1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 128 Can you transfer him to me?

the next morning.

Zhou Xu got up early as usual, went for a run, ate breakfast, and went downstairs to find the magazine rack.

While military academies are mostly comprised of students with associate's or bachelor's degrees, not many of them truly enjoy reading.

Zhou Xu picked up a new magazine.

I just finished talking to Lu Wenfu about Wang Zengqi yesterday.

Sure enough, I saw another review in a magazine today. This one was published in the "Literary Gazette" and was written by a fairly well-known critic.

This person's name is Chen Pingyuan!

Currently a master's student at Sun Yat-sen University, his research covers various aspects including modern Chinese literature, academic history, and educational history...

This literary review uses comparison, a well-known discipline in literature. Chen Pingyuan's article is titled "A Comparison of Narrative and Romantic Perspectives in *Lurking* and *The Novice*."

"Lurking" uses espionage as its core, weaving love into the gaps of life-and-death struggles. The relationship between Yu Zecheng and Cui Ping begins with restrained probing due to their shared mission. In the tense rhythm of intelligence transmission, it gradually settles into trust and tacit understanding of "fighting side by side." Love is always intertwined with faith and responsibility. The narrative is full of suspense and tension, and the emotional expression is subtle yet profound.

"Receiving the Precepts" uses the daily life in a water town as its backdrop and unfolds the love story with a prose-like narrative. The feelings between Minghai and Xiaoyingzi sprout in the reed marshes and the idle chatter on the ridges of the fields. It is a natural expression of breaking free from the constraints of the precepts. The narrative is as gentle as flowing water, and the love is as sweet and straightforward as water chestnuts, full of the purity of everyday life.

One is firm and the other gentle, one is hidden and the other is revealed, respectively interpreting the restrained love in a special context and the genuine love in everyday life, forming a stark contrast between two perspectives on love.

-

Yu Wenyong came over and nudged Zhou Xu on the shoulder: "What are you looking at?"

Zhou Xu smiled and said, "A pretty good literary review!"

Hearing this, Yu Wenyong couldn't help but rub his temples: "Tsk? Don't talk to me about literature, I don't understand! I really don't understand!"

Yu Wenyong was a college graduate. He was a driver in the army before he won a second-class merit in the army-wide competition and became an officer. After working hard for several years, he became a deputy battalion commander, went to the front line, and was promoted to battalion commander after returning!

"Then I won't say anything more." Zhou Xu flipped through the "Literary Gazette" again. Although he also found it boring, he found it quite entertaining to watch these writers argue.

Just like readers watch writers argue.

"I think there's a performance by the frontline cultural troupe this afternoon?"

"Really?" Zhou Xu was also surprised.

"I heard we've been studying for three months, so the political commissar should let us relax a bit, right? This is a military camp, after all!" Yu Wenyong rubbed his beard: "I need to get it trimmed."

"Didn't you say you weren't going to date girls from the performing arts troupe?" Zhou Xu chuckled and patted his butt.

“That’s not right. Liking someone is not the same as having a chance! If someone likes me and is devoted to me, I wouldn’t refuse them, would I?” Yu Wenyong said cheerfully.

Tsk!
Of course, to put it bluntly, if female trainees really came here, some cunning people might actually try to seduce them, since the people here are at least battalion commanders.

He took the "Literary Gazette" and walked upstairs.

We arrived at the dormitory door.

"Company Commander Song?"

Song Zhipeng nodded: "Yes!"

"Get ready, we're going to see a show this afternoon."

in the afternoon.

The frontline song and dance troupe has arrived here.

The head of the song and dance troupe was named Zhang Rui. He directed a group of people to start setting up the stage and preparing for the performance.

A group of officers lined up in an orderly fashion, each carrying a small stool.

Tuoba Gang, their training department director, said, "Everyone, please sit down in an orderly manner!"

Zhou Xu pulled four people to sit together.

Ye Huawei said, "It's been a long time since I've felt so pleasantly surprised while watching a play!"

Song Zhipeng nodded: "Yes! The classes these past few days have been getting more and more of a headache. It's time to relax!"

The frontline song and dance troupe quickly began their performance. The dance "Harvest Song" was their classic. Zhou Xu had studied it with the political commissar. He introduced it to a group of people and said, "This is a dance with the style of Jiangnan. It shows the joy of farmers during the harvest and represents the high level of our current dance art."

This song, "The Soul of the Yellow River," was composed by Su Shijin, a first-class choreographer of the Frontline Song and Dance Troupe!

The people in front are watching the performance.

Behind the scenes, Zhang Rui, the head of the song and dance troupe, is arranging a group of people!

Zhang Rui is a renowned Chinese composer and erhu player, whose representative works include the operas "Red Glow," "Blue Sea and Red Flag," and "The Great River Flows East."

After waiting for Political Commissar Ding to come over, he shook hands with him and said, "Hey! Old Ding!"

"Old Zhang, you've finally arrived!" Political Commissar Ding smiled slightly.

"Of course! You've got all these future leaders here, you have to find a chance to cheer on our frontline regiment!"

Political Commissar Ding nodded and glanced at the song and dance troupe.

"By the way, Lao Ding, can I ask you a question?"

Zhang Rui handed him a cigarette.

Political Commissar Ding looked at Zhang Rui in surprise, then the two of them lit a cigarette and started smoking. He exhaled and asked, "What do you want to say?"

"...Isn't there a military arts troupe member here named Zhou Xu?" Zhang Rui asked, smoking a cigarette and letting out a long sigh.

