Chapter 153 Joining the Army
After the annual full-moon celebration, Gu Yanxiao returned to her work in the military.
That day, when he returned home and took Niannian from Su Xiangwan's hands, he heard Su Xiangwan say, "We received a call from Bakushu Village today. Dad answered it. It seems like something's wrong. Why don't you go ask Dad?"
"The phone number for Bakeshu Village?" Upon hearing this, Gu Yanxiao's heart skipped a beat. If it was a matter concerning the school, then Secretary Tong should be looking for Su Xiangwan.
Could it be that she came to see her father because of the educated youth work?
Thinking it over, he gestured to Su Xiangwan not to worry, and then, carrying the child, he wandered over to find Gu's father, who was tending to the flowers and plants in the yard.
"Dad, is something wrong in Bakushu Village?"
Mr. Gu was fiddling with a flowerpot.
Seeing Niannian arrive, she quickly put down her scissors, washed her hands, and took her grandson with great affection before saying, "It was Secretary Tong who called. He asked me if I still planned to go back to Bakushu Village."
"So, Dad, what are your thoughts?"
Gu Yanxiao quickly asked, then added, "Dad, Mom, the matter with the tail-cutting association has been resolved, so you don't need to go to the countryside anymore."
Upon hearing this, Gu's father glared at him irritably and said, "You already know that the matter has been resolved. Your mother and I are not the kind of people who would deliberately seek out hardship. Why would we insist on going to the countryside to suffer?"
Besides, he has a grandson now. Instead of staying here to help take care of his grandson, he went to the countryside to do farm work. Isn't that a sign of a madman?
Gu Yanxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, he was really worried that his parents would be so stubborn as to insist on going to Bakushu Village.
After all, they are getting old and have gone so far away. If something happens, they won't be able to be by their side, so how can they possibly feel at ease?
"However, Secretary Tong's call wasn't solely to inquire about this matter."
Holding Niannian in his arms, Gu's father was in a great mood when he saw Niannian looking at him with wide eyes and curiosity. Although he was speaking to Gu Yanxiao, his gaze never left his beloved grandson.
Seeing that his father was only focused on playing with his grandson and had even forgotten to answer his question, Gu Yanxiao could only helplessly ask, "What did Secretary Tong call about?"
Gu's father then came to his senses and said, "Oh, he wanted to ask you about Tong Aiguo's joining the army."
"Does Tong Aiguo want to join the army?" Gu Yanxiao was quite curious when he heard this.
As far as he knew, Secretary Tong was determined to groom Tong Aiguo as his successor!
You should know that Secretary Tong only has this one precious son, whom he cherishes more than his own eyes.
Why did you suddenly decide to let him join the army?
"I don't know the specifics either. Why don't you call and ask them yourself?"
Mr. Gu was so engrossed in playing with his precious grandson that he was impatient to continue answering Gu Yanxiao's questions. He simply waved his hand, signaling him to stop bothering him.
Feeling rejected, Gu Yanxiao could only touch his nose, turn around and go back to the hall, where he dialed the phone number of the Bakushu Village Committee.
Unsurprisingly, it was Secretary Tong who answered the phone. Upon hearing that the caller was Gu Yanxiao, he was overjoyed.
“Nephew Yan Xiao, I really have no other choice. Aiguo said he doesn’t want to be trapped in this small village of Bakushu for the rest of his life and wants to go out and see the world.”
"But he only has a junior high school education, and we don't know anyone outside. After thinking it over, the only thing we can do is contact you."
"If we could send him to the military, that would be the best, but if he finds it inconvenient, then forget it."
In the past, Tong Liqun would have been more than happy for Tong Aiguo to stay obediently in Bakushu Village and wait to take over his position.
After all, for more than 20 years, as the Party Secretary of Bakushu Village, he was no different from a local tyrant.
They were living an incredibly comfortable life.
But times have changed. Tong Liqun knows very well that his son has lofty ideals. If he were to confine him to Bakushu Village for his own selfish reasons, he would be harming him.
So, after hearing Tong Aiguo say that he wanted to join the army, he shamelessly came to the Gu family to beg for help.
After hearing Tong Liqun's words, Gu Yanxiao was not unhappy at all; in fact, she was very happy.
After all, back in Bakeshu Village, Tong Aiguo, the village secretary's son, was practically his shadow, following him wherever he was told.
During their time together, he discovered that Tong Aiguo's physical qualities and character were particularly suited to the military.
Gu Yanxiao greatly admired his younger brother Tong Aiguo, but he thought that given Tong Liqun's affection for him, he shouldn't be willing to send him to the army.
I never expected that he would bring this up on his own initiative.
"Uncle Tong, is this desire to join the army a patriotic idea, or just your own?"
Despite his joy, Gu Yanxiao still wanted to know whose idea it was to join the army.
"It's a patriotic idea. After hearing Director Wu talk about life in the army a few times, he was full of expectations for joining the army. So when he heard Director Wu say that you have returned to the army, he begged me to call your home to ask about it."
Tong Liqun spoke while puffing on his old pipe.
To be honest, he was very conflicted about sending his son to the army.
Once he leaves, it won't be easy for him to see his son again, especially since it's so far to the capital, and the journey alone will take a long time.
This elderly couple had never even been to the city, let alone to such a far place as the capital; they wouldn't even dare to dream of it.
"Uncle Tong, here's what we'll do: if Aiguo has made up his mind, have him give me a call later, and I'll talk to him."
Gu Yanxiao said.
"No need, he's already here."
Tong Liqun looked at Tong Aiguo, who was covered in sweat, and sighed helplessly. Obviously, Tong Aiguo knew that he was talking to Gu Yanxiao on the phone and had come here on purpose.
Tong Aiguo answered the phone and excitedly exclaimed, "Brother Gu!"
"Aiguo, are you really going to join the army? I have to tell you in advance that being a soldier is very tough."
Although Tong Aiguo was a farmer's child from Bakushu Village, it was easy to imagine that with the village secretary as his father, he wouldn't have to suffer much.
"Brother Gu, don't worry! I can endure hardship, and I definitely won't let you down!"
Tong Aiguo quickly assured him.
"Alright, in that case, just get ready and come to Beijing to find me! As for the train tickets to Beijing, I've already arranged them, I'll let you know."
Gu Yanxiao smiled and said that he would definitely put Tong Aiguo, whom he admired, under his command!
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