Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 489 Your Second Son is on the Radio?

The waiting area for the contestants behind the soundproof curtain
Many contestants were sitting according to their assigned numbers, holding manuscripts in their hands. Some were reciting with their eyes closed, while others were rubbing their hands, lost in thought.

Those who received good news peeked through the crack and saw Chen Luyang sitting on the judges' panel with several teachers.

As the lights outside the soundproof curtain suddenly dimmed, a ring of overhead lights illuminated the broadcasting room, shining on the judges' seats and the center of the stage.

There were also two large floor-standing microphones in the corner.

“Look at those two signal cables. They’re supposed to be connected to the first set of the central radio station simultaneously, and even the school broadcasting stations are connected to them simultaneously.”

"Really? Then we can hear it all over the country?"

"No!"

"Our school's Youth League Committee said that the recording of this competition will be included in the 'College Language Communication Demonstration Material Library,' and the best selections can be used as teaching examples."

"Really?!!"

"..."

Just then, the red light in front of the microphone on the stage suddenly turned on.

The host came on stage.

Good morning, listeners and friends.

"This is the studio of China People's Broadcasting Station. You are listening to the live broadcast of the 'National College English Speech Contest'."

"This competition was hosted by the Ministry of Education and co-organized by China National Radio. Outstanding students from 18 universities across the country gathered together to showcase the spirit and expressive abilities of college students in the new era through language and thought."

"We welcome the teams from eighteen key universities, including Peking University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Zhejiang University, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhejiang University, and Hongjin Foreign Languages ​​Institute."

"Now, please allow me to introduce the judges present today. They are:..."

On the radio,
The host's voice came through the static.

When I heard the words "Chen Luyang from Peking University",
Niu Jiangang, Bai Xiaofan, Zhou Ying, Xiao Wu's third grandfather, and the male classmate whose name had been forgotten but was once again forgotten all looked up, staring at the radio in surprise.

Not only them, but almost every student at the provincial university looked on with surprise.

In this National Higher Education Foreign Language English Speech Contest, Yu Xin, a senior student from their school, traveled all the way to Pian'er City to participate.

Today, every single student at the provincial university was glued to the radio, cheering for Yu Xin.

But who would have thought,

There was an unexpected bonus: I heard the name Chen Luyang here!
At this time, the provincial machinery factory compound,
Old Tian, ​​Song Liaosha, and a few young men from the security department were fiddling with the radio antenna.

"Uncle Tian, ​​is your radio working properly?! Why is it making a crackling sound?"

Song Liaosha couldn't hold it in any longer.

"If your radio doesn't work, I'll go back and get mine."

Old Tian looked down and fiddled with the antenna, complaining:
"What's the rush?! I just need to find the right angle for this antenna."

A dozen or so people surrounded Old Tian's radio, watching him fiddle with the antenna and adjust the pointer as if he were performing a spell.

After unleashing a whole array of skills, finally…!

Chen Luyang's voice came over the radio:

"Dear teachers and students, good afternoon! I am Chen Luyang, a freshman from the Department of Economics at Peking University. It is a great honor to participate in today's judging process, and I am also very happy to have the opportunity to witness the brilliance and power of language communication with peers from all over the country. I hope that we can all gain sincerity, progress, and friendship from today's competition. Thank you!"

What the hell!

"Brother Chen!! It's Brother Chen making noise!!!"

Song Liaosha and the others' eyes lit up immediately, and they urged Old Tian to turn up the radio volume!
At this time in the cafeteria
Feng Jiuxiang was also adjusting the station while sweating profusely.

Yesterday, my second son called home and said he was going to be on the radio today, and asked them to keep an eye on him.

But you know, this disappointing radio...

Placing ozone layers in the air is fine, whether it's useful or not, it won't cause any problems.

But they always mess things up when it comes to the crucial moments!
"Jiuxiang, what are you changing the channel for? We were enjoying listening to 'The Three Heroes and Five Gallants' so much, why are you changing the channel?"

Mrs. Wang asked curiously as she peeled the potatoes.

Although the factory has regulations that require strict work discipline during working hours.

However, the kitchen in the cafeteria is not like a factory, and the working atmosphere is much more relaxed.

It's normal for everyone to chat and work while listening to the radio in the afternoon.

"My second child is on the radio today, I'll listen."

As Feng Jiuxiang spoke, she tuned the radio to the China Central Radio Station.

Is your second child on the radio?
Mrs. Wang and the others were stunned.

"Didn't your second child already make the newspapers? How come he's on the radio too!?"

