1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 117 My dad was just a simple volunteer soldier
The leaders of the Education Department naturally dared not neglect the call.

After all, although the county and city education bureaus are under their jurisdiction, the discipline inspection commission is still needed to conduct normal investigations into official corruption.

His first step was to verify whether the problem was true.

The next day, he asked his secretary, "Have Zhou Xu's materials been transferred over?"

"It's been transferred. I made an urgent call yesterday, and I also called Lichuan County to inquire. Comrade Zhou Xu's information does indeed have problems and has been tampered with!"
For example, Zhou Xu's original birthday has been changed, and... these places have all been altered, so now the two of them have the same information, which has caused problems on both sides! The secretary took out the documents.

The leader, upon seeing this, found it somewhat amusing: "This is indeed a novel method... These people will do anything for a degree! The Party is being corrupted by these individuals!"

He couldn't help but shake his head: "Have the specific individuals been identified?"

The secretary shook her head: "Not yet, there's not enough time. Anyway, the documents have been tampered with. I asked Wuhan University this morning, and they said Zhou Xu has been reporting for duty normally for the past two years... which proves..."

"So someone really took Zhou Xu's place in school, right?" The leader stroked his chin. "I understand. Let me make a call!"

The leader called the disciplinary committee to report the incident.

Of course, this excludes the fact that he made the phone call. In fact, the Wuhan Military Region also mentioned this matter to the Discipline Inspection Commission yesterday.

"Have you retrieved the documents from the archives? Is the report from the military region true?" the leader of the Discipline Inspection Commission asked.

The director tapped the table: "It's true. I've read the documents, and there are serious problems here. I'll have to trouble you with this matter. Please clear Comrade Zhou Xu's name."

"Since the matter is true, I will come to the Education Department to pick up the materials later. I will send someone to accompany Comrade Zhou Xu this afternoon!"

"Ah."

Both sides were quite efficient, because the military region had already increased the pressure, and Zhou Xu is a well-known writer in China. If anything went wrong, it would cause a huge uproar and public opinion across the country.

Besides, writers are all very shrewd. If Zhou Xu were to file a lawsuit and cause a scene at the People's Daily... that would be an even bigger problem.

After all, the People's Daily these days is like a musical note in the future: when something happens, it spreads like wildfire, then floods the official accounts with comments that obliterate everything about the person's ancestors!

"..."

The county town at this time.

A very powerful phone call came in.

"The Lichuan County Party Committee?"

"Hello, who is this?" the secretary asked.

"I am Zhang XX from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. I'm looking for your Secretary Gao!"

"The Party Secretary is still out in the countryside!" The secretary paused...

"Find him quickly! Make him call me back, I'm waiting!" The other end of the line angrily hung up... The secretary on the other end was pacing around in a panic!

The county party committee secretary in the county seat is an official at the level of a division chief.

But the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is a sub-provincial level unit, and its leader is at least a department-level official.

Those aren't just one level higher, they're two levels higher!! Two completely full levels!!
What if the person on the other end is the Party Secretary? That would be a difference of at least three levels.

But this little secretary was so anxious that she was running around in circles, and soon she started frantically making phone calls all over the office, calling the county government and the county party committee.

By the afternoon.

Then I saw Secretary Gao Dashan slowly get out of the car.

The secretary shouted, "Secretary! Something's wrong! Something's really wrong!"

"What's the matter that's in such a hurry?" Gao Dashan put down his clothes, glanced at his hurried secretary, and shook his head helplessly.

Without waiting for a reply, the secretary immediately said, "It's from the province..."

"The provincial level? Who?"

"The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection!"

Jingle!
Gao Dashan felt like he had a concussion; his brain felt like it had turned to mush, and he was momentarily stunned, even pausing for a moment before speaking.

Pooh!
The disciplinary committee is like a street vendor hearing that the city management officers are coming; even if you're completely innocent, you'll still feel a little scared.

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

The secretary, though aggrieved, couldn't express it: "But...didn't you say you went down there? I contacted the government and several major communes, but I can't find any trace of you!!"

The Party Secretary slammed his hand on the table: "We have to find it even if we can't."

The secretary opened her mouth, ready to explain...

"You go out first, I'll make a call."

The secretary left the office and closed the door behind her.

Gao Dashan made the phone call.

"Secretary Gao, you are truly a very busy person! I've been waiting here all morning, but I still haven't received a call from you!" the leader said with a forced smile.

