Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

The idea was good: with this respected elder taking the lead, he could coordinate the scattered surplus grain and industrial coupons held by each household, plan them uniformly, and make centralized purchases. Those households in difficulty would be given priority, and everyone could stick together and overcome the difficulties. This would not only get things done but also naturally bring power back into his hands, achieving two goals at once.

It also implies learning from the "No. 95 Courtyard Youth Mutual Aid Association" to concentrate resources on accomplishing major tasks.

But the key issue is that mutual aid organizations have credibility, do practical things, and have a reserve of grain and several hundred yuan as a credit reserve, just like a bank.

Even if all the food supplies are used up and the provident fund is exhausted, Vice President Zhang Dabiao still has a vegetable garden, 40 yuan, and tens of thousands of yuan in remittance certificates, which he can sell at any time.

He can replenish the stock at any time on his own!

Therefore, everyone trusts the mutual aid association and Zhang Dabiao, because he truly has the ability.

But you, Yi Zhonghai...

The moment the suggestion was made, the courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Having weathered those previous storms, everyone knows the truth. Who would entrust their lifeline to Yi Zhonghai? Who knows whose bed you'll end up with?

Liu Haizhong wanted to say something, but Liu Guangqi stopped him—[Our family has no worries about food or drink, why are you making such a statement?]

Seeing the awkward situation, Yan Bugui tried to step in and smooth things over: "I think Uncle Yi's suggestion is... quite good. It's always better to brainstorm than to go it alone..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Damao, standing in the crowd with his hands in his pockets, chimed in sarcastically, "Hey, Professor Yan, you shouldn't get involved in this mess. You're so good at calculating, but you'll end up ending up in the hospital getting your stomach pumped."

"If we were to leave all the assets of this courtyard to you and that old man to manage, we'd probably be eating tree bark by next spring!"

"Pfft—"

Someone in the crowd burst into laughter first, and then, suppressed laughter seemed to spread like wildfire, rising and falling in waves.

Yan Bugui's old face turned ashen, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Yi Zhonghai held his enamel mug, which was printed with "Labor is the Most Glorious," suspended in mid-air, his face ashen. Looking at the averted, indifferent, or numb gazes of the people in the courtyard, a nameless anger suddenly flared up inside him.

He realized that simply talking nice words and using bureaucratic language would no longer be enough to rebuild his former prestige.

We have to do something.

We must... set a benchmark to make an example of them!

His gaze pierced through the sparse crowd and slowly landed on Sha Zhu, who was squatting in the corner, talking to Qin Huairu with his head down.

------------

In the stable, Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing were still studying music. Yes, Zhang Dabiao hadn't gone to the meeting.

He had already stated that he wouldn't get involved in these trivial matters; he could go if he wanted, and no one would force him if he didn't.

Mu Wanqing hasn't married into the family yet, so she's not considered part of courtyard number 95, and there's no need for her to go.

Qin Jingru and He Yushui went to join in the fun.

In the stable, Zhang Dabiao hummed the main melody. He didn't need to check the local cache on his computer in his "little nest" for this song; he remembered it very clearly and even knew what instrument it was.

With her amazing musical talent, Mu Wanqing quickly wrote down each note on the staff. Sight-singing and ear training are something you really can't do without talent. Anyway, Zhang Dabiao doesn't know how. He could force himself to do it, but he would be very slow.

Mu Wanqing sometimes frowned in thought, and sometimes tapped her fingertips lightly on the table to keep the rhythm, completely immersed in this novel and moving melody.

"This melody...it's so beautiful." Mu Wanqing stopped writing, looked up, her eyes filled with amazement. "It's soothing, but not decadent; it's expansive, yet carries an indescribable sense of intimacy. Da Biao, how did you come up with this?"

Zhang Dabiao chuckled inwardly, but said with a straight face, "I came up with this in my dreams. These days, everyone's suffering, so we need to come up with some bright and warm tunes."

It's the same old excuse again.

Mu Wanqing smiled, not pointing it out. She knew her fiancé had too many secrets, but Zhang Dabiao's love and care for her was enough.

