A widower's entertainment

The popularity of the TV series "Bright Sword" is, in some ways, even more intense and enthusiastic than the popularity of the TV series "Bright Sword" in another time and space.

For no other reason than that in 1997, the year Hong Kong had just returned to China, this war drama was a film and television work that the people loved to watch.

At this time, television penetration had increased, with a television population coverage rate of 87.4%, indicating that about 87.4% of the national population could receive television signals. Although this may not be as high as it was after the millennium, the extremely high viewership in 1997 meant that the people were immersed in watching dramas, making it a true nationwide phenomenon.

It is important to know that anti-Japanese war literature such as "Bright Sword" has always been very popular among the people. Even though the war was won, we must not forget history. Anti-Japanese war literature is the life song of the nation. It is a work of faith born in the midst of gunfire, fear, hardship, hunger, despair, pain and hope. Such works are naturally very popular.

The current war drama "Bright Sword" is quite excellent in terms of both plot and the actors' performances.

In particular, the male lead, Li Yunlong, is portrayed quite well by Li Youbin. He has both "tiger-like" and "monkey-like" qualities. Beneath his seemingly rough and uncouth demeanor lies a clever and shrewd mind. He is highly intelligent and emotionally intelligent, with extraordinary courage and decisiveness. Moreover, he has the heroic spirit to draw his sword when encountering someone on a narrow path and to disregard life and death.

Those lines also stirred the blood of the people—

"Yes, war is a test of a nation's endurance. We and the island nation are both enduring the attrition to see who has more endurance. We can afford to wait. Even if we fight them for another ten or twenty years, China will still be China. We won't perish."

"I didn't see this as a breakout attempt at all. Everyone fix bayonets and prepare to attack!"

"I can't die like this, so pathetic. If I'm going to die, I'll die on the front lines!"

“If a swordsman faces me, even if I die tomorrow, I must draw my sword. It’s not shameful to fall under my opponent’s sword. It’s shameful to not dare to draw your sword.”

"Faced with a powerful enemy, even knowing that we are no match, we must still draw our swords. Even if we fall, we must become a mountain, a ridge."

……

It is precisely because of this awe-inspiring spirit, this resolute determination, this exhilaration, and this boldness that the TV series "Bright Sword" has become so popular.

The audience fully witnessed the story of that period of resistance against Japan, and they were all moved by Li Yunlong's spirit of "the brave prevail when paths cross" and his heroic spirit, which stirred their hearts and made their blood boil.

In fact, the broadcast of the TV series should have been unrelated to the movie "Human Tales". However, since the novel "Bright Sword" was a foreshadowing in the novel "Human Tales", and now the real commander Long Wenzhang from "My Chief and My Regiment" appears in "Bright Sword", which is the name of the officer that Si La Si La stole. Such a connection is quite amazing.

The character Long Wenzhang in "Bright Sword" truly provides a clear answer to the missing commander in "My Chief and My Regiment" who was stolen from the show.

You should know that Sisi had met Lin Qi in the army, they were comrades-in-arms and had spoken, and both of them had met the real Long Wenzhang.

Of course, these are all insignificant design details; it's just a matter of changing the names of Long Wenzhang and Chu Yunfei from the original work.

In fact, these things are not important, because what the audience is watching is the story of "Bright Sword" itself, the story of Li Yunlong. The continuous plot is really quite exciting and increasingly wonderful.

Every episode that followed was quite exciting, and the viewership ratings soared, approaching 47%, which is quite remarkable.

Numerous media outlets across the country are enthusiastically discussing and debating the TV series "Bright Sword." Although the series is still airing, viewers nationwide are already discussing the characters, each one vivid and lifelike. Everyone is talking about Li Yunlong, but also about the capable generals under him.

Just like Zhang Dabiao, the top general, who was known as the "Iron-Blooded Vanguard" throughout the War of Resistance, when he surrounded and annihilated the Yamazaki Brigade at Lijiapo, he showed his military skills of being both rough and meticulous. He first surveyed the terrain and suggested that the earthwork work be carried out. After the trench was dug to the front line 30 meters, he personally led the entire battalion to launch a "suicide" charge, and finally annihilated the elite Japanese army.

