The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 516 Military and Civilian Grand Party!!!
Since last year's counterattack, soldiers have shed blood and sacrificed their lives to defend their country...;
Domestically, the military’s love for the people and the people’s support for the military have been comprehensively improved;
In particular, some universities, middle schools and primary schools have carried out a series of military-civilian festivities, leaving behind many touching stories...

In late January, Yi Yuanchao and his battalion received a notice from their superiors:

The military district, together with the schools and factories in Liujiazhuang, is going to hold a Spring Festival party to celebrate the unity of the military and civilians and ask the troops under its jurisdiction to prepare programs.

Yi Yuanchao and his communications camp had a group of talented people who could play the erhu, the flute and other performances.

Therefore, a performing arts group was immediately established in the camp, with the deputy instructor in charge of this work.

Yi Yuanchao was a member of the school instrumental band who played the erhu when he was in high school, and he often entertained himself while in the army.

Therefore, Yi Yuanchao took time out to join the performance group, mainly to accompany the amateur players.

After the performance group was established, they began intensive rehearsals in addition to training and construction.

Years ago, Yi Yuanchao and his performance group were officially selected into the military district's art performance team after passing layers of screening, and got the "admission ticket" to enter the Liujiazhuang military-civilian gala.

Since Yi Yuanchao and his camp’s base is a bit far from Yanjing, they need to take a train to gather at the military district first.

At 5 o'clock in the morning, Yi Yuanchao and his singing group got up.

At the beginning of the year in the north, it is still covered with ice and snow and the cold is biting.

The kitchen staff did not give the performance group the usual millet porridge, but instead served them steaming hot rice porridge and fragrant white flour buns.

Comrades hope that Yi Yuanchao and their performance group will bring glory to the army.

After breakfast, the CA10 military flatbed truck from the camp’s motor vehicle squad carried Yi Yuanchao and his singing group to the train station.

On the train, Yi Yuanchao and his 20-odd soldiers were wearing the standard leather caps, cotton uniforms, and big-toed shoes of the northern troops.
On the train, they helped the conductor clean the carriages, served tea and water to passengers, helped women with children hold their children, placed luggage for passengers, gave up seats to elderly people and women who had no seats, etc., and they were busy and sweating.

Some passengers and ordinary people were deeply moved and joined the voluntary assistance activities.

An old man took his grandson aside and said, "Son, these PLA soldiers wearing red five-stars and red collar badges are heroes who defend our country!"

As soldiers, Yi Yuanchao and his comrades have received appreciation and recognition from the people, which has made their sense of mission even stronger.

After arriving at the military district’s base, Yi Yuanchao and his team reunited with the performers from other units of the military district and arrived at Liujiazhuang Gymnasium together.

The teachers, students and staff of Liujiazhuang held flowers in their hands and lined the streets to warmly welcome the performance team of the soldiers.

The brand new gymnasium before our eyes is one of the new landmark buildings in Liujiazhuang.

The gymnasium was just completed and put into use this year, and it has become an important venue for Liujiazhuang to hold various large-scale events.

Whether it is exciting sports events, wonderful cultural performances, or serious and solemn important meetings, they are all staged here in turn.

The gymnasium covers an area of ​​4 square meters and consists of three parts: competition hall, swimming pool and practice hall.

The competition hall can accommodate more than 8 spectators; the swimming pool in the swimming pool has lanes, equipped with an electronic contact plate timer, and is equipped with springboards and diving platforms; the practice hall can be used for training in basketball, volleyball, table tennis and other events.

From a design perspective, this gymnasium is the first gymnasium in Liujiazhuang that can switch between summer and winter events.

The central area of ​​the stadium is paved with a movable floor. After the floor is removed, the lower level can be used as an artificial refrigerated ice rink to host ice events.

From design to construction, from materials to equipment, all were completed independently by Liujiazhuang Construction Company.

This has greatly boosted the morale of people in the Liujiazhuang area and has become the pride of the place.

Since its completion, the stadium has hosted many regional, municipal, national and international sporting events.

After its completion, the stadium has hosted many regional, municipal, national sporting events and even international competitions.

However, it is a very prestigious thing to be able to watch an international game here for only two or three cents.

It’s not that the ticket price is expensive, but that it’s hard to get a ticket!
There are as many as 200,000 to 300,000 people living and working in Liujiazhuang area. They are all high-income groups and none of them lacks a little money.

