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

When Liu Xiaoli heard Cheng Xuemin invite her to join the Eastern Depot, her eyes lit up like searchlights.

"Yes! A hundred times willing!" She stood up excitedly, the chair legs scraping loudly on the concrete floor. "Director Cheng, I'll report to the Jiangcheng Regiment right away!"

Cheng Xuemin was amused by her posture, gestured for her to sit down, and said, "Don't rush, go home for the New Year first, and discuss it properly with your parents. The Eastern Depot has just been established, and the benefits might not be as good as those at the Yan Film Studio!"

"What are we discussing! My parents have been telling me for a long time that I should follow in the footsteps of a reform and opening-up pioneer like you!" Liu Xiaoli interrupted, then suddenly realized her mistake, her face turning bright red, and said, "What I mean is... if you're born a member of the Eastern Depot, you'll die a ghost of the Eastern Depot!"

The moment he said that, the whole room burst into laughter.

In a panic, she quickly changed her tune, saying, "No! I meant..."

"Alright, alright!" Cheng Xuemin waved his hand dismissively and said to her, "Go home for the New Year first! Discuss it with your family properly, and tell me what you decide after the New Year!"

After making arrangements for Liu Xiaoli and the others and seeing them off, it was already dark.

While in the car, former factory director Wang Yang told Cheng Xuemin that the factory would be on holiday starting tomorrow.

He wasn't at the factory before, so all the New Year's gifts from the factory were taken home by his brother-in-law, Feng Jiazhao.

So everyone will be on holiday tomorrow, so there's no need to come over.

That's why Cheng Xuemin made arrangements for Liu Xiaoli and the others without stopping.

As for New Year's goods?

Of the delegation members who went to Hong Kong this time, only Zhu Lin and Huang Jianzhong, apart from Cheng Xuemin, received New Year's gifts from Yan Film Studio. The others, excluding those from Yan Film Studio, did not receive any.

Cheng Xuemin's Eastern Depot was supposed to issue them a set of gifts, but they had already bought a lot of imported goods for them in Hong Kong, which could be considered as New Year's gifts from the factory.

"Oh dear! Director Cheng, this...this...how could we possibly let you spend your own money to send us New Year's gifts?"

When Zhu Lin and Li Lianjie were in Hong Kong, they had already bought things for them as New Year's gifts.

But the old Party Secretary and the old accountant who stayed at the factory were watching enviously as the neighboring Yanying Factory distributed New Year's goods, while they received nothing.

How could Cheng Xuemin, the factory director, have so disappointed the two veteran comrades?
Furthermore, the Eastern Depot had only just been established and had the financial strength to generate foreign exchange. Not giving the two only veterans in the factory New Year's gifts and making them unable to have a good New Year was definitely a dereliction of duty by Cheng Xuemin, the factory director.

Therefore, when purchasing New Year's goods for all members in Hong Kong, these two elderly comrades who stayed behind were naturally not forgotten.

When Cheng Xuemin arrived at the exact time of his annual leave, he sent them New Year's gifts that he had specially brought from Hong Kong, which deeply moved the two elderly comrades.

These days, celebrating the Lunar New Year isn't about who has more money or more savings!

They're comparing whose company offers better benefits and whose company gives out more and better New Year's gifts!
The two elderly comrades had thought they had no hope for the Spring Festival this year.

But little did they know, their young new factory manager hadn't forgotten about the two old guys and brought them New Year's goods from Hong Kong—all really good stuff!

"Hey, I still have some here?"

When Cheng Xuemin delivered the New Year's goods to the old factory director's office, the old factory director, Wang Yang, was quite surprised and laughed.

"Old Factory Director, you are our East Factory's direct superior. We will definitely make sure you receive all the New Year's gifts and benefits that the East Factory offers!"

"These are some small New Year's gifts I brought back from Hong Kong. Don't think it's too little, old factory director. It's just a small token to celebrate the New Year!" Cheng Xuemin nodded with a smile.

