Chapter 62 lays the groundwork for joining the cultural propaganda team.

Normally, it takes more than four hours to walk to the county town, and more than an hour to take a hand-operated tractor.

Along the way, Wang Yuqing was not idle. Instead, she took out some kraft paper and began to fold it into a tube shape. In order to make it easier to hold the snails, she couldn't let the guests hold them in their hands, could she?

Chen E and Lei Yongxia praised her for her skillful hands, and the two of them helped her, but they couldn't fold it well and even tore a few sheets. They were quite embarrassed.

Wang Yuqing also asked them how to identify a balance scale, and the two of them enthusiastically taught her how.

Lei Yongxia was so bored that she started singing a folk song. She had just sung a few words when Chen E said with disdain, "Stop singing, it's awful, it sounds like a cow mooing."

Lei Yongxia objected: "Then you're good at it, why don't you sing?"

Chen E confidently belted out a high note: "Sing a folk song for the Party, compare the Party to a mother..."

That shout almost killed Wang Yuqing, but she just smiled. Lei Yongxia, who was next to her, was already laughing so hard she was doubled over: "Your voice is so awful, you're tone-deaf! And you're talking about me? Anyone who didn't know better would think there were dogs biting you from behind..."

Finally, both of them asked Wang Yuqing if she could sing.

This question touched on Wang Yuqing's forte. She chose a folk song suitable for this era, cleared her throat, and began to sing: "What a beautiful jasmine flower, what a beautiful jasmine flower, none of the flowers in the garden can compare to its fragrance. I want to pick one to wear, but I'm afraid the people who admire the flower will scold me..."

(Note: He Fang adapted this from the Chinese folk song "Fresh Flower Tune")

Her voice is gentle and beautiful, her emotions are smooth and delicate, and she has her own unique timbre, which brings out the rich national flavor of this era.

Chen E and Lei Yongxia listened with great enjoyment and appreciation, praising her highly and saying that she sang just as well as the singers on the album.

Chen E suddenly remembered something and said seriously, "I remember last month the director called a meeting and said that the state instructed each brigade under the commune to form a revolutionary art propaganda team. The team members are selected from the brigade members who like storytelling and singing, and then they go to perform in various brigades. They are provided with food and lodging and can also earn work points."

She added, "But it didn't come to fruition later. If it had, Yuqing, you could have gone. You're so pretty and sing so well, you'd definitely have been selected. You could have performed for other brigades and brought honor to our brigade."

Lei Yongxia chimed in, "That's right! The Yangcun Commune next door has a propaganda team in every brigade. We're so envious of them! Our commune doesn't have one. Every year it's just work or no work, it's so boring. The members of that commune have programs to watch during festivals and even on ordinary days."

"She's the little girl next door to my cousin's husband's aunt's daughter. She's not as pretty as you, and she doesn't sing as well as you. But she's a key member of the cultural propaganda team. She's like a star, everyone idolizes her. I heard that a film studio has their eye on her and wants her to act in a movie. They'll be flying around like crazy."

Wang Yuqing chuckled: "Soar to great heights."

She was indeed tempted. In her previous life, she had failed miserably in a singing competition due to too many behind-the-scenes issues, but this era was much purer. As long as you were willing and had some talent, you could succeed.

As for work points, during the annual training and performances, the team members would receive work points equivalent to the labor force of their respective production teams. If they could represent the county in performances or competitions, they would not only receive more rewards and compensation, but also bring honor to the commune, brigade, and production team.

It would be great to be able to stay there for four years, wouldn't it?

The tractor finally arrived at the county market after a chugging thud.

Today is market day, and even though it's only six or seven in the morning, there are already many people at the market, including town residents, factory workers, and farmers from the countryside. Although they are simply dressed, they all have smiles on their faces, and it is clear that they enjoy going to the market.

Wang Yuqing found a spacious place to set up her stall. It was really due to financial constraints; otherwise, she could have made a table and set it up. But even with a table, carrying it to the market would be both laborious and time-consuming.

She took out a cut-open snakeskin bag and laid it on the ground, then placed the steamer on it, with folded kraft paper next to it, bamboo skewers in one of the paper tubes, and a scale beside her.

After helping Lei Yongxia, Chen E was about to go buy household necessities for her family.

With everything prepared, she opened the steamer lid, and the spicy and fresh aroma instantly spread everywhere, filling the nostrils of everyone who passed by.

Although everyone cast curious glances, no one stopped to ask how much it cost. After all, this stuff is everywhere, and most people don't want to eat it; they wouldn't even eat this if they were eating wild vegetables.

Wang Yuqing was a little embarrassed, after all, it was her first time setting up a street stall. Seeing people coming and going, she was even more embarrassed to take the initiative to shout or solicit customers.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged women selling snacks and various mobile vendors carrying goods were all shouting loudly, especially the woman selling sesame cakes next to her, whose shouts could be heard from one end of the street to the other: "Selling sesame cakes! Selling sesame cakes! They're delicious, cheap, and crispy!"

Of course, there were also people around her age. They would set up their stalls and secretly hide behind them, only peeking out their heads. They would only come out shyly when they saw someone coming up to pick out goods.

Wang Yuqing thought that if you want to make a living, you have to be thick-skinned. After all, she had lived through 2013, so why be pretentious? So, she learned on the spot and imitated the old lady selling pancakes: "Selling snails, selling snails, they're delicious, cheap, and spicy!"

Indeed, many people have come over.

Someone asked curiously, "Why would anyone sell this stuff? Is it edible? Won't it give you diarrhea?"

One child exclaimed in surprise, "Aren't these the snails from the ditch in front of my house? She's actually stir-frying them and selling them. But they smell so good!"

The child clearly wanted to eat it, but her mother pulled her away, scolding, "There are bugs in it, it's not clean, you'll die if you eat it."

Of course, some people have eaten snails, but they think they don't taste good and aren't flavorful enough. They would tell the people next to them, "They taste terrible, and you can feel a mouthful of sand in your mouth."

Wang Yuqing quickly explained, "It won't give you diarrhea, it's very clean. I took it home and kept it in clean water with rust for many days. The snails spit out all the dirt and there's no sand at all. It's also not afraid of insects. High-temperature cooking kills them all long ago. Everyone can buy and eat with confidence. The taste is fragrant with spiciness and sweetness. The meat is plump and tender, and it's especially suitable for people who like spicy food. The more you eat, the more enjoyable it becomes."

Some people were tempted.

Wang Yuqing quickly took a bamboo skewer, pried open the snail's operculum in front of everyone, took out the snail meat, and put it in her mouth: "It's very clean, not dirty at all. I even ate it myself. Wow, it's so delicious, and the spiciness is super satisfying."

It was already visually appealing and delicious, attracting more and more people. And when she tasted one herself, many people started to salivate.

Seeing that some people were eager to try it, Wang Yuqing said, "Eating snails has many benefits. It can clear heat, relieve summer heat, promote urination, and relieve eye fatigue. Snails are rich in protein, which can enhance immunity, prevent diseases, lower blood pressure, and treat iron-deficiency anemia, etc."

Most people don't understand the benefits that follow, but they hear them as quite amazing and high-end, and people are already thinking about buying them.

Wang Yuqing quickly took out some and handed it to the people in front of her, saying enthusiastically, "You can try it for free. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. It's not about buying or selling, but about maintaining good relationships. However, it's only suitable for people who like spicy food. It's not suitable for the elderly, pregnant women, or sick people."