Li Long liked listening to Northern Xinjiang's Xinwen Lianbo when he tuned in to the news, because the China Central Television version felt too far removed from his life, while he often couldn't pick up Ma County's broadcasts and could only watch them on television-which wasn't available yet in this era.
Northern Xinjiang's Xinwen Lianbo covered events in Southern and Northern Xinjiang. The cities were familiar, and he could relate to the stories. There was also a special program, New Guang Conduct and Public Opinion Line, which could solve many ordinary people's problems, so he particularly liked it.
In the eighties and nineties, apart from children's programs on weekends, there were no daytime television programs, so listening to the radio was the only option.
And when he listened to Northern Xinjiang's Xinwen Lianbo, he inevitably heard the names of its successive leaders. For a time, Li Long had memorized those names and could reel them all off.
The man before him was one whose name he hadn't heard often, but who had left a very deep impression on his memory. He had fought in wars, enjoyed great prestige in Northern Xinjiang, and had been among the first generals appointed after the founding of the country before moving into regional leadership. His reputation was formidable.
With all that behind him, the leader struck Li Long at first glance as having an air of authority even without showing anger.
But when the leader saw him and beckoned with a smile, Li Long felt he looked like a kindly little old man instead-he was indeed very old.
"Comrade Li Long, correct?" The leader sat there and smiled. "Come, sit down. Actually, I wanted to talk to you the last time we met. You work on ethnic unity, so we do have some common