Chapter 242: Everything Was Successful
Seeing that the courtyard and the area outside were full of people, Song Chu asked Song Lao Si to bring out a table. She placed the television in the center of the courtyard for everyone to watch.
She connected the power and adjusted the antenna, then turned on the television.
The signal in the village was even worse. Only two channels were available, and they flickered from time to time, requiring frequent adjustments of the antenna.
But the villagers gathered around, watching with great interest and chatting excitedly.
“So this is television, it’s so entertaining.”
“No wonder people in the city love to watch TV. Look at this battle, it’s so intense and exciting.”
“I wish we could buy a TV someday.”
“That’s just wishful thinking. Not only does a TV cost several hundred yuan, but you also need a TV ticket, which is impossible to get.”
“That’s why Song Chu is so capable. She even knows people in Guangdong Province.”
While watching TV, everyone couldn’t help but praise Song Chu.
Song Chu smiled and greeted everyone, then ran to the cowshed.
The old masters had just returned from cutting grass. When they saw Song Chu, they all smiled and asked her to sit down.
Gu Yue was chatting with Old Master Gu. He immediately stood up when he saw her.
He walked to her side and said to Grandpa Gu, “Grandpa, Song Chu and I are dating. I came today specifically to tell you.”
“Teacher, Gu Yue and I are dating,” Song Chu also said with a smile to Teacher Lu and Teacher Wei.
Although Old Master Gu had long regarded Song Chu as his future granddaughter-in-law, he had been worried as long as they hadn’t confirmed their relationship.
Now that he knew they were finally dating, he looked at Song Chu with a kind smile and said, “Good, Chu Chu is a good girl. I like her very much. Our Gu family welcomes you.”
“Thank you, Grandpa Gu!” Song Chu said.
Old Master Gu smiled and said, “From now on, just call me Grandpa like Xiao Yue. I’ve already accepted you as my granddaughter-in-law.”
Song Chu didn’t hesitate, “Hello, Grandpa!”
“Look at how happy this old man is. Our Chu Chu is really a bargain for his family,” Old Wei teased, seeing Old Gu’s joyful smile.
Old Lu nodded in agreement, “That’s right, it’s too much of a bargain for this old guy. Our Chu Chu is such a good girl, and she suddenly became his granddaughter-in-law.”
He didn’t have a grandson, otherwise, he would have wanted Chu Chu as his granddaughter-in-law.
Zhao Di and another old master also chimed in, “Yes, Old Gu’s family got lucky.”
Old Master Gu laughed heartily, “Haha, you’re just envious and jealous.”
Everyone sat together and chatted for a while. Song Chu said to Old Lu, “Teacher, I have something I want to talk to you about.”
The other old masters got up and said, “We’ll go feed the cows first.”
Although they didn’t know what Old Lu and Song Chu were discussing, they sensed it wasn’t a trivial matter, so they offered to give them some space.
“You guys go ahead. I’ll talk to Chu Chu and Xiao Gu for a bit, then I’ll join you,” Old Lu nodded to them.
That matter was of great importance. He hadn’t informed his old friends because he didn’t want to involve them.
Gu Jin was pulled by Old Master Gu to feed the cows, leaving only the three of them in the shed.
Old Lu got straight to the point and asked, “Did you dig it out?”
Song Chu nodded, “We did, but we put it back.”
She explained the foreign spies’ plan and their idea.
“So we want to go back and get the National Security people to come with us, dig it up again, and hand it over to the country.”
After listening to Song Chu, Old Lu was silent for a moment, “Alright, let’s do it that way then.”
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He actually didn’t really want to go back to Kyoto now. He felt that life in the village, working with his old friends and teaching Song Chu and Gu Jin, was peaceful and comfortable.
But the current situation had exceeded expectations. He naturally couldn’t let the spies’ plan succeed, or he would be implicating his friends in Kyoto.
“If the National Security people come to investigate, I’ll say that I only gave the key to Gu Yue today.”
Song Chu and Gu Yue nodded, “Okay.”
