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

Chapter 302 The Army Presents a Banner to the Chinese Department

"The Flames of War in Beiping" was broadcast three times in a row, but after watching the news broadcast, every household still watched "The Flames of War in Beiping" attentively.

The TV series captivated viewers, leaving them wanting more. This was especially true for long-time residents of Beijing, who thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

TV dramas don't have the reading threshold required for magazines; both literate and illiterate people can understand them, and at the very least, they can enjoy the sound and the visuals.

CCTV and the August First Film Studio made a lot of money from this series. Just by selling the rights to television stations across the country, they not only recouped their expenses but also earned four or five hundred thousand yuan.

The key point was that the higher-ups were very satisfied, and the Ministry of Culture designated "The Flames of War in Beiping" as an outstanding program. The Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture issued a notice encouraging film studios and television stations to produce excellent TV dramas.

With the increasing number of televisions owned by Chinese households, the quantity and quality of television drama production must be improved.

Li Yuru recounted what was happening in Yanjing, and after she finished, they listened to what was happening at the front lines.

Like Zhu's father and mother, they were all terrified when they heard how dangerous the front lines were.

They couldn't imagine that the actors in the crew slept in damp tunnels for a month, nor could they imagine being awakened by the sound of artillery shells at night.

One second a vibrant life is playing a joke on you, the next second it's lying in your arms dying!
Cao Yu said, "I heard from Zhou Yang and Lao Shen in the ministry that the higher-ups have agreed to raise the standard of pensions, and the increase is expected to be three to four times!"

It seems that "The Moon on the Front Line" is about to take effect!
"Sigh, no amount of money is too much for a precious life!" Li Yuru said with heartache.

"That's true, but the country doesn't have much money!" Cao Yu said helplessly.

Liu Yimin said, "It's not just about providing compensation; we should also offer assistance to the families of martyrs!"
"That depends on the policies in different regions!" Cao Yu said.

Wan Fang said, "I've heard that ingrates are elusive creatures that appear and disappear mysteriously in the jungle. Is that true?"

"They are indeed good at fighting in the rainforest, but on the border, it's mainly positional warfare, with most of the time it's special agent raids. But when it comes to night fighting, our People's Liberation Army is their ancestor!"

After Liu Yimin finished speaking, he added, "Our tunnel excavation work is also the ancestor of monkeys!"

Cao Yu suddenly said, "If Ho Chi Minh were here, I don't know if things would have developed to this point!"

He sighed with emotion as he recalled how, in the past, both the people and the government of the two countries had chanted the slogan "comrades and brothers."

The slogan "comrades plus brothers" was uttered by Ho Chi Minh.

The group discussed it for a while, but couldn't reach a conclusion. Liu Yimin felt that international political relations could not be maintained by a few slogans, and that Ho Chi Minh was a politician.

For such small countries, shifting allegiances frequently is their way of survival; in other words, it's a "pragmatic and flexible foreign policy."

But the successor's arrogance and misjudgment of the situation are truly laughable!
They chatted until very late before leaving Muxidi, taking Sanhua with them.

They went to the front lines to film, and Sanhua was cared for by Li Yuru. After three months together, when Li Yuru took Sanhua away, she looked very reluctant to part with her.

Compared to the traditional courtyard house, Sanhua clearly prefers the traditional courtyard house, since it's bigger and there are so many more things to do there, like climbing trees and rooftops.

After Liu Yimin returned, he did not go to Yenching University, fearing that Yan Jiayan would conscript him.

However, Yan Jiayan still found out and made a phone call to the Overseas Chinese Apartment, urging him to go to the school.

Left with no other choice, Liu Yimin rode his motorcycle to Yenching University.

Many new faces appeared on campus. Li Lanyong did not return to Yenching University, but stayed at home to prepare to make his mark.

When I passed by the Triangle Area, I saw several junior and sophomore students who greeted Liu Yimin and called him "senior brother" in unison.

Someone from behind nudged the group in front and laughed, "What Senior Brother Liu? He's Professor Liu now!"

"Hello, Professor Liu!" everyone greeted him again in unison.

Liu Yimin's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Hello, students!"

Even though we're familiar with each other, I still have to call him "professor."

The tools and the reputation, however, cannot be given to others! Otherwise, where would my authority as a professor be?

"Professor Liu, can you tell us about the front lines? We really like your book 'The Moon on the Battlefield,' and we're planning to join the army after graduation!" Several people surrounded Liu Yimin and said all at once.

"Want to go to the front lines?" Liu Yimin stopped in his tracks.

"Yes, we also want to do our part for our country! We are college students, and we are said to be the pride of our times. The pride of our times should not miss this historic event!"

Are there any college students on the front lines?

