Chapter 60: In the Newspaper

Chapter 60: In the Newspaper

Harvesting rice isn't as urgent as harvesting wheat, but it's still not an easy task.

The rice is bundled with straw and left in the field to dry for two days; once dry, it can be threshed directly.

Rice can't be threshed with a roller like wheat, and they don't have a thresher, so they have to beat the stalks to remove the grains.

Feng Chen still wouldn't let Tang Yuan work in the fields; he only allowed her to cook and deliver meals with Grandma Feng. He helped Dad Tang and the others harvest and thresh the rice.

He did the work of three people and motivated everyone else to speed up, so their efficiency was high.

Tang Yuan not only kept samples of the rice but also recorded information on pests, diseases, and yield.

Experience is accumulated over time, and her past life's knowledge couldn't be fully applied here because every plot of land has its own characteristics that need to be understood through cultivation.

She taught Dad Tang and Liu Laosan how to select the best seeds.

Instead of waiting until after threshing, they selected robust plants with heavy panicles and full grains during the harvest.

The best seeds were reserved for next year, and the extras were given to the city.

When she passed by Feng Chen, she couldn't help but stand there quietly, admiring him.

What is strength and beauty?

This is it.

The man had broad shoulders and clear, defined muscles, and each swing of his scythe exuded vibrant power.

She couldn't resist sketching him in her notebook.

Feng Chen had already noticed her approach, but when she didn't come closer or speak, he straightened up and looked back at her, "What are you doing?"

Even though the sun wasn't harsh, the little girl's face was flushed, which seemed suspicious.

Tang Yuan shyly hid her notebook behind her back and smiled at him, "You look really good."

Feng Chen's ears turned red, and he coughed lightly, changing the subject, "What's for dinner?"

Tang Yuan thought seriously for a moment, "The pumpkins are growing well. I'll make you some pumpkin with egg yolk."

The salted duck eggs we made are excellent; the yolks are both sandy and oily, perfect for stir-frying with pumpkin.

Feng Chen: "Sounds delicious."

He loved everything she cooked.

The couple chatted innocently, unaware that Tang Aiguo and Tang Aidang exchanged glances and chuckled.

Tang Aiguo: "Lao San, learn from this."

Tang Aidang: "That girl, Yuan Yuan, is quite skilled. We never noticed before."

Tang Yuan talked to Feng Chen for a bit, and when a breeze blew, she saw his hair messily covering his eyes, giving him a disheveled charm.

Oh, he's handsome without even realizing it. His hair is either short enough to show his scalp or long enough to tie into a small bun.

In the past, Grandma Feng always cut Feng Chen's hair, but since he and Tang Yuan got engaged, she stopped.

Tang Yuan hadn't thought about cutting Feng Chen's hair yet, but now she realized it was getting too long and needed a trim.

Oh, she forgot to do it when they went to the county last week. She would do it later.

She told Feng Chen she was going home to prepare dinner.

Feng Chen watched her leave and continued bending down to harvest rice.

Tang Aiguo and Tang Aidang approached him.

Secretary Liu stood at the edge of the field, watching the bustling scene of rice harvesting, feeling somewhat bitter.

Initially, he didn't think much of this rice field, expecting it to fail within a month, allowing him to turn the tables on Tang Bingde.

But who knew that Tang Fulin was indeed a skilled farmer? Despite never having grown rice before, he managed it well.

Was it all due to Cadre Ji's guidance?

Could this young Cadre Ji really be competent?

But Guang Ming said...

Secretary Liu sighed, noticing that the rice harvesters didn't come over to flatter him, and then turned to leave.

Not just Secretary Liu felt lonely; Tang Xiang also felt lost looking at the rice field. Did they really succeed?

Does Tang Yuan have such great skills?

No, it's not Tang Yuan; it's Cadre Ji Hongyue's expertise.

It was Cadre Ji Hongyue who taught Tang Yuan.

