Reborn in 1981, the first to get rich start with dairy cows.

The sewing machine, the most important of the three essential items, immediately drew everyone's attention.

"A sewing machine!" Li Guihua exclaimed in surprise!

The auditorium erupted in excitement. Everyone was incredibly envious. Sewing machines were not only expensive, but they also required tickets and were very difficult to buy!

This is only the factory's first year, and they're already making watches and sewing machines. What will next year be like...?

Everyone's enthusiasm was ignited, and they began to discuss it intensely, mostly expressing envy. They all secretly resolved to be recognized as outstanding employees next year.

"Come on, everyone, let's give a round of applause and let our team leader, Li, say a few words!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the people below burst into applause. Li Chenfeng's eyes were already slightly red, and he bowed repeatedly.

"Thank you to the factory, thank you to the factory manager, thank you everyone, for allowing me to hold my head high and stand tall! I never imagined I could become the best employee. From now on, I will definitely give it my all and work even harder. Let's all cheer each other on!"

"Great!" Shen Dong led the applause. Once everyone quieted down, he announced with a smile, "Regardless of whether you were selected as outstanding or not, everyone here is a contributor to our dairy factory. Even those who weren't selected will receive benefits: a 'Sunshine Award'—10 jin of brown sugar, 10 jin of pastries, and a bonus of 20 yuan each!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xiao Ma from the kitchen brought the things over, and the employees were all excited, getting up and lining up to receive their benefits.

"Oh my, this is wonderful! Brown sugar and money! Our son is going to be overjoyed."

"Absolutely! Our factory manager is so generous. He's already taken over the contract, and he's still giving everyone so many years' worth of goods. He's incredibly generous!"

"I haven't heard anyone say that our factory manager has powerful connections, which is why he's able to run the business so well. His ideas are different from ours!"

Everyone chatted intermittently, their faces beaming with smiles.

After they had all received theirs, Xiao Ma carried over pork and eggs.

"This is for everyone, 5 catties of pork and 10 catties of eggs per person."

The atmosphere at the factory reached a fever pitch. Things had already exceeded expectations, and now with the pork and eggs being distributed, everyone was incredibly excited.

Everyone was carrying heavy bags, and some of the more sentimental women were even in tears.

Good days have truly arrived.

"That's all for the meeting. We'll have our New Year's Eve dinner at the canteen at 6 p.m. Now you're free to do whatever you want. If you live nearby, you can send your things home first. If you live far away, you can leave them at the factory."

"I now announce that the 1982 Annual Summary and Commendation Conference of Baotashan Dairy Factory has come to a successful conclusion."

Discussions, laughter, and applause mingled together.

Tong Na immediately picked up her things and went home. She couldn't wait to get home. Before she even reached her mother-in-law's door, she was spotted by the neighbors.

"Oh my, Huang's wife, what's that she's got? Pork and eggs, that must cost tens of yuan!"

The aunt had a loud voice, and as soon as she finished speaking, several older women gathered around.

Tong Na deliberately placed the items on the ground, inadvertently revealing the brown sugar and pastries that no one had noticed.

Sure enough, it was immediately discovered: "Hey, there's more! Good heavens, Huang family's daughter-in-law, did you buy this or...?"

"These are from our factory. It's almost Chinese New Year, so we have to give out New Year's goods."

As he spoke, he deliberately pulled out a red envelope from his pocket, "Look, I didn't perform well, so I only got the smallest bonus, just 20 yuan..."

"What?!" An auntie's eyebrows shot up as she exclaimed in surprise.

The group exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise.

"Auntie, I'm going home now. I need to rush back to the factory for New Year's Eve dinner later. You guys chat!" With that, she slowly picked up all the New Year's goods from the ground and went home.

As soon as she arrived at the door, her mother-in-law came to greet her. She thought Tong Na had left work early today and was about to start scolding her when she saw what Tong Na was carrying. Her expression immediately changed.

She walked over with a smile and said, "Oh my, why are you carrying so much! Are you having dinner at home tonight? What do you want to eat? I'll cook for you!"

Tong Na said casually, "No, I have to go to the factory's New Year's Eve dinner later. You guys eat."

"Hey, sit down and rest for a bit. I'll put everything away for the New Year." He said, carrying the things to the kitchen, his smile spreading from his lips to his mouth.

Meanwhile, Tao Guiping and Shen Dong borrowed bicycles and delivered the items home.

"Xiao Hua, why are you back so early today?" Yang Hongdi asked in surprise when she heard Tao Guiping open the door.

She knew her daughter's working hours, and that she usually sold melon seeds at the commune after get off work, returning home around dinner time.

"Mom, look!" Tao Guiping happily lifted up the New Year's goods, but couldn't hold them up for more than two seconds.

She was only 14 years old, and would be 15 after the New Year. Even though she did a lot of farm work, she still couldn't lift something weighing nearly 40 kilograms.

"What is this? How come there's so much meat? Did you buy it?!" Yang Hongdi thought her daughter had spent money to buy it, and her voice trembled with fright, becoming louder involuntarily.

"No, Mom, this was issued by the factory!"

As she spoke, she carried the things to the bedside and showed them to Yang Hongdi one by one, "Mom, look, this is brown sugar, this is pastry, this is pork, and this is an egg."

Tao Guiping took out each item and handed it to Yang Hongdi. Only after Yang Hongdi carefully touched and examined it did she happily put it away.

"And there's more," he said, pulling a red envelope from his pocket and carefully taking out the 20 yuan bonus. "This is my New Year's bonus!"

Yang Hongdi stroked the two ten-yuan bills in her hand, her eyes reddening. She took her daughter's hand and pulled her into her arms: "Xiaohua, you must remember the kindness that Director Shen has shown our family. You must work hard at the factory and repay him when you have the chance."

"Yes, Mother, I remember!" Tao Guiping said, her voice choked with emotion.

"Take a little of everything for your second uncle. They've helped our family a lot these past few days, and we'll need their help in the future."

"Um!"

------

Almost no one was waiting at the factory; they had all gone home, either to show off to their neighbors or to celebrate with their families. Around 5 p.m., everyone gradually returned.

On Friday, Yang was already busy in the kitchen, preparing all sorts of dishes.

The pig's trotters, which require time to cook, had been simmering in the pot for two hours. On Friday, Yang poked them with chopsticks and found they were soft and tender, so he turned off the heat.

Hu Aiping and Tao Guiping had already started to put the tables in the canteen together, making six large tables. Since everyone was unable to help the kitchen staff, they began to help set out the bowls and chopsticks.

Once everything was set out, cold dishes began to be served, including cucumbers, which are not commonly seen in winter, leaving everyone astonished.

"You all don't know this, do you? This is the vegetable greenhouse that our factory manager set up in our team. I specially found two long ones so that everyone can have a taste."

Li Hu explained it to everyone with a smile, and only then did they realize how amazing the vegetable greenhouse was.

"Will we have all kinds of vegetables to eat after that?"

"That won't work yet. The greenhouse isn't very big, and there aren't many varieties, but we already have experience, so I believe it will be quick soon."

"Good, long live the factory manager!" someone shouted mischievously.

"Hey, who called me? Are you hungry?" Shen Dong walked in with a smile, and seeing everyone already seated with smiles on their faces, he announced, "Dinner's ready!"