Chapter 28 Chapter One

I can still clearly remember the date of that day: December 4, 1965.Because a few days ago, "People's Daily" reprinted Yao Wenyuan's article on "Wen Wei Po" titled "Comment on the New Historical Drama "Hai Rui Dismissed from Office"".This article not only caused heated discussions in the Chinese Department, but also elicited two opposing viewpoints within our History Department. Debates happen all the time, and even the corridors of the teaching and research rooms are full of loudly arguing teachers. Difficulty concentrating on correcting homework.

Just after the second class in the afternoon that day, I went back to the teaching and research room to pack my things and prepare to go back to the dormitory.As soon as I walked out of the door of the main building and before I unlocked the bicycle, a student ran out and stopped me, saying that the head of the department was looking for me everywhere, and he seemed quite anxious.I still had a headache for Lao Yan, who was the head of the history department at the time. Many of our views were not compatible, but he still had a good eye for me, and he always liked to ask me to go to his office to make hot tea and show off.Since I was stopped by the students, I had no choice but to pick up the key, return to the department with my briefcase in my pocket, and knocked on the door of the easternmost director's office on the second floor.This meeting, which I thought was just another non-speculative conversation, turned out to overturn my entire outlook on life in the end, so that I could not get out of the shadow left by this day in the following decades.

Lao Yan opened the door and let me in with a smile.When I saw it, I felt that the atmosphere was not right, and there were guests in the room.Sister Xiao in the office was carrying a thermos pot to pour tea for the guests, and the green tea fragrance was rising from the white porcelain cup.Two strange comrades sat and stood one by one.Standing was a young man, wearing a brand-new military uniform without military rank, looking a bit restrained, he touched the handle of the teacup and quickly moved it away, looking embarrassed to drink it; sitting was a cadre in his thirties and forties, He has dark skin, wearing a gray cadre uniform that is tightly buttoned, and his hair is combed meticulously. It is not known which agency it is from.

"This is Comrade Zhao... and Xiao Li is standing behind him. This is Mr. Zhang, a lecturer majoring in modern Chinese history in our Department of History. He has a lot of research on the history of the Sino-Japanese War, and he should be able to cooperate with you. work." Lao Yan introduced enthusiastically. I walked over inexplicably, stretched out my right hand and shook hands with the standing cadre. "Hello, Teacher Zhang, my surname is Zhao." There was no trace of a smile on this man's dark face, and there was no unit or identity title in the introduction. We sat down on the sofa separately.Sister Xiao made Longjing tea for me and went out with a thermos.I looked at Lao Yan strangely, and saw that he was folding a letter of introduction with a red stamp in half, stuffing it into an envelope, and carefully pressing it under the glass of the desk.

"Mr. Zhang, this visit to Normal University to ask for your assistance cannot be said to be a political mission, but it is indeed related to a major event related to the socialist revolution and socialist construction. We urgently need someone who is familiar with the history of the Japanese invasion of China in modern times." More people participated in the work. Director Yan introduced you to affirm your ability and political level, and your position and awareness to contribute to the motherland and the people." Looking at me, I feel a little hairy. "I'm just a small lecturer. I don't have any abilities, but I'd be happy to help if I can." I followed his words and my eyes drifted to Lao Yan again, beckoning him to explain the cause and effect clearly.

Old Yan took out a tin can of Double Happiness cigarettes from the drawer, took out the cigarettes and handed them out to everyone: "Smoke and smoke. Comrade Zhao came from Changping and ran all afternoon on the road. Xiao Zhang, I have already I have issued a leave note for you. After dinner, you will go to Changping with Comrade Zhao on business. It doesn’t matter if you come back in two or three days. I will let someone else take your class first, and the salary will be paid as usual. A daily food allowance of one yuan and fifty cents, what do you say?" I took the cigarette in a daze, took out a match from my pocket and lit it: "I can eat enough for myself and the whole family is not hungry. It's fine to go on a business trip, but what are you going to do? Is it the restorative reconstruction of the anti-Japanese relics? What should I say?" It's not my turn to appear on the scene..."

Comrade Xiao Li who was standing next to him blushed and took a cigarette, lit it with the match in Lao Yan's hand, took a puff, and coughed twice while covering his mouth.The cadre surnamed Zhao gently pushed Lao Yan's hand, took out an aluminum-foil-wrapped cigarette case from his jacket pocket, poured out a cigarette with a filter tip, and held it in his mouth: "The level of confidentiality in this matter is relatively high." Gao, we can't say more, if you agree, please sign this non-disclosure agreement, and you will understand when you get there." He didn't rush to light the cigarette, he took out a stack of papers from the leatherette satchel beside him and spread them on the coffee table On the table, I took out another pen, took off the cap and handed it to me.

I quickly glanced at the densely packed small characters on the paper, but I didn't understand much, and saw "Level: Top Secret" written in the top frame, and the official seal at the end was "Pre-trial Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security".I have never heard of this unit, so I couldn't help but raise my head and look at the cadres opposite me again.The one surnamed Zhao seemed to be used to other people staring at him, his eyes were numb, and he didn't respond at all. "It's a good thing, Xiao Zhang." Lao Yan leaned on his desk and blew smoke rings, "It's a good thing."

Under the circumstances at that time, I couldn't help but grab a pen and sign my name at the end of the non-disclosure agreement.At that time, I thought simply, whether it was a hard job or a beautiful job, it was better to go out to relax than to stay in the department and listen to other people's quarrels. Besides, I just went to Changping, and I only made round trips in a day. "Thank you, Teacher Zhang." The cadre surnamed Zhao put away the agreement and pen, stood up and shook hands with me again.I also hurriedly stood up and took his hand, thinking that this officer Zhao looks cold, but he is quite enthusiastic.Unexpectedly, he turned to Director Yan and said, "Then we are leaving now, let's settle the dinner over there, before it gets dark, there is still a section of mountain road to climb."

"Let's go after eating, there are hot meals ready-made in the cafeteria." Lao Yan even took out the meal ticket from the drawer, and looked at the other party pitifully after hearing this. Officer Zhao rebuffed ungratefully: "Next time, next time. Teacher Zhang, you don't need to pack any luggage. If everything goes well, I can send you back tomorrow. Let's set off right away, no problem?" "No, no problem." At that time, I had one thought in my mind: don't allow slippers to be changed where I'm going. My two socks have big holes in the heels. I'm not afraid of taking off my shoes.