Thinking about how Tang Yuan used to be so foolish, crude, and temperamental, yet managed to secretly meet Cadre Ji, feign madness to separate from the family, and get cozy with Feng Chen, helping Uncle become the second team leader, Tang Xiang felt an uncontrollable disgust.

Is Tang Yuan really that manipulative?

Clearly, she herself is the one who crossed over!

Right now, she actually has no conflict with Tang Yuan. She just needs to wait until 1977 for the college entrance exams to restart and soar, while Tang Yuan definitely doesn't have the ability to go to college.

Ji Hongyue could help her plant rice, but he couldn't help her get into college.

Yet, for some reason, she just felt uncomfortable.

Especially when she knew about Ji Hongyue's remarkable background—his parents being reinstated after being persecuted and sent down to the countryside—which was even more impressive than Song Huazhang's family.

And then there was Feng Chen. Clearly a peasant, yet he stood tall and straight with an extraordinary demeanor, not like a farmer but rather like someone important visiting the countryside to experience life. Watching him sweat in the rice fields and seeing Tang Aiguo and others fawning over him made her wonder if he had some hidden identity.

For example, perhaps he was the grandson of some influential old man?

After all, his capable and fierce aura didn't match that of a farmer; it was more fitting for a general who could kill without leaving a trace.

This must be the result of excellent military genes.

In terms of demeanor, physique, and physical abilities, he surpassed Song Huazhang once again.

She and Tang Yuan had no conflicts of interest, yet she just couldn't stand the thought of Tang Yuan being better than her.

When Tang Yuan had a bad temper and a poor reputation, she could feel superior by commenting on, sympathizing with, and advising Tang Yuan to improve and be filial. Now that Tang Yuan had a good temper and better relationships, she only felt sour and uncomfortable.

She felt uncomfortable, but Tang Yuan didn't know, and even if she did, she wouldn't care.

Tang Yuan cooked yam fish soup, minced meat with oil beans and eggplant, and salted egg yolk pumpkin for dinner with Grandma Feng.

The vegetables in the garden included pumpkins, beans, cabbages, potatoes, and radishes, which were planted late. The spring vegetables were nearing the end of their growing season.

These days, they were also busy drying vegetables and making pickles. Once winter came, they would preserve cabbage, which required quite a bit of work.

After dinner, with the bright moon outside, Dad Tang couldn't sit still and gathered Liu Laosan, Tang Aiguo, and Tang Dage to go cut rice.

Getting it done early meant they could dry it out and thresh it sooner.

Feng Chen wanted to join them but was stopped by Tang Yuan.

Tang Yuan took out scissors and a comb. "Let me give you a haircut. Your hair is getting long."

Grandma Feng immediately glanced at her grandson and teased, "Oh, I see why you didn't want me to do it. You were waiting for Yuan Yuan."

Feng Chen: This old lady never misses a chance to tease. It's clearly because you don't want to do it.

Tang Yuan asked Feng Chen to sit down. He had just washed his hair before dinner, so it was still damp, making it easier to cut.

Tang Yuan found a cloth to wrap around him to prevent hair clippings from falling on his clothes.

Grandma Feng snatched it away. "Oh, his hair is so stiff. Don't use my cloth; it'll be hard to wash. Why not take off your shirt? That would be perfect."

This left both Tang Yuan and Feng Chen speechless.

Despite their intimacy and embraces, they had always been restrained and never crossed boundaries.

Feng Chen had never undressed Tang Yuan, nor had he intentionally undressed in front of her.

Even when bathing in the mountains, he kept his distance from Tang Yuan.

Tang Yuan, experienced as she was, couldn't show any hesitation and said confidently to Feng Chen, "Grandma is right. Take off your shirt; it will be easier to wash afterward."

Feng Chen's ears turned red and hot, and half his face flushed.

Tang Yuan urged him, "Hurry up, don't dawdle. We're wasting lamp oil."

So, under Tang Yuan's watchful gaze, Feng Chen stripped off his shirt, revealing his broad, smooth back.

