Chapter 130 End and Beginning "But before that, let me hold you for a little longer...
Many major events occurred in 1976, and the radio broadcast major news every day. Director Zhao listened to the radio every day, and Wang Ying also listened frequently.
National Day arrived in the blink of an eye, also marking Wang Ying and Zhao Yunsheng's second wedding anniversary. Two years later, Wang Ying had become a prominent figure at the food factory, while Zhao Yunsheng remained a clerk at the cultural center. He showed no ambition, and Director Zhao and Chen Xiuqin were too lazy to bother with him. Only Wang Ying knew that Zhao Yunsheng had never stopped creating, still waiting for his chance.
This year's National Day, Zhao Yunsheng was once again busy. They were organizing poetry recitations in honor of the great man, as well as various other commemorative activities. Zhao Yunsheng's fingertips had become thick with calluses from his daily brushwork.
Zhao Yunsheng and Wang Ying had agreed to take a commemorative photo at home this year. Wang Ying was already busy enough at work, and today was her rare day off, so Zhao Yunsheng didn't want to bother her.
The two took a commemorative photo standing next to a red moonflower plant by the courtyard wall. Chen Xiuqin had raised this flower after her retirement, and over a year, she had grown it into a lush, blooming plant.
A series of major events occurred in 1976, and in October, another major event occurred. The movement that had lasted for ten years ended. "XXX has fallen" was broadcast on the radio every day. For a time, this was the only thing discussed in society.
Director Xiang has been in a bad mood recently. He doesn't do his math problems every day, and he doesn't care about his work at all. He just sits there blankly, lost in thought, and doesn't go to meetings. Sometimes he just takes leave and doesn't come to work.
Wang Ying understood Director Xiang's feelings, but he had no way to enlighten him. Director Xiang had lost so much in the past ten years. There were many people like Director Xiang who were even worse off than him.
But life goes on, and the food factory continues to operate as normal. Sales of digital cookies continue to climb, reaching five or six neighboring provinces, and orders continue to pour in.
No matter how big the news was outside, Wang Ying focused on the work at hand and gradually improved the various problems encountered in the production and sales of "Panda Brand Digital Biscuits".
One day, Director Xiang was in a daze and looked sideways for a long time at Wang Ying who was working wholeheartedly. It seemed as if he suddenly figured something out and he took out his draft paper after a long time.
Fast forward to the end of 1976. One day in early December, Zhao Yunsheng suddenly received a letter from Bai Tong. In the letter, Bai Tong told Zhao Yunsheng that a monthly fiction magazine that had been suspended for many years would be re-published in January 1977, and he was soliciting manuscripts from Zhao Yunsheng.
After reading the letter, Zhao Yunsheng jumped three feet high!
"Yingzi! Yingzi! Please read this letter quickly! Please read it quickly!" Zhao Yunsheng handed the letter to Wang Ying excitedly.
Wang Ying took the letter, quickly scanned it, and said with a smile, "Great writer! Your time has finally arrived!"
Zhao Yunsheng looked at Wang Ying's smile and for no reason recalled last year's New Year's Eve. Wang Ying's smile and eyes were exactly the same as they were now. His heart skipped a beat. How could Yingzi seem to predict the future?
Chen Xiuqin, who was standing by, said, "What's the matter? Why are you so happy?"
"The editor asked Yunsheng to write an article. Yunsheng's work is going to be published." Wang Ying said with a smile.
Chen Xiuqin hesitated for a moment and said, "Is it okay to publish it now? There won't be any trouble later..."
"No," Zhao Yunsheng said quickly, "definitely not."
Wang Ying said, "Mom, don't worry, Yunsheng's work is fine."
"I don't understand either. I'll ask your dad later," Chen Xiuqin said. "To be on the safe side, it's best to wait and see."
Of course, Zhao Yunsheng would not listen to Chen Xiuqin. Wang Ying also encouraged him to submit his work to Bai Tong, hoping that it could be published in the magazine's re-issue and perhaps his name would be recorded in literary history.
That night, Zhao Yunsheng took out all the manuscripts he had written previously and spread them out on the desk.
