Chapter 72 Little Star and the Radio Station
Jiang Rong and his team moved with astonishing speed. The day after they returned to the base with the crude oil, four large trucks loaded with fresh vegetables set off from Xinghuo Base towards Heping Base. Meanwhile, Xinghuo Base's dedicated external channel broadcast a letter of gratitude to Heping Base during prime time. When the sweet voice of a young woman rang out from the broadcast, those who heard the letter were incredulous: "There are still such friendly bases these days?"
Not only were the people at other bases bewildered, but even those at Peace Base were wondering: Is their base really that good? Instead of wasting time and energy helping other bases, they should be focusing on solving the livelihood issues of their own base.
When the people at the Peace Base saw the large truck with gongs and drums and red ribbons tied to it, they hesitated: what good things could the small Xinghuo Base possibly send?
Upon opening the carriage, the sight of so many vibrant green vegetables was dazzling.
Now those who were making sarcastic remarks have shut up. Look how considerate the Xinghuo Base is! They not only expressed their gratitude in words, but also put their appreciation into practice. They sent vegetables! These days, getting a bite of fresh vegetables is such a rare treat!
The Xinghuo Base has a total population of over 30,000. They probably gathered the entire base's worth of supplies just to get a few boxes of food. Such a great base… we have to help! We have to help them properly!
Just as Jiang Rong had predicted, after receiving several truckloads of vegetables, Meng Liang sent Jiang Rong a fax. He expressed his gratitude to Jiang Rong and her team, and also kindly inquired if they needed any assistance.
Having just delivered groceries, it wasn't entirely convenient to ask for an exorbitant amount. Jiang Rong planned to subtly mention her predicament when delivering groceries next month.
In the period that followed, Jiang Rong and his team visited the oil field several more times. Before the second delivery of vegetables to the Xinghuo Base, the crude oil they brought back was enough to power the base for several years.
*
Time flies, and December has arrived in the blink of an eye. At the beginning of the month, the highest temperature was close to 20 degrees Celsius, but a few days later, a strong cold front hit the Xinghuo Base, and the temperature plummeted. The first snow of the winter fell from the sky.
When the snowflakes fell, the winter wheat in the fields had already turned green, and the rapeseed had grown to over a foot tall. Only a few cold-resistant vegetables were still stubbornly standing tall in the fields, and after a snowfall, the fields were covered in a blanket of white.
Fortunately, the residents of Xinghuo Base were well-prepared. They harvested all the harvestable vegetables before the snow fell. Taking advantage of the sunny days before the temperature dropped, everyone stocked up on a lot of vegetables. Some were dried to make pickles, while others were stored in warm places to eat fresh. Everyone was in high spirits, having stocked up on vegetables they would need for the winter well in advance.
The happiest people on snowy days are the kids and the dogs. These past few days, Jiang Hao and Jiang Xiaoheng, along with their friends, have been having a blast. They run around in the snow, have snowball fights, and don't go home until they're drenched in sweat after school every day.
The result of their wild playing was that their hands and feet got chilblains, which became itchy and painful as soon as the temperature rose. Guan Shao has been especially popular these past two days, as the children like to rub their tender little hands in his palms, and the thick calluses on his palms have become a great way for them to relieve the itching.
Hearing that boiling eggplant roots in water could cure frostbite, Jiang Rong specially went to find some eggplant roots. Early in the morning, he boiled a pot of eggplant root water and forced his younger brother to soak his hands and feet in it.
Putting his frostbitten hands and feet into hot water was an indescribable experience. The young man grimaced, and Jiang Rong, both amused and exasperated, asked, "Are you still going to build a snowman on snowy days?"
Jiang Hao blinked: "Snowmen are fun!"
Jiang Xiaoheng chuckled, revealing his pearly white teeth: "Snowball fights are fun too~"
Jiang Rong understood; they were determined to continue playing in the snow. He took the two little boys' delicate hands out of the hot water and gently rubbed the red, swollen bumps on their skin: "Next time you go out to play, make sure you wear gloves, okay?"
Jiang Xiaoheng drawled, "Okay~ Dad, my toes are itchy, can you scratch them for me?"
Jiang Rong, both amused and exasperated, grabbed Jiang Xiaoheng's foot and said, "Don't go out to play today, the snow has all melted. Go to your grandparents' house later and do your homework. You can only play with your friends after you've finished the homework your teacher assigned."
There are over 3,000 minors at the Spark Base. Before the great crisis, the children were hope, seedlings that needed careful nurturing. After the crisis, the displaced children lost their parents who could protect them, and not only did they have to go to school, but even survival became extremely difficult.