Though he had broad shoulders and a wide back, his muscles were lean and strong, with clear and beautiful shoulder blades, distinct vertebrae, and two waist dimples...

Tang Yuan quickly told herself to stop looking.

Grandma Feng had no interest in admiring her grandson's body; she only felt affectionate towards him when he was young and soft.

She went to the east room to talk to Mother Tang, who was making winter clothes for Tang Yuan and Feng Chen.

Feng Chen had bought a lot of fabric earlier, and later, Tang Yuan also bought some.

Grandma Feng asked Mother Tang to sew two sets of cotton clothes for Tang Yuan, one thick and one thin.

At this time of year, short sleeves during the day and light cotton jackets at night were necessary.

That's how dressing in early spring and late autumn goes.

In the west room, Tang Yuan gave Feng Chen a haircut.

While cutting his hair, she stirred something in Feng Chen's heart. This girl really... knew he wouldn't dare do anything to her.

Tang Yuan's haircutting skills were pretty good. In her first year of poverty alleviation, to quickly connect with the impoverished villagers, she gave haircuts to grandpas and grandmas.

She learned quickly, had good hands-on skills, and a keen sense of aesthetics, which rapidly improved her technique.

Later, ordinary villagers and children sought her out for haircuts to save money.

However, she refused to cut the hair of young or middle-aged men to avoid misunderstandings and protect herself.

A young female poverty alleviation cadre needed to be cautious to avoid harm.

The scissors and comb weren't specialized tools, making them a bit awkward to use. She was careful not to poke Feng Chen.

Ah, this man was truly handsome the more she looked at him, with superior bone structure and deep-set eyes. Even sitting quietly for a haircut, he exuded vigor, making her heart race.

As she cut his hair, she sighed, while Feng Chen had to close his eyes occasionally.

She stood too close, and when she leaned forward to adjust his hair, her unique scent wafted into his nose, stimulating his nerves, forcing him to close his eyes and calm himself.

After finishing the haircut, Feng Chen had a sheen of sweat on his nose.

Tang Yuan was very satisfied and admired her work, recalling how the heroine in the original book had laughed at the big shot's outdated clothing and hairstyle, causing her to chuckle.

She turned and called out, "Mom, Grandma, come see how I did with the haircut."

Mother Tang put down her needlework and helped Grandma Feng over to inspect her daughter’s handiwork.

Feng Chen turned to face them, feeling a bit awkward. In his past life, he remained calm even in the face of great danger, but now he felt shy having his wife give him a haircut and having his mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law judge it.

Mother Tang clapped her hands and praised, "It looks really good! This hairstyle suits Feng Chen well, making him even more handsome."

Grandma Feng circled around to look, complimenting Tang Yuan’s skill.

Tang Yuan modestly said, "Without clippers, the back is all done by hand, so it’s not perfectly even."

If only she had electric clippers, it would look even better!

Indeed, a good hairstyle can significantly boost one’s appearance. When Grandma Feng used to cut his hair, it was just a haphazard trim, often uneven. If not for Feng Chen’s stern demeanor, most people couldn’t handle her skills.

Grandma Feng clicked her tongue in admiration. "Yuan Yuan’s skill is amazing; it looks better than the county barbershop."

Tang Yuan asked, "Grandma, have you been to a barbershop?"

Grandma Feng replied, "Do I need to go? Look at Zhao Dabanya and Liu Dabeier; they get their haircuts from the barbershop, but they don’t look as good as Feng Chen’s."

Tang Yuan not only gave him a haircut but also helped shave his face, sideburns, and trimmed the back, making him look even neater.

Give him a suit, and he could debut right away.

Thanks to Tang Yuan’s skill, Feng Chen’s appearance reached new heights, sparking a new hairstyle trend in the Forward Brigade.

Many people took breaks during meals to come and admire his haircut, praising its beauty, saying it looked better than those from the county barbershop.

Most of them had buzz cuts or side parts, which didn’t look nearly as good.