"He's here for further studies!" How could Political Commissar Ding not recognize Zhou Xu? Even Political Commissar Huang from the Victory Art Troupe had called him. He was indeed a treasured soldier, after all, he had a lot of influence!

"...Can I ask you for a favor?" Zhang Rui said, then laughed.

Political Commissar Ding immediately understood his question: "You mean you want to transfer him to your side?"

Isn't it obvious? Isn't it just to get people?

Zhou Xu is indeed outstanding. His songwriting alone is remarkable. Zhang Rui had heard that Zhou Xu's performance of "When That Day Comes" in the army-wide performance was a complete crushing victory over all his rivals. If he were to come to the front-line cultural troupe, he would be a vital force to strengthen the troupe!

"Yes, yes, that's exactly what I wanted to talk about. Can you transfer him to my place?"

He was just the head of a song and dance troupe and didn't have the authority to transfer people from other troupes unless the political department intervened.

For such cross-military region personnel transfers, regardless of the rank of the officer, it basically requires the involvement of the military governor (Ji), or it is a direct transfer by the central government.

The only people with that kind of influence are the school's political commissar or principal.

"What do you want me to do?" Political Commissar Ding didn't rush to refuse, but asked, both amused and annoyed.

At this moment, Zhang Rui immediately said, "Can't you arrange things for them after they graduate? Can you arrange for them to join our frontline song and dance troupe?...Tell me about our friendship of so many years!"

Political Commissar Ding took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled a long breath, and said, "No way!"

That "no" was absolutely resolute!

It doesn't even leave any room for maneuver.

"Why not?" Zhang Rui asked immediately.

"This isn't fair to the Victory Song and Dance Troupe. Besides, if I really get transferred, what will the Wuhan Military Region think of me? They'll think I'm biased towards your Nanjing Military Region! Will this military academy still have any authority? You'll be taking all the good recruits!" Political Commissar Ding immediately shook his head.

Zhang Rui nodded.

As expected of a veteran of the Red Army, someone who works in political affairs, his thinking is truly upright. He genuinely admires the old political commissar: "Then I can go and ask him myself, right?"

"Fine, it's your business if you go ask, but it's impossible for you to have our military academy handle it directly!" Political Commissar Ding reiterated.

soon.

The frontline song and dance troupe has finished their performance.

After leaving the stage, singer Cheng Guilan quickly went to the back and asked, "Who is Comrade Zhou Xu?"

After a while, the messenger brought Zhou Xu over: "Hello, I'm Zhou Xu? And this is?"

Looking at this clean-cut young man, Cheng Guilan was slightly taken aback, thinking to herself: Such a handsome man is perfect to be my son-in-law!
She quickly shook her head and said, "I wonder if Comrade Zhou Xu still remembers me? We met at the performance?"

Zhou Xu shook his head, being perfectly honest.

"..." Cheng Guilan was slightly speechless: "Okay, I am Cheng Guilan from the Frontline Song and Dance Troupe. Our troupe leader just asked me to inform you that he needs to talk to you about something."

"Captain?"

Zhou Xu followed Cheng Guilan to the back.

At this moment, the political commissar and Zhang Rui were standing together.

When Zhang Rui saw Zhou Xu approaching, he immediately extended his hand: "Nice to meet you, Comrade Zhou Xu! I never expected you to be such a promising young man!"

"Political Commissar! Regiment Commander!" Zhou Xu saluted.

Only then did he extend his hand to shake hands with Zhang Rui.

"Commander Zhang, what's going on?"

Zhang Rui smiled and said, "That's right. During the singer auditions, I really admired Comrade Zhou Xu's ability to write lyrics and compose music. I was thinking of inviting you to officially join the troupe on behalf of the Frontline Song and Dance Troupe!"

"But I'm from the Victory Cultural Troupe!"

Zhang Rui shook his head: "Sigh! Entering military academy for further studies means you'll be a soldier of the Central Government. Your future destination depends on two things: your own wishes and the Central Government's decision! So you could be assigned to our frontline song and dance troupe!"

Zhang Rui subtly misled Zhou Xu.

"Would you like to join our frontline song and dance troupe? Although the political commissar is here, I'll still tell you the truth: I really like you! So, if you come to our troupe, I guarantee you'll be the deputy director of the troupe's creative studio after graduation! Within three years, I'll promote you to director!!!"

"..."

The cultural troupe is now at the deputy military level.

So the director is roughly equivalent to a deputy regimental or regimental level officer!

He could reach the deputy regimental level in less than three years! Or even the regimental level. To be honest, this offer was really tempting, and Zhou Xu was indeed drooling.

But he quickly shook his head.

He recalled how Political Commissar Huang had treated him, and how the Wuhan Military Region had helped him regain his student status.

He immediately said, "I'm sorry, Commander Zhang! If it were a mandatory requirement from the Central Committee, I would go to the front-line song and dance troupe, but my first choice is definitely the Victory Song and Dance Troupe!!"

"..."

Upon hearing this reply, Political Commissar Ding walked over and patted Zhou Xu on the shoulder: "Very good, Xiao Zhou! You didn't embarrass yourself."

To be honest, a soldier without parental support, like Cheng Cai, if he were offered a guarantee that he could be promoted to deputy regimental commander, could he refuse? Absolutely not!

But officers prefer loyal soldiers!

Zhang Rui's desire only intensified with unattainability; he felt an irresistible itch within him: "..."

(End of this chapter)