Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
In the summer of 1992, after the wheat harvest, most villages in Gaoqiao Town were bustling with activity under the guidance of the Town Government as they planned for the establishment of chive bases, celery bases, cabbage bases, and radish cultivation. Technical personnel from the Provincial Agricultural University, Agricultural Science Institute, Vegetable Research Institute, and Plant Protection Station were brought in to provide training and guidance.
In addition to open-field varieties, new vegetable greenhouses began to spring up spontaneously. The latest data showed that Gaoqiao Town already had over thirty plastic product factories and cold-drawn wire factories. Mayor Mao personally visited some of these enterprises, where he witnessed a thriving scene of prosperity.
What excited him even more was that during his research, he discovered that several villages had established poultry farms, raising both egg-laying and meat chickens, with some of them being quite sizable. The Poultry Equipment Trading Market located alongside National Highway 106 was taking shape and was expected to be operational by the end of the year. At that time, all related products from Gaoqiao Town's enterprises would be distributed here, avoiding price-cutting competition among businesses and allowing customers to purchase from a single location instead of visiting multiple suppliers.
When the market's foundation was laid, the Vice Mayor in charge of township enterprises from Jinan City, along with the directors of the Agricultural Bureau, Animal Husbandry Bureau, Business Bureau, and Economic Planning Committee from Jinan City, as well as Li Gaoqiang and Jiang Ruming from Annan County's County Committee and government, personally shoveled soil with shovels. The news was reported not only in Jinan Daily but also received half a page coverage in Jiangbei Daily (Rural Edition).
Simultaneously, several stores quietly opened around this yet-to-be-completed market, dealing in veterinary medicines and feed, seeds and seedlings, pesticides and fertilizers, as well as irrigation equipment. The once barren land had transformed into a multifunctional comprehensive market.
Hu Ruoyun was now in his third year of high school. Over the past two years, although he had changed his own situation and that of some family members to a certain extent, it was still far from enough. With graduation approaching next year and given his current academic performance, it was certain he wouldn’t be able to get into university. Did he really have to follow his memories and enroll in a vocational college for practical talents?
He had spent those two years in a daze, wasting not only time but also life and money; he didn’t want to repeat that mistake! After much contemplation without any clear direction, he decided to just take things one step at a time.
The corn in the fields had grown taller than a person. His father Hu Qihua and Second Uncle Hu Zhenhua seemed much younger now as they worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk delivering bricks to the villages below at the Township's Brick Factory. It seemed they were trying to make up for a lifetime of hardship.
It hadn’t rained for over a month; Hu Ruoyun needed to return home this weekend to water the fields. Xiao Feng and Xiao Hu were excitedly following their brother back home, chattering away as they walked closely behind him. Even while Hu Ruoyun was watering the fields, Xiao Hu mimicked him with a small shovel in hand. Reflecting on how quiet his younger brother used to be and looking at his sister’s patched-up old clothes... seeing their carefree demeanor now filled Hu Ruoyun with mixed emotions.
The economic foundation not only determines the superstructure but also affects a family's living conditions and an individual's spiritual state. His mother Zhao Meirong had worn an expression devoid of brightness for many years; now she appeared rosy-cheeked with a sparkle in her eyes. Gone were her struggles and sorrows; she even hummed a few lines from the Henan opera "Chaoyang Ditch": “The motherland is vast; construction progresses by leaps and bounds; countless victorious news is beyond counting…”
In less than a day and a half, Hu Ruoyun finished watering the fields with his two little followers without feeling overly tired. Before heading back to school, he gave Xiao Feng and Xiao Hu each one yuan: “From now on, if you need pocket money, just ask me. As long as you don’t spend it recklessly, I’ll give you however much you need.”
The two nodded eagerly in agreement.
On Monday, he received a large package sent by the Editorial Department of Story Collection. His piece "Humanity's Forbidden Island" had been completed serially; according to Editor Zhou Dong, it had received excellent feedback. They forwarded a large bundle of letters from readers across the country addressed to him at the Editorial Department.
Additionally:
1. The Editorial Department decided to award Hu Ruoyun a "Special Contributor" certificate and hoped he would continue supporting Story Collection by submitting works.
2. They planned to compile and publish the fourteen installments of "Humanity's Forbidden Island" into a standalone volume and requested Hu Ruoyun to extend the original text by around 150,000 words; the magazine would pay royalties separately.