Then he added, "By the way, this bottle of Moutai belongs to the white-collar workers on the plane. I'm also passing it on to you, old factory director, and wishing you a Happy New Year in advance!"

"Alright, alright, you little rascal...you little rascal! I'll take the wine, but you can keep these things. This old man can't accept gifts without having done anything for them!"

The old factory director was very moved, but he only accepted the bottle of Moutai in his hand; he refused to accept any other New Year's gifts brought from Hong Kong.

But since Cheng Xuemin had already mentioned the office building upstairs, there was no reason to bring it up again.

After making a series of refusals, Cheng Xuemin simply drove off in his car, stepping on the gas and speeding away.

"That kid... Happy New Year!"

The old factory director watched the car drive away and shook his head with a smile!
When Cheng Xuemin's car entered the alley, it was already dark, but he could still see his wife, Feng Jiayou, holding their son, Little Squirrel, waiting expectantly at the door.

Upon seeing Cheng Xuemin's car arrive, they quickly came over to greet it.

"Why did you come outside? It's so cold, aren't you afraid of getting cold!" Cheng Xuemin quickly got out of the car, hugged his wife, and said with concern.

It's almost the end of the year, and the weather in Yanjing is exceptionally cold.

Judging from his wife's face, which was red from the cold, she had obviously been waiting at the door for a while!

"I heard from my brother that you came back today. You went to the ministry to report on your work first. I figured you should be back soon, so I came out to greet you with the little squirrel!" said his wife, Feng Jiayou, with great delight.

Then he called to the little squirrel and greeted Cheng Xuemin: "Daddy's back, quickly call out to Daddy!"

But the little squirrel is only seven or eight months old, not even old enough to start babbling yet, so how could it call out "Dad"?

However, she must have recognized her father, as she was laughing and chuckling along with Cheng Xuemin.

"Haha, come on, let's go home with Dad for the New Year!" Cheng Xuemin was so happy that he picked up his son and hugged his wife as they headed into the yard.

His wife, Feng Jiayou, readily took the luggage from his hands and said with a smile, "The whole family has been looking forward to your return!"

"By the way, my sister and brother-in-law went back to the countryside last week for the Chinese New Year. They said it was hard to buy train tickets, so they went back to tidy up the house first. Xiaolian also waited at home for more than ten days during her winter vacation. When she didn't see you, she went back with my brother-in-law and the others first."

Cheng Xuemin nodded, entered the courtyard, and saw his father-in-law, Mr. Feng, sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Upon seeing him enter, Mr. Feng put down the newspaper.

"Scholar, you're back? How's it going in Hong Kong? I heard from your Director Wang that you broke all the box office records there?"

"Not bad, 24 million in 20 days, I estimate it will break 30 million after the New Year." Cheng Xuemin sat down, and Feng Jiayou poured him a cup of hot water. "Dad, how did you know?"

Everyone in the house was obviously waiting for Cheng Xuemin to come back for dinner. His elder brother and sister-in-law, his second elder brother and sister-in-law, his maternal grandparents, his mother-in-law, Feng's mother, and his sister-in-law, Feng Jiamo, all greeted Cheng Xuemin.

Mr. Feng urged Cheng Xuemin to sit down and eat, and then brought up the previous topic, saying, "The planning conference was held in Haizi last week, and they specifically mentioned the issue of foreign exchange earnings. You are definitely a role model."

"At the meeting, it was said that all provinces and units should be encouraged to follow your example and strive to reach a new level in foreign exchange earnings next year."

"Your Eastern Depot, as a pilot unit, has the heaviest workload, with a total budget of thirty million US dollars for the year. This was unanimously approved from above. Haven't you heard about it in the ministry?"

Cheng Xuemin paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded, saying, "When I went to the ministry to report this afternoon, I heard from Old Wu that I had also received a new assignment from the ministry to take over the abandoned 'Shaolin Temple' project in Hong Kong!"

