Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 392 I'll stand at the door and be your lion!
As Jiang Feng read it aloud, he exclaimed, "Oh!"
"That's a pretty good opening! It's got substance!"

"I really can't make this up anymore," Chen Luyang said with a bitter face. "The words are swirling in my head, but I just can't seem to put them down."

Jiang Feng chuckled, leaned back on the headboard, and picked up his notebook to look at it, as if he had returned to the policy research office, looking like he was pondering and drafting materials.

"Your topic is good! The policy direction is right and it has a strong sense of the times. However, the language rhythm needs to be more concise, the brand name needs to be more recognizable, and the sentences need to be shorter."

"What do you mean?" Chen Luyang asked.

Jiang Feng thought for a moment, then opened his mouth and said:
"With a dual-track pricing system in place, grain coupons gradually turned into money!"

"The principles of planned economics, but not the fear of market reforms!"

Oh dear?!
Chen Luyang's eyes lit up: "Brother Jiang, the tune you wrote sounds better than mine!"

Jiang Feng grinned, put the notebook on his lap, and looked pleased with himself for being praised.

"Have you forgotten what I used to do? In our place, we wrote more reports in a year than you tightened screws in your workshop."

"I think our program... if we really explain the reforms thoroughly, it might actually do quite well."

After saying that, Jiang Feng recited another sentence to himself:
"The era of ration coupons is over; let's talk about confessions and sales today."

As soon as he finished reading, Chen Luyang couldn't help but say, "Brother Jiang, if you're going to keep going like this, why don't you just finish writing it all in one go!"

Jiang Feng was taken aback, then smiled and waved his hand, pretending to refuse: "I just made this up on the spot. If you really asked me to sit down and write it down, I would have to think about it for a long time."

Seeing that there was a capable person by his side, how could Chen Luyang possibly let him go!
"Brother Jiang, you're the only one in our group with this talent. With you involved, the show is guaranteed to be a success. I struggle all day trying to come up with something, and it's nothing compared to how fluently you speak just a few words. Please help me out!"

Jiang Feng was already getting a headache from reading "Das Kapital" and wanted to clear his head.

"...Alright, I'm itching to write anyway. Does anyone have any paper? I'll try writing three paragraphs tonight. If I'm going to write, I'll write something decent."

Chen Luyang slapped a stack of papers from the bedside table and presented them with both hands, as if handing over a military order.

"Brother Jiang, if our show becomes a hit, I'll treat you to lamb spine hot pot!"

Jiang Feng took the paper: "No need for the lamb spine hotpot, just explain to me what surplus value is later. I've been studying Capital these past few days, and I keep getting these two things, 'labor creates value' and 'labor power itself becomes a commodity,' are really getting to me. How exactly do they relate to the extra money capitalists make?"

After listening, Chen Luyang didn't hesitate for a moment and said, "Actually, this is very simple."

“Think of it this way: if one person in the factory works eight hours a day and produces eight products, the factory pays him six yuan a month. That six yuan can buy him a day’s food, coal, and clothes. That’s the money to ‘keep him alive and able to work.’”

“But the factory sold these eight products and made twelve yuan—the extra six yuan was not earned through his labor, but by the capitalists through his ‘free work’.”

"That extra bit is the surplus value."

Jiang Feng paused for a moment, then asked, "You mean, you can't get the portion created by the workers?"

Chen Luyang: "That's right."

"Hey...you're pretty good, Xiao Chen!" Jiang Feng laughed.
“We’ve studied these things before, but after going through a set of logical deductions, all I can remember is ‘remaining,’ but no one really knows exactly what’s left over.”

"If you can explain it to me clearly, I'll have plenty of material to write for this clapper talk!"

Chen Luyang boasted a little: "As long as you can write a rhythmic storytelling performance, I can tell you the whole story of Das Kapital."

The two were chatting,

Suddenly, Wu Dechen, who was in the next bed, closed his book, poked his head out of his bed, and said:

“Now that you mention it, I’m reminded of when I was explaining policies in the village before. A farmer asked me, ‘Why is the wheat I grow becoming less and less valuable?’ I said that these days, more wheat is being sold, and the grain station can’t keep up with the demand, so the price has been driven down. But he replied, ‘I didn’t grow any more wheat, so why is there more?’ I really didn’t know what to say at the time.”

"If this storytelling is really going to talk about reform, we have to say these things clearly so that everyone can understand them."

The more Jiang Feng listened, the brighter his eyes became.

"What we're talking about is what we call a 'frontline report on reform'!"

Studying these things is much more enjoyable than writing abstract theoretical research!
Hearing everyone discussing the program for the welcome party, Nicholas Teo also put down his copy of "Das Kapital":
“Since Xiao Jiang is writing the clapper talk, then I’ll be in charge of the rhythm, flow, organization, and arrangement! I’ll handle the transitions, gestures, order of appearance, and positioning for each segment. Otherwise, the audience will get confused if Zhang San comes on stage one minute and Li Si comes on the next.”

