Chapter 256: “high Value”
Gu Mu knew some characters but not many, and she read it by guessing and fumbling, yet there was nothing awkward about it.
The members listened with fervor, their blood boiling.
So, their mushroom cultivation was such a great thing!
Pairs of eyes shone exceptionally bright, and everyone was so excited their faces flushed red.
They all puffed out their chests with pride.
“This newspaper, anyone can see it, right?” Old Woman Li grabbed Gu Mu’s arm and asked excitedly.
“…Right.” Gu Mu was uncertain, but facing those several pairs of eager eyes, she said confidently: “Definitely, I heard every factory subscribes to the newspaper, this is called learning the new policies or something…”
She couldn’t explain it clearly, mumbling vaguely.
The onlookers, however, thought Yuan Shan’s mother knew so much.
They looked at her with admiring incomprehension.
“Like that, huh.”
Someone then had a face full of joy, “So, everyone in the province knows about our Fengshou Brigade now?”
Hearing this, the others subconsciously straightened their patched jackets.
They subconsciously straightened their shoulders.
—Their brigade had become famous!!
“Yuan Shan’s mother, your third son’s wife is like this…” Old Woman Li gave a thumbs up, her eyes showing envy.
Gu Mu felt refreshed, and the frustration she’d felt from her was resolved at this moment.
At that moment, the broadcast came on.
It was a familiar voice.
Old Woman Li bumped her old sister’s shoulder, “Qingzhou’s voice? It’s his voice, right?”
Her tone was full of confusion, “Why did Qingzhou go to the broadcast room??”
Ever since Fengshou Brigade got electricity and spent a fortune installing speakers, announcements no longer required running around the village banging a gong to call everyone to the threshing ground.
Of course, for major events, they still had to go to the threshing ground to say it in person.
“…Hello, hello, can you hear me?” The broadcaster switched to the brigade leader, speaking in his thick local accent, “Next, our village’s Qingzhou, ah, the cultured man from the old Gu family, Gu Qingzhou, will read an article for everyone.”
“This article is very special, very special.”
“Why is it special? Because it’s written by a comrade from our brigade, everyone heard right, our brigade… made the newspaper!!”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Feeling it wasn’t good to laugh at this moment, the brigade leader held it back and continued: “This is good news for the whole commune, and also for our brigade. Qingzhou, you take it.”
Next came the sound of pulling up a stool.
Gu Qingzhou sat down, solemnly unfolding the newspaper with both hands, and began reading it clearly and accurately.
“Qingzhou’s mom, your Qingzhou’s that… standard Mandarin is really good.” Under the big banyan tree, an aunt couldn’t hold back and said it.
As soon as she spoke, several disapproving gazes turned her way.
The speaker fell silent, and everyone listened solemnly to the broadcast.
The broadcast voice was loud, and people in the village, no matter what they were doing, came out their home doors, perking up their ears to listen; after learning what had happened, they all had joyful expressions.
A child saw his parents in a good mood and tentatively asked for candy, unexpectedly getting a piece, which made the child so happy he jumped in place, then took the candy to find his little friends to play.
In this way, all the adults and children in the village knew about the twins’ mom having her article in the newspaper.
The little friends caught the twins and praised them nonstop, leaving Yu Bao and Heng Bao dizzy.
No method, the little friends were too good at praising.
If they praised them themselves, the two wouldn’t feel this way, but they were praising their mom.
Yu Bao raised a hand, “My mom brought us a football, we can go play on the threshing ground, who wants to go?”
“Me, me.”
“Me too.” Da Zhuang held his rice bowl and quickly shoveled down the last bite, “Yu Bao, Heng Bao, I’ll put away the bowl, wait for me.”
Seeing Yu Bao nod, he bolted toward home.
The other children eating meals saw this and hurriedly finished theirs, afraid of being left behind.
Heng Bao was rarely careful for once, “Bro, mom said you can’t run and jump right after eating.”
Yu Bao first gave his brother an approving look, then said: “We’ll play in a bit.”
“Mm mm.” Heng Bao had no objection.
The brothers reached their home door, just as several educated youth were leaving.
“You two came back again? Weren’t you going out to play?” Lin Zhao was about to go back inside to get something, saw the twins return, paused, and looked at them.
“Get the football.” Heng Bao’s voice was light and cheerful.
Lin Zhao teased him, “Didn’t you hate taking it out before?”
Before, when told to take it out to play, he stubbornly refused, afraid of getting it dirty or damaged…
Yu Bao didn’t have the nerve to say it was because they heard the little friends praising them and felt happy, so they wanted to play with them.
His eyes flickered a few times, and he found a random excuse, “Yuan Bao and the others are our good friends, Heng Bao and I are willing to play with them.”
