Sharpening the Blade Against the Red Wall: From Hong Kong to Handong

In the summer of 1981, the sun in Kyoto was blazing and bright, the sycamore leaves were glossy from the sun, and the sound of cicadas filled the air with the bittersweet feeling of elementary school graduation.

Nine-year-old Zhou Jin stood on the stage at his elementary school graduation ceremony, speaking as a representative of the graduates. He wore a neatly washed white shirt, stood tall and straight, and had a calm and steady gaze, showing none of the immaturity of his peers. He graduated smoothly at the age of nine in 1981—neither wasting his prodigy talent nor appearing overly eccentric, striking the perfect balance.

"...Thank you to my alma mater for nurturing me, and thank you to my teachers for their guidance. In the future, we will step into the junior high school campus and continue to pursue our dreams. I believe that, in the spring breeze of reform and opening up, our generation will surely use knowledge as wings to contribute to the prosperity and strength of our country!"

As soon as she finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. In the first row, 7-year-old Chen Panpan, wearing a light blue dress, clapped her little hands until they were red, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Zhou Jin on stage, her face full of pure admiration. She was in second grade, and what she looked forward to most every day was after school, when Zhou Jin would come to pick her up as usual, help her carry her heavy schoolbag, and patiently explain the difficult problems she didn't understand.

After the graduation ceremony, Chen Panpan ran quickly onto the stage, gently tugged at Zhou Jin's sleeve, and said in a soft voice, "Brother Jin, you said it so well! I want to be like you in the future, and get into the best junior high school and the best university!"

Zhou Jin smiled and ruffled her hair, then took out an orange-flavored candy from his pocket—he had bought it with his allowance, remembering that Chen Panpan loved this flavor the most: "I definitely will. If I get out of school early after junior high, I'll still come to pick you up."

The two walked out of the school side by side, encountering many classmates and parents along the way, all of whom greeted Zhou Jin warmly. Chen Panpan walked closely beside him, her little hand unconsciously gripping his sleeve, her face full of pride, as if silently declaring: This is my brother Jin, the most amazing child prodigy.

Back at the military compound, Zhou Jin saw two military jeeps parked at the gate from afar, their military insignia gleaming in the sunlight. Zhou Jin's heart skipped a beat; she knew that her uncle Su Weidong and Chen Panpan's father Chen Dashan had arrived—since the two had been promoted to deputy division commanders after the Sino-Vietnamese War, their military duties had become increasingly busy, and they rarely saw each other more than a few times a year.

Sure enough, upon entering the compound, one could see Su Weidong and Chen Dashan, dressed in crisp military uniforms, talking under the shade of a tree with their maternal grandfather Su Tian and father Zhou Chengbang. Their postures were even more upright than before, the star-patterned epaulets on their shoulder insignia symbolizing their rank and responsibilities as deputy division commanders, and their faces bearing the characteristic fortitude and composure of soldiers.

"Jin'er, you've graduated!" Su Weidong saw Zhou Jin, smiled, and walked over, patting him on the shoulder with just the right amount of pressure. "I heard you skipped grades all the way up and were first in your class? Good lad, much better than your uncle was back then!"

Chen Dashan nodded with a smile: "Jin'er is the pride of our compound. Panpan, you should learn more from Brother Jin, study hard, and you will have a bright future."

Chen Panpan looked up at her father and nodded vigorously, "I will, Daddy!"

Su Tian looked at his two juniors with eyes full of satisfaction: "You two just came back from the training ground, don't rush back to the team, rest at home for a couple of days. It's a good time for Jin'er to graduate, so the whole family can have a good get-together."

"Yes, sir!" Su Weidong and Chen Dashan replied in unison, their tone respectful and firm.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was exceptionally lively. Su Weidong recounted his experiences during the exercise, explaining how he led his troops to break through enemy lines in complex terrain and complete tactical missions; Chen Dashan, on the other hand, mentioned the new plan for national defense modernization, his words filled with anticipation for the enhancement of the country's military strength.

Zhou Chengbang also discussed the country's economic situation: "The household contract responsibility system is being promoted very smoothly in rural areas, and farmers' enthusiasm has been fully mobilized. This year's grain output is significantly higher than last year's. Economic system reforms are also being piloted in cities, with more and more individual businesses and township enterprises emerging, and the market is much more active than before."

Zhou Jin put down her chopsticks and added at the opportune moment, "Dad, I heard from Grandpa that some places are discussing 'price liberalization'? A vibrant market is a good thing, but if prices fluctuate too much, ordinary people's lives may be affected, especially low-income families. We need to take precautions in advance."

As a financial expert from his previous life, he clearly remembered the short-term fluctuations brought about by price reforms in the mid-80s. Pointing out the risks in advance was both a reminder to his father and an opportunity to accumulate political capital for the family. He deliberately used the tone of "heard from Grandpa" and "figured it out myself" to avoid appearing too unusual.

Zhou Jianguo nodded approvingly: "Jin'er is right. Reform cannot be rushed. We must be bold and innovative, but also steady and pragmatic, and we must balance efficiency and fairness. Chengbang, you work at the State Planning Commission, so pay more attention to these issues concerning people's livelihoods and report them to your superiors in a timely manner."

Zhou Chengbang quickly replied, "Dad, I understand."

Looking at Zhou Jin, Su Weidong couldn't help but exclaim, "Jin'er's vision is truly remarkable for a nine-year-old. If she were to engage in economic development in the future, she would definitely achieve great things."

Zhou Jin smiled modestly: "It's just something I've been thinking about since I've been reading a lot, and there are probably still many immature parts."

