Literary Master 1978.

Chapter 97 Tao Jingfa found a good son-in-law

The main plot of "The Garland under the Mountain" revolves around the ninth company of soldiers stationed on the border.

Zhao Mengsheng, a propaganda officer of a certain unit and the son of a high-ranking official, wanted to be transferred back to the city. On the eve of the war, he finally relied on his mother Wu Shuang's relationship and was temporarily demoted to the ninth company of a certain unit as deputy instructor for the purpose of a roundabout transfer, which was simply a gilding.

At this time, the ninth company commander Liang Sanxi has been allowed to go home to visit his family, and his wife Yuxiu is about to give birth. However, Zhao Mengsheng is uneasy in his position and is busy with the transfer all day.

Liang Sanxi was worried about the work of the company and kept postponing his return. Platoon leader Jin Kailai was indignant about this and bought a ticket for the company commander and urged him to set off.

However, at this time, the 9th company suddenly received an order to go to the front line, so Liang Sanxi lost the opportunity to visit his family, while Zhao Mengsheng received an order to return to the city. When this news came out, the whole company was in an uproar.

Faced with this situation, in order not to shake the morale of the army, Liang Sanxi severely reprimanded Zhao Mengsheng for his shameful behavior of deserting the battlefield. The pressure of public opinion forced Zhao Mengsheng to go to the front line.

During this period, Zhao Mengsheng's mother Wu Shuang urgently requested Zhao Mengsheng to be transferred away from the front line regardless of military situation, which was strongly condemned by the leaders.

During the interpenetration mission, many of the comrades of the Ninth Company sacrificed their lives for the country. When the battle was about to end, Liang Sanxi died heroically to cover Zhao Mengsheng, who was tested in the baptism of blood and fire.

After the war, when he was clearing out his comrades' belongings, he was shocked to find a bill for 620 yuan left by Liang Sanxi asking the family to return it.

The families of the martyrs came to the base one after another. Liang Sanxi's mother and Yuxiu used the pension and the money from selling pigs to pay off the debt that Sanxi had borrowed from his comrades due to family difficulties.

This noble act shocked everyone. At the moment of parting, Zhao Mengsheng and his comrades, with tears in their eyes, lined up to raise their hands to pay the highest salute to the martyr's family, completing his transformation from a young man to a soldier.

The story of "The Garland under the Mountain" abandons the usual perfect protagonists in previous military novels, and instead portrays a series of heroic characters with distinct personalities and flesh and blood.

Company commander Liang Sanxi is upright, tolerant and humble, and is deeply respected and loved by his comrades. He combines the simplicity of a farmer, the fortitude of a soldier and the wisdom and vision of a leader.

He dared to take responsibility and was willing to sacrifice at the critical moment. His sacrifice not only highlighted the cruelty of war, but also deepened the praise of the soldiers' spirit of defending their country and sacrificing themselves in the novel.

Platoon leader Jin Kailai was straightforward, fearless, and hated evil, and finally died heroically. His personality was a little extreme, but it just broke through the traditional perfect hero model and showed a real and three-dimensional image of a soldier.

Deputy instructor Zhao Mengsheng is the son of a high-ranking official, enjoying the superior conditions and status brought by his parents. His initial image is that of a cynical, lazy, family-dependent person who is unable to empathize with grassroots officers and soldiers, and readers do not see any love for the army or sense of responsibility as a soldier in him.

After experiencing the baptism of war and the test of life and death, Zhao Mengsheng completed the transformation from a spiritual deserter to a true warrior.

Zhao Mengsheng's growth and transformation are the core of "The Garland under the Mountain". He plays a key role from conflict to awakening and sublimation. His transformation also represents, to a certain extent, the spiritual growth and value reshaping of some young people in today's society in the great historical changes.

It is precisely because of this image of Zhao Mengsheng that "The Garland under the Mountain" is completely different from the vast majority of previous war and military novels, and it quickly triggered huge discussions and influence among readers.

In just half a month, with the crazy hot sales of the eighth issue of "People's Literature", "The Garland under the Mountain" has won the love of many readers and has become a must-read for these readers in their spare time after work, study and leisure. The plot and characters in the novel have also become an important topic of daily communication and discussion.

Liang Sanxi, Jin Kailai, Zhao Mengsheng...

The vivid, lively and full images of soldiers have not only won the love of readers, but also become idols of many young people.

The novel "The Garland under the Mountain" created a heart-shaking hurricane in the Chinese literary world in September 1979.

The readers' heartfelt love for the novel turned into unreserved praise, and countless letters from readers rushed into the editorial office of People's Literature like snowflakes.

The number of letters from readers and the praise they received were greater than for any other work ever published in People's Literature.

These letters from readers were placed in the form of packages on the floor of the office of the North Novel Group of the People's Literature Editorial Department, and the editors didn't even have time to open them.

After reviewing manuscripts for a whole day, when it was time to get off work, Cui Daoyi looked at the letters from readers and felt worried.

"Wang Fu, come with me on your bike after work."

"Why go?"

"Send these letters to Lin Chaoyang. The editorial office has no place to put them. There are too many of them. One package a day during this period. When will it end?" Cui Daoyi sighed.

Wang Fu laughed and said, "Who made The Wreath Under the Mountain so popular? It's really exaggerated. I feel that when Song of Youth was published, it was probably about the same."

"The army didn't buy Song of Youth! When I was reviewing the manuscript, I thought this novel would be a hit, but I didn't expect it to be this popular!"

Cui Daoyi had a complicated expression when he spoke.

In just less than a month, the eighth issue of "People's Literature" publishing "The Wreath under the Mountain" has been reprinted for the third time, with a print run of an astonishing 120 million copies, setting a record in the history of "People's Literature".

