Starting from 1950

Chapter 118 Heroic Hymn

"I'm late! I'm late!"

After entering the gate of Limin Flour Factory, Wu Xinxue threw her bicycle to Su Yang and ran wildly toward the office building in the distance.

"Hey! I was wondering why I felt like something was missing today. Turns out it's because Xinxue was late and the first announcement of the workday was missed!"

"What's going on with you two? Did you oversleep together?" Zhang Zhenguo asked Su Yang, standing at the door of the security office.

Wu Xinxue was actually one of the earliest people to start working at the Limin Flour Factory.

The workshop workers start their shift at 8 a.m., while the administrative staff start at 9 a.m.

She, however, had to be in the broadcasting room before 7:45 a.m. to start making announcements or playing songs. Of course, she could also leave work earlier than others.

Su Yang's heart skipped a beat when he heard "overslept together," and he quickly changed the subject, saying, "Uncle Zhang, you're a section chief, why aren't you in your office? What are you always wandering around outside for? You stay here and have some fun, I'm going to go catch some mice!"

"Hey! This kid."

In the following days, life returned to a superficial calm.

After getting through the initial awkward period, Wu Xinxue returned to being the shrewd and capable little broadcaster. Only occasionally, when her eyes met Su Yang's, would a hint of shyness flash across her face, which she would then pretend to glare back fiercely.

Su Yang returned to the warehouse and various corners of the factory area, his slingshot never leaving his hand. Sometimes Xiao Bai followed him closely, and sometimes Wu Xinxue took him to the broadcasting room to "guard the door."

The little guy has become quite the little tyrant in the broadcasting room. Whenever someone comes over, it will greet them with a cute but fierce "waaaah" warning and a wary blue stare, which has brought a lot of joy to the colleagues in the publicity department.

The fervor of distributing meat at the factory gradually subsided, but the festive atmosphere of the New Year grew stronger with the red lanterns and colorful paper decorations hanging everywhere.

However, beneath this apparent peace, undercurrents are surging.

As usual, Xiaoyu was sent to the front lines for reconnaissance every day by Chief Wen.

Su Yang's mood grew increasingly heavy as he watched the situation on the front lines through Xiao Yu's daily observations.

The 50th Army's positions continued to endure unimaginable bombardment.

The enemy seemed to have gone all out, increasing the number of aircraft and burning hills to ashes with napalm.

The scene Su Yang saw through Xiao Yu was shocking: burning positions, dilapidated fortifications, and figures who stubbornly held their ground amidst the flames and hail of bullets, suffering heavy casualties but fighting to the death.

In the military headquarters, Chief Wen's face grew increasingly grim each day, and he spent longer and longer periods in silence staring at the map.

Orders from the headquarters kept coming in, demanding that all units speed up their assembly, but the difficulties and chaos were obvious.

Shortages of food, clothing, ammunition, and transportation... the logistical predicament was like shackles binding the hands and feet of the frontline counterattack.

"The smoke of war rolls, heroes sing; the green mountains on all sides listen intently; thunder roars in the clear sky, drums beat; the waves surge, a chorus of praise; people's soldiers drive away tigers and leopards, sacrificing their lives to protect peace; why is the battle flag so beautiful? It is dyed red with the blood of heroes."

Light snow was falling from the sky, but there was no wind.

Inside the Limin Flour Factory, a wooden platform was set up in the open space. Wu Xinxue, dressed in an earth-yellow military uniform, stood on the platform, her clear and impassioned voice resounding throughout the square.

"good!"

It's unclear who started it, but the more than 1200 audience members cheered and applauded enthusiastically.

Hearing the enthusiastic applause, Wu Xinxue smiled and continued singing: "Why does spring always reign on earth? Because the lives of heroes bloom like flowers..."

'

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve. Limin Flour Factory is not closed this year, but that doesn't stop them from setting aside half a day for their employees to watch the festival.

The responsibility of organizing the performance naturally fell to the publicity department.

Because of the sudden snowfall, their planned dance performance was cancelled.

In the end, it was changed to all singing at the last minute.

