1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 14 Township Commendation for Third-Class Merit

Yujiang Commune.

It has been a month since Zhou Xu and Zhou Youcai left, and although there is still some warmth left in the hearts of the group, it has all been exhausted.

In reality, only a small number of soldiers can receive merit awards after three years of military service. After all, unless a soldier excels in an exercise, it is difficult for a grassroots soldier to achieve any combat merits in peacetime. A group of people just think that it is a good thing to quietly wait for their children to return home after three years.

At this moment, Zhou Guoping, the brigade leader, was pushing a wheelbarrow with manure water on it.

Those who have read "Life" should be familiar with this: the natural fertilizer from public toilets in the city was generally taken back to the countryside by the commune to be used as fertilizer.

For organizations like government agencies, which frequently consume meat and have a higher fat content, it's even harder to get a share...

"Hey! If we fall into this sorghum field, the cornfield will be burning corn stalks!" the Party Secretary said to Zhou Guoping.

"Wow! Brother Guoping is in great health. He's almost fifty and can still do heavy work!"

“Work hard, work hard! If you don’t work, you won’t have a job!” Zhou Guoping replied with a smile.

The Party Secretary looked at Zhou Guoping and said, "These two kids haven't written a single letter in a whole month. I wonder how Youcai and Xiaoxu are doing!"

Zhou Guoping wiped his sweat: "As long as I can stay in the army and not cause trouble, that's a good thing!"

The two were still talking.

All I saw was a green car heading towards the brigade's threshing ground. In this day and age, anyone who could ride a 28-inch bicycle was either a low-level civil servant or a worker with a job in the county.

There were no private cars; only county leaders were entitled to ride in them.

So when they saw the car get out, the group immediately knew that it was their leader.

The brigade secretary and Zhou Guoping lifted their clothes and walked down into the field toward the car.

The villagers, unable to contain their curiosity and eager to work in the fields, all stood up and surged toward the car.

The person getting off the bus was wearing a military uniform.

The group of people immediately recognized that the leaders of the county's armed forces department had come down, but they still didn't know what the matter was about!
However, some people had doubts: "Could it be that Youcai and the other two deserted from the army and were caught and brought back?"

There are deserters in recruit training every year, it's not uncommon! After all, there are always some who can't endure hardship.

"Can't you wish others well? They're kids who came from our brigade, after all!"

"I feel like it's meant to show concern!"

Zhou Guoping was also somewhat surprised; he too suspected something had happened, but he didn't know whether it was good or bad...

"Who is Zhou Xu's father, Zhou Guoping?" a comrade from the armed forces department shouted.

When Zhou Guoping heard the shout, his heart trembled. Damn it, it wasn't Zhou Youcai who was being shouted at, nor was it either of their two families. Why was it him? Could it be that his cowardly son was really a deserter?

He stepped forward with a hint of trepidation.

The smell of excrement emanated from their clothes, but the leader of the armed forces department forced a calm demeanor and even managed a smile:
"Congratulations, Comrade Zhou Guoping! Comrade Zhou Xu has performed excellently in the army. Because he ranked among the top in the recruit training unit, he has been specially awarded a third-class merit as a commendation!"

Those who are awarded third, second, or first-class merits will have a congratulatory letter delivered to their families by the responsible comrades of the veterans affairs department of the county-level people's government and relevant comrades of the people's armed forces department of the county (city, district).

This has always been the rule; after all, returning home in glory is the dream of many.

Getting a third-class merit is just to show off in front of the villagers, so that my parents and relatives can hold their heads high and shout, "My son is really good!"

Upon hearing this, even Zhou Guoping was taken aback, his voice trembling slightly: "Third-class merit?"

Although he also had a second-class merit, it was all earned during wartime. He never expected that his son would receive a third-class merit after only one month in the army!
"Yes! This was specially sent to us by the company commander of Zhou Xu's recruit training unit in Wuhan! Zhou Xu has outstanding achievements and has been specially awarded a third-class merit! He also has a good chance of staying in the army and becoming a volunteer soldier in the future!" The comrade from the Armed Forces Department introduced with great joy.

