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

Li Zhong remained silent for a moment, then said to Kong Xiangqing, "You stay in the Logistics Department to continue in charge of the work, and arrange for Comrade Wang Xingguo and others to go and provide support."

Kong Xiangqing stood up abruptly and said firmly, "No way! You can send people from my logistics department to the front lines, but I, as the department head, cannot be a deserter. I must be the first to go to the front lines!"

Vice Minister Liu quickly advised, "Director Kong, we understand how you feel, but you also need to consider the overall situation. In the Materials Transportation Department, you and Comrade Wang Xingguo are the backbone. The others are a bit inexperienced. We need to keep an experienced person in charge."

Kong Xiangqing said excitedly, "Then let Comrade Wang Xingguo stay and preside over the work. If I, as the boss, don't step up, who will? Let me stay in the rear and work in peace, and send my soldiers to the front lines. You might as well just shoot me. That way, no matter what happens, I won't have to face their families!"

No one expected Kong Xiangqing to be so agitated, and everyone quickly got up to comfort him.

Wang Xingguo yawned as he led his men to inspect the delivered supplies, unaware of what had happened in the logistics department.

If he found out, he'd probably be dumbfounded.

Because he only mentioned the work in the logistics department, not that he would be going abroad to work...

After the meeting, Li Zhong was a little troubled because he didn't know how to explain this to his former leader.

But things had already come to this point, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.

In the evening, Li Zhong went to his former leader's house.

The old boss was a little surprised because he knew that Lao Li was either working overtime at the office all day or taking time to go home.

To put it bluntly, in all the years he's been back in Beijing, Old Li has only visited him a handful of times.

So the old leader asked, "Old Li, what brings you here today?"

Li Zhong said with a wry smile, "There's something I want to tell you, I hope you won't be angry."

The old leader frowned slightly. He knew Lao Li well; something that could elicit such a response must be no small matter.

He thought about it and realized that apart from his godson Wang Xingguo, there was nothing else to do.

The old leader sighed and asked, "What has Xingguo done this time? Just tell me directly, there's no need to cover for him."

Li Zhong was speechless for a moment after hearing that...

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "The supply route for the Vietnam War was short-handed. The request for assistance was submitted to the higher authorities, and the higher-ups issued instructions that our transportation department should send personnel to provide support. The supply transportation department also needed to send personnel. After a round of discussions, Director Kong Xiangqing decided that he would take Xingguo with him to support the work there..."

The old leader waved his hand, indicating that Li Zhong didn't need to continue.

He stood up, supporting his surgical wound on his side, and said slowly, "What, nobody wants to go? Does it have to be my godson whom I finally managed to find?"

Li Zhong quickly explained, "Old Lin, that's not how it is, don't misunderstand. Xingguo himself said..."

"What did he say? Old Li, we've been through thick and thin together, don't lie to me, I want the truth!"

Li Zhong sighed helplessly, then said truthfully, "Old Lin, Kong Xiangqing didn't actually intend to arrange for Xingguo to go there. It was just a routine conversation. Who knew Xingguo would get so excited?"

The old leader waved his hand, signaling Li Zhong to tell him what he wanted to hear.

Li Zhong could only explain softly, "When it came time to sign up for the personnel to be transferred, Xingguo was the first to step forward and volunteer. We all underestimated him. He also said that his son and daughter were still young and he couldn't let them live under a sky shrouded in war."

I admit I used to think Xingguo was unreliable, but after working here for so many years, he has indeed grown a lot. I also wanted to refuse, but the Logistics Department couldn't do without Kong Xiangqing. He wanted to train other colleagues himself and leave Wang Xingguo to oversee the work of the Logistics Department. I couldn't go against my principles and refused Kong Xiangqing's request..."

The old leader glared at him and said sternly, "Old Li! Is Kong Xiangqing important, but my Xingguo isn't? Have you considered my feelings? Have you considered Xingguo's feelings? How old are his children? What if something happens to them? How am I, this old man, going to explain it to my two kids?"

Does Li Zhongneng not know?

Of course he knows!

Although Lao Lin may seem indifferent, he actually cares a lot about Wang Xingguo and his three siblings.

Especially Wang Xingguo, because his eyebrows and eyes most resembled Wang Yongzhen's, and Lao Lin was the most protective of him.

Wang Xingguo and his two siblings didn't resemble Wang Yongzhen much in appearance, so Lao Lin didn't pay them much attention.

Now that Wang Xingguo has a son and a daughter, Wang Jianhua's features are most like Wang Yongzhen's, even more so than Wang Xingguo's. He can now look forward to seeing what Wang Niannian will look like when she grows up.

Li Zhong listened attentively to his lecture. Although they were old friends, he truly understood his feelings at that moment.

After a long while, the old leader calmed down, sighed, and said, "Does he really have to go?"

Li Zhong nodded and said, "Xingguo is the most suitable choice to lead the team. Letting him stay in the Logistics Department to preside over the work is not only because he is not high-ranking enough, but also because he is too young! Lao Lin, my expectations for Xingguo are not much less than yours. I also hope that Xingguo can become a responsible person, whether it is to take over my work or to go to the old unit to protect our flag, I hope he can do it."

The old leader certainly understood this!

He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "Let him go, but you must make it clear to him. If he's willing to go, then I have nothing to say. But if Xingguo doesn't want to go, none of you can force him. My whole family sacrificed themselves for the cause of resisting Japan. If anyone dares to force my godson to go to the front lines, I'll shoot them dead!"

Li Zhong's eyes reddened; how could he not know how much Lao Lin had sacrificed?

To protect top-secret information, he stood several streets away, listening to his family members being brutally shot and killed by the Japanese soldiers.

To protect the top-secret documents, he watched helplessly as his goddaughter, Wang Yongzhen, whom he had raised for so many years, was surrounded by a large number of Japanese soldiers and ultimately committed suicide by shooting herself to die for her country!

If possible, Li Zhongzhen didn't want to force Lao Lin to make such a choice, since transporting supplies there would be extremely dangerous given the current situation.

American bombers could appear at any time, making it very easy for supplies to be transported by land or rail.

After Li Zhong left, he told his secretary, "Strengthen security in the compound and upgrade the security department. I will not allow anyone to harm Wang Xingguo's family."

The secretary nodded and replied, "Sir, I'll make the arrangements tomorrow. I certainly won't let anyone harm them. However, I'm a little confused. Are you sure Comrade Wang Xingguo will be willing to work there?"

Li Zhong sighed, "You don't understand Xingguo's temperament. He's never been a peaceful person. Don't be fooled by his current calm and seemingly honest work and life. Have you ever seen anyone who has killed so many enemies and can still live a peaceful life with a calm mind?"