"I actually have so many works. Besides novels, I'll also submit these two essays when the time comes." Zhao Yunsheng said with a surge of emotion, "I'm sure more than just this one novel will be re-published in the monthly magazine."
Wang Ying was also very happy. When Zhao Yunsheng talked about his works, his attitude was different from usual.
Zhao Yunsheng suddenly turned around and grabbed Wang Ying's hands. Wang Ying felt him trembling and his eyes were red. He held Wang Ying's hands tightly and said, "Yingzi, thanks to you."
Wang Ying smiled faintly: "It's not thanks to me, it's because you didn't give up your dream."
"No, without your support, I would have given up long ago." Zhao Yunsheng's voice trembled.
Wang Ying thought about his past life and felt that he actually deserved Zhao Yunsheng's gratitude. Zhao Yunsheng also remembered his dream, the dream in which he married Wang Hui and his manuscript was burned. If that dream was true, then his life might be completely ruined.
Zhao Yunsheng embraced Wang Ying in his arms. Wang Ying gently stroked his back and asked, "Which article are you going to submit to Bai Tong?"
"I need to take another look and make some changes," Zhao Yunsheng said, "but before that, let me hold you for a while longer."
Zhao Yunsheng held Wang Ying for a long time until he calmed down. He then let go of Wang Ying and said, "Go to sleep first. I'll revise the manuscript for a while."
Zhao Yunsheng revised the manuscript for several days and sent out the submission letter before the deadline mentioned by Bai Tong.
After the letter was sent, Zhao Yunsheng still felt uncertain. After all, Bai Tong had only asked him for his contribution and hadn't promised to publish it.
Zhao Yunsheng waited anxiously for news every day, but Bai Tong never replied. With the New Year's Day of 1978 approaching and the reissued issue about to be released, Zhao Yunsheng still hadn't received a reply, and he felt a little discouraged. He could only console himself with the fact that it was a reissued issue after all, and it might still feature works by famous authors. For a layman like him, who had never published a single article, to even get a commission was a great achievement...
Two days before New Year's Day, Zhao Yunsheng picked up Wang Ying from get off work. As soon as they got home, Chen Xiuqin said, "The Wujiaohua store has received a TV! The old manager has reserved a spot for me. Yunsheng, come with me to get it."
"Really? Do you have enough money and tickets at home?" Zhao Yunsheng asked. "How much is it?"
"Four hundred and twenty yuan," Chen Xiuqin said. "We have the tickets. They're ready. Let's go now. Yingzi will come too."
Wang Ying wanted to get the money, but Chen Xiuqin stopped her and said that she had already prepared everything.
Chen Xiuqin carried Dongbao in her arms, and the women rode their bikes to Wujiaohua Store.
Wang Ying didn't expect to meet Lu Yanfen here. She came with her mother-in-law to buy a TV.
Chen Xiuqin was talking to Lu Yanfen's mother-in-law while Zhao Yunsheng was busy.
Lu Yanfen walked up to Wang Ying and said with a smile, "Is this Dongbao?" She wanted to tease Dongbao who was held in Wang Ying's arms, but Dongbao turned his face away and refused to let her touch him.
"Don't mind, sister-in-law, the child is shy." Wang Ying said.
Lu Yanfen withdrew her hand and sighed: "Our two families have become estranged. Even Dongbao doesn't recognize me anymore."
Wang Ying didn't respond. It wasn't that the two families became estranged after she married in. They became estranged after Gao Weifeng died. It had nothing to do with her.
Wang Ying didn't respond, so Lu Yanfen continued, "Yingzi, how did you come up with the idea of making digital cookies? Did you learn it from someone else? Or did you come up with it on your own?"
"I thought about it myself. Our factory was the first to produce it. Where can I learn it?" Wang Ying said confidently, but she was a little confused as to why Lu Yanfen asked her this.
"Is that so? Then you are really smart. Did you knit this sweater for Dongbao? The pattern is very unique, I have never seen it before..." Lu Yanfen said gently.
"Uncle!" Dongbao saw Zhao Yunsheng coming out with a cardboard box containing a TV, and shouted, interrupting the conversation between Wang Ying and Lu Yanfen.
Behind Zhao Yunsheng was an employee from a hardware store, who was also holding a TV in his hands. It belonged to the Gao family.
