Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

When Zhou Rui heard Qin Rui's question, he didn't speak, but instead exchanged glances with Wang Shouye, Gu Shaofeng, and several other fellow disciples.

Gu Dayong realized that this matter was likely related to Wang Shouye and his apprentices.

"Go ahead and tell me. Since the old company commander said he was going to issue award certificates, it must have been declassified."

"Let me speak, let me speak."

Now that he could speak, Gu Shaofeng, being the gossip he is, naturally wouldn't let the opportunity pass him by.

"Didn't the county issue a notice a while ago about assisting in the arrest of spies?"

"Yes, didn't I just say that? Then their team arrested a group of wanted criminals."

Qin Rui turned her head to the side, interrupting Gu Shaofeng's speech.

"Little girl, be patient."

Qin Zhan ruffled Qin Rui's hair. His sister was impatient and her mouth moved faster than her brain, which was quite a headache.

"Hehe... I'm not talking about Ruiwa's village, of course. I'm talking about... us in the mountains, we caught the person in the report."

"spy!"

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, including Qin Zhan and Gu Dayong, who were both quite surprised, as they knew the weight of that announcement.

If all the brigades in the entire county can coordinate their defenses, then the spies they are trying to catch must be extraordinary and pose a great threat.

But Zhou Rui and his fellow disciples were all here. Did they capture the spy without any injuries? That's quite an achievement.

"Speaking of which, before the notification for joint defense was issued, one evening..."

As Gu Shaofeng narrated, he began by recounting their first encounter with the mountain herders. Then, he and Zhou Rui saw their shadows on the street one day.

Afterwards, the defense team received a report. They went into the mountains to hunt again and encountered the mountain herders once more.

Not only that, but this time there was one more person, someone I had never met before.

Gu Shaofeng's narration was so captivating, it was even more enjoyable than the storytelling of the snowy forests on the radio.

After all, that's a story from a long time ago, and I've heard it countless times.

This happened not long ago, and it was done by someone I know; it's not comparable to what happened before.

"Just then, Ruiwa discovered the spy's weakness and, with a back throw, slammed old Luo to the ground with a thud."

"Then the other two agents reacted and quickly drew their guns, one of whom was kicked away by the junior brother..."

"Later, my third junior brother killed one of the spies, and we captured the other two. Ruiwa, however, suffered a bit; he was shot in the shoulder."

"What? Ruiwa also suffered a gunshot wound? Let me see."

Zhao Youzhi jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed), looking nothing like a man nearing sixty.

Zhou Xiaolan's eyes instantly reddened, and she rushed to Zhou Rui's side with a look of anxiety.

This is her own nephew, the pillar of this family; nothing can happen to him.

Zhou Rui helped Zhao Youzhi and Zhou Xiaolan up, and couldn't help but glare at Gu Shaofeng. He'd already said this was a secret, how could he just blurt it out like that?

Fortunately, An'an wasn't inside, otherwise she would have cried her heart out upon hearing that he was injured.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. It's been so long, it was just a scrape, it's healed a long time ago."

"You think you can just say everything's fine? Be honest and show us!"

Zhou Shumin also said in a deep voice.

In his heart, Zhou Rui once again became the Zhou family's prodigy, a rare and protected species that needed to be carefully protected.

Zhou Xiaolan had tears in her eyes and didn't say anything, just clung to Zhou Rui's clothes and wouldn't let go.

Zhou Rui felt somewhat helpless, as if he couldn't muster any strength.

He can take down an enemy with a single punch and kick two at once, but he cannot do the same to his family who care about him.

Zhou Rui had no choice but to pull down the sweater on his shoulder, revealing the scar on his shoulder.

Everyone looked over and saw a circular mark on Zhou Rui's shoulder. Although it was faint, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that it was a bullet wound.

Zhou Xiaolan's tears fell in large drops, and the others were also somewhat moved.

