Chapter 67

From December 18 to 22, 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing.

This meeting completely negated the "Two Whatevers" policy and re-established the ideological line of freeing the mind and seeking truth from facts; it stopped using the slogan of "class struggle as the central task" and made the great decision to shift the focus of the party and state's work to economic construction and to implement the policy of reform and opening up!

In this era of national transformation, at the Jiang'an Automobile Factory in Bincheng City on the border, provincial and municipal leaders, the Industrial Bureau, and representatives from various brother units all came to participate in the unveiling ceremony for the new name of the automobile factory.

After more than a year of application, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce finally approved the new name for the Jiang'an Automobile Factory, changing it to the Volkswagen Automobile Company.

Chen Minlie, a member of the Provincial Party Committee, attended on behalf of the Provincial Party Committee. Chen Minlie clapped his hands, smiling as he unveiled the red cloth on the plaque, and enthusiastically said to the people present and the workers on site, "Let us warmly celebrate the official unveiling of the Volkswagen Automobile Company! We hope that the Volkswagen Automobile Company will develop better and produce higher quality cars! As an outstanding product, it will represent our province's industry and spread throughout the province! Out of Longjiang! Make more contributions to the construction of Longjiang's industry!"

The municipal government leaders and the director of the Municipal Party Committee General Office, Gong Benyan, also attended. Accompanied by the factory manager Lin Xiangrong, the party secretary Chang Yuanting, and the old party secretary Zheng Yongmin, who was using a cane, they all clapped and cheered, delighted that the factory finally had a formal and resounding name!

Representatives from various brother units also attended, including the city glass factory that produced the windshield, the city chemical fiber factory and leather factory that produced the seat covers, the city sofa and bed cover factory, the city gear machine factory that produced the transmission gears, and the city casting factory that produced the transmission and chassis systems, among others.

After the unveiling ceremony, the leaders and representatives from the brother units, a group of over a hundred people, entered the factory for a tour and learning session, visiting the factory with great interest.

The people present discussed enthusiastically. It was clear that they were very surprised and impressed by the semi-automated production line.

Seeing that it was almost noon, Chang Yuanting and Zheng Yongmin whispered to each other, and then Chang Yuanting called Lin Xiangrong over and said softly, "Xiangrong, do you think we should invite the leaders and the brother units to a simple lunch at a restaurant? This would also give us a chance to learn from each other."

Lin Xiangrong looked at the old party secretary and saw that Zheng Yongmin nodded at him, indicating that the factory should definitely host the lunch. He hesitated and said, "I have no experience, so I'll leave it to the two of you to decide!"

Chang Yuanting wanted to treat everyone to a summary lunch, and the representatives from the brother units were even more delighted when they heard about the invitation.

In the 1970s and 1980s, people were considered simple and straightforward, and there were no such banquets. In reality, people of that era also had their own rules for hospitality. Often, visits and learning opportunities in various places were times when people who usually had nowhere to eat could indulge.

During the economically difficult period, some experts and scholars proposed raising the prices of delicacies to increase national revenue. Therefore, in this era, there were state-owned stores with counters selling high-priced delicacies. These items were often expensive and required a certain level of authority, making them difficult for ordinary people to access.

The automobile factory could not lag behind in hospitality, and the programs they provided were very successful. The provincial and municipal leaders were very satisfied, and the faces of the representatives from the brother units were radiant.

Such a rare opportunity, Lin Qiangsheng naturally had to participate. With the chance to eat and drink, why wouldn't he come!

Lin Qiangsheng sat down with the factory manager of the sofa factory, Zhang Tongde, at a table with other light industry units.

He said to Zhang Tongde, who was already quite drunk, "Factory Manager Zhang, I want to make a spring bed! Has your factory ever done this?"

Zhang Tongde shook his head to clear his mind and asked, "Brother Qiangsheng, what's a spring bed?"

Lin Qiangsheng had already toasted Zhang Tongde a few times. Zhang Tongde, in his forties, was quite drunk and insisted on calling Lin Qiangsheng "little brother."

Lin Qiangsheng roughly described the structure of a spring bed and said, "It's a bed like this. I think it will be very comfortable to lie on! Can your factory make it?"