Gao Dashan immediately apologized: "I'm sorry, Director, I went to the countryside to offer my condolences this morning, so I didn't receive the call!"

"I'm here to talk to you about serious business! The Wuhan Military Region and the Provincial Education Department have both called me, reporting that there's an extraordinary person in your county/city who has taken the university place of a first-class combat hero!!"
This soldier went to the front lines and received two First-Class Merits! He's even preparing to go to military academy for further studies. Are you trying to hold him back?

"..."

Buzzing, Gao Dashan's mouth is agape?

These individual words seem simple, so why do I not understand them when they are put together?
Ok?
The university degree of a first-class combat hero was taken by someone else?

Did they eat the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard?

Oh! So you took someone else's place first before they became a Level 1 Combat Hero?
However, both the military region and the education department have called, so the matter is quite clear: the higher-ups are going to take action!

Gao Dashan immediately said, "I understand, Director! Our county committee will definitely take this matter seriously! We will deal with it seriously!! We will find this person!! This despicable and hateful villain!!! This corrupt official."

"No need for Secretary Gao to trouble yourself. The deputy director of the General Office has already come down. You just need to assist him in handling things." The director of the General Office chuckled and immediately hung up the phone.

The General Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, an internal department of the provincial discipline inspection commission, is typically at the level of a full-fledged division chief. The head of the General Office is the Director of the General Office, whose administrative rank is equivalent to that of a county-level division chief, the same as a division head. However, cadres at all levels of the discipline inspection commission are generally appointed at a higher level; the Director of the General Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is usually a deputy director-general level cadre.

The director of the general office did not go there in person, but instructed the deputy director to go to the county town.

Beep beep...

Gao Dashan held the still-hot receiver, his knuckles turning white.

The fluorescent lights in the office hummed, intertwined with the tangled mess in his mind—the university spot of a first-class combat hero had been taken by someone else. If this was verified, it wouldn't be a simple punishment; it would implicate many people.
He suddenly grabbed the enamel mug on the table and gulped down a mouthful of cold water. The icy liquid slid down his throat, finally calming the restlessness in his heart.

"Xiao Wang!" Gao Dashan called out towards the door, and his secretary immediately ran in.

"Immediately notify the comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Education Bureau to meet in the small conference room in ten minutes. There's an urgent task. Also, bring over all the college entrance examination admission files from the county over the past ten years, especially those involving veterans and children of martyrs—the more complete, the better!"

Just as Wang Lei was about to leave, Gao Dashan added, "By the way, have the logistics department prepare two empty offices, and also have the key to the archives ready. The leaders from the General Office will be arriving in a few days, so there can't be any mistakes."

What I said above, "no trouble required," really means no trouble required.

That's fake!

They must have done all the work before the higher-ups arrived, otherwise why would the General Office call him? Wouldn't that be pointless? Ten minutes later, the small conference room was filled with smoke.

All the leaders in the county who were involved in this matter were sitting here.

Gao Dashan took a sip of tea and recounted the story.

"..."

Whoosh, something exploded below.

What did you say
Is this something that happened in our county?
After hearing this, the county magistrate and the head of the armed forces department exchanged glances. Both of them blinked their big eyes.

How many first-class combat heroes does their county have? Not many, but Zhou Xu is definitely not the only one. But how many people have two first-class merit awards? Only Zhou Xu.

Gao Dashan noticed the minister's expression and asked, "Old Wang, do you know what's going on? These are soldiers recruited by your armed forces department."

Wang Hairui said tremblingly, "I know who that soldier you're talking about is... Comrade Zhou Xu from Yujiang Commune!!"

"what!"

Gao Dashan frowned even more deeply!

He had heard of Zhou Xu's great name!
Social influence is disproportionate to power, but it is definitely a form of power!
For example, someone like Ba Jin, whose social influence reached a certain level, became the chairman of the Writers Association, which is equivalent to a vice minister!

Zhou Xu is a well-known writer. If he really gets into trouble, it would be a huge loss for the county and city.

"Really?"

"The only one who fits the time and description is Comrade Zhou Xu! When the county head and I were checking Comrade Zhou Xu's records, we found quite a few clues... so..." Wang Hairui hadn't finished speaking.

Gao Dashan frowned and said, "So... why didn't you tell me about something this big! Comrade Zhou Xu's information was tampered with, why didn't you inform me beforehand!"

"I thought it was a small matter!"

"Little things?"

