1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

Chapter 153: Frame it, this is our family heirloom (Please order the whole thing)
Just a piece of manuscript paper?
Not even a certificate of honor?
When Cheng Xuemin saw that Mr. Wu merely handed him a piece of manuscript paper with no extra expression on his face, his mind completely shut down at that moment and he couldn't think of anything else. He could only stand up excitedly and bow to take it.

As for Zhang Guangnian, Li Shuguang, Qin Chuan and others, they were filled with surprise and confusion.

What Mr. Wu handed over was just a piece of manuscript paper?
But the weight of this piece of manuscript paper is even more impressive than the preface written by Mr. Mao. So what is written on this piece of manuscript paper?

Instructions for high-rise buildings?
But if it really was instructions for a high-rise building, it would be impossible to just write them down so perfunctorily on a piece of manuscript paper.

General instructions, even if they are not issued in official documents, must at least be formal.

But it’s just an ordinary piece of manuscript paper, what exactly is it?
Face-to-face teaching?

Or is it just a simple written verbal compliment that doesn’t count as a formal compliment?

The three of them came over with full of doubts, wanting to take a quick look and see what was going on.

"Uh?"

But after seeing the contents on the manuscript paper, the eye sockets of Li Shuguang, Qin Chuan and Zhang Guangnian suddenly shrank and their eyeballs popped out.

His expression was filled with disbelief as he looked at Old Wu.

This... could even be invited down by Elder Wu? !
Cheng Xuemin also took the manuscript paper handed over by Mr. Wu with both hands, looked at the text on it, and was also full of surprise and doubt at first glance.

Because there were just four simple big cursive characters on the manuscript paper: Reform and Open Up Pioneer!

Wait until you see the signature!

Suddenly, Cheng Xuemin's heart was hit hard, and he looked at Mr. Wu with an extremely incredible expression.

My heart is already filled with endless ups and downs!

Yes!
Previously, Cheng Xuemin took the lead in paying tribute to "The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office" for this honor!
This honor will enable Cheng Xuemin to go further and further in the future.

However, this honor from the previous life will have to wait for one or two years before it will be officially awarded to the original author of "The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office".

What Cheng Xuemin didn’t expect was!
The supreme honor of "pioneer of reform and opening up" is now given to Cheng Xuemin.

Is this... an affirmation of Cheng Xuemin? Or is it also a response to the Tianjin Daily report?
Or is it the final conclusion?

"How is it? Feeling a little surprised?"

Seeing Cheng Xuemin's full of doubt and shock, Old Wu smiled and said, "Xuemin, your article 'The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office' is the first draft of the reform and opening up approved by the old leaders!"

"This is a manuscript that aims to deepen the spirit of the conference through our cultural propaganda!"

"Although this article has attracted different opinions, we should not deny it just because of this!"

Mr. Wu picked out some simple instructions from what he had just heard and told Cheng Xuemin, and continued, "And Xuemin, the article "New Year Greetings" that you later published in "October" explained this very thoroughly!"

"The old leader specifically mentioned that the beginning of your New Year Greetings was well written, and it almost captured the spirit of our meeting in a special metaphor!"

"'Gregorian calendar year' - what kind of year is that? No matter how nice a name you give it, like 'New Year's Day', the Chinese never consider it as the 'year'. Tape recorders and televisions can be imported, but I've never heard of 'year' being imported! The real year for the Chinese is the Spring Festival! The first day of the first lunar month is called the New Year, when everything is new!"

"Xuemin, your words are very well written. They are a powerful counterattack against those different voices. The old leader also highly praised and agreed with your words!"

Mr. Wu spoke in a very powerful voice, which instantly resonated with Cheng Xuemin and made him feel overwhelmed with emotion.

The "New Year Greetings" he wrote to his mother-in-law in "October" was for this purpose.

Because the article "New Year's Greetings" was written by the original author of "The Record of Director Qiao's Taking Office". It was a silent counterattack article written by the original author under the strong pressure of criticism.

The entire manuscript uses "New Year's Greetings" and the national concept that New Year's Day is not the New Year but the Spring Festival is the New Year to implicitly counter the different voices that question the spirit of the meeting.

Originally, writing this article was indeed a bit risky.

But now it seems that not only Cheng Xuemin needs this manuscript, but the entire conference spirit also urgently needs such a manuscript.

This led to Mr. Wu’s high evaluation and verbal praise today.

Listening to what Elder Wu said, Cheng Xuemin nodded repeatedly and said with great excitement and fear:
"Mr. Wu, no, no, I really didn't think too much about it when I wrote this article. In fact, New Year's Day happened to be Sunday that day, and my two little nephews and nieces were clamoring to celebrate the New Year and eat our Yanjing roast duck!"