"Shaolin Temple?" Mr. Feng nodded and continued, "I heard from your department that the head of Great Wall Film Company, a left-wing film company in Hong Kong, wants you to strike while the iron is hot and take over the Shaolin Temple production and foreign exchange earnings project!"

"Back then, your department even had someone specifically ask me what my attitude was!"

"I don't have any opinion on this. Anyway, Xuemin, if you want to go, then don't feel pressured to go. No one in the family will hold you back!" The father-in-law's words made Feng's mother and the others nod in agreement.

"Thank you, Dad, thank you, Mom, and Grandpa and Grandma, for your support!" Cheng Xuemin nodded repeatedly, then said, "The market for earning foreign exchange is actually very vast; it's not just movies that can generate foreign exchange..."

"This is what I told the ministry: we plan to use 'Shaolin Temple' to complete the East Depot's overall foreign exchange earnings target, and then strive to expand and open up other foreign exchange earnings battlefields!"

"Xuemin, your idea is excellent. After the New Year, the old man from Haizili is planning to go south for a visit and specifically asked me to accompany him. There might really be some earth-shattering thunder then!" The father-in-law nodded repeatedly and mentioned this to Cheng Xuemin.

The eldest and second brothers-in-law were instantly taken aback, looking at each other in surprise, because their father had kept these words well hidden, never revealing a single word to them, his sons, before.

But as soon as his son-in-law came back and sat down, he immediately told him!
"Really!" Cheng Xuemin was extremely surprised to hear this. He never expected that his father-in-law would actually catch that express train heading south.

That's definitely going to be a super golden opportunity in the future!

Then he quickly said to his father-in-law, "Dad, this is a fantastic opportunity! Going out and seeing the world is really... great!"

Cheng Xuemin didn't know what to say, but this was a golden opportunity to rise to the top.

As long as your father-in-law is caught, don't be fooled by the fact that he's already fifty and knows his destiny!
However, there is still more than a decade of development time, and it is not impossible for him to become a high-ranking official, or even one of the Nine Leaders!

Late at night, under the bedside lamp in her bedroom, Feng Jiayou folded clothes while complaining, "Can you just make a pledge like that? What if you can't keep it?"

Shaolin Temple had a pledge to generate 30 million US dollars in foreign exchange, but Cheng Xuemin didn't dare mention it in the front yard, in front of his father-in-law and the others.

But back in his little house, Cheng Xuemin confessed to his wife.

His wife, Feng Jiayou, was instantly frightened and told him not to complain too much.

Then Cheng Xuemin suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind, and said with a reassuring smile, "If you don't finish, I'll take you to Hong Kong to sell pineapple buns!"

His wife pinched his ear in exasperation: "You're so serious! On the second day of the Lunar New Year, your parents are going back to your hometown to pay New Year's visits. I've already asked someone to buy the tickets!"

You're going back to your hometown in northern Shaanxi for the Lunar New Year on the second day, right?

No wonder the house is piled with all kinds of New Year's goods, big and small. Could it be that they are going to take them all back with them?
After resting at home for one night, Cheng Xuemin went out again early the next morning!
Although everyone outside is on holiday now, Cheng Xuemin has just returned from Hong Kong and has to make an appearance at Yenching University.

After all, Cheng Xuemin's current situation is exactly the same as Li Lianjie's!

Although Li Lianjie is now a member of the Eastern Depot, her workplace is still tied to the Sports and Education Commission.

Cheng Xuemin is the same!
Although he left Yanying Studio to start his own business and take charge of the East Depot, his work unit, household registration, and school registration are still with Yenching University.

Moreover, as a freshman of Yenching University in 79, I hadn't spent many days at the school or seriously studied for more than a few days.

Cheng Xuemin didn't even take the final exams, and he didn't know whether his computer science student status was still valid.

So I have to make an appearance at Yenching University no matter what.

However, the school started its holiday earlier than other institutions, so Cheng Xuemin couldn't find anyone to report to the department leaders.