The two families tied the TV to the back of their bicycles, said goodbye, and went home. Before leaving, Lu Yanfen glanced at Wang Ying again, as if she had something to say, which made Wang Ying a little confused. But when they got home, the family started tinkering with the TV, and Wang Ying put Lu Yanfen's thoughts aside.
It was a small, 12-inch black-and-white TV, but at the time, it was considered a rarity. It was placed in the main room on the first floor, so everyone could watch. Zhao Yunsheng fiddled with it for a while, and finally, images and sound appeared on the TV.
Dongbao jumped for joy and screamed with excitement.
Wang Ying was not very interested. She had seen large color TVs and watched various programs in her previous life. Now this small black and white TV had no appeal to her.
However, that night, Wang Ying stayed with his family until the TV went off before going upstairs.
After they lay down, Zhao Yunsheng sighed, "We have too few channels for receiving information. I haven't come across any new books in a long time...except for the ones you asked Gu Mei to buy. With television, we should have more channels."
"The movement is over. Things will get better and better. Look, the monthly novel magazine will be resumed as well," said Wang Ying.
Zhao Yunsheng was silent for a few seconds, and then thought of his manuscript that had fallen into oblivion.
"My manuscript is definitely doomed. Bai Tong is probably too busy and didn't even write me a rejection letter." Zhao Yunsheng sighed.
"There's no rejection letter, so maybe it's already been published. Didn't they say it would be published on the first issue? Can we buy this issue?" Wang Ying asked. "We'll know once we buy it and take a look."
"It may not arrive, after all, it has been suspended for so many years," said Zhao Yunsheng.
"When we can buy it, we will order one. We will definitely see your article in it." Wang Ying said with a smile.
"You remind me that I should have ordered one from Bai Tong earlier." Zhao Yunsheng was a little annoyed. Yingzi always had confidence in him and said that he could do it. He really didn't want to let her down.
On New Year's Day, Zhao Yunsheng didn't buy the book. He asked his colleagues at work, but no one had subscribed. Many people didn't know that the monthly magazine had been re-published. Zhao Yunsheng went to his boss again to ask for a subscription, and the boss agreed.
But it’s too late to order now. Zhao Yunsheng wants to see the re-publication issue now!
Zhao Yunsheng waited anxiously for a few days. Early in the morning on the 5th, there was a knock on the gate of the Zhao family's courtyard. It was the familiar voice of the postman.
“!”
Zhao Yunsheng was still being affectionate with Wang Ying and didn't want to get up. When he heard the postman's voice, he immediately sat up and rushed downstairs without even having time to put on his coat or trousers.
"I'm here! I'm here! I'll open the door." Zhao Yunsheng shouted as he ran to open the door.
Seeing that he was going crazy, Chen Xiuqin stepped aside and asked him to open the door.
"Comrade Zhao Yunsheng, your letter and book."
As the door opened, Zhao Yunsheng heard a heavenly sound.
"Thank you, comrade postman!" Zhao Yunsheng took the letter and the book, and was so excited that he wanted to go up and give the postman a hug.
"You're welcome." Zhao Yunsheng's eyes were too enthusiastic. The postman threw down these three words and rode away on his bike.
Zhao Yunsheng stood at the door, eagerly opening the book and looking up the table of contents. Then, he saw his own name in the table of contents.
"Yingzi!!!!" Zhao Yunsheng shouted joyfully and ran back upstairs like a gust of wind. Wang Ying was sitting on the bed, putting on her coat, when Zhao Yunsheng returned to the room and threw her down.
"Yingzi! It's published! It's published! I'm in the re-publication issue!" Zhao Yunsheng was so excited that he was incoherent and hugged Wang Ying tightly.
Wang Ying was so choked by his embrace that he couldn't breathe. He punched him on the back twice and said, "Let me see!"
Zhao Yunsheng then let go of Wang Ying and opened the magazine again, going directly to the page of his novel.
"Look!" Zhao Yunsheng pointed at the paper and saw the words "New Life (I)" written on it, author: Zhao Yunsheng.
