Chapter 319: Wen Leyu: Don't You Take It Lightly

On the eve of the 1984 Spring Festival, Li Ye was busy with something in the courtyard with his two younger sisters, and younger sister Li Ying kept urging him.

"Brother, can you hurry up? The Spring Festival Gala will start soon."

"There's still an hour, what's the rush?"

"She's just obsessed with watching the color TV; she has no ambition at all."

"I don't... who doesn't want to watch a color TV?"

Because Hong Kong was forming a joint venture with Qingshui to build an instant noodle factory, Hong Kong sent several color TVs as "friendship gifts" before the New Year.

And Li Zhongfa, as the matchmaker for the joint venture, was naturally allocated one.

One has to say that the Investment Department's Minister Hu, chosen by Pei Wencong, was quite capable. In just half a year, he had completely adapted to the human relationships in the mainland, doing big things with small money.

In 1983, black-and-white TVs hadn't even fully popularized in the mainland!

People accustomed to 14-inch black-and-white TVs suddenly switched to a 20-plus-inch remote-controlled color TV; the feeling was like admiring alien black technology.

But Li Ye had no interest in this "twenty-one remote control" thing. Even if you gave him an 80-inch color TV, it wouldn't be as satisfying as the thing in his hands.

Li Ying looked at the thing Li Ye had folded, which looked like a grass bundle for selling candied haws, and couldn't help but ask, "Brother, can you tie so many color bead tubes together? Aren't you afraid they'll explode?"

Li Ye hadn't spoken yet, but Li Juan said angrily, "If you don't know how to talk, don't talk. Do you know how many points our brother got in math, physics, and chemistry? This is science, understand? Explode? Explode your ghost!"

"I was just asking," Li Ying pouted and muttered, "I haven't seen it before. This is called 'not being ashamed to ask'."

"You have quite a lot of learning! Do you know what 'not being ashamed to ask' means? You have the nerve to use that word..."

Li Ye listened to the two sisters bickering, which was actually quite fun.

He used hemp rope to tie all the color bead tubes tightly and said, "I'm telling you, this thing is called a Gatling. The inspiration comes from a weapon during the American Civil War, the world's earliest machine gun..."

In the future, when Gatling fireworks appeared, fireworks were already banned in most parts of the mainland, so Li Ye, as a law-abiding citizen, had never enjoyed that kind of fun.

Even those bold friends were shouting while holding the Gatling, looking left and right, ready to see if there were any flashing red and blue lights.

You know, setting off fireworks is fun, but the fines are also loud!

But there were no such worries in 1984. Even if Li Ye ran to the entrance of his Second Aunt's unit to set off fireworks, it was estimated that the people inside would come out and applaud Li Ye.

However, Li Ying's concern just now was also reasonable. Li Ye couldn't fully guarantee the safety of a hand-made Gatling.

So Li Ye took a wooden stick nearly two meters long and tied dozens of color bead tubes to one end of the stick. Although it was top-heavy, it was safe.

"Alright, let's go. Let's go out and set a fire, oh no, light a bonfire."

After tying two of them, Li Ye led his two younger sisters toward the entrance of the Li family courtyard.

Han Chunmei, who was busy in the kitchen, saw this scene and suddenly felt she wasn't tired at all.

With such a brother, the two girls' lives would only get better and better!

Li Juan and Li Ying hugged a pile of firewood and lit a fire at the entrance in a few strokes; it looked like they hadn't played this game little.

Li Ye held the pole and stuck the fuses of dozens of color bead tubes into the fire all at once, immediately causing a "hissing" sound.

Then, colorful light balls shot into the cold night sky like a fountain.

The "pop-pop-pop" sound of the color bead tubes and the colorful bright lights quickly attracted all the neighbors.

Looking at the fireworks that were like a rain of flowers, everyone couldn't help but sigh.

"That's the second blockhead of the Li family, right! He really has money to burn. This one burst costs at least four or five yuan..."

"Four or five yuan isn't enough; at least six or seven. Look, he still has a handful! In these two minutes, he's burned half a month's wages..."

"Hey, hey, hey, it's fine to watch others set off fireworks with envy, but is he a blockhead? He's a star of literature, a star of literature who can earn money. If you could write and earn ten thousand or eight thousand, I'd be willing to let you burn money too..."

"That's right, if I had such a grandson, I'd support him even if he set off fireworks every day..."

"Oh, stop talking. We weren't blockheads when we were young, otherwise we would have earned big money by now. Stars of literature aren't ordinary people; they have to be different from childhood..."

Li Ye's "pop-pop-pop" release was so stress-relieving and comfortable, but just as he finished one and wanted to light the second one, Grandma Wu Juying called out from the steps of the main room.

"Xiao Ye, phone, a call from the capital."

Li Ye had to put down the Gatling and trot to the main room to answer the phone.

But as soon as he reached the steps, he heard the "pop-pop-pop" of the color balls.

On the steps, Wu Juying whispered: "It's the Wen family girl. She's wishing your grandfather and me a Happy New Year!"

"Oh, oh~"

Li Ye couldn't care about looking back at the "pop-pop-pop" fireworks; Wen Leyu was much more important than the Gatling.

When the phone was connected, it was indeed Wen Leyu calling.