Finally, I found the head of the Chinese Department, Lao Yang, in the faculty and staff residential area!

As soon as Lao Yang saw Cheng Xuemin, he jokingly asked, "Are you here to pick up the New Year's gifts from the school? Didn't your wife, Feng Jiayou, already take them home?"

Cheng Xuemin knew that the department head was joking with him, and he also knew that Yenching University had indeed given him, as a specially appointed lecturer, a New Year's gift, which his wife and the others had already taken home.

"Haha, just kidding!" Director Yang laughed again, lightly punching Cheng Xuemin on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "You, Cheng Xuemin! You've achieved so much outside, and you're only now thinking about coming back to school!"

"Director Yang, I'm so busy, I can't even hear my own feet!" Cheng Xuemin chuckled sheepishly. Actually, he had come to Yenching University to report and say hello before going to Hong Kong.

Then, laughing and joking, he said, "I came back to retake the exam, but I found that the school has already started winter break, and I can't find a single teacher in the computer science department!"

"A makeup exam?!"

Director Yang nodded repeatedly as if he had heard the funniest joke, and said, "You really do need to retake the exam, and you need to take it properly!"

"Well then, there's no time like the present, let's do it today! I'll give you a proper make-up exam!!"

Is it really a retake?

Cheng Xuemin didn't expect that his joke would actually lead Director Yang to make him retake the exam.

Finally, the so-called make-up exam was just a meal at the Changzheng Restaurant outside, which was paid for by Lao Yang!
This made Cheng Xuemin feel quite embarrassed!

When Cheng Xuemin returned home after lunch, he found that a distinguished guest had come to visit!
My aunt, Gu Qiuna, has returned to China!
"Auntie, you...you...when did you get back? I...we just got back to Beijing from Hong Kong yesterday!"

Cheng Xuemin never expected that his aunt Gu Qiuna would return from the United States and arrive home right after him!

"I know!"

Aunt Gu Qiuna's face was also beaming with joy. She then said to Cheng Xuemin, "I landed in Hong Kong last night and just arrived at the Xinhua News Agency branch when I found out that you flew to Shanghai this morning. We were so close!"

"If I had known I should have sent you a telegram, I wouldn't have thought of giving you such a big surprise!"

Aunt Gu Qiuna was also very upset. Last night, she flew from the United States and immediately went to the Hong Kong branch of the mainland's highest-ranking agency in Hong Kong to apply for entry for family visits and work coordination.

She then learned that her nephew-in-law, Cheng Xuemin, whom she was supposed to meet, had just flown from Hong Kong to Shanghai that morning.

Moreover, I heard that my nephew-in-law Cheng Xuemin and his entourage have been in Hong Kong for more than 20 days, and the release of Tai Chi in Hong Kong has broken various records in the Hong Kong film market.

Aunt Gu Qiuna was so excited when she heard this that she should have flown to Hong Kong much earlier if she had known that her nephew-in-law was in Hong Kong!

"A big surprise?! Auntie, what big surprise have you brought us?"

Because Aunt Gu Qiuna had only been in the family for a short time, she hadn't had a chance to say anything yet, and the family members, including Feng Jiayou, hadn't had a chance to ask.

Hearing what Aunt Gu Qiuna said, the whole family was overjoyed and asked expectantly.

"Auntie, Auntie, has everything been arranged for me to study abroad in the US?" Following her sister's question, the impatient sister-in-law, Feng Jiamo, eagerly asked.
"Didn't your mother tell you about your plans to study abroad? She's planning to wait until you finish your four-year undergraduate degree at Yenching University before considering going abroad!"

Aunt Gu Qiuna shook her head directly, replied to her sister-in-law Feng Jiamo, and then looked at Feng Jiayou and Cheng Xuemin and said, "Xuemin Jiayou, the song 'Yesterday Once Again' that you gave me before, I've got it released in North America!"

"Guess how many US dollars it sold for?"

……

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