Wang Ying stroked Zhao Yunsheng's name and whispered, "Great! My dream has come true, Yunsheng, and it's even being serialized."
Wang Ying turned to the catalog page, and in addition to Zhao Yunsheng, there were several famous writers in later generations.
"My wife is really amazing." Wang Ying sighed.
Zhao Yunsheng's eyes filled with tears. He hugged Wang Ying tightly again: "I never even dared to think about it before... If it weren't for your encouragement... I wouldn't be where I am today."
Wang Ying held a book in one hand and stroked Zhao Yunsheng's back with the other.
"It is your talent that makes me believe that you can succeed, which is why I encourage you..." Wang Ying said softly.
The two hugged each other tightly, and Zhao Yunsheng was reluctant to let Wang Ying go until Chen Xiuqin saw that they had not come down after the time limit, so she stood in the yard and called them.
"Yingzi! Yunsheng! Come down and have breakfast! You guys are not going to work!" Chen Xiuqin didn't know what her son had just done.
Zhao Yunsheng then reluctantly let Wang Ying go. He was rarely shy and wiped away his tears.
"I'm so happy, Yingzi, please don't laugh at me," said Zhao Yunsheng.
"It's human nature." Wang Ying smiled. "Hurry up and get dressed and go downstairs, or I'll get the spatula and hit you."
The two quickly dressed and went downstairs. When they got downstairs, Chen Xiuqin asked, "What was Yunsheng doing crazy just now?"
Wang Ying handed the book to Chen Xiuqin and said, "Mom, look, Yunsheng's novel has been published."
Chen Xiuqin lifted her apron and wiped her hands. "Oh, it really is Zhao Yunsheng's name. What kind of book is this? Is it okay?"
"It's okay. It's a legitimate national publication," Wang Ying said with a smile. "Except for Yunsheng, everyone else on it is a great writer!"
"Really?" Chen Xiuqin didn't know any great writers, and she was still a little worried that something might happen.
"Don't worry, Mom. He'll be fine." Wang Ying comforted her. "Your son has great potential."
Chen Xiuqin always felt that being a writer was unreliable and dangerous, and she had never supported Zhao Yunsheng's writing. Unexpectedly, he could actually write such a decent work and have it published.
Director Zhao came over, and Chen Xiuqin said, "Old Zhao, Yunsheng's article has been published."
"I heard it." Director Zhao said.
"Is it okay?" Chen Xiuqin was still worried.
"It's all been published, no matter if it's important or not. It's definitely not important for now." Director Zhao took the book from Chen Xiuqin and said, "Let me take a look later."
Director Zhao took the book away. Zhao Yunsheng called out from behind him, "Dad, this is a reissue, and it's my sample copy. It's very precious. Please don't get it dirty or fold the pages!"
"I understand! I'll just take a look at what you wrote." Director Zhao said.
Director Zhao knew that his son had been writing, but he didn't know what he was writing about and never took it seriously. Now that it was actually published in a book, he really started to take it seriously.
Before breakfast, Director Zhao finished reading the section serialized by Zhao Yunsheng. He returned to the table with the book, handed it back to Zhao Yunsheng, and said, "What about the sequel? Do you have the manuscript? I'd like to take a look."
"Hehe, if you want to read it, just wait until it's published in the book next month!" Zhao Yunsheng said with a smile.
Director Zhao's face darkened.
Zhao Yunsheng snorted, "I showed it to you before, but you refused to read it. You shouted for war and wanted to tear it up and burn it. Now if you want to read it, just wait until it's serialized in the magazine!"
Director Zhao and Chen Xiuqin rolled their eyes at Zhao Yunsheng. Director Zhao said, "This is a different time. Even if we burn your manuscript, you won't be able to publish it."
"I don't care. Yingzi is still the best. She supports me from beginning to end!" Zhao Yunsheng was excited and proud at this moment.
"How dare you say that? Yingzi has spoiled you!" said Chen Xiuqin.
Zhao Yunsheng was happy. Who doesn’t want to have a lover who spoils them?
Director Zhao said, "You're determined to take this path, but it won't be easy. You still can't lose your job."
"I know, don't worry." Zhao Yunsheng is not so ignorant as to become a full-time writer. His literary journey has just begun.
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