"Hello, what were you doing? You didn't even call to wish my parents a Happy New Year. I'm warning you! Even if my mom treats you well, don't you take it lightly. Do you remember?"

Even through the phone, Li Ye could hear the playful reproach in Wen Leyu's voice.

However, this kind of warning of "don't offend my mom" sounded like a little daughter-in-law, fearing that her mother would withhold the household registration book.

Li Ye laughed: "I went to set off fireworks. I intended to wish Teacher Ke a Happy New Year at midnight, but I didn't expect you to call first."

"How old are you, and you're still setting off fireworks?" Wen Leyu complained: "You're waiting until midnight? In two hours, you won't even be able to get through on the phone, do you know that?"

"I didn't think of that... Then can I wish your parents a Happy New Year now?"

"Wait,"

Wen Leyu left Li Ye with one sentence, and then he heard her shout: "Mom, Li Ye called to wish you a Happy New Year!"

Hey, you say, such a thoughtful little daughter-in-law, where can you find another one if you miss her!

By eight o'clock, when Li Zhongfa's phone started ringing non-stop, Li Ye had a profound understanding of the telecommunications situation in 1983.

Usually, when Li Ye made a call, he could get through after a few tries, but Li Zhongfa's comrades and colleagues all took a long time to get through. If Li Zhongfa wanted to make a call, he had to spend a lot of effort.

Thinking about how the capital is the center of the country, plus the status of Teacher Ke and Wen Qingsheng, Wen Leyu saying she couldn't get through wasn't an exaggeration at all.

However, after eight o'clock, basically no more calls came in.

It should be that everyone knew they shouldn't disturb others watching the Spring Festival Gala.

This year's Spring Festival Gala had many highlights.

In the past, the galas were simple songs and dances, but in the 1984 gala, language programs showed super strong advantages.

The crosstalk "Universe Brand Cigarettes" performed by Teacher Ma combined current events and satirized the phenomenon of false advertising.

"If you don't smoke my Universe Brand Cigarettes, young man, you won't be able to get a girlfriend!"

The audience in this era didn't have any anti-fraud awareness. Once they saw on TV that something was good, their belief was 100%.

One lie, one hit. Even things like 8848 or Brain Gold in the future targeted this generation.

And when "Eating Noodles" performed by Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao was staged, the whole family laughed until tears came out, even Li Zhongfa was no exception.

They had never seen this type of comedy.

After laughing for a long time, Li Zhongfa suddenly said: "Eh, Xiao Ye, I think this 'sketch' thing has some similarities with your 'Wanderer Returning Home'!"

Li Ye laughed and said: "The performance form is similar, but their level is higher."

Actually, when Li Ye first wrote the script for Sun Xianjin, he hadn't considered writing "Eating Noodles," "The Thief and the Policeman," or "Protagonist and Supporting Role," but later he gave up out of respect.

This is the memory of a whole generation and a classic that influenced hundreds of millions of viewers. Better not go too far.

And when Zhang Mingmin, wearing a gray suit and scarf, went on stage and sang "My Chinese Heart," the sound of firecrackers outside seemed to pause completely.

This was the first time a Hong Kong singer appeared in front of the mainland public. The impassioned melody and affectionate singing caught everyone's ears.

In Li Ye's past life, a famous singer once said that when she met those Hong Kong and Taiwan singers backstage at the 1984 gala, their clothing and demeanor brought everyone a brand-new cognition.

But Li Ye's life was a bit better, because many mainland actors participating in the gala wore "Fenghua Brand."

When Jin Peng heroically expressed that he would sponsor a set of Fenghua Brand clothes for all participants for free, everyone praised his enthusiasm and loyalty.

But Li Ye

However, after "My Chinese Heart" finished playing, Li Zhongfa realized something.

"Xiao Ye, do you think there's any significance to Hong Kong actors coming to participate in our Spring Festival Gala?"

"What significance could there be?" Li Ye said indifferently. "It's just the trend of the times! There are quite a few clear-sighted people in Hong Kong."

Li Zhongfa's gaze sharpened, and he said, "You're that certain?"

Li Ye looked at Li Zhongfa and asked in confusion, "Grandfather, you're a veteran Party member, aren't you? How can you doubt our strength?"

Li Zhongfa shook his head and said, "Of course I don't doubt our strength, but if there is a desire for reunification on the Hong Kong side, our negotiations for the instant noodle factory could be a bit firmer. Right now, they're the ones calling the shots, and we lack confidence!"

Li Ye was stunned and said, "Grandfather, we shouldn't push our luck. They're investing money and technology; do you want to sit on their land and skin them alive?"

"What kind of talk is that? I'm a cadre of our Qingshui County. If I don't side with our own people, who should I side with..."

Li Zhongfa suddenly thought of something, pulled Li Ye aside, and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Ye, this instant noodle factory—it doesn't have a stake from you, does it?"

"Grandfather, the way you ask that..."

"Ring-a-ling~ Ring-a-ling"

Li Ye was just struggling to answer when the home phone rang.

Li Zhongfa went to answer the phone, then looked at Li Ye with a strange expression.

"It's from Hong Kong, asking for Mr. Li. Which Mr. Li do you think it is?"