In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

At 10 p.m. on the second day, Wang Xingguo waited alone outside for the vehicle from Ma Lan to arrive.

This was indeed the last time Wang Xingguo would procure supplies, because once these next few months were over, things would get better here, and he wouldn't need to go to such lengths to procure supplies anymore.

When the convoy arrived, Wang Xingguo didn't waste any words. He simply nodded to greet them, got into the car, and drove off. Wang Xingguo released a pig from his spatial storage onto the car, and then transported the supplies at a rate of once every half hour.

Wang Xingguo was busy until 3:30 a.m. before riding his bicycle back to the train station.

He relaxed completely. In fact, he is a person who loves his country, his nation, and his compatriots.

Whenever a disaster strikes a region and donations are needed, he would set aside a portion of his savings to donate.

But that's how modern society is; selfishness has become the norm, and those who aren't selfish are the ones who are disliked.

Therefore, Wang Xingguo is actually a contradictory person.

On the one hand, he wanted to be a little selfish, but on the other hand, when he actually met these people and learned what they were working hard for, he began to doubt himself.

Is it wrong for someone to be selfish in order to ensure their own safety?

But if everyone is selfish, can the republic still be the safe and prosperous republic it is today?

He couldn't find the answer, so he could only ask his own heart.

In the end, he has come to this point.

He may have lost many things that could have been exchanged for huge wealth, but Wang Xingguo felt he could put his hand on his chest and tell himself that he had a clear conscience.

On June 26, Wang Xingguo returned to his workplace.

He originally thought he could leave after submitting his work report, but Director Ma took him to get a haircut and shave first, and then they went to the company's bathhouse for a bath together, where Director Ma personally gave him a good back scrub.

As Director Ma vigorously scrubbed the mud off Wang Xingguo's back, Wang Xingguo asked with a somewhat troubled expression, "Director, are you taking me to eat peanuts?"

Director Ma paused for a moment, then patted Wang Xingguo on the back and laughed, scolding, "You little rascal, what are you thinking? You're one of my top lieutenants, who would dare send you to eat peanuts?"

Wang Xingguo, who was lying on the bath scrubbing bed, pouted and said, "They say that if someone is being overly helpful, they must have ulterior motives. Director Ma, you're suddenly being so nice to me, it's like you're bringing me a last meal. I can't help but suspect that something bad is about to happen."

Director Ma continued rubbing Wang Xingguo's back, saying softly, "You rascal, you're incredibly reckless, but why do I like what you do so much? Want to hear my story?"

"Go ahead and tell me, as long as you're not dragging me out to eat peanuts, I'm willing to listen."

Director Ma chuckled and scolded Wang Xingguo, carefully rubbing the mud off his hands as he spoke softly, "I was born in Urumqi. My father is Han Chinese, and my mother is Uyghur. Actually, when my mother married my father in that era, she faced a lot of misunderstanding from her ethnic group, and many things happened."

I have two older brothers. My eldest brother joined the army. Of course, he joined the Eighth Route Army back then; our organization hadn't yet developed in my hometown. One day, my eldest brother returned with a gunshot wound and told my second brother and me that only the Eighth Route Army could save the country. Then he breathed his last.

My second brother and I inquired for a long time before finally learning from someone in the organization that my eldest brother had abandoned the darkness and joined the Eighth Route Army. He originally wanted to return to our hometown to do propaganda work for the united front. At that time, our Party was implementing the "Three No's" principle in our hometown in order to unite the anti-Japanese front. My second brother and I were very sad back then. My father had passed away early, and my eldest brother was much older than us. He put the saying "the eldest brother is like a father" into practice through his actions.

Later, my second brother and I went to Northeast China and joined the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army. My second brother died in battle, and I joined the organization, beginning my military career fighting against the Japanese. In the end, we won. After I left the army, the organization assigned me to work here.

After reviewing these historical materials, Wang Xingguo learned that Sheng Shicai was an ambitious warlord who, in order to maintain his position as the King of Xinjiang, played both sides, sometimes pro-Soviet and pro-Communist, and sometimes anti-Soviet and anti-Communist.

Although he did some construction work in Xinjiang with foreign aid, he engaged in a reign of terror and espionage in order to become the king of Xinjiang, creating countless wrongful convictions.

Comrades such as Chen Tanqiu and Mao Zemin of our Party were killed at his hands. In everything he did, his personal power was always his top priority. He was a political opportunist without any faith.

Wang Xingguo was deeply moved, and cursed fiercely, "Your life has been truly full of hardships, all because of those damned Japanese devils!"

Director Ma said earnestly, "That's right, it was all the Japanese's fault. If it weren't for the Japanese, my eldest and second eldest brothers wouldn't have died. My eldest brother's death was caused by the Japanese obtaining a list containing his name and giving it to the then dictator, Sheng Shicai, which led to his murder. So, you know, I really like you, little guy. I can only say it was good that such beasts were killed!"

Wang Xingguo finally understood!

Others might admire him for other things, but the section chief admires himself for killing Japanese soldiers!

Wang Xingguo asked, "Director, what's going on with you today? I appreciate you, but you're suddenly being so nice to me. I'm a little flustered."

Director Ma laughed and scolded, "What are you panicking for? I'm old enough to be your father, why would I harm you? Anyway, you'll find out what's going on in a bit. Relax, this isn't a bad thing, it's a great thing."

Wang Xingguo vaguely felt that it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, otherwise the section chief wouldn't have acted this way.

Don't underestimate Director Ma; he's a colonel, a deputy division-level officer.

Wang Xingguo now knows that Li Zhong is definitely a major general or higher, but he really didn't know about his old leader.

It's impossible to check or tell. Although he usually wears a military uniform, he doesn't have any star-shaped markers representing different ranks, so he has no idea what rank he is.

After scrubbing himself clean, Wang Xingguo went to rinse off and wanted to get his own clothes to change into, but Director Ma stopped him and took a new set of clothes from a cabinet and handed them to him.

Wang Xingguo was stunned.

Because that was a Type 55 Army officer's summer uniform!

He pointed to himself and asked, "Chief, are you sure this is for me? Although my work ID was that of a deputy regimental commander, that was only for security reasons, right? I remember my status was only temporary, not actually that of an officer, is it? Can I wear this uniform?"

Director Ma smiled and nodded, saying, "Why are you making such a fuss? Giving it to you means you can wear it. Don't you understand?"

Wang Xingguo scratched his head, then said with a worried look, "Director, is it that one of the leaders doesn't like me again?"

Director Ma said speechlessly, "Seriously, what are you thinking about all day long, you little rascal?"