Live Stream 1980: Netizens Teach Me How to Make a Rocket by Hand

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year.

With the loudspeaker and security department incident definitively settled,

"Red Star Warm Sunshine" has become a top-selling product at the base.

To avoid attracting unwanted attention, Lin Xi decisively handed over all sales channels to Dongfeng Department Store.

Supply price: 32; suggested retail price: 38.

They gave up a 6 yuan profit margin to Sun Dafu to bribe officials, endorse products, and take risks.

Lin Xi has "retired behind the scenes".

As of today, a total of 492 units have been shipped.

After deducting expenses for gifts, wear and tear, and a small management fee that must be paid.

The total revenue figure in the ledger on the table froze at—

16200 yuan.

In an era when having 10,000 yuan could make headlines, this was a huge sum of money.

Lin Xi closed the ledger, and the pen cap made a crisp "click" sound.

"close the door."

Sun Erga rushed over and slammed the big iron gate shut.

They even moved a doorstop to block the door shut.

The air in the workshop was frozen.

All that remained were the crackling sounds of coal exploding and heavy breathing.

"Crackling and popping—"

Liu Guihua's fingers danced across the abacus, and even though she had already calculated it three times, fine beads of sweat still appeared on her forehead.

Lin Xi sat behind the only desk, her fingers lightly tapping the surface.

"I know what you're all waiting for."

"Everyone has worked hard this month." Lin Xi's voice was calm and even, without the slightest fluctuation.

"Our service center doesn't engage in empty promises or make grandiose claims."

"I told you before, if you work for me, you'll get what you pay for."

Lin Xi picked up a payslip: "Those whose names are called, come up and sign to collect your money."

"Wang Dapao" (a nickname for a famous Chinese comedian).

The burly man, as black as an iron tower, took a step forward, his palms sweaty, which he wiped repeatedly on his trouser legs.

"Basic salary is 18, piece-rate commission plus technical bonus is 49.2 yuan."

Lin Xi counted out a wad of cash from her bag.

"5.5 yuan."

**hiss--!**

A series of synchronized exhaust sounds filled the workshop.

68.6 yuan!

This is two months' salary for a level three worker!

Wang Dapao trembled as he accepted the wad of money; it was thick and warm.

This is not just about money; it's the highest affirmation of his hands.

"Thank... thank you, Brother Lin!"

This man, who can crush aluminum plates with his bare hands, is now stammering.

"Wang Yu".

"Here!" The tech geek pushed up his glasses and walked up with a dazed look in his eyes.

"Core Contribution Award for Circuit Design"

"Same as above, 68.6 yuan."

Lin Xi handed him the money, but the kid didn't even glance at it and casually stuffed it into his pocket.

His eyes were fixed on the book "Introduction to Digital Circuits" on the corner of Lin Xi's desk.

He's a fool.

Lin Xi nodded secretly.

"Liu Guihua and Sun Erga are in charge of finance and overall planning; they receive a hard-earned bonus plus commission."

"58.4 yuan per person."

"The remaining group members will each receive 48.6 yuan."

As names were read out one by one, large banknotes were distributed.

The entire workshop was filled with an electric current called "ecstasy".

Some of the people who received the money held it under their noses and inhaled the smell of ink intensely, while others counted it over and over again, as if afraid they were dreaming.

Zhao Xiaoliu, who usually idles away his time, is now holding the money, squatting in a corner and sobbing.

He slapped himself while crying.

"Damn it, I used to live like a dog!"

Is that all?

Lin Xi looked at his almost frenzied coworkers and took out a cigarette case from his pocket.

This is nothing.

Money is just a number.

In this era of scarcity, the real "nuclear weapons" are yet to come.

"Alright, stop howling." He walked to the tarpaulin-covered cart in the center of the room.

With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he grabbed a corner of the canvas and yanked it up!

"Splash—"

Quiet.

Silence as death.

Even Zhao Xiaoliu's crying stopped abruptly; his mouth was half-open, and snot bubbles hung from his lips, forgotten to be wiped away.

What comes into view is a mountain!

The red and white strips of pork were neatly arranged;

Whole dressed chickens and pressed ducks, glistening with oil;

Dozens of bags of high-gluten flour were piled up into a snow-white tower;

Cases of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and malted milk powder;

There's even White Rabbit milk candy that you can't buy these days!

The air was filled with the smells of meat and sweet aromas.

This rich and overpowering flavor caused a violent spasm in the stomachs of these people who were chronically lacking in oil and fat.

"One serving for each person." Lin Xi's voice was like heavenly music.

"5 catties of pork, 2 catties of mutton, and one chicken and one duck."

"20 jin of high-gluten flour, 10 jin of sweet potatoes, and 2 jin of peanut oil."

"One serving each of candy, MSG, and liquor."

Lin Xi pointed to the soap and towel in the corner:

"Those are for the wives and children in the family; one set for each of them."

"in addition--"

Lin Xi paused, her gaze sweeping across the crowd.

"For households with more than three people, double the amount of meat and noodles."

"Thump."

Sun Erga's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground.

It's not that he's weak-willed, it's just that this happiness came too suddenly.

"Brother Lin...this...this is all for us?"

Sun Erga asked, trembling.

"Am I going to eat this by myself?" Lin Xi raised an eyebrow.

"I only have one mouth, I can't finish eating even if I'm stuffed to the point of bursting."

"Wow--!"

This really caused an uproar.

Nothing feels more real than holding meat in your arms.

At this moment, Lin Xi was no longer just a manager in their eyes; she was a living bodhisattva, a second parent!

Liu Guihua was holding a five-pound piece of pork belly and carrying a bag of malted milk powder.

She suddenly lowered her head, her shoulders heaving violently.

Large tears fell onto the pork.

"Sister Liu, it's almost Chinese New Year, why are you crying?" Lin Xi handed her a piece of toilet paper.

Liu Guihua raised her head, her eyes as red as a rabbit's.

"Manager Lin...I...I'm happy."

She wiped her face, her voice choked with emotion:

"You don't know, my husband is a permanent employee, and he always complains that I'm just a freeloader at the service center, that it's shameful and that I have no status."

"For the past twenty years, every time I go home, I have to watch his expression and I don't even dare to speak loudly."

"But now..."

Liu Guihua sobbed, but a proud look, befitting the mistress of the house, shone on her face.

"Last night...it was the first time in our 20 years of marriage that he proactively poured water for me to wash my feet."

He said... "Honey, is it hot?"

The entire room fell silent.

Sun Erga stopped laughing, and Wang Dapao's eyes also reddened.

These days, money is more than just purchasing power.

It is the voice at home, and the backbone when walking on the street.

It is the confidence to be respected as a "person".

In this marginalized service center.

They used to be the laughingstock, the junk, the trash of the base.

But today, Lin Xi used this pile of meat and money to piece together their shattered dignity, piece by piece.

"Follow Manager Lin!" Wang Dapao roared, raising his fist with all his might.

"Anyone who dares to touch Manager Lin, I, Wang Dapao, will be the first to fight them to the death!"

"Fight to the death!!"

The roar shook the snow off the rooftops, causing it to fall in a soft rustling sound.

This kind of unwavering loyalty cannot be bought with money, but it is earned through genuine care and dedication.