Chen Panpan sat next to Zhou Jin and quietly put a piece of braised pork into his bowl, her voice so soft it was like a mosquito's hum: "Brother Jin, eat more."

Zhou Jin felt a warmth in her heart and picked up a piece of green vegetable for her: "You should eat more too. Don't just eat meat; you need a balanced diet."

Seeing the natural closeness between the two children, the adults exchanged smiles. Liu Hui held Su Qinghe's hand and said with a smile, "Qinghe, look at Jin'er and Panpan. They grew up together since they were little, and their relationship is so good. They take care of each other, which is really reassuring."

Su Qinghe nodded with a smile: "Yes, both children are sensible and good kids, and they can keep each other company in the future."

Zhou Jin and Chen Panpan blushed simultaneously. Chen Panpan lowered her head, shyly picking at her rice, her ear tips even turning pink; Zhou Jin pretended to pick up food, concealing the flutter in his heart. He knew that his feelings for Panpan went beyond the protective instincts of ordinary siblings; he wanted to take care of her, protect her, and watch her grow up safely. But this feeling could only be kept quietly in his heart. In that reserved era, there was no need to speak, only to silently practice what he preached.

During the summer vacation, Zhou Jin didn't sit idle. He previewed the junior high school curriculum and went to the State Planning Commission's library several times with his father to consult a large amount of information on rural reform and urban economic development. Combining his experience from his previous life, he wrote a preliminary suggestion on "stabilizing prices and regulating market order." Although it was just a child's "practice piece," Zhou Chengbang carefully kept it, finding it to be of great reference value.

At the same time, he also spent a lot of time with Chen Panpan. Every morning, he would tutor her, teach her math problems, and tell her historical stories; in the afternoon, when the weather was cool, he would take her to the park to fly kites, go fishing in the moat, or teach her to ride a bicycle in the courtyard.

That day, the two were learning to ride bicycles in the courtyard. Chen Panpan sat on the bicycle, her hands gripping the handlebars tightly, her palms sweating with nervousness: "Brother Jin, you have to hold on tight, I'm afraid I'll fall."

"Don't worry, I'll hold you, I definitely won't let you fall." Zhou Jin held onto the back seat of the bicycle and slowly pushed it forward.

Chen Panpan slowly pedaled, at first the bike wobbled and tilted from side to side, and she screamed in fright, "Brother Jin, I'm going to fall!"

"Don't be afraid, sit up straight and look straight ahead. I'm holding you." Zhou Jin held the back seat steadily, her tone calm, giving Chen Panpan a strong sense of security.

After riding a few laps, Chen Panpan gradually got the hang of it, and the bike became more and more stable. "Brother Jin, I think I can ride it!" she exclaimed excitedly.

Watching Chen Panpan gradually become more skilled, Zhou Jin quietly let go of her hand and jogged behind her on the bicycle. After riding for a while, Chen Panpan realized that there was no one holding onto the back seat, and she panicked. The bicycle swayed, and she was about to fall off.

Zhou Jin reacted quickly, rushing forward to grab the handlebars and steadily bringing the bicycle to a stop. "Don't be afraid, you're riding very well, you're just a little nervous," he reassured her with a smile.

Chen Panpan patted her chest, her face full of lingering fear: "Brother Jin, why did you let go? You scared me to death!"

"Because you've already learned it." Zhou Jin ruffled her hair. "Next time, be braver, and you'll definitely be able to ride more steadily."

Chen Panpan nodded, her eyes full of dependence: "Yes! With Brother Jin here, I'm not afraid."

Summer vacation ended quickly, and Zhou Jin entered a prestigious junior high school in Kyoto. Although the school was a bit far from home, he still insisted on taking a detour to pick up Chen Panpan every day after school. Sometimes, when junior high school let out late, Chen Panpan would wait for him under the shade of a tree at the entrance of the elementary school, holding two comic books in her hands, sitting quietly. When she saw him, she would immediately stand up, run over quickly, and share the interesting things that happened that day.

The junior high curriculum was more challenging, but Zhou Jin still managed it with ease. He not only excelled academically but also actively participated in various school activities, serving as class monitor and academic representative. Many girls secretly passed him notes, but he politely declined them all—in his heart, the little girl he had grown up with and who needed his protection was the most precious person.

Chen Panpan was growing up day by day, and her personality became more and more gentle and sensible. She knew that Zhou Jin was busy with his studies, so she no longer clung to him like before, but instead studied hard, hoping to keep up with him. Her happiest moment every day was walking home with Zhou Jin after school, listening to him tell stories about his junior high school days, and asking him for help with difficult problems.

As the sun sets, its golden rays bathe the two men, elongating their shadows. In the distance, on the military training ground, soldiers train diligently, their shouts echoing through the air; closer by, the tide of reform and opening up continues to surge forward, and the nation's development is changing rapidly.

Zhou Jin knew that his life journey was far from over, and he would encounter many challenges and opportunities in the future. But he was no longer alone, because he had Chen Panpan's companionship, the support of his family, and the dreams in his heart. He would continue to keep a low profile, study hard, accumulate knowledge and strength, and wait for the day when he was fully prepared.

This childhood friendship and this pure devotion will become his most precious treasure in life, accompanying him through trials and tribulations and on his path to glory.

Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating Zhou Jin's desk and the line of words he had written: "A young man should aspire to great heights, live up to his youth and his beloved." This was a true reflection of his state of mind at that moment, and also his firm vow to the future.

A young man full of youthful vigor, accompanied by a childhood friend. Zhou Jin's path to adulthood unfolds step by step, intertwined with the rise of the nation and pure friendship. And his legend will continue to write new chapters in this magnificent era.