Despite the difficult conditions, Jiang Rong still managed to organize people to establish a school at the Spark Base. He created classes from kindergarten to high school according to the children's ages and selected some people to teach these children.
Of course, conditions are limited now, and we can't be as meticulous as before the Great Crisis. The children not only need to learn knowledge, but also useful skills that will help them survive better in the wasteland. Therefore, even children in the seedling class like Jiang Xiaoheng have had additional labor and martial arts classes.
After the temperature dropped in October, the school at the Spark Base started classes. The school was located in the resort, and many of the college students who had been stationed there became teaching assistants for the children. Every morning, dozens of school buses would pick up the children from various villages and take them back to their original villages after class.
The idea of establishing a school received the approval and support of everyone at the base. The adults were even more enthusiastic about their work just thinking that their children could still learn. And the children were also particularly excited to be able to return to the classroom and make new friends and classmates.
The base has just been established, and its facilities are not yet complete. Jiang Rong is thinking that when conditions permit in the future, she will build several more schools within the base.
Hearing that they were going to his grandparents' house, Jiang Xiaoheng's face fell: "Dad, are you going to work today?" He hadn't eaten with his dad in a long time, and it was the weekend, so why was his dad still so busy?
Jiang Rong gently massaged Jiang Xiaoheng's little feet: "I'm not busy today, so Dad will go to Grandpa and Grandma's house to pick you up at noon. Think about what you want to eat for lunch, and Dad will bring it back later."
Jiang Xiaoheng's eyes sparkled: "I want to eat barbecue~" Jiang Hao nodded in agreement, "Mmm!" Eating juicy barbecue on a cold day is the happiest thing.
Guan Shao closed the book in his hand and smiled, "Okay, let's have barbecue then." He and Jiang Rong had made some kimchi a couple of days ago, which would be perfect for wrapping the barbecue.
After putting shoes and socks on the children, Jiang Rong reminded them again, "Don't pick at your chilblains, and wear gloves."
The children, carrying their little backpacks, ran cheerfully towards the door: "Okay~ Junjun and Lele, we're going to Grandpa and Grandma's house!"
Jiang Rong isn't worried about the children's safety now, firstly because Junjun and Lele are with them. Lele is clever and quick-witted, while Junjun is calm and domineering. In emergencies, Junjun will even let the two children ride on its back and carry them away.
Secondly, the two children no longer need to cross mountains to get to Chu Qiang's house. Since Pan Pan's supernatural abilities improved, he single-handedly built a wide road from Fishery Village 3 directly to Jiang Rong's house. This road is only a little over a kilometer long, and solar streetlights have been installed on both sides, so there's no need to worry about walking at night.
After watching the two children happily skip out the door, Guan Shao picked up the thermos in one hand and handed Jiang Rong a handful of red dates with the other: "Let's go too."
This morning, the second batch of vegetable trucks heading to the Peace Base departed. Once the roads are cleared, they should arrive at the Peace Base in just over an hour. Meng Liang should send them a message soon.
Jiang Rong took a jujube and popped it into his mouth. It was a jujube from the jujube tree in front of his yard; it was large and sweet, a gift that had given Jiang Rong and his son a chance to live in their past life. In this life, Jiang Rong was trying to find a way to make the jujube tree grow more small jujube trees so that they could be promoted throughout the entire base.
As soon as she stepped out the door, a biting chill hit her. Jiang Rong exhaled a puff of white breath: "It's quite cold."
Guan Shao glanced at the thermometer outside the door: "It's minus five degrees Celsius now."
Minus five degrees Celsius isn't too bad, since the weather will get even colder in a while. Jiang Rong looked up at the little fairy wrapped in a big floral cotton-padded coat outside the west courtyard wall: "Little fairy, are you cold?"
Cacti are tropical plants, and their fleshy interiors can freeze in cold weather. Worried that her little fairy might get sick from the cold, Jiang Rong had a large insulating blanket custom-made in advance. Inside the blanket were soft, insulating synthetic fibers, and then a thick plastic film was placed over it. Jiang Rong tried it herself and found it very warm.
From beneath the insulation came the slow, sluggish reply from the little fairy: "Jiang Gong~ There's a problem~" The chubby cactus tried to wriggle, but the insulation was too tight, and after struggling for a while, it gave up, "Oops~"
Jiang Rong was relieved. "It seems there's no problem."
After greeting the little fairy, Jiang Rong looked up and asked, "Little darling, are you cold?"
A dark red vine stretched out from the eaves, and the little creature twisted it into a heart shape: "Jiang Gong~" It's warm; the heart-shaped blanket Jiang Gong made for it is very warm. Its scattered vines have also found a warm shelter, so it won't have to worry about surviving the cold winter.
After confirming that their two little ones were alright, the two went out with peace of mind.