Whenever the stadium is hosting a large-scale cultural event or sports competition, tickets are hard to come by.

As a result, a new business was actually born ahead of time - "scalper".

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the news that the gymnasium would hold a military-civilian gala spread quickly throughout the Liujiazhuang area.

The people here were very excited and were eager to get tickets to watch the show.

However, due to limited venue, in order to avoid causing dissatisfaction among the public, the Liujiazhuang Development Zone Management Committee consulted with the military region and made a decision: tickets for this evening party will not be sold to the public. Tickets will be allocated to some participating officers and soldiers, families of garrison troops, school teachers and students, outstanding factory worker representatives and their families, families of martyrs, disabled soldiers and outstanding corporate representatives.

Only a handful of people could attend the party, but the military commanders and the people were eager to celebrate together.

Liu Zhiye acted promptly and borrowed the broadcasting equipment and professionals from Beijing TV Station to broadcast the evening party live.

This might be the first time that Xiaguo held a live evening party, two years earlier than CCTV's first Spring Festival Gala.

After receiving the news, the military and civilians in the Yanjing area were very happy.

Not only the people of Liujiazhuang were looking forward to this party, but the garrison officers and soldiers were also looking forward to it.

Wang Sicheng stood on the playground, the sun was glaring and sweat was dripping down his cheeks.

He was breathing heavily, and he had been holding the gun tightly in his hand for more than an hour.

"Wang Xiaojun, focus!" The squad leader's voice echoed in his ears like a bell.

Wang Xiaojun immediately put away his thoughts and refocused his attention on the training at hand.

He thought of his mother at home, a rural woman in her fifties who had been working in the fields since he could remember, using her rough hands to support his studies.

Now he is training in the army, thousands of miles away from home, but his heart is always missing the land and his mother's figure.

After the training, Wang Xiaojun sat together with his comrades, and they rested and chatted.

The Spring Festival is just a few days away, and the camp in Liujiazhuang is beginning to be filled with a festive atmosphere. Even the usually serious squad leader shows a rare relaxed smile.

"What do you think will be the program of this military-civilian party?" a comrade named Chen Jian asked excitedly.

"Who cares? As long as there are lively shows, it'd be great if it has some hometown flavor." Wang Xiaojun wiped the sweat off his forehead, feeling a little sad.

At this time of year in previous years, he should be at home helping his mother prepare New Year's goods, but now he can only celebrate here with a group of strangers.

"My mother makes a dish of braised pork elbow every year, and it tastes so delicious! But I can't eat it this year." Li Yong sighed, with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

Hearing this, Wang Xiaojun couldn't help but ask, "You miss home too, right?"

Li Yong nodded and said with a wry smile: "That's right, my family is also from the countryside, and life is very tight. My father is in poor health, and my family depends on my mother to support us. I joined the army this time to make life better for my family."

"We are really the same." Wang Xiaojun sighed and patted Li Yong on the shoulder. "Don't think too much. All we can do now is to train well and bring honor to our family in the future."

"That's right." Li Yong's eyes flashed with determination, "No matter what, I have to hold on."

The conversation between the two gradually fell silent, leaving only the noise coming from the distance in the camp.

Although their hearts are filled with longing for home, they understand that they have a greater responsibility in this land.

On the eve of the Spring Festival, the entire army was preparing for the Spring Festival Gala.

Everyone is looking for a taste of hometown in the midst of busyness.

Wang Xiaojun and his comrades decorated the barracks, pasted up bright red Spring Festival couplets and hung up lanterns.

Everyone was talking and laughing, and seemed to be trying to temporarily forget their longing for home with these lively decorations.

"Hey, Wang Xiaojun, what does your family eat during the New Year?" a comrade suddenly asked.

Wang Xiaojun was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "My family is poor, and it's good enough to have a meal of white flour steamed buns during the Chinese New Year. My mother always said that when I join the army, our family's life will get better."

Hearing this, Li Yong beside him patted him on the back and said, "When life gets better in the future, let's go home together and spend more time with our mother."

Wang Xiaojun smiled, his eyes moistened. He looked out the window at the setting sun and vowed silently in his heart: I must make a name for myself in the army and make my mother proud of me.

On the evening of the 29th, the atmosphere in the Second Guard Division was particularly warm.

The laughter and chatting of comrades could be heard in every barracks.

Wang Xiaojun and his comrades crowded in front of the TV early, waiting for the Spring Festival Gala to begin.