"Yes, quite a few. Some of the recent graduates from the class of '77 also participated, but they were all undergoing pre-combat training. The composer of 'Song of the Moon' is a college graduate from the music academy. He was originally in the cultural troupe, but he voluntarily transferred to the combat unit!"

Liu Yimin stood there and told everyone about the front lines. More and more people gathered around. After Liu Yimin finished telling them what he knew, he quickly left through the gaps in the crowd.

Upon arriving at the Chinese Department, several senior professors smiled and said, "You're finally back! Anyone who didn't know better would think that our Chinese Department couldn't keep you here!"

"Professor Wu, Professor Sun!" Liu Yimin greeted them with a smile.

"Hurry up and go in, Professor Yan is waiting for you!"

Liu Yimin pushed open the door and walked in. Yan Jiayan was grading papers. When he saw Liu Yimin come in, he crossed his legs and said, "When did you get back? You didn't even come to the department first!"

"Professor Yan, I really just got back! I was wondering how you knew I was back. Did you plant a spy among me?" Liu Yimin said with a helpless expression.

"Haha, guess!"

Liu Yimin thought for a moment and said, "I really can't guess!"

"Can't guess?" Yan Jiayan said with a smile, "My comrades in the army told me!"

Do you have acquaintances in the front-line troops?

"No, not at all! What's this about you capturing a prisoner?" Yan Jiayan poured Liu Yimin a cup of tea and asked curiously.

"Ok?"

"Don't play dumb with me. I know everything about what you did on the front lines!" Yan Jiayan straightened up, a mischievous smile on his lips.

Liu Yimin said a few words helplessly, and then gestured with his hands.

"So simple?"

“Yes, shoot first, then arrest them, it’s that simple!” Liu Yimin said.

Yan Jiayan scrutinized Liu Yimin, and after a while asked, "Isn't there anything like 'said in a flash, aimed and fired in one go,' or any psychological description? Like 'facing death without fear, sacrificing oneself for righteousness' or something like that?"

Yan Jiayan was prepared to listen to the stories of killing the enemy firsthand, but it turned out to be just two sentences and two gestures.

After listening, I felt a sense of emptiness inside!

“Professor Yan, we’re just surrounding a bunch of remnants of a band of soldiers. What’s this talk of being ready to die for a cause? You’re overthinking it!” Liu Yimin said.

"You're not hurt, are you?"

Liu Yimin chuckled and patted his clothes, saying, "It's just a little dirt on the hem and a bit of weathering!" Yan Jiayan clapped his hands in agreement. This was exactly the image of a hero in everyone's hearts!
How did you know that?

"Hahaha!" Yan Jiayan pointed to the rolled-up red brocade banner on the table and said, "Open it and take a look!"

Liu Yimin opened it out of curiosity and saw two lines of large, glittering gold characters written on the banner.

[Wen was able to use his pen to write articles that reassured the army;]
He was skilled in martial arts, capable of capturing prisoners on horseback and achieving meritorious service by killing the enemy.

Finally, there is a line of smaller print: "Presented to Comrade Liu Yimin by the Political Department of the Kunming Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on September 21, 1982."

It turned out that the banner sent from the front lines betrayed Liu Yimin, because this lieutenant provided a lot of intelligence, which reduced casualties in the capture of the high ground.

The army wanted to commend Liu Yimin, but since he wasn't a soldier, they came up with the idea of ​​sending him a banner.

Sending a banner to someone who has a job is practically equivalent to offering them a promotion opportunity.

However, Liu Yimin is already an associate professor at a young age, and it is impossible for him to be promoted in the next two years.

"These were sent by comrades from the Kunming Military Region. Their story was much more exciting than yours. They talked about how he was fearless in the face of danger, could hit a target from a hundred paces away, and was both brave and resourceful!" Yan Jiayan said with a smile.

"The propaganda department comrades dare to say anything!"

"You rascal, people say nice things to you and you still get complaints!" Yan Jiayan said with a laugh.

"Is this all you came to see me about today?"

"What else could it be!" Yan Jiayan smiled as he admired the banner, then said, "It's time to get back to school!"

"Professor Yan, could I rest for a few more days?" Liu Yimin asked cautiously.

"There's no room for negotiation. Look at the other young teachers; they love teaching. And you? You haven't taught a single class yet. The department schedules one long class a week, and you don't want to go?"

Liu Yimin quickly said, "Go, go, I'll go, okay!"

"That's more like it!" Yan Jiayan nodded in satisfaction.

Most young teachers want to teach classes, but it's all for the sake of earning that little bit of extra pay per class hour!

As Liu Yimin was leaving Yan Jiayan's office, he was about to take the banner away when Yan Jiayan quickly said, "Put it down, put the banner down!"

"Professor Yan, that's not fair! This is for me!"

