'It was the capital in late autumn, pleasant weather. All the broad-leaved trees, having lost their leaves, bared their sparse twigs. But the pines and cypresses in the parks and next to the high-rises seemed even more luxuriant than usual. The Fragrant Hills in the far distance seemed to be covered with white gauze, under which their reddish winding contours loomed elegantly. The red colour must have come from thousands of fiery maple trees!
At the time of dusk, the setting sun was resting over the distant Fragrant Hills, gilding the lofty and majestic Qianmen tower with a remarkable golden radiance. The sky was now filled with thick sunset clouds. Crimson, dark purple, they looked like brilliant multi-coloured blossoms and ribbons[…]
Beneath the front-gate tower, all sorts of cars shuttled about in an endless torrent, crowds of people formed another turbulent stream with their clamour and laughter. These scenes were interwoven into a lively collage.
Might as well begin the story I want to tell from here! One day at dusk in the autumn of 1959, a streamlined car of the 'Rhine' brand drove across the crowded Qianmen Avenue, its dark blue shadow unobtrusively and smoothly turned into one of the small streets and pulled over in the vicinity of a small hutong.
After the back door of the car was opened, a tall haggard man in woollen military coat got off the car. He looked around him, sighed deeply and wiped his silver hair. In the dim light of the street lamps, we can see his glistening colonel’s epaulette and a red cross badge.'
'深秋的首都，天气宜人，阔叶树都落了叶，露出疏稀的枝桠。公园和高楼大厦旁的松柏，却分外显得苍苍郁郁，遥望香山，像蒙着洁白的沙幕，绰约地显出浅红色的蜿蜒起伏的身影，那该是千棵珠红的像火喷发的枫树吧！
黄昏时节，夕阳远卧在香山，给巍峨的雄伟的前门城楼镀上一层耀眼的金辉，满天是浓郁的绛红色、酱紫色的晚霞，一朵朵一缕缕地像姹紫嫣红的花朵和飘带……
前门城楼下，各种各样的小汽车川流不息，人群像激水一样喧哗欢笑，交织成一幅繁华热烈的画面。
我要讲的小故事就从这里开始吧！这是一九五九年深秋黄昏的时节，一辆流线型“莱茵河”牌小汽车在车水马龙的前门大街驶过，它深兰色的身影，悄悄地缓慢地转进一条小街，在一条小胡同附进停下。
轿车后门打开后，一位穿呢质军大衣的高个子消瘦的身材的男子站了出来，他朝四周望了一眼，深深地吸了一口气，拂了拂银白色的头发，我们在微弱的街灯下可以看见他的闪闪发光的上校、肩章和红十字的领章。'