Lin Zhao said no more, “Go on, mind the time, don’t play so long you forget to eat, I’m planning to make you crispy pork.”
No little friend could refuse fried food, and the twins were no exception.
They had eaten Lin Zhao’s crispy pork before and hadn’t forgotten it, but mom wouldn’t make it for them.
Hearing now that there would be crispy pork, Yu Bao and Heng Bao didn’t want to go out anymore.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao…”
The little friends called from the doorway.
“Coming, coming.” Yu Bao said it, but his legs seemed glued in place, not moving.
Heng Bao was the same, not only not moving but looking at Lin Zhao eagerly.
Lin Zhao showed helplessness, “What are you looking at me for, go play, I guarantee, when you come back, there’ll definitely be crispy pork to eat.”
With this guarantee, the two kids immediately grinned like flowers.
“Mom is the best~!” The two little brothers cheered, rushed up to hug Lin Zhao, grabbed the football, and ran to the little friends.
Lin Zhao shook her head helplessly, went back inside to get her things, then returned to the kitchen to make crispy pork for the two greedy kids.
She wanted to eat it too.
–
Fengshou Brigade was bustling with excitement, and the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was no less so.
Because of Lin Zhao’s article in the newspaper, Director Jiang inexplicably got praise from his superior leader.
Saying he taught well.
Saying their Supply and Marketing Cooperative was the first unit in the whole commune to make the newspaper, even the propaganda departments of big factories hadn’t.
Saying the Supply and Marketing Cooperative really brought honor.
…
Director Jiang’s superior leader had a serious and upright temperament, never joked or smiled, was strict with rewards and punishments, and at the same time, no one could read his thoughts from his face.
This was the first time he showed emotion.
It stunned Director Jiang.
He even wanted to back out and check if he’d entered the wrong office.
He hadn’t entered the wrong one.
And he really did get praised!
Director Jiang came in worried, left with a face full of smiles.
Full of joy with nowhere to vent.
He went to the county government building and found Yang Yunzhi.
Yang Yunzhi saw Director Jiang and subconsciously lifted his wrist to check the time.
—Right, it was work time.
“Big brother?”
As soon as he said it, his shoulder got a “slap.”
“You’re not bad.”
He’d sent him a talent, hadn’t tricked his brother-in-law!
Director Jiang’s eyes showed approval, he smiled at his brother-in-law, then left again.
“??!”
Yang Yunzhi saw his big brother-in-law’s smile and suddenly shivered.
Why smile so creepily?!
He was full of confusion, and during the meal, he beat around the bush asking his wife if his big brother-in-law was acting a bit off.
His wife Jiang Huiqiao did know.
“My brother is happy.”
“You don’t know yet, right? Your comrade’s wife, that Comrade Lin, had her article in the newspaper! Because of this, my brother got praised by the leader.”
Hearing this, Yang Yunzhi understood.
His big brother-in-law’s superior leader was someone he respected, a serious and upright man who handled official business strictly, rarely showing emotion.
To get praise from such a person, no wonder his big brother-in-law smiled like that.
And moreover.
He heard his big brother-in-law wrote an application to add a stamp from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, build upward, add a second floor, expand the Supply and Marketing Cooperative’s scale.
He had big ambitions, wanting to turn the Supply and Marketing Cooperative into a large-scale state-run store selling rarities like bicycles, radios, watches.
This time, his big brother-in-law shone in front of the superior leader, greatly increasing the chances of the application succeeding.
No wonder the smile was scary.
Concerning his future and fate, even a brighter smile wouldn’t be strange.
Jiang Huiqiao noticed her husband’s expression just now was a bit odd and asked puzzled: “What’s wrong? Did my brother come find you?”
Yang Yunzhi didn’t hide it from her, told her what his big brother-in-law had come for.
His expressive skills were outstanding, turning a simple matter into a vivid tale.
Jiang Huiqiao couldn’t hold back her laughter, “Hahaha…”
She laughed until she fell into Yang Yunzhi’s bosom, “I haven’t seen big brother like this in years.”
After laughing a bit, Jiang Huiqiao wiped the tears from laughing at the corner of her eyes and continued: “Believe it or not, big brother is very annoyed, very regretful, and very depressed right now?”
She patted her husband’s shoulder, “I suggest you don’t hang around big brother for the next month, I’m afraid he’ll get angry from embarrassment…”
And deal with you.
Yang Yunzhi’s expression stiffened.
“…” Who had he offended?
“New Year is coming soon, I can’t avoid it.” He said dryly, looking at his wife expectantly.
Just short of saying outright, wife, save me!
Jiang Huiqiao held his face, “…Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
“Wife, I’m counting on you.”
