Wang Wenfeng, who was far away in Haicheng, heard the news and called to comfort him, saying, "You did a great job!"

Zhan Chunlan was somewhat surprised: "It's only been a few days? How did it get to your place?"

Hearing her voice and knowing that she was not affected by the outside world, Wang Wenfeng's tone became more relaxed: "The newspapers are reporting on this matter, and the discussion is still quite high."

Zhan Chunlan was a little curious: "These past few days, I haven't seen any newspapers at school. My teachers and classmates are worried that seeing them will upset me, so I don't know anything about them."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Zhan Chunlan heard Ms. Fang Li's voice: "Look at you, you meant well but messed things up!"

She snatched the microphone and explained to her, "Chunlan, I read it. Most of the newspaper articles are praising you. They praise you for being smart, for generating so much foreign exchange for the country, and for being a remarkable philosopher and economist. The use value of an item is to satisfy people's needs. In short, you did a great job, and Mom is proud of you!"

Looking at Ms. Fang Li who had snatched the phone receiver from him, Wang Wenfeng felt helpless. He really had no other choice but to take it back. He had been holding back, thinking that Ms. Fang Li would only say a few words and then it would be over. But the two of them started chatting endlessly. He began to move closer to Ms. Fang Li without making a sound, and his ear gradually got closer to the receiver.

Catching a glimpse of Wang Wenfeng's actions out of the corner of her eye, Ms. Fang Li silently reflected on whether she had gone too far. The young couple had rarely seen each other in the past two years, so this phone call... I'll make the call; he can't talk anyway!

“Chunlan, let me tell you, not only are you being praised in the newspapers, but people are also praising you for doing a good job. When I go grocery shopping or for a walk, I can hear them talking about you. I told them that you are helping my daughter-in-law, but they didn’t believe me. So I showed them the photos of our whole family taken after the wedding, and they were so envious of me.”

"Mom, I envy you too, having such an excellent daughter-in-law." Over the past few years, Zhan Chunlan has been well taken care of by Wang Wenfeng and Ms. Fang Li, and that confident and cheerful state of mind has gradually manifested in her. She often cracks little jokes with people.

“Right? I also think I’m very lucky.” Ms. Fang Li’s tone was full of pride.

After hanging up the phone, Zhan Chunlan's mood brightened considerably. Although she was quite strong-willed, the fact that everyone was keeping it from her made her a little uneasy. She wondered if they were all criticizing her. Now that she knew the details, she felt relieved. They were just different opinions; everyone has their share of criticism, not to mention that what she did wasn't entirely right either.

Back in the dormitory, Wu Xue, who slept in the bunk below her, handed her a letter: "I just went to the mailroom to pick up my mail and saw yours, so I just grabbed it."

"Thank you," Zhan Chunlan said as she accepted the letter from Fan Hongying.

The handwriting on the letter was as delicate as ever, yet it conveyed a resolute strength:

"Chunyun, the recent policy changes have left me feeling unsettled. I feel this is an opportunity I've been waiting for, and I should seize it. But my reason tells me that I'm a university student now, and I need to take a long-term view and not be swayed by short-term gains."

When I was preparing for the college entrance exam, I was thinking of becoming a college student and contributing to the development of our country. But as I write this letter, I'm already considering whether or not to go into business. If I actually did that, everyone would probably say I'm crazy, except you.

You know, being a broadcaster used to bring me countless envious and fulfilling moments. Walking around the factory, everyone knew me as "Little Fan the Broadcaster." You understand that kind of vanity.

But like a pot of slowly cooling lukewarm water, I was initially comfortable, but now I just feel like I'm suffocating. Every day, I read the same old "production reports" and "leadership instructions" from scripts. My voice, my very existence, seems to exist only to repeat and amplify what others say. I can't feel myself "growing," Chunyun. I can't feel that exhilarating feeling that comes from overcoming a difficult problem or accomplishing something tangible!

I know that once I graduate from university, I'll have a better job, at least a management position. But the thought of spending my entire future working in the same unit, from youth to old age, makes me feel suffocated. I feel like a blade of grass starving for water; no matter how good the job, if it can no longer provide me with nourishment, I'll wither away completely.

Zhan Chunyun closed her eyes, almost able to picture Fan Hongying's expression as she wrote those words—those eyes, always brimming with a smile, must have been gleaming with a light of resentment and determination. The three of them had been corresponding for years, sharing their lives, work, and troubles in their letters. She had always thought that Fan Hongying, who had traveled all the way from Jiangcheng to Haicheng, was the one most dissatisfied with the status quo.

After reading the letter, Zhan Chunlan sighed with some emotion. She hadn't expected that among the three, she was the one with the most courage and determination.

She thought that perhaps it was due to policy reasons. As a college student, she received a lot of information every day, and the legalization of self-employment this year made her unable to suppress her restless heart.

As Zhan Chunlan recalled the increasing number of stalls along the road, she realized that at the end of last year, people were somewhat secretive and apprehensive about setting up their stalls. However, after returning from the Canton Fair this year, she found that everyone was now open, honest, and confident.

Thinking back to the comparison between Guangzhou and here, Beijing has developed much better than most cities, but there is still a gap, let alone Guangzhou and Jiangcheng?

Hongying felt the call, but she may not have seen the whole picture. Blind courage could very well lead to disaster.

Thinking of this, Zhan Chunyun immediately sat down to reply, her words becoming increasingly earnest. She offered neither empty encouragement nor worried dissuasion, but instead candidly laid out her vision—that of a spark and a bridge—before her friend:

"...Hongying, I completely understand how you feel. But it is precisely because I understand that I must advise you to suppress your impulsive thoughts for the time being. Jiangcheng is just a small place, and the vision it can give you is ultimately limited. If you really want to forge a path, you might as well go south yourself, to Guangcheng, to the Special Economic Zone and see for yourself."

Look at what's being sold on the streets, what people are talking about, and how those who are ahead of the curve started and ran their businesses. This isn't hesitation; it's 'sharpening your axe before chopping wood.' Just as we emphasize research in scientific research, we also need to know ourselves and our competitors in business.

Moreover, don't feel guilty about your ideas. This is not unorthodox, but because you have a keen and long-term vision, you can see that it will surely grow into a towering tree when it is just sprouting.

I'm so glad you didn't dare tell anyone about this, but you were willing to believe me. I'm so proud to have a friend like you who trusts me so completely!

In the letter, Zhan Chunlan also included the contact information of friends she had met in Guangcheng, so that when she arrived in Guangcheng, these people could take her there, which would be much better than her wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly.

Then I thought of her lucky streak; perhaps this was the path that was meant for her in the future?