Tao Runze joined in: "Then I'll be in charge of training everyone's posture."

"Huh?" Chen Luyang's mouth dropped open.

"Don't say 'ah' or anything." Tao Runze grinned, revealing a set of perfectly aligned teeth.

“When I used to organize the commune’s peasant representative meeting, we would rehearse the opening applause routine before the meeting. I would have everyone practice for three days, so that our posture was spirited and our slogans were in unison. Everyone would say that our class had a lot of presence.”

Chen Luyang: ...Okay!

As long as you're willing to put in the effort, you can do anything!

“I can have some too,” Pan Yu said, looking up.

“When I was the workshop director, the factory had a propaganda team. I organized people to rehearse on stage. I know how to set the rhythm for your performance, when to go on stage, how many steps to take, how many times to wave your hands, and I will give you instructions.”

Wu Dechen also put down "Das Kapital" and said with a smile, "Then I'll practice everyone's Mandarin, so that when we shout slogans, 'market' becomes 'four fields' and 'economy' becomes 'refined'."

……

The dormitory suddenly became lively.

What was originally a one-person job has now been taken over by six people, and the rhythm has suddenly become smooth.

Chen Luyang sat on the edge of the bed, watching the older guys in the dormitory chattering amongst themselves as they each took on their tasks.

The warmth in my heart was like the steaming dumplings just taken out of the pot.

He suddenly stood up and slammed his hand on the table:
"If our class doesn't stand out at this year's welcome party, I, Chen Luyang, will treat you all to douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) at Tiananmen Square!!"

"No need!!!" The dormitory staff's eyelids twitched, and their tone changed.

"Xiao Chen, even if the welcome party didn't go well, what grudge do we have that warrants us going to drink soy milk in front of Chairman Mao?"

Tao Runze instantly adopted the demeanor of a commune secretary giving a report to the masses on their thoughts.
He earnestly and patiently persuaded people to do good!
"Yes, Little Chen, Chairman Mao likes braised pork, so we'll make braised pork."

Village Party Secretary Wu Dechen also spoke softly and gently, trying to persuade him.

"...Okay! Then let's change it to braised pork!"

Chen Luyang was full of vigor and high spirits.

"If the welcome party goes well, we'll have a three-day feast! Braised pork every day!"

……

As the first all-staff activity of Class 421, it was also the first large-scale event in which the Economics Department (1) class appeared in front of all teachers and students of the school.

Whenever they had free time, they would study the program flow and arrange the personnel's positions. When a few mediocre people got together, they actually came up with a lot of good ideas.

Pan Yu is even more amazing!
Over the weekend, I went straight back to the machine tool factory and quietly welded a few flip plates, gears, and light boxes to bring back.

Everything else is negotiable.
The lightbox is absolutely amazing.

It's quite simple: just wrap wire in colored paper, connect a small circuit inside, and make a light-up sign that reads "Reform and Opening Up".

When the power is connected, the little colored lights on the lightbox will flash brightly and crackle, looking festive and eye-catching!
Chen Luyang fiddled with the switch back and forth, watching the colored lights flash on and off, and said happily:

"Director Pan's skills are truly superb!"

Pan Yu laughed: "Are you trying to insult people? You can make this little thing by yourself."

Chen Luyang, her heart fluttering, whispered, "Could you get me two lions?"

Pan Yu thought she had misheard: "What did you say? What are you going to do?" Chen Luyang said shyly: "A lion, a small one will do..."

Pan Yu hesitated and asked, "Alive?"

Chen Luyang shook his head frantically: "Why would I do something like this? It's dead!"

Seeing that Pan Yu's expression was getting weirder and weirder, Chen Luyang quickly said, "Brother, the entrance to my repair center is a bit bald. I've been thinking of getting some little lions and big eagles or something to ward off evil spirits. Brother Pan, can you think of a way for me?"

Pan Yu: "Let's wait until the 11th."

Chen Luyang's eyes lit up!
This looks promising.

Just as he was about to express his gratitude, Pan Yu said:
"Wait until the National Day holiday, I'll stand outside your repair center like a lion."

Chen Luyang's smile froze.

"No need, no need."

……

As Jiang Feng's fast-paced storytelling took shape,
Chen Luyang has also prepared his interpretation of Samuelson's economics for the next episode.

This time, Chen Luyang learned from the lessons of her first two lectures.

Although he is very good at languages
However, interpreting English on the spot and providing the most logical explanation based on the context of the paragraphs is quite a mentally taxing task.

To make things easier for myself,
Also, in order to be more prepared and deliver lectures with confidence,

Chen Luyang stayed up several nights in a row to translate Samuelson's next chapter into Chinese and write it down.

