pjbooks Chapter 1: Time Travel
Chapter 1: Time Travel
1957, spring.
The logistics and health clinic of the Baoji-Chengdu Railway Engineering Section.
The sun hung listlessly in the sky, just like Tang Zhenghong in the clinic ward.
Outside was an indestructible and unbreakable steel transport line, an iron army that carved roads through mountains and built bridges over rivers, with no obstacle in its path.
Slogans echoed outside the window. Tang Zhenghong shifted uncomfortably, looked at his body covered in wounds, and sighed. He still had some doubts about life.
People come and go in this world every day; there's nothing strange about it.
Tang Zhenghong was puzzled. He had only fainted from a high fever, but when he opened his eyes, he found himself transported to the 1950s and had become a seriously injured railway soldier.
After sorting through the original owner's memories, Tang Zhenghong exclaimed that this body could be described as a naturally enduring, holy body.
As a child, he was sent to the city by his biological father to be adopted by Old Master Tang as a way of repaying a debt of gratitude. Fortunately, the two families share the same surname, and the character "Tang" cannot be written with the same stroke. They were also one family hundreds of years ago.
In the old days, Grandpa Tang was a laborer who did hard labor. In the new era, in order to support his two children, he saved up money and bought a flatbed tricycle to become a driver.
They raised and educated Tang Zhenghong like their own grandson. The original owner was also very promising, sensible and obedient from a young age, and had excellent grades. The grandfather and grandson lived a pretty happy life.
Unfortunately, fate loves to torment people, and an accident still occurred. When Tang Zhenghong graduated from junior high school, the old man collapsed on the roadside due to an accident and passed away suddenly.
After breaking the basin for the old man, Tang Zhenghong lost interest in school and became a proud railway soldier.
"What's wrong with you looking so worried? Don't worry, I've asked around. Although you have many fractures and injuries all over your body, you're in good physical condition. I guarantee you'll be lively and energetic again after three months of rest."
The platoon leader, a native of Tianjin, entered the ward. He spoke in a way that sounded like singing.
Tang Zhenghong was trapped under rocks in a landslide while rescuing his comrades, suffering multiple fractures throughout his body, the most serious being his right leg, which had the largest fracture area.
"Platoon leader, what brings you here?"
The platoon leader's face betrayed no emotion; after a long pause, he replied, "Help me tidy up and find you a different place."
Tang Zhenghong could only barely move his upper body. Hearing the platoon leader's words, he asked with some confusion, "Platoon leader, what's going on?"
"You've been demobilized. I've inquired and your new workplace has already made arrangements for you with the local authorities. It seems to be related to our current railway system. You're more fortunate than Xiao Sichuan and the others. You'll be making contributions just as well back in your hometown. Don't let your mind be burdened."
Tang Zhenghong joined the army in 1953. People like him who enlisted from January 1950 to December 1954 and were assigned to return to their hometowns were called demobilized soldiers.
Soldiers who were discharged from the military after the Military Service Law was promulgated in March 1955 were called "retired soldiers," and cadres were called "transferred civilians."
As for why Tang Zhenghong didn't return to the city, even though his work unit had already contacted him, it can only be said that it was related to the comrades he rescued.
Xiao Sichuan was a railway soldier who was only two years older than Tang Zhenghong. He was buried in the mountains along the Baoji-Chengdu Railway.
After the project was completed in July, the troops returned to their starting point, Yongcheng, and after a period of rest, they moved on to the next location.
In the following years, some comrades-in-arms went to Daqing, and some of them became one of the million in the 1980s.
"Platoon leader, my injuries aren't serious, I want to stay..."
Memories flooded back instantly; many familiar faces were buried here. Tang Zhenghong couldn't help but tear up.
"Follow orders from above! By the way, you wounded soldiers are to be sent to Chang'an for rehabilitation treatment."
After saying that, the platoon leader silently hugged Tang Zhenghong, then shouted outside, "What are you all dawdling around outside for?"
"Platoon leader, we were just worried you'd be upset, so we're giving you and Zheng Hong a chance to be alone."
Leading the group was the deputy platoon leader, a veteran who didn't even know where his hometown was. He was used to all kinds of partings, so he tried his best to liven up the atmosphere.
Only the Railway Corps had deputy platoon leaders in all the military units. They were not officers and, like Tang Zhenghong, received only a few yuan in allowance each month.
"Zhenghong, go back and get married and have a baby soon. Remember to let us know when you have the baby."
"We also need to teach the kids to read and write, go to school, learn knowledge to contribute, and build those machines so that we will never have to build railways with piles of people again."
"That makes sense, Zhenghong. Having more children will provide talent for building cannons and airplanes."
……
When Tang Zhenghong returned to Beijing, it was already the height of summer.
He first went to complete the demobilization procedures and obtained a letter of introduction.
The resettlement unit was the Public Security Department of the 49th Railway Bureau of the 10th Bureau.
