1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 62 (Single Volume)

Xiao Liu leaned closer, looked at the words on it, and asked curiously, "What's going on? Why are you so agitated?"

Liu Jiaju didn't rush to answer, but said, "Why don't you keep looking?"

"The cultural troupe killed twenty-five enemies..."

Looking at the newspaper, Xiao Liu smiled and said, "A cultural troupe soldier? That's amazing! I really think we cultural troupe soldiers could also fight on the front lines!"

"No, why don't you keep looking?"

Xiao Liu originally thought that Liu Jiaju was so excited because he felt proud of his fellow cultural and artistic soldiers!
But soon, she saw the next paragraph: "Wuhan Military Region... Zhou Xu!"

Xiao Liu instantly understood Liu Jiaju's meaning. Her face changed color instantly, and she opened her mouth slightly, asking incredulously, "It's Comrade Zhou Xu? Wait, he went to the front line? When did that happen?!"

Liu Jiaju said, "When I called him last time, I was going to ask him about the standalone book! Later, I asked the political commissar of the cultural troupe and found out that Comrade Zhou Xu had gone to the front line as a reporter."

I only saw this newspaper today! I was even more surprised to learn that Comrade Zhou Xu not only went to the front lines but also achieved such outstanding results. He truly is an excellent soldier!

Xiao Liu nodded in agreement and continued to look at Zhou Xu's other combat details. The more she looked at these things, the more astonished and incredulous she became.
"Twenty-five enemy soldiers killed? Comrade Zhou Xu's record is truly impressive! He's become a war hero!?"

Recalling his time as a war correspondent, Liu Jiaju couldn't help but sigh, "Comrade Zhou Xu's achievements deserve at least a first-class merit! I originally wondered why he went to the front lines. It seems Comrade Zhou Xu is an ambitious young man who went to the front lines to abandon his studies and join the army! To fight the enemy!"

Editor Xiao Liu is currently in the same state as Liu Jiaju, experiencing the same surprise as Zhou Xu.

After all, how could she not be surprised when a comrade she used to know suddenly became a war hero?
Liu Jiaju said, "This is actually good news. It's confirmed that Comrade Zhou Xu is alright! I was just about to ask Comrade Zhou Xu about the single-volume edition!"

"Yes, the standalone volume... Why don't you give Comrade Zhou Xu a call to express your condolences and casually inquire about the work?"

Looking at the newspaper, besides being happy and excited about Zhou Xu's outstanding achievement, Liu Jiaju was also relieved that Zhou Xu had survived.

After all, Zhou Xu is an excellent and very promising writer.

There are two things that magazine editors find most fulfilling: nurturing outstanding writers and creating outstanding works.

Liu Jiaju took care of Zhou Xu.

Authors who wanted to move forward in the 1970s and 80s encountered many caring editors. Yu Hua mentioned that he received care from Zhou Yanru and Li Tuo, two editors of "Beijing Literature," on many occasions.

Liu Jiaju made a phone call: "Hello, Political Commissar Huang, is Comrade Zhou Xu there?"

"He's still at the front-line command post! I'll give you the phone number."

Liu Jiaju wrote down the phone number, and then called the news office at the front line: "Hello? Is this Comrade Zhang Lingxiao? This is Liu Jiaju, I'm here to inform Comrade Zhou Xu."

"Oh! You're an editor at 'PLA Literature and Art', right? Wait a moment, I'll go to the dormitory and call Comrade Zhou Xu over."

Soon, Zhou Xu received a call from Liu Jiaju.

“Hello! It’s me, Editor Liu!” Zhou Xu replied.

"Ah!? Hearing your voice makes me feel much more at ease. I've been worried about you these past few days!" Liu Jiaju said with a smile.

"Thank you for your concern, Editor Liu."

"Yes! I've seen your achievements on the front lines in the newspapers. On behalf of the editorial department, I would like to express my respect to Comrade Zhou Xu, a combat hero." "Editor Liu, you're too kind. It's what I should do as a soldier."

"That's right. The magazine 'Changjin Lake' sells very well, and the magazine publisher is preparing to publish a standalone edition of 'Changjin Lake' in conjunction with the PLA Literature and Art Publishing House."

"Oh!" This time it was Xiao Zhou's turn to be surprised.

After all, standalone books are a standard requirement for bestselling authors in the literary world.

Many writers' associations now require not only articles published in provincial newspapers, but also that authors have published works!
As for publishing a standalone edition, that's a test of whether the novel has any popularity in China. Many novels can't be published as standalone editions because they lack a market and readers' interest.

Of course, aside from its honorary value, its commercial value is even greater. For authors, a standalone book means making money, which is equivalent to receiving royalties again.

Because royalties for printed copies have not yet been reinstated this year.

"A standalone edition? 'The Battle at Lake Changjin'? I'd love to!" Zhou Xu had learned to answer quickly.

Liu Jiaju chuckled upon hearing this. How could any author be unhappy about publishing a standalone book? "Okay, I'll go fill out the forms for you now. By the way, you should know about the royalties now, right? I should be able to send them to you next month."

"I understand, Editor Liu."

-

The date arrived at March 25th.

After the article was published in the newspaper, Zhou Xu's influence gradually expanded.

The awarding of medals is also proceeding gradually.

The approval authority for first-class merit awards is relatively high. First-class merit awards for soldiers and junior officers are usually approved by military region-level units.

First-class merit awards for senior military officers or those in special fields require approval from the Central Military Commission or relevant national departments, which takes a relatively long time, and the awarding time may be adjusted according to the approval progress.

Zhou Xu, this little rascal, is now naturally being issued with the approval of the military region.

Since he still had some acquaintances in the military region, the Wuhan Military Region quickly issued a notice regarding the awarding of the First-Class Merit, and it was issued from the military region command post.

A phone call came directly from the military command post to Zhang Lingxiao, who was busy with work:
"Hello? Is this Comrade Zhang from the press office?"

"Hello, old commander, it's me!" Zhang Lingxiao picked up the phone and responded immediately.

The voice continued, "Here's the thing: the application materials for Comrade Zhou Xu's First-Class Merit, which the field hospital filled out last time, have been approved. In a couple of days, there will be a commendation ceremony for outstanding combat personnel at the command post. Remember to bring Comrade Zhou Xu to attend!"

"A ceremony to award first-class merit?!"

"Okay. That's all for now." The old commander on the other end of the line hung up quickly after announcing the first-class merit.

Upon hearing such big news, Zhang Lingxiao was naturally happy for Zhou Xu.

As the head of the news department, he wrote more than ten reports, which would most likely earn him a second or third-class merit award. A first-class merit award is quite difficult to obtain, whether on the literary and artistic front or in frontline combat.

After putting on a coat, Zhang Lingxiao went to the outside of Zhou Xu's house.

(End of this chapter)