1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 121 Showing off to the experts

After Zhou Xu submitted his application.

Soon, just over a month later, news came from the Nanjing Senior Army School that they had decided to recommend Zhou Xu for admission.

After two years of hard work, Zhou Xu was finally officially admitted to university through the guaranteed admission program.

Meanwhile, in this month

Nearly two months after its publication, "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" has generated considerable buzz and critical discussion.

It even sparked public attention to veterans of the War of Resistance against Japan.

Zhou Xu paid close attention to these things.

An article titled "On the Historical Significance of Striped Pajamas" appeared in the July issue of Yangtze River Literature and Art, praising Zhou Xu for revealing this little-known story.

Of course, after the novel was published, social discussions became even more heated.

Two months later.

September is generally the most painful time for students, as it's the time of year when they have to go to school.

As Zhou Xu rode in the car, he said goodbye to his group of friends in the troupe: "When I come back in two years, I will be your leader, so don't worry about me."

"Pfft, goodbye!" The group laughed.

However, after Zhou Xu returned from the training, he did indeed assume the responsibilities of a successor cadre. Although he could not directly serve as the political commissar, he was still capable of handling the tasks at hand.

There are still one or two people from the cultural troupe who have been recommended for school this year, but those people all went to the capital to study. He is different; he went to the Army Academy.

Zhou Xu climbed onto the train at Wuchang Station.

Today's train was filled with the energy of young people, which can be simply described as screaming. The older folks chatted away in a cacophony of voices, while the young people chatted in groups of three or five, followed by loud screams of laughter.

Modern trains aren't like subways, and people don't have cell phones, so communication is the best way to pass the time.

In addition, these days are also the time when this group of college students are going to school and registering, so the bus is particularly crowded with people going to college.

Zhou Xu was dressed in a military uniform, which was already eye-catching enough.

Soon, elderly men and women approached him for help: "Comrade PLA soldier, can you lend a hand?"

Zhou Xu casually helped the person carry their luggage.

After a short while, I finally returned to my place.

This was a two-seater seat in a row. Zhou Xu put down his few pieces of luggage. One of the advantages of being a soldier is that the bedding is all new, and when you go to military academy, the school will distribute supplies. Apart from some personal items, you don't need to bring any other living supplies.

But these college students were pitiful; they needed everything: bedding, toothbrushes, towels, and so on.

The seats on trains nowadays are arranged in pairs facing each other with a small table in the middle. It's quite awkward to sit like this, facing each other!
Zhou Xu packed his things and sat down.

Across from me were two naive and ignorant young people, about the same age as me, but visibly innocent...

After all, they haven't been exposed to much, and they still hold a burning passion and enthusiasm for society and university. It's not surprising that their eyes are so pure and bright.

The pair, a man and a woman, appeared to be college students who knew each other.

He sat outside, and the people inside quickly came over. Yao Fanghua had neat long hair, was around twenty-five years old, and faintly smelled of soap, which was very different from these college students.

She has a well-proportioned figure; although not large, she is not small either.

She exuded an intellectual air about her. Tsk, Zhou Xu glanced at her and thought, "This woman has studied dance, huh?"

Bah! This is the keen eye he developed while working in the performing arts troupe. People with a dance background have a physique that looks quite different from ordinary people.

"I'm sitting inside."

Zhou Xu let her in.

The woman sat down and looked outside with her head down.

The train started moving, and the scenery outside changed.

Zhou Xu took out his magic weapon from his bosom: a thick stack of "The Brothers Karamazov." The earliest Chinese translation of "The Brothers Karamazov" was published in 1940 by Shanghai Liangyou Book Printing Company.

The boy and girl opposite them quickly started chatting out of boredom, and as they talked, they looked at Zhou Xu.

In the 1980s, no college student disliked reading literature, so naturally they were interested in this book.

It's mainly because Zhou Xu is handsome. Good-looking men and women are easily approached, and the girl spoke first:

"Comrade PLA soldier, what are you looking at?"

"I found 'The Brothers Karamazov' at a secondhand stall," Zhou Xu said with a smile, showing it to them.

"The Brothers Karamazov" is a thick book of over 700,000 words, so thick that it could be used as a brick to hit someone.

"Wow, that's impressive! I thought people in the military rarely read books. Can you understand such a thick foreign classic, comrade?" the boy said with a smile.

Of course, this wasn't meant as mockery, but rather as a kind of arrogance among college students and intellectuals in this era.

It's natural to assume that Zhou Xu isn't the type of person who frequently studies literary works.

The girl shoved him and said, "Come on... this is discrimination."

“Actually, when we’re bored in the army, we also read books and do illustrations, because the higher-ups will assign us magazines and books, which is a way to relieve boredom.” Zhou Xu closed his book and spoke to the two men.

"So what's this book about?" the girl asked.