Zhao Youzhi was somewhat alarmed. Last time, their brigade captured nine notorious bandits, and only Zhao Xiaogang was injured in the hand by the iron pellets, while Zhou Rui was completely unharmed.

Unexpectedly, only three spies were captured this time, and Ruiwa was even shot. This place is so close to the heart, it was quite dangerous.

"Ruiwa, you'd better be careful from now on. Remember you have a whole family to support."

Zhou Rui nodded and pulled up his sweater: "I know, Grandpa Zhao."

Qin Zhan stood up, holding up his teacup.

"Xiao Rui, this injury is a man's medal of honor. I served in the army for several years and never received this honor."

"Come, let's toast you with tea instead of wine."

"Yes, yes, come on, let us toast you. But this is tea; you'll have to drink more after dinner."

The rest of the people also raised their glasses high.

In this era where everyone is a soldier, what Zhou Rui did is something that most people can only dream of, and it is something that everyone admires.

After finishing the tea, the atmosphere lost its initial heaviness, and Zhou Xiaolan stopped crying.

After all, the matter is in the past, and Zhou Rui is still alive and well.

Qin Rui looked at Zhou Rui with a radiant smile. She had initially thought Zhou Rui was only skilled at hunting, but it turned out he was just as adept at it against enemies.

Including the time I saved my nephew Qin Tao, that makes it four times.

Suddenly, He Jing bumped her shoulder: "Xiao Rui, what do you think of Zhou Rui? Do you like him?"

"Oh, sister-in-law, what are you saying! Zhou Rui is so much younger than me, he's just a little brother."

Qin Rui tugged at He Jing, whispering softly in her ear, her face flushed.

"But Zhou Rui is such a good hunter, why don't you ask your older brother to become sworn brothers with him, and then ask him to take me with him next time he goes hunting in the mountains?"

He Jing turned her head and glanced at Qin Rui, noticing that Qin Rui's eyes were filled with spring-like affection, as if she had something else on her mind.

"You little rascal, still thinking about going up the mountain? Have you forgotten your lesson this time?"

"So it's only because you and Jiajia are girls that you didn't see how Xiaowuzi and Zhijun were beaten by their families? Even Zhixue, who was injured, got hit on the butt a few times."

"Sister-in-law~"

Zhou Rui, holding Yan'er, glanced back at He Jing and the other person.

Why do my ears feel a little hot? Is this talking about myself?

"Come on, let's tidy up the table, the food is ready."

Aunt Changchun walked in, interrupting everyone's chatter. They had been talking so enthusiastically that they hadn't realized it was lunchtime.

Outside, most people had already arrived, including sanitation worker Zhao Changhai and driver Liu Gu, who brought their families.

Ping An's mother, Xu Liying, was also invited over.

This is someone Zhou Rui admires. The Ping An and Shun Li brothers, raised by such a person, are of good character. Zhou Rui also hopes that Zhou Ping can get closer to them.

Zhou Rui's family set up four tables in total.

Inside the house, village elders were keeping Qin Zhan and Zhang Zhenbei company.

Three tables were set up around several bonfires outside, and they were filled with people of all ages.

A considerable amount of food was prepared, all of which were Liu Kangri's specialties: Braised Pork Intestines, Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions, Stir-fried Lamb, Chicken Soup, Braised Prawns...

This dish was so rare that even wealthy families rarely saw it at their weddings, which thrilled the village children.

Even Lin Qiuyue and the other female educated youths from the city were somewhat surprised, not expecting Zhou Rui to be so generous.

As for Zhou Rui, he didn't have time to sit.

He was in a good mood today, so he carried a bottle of liquor and drank from inside the house to outside, and then from outside back inside. He even managed to knock out several people who could hold their liquor.

At night, Zhou Rui lay half-reclined on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Under the crackling oil lamp, Little Rice Cake clutches her fox-fur scarf in both hands, while An'an, who has been playing in the yard all day, is now snoring away.