Feng Jiuxiang rolled her eyes at her friend: "What? Just because you're in the newspaper doesn't mean you can't be on the radio? My second son will be on TV in the future!"

Mrs. Wang remained silent.

If anyone else had bragged like that, they would have been wiped out long ago.

But Feng Jiuxiang's family... well, it's hard to say.

After Feng Jiuxiang finally tuned the radio, they missed Chen Luyang's introduction segment on the broadcast.

We proceeded directly to the contestants' presentations.

The people in the cafeteria listened intently for a long time.
But it was all in English, and I couldn't understand a word.

Gradually,
Someone in the cafeteria said, "Jiuxiang, this stuff is too high-tech, we can't understand it! Can you play something we can understand?"

"Exactly! What on earth is this all about?"

"How about we change the channel, and then switch it back when the commercials start?"

……

Listening to everyone's comments, Feng Jiuxiang felt a little embarrassed.

It's really not very ethical to make everyone listen to English with her.

Just as Feng Jiuxiang was about to hold on and listen for one more minute, the host spoke up!

"Thank you, Li Hui, for your wonderful speech."

"Now, please welcome our special guest judge today, Ms. Chen Luyang, author of 'The Practical English Communication Handbook,' to give her comments."

Upon hearing her son's name, Feng Jiuxiang's eyes lit up!
The next moment, Chen Luyang's warm and friendly voice came from the broadcast:

"This contestant's expression was very clear, with almost no slips of the tongue, and the sentences were logically organized."

"But in practical application, as you just mentioned, when you gave directions to foreigners, you used the phrase 'I told him to go straight and then turn right at the big shop.'"

"The sentence is correct, and the structure is clear. But if you want the other person to feel more comfortable and hear it more like everyday conversation, we can make it a little more conversational."

He paused, slowing his speech:
"For example, you could say: 'Just go straight—there's a small store on your right—it's right next to it.'"

Or, to put it more simply: 'It's a white building with red signs—you can't miss it.'

……

"Oh my! It's my second son, it really is my second son!"

Feng Jiuxiang's eyes lit up immediately!

When I heard Chen Luyang speak English
That English, which sounded like a foreign devil chanting scriptures, suddenly became as melodious and pleasant as a babbling brook!
How beautiful!
It sounds absolutely wonderful!

Perhaps it's the filter of elders, or perhaps it's because what Chen Luyang said was really good.

Not only did Feng Jiuxiang find it pleasant to listen to, but even Mrs. Wang thought the tone of voice was very soothing.

Now, the people in the cafeteria looked at Feng Jiuxiang with envy once again.

That son of the Chen family is really something!

Not only are they publishing books, but now they can even appear on the radio as judges.

…… at the same time,

Inside a small department store under the jurisdiction of a subdistrict office in the provincial capital.

Chen Jinyue was leading a junior staff member to check the merchandise registration and income and expenditure records in the store.

Since the establishment of the "Office for the Management of Individual and Private Economy",
As the deputy director, she took on heavy responsibilities, visiting many small shops these days to coordinate procedures and explain policies.
Today, she visited a small shop that had just obtained its business license. As soon as she entered, she heard a fluent English broadcast coming from the radio next to the counter.

"You're listening to English broadcasts?" Chen Jinyue said with a smile.

"Yes! We should learn!"

The shop owner, a man in his thirties, rubbed his hands together with a smile.

"Everyone's talking about reform and opening up these days, and we also have to do business with foreign guests. If we don't learn more, how can we dare to say a word!"

Chen Jinyue laughed when he heard this: "Yes, there are many opportunities now, and it's always good to have more skills."

The two chatted as they walked toward the shelves.

The junior staff member was checking the goods, while Chen Jinyue was looking down at the purchase book.
Suddenly, the radio host's voice rang out:
"—Professor Chen Luyang, a judge from Peking University—"

moment,

Chen Jinyue paused, then suddenly looked up.

"Huh? What's wrong, Director Chen?"

The shop owner noticed that she had stopped moving and found it a bit strange.

"It's nothing, I just thought this person spoke really good English."

As Chen Jinyue listened to Chen Luyang's voice coming from the radio, disbelief flickered in her beautiful eyes.

Her eyebrows curved into a smile, her face beaming with sweetness and joy.

Her son, Xiao Chen, is really amazing!

The smile held a hint of slight dissatisfaction.
Judges of the National Higher Education English Competition...

Why didn't you tell me about something this big?!

If she hadn't happened to be outside today and heard the broadcast, she would have missed it!
Although she harbored a slight resentment, the simple and honest shopkeeper beside her excitedly spoke up:

"I know this judge; he's from Northeast China!"