"I corrected them at that time. We Chinese do not call New Year's Day the Nian. We have to wait until today's New Year's Eve and tomorrow's first day of the first lunar month to celebrate the New Year!"

"Then the Tianjin Daily published that article, and I was inspired to write something!"

Cheng Xuemin did not lie. On New Year's Day, Feng Liqin and Feng Liwen did beg to celebrate the New Year today and eat roast duck. Cheng Xuemin really corrected them at that time.

Now I can use it as a source of inspiration for writing "New Year Greetings".

"Xuemin, you're right. The idea that New Year's Day is not the New Year really needs to be instilled in children from an early age!"

After hearing this, Mr. Wu suddenly realized that the source of the manuscript of "New Year Greetings" was actually here.

But now it is being used to fight back against Tianjin Daily, and it has had a very unexpected effect.

"Old Li and Old Qin, you must take these four words in Xuemin's hand back with you!" Old Wu then looked at Li Shuguang and Qin Chuan and said, "It's more than just verbal praise!"

"These four words are for the students, and also for you!"

"For Xuemin's collection of manuscripts, the old leader asked Mr. Mao to personally help write the preface!"

"And I asked you to use these four words on the cover of the collection of manuscripts. Do you understand?"

After Old Wu said this, Li Shuguang and the others reacted instantly and their faces became even more shocked and horrified.

So that’s it!
No wonder the reward was just a piece of manuscript paper. If it were just these four words, Cheng Xuemin could have taken it home and framed it, and it would not be an exaggeration to have kept it as a family heirloom.

But now after listening to Mr. Wu's instructions, they realized again that this was the effect!
We are going to use these four words as the cover for Cheng Xuemin’s short story collection! ?
I'll be a good boy!

The inscription "Pioneer of Reform and Opening-up" is used as the book cover, and Mr. Mao personally wrote the preface. What an honor... What an honor!
After hearing this, Li Shuguang, Zhang Guangnian, and Qin Chuan became jealous and envious.

Even Cheng Xuemin himself was dumbfounded when he heard it.

I thought these four words were verbal praise to him, and he would take them back to show his wife, and to show his mother-in-law and father-in-law.

This is the inscription above!
Given the pride of his wife Feng Jiayou and her mother, they would definitely frame the manuscript and hang it in the most conspicuous place in their front yard.

Whenever there are guests visiting, they will definitely see them at first sight, and someone will definitely ask them, and they will just reply calmly.

That scene was really too high-end.

But who knows!

You don't have to wait for customers to come and see you before you can pretend to be cool.

Now we just publish the book directly, use these four words as the book cover, publish it to the people across the country, and make it known to everyone!

"I see, I see. I was just thinking of asking you, Mr. Wu, what title to give to this collection of Xuemin's short stories!" "Now I understand. With these four words you suggested, it couldn't be better!"

Li Shuguang from Renwenshe nodded repeatedly to show that he understood.

Old Wu nodded in satisfaction, and then looked at Qin Chuan who was sitting beside him waiting for instructions and said, "Old Qin, the same thing applies to you. According to the original version, this supplement of the People's Daily will publish all four articles by Xue Min!"

"At the same time, we'll start the first draft of the year. Let's set these four words as the headline on the front page. Lao Qin, please go back and add the specific content as soon as possible!"

what?
Without waiting for Qin Chuan to accept the order, Cheng Xuemin next to him was even more shocked and confused after hearing this!

Not just a collection of short stories!
Tomorrow's People's Daily will also have related reports, and not only will his four manuscripts occupy the entire supplement page of the newspaper.

Now the front page headlines also need to deepen the content of these four words and publish them? !

"Okay, Mr. Wu, I'll arrange it right away when I get back!"

Qin Chuan from People's Daily looked serious when he heard this and nodded repeatedly.

Next, because of time constraints and heavy workload, Mr. Wu originally invited Cheng Xuemin and a few others to stay and have lunch with Mr. Mao and others, as a New Year's Eve dinner for their cultural propaganda, but was politely declined!
Qin Chuan from People's Literature had to rush back to write the manuscript and send it over for review and finalization as soon as possible.

Although Mr. Wu said it was the first draft of the new year, he did not instruct that it should be published on the first day of the Lunar New Year, but on the second day, which was still one day away.

The time here at People's Daily is a bit tight and the task is a bit heavy, so I don't dare to stay here for the New Year's Eve dinner.

The same went for Zhang Guangnian and Li Shuguang, who did not stay for dinner.

Then there is Cheng Xuemin. If Lao Zhang, Lao Li, Lao Qin and the others stay for the New Year’s Eve dinner, he will definitely stay as well to take advantage of the situation!

But since everyone had left, he couldn't shamelessly stay behind, so he just went back with them.

"Xuemin, this is a treasure. If you have time, come back with us to the People's Daily!"