Zhang Tongde thought for a moment, nodded heavily, and said confidently, "Oh! That thing, it's just adding springs to the bed. I've seen it at the Canton Fair. Our factory can do it! It's as simple as putting springs in a sofa. When we finish, we'll deliver it to you along with the seats."

Lin Qiangsheng laughed and said, "Thank you, Factory Manager Zhang!"

Zhang Tongde patted Lin Qiangsheng's shoulder and laughed, "No need to be polite! We had a great meal today. If you need anything, just tell Uncle Zhang!" He then burped and chuckled.

The factory manager of the leather factory, Sun Dazhou, also said, "Yes! It's rare to have such a chance to eat. It's not easy! Small factories can't afford to treat us, and large factories are too old to bother. It's rare to have someone like your father! Tell your father that if he needs anything, Sun Dazhou from the leather factory won't hesitate!"

Lin Qiangsheng nodded quickly, responding to the drunk factory managers.

This opportunity to build relationships with the various brother units in the city was very necessary. Many previously unfamiliar and unstable relationships were now established as good friendships.

The lunch was very beneficial for Lin Xiangrong! The leaders of the brother units chatted happily with Lin Xiangrong, all promising to ensure the supply and quality of the parts.

Lin Qiangsheng sent his father home and helped him onto the kang (a traditional heated bed). The kang was cold, so he quickly went to the kitchen to start a fire.

His father, Lin Xiangrong, was dazed and mumbling, "…visit often, visit often…"

The next morning, Lin Qiangsheng found Sun Ying and asked, "Do you know who in our school can write big-character posters?"

Sun Ying immediately looked at him with suspicion and asked, "Why are you asking this? I don't know!"

Lin Qiangsheng, seeing Sun Ying's suspicious expression, quickly took out that morning's provincial newspaper and handed it to Sun Ying, pointing excitedly to the front page and saying, "The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee! Reform and opening up! Reform and opening up! The spring thunder has sounded, and the cold winter is about to pass!"

Sun Ying looked at the newspaper, which had a large headline announcing the successful completion of the conference, and asked, "What's reform and opening up? What does it have to do with me? I'm a poet!"

Lin Qiangsheng laughed and said, "Spring has come! Spring has come!"

Lin Qiangsheng then ran towards the teaching building, jumping and waving the newspaper, shouting, "Spring has come! Spring has come!"

Chen Yao, seeing Lin Qiangsheng acting like he was crazy, was almost in tears and chased after him, calling, "Qiangsheng, what's wrong with you? Wait for me!"

The students on the road, seeing this crazy classmate running and shouting, with a girl in tears chasing after him, all turned to look at Sun Ying.

Sun Ying quickly waved her hands and said, "I don't know him! Who is he? A lunatic!"

Lin Qiangsheng found Qi Wei in the teaching building, who was drawing an advertisement in the art room.

Lin Qiangsheng opened the door and saw Qi Wei carefully coloring on a large canvas. The canvas was a large piece of canvas, painted white with white paint, and a watch was slightly tilted in the center. Qi Wei was carefully adjusting the light and shadow on the edges of the watch case.

Lin Qiangsheng entered the art room, and Chen Yao ran over, pulling on Lin Qiangsheng's sleeve. The little girl was crying.

Lin Qiangsheng smiled, took out a handkerchief, and wiped Chen Yao's tears.

Chen Yao pouted and asked, "Qiangsheng, what was wrong with you just now?"

Lin Qiangsheng smiled and said, "Spring has come, and I'm happy."

Chen Yao said, "What spring? It's winter now!"

Lin Qiangsheng shushed her and said, "Wait, I need to ask Qi Wei something."

Qi Wei was lying on the ground, fully focused, and didn't notice anyone had entered. When someone approached, he looked up and saw Lin Qiangsheng, smiling and saying, "Don't worry, I'll finish it soon! Give me a few more days to adjust the colors!"

Lin Qiangsheng, looking at the very realistic watch on the canvas, exclaimed, "Qi Wei, you should consider a career in advertising after graduation. With your painting skills, you'll definitely make a lot of money!"

Qi Wei looked up again, looked at Lin Qiangsheng, shook his head, and said seriously, "That's not the life I want!"

"Uh… impressive!" Lin Qiangsheng watched Qi Wei continue painting and nodded indifferently.

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