"I even taught a course at the provincial university before, and it was quite popular!"

“I once snatched a copy of the book he wrote. I heard that he used to work at the Songting Hotel, and he learned all his skills there.”

"You know, there are so many foreigners in those hotels every day. I'm tempted to go in and shut up a few of them and practice my verbal skills."

……

As Chen Jinyue listened to his boss's words, the corners of his eyes curved more and more.

However, after the boss said, "I even want to go in and shut up those foreigners to practice my verbal skills,"

She couldn't help but laugh out loud, and gently waved her hand:

"The Songting Hotel is very strictly managed; you can't just walk in whenever you want."

"If you really dive in headfirst, you'll be asked to leave before you even open your mouth."

……

At this time, in the Songting Hotel,

Zhu Xinghuo was sitting in front of the radio, with a pen and notebook in front of him, listening intently.

Beside him were English vocabulary words and Chen Luyang's "English Communication Handbook," the manuscript paper filled with words and phrases to be memorized.

As reform and opening up have deepened, hotels have been receiving more and more foreign guests, and foreign experts, businessmen and journalists have been coming and going more and more frequently.

In addition to the provincial government receiving visiting delegations from foreign sister cities and engaging in exchanges with friendship associations,
This year, the Provincial Dahe Engineering has had many collaborative projects with engineers and experts from East Germany, and all of these experts stayed at the Songting Hotel.

Furthermore, the provincial capital will host an import and export commodity exhibition next year, at which time many foreign guests will stay at the hotel.

This requires hotel staff to have a certain level of foreign language communication skills.

Moreover, now everyone in the province knows that Songting Restaurant produced a writer named Chen Luyang, which has raised their expectations for Songting Restaurant even higher.

J,

Anyone who says they are an employee of Songting Hotel has to stand in front of the dining table and perform a short English skit for everyone during holidays.

This is really frustrating for everyone...

Everyone is under a lot of pressure.

Whenever I have free time, I pick up a foreign language book and start learning.

Zhu Xinghuo was the most diligent and hardworking student here.

Not only do they study diligently, but they also have exceptional self-learning abilities.

Speaking of,
Of the original three members of Songting, Chen Luyang and Song Liaosha were both wolf hunters in the college entrance examination.

He was the only one who got into the technical school through the proper entrance exam.

Although their academic performance is not as good as those students who get into the provincial university.

However, since his foundation is the best among the three, it is relatively easier for him to learn.

Over the loudspeaker, the contestants and Chen Luyang offered their comments one after another.

Outside the broadcast, he held a pen and paper, following along sentence by sentence.

When he encountered a part he didn't understand, he would leave it blank.

Wang Tongchu, the current general manager of Songting Hotel, specially invited a foreign language teacher from the provincial university to give lessons to the employees.

Later, Zhu Xinghuo can collect all the things she doesn't know or understand and ask the teacher.

I'm listening.
Suddenly, a junior employee came over: "Brother Zhu, those East Germans went to the restaurant for lunch, and the manager wants you to keep an eye on them."

"Okay! I'll go right away."

Zhu Xinghuo turned off the radio and quickly got up and ran to the restaurant.

Although he doesn't speak German
However, after several visits with professors from the provincial university and the engineering department,
Zhu Xinghuo listened to their usual greetings, memorized them, and then tried to greet the East German engineers later.

The results were surprisingly good!

Several engineers also warmly returned Zhu Xinghuo's greeting.

Others who don't know might think they're fluent in German!

However, Zhu Xinghuo was also willing to go all out; after he finished speaking German, he switched to English.

If that doesn't work, then try reading between the lines.

He was also able to roughly analyze the demands of these people.

……

night
Under the snow-covered streetlights,

Feng Jiuxiang and her eldest daughter returned home arm in arm, carrying groceries and chatting happily.

"Really?! Our second son actually spoke on the radio?!"

Chen Lihong's face was red from the cold, and her big, bright eyes looked at her mother with surprise and delight!
"Absolutely! He speaks foreign languages ​​so beautifully!"

Feng Jiuxiang said with a proud look, "That Mrs. Wang said that our second son speaks a foreign language better than anyone else!"

Chen Lihong laughed: "Of course! Our second son is a writer, how could he not speak more fluently than others!"

The mother and daughter talked as they pushed open the gate to the courtyard.

At this moment, Chen Dazhi, wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat and wearing a small cotton-padded hat, was bending over and carrying firewood to the kitchen, preparing to start a fire and cook.

Feng Jiuxiang laughed: "Oh dear, why did you suddenly decide to cook today!"

(End of this chapter)