Tang Aiguo and Tang Aidang also came to ask Tang Yuan for help with their haircuts, especially Tang Aidang, who was recently dating.

A trendy haircut could improve one’s chances of finding a pretty and capable wife.

Unfortunately, even if Tang Yuan was willing to help, Feng Chen wouldn’t allow it.

Let my wife give you a haircut?

Did you ask for my opinion?

On Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone went to the commune to buy things, and the news spread to the commune’s barbershop.

Master Qiu, the barber, personally rode his bike to the village to see Feng Chen.

He didn’t believe that a haircut could be so impressive.

After seeing it, Master Qiu thought it was indeed excellent. He followed Feng Chen around the rice fields for a long time, observing and learning the new style.

During lunch and dinner, he asked Tang Yuan for advice while practicing on Tang Aiguo and others.

Tang Yuan naturally shared the new hairstyle techniques.

She knew several styles suitable for different head shapes and personalities.

Can you treat a round head the same as a flat one?

Can you treat a pointed chin the same as a square face?

You need to adapt.

She taught everything to Master Qiu.

After learning, Master Qiu’s business boomed, with young men from the commune and beyond coming to get haircuts, increasing his clientele several times over.

It was a new hairstyle, and young people, tired and rough from daily labor, suddenly discovered that a new haircut could make them look more handsome, so they naturally embraced it.

They would even skip meals to queue up for a haircut.

This upset Secretary Liu and Director Zhao.

Farmers are meant to work the land, facing the earth and sky, living a simple life. How could they chase fashion and grooming?

Director Zhao personally came to the Forward Brigade to hold a meeting, with the theme being: “Hardship and Simplicity, Abandoning Vices.”

"Everyone should focus on farming and take pride in labor, not pursue vanity!"

Director Zhao spoke with great righteousness, but if he hadn’t worn clothes made from imported urea fertilizer bags, hadn’t had his appearance carefully groomed at the county barbershop, and hadn’t worn shiny leather shoes!

Secretary Liu summarized, "Comrades, don’t let your guard down. We must combat private interests and prevent capitalist revival, maintaining our labor spirit..."

He hadn’t held a large meeting in a while and lacked a microphone, so he had to speak loudly to be heard, causing his voice to become hoarse and strained.

Tang Bingde didn’t attend this meeting.

The brigade was busy with the autumn harvest!

After harvesting sorghum, they moved on to beans, then corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, drying sweet potato slices, and plowing the fields for wheat planting.

Not a single day could be wasted!

He didn't care at all about the young people's pursuit of fashionable hairstyles; he only cared whether you worked hard or slacked off.

Though he couldn't see what was so good about it, after getting their haircuts, they did look more presentable.

They were now looking sharp!

After the meeting, Secretary Liu proactively came to talk with Dad Tang, Tang Yuan, and Feng Chen, aiming to nip vanity in the bud from its source.

This was his first proper visit to Dad Tang, and also the first time he had ever looked at him properly.

At first, Dad Tang was flattered, but when Secretary Liu started criticizing his daughter and future son-in-law for leading a flashy trend, he immediately took an opposing stance.

My son-in-law is so handsome, what do you have to pick on?

My daughter is so smart, even the Fish Immortal chose her, what do you have to say?

It's no wonder people gossip behind his back; Secretary Liu is getting old and losing his marbles.

You're in charge of party affairs, why are you concerned about what hairstyle farmers choose?

Feng Chen didn't give Secretary Liu any face at all; he just continued doing his own thing, like maintaining the earthworm pit by adding feed and cleaning out the mud every day.

The private plot also needed to be tilled for planting wheat, there was plenty of work to do.

Even after work, they weren't idle, yet Secretary Liu still came to waste their time—did he offer them extra points?

Tang Yuan, however, understood Secretary Liu. After all, grassroots officials have their own considerations, and conflicts arise when perspectives differ.

Her experience told her that it wasn't worth getting into a conflict with Secretary Liu.