"What do you mean 'for you'? If it's delivered to the office, then it's for the office. From now on, it should be hung in our department's conference room!"

"Isn't this a bit too flashy?" Liu Yimin said reluctantly.

"That's it? I'm planning to hang the banner in front of the department building in the next couple of days so that all the teachers and students passing by can see it and learn from you!"

Yan Jiayan snatched the banner from Liu Yimin and said smugly, "Let's see who dares to say that our Chinese department is all talk and no action. We are clearly both literary and martial!"

After Liu Yimin left, Yan Jiayan indeed hung the banner on the corridor by the door and posted a written account of the whole story next to it.

Yan Jiayan's writing was so vivid and colorful that students and professors were amazed after reading it!
Who would have thought that our Chinese Department at Yenching University would have a "Zhao Zilong" who entered and exited the university three times!
Zhu Jia and Liu Yimin stared blankly at the yam and wolfberry porridge and the whitish turtle porridge in their bowls.

With a beaming smile, Zhu's mother said, "Yimin, try this new dish I recently learned to make!"

Liu Yimin pursed his lips and didn't say anything, but looked at Zhu Lin, who blushed and didn't speak.

Zhu's father looked at the sky and the ground, pretending to be dead and not saying a word.

Damn it, what's going on?!

"Mom, I'm a little full, you guys eat!" Liu Yimin said.

"Hey, we've all eaten. This was made especially for you!"

Liu Yimin had no choice but to bite the bullet and eat it, but the turtle tasted really good.

"Isn't it delicious? I've been coming here every day for the past few days, and I've bought several!" Zhu's mother said happily.

With a "pfft," Liu Yimin almost choked, blurting out without thinking, "No need, Mom, let Dad eat it!"

Mr. Zhu glared at Liu Yimin, while Mrs. Zhu said nonchalantly, "Young people travel all over the country, which takes a lot of physical exertion. They need to eat well to do their job well!"

What kind of talk about tigers and wolves?
After leaving the Zhu family's house, I was too embarrassed to ask in the hallway, but when we got outside, Zhu Lin was laughing so hard he could hardly breathe.

Liu Yimin was amused by her words: "What nonsense are you spouting at home?"

"Teacher Liu, I assure you, I didn't say anything wrong!" Zhu Lin explained.

"I do not believe!"

On the way, Zhu Lin slowly explained that her mother had secretly inquired in the kitchen today about why Zhu Lin's belly hadn't shown any signs of pregnancy.

Zhu Lin was also very embarrassed when asked this question, so he stammered and didn't know how to answer.

Zhu's mother kept trying different methods to find out more, and in the end, she said the wrong thing!
"What? You said I'm fast?" Liu Yimin slammed on the brakes, pulled the motorcycle to the side of the road, and glared angrily at Zhu Lin.

"Teacher Liu, please don't be angry. That's not what I meant. I was just saying you arrived quickly!"

Zhu Lin hugged Liu Yimin's waist, comforting him.

"What do you mean 'came quickly'? Explain yourself! Our bed is about to collapse, okay?"

"I meant you recovered quickly, but oh my god, I'm so embarrassed! I'm not going to say anything more, I'm going home!"

Upon returning home, Liu Yimin, without saying a word, carried Zhu Lin into the house and angrily said, "I'll show you what an enhanced howitzer is!"

During the few days Zhu Lin stayed in Yanjing, his mother called the two of them out to eat every day, and each time there was turtle, which made Liu Yimin want to vomit.

However, this shows that Zhu's mother is extremely worried about Zhu Lin not being pregnant yet.

He spent his entire month's salary on health supplements for Liu Yimin. He even hinted to Liu Yimin that the Ginseng and Cinnamon Nourishing Wine was good for his health and worked quickly!
Sigh! Liu Yimin felt extremely wronged. Every day when he returned home, Zhu Lin had to comfort him.

After Zhu Lin left Yanjing with the film crew, his treatment immediately dropped, and finally, a turtle died mysteriously and ended up in Zhu's father's stomach.

There are very few scenes to film in Northeast China, so I can be back in about half a month.

Before leaving, Zhu Lin and Liu Yimin were invited to the Zhan You Drama Troupe to watch their play "Triumph at Midnight".

The head of the drama troupe happily told Liu Yimin that the play "Triumph at Midnight" has a very good chance of winning the General Political Department's Literature and Art Award this year.

Wei Wei chimed in, "You don't know, many veteran generals have come to see the drama troupe's performance. They have given you high praise. In just a few months, drama troupes from major military regions across the country have performed this play over a hundred times!"

"Yimin, congratulations!" Director Wei of the drama troupe said with a smile, putting his arm around Liu Yimin's shoulder.

(End of this chapter)