"I've written down the sheet music, but the lyrics..." Mu Wanqing pointed to a few words Zhang Dabiao had casually written down, "'Towards the Clouds,' 'Into the Sea,' 'God...' These words, aren't they a bit... too ethereal?"

"Yes! That's exactly what I wanted to discuss with you." Zhang Dabiao took the notebook and started circling and drawing in it. "We need to change it into something that ordinary people can understand and empathize with. That's called... art originates from life, but transcends life!"

The two men huddled together and began their "magical modification" of this song that would later become a legendary masterpiece.

Zhang Dabiao directly drew upon the wisdom he had accumulated as an ordinary internet user in his previous life, and with the detailed adaptation instructions in the reference materials, he was completely at ease.

“‘Towards the Clouds’ is too abstract. Let’s change it to ‘Towards the Distance’,” Zhang Dabiao wrote the three words on the paper. “Where is ‘the distance’? It could be the other side of the mountains, the other side of the river, the other side of the village, the fields, the countryside, the frontier—it’s a tangible hope and direction.”

"In the current context, 'the distant place' means the distant places (frontiers, factories, rural areas) where the motherland is built, the place where ideals and hopes reside, or rather, it has no specific location and is a poetic expression."

"The phrase 'inside the sea' is out of touch with reality; most people haven't even seen the sea these days. Changing it to 'on the other side of the river' would be much more relatable. Who doesn't have a little river running around their doorstep?"

"Saying 'Your true self lies in your choices' is too blunt, it sounds preachy. Let's be more subtle and change it to 'If you have light in your heart, you have nothing to fear.' What is light? It's hope, it's faith, it's the willpower to persevere!"

"And this phrase, 'God, where are you?' is absolutely unacceptable! It's idealism! Delete it! 'To set you free' is too individualistic and must be changed too!"

As Zhang Dabiao spoke, Mu Wanqing took notes, occasionally offering her professional opinions. Their back-and-forth banter gradually stripped away the modern superficiality of the lyrics, imbuing them with the simplicity and warmth of this era.

Ultimately, a brand new song was born.

Zhang Dabiao looked at the neat handwriting on the paper and nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's call it 'Towards the Distance'."

"Towards the Distance"

[First Paragraph: Agricultural Development – ​​Hope for Daily Life]

Looking into the distance, the mountains and rivers stretch endlessly.

Smoke rises from the chimneys, signaling the start of a new day.

The dew dampened the cloth shoes.

I walked along the edge of the field with my schoolbag on my back.

Looking into the distance, the river bends around the fields.

The wheat fields stretch as far as the eye can see, rippling in the wind.

The villagers bent down and planted the rice seedlings all over the place.

Sweat dripped into the soil.

[Chorus: Core Belief - Where there is effort, there is hope]

Take it slow, each day counts.

Look ahead, hope resides in your heart.

As long as you are willing to work hard

Tomorrow will be sweeter than today.

[Second Paragraph: Frontier Development - The Distant Place is Also Our Home]

Towards the distance, the lights of the frontier,

The stars twinkled, shining brighter and brighter.

Young girls and boys,

To build a new hometown there.

In the distance, the sound of machines...

It spread across the mountains and through the villages.

That was both a factory and a frontier area.

That's youth shining.

[Chorus Repetition]

Take it slow, each day counts.

Look ahead, hope resides in your heart.

As long as you are willing to work hard

Tomorrow will be sweeter than today.

[Section 3: Nation Building, Learning and Growth]

Looking into the distance, the sound of reading aloud fills the air.

We are in the classroom, and we are in the fields.

Learn knowledge, learn labor.

Create a new world with your own hands.

Towards the distance, tomorrow beckons.

The road ahead is long, but my heart is warm.

Each generation has its own mission.

We plant the seeds of hope today.

[Epilogue: Conclusion – Things will get better]

In the distance, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys.

Looking into the distance, the wheat fields ripple and sway.

As long as there is warmth in one's heart...

Life will get better and better.

It's getting better and better.

……