3. Story Collection would soon issue a subscription notice for "Humanity's Forbidden Island" as a standalone volume and hoped Hu Ruoyun could write about his creative insights, self-introduction, supplementary content overview, etc., which would be published prominently on the inside cover as an interaction with readers nationwide!
What a delightful surprise!
One by one, I opened the letters from readers. Alongside hopes for me to continue writing, a significant portion contained affirmation and encouragement:
“Your writing is excellent and captivating, especially the protagonist's spirit…”
“After reading, I felt the plot was tightly woven and full of ups and downs. I support the author in continuing their efforts!”
“Not bad! This novel has grand momentum, a vast span of time and space, and involves many exotic customs. The portrayal of characters from different countries and ethnic backgrounds is vivid and lifelike, making it highly readable…”
Why are the reviews so positive?
After all, this isn't the current internet age where anyone can easily criticize with a few keystrokes. Back then, very few people were bored enough to spend money on postage just to send a letter of complaint.
The "Story Collection" was one of the most influential popular reads of that era. In the foreseeable future, advertisements of the same size would cost the highest when published in "Story Collection," due to its massive circulation and the resulting advertising effectiveness.
The second page offered a full-page ad opportunity! I needed to carefully consider how to incorporate my own “advertisement.”
I decided to give this opportunity to Chai Hongmin, the director of Laogu Township Party Affairs Office. This easygoing brother had always treated me warmly and helped me connect with the local supply and marketing cooperative, which brought considerable benefits to my family.
It was another Saturday. I had taken leave from my homeroom teacher in the morning and rode my bike straight back to Laogu Township Party Affairs Office. Chai Hongmin welcomed my arrival with enthusiasm.
The issues with the Grain Management Office were now a thing of the past, but last year’s abrupt halt to Gaoqiao Town's “modern commercial street development” had led to disciplinary actions against the town mayor, secretary, deputy mayor… all demoted or punished. The instigator of this incident was none other than this young man before me.
As I sipped the tea brewed by Chai Hongmin, I shared my thoughts. The more he listened, the brighter his eyes became. After a moment, he eagerly extended his hand: “Brother, hold on for a second. I’ll go find Township Head Feng; let’s talk in his office.” Without waiting for my response, he turned and dashed out. Less than two minutes later, he returned: “Let’s go! Township Head Feng is in his office; we’ll go together!”
I felt a bit caught off guard. Wasn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill?
Following Chai Hongmin out of the Party Affairs Office, I saw Township Head Feng waving at us from nearby office doors. I quickly raised my hand in greeting.
After shaking hands with Township Head Feng, Chai Hongmin pulled aside the curtain at the door for us.
Township Head Feng got straight to the point: “Xiao Hu, Little Chai has probably briefed you on things. The village fully supports and cooperates! Do you know that right now we’re focusing on economic development? Our county is traditionally an agricultural one with a single industrial structure… We urgently need new economic growth points!
By the way, at the last county meeting, I chatted a lot with Mayor Mao from Gaoqiao Town to seek his advice. He got so excited that he drank too much and said many ideas came from you! Mayor Mao is quite something now!”
At this point, he leaned in mysteriously: “He might become Vice County Head next year!
Regardless of anything else, you are still one of us from Laogu Township. On behalf of nearly sixty thousand people here, I want to express our gratitude!”
His words were sincere.
I briefly shared my ideas about how "Story Collection" needed an author introduction section that included county and township names while highlighting local characteristics and advantages—perhaps even mentioning potential project collaborations…
In fact, even if Hu Ruoyun did not come to the Town Government, Township Head Feng intended for Chai Hongmin to take the initiative. He envied the development of Gaoqiao Town and was filled with jealousy over Mayor Mao's "drunken talk": originally, they were from the same village, and he had known them longer than Mayor Mao, yet it was Mayor Mao who stumbled upon such a great opportunity!
Although Mayor Mao seemed to be speaking nonsense, it was during moments like these that people within the system revealed their true thoughts. If Mayor Mao hadn't been drunk, he likely wouldn't have voiced those opinions at all.
Moreover, are there really secrets within the system? The internal reports of Jiangbei Daily are only accessible to leaders at the Department Level and above, yet countless people have seen copies of Hu Ruoyun's article. Therefore, even if what Mayor Mao said was indeed drunken rambling, Township Head Feng was willing to believe it this time and take a gamble.
The pressure for development was immense! He needed to seize every possible opportunity and give it a try!
Comment 0 Comment Count