Chapter 55: You Just Don't Want to Sell High‑Price Copyright and Publishing Rights

"Audience comrades, good afternoon. Welcome, everyone…"

At that moment, a host's voice came from the stage, interrupting the two's conversation.

The old man shook his head and returned to the Laogangbu Guanzhong Qu; Xu Yuexin and Qiao Qiao fixed their gazes on the stage, watching the performance attentively.

After the opening remarks, the host began announcing the program; Chen Yixue first took the stage, singing Xu Yuexin's composition "On the Hopeful Fields".

When Chen Yixue appeared, she wore a white shirt and army‑green trousers, a belt two finger‑widths wide around her waist, making her look both tall and dashing.

"Our hometown,

On the hopeful fields.

Cooking smoke drifts over newly built houses, a small river flows beside the beautiful village…"

As Chen Yixue opened her voice, the beautiful lyrics and melody spread to every corner of Gongti.

After just two lines, the audience was drawn in by the captivating music; hardly anyone whispered, everyone listened immersed.

The wonderful melody struck a chord in every listener.

"The seedlings sprout in the farmers' sweat,

Cattle and sheep grow to the shepherd's flute."

When the song reached this point, people in the audience gradually began clapping in time, and rhythmic sounds filled the venue.

Xu Yuexin's seat was close to the Laogangbu Qu. He clearly saw an old man who often appears on TV, turning his head toward the person beside him: "This song is good; I think it can be promoted nationwide in cities and countryside."

A kindly‑looking old man added beside him: "Let others see the brand‑new look of the countryside after reforms."

"Use art to pave the way for reform!"

"Yes, I'll implement it when I get back."

The cadre beside him obeyed.

Seeing this, Xu Yuexin felt a little excited: the influence of his work far exceeded his original expectations.

Onstage, dancers moved to the song, displaying the graceful scenery depicted in the lyrics, while some in the audience began humming along.

Because it was a Tribute Performance, the arena's order was controlled, unable to be as lively as modern concerts.

All the audience could do was, at the end of a piece, give the most enthusiastic applause! Wave‑like applause rose inside Gongti, and everyone praised "On the Hopeful Fields".

Especially the university students beside Xu Yuexin, who eagerly shared their thoughts with their peers.

"This song is really beautiful, the imagery is wonderful! My hometown countryside is just like that."

"The singing is good, the writing even better; the author is truly talented!"

One compliment after another reached Xu Yuexin's ears.

Inside the arena, applause rose wave after wave, thundering continuously, until the host took the stage to announce the next act and it gradually subsided.

Many people still lingered, savoring the lyrics and melody.

The upcoming program included dance, drama, and poetry recitation; midway, Xu Yuexin felt the air a bit stale and wanted to step out for a breath.

"I heard Teacher Li Guyi is performing today; would you like to wait?"

After he said he would go out, Qiao Qiao suggested.

"Then we must wait for her to appear."

Xu Yuexin immediately replied.

Soon enough, Teacher Li Guyi indeed took the stage, singing for everyone the military song "The Frontier Spring is Clear and Pure", which had been popular for nearly two years.

In less than half a year, her "Country Love" will be released. The song has been praised as the first pop song of the new era.

While Xu Yuexin enjoyed Teacher Li's melodious voice, he thought to himself in his seat.

When Li Guyi's piece ended, Xu Yuexin also rose and walked out of the arena, taking a deep breath of the fresh outside air.

At that moment, he noticed the old man who had been looking for a Coke also outside the arena, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance.

"Why are you also here?"

Xu Yuexin asked irritably, suspecting the old man of deliberately approaching him.

"I came out first; I should be the one asking you."

The old man spoke Mandarin with a heavy accent, not turning his head, and said.

This…

Xu Yuexin was stumped by his question, thought perhaps it was, and said nothing more.

The old man kept speaking, as if muttering to himself or posing a question to him: "You say, why can't a ordinary drink like Coca‑Cola be introduced?"

"A can of water—does it need to be made so serious and complicated?"

The question carried a hint of soulfulness.

If he followed the common thinking of this era, Xu Yuexin would answer that they don't need Coke here; importing it would be unnecessary.

But Xu Yuexin knew that answer would not hold up to scrutiny.

Even in 2022, when carbonated drinks were waning, on a single Jingdong platform Coca‑Cola still sold 13.9 million units, topping all beverage charts.

"Foreign Exchange is precious; using it to import Coke seems wasteful."

Xu Yuexin thought for a moment and gave a conventional answer.

That wasn't his true thought; in fact he knew the state would import 3,000 cases of Coca‑Cola by year‑end for sale.

"That reason is a bit forced. If worried about wasting Foreign Exchange, they could simply bring in a production line and produce it domestically."

The old man sighed lightly, shook his head, and said, "In our view, Coca‑Cola is a barometer. If the state can accommodate this soda, it can accommodate our business."

"I came from Xiangjiang, stayed here for half a year, just to see when Coca‑Cola can be officially introduced."

Sure enough, he was a Hong Kong businessman.

Xu Yuexin's earlier judgment was confirmed, giving him a clearer picture of the old man's identity.

One must admit, this old gentleman possessed some wisdom.

A certain patriotic businessman, when interviewed in later generations, said that every time he came to Jingcheng, he would observe the nude female statues in the airport; as long as the statues remained, he felt reassured, seeing it as a sign that the short‑term opening policy would not change.

The nude female statues and Coca‑Cola are the indicators in the eyes of investors like them.

"You speak too complicatedly; I don't understand."

Even after grasping the elder's identity, Xu Yuexin still pretended to be clueless, saying, "You keep blowing the wind here; I'm going back."

"Young man, this is getting a bit boring."

The elder chuckled, "You and I are both people who care about future policy trends; why must we pretend to be confused in front of each other?"

"You don't want to see the loosening of policies across all economic sectors, so that one day you can sell distribution rights and copyrights at a high price?"

(End of chapter)