*
Meng Liang answered the radio at 10 a.m. As soon as the call connected, Meng Liang's hearty laughter came through: "President Jiang, thank you for the expense."
Jiang Rong laughed and said, "There's no need to spend money on this. It's all just cheap stuff. It's perfect that President Meng can use it. By the way, President Meng, there's a bunch of cherry radishes in there, which I grew myself."
Meng Liang exclaimed in surprise, "It was actually planted by President Jiang himself! I'll have to try it sometime!"
After chatting for a while, Jiang Rong sneezed. Hearing Jiang Rong sneezing, Meng Liang asked in surprise, "President Jiang, have you caught a cold?"
Jiang Rong took the hot water Guan Shao handed him and peeled a steaming hot roasted orange. He said in a pretentious tone, "Don't mention it. It's been snowing these past few days, hasn't it? The solar power in the base isn't enough, so we can't turn on the air conditioning and I've caught a bit of a chill. President Meng, you should also take better care of your health."
Meng Liang responded a few times: "The air conditioning is indeed not warm enough. Why doesn't President Jiang try the heating?"
Jiang Rong laughed: "President Meng is joking. In the countryside, we're lucky to have a fireplace, let alone central heating."
Meng Liang asked in surprise, "Didn't you transport natural gas back before?"
Jiang Rong's eyes lit up; this was exactly what she was waiting for: "We have natural gas, but it's all for vehicles, which saves on fuel. Even if we had natural gas, we don't have a natural gas pipeline..."
Meng Liang smiled and said, "That's easy. If President Jiang needs it, I can send people to help build the natural gas pipeline and heating pipeline. If things go smoothly, it can be completed in a few months."
Jiang Rong quickly seized the opportunity: "Wouldn't this... be too much trouble for President Meng?"
Meng Liang said slowly, "It's no trouble. In these difficult times, we should all work together to create a better life."
Jiang Rong said gratefully, "Thank you so much, Mr. Meng!"
After hanging up the radio, everyone gave Jiang Rong a thumbs up. Ruan Hanyu's eyes sparkled: "Jiang Boss was right! He really is going to send someone to help us!"
Jiang Rong smiled and popped a warm orange into her mouth. "This is just the beginning. When it comes to large-scale construction, we are no match for the Peace Base." The Peace Base can build magnificent underground fortifications, but for them, building a house and laying pipes is a piece of cake.
Chu Qiang chuckled: "Xiao Jiang, your sneeze was perfectly timed. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have really thought you had a cold."
Jiang Rong laughed and said, "How can you catch a cold so easily?"
Starting in the summer, Jiang Rong ordered people to cut down the nearby withered trees and replace them with new saplings in October. Everyone saw carts carrying loads of timber going in and out, but no one knew where the timber went.
The answer is finally clear: the wood stockpiled over the past few months has been delivered to the heating stoves in every household at the Xinghuo Base. These old-fashioned stoves may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but just a few pieces of wood are enough to warm an entire room.
While warming up, you can also roast some food. For example, right now, everyone is gathered around the heater roasting oranges and sweet potatoes. The whole room is warm and cozy, and you only need to wear a short-sleeved shirt inside.
While enjoying delicious snacks, Jiang Rong perked up her ears: "Hmm? What about today's broadcast?"
At this time usually, the base's loudspeaker would be on, and a sweet-sounding female announcer would read a letter of thanks from the Spark Base with great emotion. Why isn't it on today? Is she changing her lines?
*
In the activity center's medical room, Wan Xinran, who had won the job as a broadcaster thanks to her beautiful voice, was writhing on the hospital bed, her face pale and clutching her stomach. Wang Chunlan directed the staff who brought her there: "Quick, quick, help me press her down, don't let her hurt herself!"
Wan Xinran was in so much pain that she was covered in cold sweat, her voice trembling with tears: "No, Sister Wang, it's time for the broadcast... Waaah..."
Wang Chunlan said helplessly, "Your appendicitis is almost ruptured, and you're still thinking about working? Don't push yourself too hard. It's okay if you don't broadcast today, you need to rest properly. Don't cry, don't cry, let me treat you first, you have to cooperate."
The two little ones who were peering out the window witnessed this scene. Jiang Xiaoheng said anxiously, "Big brother, look, Sister Xinran is crying so pitifully."
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Hao said, "If there hadn't been an announcement today, would Sister Xinran have been scolded?"
Jiang Xiaoheng shook his head: "I don't know... I wish I could help her."
The two young men looked at each other, then realized that if Sister Xinran couldn't broadcast, they could help her. They had seen Sister Xinran work; broadcasting on a radio was actually quite simple—just put on a headset, turn it on, and you could start broadcasting.