Zhou Xu, also bored, continued chatting with the two: "It's a work by Dostoevsky; the novel centers on a real patricide case, depicting the sharp conflict between old Karamazov and his three sons. Old Karamazov is indulgent and greedy; the eldest son, Mika, is crude, straightforward, and violently willful; the second son, Ivan, holds a cynical and skeptical attitude towards society; and the youngest son, Alyosha, sincerely believes that love can overcome all evil in the world. ... In the end, Mika is imprisoned for allegedly committing a crime, Ivan suffers a mental breakdown due to guilt and self-blame, Smerdyakov also commits suicide due to a mental breakdown, and only Alyosha is left alone to travel far away from home."

Listening to Zhou Xu's explanation, the little girl was slightly stunned, her expression as if to say: Dude, do you really understand?

The two were surprised to find that the person in front of them was also a young soldier with a literary background.

Chatted for a while.

The boy took the initiative to shake hands with Zhou Xu: "My name is Han Yi, hello."

The girl extended her hand: "My name is Song Mei, hello."

Seeing that the two had introduced themselves, Zhou Xu couldn't refuse their kindness, so he extended his hand and said, "Hello, my name is Zhou Xu."

Zhou Xu didn't need to use a pseudonym.

Of course, after using her real name, Song Mei was quickly taken aback. She took out the "Harvest" magazine that was next to her and said, "This Comrade Zhou Xu is you?"

At this point, Yao Fanghua, who was initially reluctant to interact with the young people, was slightly taken aback and turned around to listen to their conversation.

Zhou Xu nodded: "I wrote it."

As a writer specializing in military themes, the two of them were not at all surprised to see him in military uniform.

Song Mei screamed in fright, and Han Yi immediately covered her mouth, saying, "Don't scream, or the whole bus will know."

Watching the two of them, Zhou Xu thought they were quite amusing and interesting young people.

Song Mei took a deep breath: "Wow? It really is Teacher Zhou Xu! I didn't recognize you at all. I feel like I've seen you somewhere before!"

Han Yi was just as surprised!

I just said that Zhou Xu, as a soldier, should be different from these college students and wouldn't understand literature!
Now he's a writer who writes literature!

Could I possibly have a colleague in the industry who understands literature?
Thinking about this, Han Yi felt a little embarrassed by his unintentional remark just now, and he immediately said, "I didn't expect to meet Teacher Zhou Xu here."

Zhou Xu rarely acts like a show-off, but he's good at showing off a little. He touched his nose.

Song Mei's eyes instantly filled with stars. This was a writer, a very rare writer.

“Professor Zhou Xu, you are amazing... I have been following your novels ever since your first novel, ‘Changjin Lake.’ I have also finished reading ‘The Boy in Striped Pajamas,’ which is an incredibly well-written novel.”

Zhou Xu nodded.

Han Yi exclaimed in admiration, "Professor Zhou Xu is so young..."

"By the way, are you two students?" Zhou Xu asked.

Song Mei nodded: "I am a student in the Chinese Department of Nanjing University this year."

Han Yi added, "I'm also from Nanjing University, but I'm from Nanjing Institute of Technology, hahaha!"

Zhou Xu glanced at the girl; she was quite impressive. Nanjing University wasn't bad either, ranking among the top 985 universities in the future.

We chatted for a little while.

Zhou Xu also knew that the girl and the boy were both from Wuhan, had grown up together, and even went to the same university. What was going on? Zhou Xu munched on some sunflower seeds and gossiped for a while!

Childhood sweethearts, don't let newcomers defeat you! I'm a die-hard childhood sweetheart fan.

The little girl then asked, "Teacher Zhou Xu, are you going to Nanjing?"

"Ah."

"Are you looking for materials or going to a meeting?" the girl asked curiously.

Zhou Xu shook his head: "I'm going to school too. Nanjing Senior Army School!"

"Oh!" The two blinked.

I've heard of it, but it's not very familiar to them.

After all, you can't get into this school now.

Therefore, they only understand that the universities that can be entered through the college entrance examination are not the same.

Yao Fanghua also looked over: "..."

Song Mei then asked, "What's your name, comrade? My name is Song Mei."

Finally, Yao Fanghua stopped pretending to be aloof; it was exhausting to keep up the act: "My name is Yao Fanghua!"

"You're so beautiful! And who are you?" Song Mei continued to probe into the other person's privacy.

Yao Fanghua didn't hide anything: "I'm an actress from the JS Provincial Drama Theatre..."

"Oh! No wonder, I was wondering why you have such an elegant demeanor!" Song Mei said with a smile.

The group ate, chatted, and rested with their eyes closed along the way. Zhou Xu even demonstrated his amazing ability to sleep for twelve hours straight, a skill that required no other learning and was purely his natural talent.

At last.

The morning of the third day arrived.

Finally, that mechanical female voice appeared: "Welcome to Nanjing!"

(End of this chapter)