While the old soldier was chatting with Lao Wang who was lying in the coffin, Wu Jiangkai pulled Zhang Liwei aside and asked quietly: "What is the origin of this old leader?"
Zhang Liwei is thinking about the same question, because Dongquan County officials or celebrities outside are all included in the "Dongquan County Who's Who", and every year, a hometown gathering is held in the capital and Longzhong City.
But there was no historical data about this old soldier, and Zhang Liwei shook his head helplessly.
Wu Jiangkai was a little flustered for a moment, and his face was a little embarrassed, and he continued to ask: "Who informed him to come?"
Zhang Liwei still looked confused and a little guilty.
Unable to find any important clues, Wu Jiangkai was also blaming himself in his heart for neglecting to take care of Lao Wang and even less understanding of his relevant connections. Since the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee was also present, it is enough to illustrate the status of this veteran soldier.
It was so high that it would be terrible if they talked about Lao Wang's life story later. It was a cold day, and Wu Jiangkai was sweating on his forehead. He tried to stay calm and said: "You are no longer needed here, go to Dongquan quickly.
The hotel is preparing a luncheon, remember that the standards must be high. In addition, investigate the origin of the old leader as soon as possible, and go quickly!"
Because there were soldiers standing guard, Shen Tong could not get close to the mourning hall and could only watch from a distance. He saw Wu Jiangkai's panic expression and murmured with Zhang Liwei for a long time. He immediately thought that Secretary Wu must have the same questions as him.
Who is this old soldier?
He tried hard to recall every detail that Lao Wang had talked to him before his death, and thought of the old soldier's "old company commander" just now. Shen Tong seemed to have heard it before, but also seemed not to be familiar with it. After thinking about it again and again, he decided to make a decision.
Return to Lao Wang's residence and see if you can find any clues.
Back at Lao Wang's residence, staff from the County Civil Affairs Bureau and the History Office are sorting out the relics. The photos on the wall have been taken down, and the books in the cabinets have been carefully packed. Certain precious historical materials will even be handed over to the Archives Bureau or Cultural Relics Bureau.
When the staff saw Shen Tong, they immediately stopped what they were doing and respectfully called "Secretary Shen" as if they were seeing the secretary of the county party committee.
Shen Tong ignored the polite words at this moment and asked directly: "Have all the relics been sorted out?"
A staff member said: "It's basically almost over. The only drawers and cabinets under the desk are left unorganized. We can't open them without the key. We can only make a decision after asking the leader for instructions."
Shen Tong suddenly walked to the bed, lifted up a corner of the mattress, and found a key with a red string in a book. He quickly opened the drawer and found a yellowed notebook lying inside.
The staff was quite surprised when they saw Shen Tong's skillful actions. Shen Tong also realized his behavior and explained: "Don't worry, this is also the first time to open Mr. Wang's drawer. Mr. Wang told me before his death that the contents in the drawer
Everything must be handed over to the party in full. I have important things to do with this notebook now, so you can continue."
After finishing speaking, I didn't have time to check what other treasures were in the drawer. I took the notebook and walked to the county theater while flipping through the notebook.
This notebook should be said to be Lao Wang's memoirs. It was not written for a long time. He started writing it in 1979 and has been writing it intermittently for 20 years. The crooked handwriting in the notebook looks like it was written by a primary school student, which is difficult for this uneducated revolutionary soldier.
, but every stroke was done very hard, and it can be seen that he was recording the process of life with every stroke he wrote.
Finally, I found some clues in the memoirs, titled: "Written to the Old Company Commander." It's not long, the writing is colloquial, and even the sentences don't make sense, but the emotion is so deep that it makes people sigh.
"Xiao Fusheng, the commander of the security company, was the first boss I met when I went north with the People's Liberation Army. He was very nice and took good care of me as a southerner. He often helped me find ways to make chili peppers, so that I, a 'southern barbarian,' I can eat delicious food from home in a foreign land. Even on the Korean battlefield, he never forgot to leave a few jars of kimchi for me. Every time I think about this, I am very grateful to him."
"...During the Cultural Revolution, the old leader was imprisoned in a bullpen, and he was also persecuted. In order to save me, he cut off all contact with me. Almost 20 years have passed. Why hasn't he asked me to return to the army? Wang Dongzi always maintains a state of combat readiness, waiting for the call from the old company commander..."
"Hey, I don't know how he is now. Maybe he has forgotten me. Old company commander, I will always be your soldier..."
A few hundred words intermittently. If you have not experienced it together, it is impossible to guess what Lao Wang wants to express. Shen Tong is also confused. Judging from the different shades of handwriting in the sentence, Lao Wang wants to say a lot. Said, but did not express it. This diary does not seem to have much value.
When Shen Tong rushed back to the theater, he saw the Municipal Party Committee Secretary and Mayor Li Changkui returning, standing behind the Provincial Party Committee Secretary Qiao Renfu, listening to the old soldier continue to recall bits and pieces of the past.
At this time, light snow fell in the sky, and soon a heavy snowfall came randomly. Upon seeing this, Qiao Renfu, secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, signaled to the people around him that it was time to let the old soldier rest for a while. After the guards helped the old soldier away, under the supervision of the county magistrate Ding Qingxiang Under the command, Lao Wang's coffin set off for Fenglingkou Martyrs Cemetery. With the first snow in Dongquan County, a hero left us just like this.
Along the way, residents spontaneously took to the streets to see Lao Wang off. The 7-kilometer long street was crowded with people on both sides. Even when the coffin was transported out of the county, some residents still stood there and refused to disperse.
Shen Tong stood on tiptoes until the person seeing him off disappeared between heaven and earth, wiped away his tears, and secretly blessed: "Old Wang, have a good journey!"
The group returned to the Dongquan Hotel. The guards of the old soldier immediately stood guard at the door of the hotel. Except for the county party committee secretary and the county magistrate, no other people were allowed to enter. Shen Tong stood outside the hotel door and was in a hurry. There is no help, I can only pray for Secretary Wu's good luck.
The arrival of Li Changkui solved the mystery for Wu Jiangkai. It turned out that the old soldier in front of him did have a good background. He was once a personal guard of a certain national leader. After liberation, he served as a middle-level leader of the Central Guard Corps. Later, he was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. He was persecuted, and it is said that the treatment was very miserable. After the Cultural Revolution, the country brought order to the chaos and allowed him to resume his official position, but he refused and hid alone at home to enjoy himself.
Although he did not accept the power of the country, he was still equipped with a house, a vehicle, a secretary and a guard with the treatment of a lieutenant general, so that he could spend his later years in peace.
Long-term rheumatoid arthritis almost made him collapse in bed. Even though he was feeling better in the past few years, he suddenly heard the news that his soldier had died. He traveled thousands of miles from the capital to Dongquan County.