I farmed in military academy and crushed the entire intergalactic world.

Chapter 605 Digging and Digging

At the entrance of the Changchun Workers' Cultural Palace, crowds stretched onto the road.

Lin Xiaohe's car was stuck in traffic 300 meters away.

Driver Lao Li honked the horn twice, but the crowd in front didn't budge.

Chen Guang, who was in the passenger seat, jumped out of the car to take a look. When he came back, he was shocked: "Boss, the line of people stretched from the Cultural Palace all the way to Renmin Street. There were at least four or five hundred people. They said they were here to get coupons for mobile phones."

The Jilin Provincial Post and Telecommunications Administration's promotional event for PHS (Personal Handyphone System) was originally planned for 200 people, but nearly 600 people showed up.

The staff at the cultural center temporarily added two rows of plastic benches, so some people stood, some squatted, and some simply sat on the ground.

Lin Xiaohe entered through the side door; a demonstration was underway on the stage.

A young man in a suit held a mobile phone, dialed a number, and a clear dial tone came from the receiver. "Cordless phone, mobile calling, one-way billing, monthly fee of twenty." With each sentence he spoke, people in the audience whispered among themselves.

"More than ten times cheaper than the old-fashioned mobile phone."

"I heard it can be used as a landline phone and can be taken out with you."

"Liaoyang Province launched it last year, and it works well."

Lin Xiaohe stood backstage, looking out through the gap in the curtain.

Dozens of people in overalls sat in the front row, wearing the emblem of Changchun First Automobile Works pinned to their chests. Next to them were representatives of employees from local state-owned enterprises such as Jilin Chemical Industry Company and Changchun Bus Factory.

Chen Guang leaned closer and said, "The people from the post office said that more than 30 union chairmen from various companies came today to discuss group purchases. FAW Changchun asked for 2,000 units right off the bat."

The person on stage changed; it was a female engineer in her fifties, wearing a faded blue cotton jacket.

She didn't have a script, and her voice wasn't loud, but the whole room fell silent: "I'm a retired engineer from Changchun Semiconductor Factory. Last month, the factory gave each of our key technical staff a mobile phone so we could use it for business. Before, when I went to meet clients, I had to call a landline to schedule a time, and if they weren't in the office, I couldn't reach them. Now it's much better; I can contact them anytime and reschedule anytime. Last month, I closed three deals, more than I did in the year before I retired."

She paused, her eyes a little red: "Our factory used to be on the verge of collapse. Now we make PHS chargers, and we can produce 50,000 a month. The workers' wages have increased from 180 to 400, and young people don't have to go out to work anymore."

Applause erupted from the audience. Someone stood up and shouted, "Our factory also wants to supply components; who should we contact?"

The venue instantly buzzed with excitement. Some raised their hands to ask about technical specifications, others inquired about franchise terms, and still others pulled out pens to jot down phone numbers. Lin Xiaohe noticed a few young men in jackets huddled together in the back row, whispering amongst themselves.

"Welcome to the forest area!" Chen Guang's father smiled broadly, his face crinkling with wrinkles. He stretched out his hand and strode over from more than ten meters away.

"Lin Qu, would you like to come up on stage and say a few words?"

Lin Xiaohe declined, saying, "This is the result of the hard work of Jilin Province and Director Chen. What would I do up there?"

Director Chen spoke in a very pleasant tone: "Without the support of the forest area, there wouldn't be such a booming sales of our Jilin Province's mobile phones. You are the biggest contributor today!"

After the two exchanged pleasantries, Director Chen arranged for several directors from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to accompany Lin Xiaohe. It wasn't me giving Chen Guang a meaningful look that prompted her to rush off to take charge of the overall situation.

With Liaoyang Province setting an example, Jilin Telecom went all out to promote PHS (Personal Handyphone System), and the results were naturally amazing, achieving outstanding results.

Director Chen was all smiles and insisted on treating everyone to dinner. Dinner was arranged at the Changchun Hotel; the private room wasn't large, with six people sitting at a round table.

Besides Lin Xiaohe and Chen Guang, there were also several section chiefs from the Jilin Provincial Post and Telecommunications Bureau and the Provincial Planning Commission.