They had dinner together in the cowshed, and then the two of them drove Gu Jin back to the county town.
Tang Feng and Song Youfu also went back to the county town with them. The television was left at home, to be brought to the county town next week, letting the villagers enjoy it for a while first.
Back in the county town, Song Ping and Song Chu took Gu Jin back to the dormitory, while Gu Yue took the key and went to find Huo Kai.
Since this matter involved foreign spies and it was difficult to explain Song Chu’s relationship with Old Lu, Gu Yue took the lead.
Anyway, his grandfather was sent down to the cowshed, and he often went to see Old Lu, so it was normal for him to be in contact with him.
That night, Huo Kai contacted the National Security people and went to the courtyard with Gu Yue to dig up the metal box.
Then, early the next morning, Gu Yue, along with Huo Kai and the National Security people, took a car to the county town and then a train straight to Kyoto.
Because of Yan Yu’s incident, Yan Fei, in order to prove his innocence, did not participate and remained as the Vice Director of the County Economic Office while undergoing investigation by the organization.
Three or four months passed in a flash. The county food processing factory was completed and officially put into operation.
The fermented tofu and chili sauce produced by the food processing factory were immediately popular and sought after.
Song Chu also transferred Song Lao Si and Tang Qing to the food processing factory, letting them lead people to other cities and counties to promote sales.
Initially, the supply couldn’t even meet the demand within the county, and large orders also came from other cities and counties.
Mainly because the taste was very authentic, and oil and meat were scarce during this era, which led to its popularity.
The production of electric blankets also got on track. The products were put on the market and were very well received.
The fish farms and fish feed factories in the three communes were also successful. The fish raised were large and plump, with a short growth cycle, which attracted the attention of other counties.
Several nearby counties organized to purchase fish feed from Nan County. Then it spread to surrounding counties, and eventually, people from several cities came to see the fish farms and buy fish feed.
The clothing factory followed Song Chu’s suggestion and bought a radio advertisement in the provincial capital. Every day, a sweet female voice could be heard reciting a beautiful passage, ending with how warm it was to wear down jackets from the Nan County clothing factory. It was very catchy.
As a result, the popularity of down jackets spread throughout Nan Province. At first, they had to go to the provincial capital and several cities’ department stores to promote sales. Later, department stores and supply and marketing cooperatives called to inquire about cooperation.
In addition, with the arrival of winter and cold weather, people needed down jackets even more.
Although the price was not cheap, people who bought them found them lighter and warmer than cotton-padded coats. Word spread, and the reputation grew.
Accordingly, Song Chu’s reputation in Nan County grew as well. All the projects related to her were successful, and she became known as the one with the Midas touch.
Not only did Sheng Qingyang receive praise from the provincial leaders, but Song Chu also received praise and recognition.
When Gu Yue returned, it was already February of ’76, just ten days before the New Year.
That day, Song Chu had just gotten off work and was heading back when she saw Gu Yue, dressed in a black down jacket, standing at the entrance of her dormitory.
After not seeing each other for more than four months, Gu Yue looked more mature and composed, even more charming.
“Song Xiaochu, I’m back!” The moment Gu Yue saw Song Chu, a bright and warm smile appeared on his originally cool face, and he opened his arms.
Song Chu had missed Gu Yue very much. She walked up quickly and hugged him, “Welcome home!”
I’m sorry, I was in a really bad state today. I sat here all night and only managed to write one chapter. I realized that the plot I’ve been writing recently deviated from the main storyline and outline I had set before. The 70s are really difficult to write about, there are just too many limitations. I can’t do this, I can’t do that, it feels so difficult to develop the story.
So the pace will be accelerated in the following chapters. 76 is a year with many events and it’s a sensitive year. I plan to move through it quickly, otherwise, it’s very likely that I’ll step on a landmine and get locked.
I need to reorganize the plot before I continue. I’ve been stuck lately. I’m really not in the right state today. I’ll write the remaining two chapters when I get up tomorrow morning, around 11 am. ~~
