Chapter 152: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 152: Wang Dashan Joins the Army (2)

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan, this couple, felt that becoming a conscript required sending money and pulling strings — viewed with today's eyes, it is an utterly absurd matter; conscripts don't have much development prospect, it's all contributing to the country, yet such a thing still requires sending money and pulling strings? Isn't that inconceivable?

We also don't know how it happened; anyway, in those years, the villagers all spread this saying: if you don't give money and pull strings you can't get picked for the army, and even if you get picked you might be replaced by someone with money and power.

And it was spread with such convincing detail, yet no one knew true or false.

The next day, early morning, Li Xiulan had already made breakfast by a little past six in the morning; Wang Zhanggen was just about to go call Wang Dashan, who was still sleeping in the bedroom, to come out and eat breakfast.

"The sun's baking your butt and you still won't get up, how can you be so lazy!"

Wang Zhanggen complained a sentence, was just about to go knock on the door, but was pulled back by Li Xiulan.

"You let him keep sleeping, you hurry up and eat!"

Then she lowered her voice, speaking sneakily:

"While he hasn't gotten up yet, you finish breakfast and hurry to town, hurry!"

Wang Zhanggen realized, only then nodding repeatedly:

"Good good, I'll go in a bit!"

Wang Zhanggen hurriedly ladled a bowl of congee, slurped it down in a few mouthfuls, then hurriedly stood up and pushed the motorcycle out the door.

At that time they had already bought a second-hand motorcycle.

With a motorcycle for transport, going to town was much more convenient.

However, just as Wang Zhanggen rode the motorcycle out of the village, at the village entrance he saw a military vehicle.

Quite a few people got out of the vehicle; some were dressed like leaders, some dressed like soldiers.

"Fellow villager, where is Wang Dashan's home?"

A person wearing a military uniform came over and asked warmly.

"I am Wang Dashan's father!"

Wang Zhanggen was somewhat stunned, hurriedly announced his identity, and hurriedly asked:

"What do you want with my eldest son?"

The person in military uniform revealed white teeth, smiling radiantly:

"Such a coincidence? Didn't expect to run into you the moment we arrived at Shanggou Village! Your son got picked for the army, we've come to your home to offer condolences!"

Wang Zhanggen was immediately overjoyed:

"You mean, my son is confirmed to be able to join the army?"

"Of course!" The person in military uniform said with a very certain tone.

"Then good, that's wonderful!" Wang Zhanggen's face was full of delighted smiles.

He had still been thinking of going to town to find connections!

Didn't expect it was completely unnecessary to find connections!

He just knew, his son was that outstanding, there was no reason he wouldn't be picked!

If his son wasn't picked, that would simply be the country's loss!

"Fellow villager, take us to your home to meet your child; I heard your child's physical examination data is the best in our county town!"

"Good good, I'll take you there right now!"

Wang Zhanggen hurriedly led a group of people back home.

Li Xiulan saw Wang Zhanggen had only been gone a little while and yet brought back so many people; she was also extremely surprised.

Although she didn't quite understand what was going on, she still hurriedly went forward to greet them.

She ushered the whole crowd of guests into the house, poured them tea water, then hurriedly went to call Wang Dashan who was still sleeping in the bedroom.

"Dashan, the army leaders have come, you hurry up and get out here!"

Wang Dashan was still sleeping in a daze; hearing these words, he was immediately startled:

"What?"

He hurriedly got up, put on his clothes, and walked out with bleary sleepy eyes.

"Do I have to go join the army right now?"

Wang Dashan asked in astonishment.

An officer walked up to Wang Dashan, patted Wang Dashan's shoulder, and said with a hearty laugh:

"Not bad, a good seedling; just don't know if you can endure hardship — in the army it's very bitter!"

Wang Dashan laughed it off:

"I've eaten eighteen years of hardship in this village; what hardship can't I eat?"

His words immediately drew a burst of laughter from everyone.

"You have this awareness, that's very good; later when you're in the army, perform well — the army won't let down anyone who puts in effort! Effort will be rewarded!"

Wang Dashan, however, cared more about another question:

"Are you taking me away today? I haven't made any preparations!"

A leader came over and said:

"Not yet; how could it be that fast? Taking you away right now would be too abrupt, unfriendly to you, even more unfriendly to your parents. This time we've come mainly to visit your home, console your parents, and by the way notify you of the departure time. Next week all new recruits will uniformly gather at the county town, then go to different places to serve as soldiers!"

"Oh, like that? Then alright."

Wang Dashan let out a breath of relief.

He knew that joining the army would be hard, yet he still wanted to rest a few more days before enlisting.

The leaders stayed at the Wang Family home for half an hour, chatting casually with Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan, appearing very approachable, and also told Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan that since their son had enlisted, they were now military family members; if they encountered any problems they could not solve in the future, they could seek help from the relevant departments of the army.

"Our army will absolutely not let any military family member suffer grievance!"

The leader also said this one sentence to Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan.

Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan were both moved to tears by these words, eyes brimming with hot tears.

Feeling that army leaders are indeed good, truly worthy of being the People's Army! Living up to the two words "People"!

The news that Wang Dashan was confirmed to be selected as a soldier soon spread throughout the village.

That very evening Zhang Zhongtian came to the door again.

Zhang Zhongtian said:

"Since Dashan is confirmed to enlist next week, on the enlistment day we must hold a send-off ceremony!"

Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan, however, did not want such a big fuss:

"Better not, we don't have that money, and we don't want to be so showy; letting the child go enlist with peace of mind is enough!"

Zhang Zhongtian, however, said:

"We must, we absolutely must; otherwise if other villages see it, they'll think our Shanggou Village is shabby! You two rest assured, I'll handle this matter, I'll pay the money, you don't need to worry!"

As soon as Zhang Zhongtian spoke these words, Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan were immediately deeply moved.

"Secretary Zhang, you truly are our Shanggou Village's good Party Secretary!"

Li Xiulan hurriedly expressed thanks.

Over these years, Zhang Zhongtian had helped her too many times.

She felt from her heart that Zhang Zhongtian was a good village cadre.

Even though Zhang Zhongtian, these years, using his status as a village cadre, had not sought little private gain for himself, he had also genuinely done things for the villagers.

Under his management, Shanggou Village was visibly changing for the better.

Now that Wang Dashan was going to enlist, Zhang Zhongtian actually even took the initiative to help organize a send-off ceremony, and the money he would pay out of his own pocket — it was truly too thoughtful!

"Don't say that; I, Zhang Zhongtian, am a native villager of Shanggou Village; doing things for Shanggou Village is merely my duty!"

Zhang Zhongtian spoke generously.

These years he had made a lot of money.

A three-story villa building had been built, furniture and renovation bought, a small sedan also bought.

For him, organizing a send-off ceremony for Wang Dashan's enlistment was merely spending a small amount of money.

Most importantly, spending these bits of small money could win him a great reputation.

For him, this was absolutely more benefit than harm!