Pre-emptive action and being ordered to take action by superiors are two different things.

Upon hearing this, everyone seemed to suddenly understand and looked at the director of the Education Bureau.

Zhou Mohai's face instantly turned as white as a sheet. He braced his hands on the edge of the table, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the force, and his fingers trembled more and more noticeably, making his speech intermittent: "Why... are you looking at me like that?"

Zhou Mohai was also drenched in sweat!

Why would they call from above, or even from the provincial level? Who did I offend?!

-

Wuhan Railway Station at this time.

Zhou Xu stood leisurely at the station entrance, waiting for the legendary leader to arrive.

Soon, a standard two-wheeled sedan (a common type of sedan used in the province) drove towards us.

A middle-aged man in an executive jacket got out of the car. Upon seeing Zhou Xu, he greeted him with a broad smile: "Hello, Comrade Zhou Xu!!"

Zhou Xu saluted skillfully, but quickly realized that it was not appropriate to salute now; he should shake hands instead!
He immediately put his hand down and came over to shake hands with the leader.

"Hello, I'm Zhang Linsheng from the General Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection! You can just call me Lao Zhang!"

Zhou Xu immediately said, "Hello, Director Zhang!"

This is a section chief!

That's practically equivalent to being a regimental commander.

This level of rank, accompanying him on his rural trip, truly shows how much importance is attached to him.

Zhou Xu didn't think that being a section chief was anything special just because he wrote novels. He just had to look at the Prince Milk Company. A section chief there ruined a 3 billion yuan company, and that was in 2007.

Zhang Linsheng smiled and put his hand on Zhou Xu's shoulder: "Comrade Zhou Xu, our Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection will definitely get to the bottom of your problem. Don't have any worries!"

"Then I'll thank you in advance, Director!" Zhou Xu said.

Zhang Linsheng did not underestimate Zhou Xu just because Zhou Xu was a deputy battalion commander.

A deputy battalion commander with two first-class merits, and at only twenty years old—how much potential does he really have? Nobody knows. Perhaps he's just barely reached the threshold of the military.

Besides, he came from a poor family, yet he has written so many works that have sold millions of copies, and he also has a strong public opinion influence!

"This is our responsibility. We thank Comrade Zhou Xu for pointing out the mistakes and problems within the organization."

The two thanked each other profusely and walked together toward the station.

The station was teeming with people.

Zhang Linsheng started chatting with Zhou Xu: "Comrade Zhou Xu, I don't know much about your situation yet. Could you tell me about it?"

"What are you saying?" Zhou Xu asked, feigning ignorance.

"By the way, do you still remember the acceptance letter?"

Zhou Xu shook his head: "No, I never received an admission notice, and when I checked my grades, I wasn't even on the list!"

In those days, only those who passed the admission score would see their names on the lists of students in the county or school.

"Let me ask you about your family," Zhang Linsheng said. "Who is your father?"

Zhou Xu immediately said, "My father was just a simple volunteer soldier. After returning to China, he went to work at the grassroots level in our hometown."

"..." Zhang Linsheng continued, "Your grandfather?"

“My grandfather was a veteran of the War of Resistance against Japan, but he died on the battlefield. Because there is very little information about him, it is very difficult for him to be recognized as a martyr,” Zhou Xu said pitifully.

“…Comrade Zhou Xu, you are truly a rare talent from a poor family!” Zhang Linsheng felt heartbroken after saying it so many times.

Three generations of soldiers!
The first generation was the War of Resistance against Japan.

Second generation resists America.

Three generations fighting monkeys!
This generation has always been loyal. He felt indignant on Zhou Xu's behalf when he heard about Zhou Xu being replaced!

“This ‘enemy’ is truly despicable! You tell me, Comrade Zhou Xu, you are the son of a veteran volunteer soldier…” Zhang Linsheng cursed, “This time I will definitely get justice for you! I will uproot the enemy’s entire lineage!”

"Thank you, Director. I'm so moved that a good official like you can get justice for us common people!" Zhou Xu said, tears welling up in his eyes.

Damn it, why do I feel so heartbroken?

I should have gone to university to find a girlfriend, and maybe I could have married two wives and had children with them. But now I can only marry one wife. It's so painful.

"..."

The two were touched by each other's presence for a while, and gradually became acquainted on the train.

The journey by car was rather troublesome, requiring many transfers.

at last!

Three days later, the two arrived at the bus station in Lichuan County!
(End of this chapter)