After all, he's a comrade who came from our own village. If he works for decades, he might have a chance to become a deputy battalion commander! He's the pride of our village!
It's rare to get a third-class merit award in just one month, isn't it?

The villagers in the brigade were all in an uproar.

Just moments ago, a group of people were either gloating or worried, but now they are filled with envy and jealousy.

“I’ve watched Zhou Xu grow up since he was a child. I always felt that this kid was different from other kids. He was smart, studious, and physically strong. He was born to be a soldier!”

"Third-class merit? This...this is an honor for our entire brigade!"

"Oh my, Captain Guoping, you really have a wonderful son! I envy you!"

The leader took out a banner from his bag, flicked it, and handed it to Zhou Guoping: "This is a banner for Comrade Zhou Xu. We came to the township specifically to report. Congratulations, and thank you for training such an excellent soldier for the army!"

Zhou Guoping scratched his head, then frantically wiped his underwear with both hands, before taking the banner with one hand. "Let's take a picture together, Comrade Guoping? We'll be taking it to the county town for commendation and publicity later!"

Zhou Guoping nodded, a smile spreading across his face.

Other comrades got out of the car, one of whom was carrying a camera.

He snapped a quick photo of the two of them together.

……

Teacher Li Xiaopan was stunned for a moment, feeling a little excited, but also a little surprised for Zhou Xu. His performance was so outstanding that he was probably going to the front line.

"..."

After taking the photos, the leader of the armed forces department said, "Come on, Comrade Zhou Guoping, where do you live? We'd like to visit your home to offer our support!"

Feeling embarrassed, Zhou Guoping led his superiors toward their home.

The soldier holding the camera walked over with a pen and paper: "I heard you were a veteran?"

"Hey, I'm a volunteer soldier, I crossed the Yalu River before!"

The leaders of the armed forces department felt extremely ashamed. The other person was a veteran from more than 20 years ago, who was still working hard in the fields and at the grassroots level, and even sent his son to the army.

Even he admired Zhou Guoping's spirit of dedication!

"So it seems Comrade Zhou Xu comes from an excellent family! Like father, like son!" the leader said.

Zhou Guoping, feeling proud, said with a smile, "I don't have any demands on him, as long as he can do his best!"

"Indeed, the older generation's methods of raising children are quite unique!"

We arrived at Zhou Guoping's home.

Looking at the numerous certificates and medals Zhou Guoping had previously received hanging in the room, the leader said, "I never imagined your brigade was full of hidden talents. Comrade Zhou, you are truly a great and pure person!"

Zhou Guoping smiled slightly and greeted Zhang Qiutian, saying, "Pour some tea, the leader has arrived."

Zhang Qiutian was dumbfounded: "This is..."

"We are from the county's armed forces department. We're here to present you with a banner for your third-class merit award, along with a bag of rice, a can of oil, and a pig's hind leg, all as a special reward from the county committee!"

That bag of rice weighed fifty or sixty pounds, and there was a large bottle of oil. As for the pig's hind leg, needless to say, it was a fifty-pound pig's hind leg!

Such a substantial reward stunned a group of people.

However, this was something that the Armed Forces Department personally delivered to the home of an outstanding soldier. The villagers were envious, but some of them could only restrain themselves from stealing it.

Zhang Qiutian was also surprised: "Really...really?"

"Yes, would our armed forces department lie to people?" The leader shook hands with Zhang Qiutian and led two or three soldiers to put the various items into the kitchen of their home.

The soldier with the camera pointed at Zhou Guoping's various certificates of merit and earnestly said to the old leader of the armed forces department, "This is big news, big news! An unknown veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army has trained an outstanding new recruit!"

"When you get back, you must write a good report about this and publish it on the front page of all the major newspapers in our county!"

"Okay, Chief!"

……

Seeing all this, with its commendations and acts of kindness, is truly heartwarming.

The villagers' envy has become a tangible reality...

-

Sure enough, it made the headlines in the newspapers of their Lichuan County the next day.

"A Veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and an Outstanding New Recruit—A Father and Son's Story!"

This news report already made Zhou Xu quite famous in his hometown. After all, everyone wants to see stories of heroic sons and daughters protecting their country, as well as touching stories of outstanding veterans who keep their merits hidden.

……

(End of this chapter)