50s: Starting with a storage ring

Chapter 393 Solemn and solemn

Because the current flag-raising team has to cross Chang'an Avenue every day, they have to give way to vehicles and go around pedestrians, which is not classy at all.

He felt that the flag-raising ceremony was not as meaningful as it had been in the future, and that the Chinese people did not attach enough importance to the national flag and the flag-raising ceremony.

Since he is here today, he should naturally give the national flag the utmost respect.

Seeing that it was almost time, he woke up the four men, told them to straighten their clothes, and then led them toward the flagpole's defensive line.

As he passed the flagpole, he stood at attention and gave a military salute to the two soldiers guarding the national flag post.

After the two soldiers instinctively returned the salute, he led the four men onward and waited by Chang'an Avenue.

A short while later, they saw two soldiers carrying a flag walking out of the Jinshui Bridge.

Sun Zhiwei immediately led four people onto Chang'an Avenue and began stopping vehicles on both sides to create a safe passage for the flag-raising team.

The two soldiers were surprised for a few seconds, then nodded to them and began to cross Chang'an Avenue through the safe passage they had just stopped.

The four young men were all wearing old military uniforms. Because they were neatly arranged, they actually looked quite convincing. The vehicles that had been stopped on both sides didn't dare to cause any trouble when they saw them.

Some bolder drivers opened their windows to ask questions, but then saw soldiers carrying the national flag walking across the street, and immediately fell silent.

Sun Zhiwei stood in the middle of the road, watching the national flag safely pass through Chang'an Avenue, before calling the four young men back to the square.

Then he saw the two soldiers raising the flag climb over the white jade railing and hang the flag.

One of them looked at his watch and pressed the button precisely when the appointed time arrived.

Nowadays, there's no band playing during flag-raising ceremonies, nor is the national anthem played over loudspeakers. But Sun Zhiwei is here today, along with four followers, so he can make up for that.

Upon seeing the flag being raised, he immediately saluted and, along with his four followers, loudly sang the national anthem to accompany the flag-raising ceremony.

People around the square stopped and paid their respects to the national flag. Soldiers passing by also stopped to salute, and Young Pioneers who got up early for school saluted.

The entire area around the national flag fell silent, with everyone singing the national anthem in unison with the five people.

The soldiers guarding the flagpole saw all of this and realized that today's flag-raising ceremony was quite different from the past.

He couldn't explain why, but that feeling of tightness in his chest was unmistakable.

After the flag-raising ceremony ended, he couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Comrade, why did you do that?"

Sun Zhiwei smiled and said, "Because I think that's how a flag-raising ceremony should be: solemn and dignified."

The guard agreed wholeheartedly and saluted Sun Zhiwei in gratitude.

After returning to the flag-raising team's post that day, the soldier wrote down his special experience.

In particular, Sun Zhiwei's words deeply touched him, and he wrote them at the beginning: "This is how the flag-raising ceremony should be: solemn and dignified."

The other three soldiers present did the same.

Three years later, the National Flag Guard was established, forming a tri-service honor guard and a 36-person National Flag Guard formation.

When crossing Chang'an Avenue, the road will be temporarily closed, and the white jade railings have been renovated with steps. There will be a band playing music during the ceremony, making it solemn and dignified.

Regardless of what happened afterward, after the flag-raising ceremony, the four young men seemed to have undergone a spiritual baptism, their faces filled with shame and regret.

After Sun Zhiwei finished speaking with the guards at the flag post, he turned to look at the four men.

"You guys can leave now. Don't let me find out you're out partying again. You won't be so lucky next time. I'll break your legs right away, and I mean it."

The four men shuddered at his words, could only bow to Sun Zhiwei with wry smiles, and then helped each other leave the square.

Seeing that it was almost time, Sun Zhiwei quickly rode his bike home.

A few minutes later, he arrived at his home on Wenjin Street. Several neighbors who were out greeted him as he returned. Sun Zhiwei, eager to get home, exchanged a few perfunctory words and pushed his bicycle inside.

At the entrance to the courtyard, he parked his car and shouted, "Jiajia, I'm back!"

"Ah, Dad's home!" A surprised voice immediately came from inside.

Soon, the sound of footsteps came running to open the door.

As soon as Sun Zhiwei stepped onto the stairs, the door opened from the inside, and a slender figure rushed out and hugged him tightly.

Sun Zhiwei quickly stepped back to steady himself, but laughed and scolded, "You crazy girl, how old are you? Why are you still so reckless? What if you fall?"

"Dad, didn't you come back last month? I saw the box."

"Yes, I came back that morning, but I received a mission at noon that required me to leave immediately, so I didn't have time to tell you."

"So this time, how many days will you stay?"

"This mission was completed very successfully, and I will try to stay at home as much as possible."

As they walked in, Tong Jiajia and Sun Aiguo came out to greet them from the living room.

"You're back." Tong Jiajia looked at him with a smile.

Sun Zhiwei stepped forward and hugged her tightly, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, Jiajia."

Tong Jiajia had never been in this situation before, and blushed with embarrassment. She quickly pushed him away, saying, "The children are here."

"Hehehehe," Sun Hongying laughed unrestrainedly when she saw the two hugging, while Sun Aiguo was much more shy and just chuckled quietly.

"Aiguo, how are you doing now? How many more years until you graduate from military academy?"

"Dad, it will be another two years before I graduate."

"What the army says is that I should be able to get promoted when I get back."

"Yes, the leader said that when I get back I can become a deputy company commander, with the benefits of level 18."

"Hmm, not bad. You'd better study hard these next few years, learn real skills, and don't just drift through life."

Sun Aiguo was a young man and didn't understand the intricacies of administrative benefits, but Sun Zhiwei understood it very well.

Normally, university graduates entering the system start at level 23.

"I know, Dad," Sun Aiguo obediently replied.

"Zhiwei, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I made a lot today, come and eat quickly. They both have to rush to school, so if you have any questions, we can talk about them when they get back tonight."

"Okay, let's eat then."

The family gathered together for breakfast, and the two little ones couldn't wait to ride their bikes off.

Only the couple remained at home. Tong Jiajia was busy washing dishes and tidying up, but Sun Zhiwei's gaze lingered on her.

When Tong Jiajia walked past him again, he finally couldn't resist and hugged her tightly around the waist.

Tong Jiajia knew what he was planning to do, but it was almost time for work. She had much stronger willpower than Sun Zhiwei, so she quickly stopped him and glared at him.

"What do you want to do in broad daylight? I'm about to go to work. You just got back, aren't you going to report to the department?"

Seeing her resolute attitude, Sun Zhiwei could only give up in frustration.

(End of this chapter)