There's also the monk Wei Dayong, a native of Shaolin Temple. Ten years of training as a martial monk honed his body to an iron will. Forced to leave the temple and join the army after killing a Japanese officer, he first appeared as the leader of a prisoner-of-war camp uprising, single-handedly killing four Japanese special forces soldiers and disarming them to break through the blockade. His individual combat skills earned him the nickname "human tank" from Li Yunlong. After joining the Independent Regiment, he served as both a bodyguard and a spearhead: during the Ping'an Gele Campaign, he single-handedly stormed enemy lines and destroyed an artillery observation post, merging cold weapons with the violent aesthetics of modern warfare.

Unfortunately, the ambush at Black Cloud Village became the end of his life. Facing the bandits' siege, he could have easily broken through, but he chose to fight to the death to cover the medical supplies. Despite being hit by seven bullets, he still stood with his monk's knife on his back. His blood-stained monk's robe and the bullets that had not been fired became a tragic totem of the Independent Regiment's "Bright Sword Spirit".

When this episode aired in the TV series, the ratings immediately broke the annual record of 47.6%, and were approaching the 49% mark.

It really had an astonishingly high viewership rating!

With other satellite TV channels now being broadcasting, there are more and more TV programs available, so the public has more and more channels and programs to choose from. The fact that "Bright Sword" has achieved a viewership rating of nearly 49% is truly astonishing.

Besides the monk Wei Dayong, there are also Duan Peng, who was originally a blacksmith in a rural area of ​​North China; Sun Desheng, the cavalry company commander who couldn't stand the corruption of the old army and revolted to join Li Yunlong; Wang Xikui, a grassroots sharpshooter; and Wang Chengzhu...

There are many more, and many characters that have deeply resonated with the audience.

After that, as the series continued to air, the ratings kept rising. It was a phenomenon that drew huge crowds, with everyone watching and discussing the plot.

The media and newspapers naturally reported on this very popular drama. It was reported all over the country. Although the series was long, the plot was quite solid. Every episode kept viewers glued to their TVs, eager to watch it.

Lin Youcheng's own son, Lin Zhaoman, watched this war drama very attentively. Every day after school, the first thing he did was finish his homework and then wait for dinner to watch "Bright Sword".

Although Lin Zhaoman is already a senior in high school this year and will face the college entrance examination next year, Lin Youcheng did not stop Lin Zhaoman from watching TV dramas.

Because he knows his son Lin Zhaoman very well, he has always been very sensible, not talkative, and although his grades are not outstanding, they are still above average. He is also very serious about his work and studies. Now he watches TV series after school, and Lin Youcheng naturally will not interfere.

To be honest, Lin Zhaole was different. He loved watching TV, especially cartoons. After an episode of "Bright Sword" finished airing, Lin Zhaole was still not satisfied. He turned to his father, Lin Youcheng, and suddenly said, "Dad, I'm going to join the army after I take the college entrance exam."

This wasn't the first time Lin Youcheng had heard his son, Lin Zhaoman, say he wanted to join the army, but those were things Lin Zhaoman said when he was younger. Now, Lin Zhaoman is a senior in high school and will take the college entrance exam next summer. The fact that he still wants to join the army at this time shows that he is very serious about it.

Of course, joining the army is not just about enlisting. In Lin Youcheng's view, one can also take the military academy entrance exam, which would undoubtedly be a better path for development within the military.

Lin Youcheng looked at Lin Zhaoman and asked, "Do you really want to join the army?"

Lin Zhaoman nodded, his eyes bright, as if they held a resolute light.

Looking at the determination in Lin Zhaoman's eyes, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but say, "Then study hard and apply to a military academy in the college entrance examination. If you don't get in, then join the army."

There is no doubt that a high school diploma is sufficient for military service. However, in Lin Youcheng's opinion, a college student would be better than a high school student. Moreover, Lin Youcheng believes that Lin Zhaoman's academic performance is not bad. If he finds military academy too difficult, he can switch to a regular university, get admitted, and then enlist as a college student.

Of course, in reality, this year seems to be the last year of the three-year compulsory military service. The last batch of three-year compulsory soldiers was from 1997 to 2000. After next year, it will be a two-year system.

Lin Youcheng added, "Also, it would be better if you went to another university after the college entrance examination and joined the army as a college student, so you must study hard and never let your guard down at this time."

Hearing his father Lin Youcheng's words, Lin Zhaoman knew that his father would not stop him from joining the army. He was very happy and nodded repeatedly, saying, "I will study hard."