Jiang Xiaoheng's eyes sparkled: "Sister Xinran's scripts never change, I've already memorized them. Come on, little brother, let's help Sister Xinran with the broadcast!"
The broadcasting station was in complete chaos. Wan Xinran suddenly fell ill, and the backup announcer had gone to deliver supplies to the next village. With the broadcast time fast approaching, everyone sighed and lamented, feeling they had ruined their day.
Just then, a soft, sweet voice came from the loudspeaker: "Little brother, is the switch on?" Jiang Hao's affirmative voice came through: "Yes! We can begin!"
Jiang Xiaoheng took a deep breath and encouraged the two of them: "Come on, we have to help Sister Xinran with the broadcast, go for it, little brother!"
Jiang Hao cleared his throat and reminded him, "It seems that Xiao Heng has already started."
"Hi everyone~ I'm Jiang Xiaoheng from Xinghuo Base, and I'm three years old this year~ I'm in Class 1 of the Little Seedlings at Xingxing School. Today, Sister Xinran isn't feeling well, so my older brother and I will be giving you the news~"
Most people listen to the radio just to hear some noise. Spark Base plays a variety of songs most of the time, except when thanking Peace Base… music can be relaxing, so some people often tune in to Spark Base's fixed frequency to see what songs they're playing that day.
Normally, this time is the Spark Base's routine thank-you ceremony. Everyone had the radio next to them and went about their own business. However, when a childlike voice came from the radio, everyone turned around in surprise.
Unlike the little girl's sweet voice, Jiang Xiaoheng's soft, childlike voice trembled as he recited, making everyone's hearts flutter with cuteness.
Spark Base really knows how to captivate people; the voices of children always manage to draw everyone's attention. People who had put down their radios to attend to their work returned to the radio, gathering around to listen to the innocent voices, smiles involuntarily playing on their lips.
Jiang Xiaoheng was quite enthusiastic when he patted his chest, but when it came to actually reciting, he got stuck. When he forgot his lines, his voice would involuntarily lower, and his big, dark eyes would look to Jiang Hao for help. At this point, Jiang Hao would quietly remind him of a few words.
It turned out that Jiang Hao's memory wasn't much better than Jiang Xiaoheng's; halfway through reciting, the younger guy completely forgot his lines. Jiang Xiaoheng, holding his headset, exclaimed, "Oh no, I don't remember! Do you remember, big brother?"
Jiang Hao scratched his head in confusion: "I don't remember, it seems like there was a long line of people to thank!"
Jiang Xiaoheng suddenly realized: "I understand! Let's start expressing our gratitude!"
"Thank you to the brothers and sisters at the Peace Base for bringing us oil!" Jiang Xiaoheng exclaimed, completely overjoyed. "Thank you to the uncles and aunts at the Peace Base for bringing us vegetables! Thank you to the grandpas and grandmas at the Peace Base for bringing us warmth!"
Jiang Hao whispered a reminder: "Xiao Heng, you're wrong. We're delivering vegetables to the Peace Base; it's just a matter of reciprocity."
Jiang Xiaoheng was dumbfounded. Oh no, how could he have made such a mistake? In his panic, he just wanted to end this chaotic broadcast as soon as possible: "The two bases are as close as family, exchanging gifts and treating each other with kindness!" This was one of the few original lines that his chaotic brain could remember, but unfortunately, he could only remember this sentence and forgot the rest.
Finally, Jiang Xiaoheng said with a conflicted tone, "Thank you to everyone at both bases. I wish you all good health and all the best!"
He'd already said all the auspicious things about asking for lucky money during the New Year, so we could probably call it a day. Jiang Xiaoheng concluded somewhat unhappily, "That's all for today's broadcast~ Goodbye, bye-bye~"
After putting down the headset, Jiang Xiaoheng almost cried: "Big brother, I forgot my lines! Waaah, I'm so sorry, Sister Xinran, I forgot!"
Jiang Hao quickly put down his headset and hugged Jiang Xiaoheng: "Don't cry, don't cry, I forgot my lines too! It's okay to forget them~"
Jiang Xiaoheng cried so intensely, while everyone listening to the broadcast laughed so hard they couldn't straighten up. Where did the Spark Base find such a treasure? It's too cute!
Jiang Rong stood outside the broadcasting room, her cheeks aching from smiling. "I think our radio station could add another program, with the kids as the hosts." A program that could bring a smile to everyone's face during a difficult time would surely be very popular.
Author's Note:
Jiang Rong: Xiao Hao and Xiao Heng, starting tomorrow, you will broadcast for ten minutes every day at the radio station.
Jiang Xiaoheng: QAQ
Jiang Hao: TAT
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