Director Chen was in his early fifties, with a round face. When he smiled, he looked like a Maitreya Buddha, but his words were always perfectly tactful.

"Forestry District, on behalf of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Jilin Province, I would like to thank you for today's meeting." Director Chen raised his glass. "This kind of mobile phone has really been a lifesaver for us here."

He put down his cup and counted on his fingers: "The Changchun Semiconductor Factory used to be half-shut down, with over 800 workers waiting for their meals. Since they got the order for PHS chargers, the production line is now running in three shifts, and workers' wages have doubled. There's a plastic factory in JL City that makes PHS casings; they used to produce basins and thermos flasks, but now they do precision injection molding, and they just bought new equipment last month. There's also an electronic component factory in Siping that makes PHS batteries. All these factories are thriving!"

Sitting opposite him, Director Li from the post office chimed in, "Director Chen isn't exaggerating. We've done the math; just the supply chain for PHS phones alone will create over forty new businesses across the province, providing nearly 20,000 jobs. Most importantly, these phones are cheap, and ordinary people can afford them. At FAW in Changchun, three out of ten workers now carry a PHS phone. Two years ago, who would have dared to imagine that?"

Director Chen placed a piece of sweet and sour pork on Lin Xiaohe's plate and said casually, "Linqu, I've heard about what's going on in your Tienan District. Moving east and building west—a good idea, but there's a lot of resistance, right?"

Lin Xiaohe paused with her chopsticks: "You're very well-informed."

“Those of us in this line of work, how could we not be well-informed?” Director Chen laughed. “That’s why I invited you here. There’s no rush with the Tiexi District matter, take your time. But I have to say something from the bottom of my heart. Changhong was able to develop LCD TVs and make such a big splash in Tienan. That skill is a treasure anywhere.”

He put down his chopsticks and said seriously, “Our Jilin Province has just as many state-owned enterprises as Liaoning, and their situation isn’t any better than yours, but the province is determined and has flexible policies. If you’re willing to come, the province can arrange for you to become the deputy director of the Provincial State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, or directly as the vice mayor of CC City in charge of industry. Your position and rank are negotiable. As for benefits, the province can provide you with a car and housing, and your salary will be at the level of a deputy director-general. Regarding your connection with Changhong Factory, the province will help you coordinate so you can retain your status as a technical advisor.”

The private room fell silent.

The section chiefs exchanged glances and then lowered their heads to eat.

Lin Xiaohe held her teacup but didn't reply.

Director Chen smiled again, his tone softening: "Don't rush to give your opinion. Tomorrow I'll take you to see the Puppet Manchukuo Palace and Jingyuetan Lake to relax. We have many good places here, no worse than Liaoyang."

Chen Guang lowered his head and ate his food, pretending to be invisible. He secretly complained to himself, "Well, the old man calls 10 times a day, insisting that I persuade the leader to come to Jilin Province. I thought it was something important, but it turns out the old man is wielding a big hoe, trying to poach people from Liaoyang Province."

The old man must know perfectly well that he'd get sacked if he went to Liaoyang Province to poach people!

Chen Guang just kept eating, ignoring everything else. He was the leader's assistant, and wherever the leader was, he would be there too.

The next morning, Lin Xiaohe went to the Puppet Manchukuo Palace with Director Chen.

In early August, Changchun was blessed with clear skies and gentle breezes.

The glazed tiles of the Puppet Manchukuo Palace gleamed with a dark yellow light under the sun. There weren't many tourists in the courtyard, except for a few students in school uniforms taking pictures.

Director Chen hired a guide, and they walked and looked around as they went.

“Puyi stayed in this place for thirteen years.” Director Chen pointed to Jixi Building. “The Japanese made him a puppet, calling him emperor, but in reality he couldn’t even leave the house. In politics, if you choose the wrong side, you’re doomed.”

Lin Xiaohe glanced at him but didn't say anything.

The group moved to Qinmin Building, where the guide was talking about Puyi's third ascension to the throne. Suddenly, Director Chen's phone rang. He answered it, listened for a few minutes, and his expression changed.