Chapter 151

At the same time that *People's Literature* achieved the milestone of 1.1 million copies in circulation, the 1 million cassette tapes of *Spring in the Sheep-Herding Class* produced by Pacific Audio & Video Co. were also released into the market, and began selling hotly in major state-run audiovisual stores and some Xinhua bookstores!

Within the Pacific company, there were initially some complaints about the production volume of 1 million cassettes, as it was considered too risky. After all, *Spring in the Sheep-Herding Class* was an album focused on children's songs; how big could the market for children's songs really be?

Although Zhu Zhu Fengbo's *Roses Blooming Everywhere* had previously exceeded 1 million in sales, that could at least barely be considered pop music, and young people had a strong willingness to buy it.

However, facts proved that Manager Liao Mingzu's decision was correct. This cassette tape did not experience any sluggish sales. After two days of sales, the feedback was most enthusiastic through the Xinhua Bookstore channels.

Through the novel *Spring in the Sheep-Herding Class*, Wei Ming attracted a large group of literary youths. When they saw the cassette tape of the same name at Xinhua bookstores, their willingness to buy was very strong. Although not everyone had a tape recorder, many people knew someone who did; as long as there was a tape, there was no need to worry about playback channels.

When many people started buying this cassette and *Where is Spring*, *Little Grass*, and *On the Hopeful Fields* could be heard everywhere, a trend would soon form in society. Although the tapes were expensive, there were even more people following the trend.

Especially the song *On the Hopeful Fields*, because it fit the current political correctness very well, the push from official media was significant. Review articles discussing this song could be seen in newspapers, and there was no lack of listeners even at the rural administrative level.

Shanghai.

Gong Ying, the younger sister of Gong Xue, took on the heavy responsibility of buying the *Spring in the Sheep-Herding Class* cassette. This was not only the entrustment of her sister, who was busy rehearsing plays, but also carried the expectations of the whole family.

Mom and Dad liked old songs like *On the Hopeful Fields* and *Farewell*, the eldest sister-in-law loved listening to *Little Grass*, and the little nephew was infatuated with children's songs like *Where is Spring* and *Planting the Sun*.

She first went to the Xinhua Bookstore, but the bookstore had already sold out. Along with the tapes, the newly arrived *People's Literature* had also sold out. This was just normal sales; if a bundling strategy had been used at this time, it could have sold like crazy.

Helpless, Gong Ying rode her bicycle to find a nearby audiovisual store and finally found one, but she had to queue.

After listening to old songs for so many years, music audiences loved every new original album released. Although only half of *Spring in the Sheep-Herding Class* was original, the quality was high, and behind it was a touching story like the original novel, making it full of topics.

While queuing, Gong Ying suddenly felt her back being bumped by something, soft and with a shocking tactile sensation.

As soon as she turned her head, she saw a tall, plump girl yelling at the people queuing behind: "Stop crowding!"

Gong Ying hurriedly withdrew her gaze, savoring the tactile sensation from just a moment ago, and a sense of inferiority welled up.

After buying the cassette, Gong Ying left in a hurry. Li Zhi, who was behind her, also managed to buy one. Grandma had given her ten yuan, and after buying the tape, she still had four yuan left. This errand was a huge profit!

The 19-year-old girl Li Zhi was buying it for her grandmother. The old lady especially liked listening to the two songs *On the Hopeful Fields* and *Farewell*. After hearing this tape from a neighbor, she pestered her granddaughter to come and buy it.

However, Li Zhi thought it was average. After all, her family had many Hong Kong and Taiwan music tapes sent back by her father. Compared to those songs, this album sounded incredibly tacky to her ears. As someone who considered herself at the forefront of Shanghai fashion, she disdained to listen to it.

Born on the last day of '61, Li Zhi was not a very happy person. Her parents divorced when she was three. She was awarded to her father, but she was raised solely by her grandmother because her father remarried and later moved to Hong Kong with his new family.

Although her father, who performed stage plays in Hong Kong, had never treated her poorly in terms of money, she knew that what she needed was not just that.

Returning home, Grandma had not yet returned. Li Zhi threw *Spring in the Sheep-Herding Class* aside and put Chen Chen Baiqiang's album *firstlove* into the machine instead.

She listened enjoyably, "Hmm, Hong Kong music is still better to listen to. This is what you call music. If only I could go to Hong Kong to live."

As for the *Spring in the Sheep-Herding Class* cassette, Lu Lu Xiaoyan had originally wanted to buy one herself, but it turned out that while Pacific company was mailing Lele's remuneration, they also mailed a cassette tape.

Although Lele only got 10 yuan for singing one song, the tapes weren't cheap either, and adding it all up, it was still quite considerable.

It's just that she didn't know how much Xizi's remuneration for filming would be. Director Xie said that there was a subsidy of one yuan per day during filming, and how much money she got depended on how long Xizi was in the cast.

It's a pity that the two little ones were at their grandfather's house now, so Lu Lu Xiaoyan could only enjoy the music by herself.

Until the evening, her husband Wei Pingan returned. Although Peking University hadn't started classes yet, he had already started work.

As soon as Wei Pingan took off his coat, Lu Lu Xiaoyan pounced on him. With the "light bulb" gone these past few days, the two were inseparable and used quite a few family planning products.

As soon as their two mouths parted, Wei Pingan asked: "Yo, you're already listening to it? Is this *Little Grass*?"

Lu Lu Xiaoyan: "Hmm, wait a moment, I'll rewind it for you to listen to *Where is Spring*. It has accompaniment; it sounds even better than the real person singing."