Wu Xinxue, Xu Hongyan, and even Ruan Sumei took turns performing, singing songs that everyone had heard countless times before, such as "Unity is Strength" and "We Workers Have Strength".

The workers and cadres were very respectful, applauding generously no matter who took the stage.

Now, Wu Xinxue is going on stage to sing her last song, a brand new song that no one has ever heard before, which finally makes everyone feel that their trip to get soaked in the snow was worthwhile.

The song Wu Xinxue was singing at this moment was called "Ode to Heroes". It was a song that Su Yang hummed a few lines out of boredom, and Wu Xinxue heard it and pestered him to tell her the lyrics.

This song was sung by Su Yang's entire class during a National Day performance held when he was in high school in his previous life.

Because he was the most handsome boy in the class at that time, the teacher arranged for him to be the lead singer, which is why he still remembers this song vividly even after being reborn.

However, while he could sing, Su Yang knew absolutely nothing about composing.

After being pestered by Wu Xinxue for two days, he simply wrote the lyrics for her and let her compose the music herself.

After several days of tinkering, Wu Xinxue actually managed to compose the music.

Although, in Su Yang's opinion, the quality was several levels lower than the original version from his previous life.

The workers didn't care about that, or rather, they didn't understand it; they just thought the words were quite catchy!

As Wu Xinxue's song fell to its last note amidst the swirling snowflakes, its lingering melody echoed through the empty flour mill grounds, accompanied by thunderous applause and cheers from the workers.

"One more!"

"Comrade Xinxue sang so well!"

"This song is so uplifting!"

The enthusiasm of the crowd dispelled the winter chill.

Wu Xinxue bowed in thanks on stage, her eyes unconsciously searching for that familiar figure in the crowd.

Su Yang stood at the edge of the security guard group, giving her a thumbs-up with a genuine smile on his face.

Little White sat quietly in the snow beside Su Yang's feet.

The snowflakes fell on its small body, but they did not make it feel cold.

The little guy is sticking out his pink tongue and licking a snowflake that has landed on his snow-white front paw.

Yu Feng was still excitedly patting Su Yang's shoulder: "You're amazing, kid! You've been hiding your talent! These lyrics are so inspiring! 'The blood of heroes has stained it red,' that's so true!"

Su Yang shook his head absentmindedly and said, "This song wasn't written by me, it was written by Sister Xinxue..."

'

"Alright! You two are really something. She says you wrote it, and you say she wrote it..." Yu Feng said irritably.

Just then, Wu Xinxue on stage announced that today's performance was over.

The employees of Limin Flour Factory began to disperse, some still feeling quite relaxed. Those on the day shift went home, while those on the night shift returned to their posts. Wu Xinxue, meanwhile, walked over to Su Yang with small, quick steps.

"Su Yang, how was your singing?" Wu Xinxue asked with a smile.

Su Yang naturally reached out to brush the snowflakes from her hair and shoulders, and smiled, "It sounds beautiful!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Xinxue's eyes curved into crescents. Since their misunderstanding and argument a few days ago, the two of them had been making more intimate gestures like this.

"Sister Xinxue, I'm going home now," Su Yang said.

"Okay! I'll go home as soon as I'm done here. Tonight, I'll invite Aunt Mei and Aunt Wang to make dumplings together!" Wu Xinxue said with a smile.

After she turned and left, Su Yang picked up Xiaobai from the ground, held it in his arms, waved to Yu Feng, and said, "Brother Yu, see you tomorrow."

After saying that, he walked towards the factory gate.

Yu Feng watched his departing figure, a maternal smile spreading across his face. "Those two little brats are quite something."

Ignoring the slippery roads due to the snow, Su Yang practically ran all the way home.

Leaving Xiaobai aside to entertain itself, Su Yang lay down on the bed.

The view suddenly shifted!

Xiaoyu was no longer among the gentlemen, but was flying eastward high in the sky.

Below it was a long marching column.

The 40th Army has set off, with all three divisions of the army mobilized, totaling approximately 40,000 men, to begin the planned four-day, four-night forced march!