Lin Youcheng wanted to reach out and pat Lin Zhaoman's head, but then realized that Lin Zhaoman was already as tall as him. Instead, he patted Lin Zhaoman's shoulder and said with a smile, "Study hard."

If Lin Zhaoman really wants to apply to a military academy and join the army, his family's connections are very clear, so there shouldn't be any problems.

He wouldn't stop Lin Zhaoman from doing what he wanted, but he still had a somewhat subtle and complex feeling in his heart. The children had really grown up and would all have to leave in the future. Thinking about Lin Zhaoman's college entrance examination next year, if he really went to the army, he would likely suffer there.

Although enduring hardship is a form of training, Lin Youcheng still felt inexplicably uneasy.

Xie Shuhua noticed that Lin Youcheng, who was lying on the bed, seemed to be thinking about something, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Upon hearing Xie Shuhua's question, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but say, "Zhaoman, he plans to apply to a military academy next year. He really intends to join the army."

"Although I know this has been his idea since he was a child, I still feel conflicted when it comes to actually doing it. I don't want to stop him, but I also feel that he doesn't need to go there—"

Xie Shuhua understood what Lin Youcheng meant. She also knew that Lin Youcheng was still worried as a father. She said, "In other families, it might be the mother who is worried, and the father who tries to reassure the mother. But you've raised them all from childhood to adulthood, acting as both father and mother. Of course, you're worried."

"Zhaoman will take good care of himself."

"You don't need to worry, he has always been very independent."

Lin Youcheng nodded when he heard Xie Shuhua's words, as if he was recalling something. At that time, Lin Zhaoman was only four years old and had already started taking care of his younger siblings. He was very sensible and played house with his younger siblings in the yard, protecting Lin Zhaohuan and Lin Zhaole.

Compared to his older brothers and sisters, Lin Zhaoman was in the middle. In reality, it was mostly Lin Zhaoman who took care of his younger brothers and sisters, while he was rarely taken care of, as if Lin Zhaoman didn't need it.

Because it's like several children going to Xinghua Middle School together. There's the younger Lin Zhaohuan, and Lin Zhaoman is sensible, so naturally Lin Zhaohuan and Lin Zhaole are the ones being looked after. When Lin Zhaoxi, Lin Zhaoqing, and Lin Zhaomei leave Xinghua Middle School one after another, Lin Zhaoman is still in the middle, taking care of her younger siblings.

Yes, that's how it is with the middle child. The ones above will keep an eye on the smallest one, and he will keep an eye on the smallest one too, but he's actually not that big either.

Looking back, Lin Zhaoman was so cute and sensible when he was four years old...

For some reason, Lin Youcheng felt a pang of sadness at this moment and said in a low voice, "Zhaoman has been sensible since he was a child. He doesn't talk much, and he was already helping to take care of his younger siblings when he was four years old."

Xie Shuhua sensed the complex emotions in Lin Youcheng's heart and said, "Zhaoman is very sensible. Now that he's grown up, he respects his own ideas."

Lin Youcheng had actually mentioned this to Xie Shuhua before, and Lin Youcheng had said the same thing, but when the time actually came, he still had some different thoughts.

After all, the family's current conditions are undoubtedly very good, and there is absolutely no need for Lin Zhaoman to go to the army. Lin Youcheng's house in Beijing alone is enough to ensure that he has no worries about food and clothing, and can even be said to be able to live the life he wants for the future.

But it is clear that to live the life one wants freely, one must now respect Lin Zhaoman's ideals.

With such a firm and persistent ideal, what reason did Lin Youcheng have not to support it? He was just a little worried as a father. But when children grow up, they will eventually have to leave. If Lin Zhaoman really leaves this courtyard for his ideal, it might be a good thing.

Even though he, as a father, can no longer shelter his son from the wind and rain, he will still build the best haven for his son in this courtyard house.

Lin Youcheng was filled with a myriad of thoughts. He didn't know how he would feel when he actually saw his son, Lin Zhaoman, wearing a military uniform. At least for this moment, his complex emotions of reluctance and worry would all turn into hope and anticipation.

His son, Lin Zhaoman, had chosen a path for his ideals, and he hoped that Lin Zhaoman's path would become better and more stable. (End of Chapter)