"After we make a copy of it, you can take it back and present it to your mother-in-law, Lao Feng, and the others!"

"Anyway, we don't dare keep it for the New Year. If the printing factory workers lose or damage it, we at People's Daily really can't afford the compensation!"

Qin Chuan of People's Daily was talking about the four-character inscription manuscript in his hand. It is really as he said, this is a treasure!

They really don't dare to keep the People's Daily overnight during the New Year. If it gets damaged, they really can't afford the compensation.

And it’s just as Qin Chuan said!
Cheng Xuemin took these four words back home, and when he brought them out at the New Year's Eve dinner table, the scene...

His mother-in-law, Mr. Gu, who is so proud of her, has to look upon her son-in-law with new eyes.

To know!
This piece of manuscript paper can really be directly compared to the imperial edicts of ancient times, right? Her mother-in-law, Teacher Gu, will definitely frame it and hang it up!
"Teacher Qin...Okay, I'll come over and sit down with you!"

Originally Cheng Xuemin wanted to say such a modest statement, but then he realized that this was not written by him, but an inscription from above.

Therefore, no matter how much Qin Chuan and others value it, it is not excessive.

Fortunately, the People's Daily is located at No. 117 Wangfujing Street, not too far from here, only about minutes by bike.

Li Shuguang of Renwen Press and Zhang Guangnian of Renmin Literature also nodded and followed them over! Because Li Shuguang also had to go over there to take the rubbings of the four characters back with him, so he wouldn't have to go a second time.

Not long after, Cheng Xuemin and the other two, led by Qin Chuan, entered the office building of People's Daily.

Although today is New Year's Eve, other units may have already had their winter vacations. Those who are not from Yanjing and live far away from home may have asked for leave a few days ago!

The atmosphere of the New Year is still very strong in this era. Ordinary people attach great importance to it and will rush back home to reunite with their families and celebrate the New Year.

However, the People's Daily is an exception. Since the People's Daily does not stop publishing during the Chinese New Year, there are basically no holidays here, and the days off are basically taken in turns.

After entering the People's Daily, Li Shuguang and his friends didn't even need Qin Chuan to greet them, make them tea or entertain them warmly!

Instead, they urged him to get the work done quickly so that they could take their things back and have a holiday for the New Year.

Qin Chuan did not hesitate and immediately took action to carefully copy down the four inscriptions and signatures on the manuscript paper!

"Xuemin, would you like me to plastic it for you?"

After everything was done, Qin Chuan asked Cheng Xuemin enthusiastically again, as he happened to have a plastic machine.

"Old Qin, please stop it! If Teacher Gu were here, he would definitely not let you do this!"

"Teacher Gu's October also has a laminating machine. When the time comes, Teacher Gu will definitely have to take it to their October to have it laminarized!"

Without waiting for Cheng Xuemin to nod, he thought it would be a good idea to put it on plastic now.

But when he heard Zhang Guangnian's joke, Cheng Xuemin realized that his mother-in-law was really like that.

"Oh, oh, oh, that's right! I, I, I really am the dog trying to catch the rat!"

Qin Chuan also reacted after hearing this, and nodded repeatedly, laughing and saying self-deprecatingly.

"Not at all, not at all, Teacher Qin and Teacher Zhang, you really know how to make fun of my mother-in-law!"

Cheng Xuemin smiled awkwardly and said this, but he quickly and carefully put the manuscript into his briefcase.

This thing will really have to be left to the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to deal with on their own.

After a joke, Qin Chuan also wanted to keep everyone for lunch!
However, Mr. Wu didn't stay for the New Year's Eve dinner or the state banquet, let alone lunch with Teacher Qin.

Now Cheng Xuemin is eager to return home and wishes he could fly back right away.

And calculate the time!

If he rode back fast, he would still have time to call his parents and tell them the good news.

I also asked his parents on the phone to wait and read the People's Daily on the second day of the Chinese New Year!

By then, the whole page may be filled with reports about his grown-up son. I wonder what his parents’ expressions will be like then.

Maybe Cheng Xuemin will be able to see it with his own eyes then!
After all, although it was a newspaper from the second day of the Lunar New Year, it would take at least a week for it to reach northern Shaanxi, or even the Chengjiawan Brigade of their commune.

By then, Cheng Xuemin might have already arrived home!

According to Cheng Xuemin's plan, after celebrating the New Year in Yanjing, he planned to take the train back on the third day of the New Year.

Immediately, after leaving the People's Daily and saying goodbye to Lao Zhang and Lao Li, Cheng Xuemin rode his bicycle home as fast as he could.

But today is New Year's Eve, and all the citizens of Yanjing City are out, so the roads are very crowded and congested.

By the time Cheng Xuemin got home, it was already past one in the afternoon!
……

(End of this chapter)