She smiled and said, "Grandpa Secretary, don't worry, we won't lead any trends anymore."

Feng Chen has such great looks that it's too easy for him to set trends, but it's best to keep a low profile in the 1970s.

After sending Secretary Liu away, Uncle Tang arrived next, his face long as a horse's.

Tang Yuan wasn't going to cater to him; he might be the original character's uncle, but not hers.

She went to find Feng Chen to be with him.

Mother Tang didn't want to listen to her brother either. In the past, he bragged; now, he was envious. Who wants to hear him lecture?

She went to sew winter coats.

In the end, only Dad Tang was left alone.

He forced a smile and greeted his brother, preparing himself for a lecture.

Grandma Tang called out from outside, "Fulin, Fulin, Liu Laosan and the others need you for something."

Dad Tang quickly said to Uncle Tang, "Brother, look, there's something at the team."

Uncle Tang pulled a long face, "What, only your second team is busy? Right, you're the production team leader, naturally busier than me, the small team leader."

Dad Tang: "Brother, let's walk and talk then. While the moon is bright, we can go to the fields and work some more."

With him and Liu Laosan leading the second team, those who used to slack off now dared not.

The autumn air was crisp, and the moon was bright; everyone was willing to work overtime in the fields.

As long as it wasn't dangerous work, things like husking corn could be done, right?

On their way home from the private plot, Feng Chen said to Tang Yuan, "Shouldn't we head to the mountains soon?"

He loved being alone with her.

Tang Yuan: "Why hasn't Ji Hongyue returned yet? I thought we could wait for him to bring back the wheat seeds and take them directly."

Feng Chen: "No problem, we can come back after harvesting rice to get them."

Tang Yuan: "Okay, let's go in a couple of days."

Feng Chen: "Anything else these two days?"

Tang Yuan smiled, "I'm writing an article to submit to the City News and the county newspaper."

She was intentionally setting up Liu Guangming. She expected him to suppress her submission to the county newspaper, but she also submitted to the City News. If the City News published it and the county newspaper didn't, well, hehe.

She never doubted that her submission would be published.

In her previous life, she wrote well and later became a poverty alleviation officer, where she had to write various reports, both formalistic and practical, which she could produce effortlessly.

She didn't need a draft, planning it in her mind before putting pen to paper, while Feng Chen helped copy the second letter.

The next day, she and Feng Chen went to the commune post office to mail it.

Passing by the commune barbershop, they could still see young people queuing for haircuts.

Master Qiu was in pain but also happy; his base salary was very low, but he got a commission from haircut tickets.

Some positions in the commune were temporary, without fixed salaries.

Fewer people came for haircuts usually, but recently there had been many more, making him grin from ear to ear.

"Little Tang, Comrade Feng!" The barber spotted them through the glass window, drawn by Feng Chen's striking appearance, which naturally drew attention on the street.

Tang Yuan smiled and greeted him, but Feng Chen remained indifferent, giving only a slight nod.

The barber grabbed a simple barber kit and ran out, handing it to Tang Yuan. "Little Tang, your skills are great. This set of tools is something I bought myself. I'll give it to you."

He believed Tang Yuan had a natural talent for barbering. With specialized scissors, clippers, razors, and combs, she could definitely create even better hairstyles.

Tang Yuan never expected such a pleasant surprise. She had always wanted to buy professional tools, but ordinary people couldn't get them.

In those days, some things could only be purchased with a permit from the workplace.

She smiled and said, "Master Qiu, thank you. I'll pay you for it."

Master Qiu's face turned stern. "Don’t mention money. I’m busy. I can’t entertain you guys anymore."

He turned and ran back to continue barbering.

Tang Yuan laughed at Feng Chen. "Ha ha, now it’ll be much easier to give you haircuts."

She could also give her father a haircut, making him look like a stylish and handsome uncle!

Actually, her father was already a handsome uncle. He used to be too honest and unassuming, not very outgoing. Now that he was the team leader, he had gained confidence, making him look much more attractive overall.

