1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 122 Reencounter with Song Zhipeng (Seeking monthly votes!!!)

I got off the train.

Zhou Xu looked around at Nanjing's historical buildings.

The Nanjing Railway Station in the 80s was built in 1968 and is a sloping-roofed building with a main station building area of ​​4822 square meters. The station building facade is a traditional eleven-bay style, and the exterior walls are probably made of brick, stone or cement, reflecting the simple style of architecture of that era.

As soon as he got off the bus, the fearless Zhou Xu heard someone shouting, "Thief! Catch the thief!!"

What? A third-class merit?
Pooh!
There's no way around it; in the ears of the People's Liberation Army, robbery, child abduction, and other illegal activities seem to be seen as a way to earn credit.

So soon a group of people looked at Zhou Xu: "Comrade PLA soldier, there are thieves ahead!"

“…” Zhou Xu coughed.

Even the railway police behind him couldn't react as quickly.

He walked quickly forward.

As Yao Fanghua walked up to a pretty girl who had yelled "Thief!", she turned around and asked, "Is that you?"

"Something was stolen?" Zhou Xu asked hurriedly, "Where? Describe it to me quickly!"

"It's up ahead, there's a strange guy wearing a black coat, with a big head and a chain around his neck. He grabbed my wallet and ran away," Yao Fanghua said immediately, not even having time to catch up with Zhou Xu.

Zhou Xu threw his bag at her and ran away.

It's true that Zhou Bingwang neglected his training after joining the cultural troupe, but it's impossible to say he didn't exercise at all; Zhou Xu basically ran every day.

Since many writers die from lumbar spine diseases caused by prolonged sitting, Zhou Xu should at least live to be a hundred and enjoy life.

He quickly reached the thief and kicked him to the ground.

"..."

Within two hours, the train police identified the prisoner, then escorted him away, thanking Zhou Xu... and the whole process was finally over.

Yao Fanghua took her wallet, quickly checked it, and finally said softly, "Thank you, nothing of mine is missing!"

At this point, she took Zhou Xu's backpack off her back and said with a smile, "This is your bag, I forgot to give it to you!"

Yao Fanghua viewed Zhou Xu with special regard.

Not only is he a famous writer, but he's also happy to help others!
Even in the performing arts troupe, she was considered one of the most beautiful girls, with peach blossom eyes, willow-leaf eyebrows, and lips that were neither too thin nor too thick. Perhaps because she often wore makeup, her lips were always red.

"Okay." Zhou Xu slung his backpack over his shoulder.

"Um... thank you for helping me find my things. Let me treat you to dinner?" Yao Fanghua tossed her hair, her cheeks flushed just right.

Zhou Xu blinked innocently, momentarily lost in thought himself. This girl is so good at this.

Pooh!
But actors all have to learn these things, so they must be very good at them. He immediately said, "We have to report to the army this afternoon, otherwise it wouldn't be good to be late!"

Yao Fanghua looked disappointed: "Okay! It's such a pity I didn't get a chance to treat you to a meal! But please accept my gratitude, okay?"

She pinched her fingers together, looking up and down at Zhou Xu.

Zhou Xu never liked refusing a girl's kindness: "Okay... what are you going to give me?"

“These are tickets for our theater troupe! They’re for Sunday!? I remember your unit is allowed to go out on Sundays, right? Then I’ll treat you to my play and have dinner with you while I’m at it?” Yao Fanghua shoved the tickets into Zhou Xu’s hand before he could refuse.

Zhou Xu had no choice but to accept it: "Okay."

after awhile.

The two broke up at the bus stop.

The north bank of the Yangtze River in Pukou District.

The area surrounding the college is mainly composed of low-rise residential buildings and factories, mostly single-story or simple two- or three-story buildings.

Huaqiying was once the headquarters of the 60th Army of the Nanjing Military Region under Xu Shiyou, and some military-related buildings and facilities are still preserved there.

In addition, there are some farmlands and natural landscapes nearby, making the environment relatively quiet.

Simply put: the suburbs!

Zhou Xu entered the school with his backpack on.

At the entrance, several soldiers stood guard, while the man in front was in charge of registration.

"letter of introduction!"

Zhou Xu took out his letter of introduction and various other documents from his bag!

Upon seeing the two first-class merit certificates and one third-class merit certificate, the man's mouth gaped wide open!
He stood up and gave Zhou Xu a standard military salute:

"My apologies, I never imagined you were a combat hero who fought on the front lines of the Vietnam War!"

Otherwise, it wouldn't be a first-class merit. It would be quite difficult for an art troupe soldier to study at a military academy. Of course, the political commissar also said when he applied that even an art troupe needs political work cadres!

Zhou Xu took his letter of introduction: "Well..."

