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

Time flies, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the spring of 1974, Kyoto was greeted by a light spring rain. Zhou Jin was already two years old, with delicate and beautiful features. She was intelligent and quick-witted, and not only learned to speak and walk early, but also recognized many Chinese characters and could recite several Tang poems. Her family called her a "child prodigy".

However, Zhou Jin always remembered to hide his true strength. He never took the initiative to show off, and only responded appropriately when his elders asked him questions, which showed his talent without making him seem too monstrous.

That day, Zhou Chengbang and Su Qinghe took Zhou Jin to visit the Chen family.

The Chen and Zhou families are old friends. Old Master Chen and Zhou Jianguo were comrades-in-arms during the revolutionary war and now both work in the State Council. The two families live not far from each other and have close ties.

"Chengbang, Qinghe, come in quickly!" Madam Chen, Liu Hui, opened the door with a smile, her face full of joy. "Panpan was just born not long ago, and I was just thinking of letting you come and see her."

Zhou Jin followed her parents into the house and immediately saw the swaddled baby lying on the bed. Inside was a pink and tender little infant with his eyes closed, breathing evenly, and his little face was rosy, like a ripe apple.

This is Chen Panpan, the granddaughter of Grandpa Chen. Her father, Chen Dashan, is a division commander in Beijing, and her mother, Liu Hui, is a housewife. She also has a four-year-old brother, Chen Hongjun.

"This is Panpan, so cute." Su Qinghe carefully walked to the bedside and looked at the baby tenderly.

Zhou Jin also went over and curiously looked at the newborn baby girl. For some reason, the moment she saw her, Zhou Jin felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she had known her for a long time.

He reached out his little hand and gently touched Panpan's cheek; it was soft and warm. Panpan seemed to sense something, her little mouth moved, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Those were clear, bright eyes, like a spring of water, without any impurities. She looked at Zhou Jin, her small mouth parting into an unconscious smile.

Zhou Jin's heart melted instantly.

In his past life, he was too busy with work to experience such pure emotions. But in this life, this newborn little girl has brought him a long-lost warmth and excitement.

"Jin'er, quickly call her sister," Su Qinghe said with a smile.

Zhou Jin looked at Panpan and called out softly, "Sister."

Her voice was soft and sweet, yet carried a hint of seriousness.

Chen Dashan walked in from outside and, seeing this scene, burst into laughter: "Great! Jin'er and Panpan are truly destined for each other. From now on, let them be childhood sweethearts and grow up together!"

Zhou Jianguo nodded with a smile, "I think it's a good idea! When they grow up, if they're compatible, our two families can become even closer through marriage!"

Zhou Jin took the elders' jokes to heart. Looking at Chen Panpan on the bed, he secretly vowed: in this life, he would protect this little girl and never let her suffer any injustice.

In the days that followed, Zhou Jin often visited the Chen family with her parents and played with Chen Panpan and Chen Hongjun.

Chen Hongjun is four years older than Zhou Jin. He is brave and upright, like a little man, and always protects Zhou Jin and Chen Panpan. Chen Panpan, on the other hand, follows Zhou Jin around like a little shadow, calling him "Brother Jin" affectionately.

Zhou Jin also took extra care of Chen Panpan, giving her the best food and the most fun things first, and being the first to stand up for her if anyone bullied her.

Once, several older children in the yard were fighting over Chen Panpan's doll. Although Zhou Jin was two years younger than them, he fearlessly rushed forward. He didn't fight back, but instead, while the older children were arguing, he quietly went around to the back, snatched the doll back, and shouted, "My grandfather is Zhou Jianguo, and my maternal grandfather is Su Tian! If you bully me again, I'll have my grandfather send the People's Liberation Army uncles!"

Upon hearing this, the older children were immediately too frightened to utter a sound. They were all children from the Kyoto compound and naturally knew the importance of Zhou Jianguo and Su Tian, ​​so they could only slink away in shame.

Chen Panpan, clutching her doll, ran to Zhou Jin's side, looked up at him with admiration in her eyes, and said, "Brother Jin, you're so amazing!"

Zhou Jin patted her head and said with a smile, "If anyone bullies you in the future, just tell your brother, and your brother will protect you."

Looking at Chen Panpan's innocent smile, Zhou Jin felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He knew that this childhood friendship would be his most precious treasure in this life.

At the same time, Zhou Jin did not relax his self-discipline. He used his spare time to read a large number of books, covering everything from history and politics to economics and military affairs. He had almost read through all the books in his grandfather's study, and he was able to understand some obscure and difficult theories by relying on his knowledge from his previous life.

He also learned martial arts and shooting from his maternal grandfather and maternal uncle, honing his physique and willpower. Every time Su Weidong returned home to visit his family, he would teach Zhou Jin some basic fighting skills, while Su Tian would take him to the military shooting range and personally instruct him in shooting. Although Zhou Jin was young and lacked strength, his aiming accuracy far surpassed that of children his age, earning Su Tian's high praise.

His grandfather, Zhou Jianguo, recognized his exceptional qualities and often told him stories from the revolutionary war era, teaching him principles of conduct and interpersonal relationships. Zhou Jin always listened attentively, integrating these words into his own understanding and continuously refining his values ​​and worldview.

He knew that to gain a foothold in this era and realize his ambitions, having memories and wisdom from his past life was not enough; he also needed strong capabilities, a deep network of connections, and an unwavering will.

Everything he is doing now is paving the way for the future.

In the summer of 1975, Zhou Jin turned three. At a family gathering, he fluently recited several chapters from the Analects in front of all the elders, and accurately answered several historical questions posed by his grandfather about the Chu-Han Contention, astonishing everyone present.

"Jin'er is truly a prodigy!" Old Master Chen exclaimed. "Old Zhou, your grandson is destined for great things; he might even be more capable than us old folks!"

Zhou Jianguo's face was full of pride, but he didn't forget to remind her: "Jin'er, talent is a gift from heaven, but hard work is even more important. Remember, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. You must know how to hide your talents and not be too ostentatious. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. You must remember this principle."

Zhou Jin nodded emphatically: "Grandpa, I understand."

He knew his grandfather was right. In this extraordinary era, being too sharp would only invite unnecessary trouble. What he needed to do was lie low like a dragon, silently accumulating strength, waiting for the right opportunity to soar into the sky.

The sunlight outside the window was just right, filtering through the gaps in the leaves and falling on Zhou Jin's face, reflecting the determined light in his eyes.

His childhood was spent quietly amidst the love of his family, the companionship of his childhood sweetheart, and his own quiet hard work. And his legend has only just begun to be written. In the future, he will rely on his wisdom and courage to carve out his own niche on this ancient land, contributing all his strength to the rise of the nation and the rejuvenation of the people!