.

The interior is quite spacious, with an I-shaped wooden cabinet at the back, encircling half of the space.

The lower half of the counter is made of transparent glass, and various items are displayed inside.

Behind the counter are wooden shelves with sections for non-staple foods, daily necessities, kitchenware, toiletries, general merchandise, and tobacco and alcohol.

Several sales clerks are busy.

"Comrade, how much is Daqianmen?"

Jiang Zhenghua went straight to the counter on the left.

A young female sales clerk seemed startled by his shout, glanced up sharply, then quickly looked down again and whispered to a middle-aged woman who was buying soy sauce nearby, "Aunt Liu, how much is Daqianmen?"

Aunt Liu glanced at Jiang Zhenghua, but continued pouring soy sauce into her hand, and said loudly, "Xiao Guan, remember this. Daqianmen cigarettes are four cents a pack, and you also need a Class B cigarette coupon. You can't do without either."

"Comrade, Daqianmen cigarettes are four cents, and you'll also need a Class B cigarette coupon."

Xiao Guan immediately looked up and repeated it to Jiang Zhenghua.

"Could you please give me three packs?"

Jiang Zhenghua nodded and took out money and tickets from his pocket.

Xiao Guan gave a soft "Oh," picked up a pair of wooden clips from the side, and took out three packs of Daqianmen cigarettes from the cabinet below, placing them on the counter.

"Here are the money and the tickets."

Jiang Zhenghua handed over one yuan and two mao (0.2 yuan) and three cigarette coupons.

Aunt Liu, who was standing nearby, reminded him, "Xiao Guan, carefully check the date and region on the receipt."

Xiao Guan responded, took the ticket, and carefully examined the stamp on it.

Then he pushed the three packs of cigarettes forward: "Comrade, no problem, here are your cigarettes."

"Thanks."

Jiang Zhenghua took the cigarette and put it in his pocket.

"You're welcome. It's all about serving the people."

Unexpectedly, Xiao Guan's face immediately turned red.

Jiang Zhenghua smiled slightly, then turned and walked out.

After buying the soy sauce, Aunt Liu glanced at Jiang Zhenghua's retreating figure and said to Xiao Guan, "That comrade was quite polite. Xiao Guan, you're too thin-skinned. A simple thank you from him makes you blush. That won't do. You need to practice more, or how will you handle people in the future?"

"Aunt Liu, I will study hard."

"I don't think it's because Xiao Guan is shy, but because this young man is handsome and energetic, and Xiao Guan is just blushing. It's a pity he's a demobilized comrade; we might not see him again in the future."

An older woman who was pulling out cloth nearby came over with cloth coupons in her hand, laughing and joking.

The people at the supply and marketing cooperative immediately burst into laughter.

"Judging from his 'four pockets' attire, he must be a cadre. If I ever meet him again, I might really try to get to know him."

Xiao Guan glanced at the retreating figure and whispered sweetly, "Aunt Zhang, Aunt Liu, please stop teasing me."

Aunt Liu saw that her face turned even redder and stopped smiling: "Xiao Guan, you've just arrived today and you're not familiar with the prices of many things. I'll show you around now."

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Liu."

Jiang Zhenghua, who had just stepped out of the supply and marketing cooperative, heard laughter behind him. He shook his head, opened a pack of cigarettes, and strode towards Yu'er Alley.