According to feedback from comrades at the Xinhua Bookstore Distribution Department, sales of this issue of the magazine have been rising since the outbreak, with no sign of stopping.

They boldly predicted that even if it reached 120 million copies, it would not be the end point for this issue of People's Literature.

Thinking of this, Cui Daoyi shook his head in disbelief.

"People's Literature" has really found a treasure this time!

After work, Cui Daoyi and Wang Fu rode their bicycles, with packages of readers' letters tied to the baskets and back seats, and found the Yenching University Library.

By this time Lin Chaoyang had already gotten off work, and the two of them found out about Langrun Lake Apartment.

"Hello, old man. Excuse me, does Comrade Lin Chaoyang live here?"

It was Cui Daoyi’s first time here, and he was a little confused about the address, so he stopped an old man who was taking a walk downstairs.

"Yes, do you have something to discuss with him?" Wu Zuxiang asked.

Cui Daoyi smiled and explained: "We are editors of People's Literature, and we came here to deliver letters from readers to him."

Wu Zuxiang glanced at the bicycles the two were pushing. Letters from readers? My goodness, how many letters are there?
Tao Jingfa has found a good son-in-law! Cui Daoyi and his partner went upstairs and knocked on the door.

It was Tao Yumo who opened the door. Her face was filled with anger and her tone was cold. "Excuse me, who are you looking for?"

"Hello, we are the editors of People's Literature, looking for Comrade Lin Chaoyang."

Listening to the two people's self-introductions, the coldness on Tao Yumo's face faded away and a warm smile appeared.

"Come in, come in!" She let them in politely and shouted into the house, "Brother-in-law, the editor of People's Literature is here to see you."

"Lao Cui, why are you here?"

Lin Chaoyang was a little surprised when he saw Cui and Wang.

"I'm here to deliver readers' letters to you. There are too many and the editorial office has no room to put them." Cui Daoyi explained.

It was then that Lin Chaoyang noticed the package at the door and asked in surprise, "Are these all letters?"

"Yeah, that's just part of it. Now we have one pack a day, and we can't open them all, so I'm giving it to you."

Lin Chaoyang looked embarrassed, "There's no room at home, you guys..."

He was interrupted by Tao Yushu just in the middle of his words, "How come there is no room? There are so many empty places in the house."

Tao Yumo also agreed, "That's right, there's a lot of empty space in Xiwen and Xiwu's room, so it's no big deal to put a few letters there."

Lin Chaoyang glanced at his sister-in-law and reasonably suspected that she was retaliating.

Before Cui Daoyi and Wang Fu arrived, Tao Yumo, a freshman at Yanda University who was reluctant to leave, finally remembered that he still had a home in Langrun Lake Apartment.

After not seeing each other for half a month, Tao Yumo should have been happy to return home, but he was struck by a bolt from the blue as soon as he entered the house.

There is no place for her at home!
The room was originally where she, her sister-in-law and nephew Tao Xiwu lived, but now it has become the room where her two nephews live.

When she returned to her home, she didn't even have a place to live.

It is tolerable and unbearable.

Tao Yumo got angry and started arguing with her mother.

Tao's mother was not angry. Facing Tao Yumo's anger, she simply said lightly: "You already live in the school, why do you have a bed at home? It takes up space!"

Tao Yumo was so angry that he jumped up and down, but there was nothing he could do.

The room where Lin Chaoyang and Tao Yushu lived was only a little over ten square meters, and was furnished with a double bed, a desk, a wardrobe and a bookshelf, leaving almost no extra space.

The rooms where Tao's parents and eldest brother-in-law and his wife live are in a similar condition. Only the brothers Tao Xiwen and Tao Xiwu now live in a room of their own. There are few furniture and sundries in the room, and even the beds are iron bunk beds, so there is more empty space.

But no matter how empty the room is, it is not a reason for Lin Chaoyang to occupy it.

What's more, the mother-in-law was just having a quarrel with her sister-in-law and was angry that she didn't come home for half a month.

It's impossible for her to really have no place to stay at home, but it should be right for her to live in the same room with her two nephews in the future.

Tao Yushu and her sister sang the same tune. Besides, Cui Daoyi and the others had already delivered the letter, so it was not easy for Lin Chaoyang to ask someone to take the things back.

I could only find a place to put the letter first, and then said to the two of them: "Before, Yanjing Literature and Art also wanted to send me a letter, but I refused because I really had no place at home. You editorial department should think of a way to find a place to store it first."

Cui Daoyi didn’t know before that Lin Chaoyang was living together with his father-in-law’s family. Now that he knows the situation, he understands his dilemma very well.

"Okay, I'll look around later."

After talking about the letter, Cui Daoyi and the other man prepared to leave.

It was time for dinner, and Lin Chaoyang couldn't let them leave hungry, so he invited them to stay at his house for dinner.

While eating, Tao Yumo's attention was all on Cui and Wang.

This is the editor of People's Literature. If it weren't for her brother-in-law, she would never have the chance to meet him.

Tao Yumo would ask a question from time to time to satisfy her curiosity as a literary girl, and remember the answers of Cui and Wang.

These are the capital for communicating (chui) with others in class in the future!

After seeing Cui and Wang off, the negotiations between mother and daughter began again.

As expected, Tao Yumo had to share a room with her two nephews from now on, which was a small punishment from her mother for her longing outside.

Tao Yushu focused his attention on the letters from readers sent by Cui Daoyi.

Such a large number of letters from readers is not only an affirmation of the work, but also the highest praise for the author himself.

She happily tore open every letter and read them carefully. While enjoying the readers' praise for Lin Chaoyang, she felt infinite pride in her heart.

The achievement brought by group identity filled her heart with joy and deepened her love for her husband.

She was passionate that night!
(End of this chapter)