Chapter 72: Cultivation Plan

Jump out…

Chen Yixue heard Xu Yuexin's words and her heart trembled.

She had heard that a singer in Xiangjiang was holding a concert that could earn several ten‑thousand yuan.

In comparison, as a leading performer of the Cultural Troupe, she earned less than 200 yuan a month.

Saying she wasn't envious would be a lie.

And today, Xu Yuexin showed her another option.

"You're right."

Chen Yixue lightly nodded, "But I don't know what to do after I go out."

"I can't imagine handling everything on my own after leaving the Cultural Troupe."

"Can you help me plan?"

Da Yizi was treating herself as a life mentor.

Xu Yuexin leaned back in his seat and continued to guide her.

"Jumping out doesn't mean quitting. You can keep your position in the Cultural Troupe, forgo the salary, work on your own most of the time, occasionally help them, and keep a fallback."

"After you go out, first record songs and sell them to audio‑visual publishers; the advantage is low trial‑and‑error cost."

"When regulations someday allow individuals to hold concerts, you can perform on stage just like the singers in Xiangjiang."

"Occasionally singing a couple of songs for the Cultural Troupe also helps maintain your public profile; when you officially debut as an individual, people will still remember you."

Xu Yuexin methodically laid out the plan for Da Yizi.

Chen Yixue was stunned.

He was a few years younger than she was, yet could devise such meticulous arrangements.

In such a short time, he could provide a detailed and feasible scheme for her.

Truly impressive.

"I'll do it as you said."

Chen Yixue immediately replied, "If there are troublesome parts later, I still hope you can keep guiding me."

"We're family; don't be so formal."

Xu Yuexin said, adding reassurance, "After you go out, don't feel psychological pressure; the literary arts will eventually have to merge with the market."

"You're just one step ahead of others."

"Hmm, I believe what you say."

Chen Yixue smiled, nodded, and said.

In her eyes, Xu Yuexin not only had strong planning ability but also a very broad perspective.

Xu Yuexin raised his hand, glanced at the time, and said, "It's getting late; let's go home."

"Then, when are you free next time? I'd like to talk with you again."

Chen Yixue said reluctantly, feeling that time had passed too quickly.

"In five days."

Xu Yuexin replied, "See you in the morning then."

After seeing Chen Yixue home, Xu Yuexin returned to his house in Keyuan Community.

It was already night, and Xu Yuexin pushed the door open and entered the bedroom.

On the desk, the lamp cast a warm orange glow; Chen Qiaoqiao sat on the bedside not far away, hugging her knees, eyes fixed on the floor, seeming to have something on her mind.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Xu Yuexin walked up to his daughter‑in‑law, lightly patted her shoulder, and asked, "Are you feeling wronged?"

Chen Qiaoqiao came out of her reverie, looked up at him, and said, "I'm not wronged; I'm just worrying about something myself."

"Worried about what?"

Xu Yuexin sat beside her, gently stroked her back, and asked, "Can I help you solve it?"

"The summer vacation is almost halfway, and I feel like I haven't done anything."

Chen Qiaoqiao said with a worried expression, "My classmates are doing field research with their mentors, some are interning at ministries, some in the city, while I'm just idling at home."

A daughter‑in‑law seeking progress? That's a good thing!

I must guide her, nurture a future female boss. "That's easy; starting tomorrow you can intern at the Street Office."

Xu Yuexin didn't hesitate and gave an immediate answer.

"Huh?"

Chen Qiaoqiao was a bit taken aback.

Her classmates go to ministries, and she goes to the street level; isn't the gap a bit large...?

Xu Yuexin saw her confusion and patiently explained.

"You don't get it; this is called switching tracks to accumulate grassroots experience."

"You've already interned at higher‑level institutions; now going to the grassroots will make your experience more comprehensive."

"Moreover, everyone else works in high‑level agencies; being the only one with grassroots experience will make your résumé stand out later."

"Most importantly, I'm 100% sure that future national personnel policies will favor cadres with grassroots experience. Helping at the Street Office for a while will give you a big boost later."

Xu Yuexin said with unwavering certainty.

Chen Qiaoqiao listened nearby, and after he finished speaking, she reflected for a while.

"You make sense; I'll go to the Street Office tomorrow and ask."

After thinking, Chen Qiaoqiao agreed, "I also need to prepare, to avoid mishandling grassroots work."

"It's fine; the people here are all senior intellectuals, so nonsense is less. Besides, you're a summer intern; they won't give you the toughest tasks."

"I'll take you there together tomorrow."

"Mm‑mm, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."

Chen Qiaoqiao let out a sigh and said, the initial worry had already vanished from her face.

Early the next morning, Xu Yuexin led Chen Qiaoqiao to the Xueyuan Road Street Office.

When the street staff heard that both of them were Yanda students, they proactively invited them to the secretary's office.

The Street Office secretary is a female colleague.

After Chen Qiaoqiao explained her purpose, she promptly agreed, stating that Chen Qiaoqiao could freely choose the work tasks, her enthusiasm seeming as if she feared Chen Qiaoqiao might change her mind.

"I want to write articles because my major is Chinese literature."

Chen Qiaoqiao said calmly and graciously, "Regarding work hours, I plan to start tomorrow, then work Monday through Thursday and rest from Friday to Sunday. May I ask if that suits you here?"

"Of course it's convenient. Having a top student like you write, our Street Office's future writing work won't be a worry."

The female secretary smiled warmly, feeling very pleased.

These Yanda top students, after graduation, all enter central state agencies.

That someone voluntarily came to the Street Office for an internship today made the female secretary feel she had truly found a treasure.

……

Early the next day, Chen Qiaoqiao went to the Street Office for the internship as scheduled, while Xu Yuexin headed to the appointed tea house to meet Ye Tianrong and discuss publishing 'Flower Wreath Under High Mountain' in Xiangjiang.

The negotiation involved specific arrangements in the publishing process and profit sharing, a major matter for Xu Yuexin, so he deliberately changed into a new outfit.

On the way, Xu Yuexin stopped at a newsstand to buy a copy of today's People's Daily.

Holding the newspaper and flipping through it a few times, he looked up at the old man in the stall and asked, "Do you have yesterday's or the day‑before‑yesterday's paper? I need a copy."

"What a coincidence, I still have two copies left."

The old man rummaged in the newsstand for a while and handed the newspaper to Xu Yuexin.

Xu Yuexin took the paper, gave him a dime, and began to read it carefully again.

This time, Xu Yuexin found a report on the People's Literature Society award ceremony in the newspaper.

Moreover, the accompanying photo showed the very scene when Mao Lao talked to him.

Great, Xu Yuexin decided to take it to Ye Tianrong.

Upon arriving at the tea house, Xu Yuexin saw Ye Tianrong, dressed in a full suit, already seated inside, waving to greet him.

"Long time no see, hope you have been well."

Ye Tianrong smiled politely and called the server to order tea.

After the tea was ordered, Ye Tianrong made brief small talk with Xu Yuexin, then got to the point, "Have you lately heard about the publishing policies in Xiangjiang or overseas?"

(End of chapter)