Although he couldn't go home, being able to watch the Spring Festival Gala with everyone made him feel a lot warmer.

"Finally, I can watch the gala!" Chen Jian said excitedly, "I heard that the program this time is very exciting, and there are many big names in the art world!"

"When will we, the soldiers, be able to meet the big names?" another comrade joked with a smile.

At seven o'clock in the evening, the party officially kicked off.

Before the opening ceremony, Liu Zhiye and other military district leaders, Yanjing city leaders, the Development Zone Management Committee, and the principals of various schools in the district took turns to give speeches. This unique Spring Festival military and civilian New Year's Eve party lasted all night.

Yi Yuanchao and his entourage performed solos "Selling Tangyuan", "Grandma's Penghu Bay", and their own works "The Victory Song of National Defense Construction" and "Praise for the New Style".

There were also several new recruits from Northeast China born in the 80s who performed the Errenzhuan "The Young Couple Returning Home".

The lyrics "It's the first month of the year, the third and fourth days of the first month" depict the joyous atmosphere in rural Northeast China.

A soldier from Northern Mongolia performed a solo erhu piece titled "Horse Racing". The ups and downs and wonderful melody were heart-stirring.

Teachers and students from various schools also performed popular songs such as "Four Crossings of the Chishui River" and "Ode to the Yellow River" chorus, showing the youthful spirit of young students in the 1980s.

Two masters, Hou and Ma, from the Yanjing literary and artistic circles, were also invited to perform the crosstalk "Guan Gong vs. Qin Qiong" on stage.
"Speaking of Master Guan going out to fight, with a red face and long beard, a green dragon crescent blade, and a red rabbit horse under his crotch... Who is coming?
Qin Qiong on this side rode his yellow-fat horse forward, ding ding ding ding bang bang bang... a fierce fight..."

These two are truly the Dawaner of the literary and art world, causing laughter to the audience at the scene and in front of the TV.

Speaking of Teacher Hou's segment "Guan Gong vs. Qin Qiong", the object of ridicule was Han Fuqiu's father.

One day, on his birthday, his son invited a troupe of actors to come to their home to perform.

The song was "A Thousand Miles Alone" and it was so good that everyone cheered continuously, but the old man just looked stupid and didn't react at all.

Finally, he asked, "Who is that red-faced guy?" Someone said, "That's Guan Yu!"

The old man said, "What's so great about that? Is he better than our Dongshan hero Qin Qiong? Let him compete with Qin Qiong."

Everyone fell to their knees and said, "Old man, this is incomparable!"

The old man was unhappy and said angrily: "Why can't we compare? Let's starve him for three days and see if he can compete!"

After the performances of the two masters Hou Ma, the next person to come on stage was Mr. Li Wanchun, a master of Peking Opera martial arts who is known as the "Northern Monkey King".

Teacher Li is known as the "Living Guan Gong", "Living Wu Song" and "Living Monkey King". He performed his signature monkey show "The Brain Palace" on stage.

Looking at the person in front of him, Liu Zhiye suddenly thought of the TV series "Journey to the West" which will be filmed by CCTV next year.

It can be said that "Journey to the West" will always retain a corner in everyone's deepest childhood memories.

A childhood without "Journey to the West" is incomplete.

Whenever the classic song "Wait wait wait wait..." sounds during the summer vacation, the children become extremely excited.

Liu Zhiye remembered that the previous life's "Journey to the West" was actually directed by Yang Jie and started filming in 1982. It was not completed until 1988. It took more than six years to shoot and it was really a bumpy journey.

During the six years, the crew faced many difficulties and challenges, such as tight funding, simple equipment, and difficult shooting conditions.

The entire crew had only one camera, which prevented them from shooting from multiple angles at the same time, so the efficiency was very low...and yet they only shot 25 episodes.

Although Director Yang later reshot a sequel, it no longer had the flavor of the 86 version.

Liu Zhiye had always had this regret in his previous life. He touched his chin and said, "Well, if the crew of Journey to the West encounters the same difficulties as in the early stage, it might not be a bad idea to help her..."

The evening party was coming to an end and the person who came on stage was an acquaintance of Liu Zhiye, Zhou Weijun, who had just graduated from the graduate school of the People's Public Security University.

He is Zhou Weiguo's younger brother. This time, he also represented the Yanjing police officers on stage and sang a classic old song by Liu Zhiye, "Young Man's Ambition Does Not Worry".