Listening to their daughter's tender voice, the two leaned on the sofa and talked about Wei Ming again.

Wei Pingan said: "In the morning, I received a call from Xiao Ming at the office. Their group has already boarded the train for the return journey."

Lu Lu Xiaoyan hurriedly asked: "Did sister-in-law find her family?"

"Found them, but her younger sister also went missing back then and couldn't be found, and her father had also passed away long ago."

Lu Lu Xiaoyan sighed: "Sigh, eight or nine out of ten things in the world are unsatisfactory."

Wei Pingan added: "And this time, Xiao Ming also brought back his grandmother and a cousin, and even asked me to check if the rooms at the guesthouse were enough."

"Are they enough?"

Wei Pingan reached his hand into his wife's collar: "Definitely enough. Now Wang Jingli is even more attentive to Xiao Ming's affairs than I am."

Lu Lu Xiaoyan gently pressed her husband's hand, deciding to eat later.

"I'll eat later, you guys go ahead." Wei Ming was lying on the sleeper berth writing an article.

This trip to find relatives could at least be split into four or five articles. When the time came, he would divide them up; *Yanjing Literature and Art*, *Contemporary*, and *China Youth Daily* would all be accounted for. He wasn't someone who could only write novels.

Six people occupied exactly six berths in the same space. Grandmother and Mom were on the first level, while Wei Ming and Lao Lao Lao Wei were on the third level.

Looking at his cousin Xu Yunyun below him, she had long since lost the depression of her emotional setback. It was her first time going on a long journey, and she was even more fussed than Xiao Hong was when she came. She was as happy as a little bird, and clearly, she was talking more too. After the three elders finished eating, the three young people, Wei Ming included, went to the dining car.

After more than thirty hours of rushing, one morning, the group of six finally arrived at the heart of the motherland—Yanjing.

Cousin Xu Yunyun looked at the two tall clock towers at the train station and opened her little mouth in amazement, looking dazed and cute.

The old lady had been on the train for so long, yet her spirit was surprisingly good. She even asked her daughter and son-in-law: "Can we go see Tianmen?"

"Of course," Lao Lao Lao Wei laughed, "but we have to go see a doctor first. After seeing the doctor, we'll play for a few days before going."

Wei Ming saw the bus coming and hurriedly greeted everyone to get on.

Actually, although Xiao Hong had transferred buses in Yanjing, it was practically her first time in Yanjing too. She and Xu Yunyun, two little heads, leaned against the window side-by-side looking at the outside world, finding everything fresh.

Although in Wei Ming's view Yanjing at this time was terribly old, in their eyes, it was as advanced as the center of the world. Wei Ming also patiently explained to them where was where and what the historical allusions were.

The bus stopped at the Ximen of Peking University. Wei Hong looked at the distinctive Ximen and sighed: "This is the university I will attend in the future!"

Hearing this, Xu Yunyun exclaimed: "Xiao Hong, you want to take the exam for Peking University?"

!

"Yeah, didn't you see me studying hard on the train?"

"Didn't see it, I was looking out the window." Xu Yunyun shook her head.

Wei Hong: This cousin is a bit dazed.

"Brother Ming, you're back!"

The guys at the Ximen were very excited to see Wei Ming. When they saw Xu Yunyun and Xiao Hong behind him, they were even more excited. Brother Ming actually had two such beautiful younger sisters!

Wei Ming greeted the guys and then borrowed two bicycles from them to carry the luggage.

After arriving at the North Guesthouse, Wang Jingli had already prepared the rooms, one triple room and one double room.

"Congratulations, Writer Wei, your work has once again sparked national popularity!" Wang Jingli cupped his hands to congratulate Wei Ming.

Although Wei Ming hadn't been at school during this time, legends about him were everywhere. The school staff also read books and newspapers. Whether it was *Spring in the Sheep-Herding Class* or Wei Ming's quote "No matter how poor, don't be poor in education; no matter how bitter, don't be bitter to the children," they frequently appeared in newspapers and were written about extensively.

The key was that he had also achieved great success in his first attempt at the music field, and many of his colleagues were singing the songs he wrote.

It was said that the Nanmen post received several calls looking for Wei Ming every day. The school was discussing installing a phone in their dormitory to save trouble.

Nanmen post.

When Zhao Zhao Debiao and Mei Mei Wenhua returned from patrol, they heard several colleagues at the post whispering about something.

Seeing them return, they hurriedly informed: "Wei Ming is back!"

Seeing Biaozi, who was somewhat exhausted, immediately perked up: "Where, where!"

"At the North Guesthouse."

Someone else said: "And he brought two younger sisters, both especially beautiful. The key is their skin is especially fair!"

Seeing Biaozi was just about to ask in detail when he saw Mei Mei Wenhua run away like a whirlwind.

"Little Mei, what are you doing?"

"Going to the North Guesthouse to pick up my brother-in-law!"

Seeing Biaozi cursed him for being shameless and then chased after him too.

However, they couldn't step into the North Guesthouse, nor could they see Wei Ming's younger sisters, because Wei Ming came out and happened to run into them on the road.

"Yo, in such a hurry to see me? Let's go, let's talk back at the dormitory."

Mei Mei Wenhua: "Brother Ming, we haven't greeted the uncle and aunt yet."

Seeing Biaozi: "Yeah, heard our grandmother came too."

Wei Ming: "No rush, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Before I left, I told you to keep an eye out for letters from Hong Kong. Have there been any during this time?"

"Yes, there are two!" Mei Mei Wenhua said.

"Two?" Wei Ming was somewhat surprised, "Let's go, let's go back and take a look!"

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(End of chapter)