Tang Zhenghong knew about this Tenth Bureau, officially known as the Traffic Security Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security. It was established in 1953, and the Ministry of Railways Public Security Bureau was merged into the Tenth Bureau the following autumn. It was responsible for the safety of railway passenger transport and postal transport nationwide, and implemented an organizational structure of eight departments and three offices.
"What a great company!"
When Tang Zhenghong arrived at Nanluoguxiang following his memory, he saw Yan Bugui, wearing glasses and wearing a limp, guarding the gate from afar. A sense of familiarity welled up in his heart, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
The courtyard is truly filled with warmth and affection!
As the security guard stationed at the gate of courtyard house No. 95, Yan Bugui had developed a keen eye and noticed Tang Zhenghong as he turned into the courtyard with his bag.
He just didn't recognize him. Tang Zhenghong has grown taller and more mature now, so he couldn't make the connection at all.
They assumed it was someone visiting relatives, wondering whose relatives they were, since they hadn't heard of anyone in the compound having relatives in the military.
"Hey, Teacher Yan, thank goodness you were standing at the door, otherwise I really wouldn't have been sure this was our courtyard. The changes are too great."
Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, sized up Tang Zhenghong for a while, then slapped his thigh and walked forward with a 'surprise'.
"Hey, who do we have here? Isn't this Zhenghong? You're back? How are you feeling? Last time the neighborhood committee came to the compound to publicize your heroic act of saving someone, we heard you were injured, and everyone was quite worried about you."
Although they were just empty polite words, they still carried the warmth of a kind word in the depths of winter.
Tang Zhenghong offered him a cigarette, wanting to inquire about the situation in the hospital.
"Thank you for your concern. I'm feeling much better now. How have you been these past few years? How have the others in the hospital been doing?"
"Me? I'll just make do. Nothing much has changed in the yard. You already know that Shazhu's dad ran away, so I won't go into details. Also, Da Mao's parents moved away. Everyone else is the same, except that two new neighbors have moved in. I'll introduce you to them later. One is the cook surnamed Nan, and the other is Widow Liang, who has several children. They both live in our front yard."
Grandpa Tang saved up most of his life's money and bought a three-room house (two large and one small) in the front yard from the neighborhood committee. The small courtyard on the west side was just past the moon gate.
Tang Zhenghong was a little puzzled. Why were there also Nan Yi and Liang Ladi?
If Liu Hongchang and Lang Degui were also included, the Four Holy Fathers could be complete.
Tang Zhenghong was a poor soldier, receiving only a few yuan in allowances a month. Even Yan Bugui didn't intend to take advantage of him; he had his pride too, so he only exchanged a few pleasantries.
"Teacher Yan, I'm going to the neighborhood office to get the keys. If you're not going out, can I leave the package with you?"
"You don't have anything valuable, do you? Why don't you leave it at our house?"
"No, just a few clothes and bedding."
Tang Zhenghong threw down his package, slung the yellow cloth bag belonging to the railway soldiers over his shoulder, and went to the street office.
At this moment, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong, who was holding an enamel mug, went together to play chess with Yan Bugui.
"Old Yan, who were you talking to just now? Whose things are these? We can't let people with unknown identities into our compound."
Liu Haizhong, with his protruding belly, spoke in an affected tone.
He felt a sense of superiority in the compound. Although he was overshadowed by Yi Zhonghai in both the factory and the compound, Yi Zhonghai had no children, while his son Guangqi was about to graduate from vocational school and become a cadre.
Therefore, Liu Haizhong began practicing imitating the way leaders speak in advance.
Yi Zhonghai stared thoughtfully at the package: "Old Yan, if I'm not mistaken, Zheng Hong should be back, right? How's his recovery going? Has the kid been left with any lingering health problems?"
It means asking if the legs and feet are normal, and if there is any disability.
"Hey, Lao Yi, you're still a big shot, no doubt about it. You're as healthy and energetic as ever, without a single ailment. You have to admit, young people have a really good constitution."
"Hmph, what's so hard to guess? Just look at this package."
Liu Haizhong was indignant to see Yan Bugui fawning over Yi Zhonghai, completely forgetting his initial skepticism.
Yi Zhonghai looked down on Liu Haizhong, a good-for-nothing, and asked calmly, "That's good. You're not leaving again this time, are you? I wonder if you've been promoted?"
"How could that be? He's not going to the combat ranks, he's just a railway soldier doing hard labor. If anyone should be a cadre, it should be our Guangqi first."
"I didn't ask that. Old Liu is right. It's hard for railway soldiers to get promoted unless they are professional and technical personnel. I don't think they are demobilized."
For some reason, Yi Zhonghai felt a sense of relief: "Alright, Zheng Hong is a child we've watched grow up. With Grandpa Tang gone, Old Yan, you're in charge of the front yard, so take better care of things. Come on, let's play chess."
Yi Zhonghai's mind was entirely on Jia Dongxu at the moment. He didn't even think much of Sha Zhu, let alone Tang Zhenghong, who had relatives back home. So he just gave him a few perfunctory words of advice and that was it.