Thanks to my previous work as a translator at the provincial machinery factory, I developed a fast typing speed.

Now, when Chen Luyang is in a hurry to finish this kind of work, he can write it down in no time, and he can finish most of the manuscript in just a few days.

While Chen Luyang was preparing her speech,
Tao Runze and Wen Ruijie each organized several class leaders from the Economics Department and the Philosophy Department to apply for large classrooms in their respective departments.

Although the large classrooms in the philosophy department are quite spacious.

However, as more and more people began lecturing, the philosophy department's classrooms became insufficient.

However, the application process for classrooms is not so easy.

You need to submit a written application to the department first. After the department approves it in a meeting, it can then be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Classroom use can only be approved after the school administration office has allocated classroom usage tables and confirmed that there are vacant classrooms.

Just in case the application fails, the class monitors of the two majors decided to work together and apply separately.

We should be able to apply for a classroom.

When Mr. Shang, the class teacher of Economics Department (1), submitted the application written by Tao Runze and others to the department, the teachers of Economics Department were preparing lessons, writing papers, and some were even listening to the radio.

When Zhang Guozhen, the head of the Economics Department, first received the application, he thought it was a student organizing an activity and didn't take it seriously at all.

After he finished reading, he asked:

"Is there someone named Chen Luyang in our department?"

Lian Yinghua, who was looking down at her homework, looked up: "My student, what's wrong?"

Zhang Guozhen lowered his head and smiled, "Your student is going to give lectures to the Economics and Philosophy departments."

What?!!?

Lian Yinghua stared at Zhang Guozhen in astonishment, thinking she had misheard.

The other teachers in the office also cast curious glances their way.

Zhang Guozhen handed the application to Lian Yinghua and said with a smile, "Your student is remarkable. You're only a freshman and you already dare to apply for a classroom to give lectures and open courses to the Economics and Philosophy departments."

Lian Yinghua took the application and read it aloud: "An introduction to Samuelson's original works on economics...?"

"Pfft!"

The Western economics professor chuckled: "Yinghua! Your teaching isn't working either!"

"It's obvious that the lectures were too superficial, and the students weren't satisfied, so they simply started their own courses."

The accounting professor quipped, with a hint of sarcasm, "Our school has a lot of students giving presentations and having lots of discussions, but few actually give lectures... but this is the first time we've ever had someone apply to give a lecture in a large classroom!"

A Chinese economic history teacher chimed in: "Hey, Mr. Lian, what kind of course is this? People listen to your lectures during the day, and then you have to give the whole department the same lectures again at night."

Lian Yinghua retorted, "What do you know! I'm just trying to inspire the students' academic enthusiasm."

The accounting professor chuckled, "Yinghua! Now that students are offering their own courses, shouldn't you talk to him next and make sure you don't repeat yourself?"

Lian Yinghua listened to everyone's teasing, but instead of getting angry, she picked up her pen and wrote two big characters on the application form in a flamboyant style.

agree.

"!?? You actually agree?" the Western economics professor asked in surprise.

"Why don't you agree!"

Lian Yinghua rolled her eyes at her Western economics professor: "My students are already lecturing, while your students are still just taking notes!"

hiss……!
That's incredibly vulgar!
The economics professor was skeptical: "...No, he's a freshman, how could he understand Samuelson?"

Lian Yinghua rolled her eyes at the individual economics teacher: "I'm his teacher, do you think I don't know whether he understands it or not?"

Looking at the word "Agreed" on the application form, Zhang Guozhen gently shook his head:

"I've never heard of having a freshman lecture on the original text before."

Lian Yinghua's thick, broom-like eyebrows furrowed!
Just as he was about to speak in rebuttal,
Then Zhang Guozhen said softly:

"Times are changing, and if students are willing to come up, we must be willing to use them."

"Only by daring to use it can we have a future."

agree.

……

Meanwhile, the philosophy department's classroom application was also successfully approved, and both applications were submitted to the school office together.

"Chen Luyang...why does that name sound so familiar!"

Looking at the classroom applications submitted by the Economics Department and the Philosophy Department respectively, Director Feng of the School Affairs Office asked a question in puzzlement.

"Xiao Xu, among the projects for which the publishing house applied for funding in the first half of the year, was there a cassette tape that recorded Chen Luyang's book?"

Upon hearing Director Feng's question, a junior clerk sitting near the door quickly flipped through his records and replied:
"Yes, the author of the book 'Practical English Communication Handbook' published by the publisher is Chen Luyang."

Director Feng raised an eyebrow and turned to ask, "Which large classroom doesn't have classes this Friday evening?"

The junior staff member quickly checked the spreadsheet: "There are no classes in Lecture Hall 102 of the Third Teaching Building."

Director Feng picked up a pen and wrote his name on the application form: "Give them room 102."

(End of this chapter)