And indeed, after Director Jiang’s excited mood calmed, he belatedly felt depressed.
Hey.
How much of his authority in front of his brother-in-law was left?
In the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Li Fen and several salespeople were also beaming with joy, all talking about… Lin Zhao’s article in the newspaper.
“…What a shame, Zhaozhao is on vacation, not sure if she knows about this.” Li Fen sighed happily and joyfully.
Of course she was happy.
Lin Zhao was her sister-in-law’s cousin, counting it up, she was also one of the Li family members.
Wang Ju also frowned, “What to do?”
Li Fen waved it off, “No matter, she’ll find out sooner or later. Zhaozhao’s own uncle is an old technician at the big factory, they read the newspaper every day, learning all sorts of spirits, if her uncle knows, her two cousins will too, with how much they care about their sister, how could they hold back!”
True. Wang Ju nodded and put the matter behind her.
She read the article again.
“…Sister Zhaozhao is shining bright.” She said softly, admiration flashing in her eyes.
Li Fen nodded, “Who says otherwise, look how refined and quiet she is, full of scholarly air, no wonder she can write articles, right?”
The new salespeople looked at each other.
Refined = can write articles?
Not necessarily.
They graduated junior high, were refined too, why couldn’t they make the newspaper?!
Imagining themselves in the newspaper, family surrounding them, showering praise, the girls couldn’t help curving their eyes in smiles.
“You know…” One girl spoke first, “If I ask Comrade Lin for advice, would she teach me submission techniques?”
A female comrade who had just returned to work after giving birth looked hesitant, pondering the possibility, and said uncertainly: “…Probably, yes, I don’t think Comrade Lin is stingy, everyone usually asks her for help and she’s always willing.”
“Right, right.” The first girl said, “The day I started work, I hadn’t eaten breakfast and nearly fainted, Comrade Lin gave me a candy, that’s how I recovered, she’s really nice.”
She smiled at everyone she met.
But still, her unique temperament, plus being overly pretty, always gave a sense of distance.
Sigh, she really wanted to talk to Comrade Lin, but she got nervous.
At year-end, the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was too busy and took in another young girl.
Comrade Qi, on maternity leave, also came back to work.
She said: “If you want advice, just ask directly, don’t be scared, if she’s not convenient to say, then forget it.”
“…I’m nervous.” The young girl had thin skin, always feeling embarrassed.
Comrade Qi glanced at her, “What’s there to be embarrassed about, just say it straight, I think Comrade Lin has a straightforward temperament, she doesn’t seem to like beating around the bush.”
“Ah? Like that? Then when I see her, I just say it directly?”
Comrade Qi: “Sure, but probably have to wait until after New Year.”
The young girl knew too, sighing slightly regretfully.
Not seeing that pleasing face for days in a row really made one uncomfortable all over, she had no energy for work.
This girl wasn’t one to dwell, she immediately perked up again, “No problem, I’ll write by myself first, then ask Comrade Lin after New Year!”
Comrade Qi gave her an encouraging look.
Their conversation was overheard by Li Fen and Wang Ju.
Li Fen looked at Wang Ju and asked curiously: “You submitting or not?”
Wang Ju shook her head like a rattle.
“No way, I don’t like writing compositions!” Her volume even rose quite a bit.
Her determination was clear.
Li Fen smiled, “If you don’t like it, don’t, you graduated from vocational school, you’ve already brought honor to your parents, no need for this newspaper thing.”
How was it no need?
These days, making the newspaper had high value.
Uncle Song got real benefits.
Knowing his own niece’s article made the newspaper, the aunt at the canteen gave him more food than others.
“Song Gong, congrats, your niece is like this!” The aunt gave a thumbs up with her ladle hand.
Uncle Song was in the spotlight today—
During the meeting, the factory director asked him if his niece was Comrade Lin Zhao from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, he said yes, the factory director congratulated him, and while he was still puzzled, the factory director dropped the bomb, saying Zhaozhao’s article made the newspaper, and it was the provincial paper, the big newspaper all factories subscribed to.
As soon as he said it, dozens of people in the office looked at him with envy and jealousy.
Those eyes really felt refreshing.
“Thanks, the kid was just playing around, also good luck.” Uncle Song said modestly a few words.
A technician on good terms with him teased: “If you weren’t smiling so brightly, I might’ve believed it.”
After saying it, he unceremoniously took a piece of meat from his plate.
After all the “torment” from Old Song, eating one piece of his meat wasn’t too much(-ι_-｀)
Uncle Song glanced at him, in such a good mood he was too lazy to care.
Humming a tuneless song, he found a place to sit, thinking about what to send Zhaozhao to celebrate her article in the newspaper.
