Reborn during the early days of China’s reform and opening, the narrator finds himself in the 1980s countryside. In this setting, the past is still a cold reference, yet it is also a fresh start....
People like Yan Ling can't lift anything with their hands or carry anything on their shoulders. As for machinery, it's not their strong point. They are not born to be physically active. They are born to work in the financial industry or advertising and to write.
In the past, the royalties a writer earned from a novel were equivalent to several months’ salary for a worker, so countless young writers devoted themselves to the literary field to find their own value.
To put it nicely, it was for his ideals. To use Wan Feng's explanation, he was just lazy and didn't want to talk about any big principles. This was the reason why he devoted himself to literature.
Just like the extras in the film and television bases in later generations, they are all lazy people. They are so young and can't do anything to support their families. They all gather in various film and television bases to earn a few dozen yuan a day, which is enough to barely make them starve, but they dream that one day they will be lucky enough to become stars.
Don’t talk about ideals. These people are just lazy. They are unwilling to work hard to make money and always hope for something good to happen.
Wan Feng just laughed and said, how many stars have come out of extras?
If you really don't have any talent, it's better to be down-to-earth and do what you can instead of aiming too high.
Wan Feng believed that Yan Ling would have no problem running an advertising company.
The advertising company I started in 1985 was considered a pioneer in the country.
"Xiao Wan, what do advertising companies do? They're just advertising on TV stations that I can run for you."
"Advertising companies do a lot of work. Planning and running ads on TV stations is only one part of it. There are media agencies, media production agencies, cultural communication and etiquette agencies, and so on. They deal with mass media, including radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. The ads you did for me on radio and television stations and in Yinahe magazine fall into this category. There's also outdoor decoration, like light boxes, exterior illuminated road signs, banners, inflatable models, exterior wall decorations, etc., and online media..."
This is a bit far-fetched to bring up now.
"Media advertising services like advertising gifts and mailings fall under the umbrella of mass media. Media advertising production services include customizing printed materials, customizing client-specified items, and customizing objects that can be used as advertising carriers. As for cultural communication and etiquette companies, their primary business is planning and executing celebrations and performances, such as if you're planning a wedding..."
"I'm already married."
"I'm using an analogy. If you ask me who that analogy is, I'll get someone to beat you up."
"Then I won't ask, okay?"
“But how do you make money?”
"Are you a pig? You're charging me for my services, just like the money I gave you just now is your compensation. But my compensation is something I gave you on my own initiative. If you do it for someone else, you should ask for the amount of compensation first. If you think you can make money, then do it. If you don't make money, then you're an idiot!"
"Is it that simple?"
"My pants are on fire."
"What do you mean?"
"Of course (crotch burning)!"
"I'll go back and discuss it with my wife."
You see, this guy is really talented in being henpecked.
"Whether you can open an advertising company or not, I'll give you a job now. Find those senior craftsmen who went home and I'll pay you 30 yuan."
"Boss, thirty doesn't seem to be enough. Making a phone call costs several dollars these days!"
"Did I ask you to call? You don't know how to write a registered letter. A registered letter costs 20 cents. Calculate how much you can earn? This is because you are a henpecked husband. Otherwise, I could just write the address myself and get three or four dollars. I didn't ask them to come right away."
Yan Ling slapped his head and said, "Holy crap, this is a real solution! Why didn't I think of it? I'll take the job! It seems like starting an advertising company is pretty easy."
This guy got out of here in a hurry.
Just as Wan Feng had expected, Wan Shuichang really appeared on the street in Wahou on the afternoon of June 1st, four days after Wan Feng had planned that night.
The arrival of her future father-in-law kept Luan Feng very busy. She had to cook sixteen dishes, and no one knew how she managed to do so.
It just so happened that June 2nd was a Sunday, so that evening Wan Feng decided to take his father to Zheng Yongjiu's house on the street the next day.
So the next day Wan Feng took Wan Shuichang on a bus to Hongya County.
Zheng Yongjiu's home is in Xiajie, opposite the Zhendong Market. It took a long time to turn left and right along the dirt road before I arrived at Zheng Yongjiu's home.
Zheng Yongjiu was on vacation at home on Sunday. When Wan Feng arrived, he was practicing Tai Chi in the yard very seriously.
The movements are not very standard and seem to be a scam.
Zheng Yongjiu and Wan Shuichang had probably met once more than ten years ago, so it took them a long time to recognize each other, and finally they walked into the house hand in hand affectionately.
Zheng Yongjiu and his father went into the house, but someone from the Zheng family came out and glared at Wan Feng with a crooked eyebrow.
"Zheng Song, call me cousin!"
Zheng Song snorted and didn't pee Wan Feng.
"Look at your appearance, you are born to deserve a beating, come here!"
"Why should I listen to you?"
"Your father, my uncle, has entrusted me with the task of dealing with you, so you'd better smile and be respectful when you see me."
"Then should I treat you to dinner again?"
"That's even better. It proves that your respect for me has reached a high level."
"Tsk! If you leave this yard, I can fuck you anytime."
"Oh! So powerful? Then I must taste it carefully. Lead the way, I'll follow you around the lower street today. Oh, by the way, who has the final say on the lower street now?"
"Why should I tell you?"
Wan Feng had already walked to the gate of the yard. When he turned around, he was surprised to find that Zheng Song had not come out.
"You're not going to lie by the door and blow your pen? Come on!"
"My mother won't let me go out."
"It's okay, just say you're following me, your cousin, out to see the world. Don't be a coward! If you can, go!"
"Who's a coward? I'd be a coward in front of you! Just leave!"
After Zheng Song finished speaking, he walked out of the yard.
"You walk in front, and I'll be five steps behind you. Just go where the danger is."
Zheng Song walked in front and Wan Feng followed leisurely behind.
After walking for a while, Wan Feng felt something was wrong. Why was this guy circling around his house? Don't think I don't know the way just because I haven't been here before.
"Cousin, what's the point of you circling your house on these two streets? Do you think I don't know the way? Even if I don't know the way, I'll remember it after circling here twice. Now get outside."
This time, Wan Feng took the lead and walked outside, and Zheng Song followed behind Wan Feng.
After crossing a street, five or six ruffian-looking young men came towards them. These people ignored Wan Feng and directly stopped Zheng Song.
"Zheng Song, are you willing to come out? We thought you wouldn't come out of your cat house anymore."
Wan Feng looked back in surprise.
"What are you looking at? Get out of here now, or I'll get rid of you too!"
"It's okay, it's okay. Just go about your business. I don't know him. Just do what you have to do."
Wan Feng slowly walked a few meters away and watched the young men surround Zheng Song.