"Your room is 301 in dormitory building number five!" the man called out, handing Zhou Xu a document: "Collecting books, supplies, class schedule... it's all in this notebook! Just follow the instructions."

In the 1980s, when you went to university, you had to go to the academic affairs office to pick up your books yourself. Needless to say, the supplies were the same as those in the military.

Zhou Xu picked up his things and, being a greenhorn, continued walking inside.

Putting everything else aside, the lowest rank for anyone to get into the Army Academy is a deputy battalion commander like myself! The teachers and leaders must be of even higher rank, otherwise they wouldn't be able to control these people!

I entered the dormitory.

This is a four-person dormitory.

Officers of this rank usually live in single dormitories at the grassroots level and haven't experienced cohabitation in a long time.

Zhou Xu entered the house.

All that could be seen on the innermost bed was a man taking off his shirt, revealing crisscrossing knife scars on his body and several shallow scars on his face, the color of the old scars particularly noticeable on his skin.

"Company Commander Song!!" Zhou Xu shouted happily, he was really excited! He never expected to run into his old company commander here.

Just like facing a white moonlight, many people naturally have the best feelings and the deepest memories of their first squad leader or company commander.

Song Zhipeng turned around and saw Zhou Xu carrying large and small bags, then excitedly walked over: "Zhou Xu!!"

He and Zhou Xu each saluted.

Both of them could not hide their excitement!

Zhou Xu returned to his position with his backpack. Song Zhipeng's berth was opposite his, and the two sat on their respective beds: "Company Commander Song... no, you should be the battalion commander now!"

Zhou Xu had a smile on his face.

Song Zhipeng waved his hand; "Call me whatever you like! I'll accept it!"

“How can that be?” Zhou Xu said, “We can’t act recklessly.”

"Don't give me that!" Song Zhipeng continued, "By the way, tell me, how did you get here?"

Zhou Xu briefly explained: "After I left the battlefield, I started writing. Later, I received a first-class merit in literature and art. Although I was a literary and art soldier, my rank was deputy battalion level, so the political commissar applied for me to study at the Nanjing Senior Army School!"

The PLA Academy of Arts, Nanjing Senior Army School... which one has a bright future? It's obvious!
"Oh, I see!" "And you?" Zhou Xu knew that Song Zhipeng could become a battalion commander because his father was also a high-ranking official.

Song Zhipeng followed up, saying, "I was supposed to become a deputy battalion commander after a three-year term, but I stayed at the company level for a year because I wanted to take good care of my brothers. Then, because of my second-class merit, I was promoted first. Finally, my father let me apply for an interview to study at the academy!"

There's still the National Defense University, so this is the most prestigious academy for army officers. It's not surprising that Song Zhipeng came here.

Soon, the remaining roommate also went back to the room.

A man in his early thirties, who looked rather serious, entered the room and called out, "Has a new comrade arrived?"

Before he could even get a good look at Zhou Xu, he exclaimed "Huh?"
"Where did such a young comrade come from! This is... this is a communications officer?" The old battalion commander looked at Zhou Xu as a complete stranger.

Song Zhipeng immediately introduced, "This young man is the newest member of our dormitory! He's not a communications officer!"

"A newcomer? He is..." The veteran battalion commander was extremely surprised...

Is the lowest rank they're at least deputy battalion commander?

How could Zhou Xu, a twenty-year-old, reach the rank of deputy battalion commander? Even with special promotions like skipping ranks or receiving a first-class merit award, it wouldn't be this fast, would it?
Song Zhipeng shook his head: "It's true, his name is Zhou Xu! A first-class combat hero in the Sino-Vietnamese War! He's also a recipient of the First-Class Merit Award in Literature and Art! He was recommended by the Wuhan Victory Art Troupe to study political work!"

Although it was hard to accept, the old battalion commander extended his hand: "My name is Yu Wenyong, and I am the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of the xxth Unit of the Yunnan Military Region!"

"Good morning, Battalion Commander!" Zhou Xu saluted.

"Don't be so formal. There's no ranking system in military academy. Now that we're here, we're all the same!" Yu Wenyong wasn't difficult to get along with, but his attitude towards Zhou Xu wasn't particularly friendly. He had the air of a battalion commander.

After all, battalion commanders and regimental commanders are the highest-ranking officers most soldiers ever meet.

The battalion commander had seven or eight hundred men under his command, so he naturally developed a strong presence.

Many people commented that the most similar character in "Soldiers Sortie" was not Xu Sanduo or Wu Liuyi, but Gao Cheng, who was exactly like the real company commander.

Yu Wenyong and Zhou Xu exchanged a few words before sitting down, their attitudes neither warm nor cold.

soon.

Another man entered, a middle-aged man around thirty-five years old, with a particularly refined and scholarly air. He was dressed in a military uniform, which was very neat and tidy, with even the creases on his cuffs neatly smoothed out, without the slightest hint of looseness.