"Several storms, several springs and autumns, wind, frost, snow, rain and rapids.

Despite all the hardships, he remains loyal and young man with great ambitions, never complaining.

Through many storms, many springs and autumns, and through wind, frost, snow, rain and rapids.

Despite all the hardships, he remains loyal and young man with great ambitions, never complaining.

The golden shield is forged with blood
In times of crisis, one must show his abilities..."

A familiar melody suddenly sounded, and no one noticed that Liu Zhiye was singing softly.

As he listened to the song, Liu Zhiye’s thoughts drifted back to the time when he had just changed his career.

At that time, he had just joined the Security Department of the Red Star Factory, and then he encountered a major case...

Time flies, and many years have passed. Some comrades have sacrificed their lives, some have retired to the second line with gray hair, and some have transferred to other fields, but their lofty ambitions have never changed.

When the chorus of the military art troupe sang, "Sending off comrades to the front, silently with tears in our eyes,

The sound of camel bells rang in my ears, and the road was long and foggy..." When the sound came, Liu Zhiye's eyes were already wet.

Sitting in front of the TV, Wang Xiaojun smiled but said nothing, but his heart had already drifted back home. He imagined whether his mother was also sitting in front of the TV, watching the same program.

As he thought about it, a strong sense of homesickness surged in his heart.

As time went by, the Spring Festival Gala finally kicked off.

Cheerful songs and lively dances filled the entire barracks, with comrades clapping and laughing from time to time.

However, when a song about his mother sounded, Wang Sicheng's heartstrings were deeply touched.

"Mother, oh mother, you are my eternal concern..." The song echoed in the room and touched Wang Xiaojun's heart.

The image of his mother bending over to work, her rough hands, and her wrinkled face appeared before his eyes.

Tears unknowingly filled his eyes and he quickly lowered his head, not wanting his comrades to see his vulnerable side.

Li Yong next to him seemed to be touched by the song as well. He remained silent, his eyes revealing deep longing and worry.

Just as the song ended, Li Yong suddenly turned pale, his body went limp, and he fell straight to the ground.

"Li Yong!" Wang Xiaojun was shocked and hurried to support him, "Li Yong, what's wrong with you?!"

The comrades gathered around at once, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Everyone worked together to lift Wang Yong to the bed, and someone immediately ran to call a doctor.

Wang Xiaojun held Li Yong's hand, his heart filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

"Doctor! Doctor, come quickly!" Chen Jian shouted outside the door, his voice full of anxiety.

Not long after, the military doctor rushed over and began to examine Li Yong.

Wang Xiaojun stood aside, clenching his fists, and silently chanted in his heart: "Please don't let anything happen, please don't let anything happen..."

"He just fainted due to overwork and emotional fluctuations."

The military doctor breathed a sigh of relief and explained, "It's nothing serious. You'll be fine after a rest."

After hearing this, Wang Xiaojun felt relieved, but he still felt a little uneasy.

After the doctor left, Wang Sicheng had no interest in watching the party and just stayed by Li Yong's bed, looking at his pale face with mixed feelings.

"Sicheng..." Li Yong slowly opened his eyes, his voice weak.

"You scared me to death!" Wang Xiaojun approached quickly, "Why did you faint suddenly? Is there something you didn't tell us?"

Li Yong smiled bitterly and sighed, "Ah, it's nothing, it's just that the family...the situation at home is not very good."

Wang Xiaojun frowned, "What happened at home?"

Li Yong closed his eyes, his voice choking, "My mother is in poor health, and our family doesn't have much money, so the monthly medicine costs one or two hundred yuan.

I joined the army hoping to reduce the burden on my family, but... every time I think of home, I feel particularly sad. "

Hearing this, Wang Xiaojun's heart ached.

These days, one or two hundred is an astronomical figure. The combined income of their family is not that much, not to mention that Li Yong is from the countryside.

He patted Li Yong on the shoulder, trying to comfort him: "Brother, don't think too much, your health is the most important. Let's hold on together, and things will definitely get better in the future."

The next morning, the sun shone on the training ground outside the barracks, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth.

Wang Xiaojun and Li Yong stood on the playground and started their day's training.

The paleness on Li Yong's face had faded, replaced by a determined look.

"How do you feel? Can you still hold on?" Wang Xiaojun asked with concern.

Li Yong waved his fist vigorously and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I'm fine. This little training is nothing. After we get through this period, I will make sure our family lives a good life."

(End of this chapter)