1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 71 I'll Promote You

night.

Zhou Xu composed himself and went downstairs.

The clerk downstairs called Zhou Xu down.

"Comrade Zhou Xu!"

Zhou Xu turned to look at the clerk and asked, "Clerk, is there something you need?"

"Perfect timing! I just heard you were back, so I came to find you, and I just happened to run into you. After you went to the front lines, all sorts of letters from readers were kept here with me, and I was planning to bring them to you all at once!"

Zhou Xu looked down and saw that the clerk was holding a sack of letters.

He touched his head and said, "Okay, thank you, clerk."

"It's alright. You're fighting on the front lines, so these logistical tasks are what I should be doing." The clerk handed a stack of letters to Zhou Xu.

Zhou Xu took his things back to his dormitory.

I was planning to go out for a stroll, but it looks like I won't have time today.

He looked down at the letter.

Among the letters that were opened and mailed, half were related to the aftermath of "The Battle at Lake Changjin," with readers sending in their letters.

The other half came last month, after the newspapers published reports about Zhou Xu's battle, which made him somewhat famous nationwide. As a result, he received letters from soldiers and civilians all over the country.
Some letters express admiration, some concern, some feelings... there are many types of letters.

Zhou Xu planned to send a few letters back to make himself seem less aloof.

After a while, among the pile of letters, I saw a familiar name: "Tao Huimin".
Yo!?

Zhou Xu opened the letter with great interest. It was from Ruian, Zhejiang. Logically speaking, there aren't many people named Tao Huimin in Ruian, Zhejiang, right? Could it really be the Tao Huimin he knew?

The Tao Huimin he remembered most was Liang Lu, the same Liang Lu to whom Qi Tongwei knelt. In later generations, Tao Huimin was known as "the nation's number one good mother".

After all, once she entered middle age, she could only switch to playing elderly roles... However, overcoming this hurdle is indeed psychologically stressful. For example, didn't Liu Xiaoqing continue to play young girls even when she was seventy?
Of course, apart from Liang Lu, few people probably know that she played "Lin Daiyu". Obviously, Tao Huimin's Lin Daiyu was from the 89 film. That's right, but she didn't have the thin and sickly temperament of Chen Xiaoxu.

As for another classic, it is Miaoshan, who has a very ethereal quality.

Zhou Xu looked at the letter with great interest. He only knew Gong Xue, but he wondered if he would have the chance to meet "Zhu Lin".

Ah!
“Brother Zhou Xu! Seeing your story, a war correspondent fighting bravely on the front lines, I was deeply moved. Inspired by you, I also want to become a cultural soldier…”

Zhou Xu knew that even without him, Tao Huimin would have joined the army; it was just a matter of time.

He leaned over the table and wrote a letter: "Hello, Comrade Tao Huimin, I have seen your letter! I fully support your wish... Whether as an arts troupe member or on the front lines of combat, you can play a huge role..."

"..."

After replying, Zhou Xu actually quite liked Tao Huimin, referring to her on-screen image.

She embodies the typical image of a "demure and charming young lady" from the Jiangnan region.

Of course, there's also a beauty from Jiangnan named He Saifei, who is definitely not a girl from a modest family...

Today, Zhou Xu picked out a few letters and went to the post office to mail some of them.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

at last.

After sending the letter, Zhou Xu packed his things.

Today was also the day I went to report for duty.

When he went downstairs in the morning, many comrades greeted him.

Chen Hai led He Jing up; coincidentally, both of them were squad leaders in the performing arts troupe!

"Comrade Zhou Xu!"

Chen Hai saluted, and He Jing followed suit. "Oh! Hello."

He Jing looked at Zhou Xu with a smile and said with great admiration, "Comrade Zhou Xu, I never expected that you would become a combat hero after just one trip to the front lines!"

Chen Hai said, "Political Commissar Huang is right. We should strive to learn from Comrade Zhou Xu!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Study."

Zhou Xu asked with a smile, "Since you two are here, I wanted to ask if Mai Sui has returned?"

Mai Sui was practically Zhou Xu's comrade-in-arms, having taken care of him for so long and served as a key medical worker on the front lines for just as long.

He Jing said with a smile, "Comrade Mai Sui came back with the logistics and cultural troupe comrades, so she went to the commendation meeting and I heard she received a second-class merit! She is a hero just like you."

Zhou Xu nodded: "It's good that Mai Sui is alright."

Chen Hai glanced at Comrade Zhou Xu: "Comrade Mai Sui is indeed beautiful, but she has a boyfriend! Comrade Zhou, our art troupe has many other beautiful members!"

Zhou Xu scratched his head and said apologetically, "Comrade Chen Hai, you've misunderstood. Mai Sui is my friend, so I was just showing concern."

Hearing that Mai Sui had received a second-class merit award, Zhou Xu was still happy for her, even though she was a member of the performing arts troupe.

After discussing the wheat, Zhou Xu turned around, said goodbye, and went straight to the art studio.

He knocked on the door and went inside.

Upon entering the house.

Snap!
He saw Bai Hua, Gao Ruxing, and Lei Yuansheng standing at the door applauding him.

"Congratulations to Comrade Zhou Xu on his safe return to the cultural troupe!"

"Combat hero! I really admire your first-class merit!"

Gao Ruxing said happily, "What are you envious of? Their achievements are real money. You should also be able to go to the front line."

"Haha, Comrade Zhou Xu's achievements are outstanding. Everyone is here today to welcome you back!" Bai Hua said cheerfully.

The group nodded.

Zhou Xu said, "...I did what I was supposed to do."

Zhou Xu returned to his seat surrounded by people.

A group of people followed him over.

He then picked up the pen.

When he was in the performing arts troupe, he was always busy writing reports, since he was the youngest writer, so these tasks fell to him.

"Comrade Zhou Xu! You've been working so hard! You've only just returned and you're already creating?"

"Nothing much? Just writing two reports!?"

Bai Hua shook her head from side to side: "Report? What report?"

Gao Ruxing nodded: "Now that you're a first-class meritorious official, you shouldn't be doing these troublesome little things like writing reports!"

"Then what am I doing in the cultural troupe?" Zhou Xu himself was a little confused.

Lei Yuansheng immediately said, "Comrade Zhou Xu, please don't be modest. Your creative abilities are amazing! Not to mention novels, your musical talent is also very high! We're going to perform 'The Song of a Strong Army' for the troops right now!"

“Yes, yes!” Bai Hua also said, “They’re both right. It’s a waste of your talent to still be writing short reports. We definitely can’t let you do that. Besides, you’re still injured! We need to make arrangements for you!”

"arrange?"

Gao Ruxing shook her head: "Simply put, it's a promotion! Who wouldn't accept a promotion after receiving a first-class merit?!"

(End of this chapter)