Ji Hongyue didn’t come back, and Tang Yuan didn’t wait for news about the newspaper. After all, getting published wasn’t immediate; it might take a few days.

She and Feng Chen packed up their things and headed into the mountains.

This time, they stayed in a cave opposite Boulder Peak, and at night, Feng Chen climbed the peak and chiseled away at the existing stone niches.

He chiseled as many as he could, even if it was just a little bit, as it would make things easier for him.

The next morning, they crossed the mountain.

As they came down, the sun rose in the east, hanging red and bright between the mountains, creating a stunning beauty that touched the soul.

Tang Yuan: "This place is truly beautiful. Every time I come here, I feel something new."

Feng Chen put their things on the ground, wrapped his arm around her, and leaned down to kiss her.

The scenery was beautiful, and she was beautiful. Standing in this scenery, she could captivate his heart.

"Squeak squeak—"

"Squeak squeak squeak—"

Oh, how shameless they were, kissing in front of the monkeys.

A row of monkeys, from big to small, stood nearby, watching them curiously.

They usually only groomed each other and picked lice, but they learned quickly and immediately started kissing each other.

Hearing the monkeys, Tang Yuan’s face flushed red.

Feng Chen released her and turned to look at the monkeys.

His gentle expression turned cold and indifferent, and the sensitive monkeys immediately fled.

They didn’t go far, just peeking around nearby.

This time, they didn’t destroy the crops or steal anything from the cave or defecate there.

Seeing their mischievous looks, Tang Yuan couldn’t help but feel tickled. She grabbed a sickle and ran down to the rice fields, waving at the monkeys. "Come!"

Not all the monkeys understood her, but the little monkey that had been tied up before and the bigger ones squeaked a few times, glanced at Feng Chen, and ran toward her.

Tang Yuan rushed into the rice field and started cutting rice stalks with the sickle. Then she called out to the curious monkeys, "Can you help me cut the rice? There’s a reward. I can give you wild fruits and even mountain wine."

Knowing they wouldn’t understand, she took out a handful of jujubes from her pocket.

She gave a few jujubes to the little monkey and showed it how to break the rice stalks with its paws.

The little monkey followed suit, and since the mature stalks were brittle, they broke easily.

Tang Yuan patted its head, gave it a thumbs-up, and praised, "You’re so good!"

Seeing this, another bigger monkey jumped over, quickly breaking two handfuls of stalks, and looked proudly at Tang Yuan and the little monkey.

Tang Yuan also gave it a thumbs-up and a handful of jujubes.

But the bigger monkey wasn’t particularly interested because they could easily pick soft jujubes and wild jujubes in the mountains.

They had already gathered plenty of wild fruits!

Perhaps because it was fun, the monkeys started breaking rice stalks and handing them to Tang Yuan. Tang Yuan bundled the rice stalks together and left them in the field to dry.

Feng Chen came down from the cave and looked around the base of Boulder Peak. The north side of the peak didn’t get sunlight, so it was covered in moss and mushrooms, and there were even wood ears growing on decaying logs.

Tang Yuan had previously mentioned that they could build a mushroom shed here to grow mushrooms specifically.

However, with just the two of them, they couldn’t finish eating all the mushrooms, and transporting them out would be troublesome, so they decided against it.

But growing a little for themselves to eat was still feasible. In winter, vegetables were scarce, and having fresh mushrooms would be nice.

If they couldn’t finish them, they could trade with the people in Stone Plate Village.

He strode towards the sunlit rice field where Tang Yuan was happily harvesting rice while playing with the monkeys.

Feng Chen couldn’t get enough of watching her. She had the innocent joy of a child and the maturity and steadiness of an adult.

He couldn’t help but wonder what she would be like in the end times.

She certainly wouldn’t seek death like some people, nor would she despair and harm others. She wouldn’t end up starving to death like he did.

Can crops still be planted when volcanic ash blankets the sky?

I wonder if she can grow food to avoid starving.

