Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 297 A Turbulent Night on the Front Lines
In mid-July, Liu Yimin, Wang Yan, and Li Jun, under the protection of a squad of guards, quietly arrived at a protruding, unnamed hill.

This unnamed hill controls a strategic location, but its terrain is relatively isolated. The road to the hill requires crossing a wide area, which can be directly observed through binoculars.

The road is often rigged with landmines planted by special agents. Just two days ago, an old military worker was injured by a bomb while carrying supplies up the mountain.

Because of this incident, our artillery and reconnaissance troops launched a counterattack against the other side, and things have been much quieter since then.

The three of them came to the high ground to experience the battlefield environment firsthand, and also to scout filming locations. Li Jun demanded the utmost realism.

They wore straw headbands and removed their red collar tabs and red cap badges, otherwise the red color would be too conspicuous and make them easy targets for the enemy.

When crossing an open area, soldiers from the guard company stood guard with their guns, and the three men crawled and rolled across the open area one after another.

Along the way, they encountered military workers carrying ammunition and supplies, shirtless, wearing ripped shoes, quietly climbing uphill.

The guards reached out to help carry it, and the soldiers from the military equipment team looked at Liu Yimin, wiping their sweat, and said, "We're also memorizing 'Triumph at Midnight' today!"

The group walked along the rugged mountain path, and only on the other side of the mountain, where the monkeys couldn't see them, did they dare to show a slight smile of relief.

However, they often had to rush upstairs after standing for less than thirty seconds.

The longer you stay on the road, the more dangerous it becomes.

A reinforced company of soldiers was stationed on the high ground, divided into three hilltops, with the east and west hilltops providing cover for the company headquarters in the middle.

When there were no monkey attacks, the battlefield was very quiet, and they could only hear their own heavy breathing.

When they finally reached the battlefield, the soldiers of the military production team put down their supplies, lay on the ground, and began to breathe heavily.

The soldiers on the position handed over a water bottle, but the military equipment team member only moistened his lips before returning it.

"Comrade, have some more!"

"Your water is precious, we'll drink it when we get back, we won't die of thirst! Where are your Company Commander Zhao and Political Instructor? This is Director and Writer Comrade Liu Yimin!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers on the position laughed and said, "We received the order yesterday and have been waiting all day. Our company commander and political instructor have been keeping a close eye on the ingrates' movements, afraid they might cause trouble at this time. I'll go and call them!"

The soldier saluted Liu Yimin and the others, then ran along the tunnel toward the company commander and political instructor.

After a while, Company Commander Zhao and Political Instructor Zhao arrived from the position. Both men had chapped lips, dark skin, and dirty clothes; the collars of their white shirts were blackened.

"Director, Liu Yimin, welcome to our high ground. The conditions here are a bit harsh, but we will definitely meet any needs you may have!"

Company Commander Zhao had a full beard of varying lengths and spoke in a hearty manner.

"We've caused you trouble. Please tell us what we need to pay attention to on the front line!"

Company Commander Zhao pulled Liu Yimin into the trench and said, "First, try not to stick your head out of the trench. Second, remember the password and don't wander off at night."

The soldiers on the position looked at them with curious eyes; many of them were shirtless or wearing only a vest.

The tall soldier, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, smiled at Liu Yimin: "You look about the same as us, just a bit fairer!"

"It's because of you all that I'm a little fairer than you!" Liu Yimin handed over the peony from his pocket.

Instructor Liang Xin, a college graduate who joined the army, said to Company Commander Zhao, "No wonder he's a writer; he speaks with such eloquence." The tall soldier took the cigarette and added, "Comrade Liu Yimin's words are much more pleasant to hear. Unlike some people sitting in offices who tell us to fight while simultaneously calling us country bumpkins!"

"Third squad leader, what nonsense are you spouting!" Company Commander Zhao yelled.

After finishing his rant, he said to Liu Yimin, "It's too quiet on the front line. The third squad leader is very brave in battle, but he just likes to vent his anger. He needs a gag in his mouth!"

“What this comrade said isn’t without merit!” Wang Yan replied.

At night, Liu Yimin and the soldiers slept together in the air-raid shelter dug on the front line. It was very damp inside, and the air was filled with the smell of decay.

Under the kerosene lamp, the soldiers listened to Liu Yimin talk about the capital and Tiananmen Square. The soldiers, in turn, told him about their first time coming up there and the first time they fired a shot and hit their target.

As a soldier in the guard company, Xizi followed them to the front line. At first, she was very nervous, but now she has completely integrated into the battlefield.

"Writer Liu, is Tiananmen Square high?"

“It’s tall, very tall, and it’s red, the same color as our military flag!” Liu Yimin said earnestly.

Some soldiers who had seen the film made by Wang Yan and Li Jun asked them how it was made!
Finally, there's always one topic we can't avoid: helping people write letters home.

Liu Yimin picked up his notebook and listened to the soldiers' accounts. The third squad leader, whom he had met today, sat down in front of Liu Yimin with a cigarette dangling from his mouth and began to dictate his story.

"Father, Mother, Guixiu, and Huwa:"
Guess what Dad is doing right now? You can't guess, can you? He's giving those ingrates a good beating. They didn't come today, otherwise I would have beaten them up again.

These bastards are a bunch of scoundrels. They risk their lives for us, eat our rice, and don't even appreciate our kindness. Tiger Cub, you need to study hard and not be an ingrate like them. We should help those who help us.

We'll be good to those who are good to us.

Guixiu, last time I wrote to you saying I had sacrificed myself, and that you should remarry. You said you wouldn't remarry, so I, your man, will live on.

If things really don't go well, take the money the government gives you and save it for our parents. The old clothes you sent back before, if you alter them, they can still be worn.

Guess who I saw today? Comrade Liu Yimin, the one I mentioned to you last time. Sigh, you can't read, otherwise you could have seen this. You need to teach our Tiger Cub to read, so he can go to school, like the instructor, and go to university!

......"

After finishing writing, the squad leader wiped away his tears, stuffed the letter into his pocket, and said, "Writer Liu, thank you. I'll keep watch for you all tonight. You should all get some sleep!"

After saying that, he picked up the gun and walked outside.

After blowing out the kerosene lamp, Company Commander Zhao, worried that Liu Yimin and the other two wouldn't be able to sleep well, specially found them a spacious place.

At night, the air-raid shelter was filled with the sounds of snoring, but the soldiers on guard outside dared not relax their vigilance in the slightest.

Machine guns were positioned at the entrance of the air-raid shelter, guarded by two sentries. The trenches outside were even more formidable, in addition to several hidden posts.

The valley was very quiet, with only the chirping of insects and the sound of flowing water below.

The squad leader reminded everyone to be on guard, carefully looked at the shimmering stream under the moonlight, and suddenly said, "Something's not right, something's not right!"

Then, he gently pulled back the bolt, his expression tense, and the soldiers next to him immediately became alert.

(End of this chapter)