He entered with light, steady steps, making no extra sound. He glanced at the people in the room and finally chuckled softly, "Newcomer? Comrade Zhou Xu, I've heard of you before. Nice to meet you."

The man walked towards Zhou Xu and extended a hand.

Zhou Xu glanced at him and thought, "This guy's aura is even more impressive than that of the battalion commander. Could he be a regimental commander?"

"You may not know me, but I know you. I am Ye Huawei, the deputy commander of the xxth Regiment of the Guangzhou Military Region! You can just call me Lao Ye."

Seeing Zhou Xu about to stand up, he immediately said, "No need to salute. This is the academy, and you are all students like me, so there's no need to be so formal."

Tsk, Zhou Xu glanced at Song Zhipeng.

The levels were determined so quickly.

One deputy regimental commander, one battalion commander, and two deputy battalion commanders!
This is obviously a dormitory head/deputy dormitory head assignment.

Pooh!
However, there should also be regimental-level officers in other dormitories, but the number of full regimental-level officers should be the fewest. Most of them are deputy battalion commanders or battalion commanders, after all, the number is large!
Zhou Xu voiced his doubts: "Commander Ye, how did you recognize me?"

Ye Huawei took out the documents from his pocket: "Before I came, they distributed the documents and told me about our dormitory situation. I was very surprised to see your documents! So I paid more attention to them. With your qualifications, you're destined for the political department of the military region!"

Ye Huawei didn't stand on ceremony.

A deputy battalion commander at the age of twenty is extremely rare, except during the War of Resistance against Japan.

In peacetime, promotion is extremely difficult for a group of soldiers who yearn for military honors.

"Hehe, Commander Ye thinks too highly of me," Zhou Xu laughed.

Ye Huawei shook his head: "By the way, don't call me regimental commander, just call me Lao Ye. We'll be living together for another two years! Use rank instead! Don't worry about the dorm environment?"

"Okay, Lao Ye!"

"Alright! I'll call you Xiao Zhou too. Just to clarify, I'm not calling you Xiao Zhou because of your rank, but because of your age!" Ye Huawei smiled. This man had a particularly gentle smile; he looked every bit the type to be an official.

Zhou Xu needs to learn something; after all, he came here to learn how to be a military officer.

Yu Wenyong nodded: "Alright then, Lao Ye, Lao Song, Xiao Zhou! We've now gotten to know each other!"

"Okay, so we've gotten to know each other now."

The four shook hands and exchanged a few more words.

Zhou Xu's identity is special, so Ye Huawei said, "There's something I should say but shouldn't. Before the Dean of Students came in, he asked me to take good care of you. If you need anything in the future, you can come to me!"

“Take care of us? No way, Lao Ye, we’re the military!” Zhou Xu said immediately.

"I understand!"

Ye Huawei admired Zhou Xu a little, thinking that they had all come from the battlefield of the Sino-Vietnamese War, except that Zhou Xu had gone into the arts, so there was no difference!
"..."

Zhou Xu still had the best relationship with Song Zhipeng.

After all, we're in this together through thick and thin!

From Zhou Xu joining the company to fighting alongside them on the battlefield, every single event was unforgettable!

Song Zhipeng treated Zhou Xu in the same way.

"Old Ye and Old Yu have already collected their supplies, Company Commander Song, shall we go too?" Zhou Xu still preferred Company Commander Song to Old Song because he felt closer to Company Commander Song.

Song Zhipeng stood up and straightened his clothes.

"Let's go, Zhou Xu."

The two stepped out the door, and Song Zhipeng took a deep breath: "Zhou Xu, you know that Ye Huawei, right?"

Zhou Xu shook his head: "What's wrong? Is his dad as powerful as your dad?"

Song Zhipeng rolled his eyes at Zhou Xu. It was an undeniable fact that his father was a division commander, and he had the opportunity to take that step.

He said, "His father is more capable than mine; he took that leap!"

Zhou Xu nodded: "No wonder! I knew this person had a commanding presence; family environment really has a big influence!"

They weren't exactly saying anything bad; they were just discussing other people's gossip.

"Where's Lao Yu? Do you know him?"

Song Zhipeng shook his head: "I'm not sure! I don't know that many people."

The two went to the academic affairs office and picked up a few books.

Books on political and military command...

Then Zhou Xu followed Song Zhipeng to the logistics department. The two of them carried a large basin containing a whole bunch of things, including new military uniforms, toothbrushes, tooth mugs, and soap!
Finally, I returned to my dorm room.

Put the things down.

Zhou Xu made his bed and lay down to read.

Hey?
Others might consider reading a book a sign of laziness, but for me, a member of the arts troupe, reading a book is considered learning! And it has to be for an arts troupe!

(End of this chapter)