Chapter 355 Pretending to be a Returning Businessman in a Historical Fiction (Part 28) (The End)
Ten years later.
Yancheng.
“Zhou Xiaoan! You’re poking at your ‘starlight’ again! The evening news is about to start!” Liu Guifen called out to her son on the sofa as she walked out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sliced apples.
On the sofa, a young man in his early twenties lazily raised his head. He was no longer the naive boy he once was; his features had matured, revealing a cleverness. In his hand, he held a palm-sized, thin cube, on which lines of text and images were flashing rapidly.
“Mom, this isn’t called poking, this is called going online. Today’s headline is that the core module of our country’s independently developed ‘Yuanhang-1’ space station successfully entered orbit this afternoon!” Zhou Xiaoan’s tone was full of pride.
"How many is this? The country's development in recent years has been truly remarkable."
Liu Guifen put down the fruit plate, picked up the remote control and pressed the switch: "However, I also know that there are big events on the news today. Director Li, oh no, now Mayor Li, and your Uncle Wang are going to be on TV."
The TV screen lit up, and the familiar theme song began to play.
Sitting next to her, Zhou Xiaoman put down the documents in her hand. More than ten years ago, after participating in that big show, she did not continue to be a model. Instead, she began to teach herself various languages. After the college entrance examination, she majored in languages.
Although she loved the feeling of being on stage, she later learned from Lin Wanwan that the group of foreigners backstage were mocking them. So she decided to learn the language. Now, she is a diplomat, which is also a different kind of stage for her.
In another stylish, spacious apartment, Lin Wanwan put down her design drafts. Ten years had passed, and she had long since shed her youthful naiveté, becoming a leading figure in Yancheng Silk Group and even the entire fashion industry of Huaguo. Her eyes were calm, and her demeanor composed; only when she heard the news broadcast did her gaze flicker slightly.
The news footage no longer features the slightly somber tones of ten years ago. Under the high-definition lens, there are bustling ports, high-speed trains speeding close to the ground, and domestically produced large aircraft drawing graceful arcs in the sky.
"...Over the past decade, my country has achieved leapfrog development in many fields, including basic materials, information technology, and aerospace, completing a journey that would have taken other countries half a century to complete..."
The host's voice was strong and clear, filled with pride.
Zhou Xiaoan was thrilled: "Sister! Look! That's the 'Flying Swallow' car produced in our Yancheng! It uses the alloy developed by our factory's new materials division!"
Zhou Xiaoman nodded without speaking. Her gaze fell on a line of small print scrolling at the bottom of the television screen: "Special Report: 'Monument' - In Memory of Ms. Zhou Jue, Founder of Huaxin Group".
Her breath hitched.
Zhou Xiaoan saw it too. The excitement on his face slowly faded. He turned to look at his sister, and then at his mother who had suddenly fallen silent.
Ten years have passed.
This name is like a secret that everyone knows but doesn't say a word.
It is engraved on the foundation stone in front of the headquarters building of Yancheng Silk Group and printed on the title page of every new employee's onboarding handbook, but few people mention it in public.
Everyone knows that Yancheng is what it is today because of a factory manager surnamed Zhou.
But where did that factory manager go? Nobody knows for sure.
The news footage shifted, and the anchor's expression became solemn.
"The glory of the past decade did not come out of thin air. Today, we will tell you a story that has been buried for ten years. A story about 'returning home' and 'traveling far away'."
A black and white photograph appears on the screen.
The woman in the photo is very young, with clear eyes and a faint smile on her lips.
"Her name is Zhou Jue, a businesswoman who returned to China more than ten years ago and the founder of Yancheng Silk Group and Huaxin Silk Factory."
"She brought capital, technology, and a silk brand that made the world take notice."
On television, a recording of the grand show from Paris Fashion Week ten years ago began playing. When Zhou Xiaoman confidently walked onto the runway in that crimson phoenix cheongsam, Liu Guifen's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
“Back then, my daughter got to where she is today because she followed Director Zhou…” she murmured to herself.
The host continued, "However, this is only a small part of her achievements."
The scene shifts again, and an elderly man with gray hair but a sprightly spirit appears in front of the camera.
It's Li Changqing.
"I still remember the last time she came to see me," Li Changqing said to the camera, his voice a little hoarse.
"She gave me a suitcase, it was very heavy. She said she was going on a long trip."
“We all thought it was just another ordinary business trip, like before.”
"Or perhaps I should find a new skill."
“We waited for her for a month, two months, three months…”
On the television screen, Director Wang appeared. He had aged considerably, with deep wrinkles around his eyes, as if carved by a knife.
"The factory can't do without her, but we can't wait for her to come; we only received a letter."
The contents of the letter were typed out.
"All the shares of Huaxin Silk Factory under my name will be transferred to the state free of charge after my 'death'..."
"...establish a special public welfare fund..."
"...establish a special research fund..."
Zhou Xiaoan's mouth slowly opened wide. He looked at the television, then at his sister and mother beside him, whose faces were already streaked with tears. For the first time, he realized that there was such a story behind Huaxin Group.
Li Changqing's voice rang out again.
"Only today did I find out exactly what was in the box she gave me."
"That's not just ordinary information; it's a spark of technology. From basic material formulas to chip design blueprints, from structural models of next-generation engines to the theoretical framework of biomedicine... it contains the starting point of all our glories today."
"She's not going on a trip; she's going to give us a better future."
"That was a journey from which there was no return."
Sitting in front of the television, Zhou Xiaoan felt his mind go blank, as if it had just gone blank.
The smart device he held in his hand called "Starlight," the "Flying Swallow" car he drove all over the streets, the airplanes he saw flying in the sky, everything he took for granted... all of it originated from that box, from the dedication of that young woman.
The television program continued, recounting how, over the past decade, the country's researchers worked day and night to gradually transform those seemingly incomprehensible documents into reality.
The first domestically produced chip was born.
The first piece of high-strength composite material rolled off the production line.
The first fighter jet with independent intellectual property rights successfully completed its test flight.
...
When the camera returned to that black and white photograph at the end of the program, the entire Flower Kingdom, and countless families, fell into a long silence.
On Zhou Xiaoan's "Starlight" device, social networks have completely exploded.
“I cried… So this is how our 'miracle' of the past ten years came about.”
"A salute to Ms. Zhou Jue! She is the only idol in my heart!"
"I just checked, and the 'Zhou Jue Charity Foundation' has built more than a thousand Hope Primary Schools across the country in the past ten years! My goodness!"
"What returning businesswoman? She is the real hero! A monument that burns itself out to illuminate the future!"
"We should not forget her!"
We will always remember you!
Zhou Xiaoman turned off the TV, stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the myriad lights of the city, as dazzling as a galaxy.
She remembered what Director Wang said to them when he returned ten years ago that afternoon.
"We'll wait."
"One year, two years, ten years."
"We'll wait for her to come back."
Ten years have passed.
She didn't come back.
Yet it seems as if she never left.
...
Mayor's Office.
Li Changqing also stood by the window, looking at the city that had been transformed under his witness.
The phone on the table rang; it was Factory Director Wang calling.
"Old Li, did you... see the news?" On the other end of the phone, Factory Director Wang's voice was nasal and he couldn't suppress it.
"I saw it."
"Ten years... The country has finally... finally announced her achievements." Director Wang sobbed uncontrollably on the other end of the line.
Li Changqing remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.
“Old Wang, she did all this not for fame, much less to erect a monument.”
Li Changqing's gaze pierced through the endless night, looking into the distance.
"She just wanted us to turn the lights on a little brighter in the house."
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