Thinking this, he frowned slightly, blaming himself for his wild imagination. Someone as wonderful as her shouldn't be assumed to live in such harsh conditions.

He hoped she would always live in a peaceful and prosperous new world.

He strode forward, taking the scythe from her hand. "I'll cut the rice; you bundle it."

Tang Yuan's eyes curved into a smile. "Sure."

While bundling the rice, she sang to Feng Chen and the monkeys, "A great river flows wide with waves, the wind carries the fragrance of rice across both banks. My home is by the shore, listening to the boatmen's calls..."

Her singing wasn't professional, but it was pleasant to the ear. Most importantly, she was young, with a sweet and clear voice that made even ordinary singing sound better.

With Feng Chen's "my wife is perfect" aesthetic, it naturally sounded like music to his ears.

The monkeys also chirped along, adding their own melody.

In the valley, Tang Yuan and Feng Chen happily harvested rice with the monkeys, while in the city, Ji Hongyue had put in a lot of effort and worn out his lips to finally buy ten bags of wheat seeds.

Each bag weighed about a hundred pounds, and one mu of land required thirty pounds of wheat for sowing.

Considering the low yields in the countryside, growing wheat truly felt like hard work.

Ji Hongyue specifically thanked Shen Jiaming, "Uncle, I represent the Forward Brigade in thanking you!"

Although ten bags weren't enough, every bit helped.

Shen Jiaming was reading a newspaper, looking somewhat surprised. He gestured for Ji Hongyue to come over and look.

Ji Hongyue took the newspaper and saw a large article titled: "Grasping Revolution and Promoting Production—They Sound the Horn of the Era, Leading the Current Trend."

Reporters: Xie Weiran, Xiao Ye.

Contributor: Binxian County Shuangmenshan Commune Forward Brigade

The article detailed how under the leadership of the brigade leader Tang Bingde, the Forward Brigade had been dedicated to agricultural production for years, continuously exploring suitable planting models and adjusting scientific planting structures. Through hard work, they had lifted themselves out of poverty and were consistently recognized as advanced, ensuring that all members had enough food.

This year, with the care and support of the Municipal Committee and the help of Ji Hongyue from the County Agricultural Bureau, they successfully planted Rice Variety XX.

Now, the rice has achieved a great harvest on the land of the Forward Brigade, where rice had never been grown before!

The members of the Forward Brigade worked enthusiastically, seizing the season to harvest rice and plant wheat under the leadership of the Party and the brigade officials.

The article skipped over several paragraphs praising the Municipal Committee, the County Agricultural Bureau, the commune, and the brigade, and then ended with a somewhat incongruous yet fitting passage.

The members of the Forward Brigade not only worked hard in the fields but also pursued spiritual enjoyment, getting new hairstyles, setting new trends, and stepping into the new era with laughter...

There were even drawings of the hairstyles at the end, with several designs.

Below them were the reporters' comments, naturally full of praise.

Ji Hongyue: ???

After being away for half a month, what did Tang Yuan do in Tangjia Village? No, what did Tang Yuan do?

His intuition told him it was Tang Yuan causing trouble, definitely not Tang Bingde.

You give Feng Chen a new hairstyle and use such high-sounding words, even getting it published in the newspaper to show affection?

This girl... Well, it's quite romantic, but you're really too mushy with Feng Chen.

Looking at Shen Jiaming, he saw appreciation on his face.

Shen Jiaming laughed heartily. "Hongyue, the brigade you went to is doing good work, really getting things done."

It certainly wouldn't lag behind.

He suspected that perhaps Ji Hongyue had written the article and probed him.

Ji Hongyue firmly denied it. "Uncle, don't laugh at me, I don't have such good writing skills."

The article didn't use fancy words but knew how to highlight key points and catch attention. Crucially, it subtly flattered without making it obvious.

Everyone found it enjoyable.

Tang Yuan deserves to be a county official!

Ji Hongyue secretly resolved that once back at the Agriculture Bureau, he would bring her along.