Rebirth in 1984, starting from beekeeping in the mountains

Chapter 156 brings shock to the film projection team!
This is a letter of appointment.

How come it's just like in ancient times when people would announce the good news of passing the imperial examination and becoming the top scorer.

Fang Hongan was confused by the situation in front of him.

The old man blushed.

He waved his hand, preparing to end everything in front of him in a low-key manner.

But the old party secretary on the side refused to do it.

He glared, stopped in front of Fang Hongan, and started talking.

"Good for you Hongan! You are really capable now!"

"You didn't even tell us about this huge thing beforehand, did you?"

"If Comrade Xiao Ma hadn't accidentally fallen and torn the packaging of the employment letter sent by the agricultural school, and if I hadn't happened to see the contents inside!"

"You're still planning on hiding this from us, aren't you?"

The voices were loud and clear, and the tone was full of indignation and questioning.

Fang Hongan could only respond with an awkward laugh after hearing this.

The old branch secretary was still not giving up, pointing at Fang Hongan and continuing to scold him: "It's been a long time since we had a college student in Dongling!"

"Your arrival means the university is hiring you as a teacher!!"

"This is a big and happy event! Of course we should publicize and celebrate it!"

"Thank goodness you, you still told me to guide every household and attach importance to education!"

"You don't take this seriously...

"You think this is to promote yourself... This is to promote learning..."

"Listen to me... Follow the rules and welcome Comrade Xiao Ma in properly..."

"And...get ready. I've called the film projection team over. We'll be showing the movie on the big square in the center of your village tonight! When the time comes, take this letter of appointment and go up on stage to say a few words!"

"Oh, by the way! The money for showing the movie will be paid for by the village!"

"After we finish setting off fireworks in your village, we will go to our Shanmuling, Jiangjialing, and Xichongling to set off fireworks for one night each!"

……

The old branch secretary didn't even give Fang Hongan a chance to speak.

Just settle these things directly.

Then, he led a few people from the village committee back to make arrangements.

These days.

The old branch secretary and his colleagues are preparing for the end-of-month dividend dinner, so they should be busy enough.

But today, the enthusiasm for showing movies is greater than ever before.

Of course, we should...

Isn't the main purpose to show movies?
Fang Hongan could only respond with a helpless smile.

And those who followed the old branch secretary.

They began to come forward to celebrate.

"Hongan! This is incredible! A university offer letter! You are going to be a university teacher!"

"What teacher? In college they're called professors!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Professor!"

"This is incredible! Our village can produce a university professor!"

"I told you that Hong'an would have a bright future! I saw it with my own eyes. On the day he was born, the sky..."

……

This is getting more and more outrageous.

Fang Hongan could only wave his hand to interrupt these increasingly flattering statements.

"Uncles and aunts, let's stop talking nonsense!"

"It's just an external employee, who can teach for a month at most every year!"

"He's not even a lecturer! What kind of professor? That's outrageous!"

"Keep a low profile! Keep a low profile! Let's keep a low profile! This matter...there's really nothing to brag about!"

The original purpose of this explanation was to correct those outrageous statements.

But those who were talking excitedly not only had no intention of stopping, but became even more excited.

"Look! Look! I said Hong An is truly a capable person!"

"This is such a huge honor, yet you are still so humble!"

"Not like those people who command nonsense!"

An uncle gave a thumbs up and started praising directly.

And then, someone immediately agreed.

“That’s not the case… otherwise, Hong An would be able to accomplish great things!”

"I just said that Hongan is not an ordinary person. The day his mother gave birth to him..."

……

Seeing this situation, I couldn't calm down at all.

Fang Hongan could only find an excuse, waved goodbye and went back into the house.

That evening.

The film projection team entered Shiwan Village.

In that era when film projection was not yet privatized, the film projection team belonged to the county's cinema.

However, for the sake of efficiency.

As early as the era of collective communes, they began to go to the countryside to provide film screening services to each village and household.

Some people go to the countryside on their own and collect tickets for screenings.

Sometimes, I am invited to come and watch the screenings.

When we invite them to come for a screening like this, we usually show two movies in one night, which are called two shows.

The cost is actually not low.

So generally speaking, we can’t afford it at ordinary times.

In the early years, some production brigades with better conditions would invite them once a year.

After the business was contracted out to start from scratch, it was usually wealthy families who would invite the company to show movies when celebrating big events like building a house, getting married, or celebrating a birthday.

The entire Shanmuling administrative village has been living a tight life since it started working on its own.

The film projection team came only a few times.

As for Shiwan Village, in Fang Hongan's impression, it was only pitiful once.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t let it go for a long time.

Once the news spread, it caused a sensation in Shiwan Village.

Especially, after learning that this was because Fang Hongan had received an offer from the agricultural school, the brigade paid for him to show the movie, and that Fang Hongan had to give a speech during the movie.

That would cause an even greater sensation.

When the film projection team goes to the countryside, they show open-air movies at night.

The place where movies are shown in Shiwan Village is located on the large flat land in the center of the village.

In front of the pingdi is an old blue brick building.

Here... is the village ancestral hall.

In the era of collectivism, most major activities in the village were held here.

In recent years, Dapingdi has fallen into disrepair.

But as early as in the afternoon, when word got out that there would be a movie showing in the evening, the villagers came over, leveled the entire field, cleared away some debris, and pulled out the weeds.

After the ground was cleared, before the sun set, some people came carrying benches to take seats.

It's an open-air screening, and you need to bring your own seat. The seat belongs to whoever arrives first.

Of course, it is not allowed to occupy land randomly.

Otherwise, it would really arouse public anger.

Then they will be beaten out of the screening room by everyone.

In the past, people who wanted to take seats would basically take seats in the front.

But this time, those who wanted to take seats were all scrambling to get the central seats, occupying the areas around a long table that had been prepared in advance.

This kind of long table was not available when showing movies in the past.

The reason for setting it up this time is naturally because, according to the arrangement of the village committee, Fang Hongan will stand on this long table to speak.

If I had the opportunity to listen to Fang Hongan speak up close, I would naturally sit closer.

More and more seats are being taken.

By the evening, when the projection team arrived and began preparations before the screening, many people were already sitting on the benches in the entire screening room.

in……

Many of them came from Shanmuling Village and Dongguawo Village.

……

"Master, there are so many people here tonight!"

As the sky gradually darkened.

On the edge of Daping in Shiwan Village.

He Xiaofei set up the projection stand skillfully, looked at the crowded crowd, and couldn't help but say to Lei Dajiang who had already packed up the projection tapes.

It has been almost a year since He Xiaofei joined the film projection team. He Xiaofei has traveled to all the towns and villages in Xin County with his master Lei Dajiang.

Even if I haven't visited a hundred villages, I've visited at least dozens of them.

But this is the first time I've seen so many people coming here.

The sun hasn't set yet, and the show will start in at least an hour and a half.

But the square was almost full.

Moreover, when they came, they saw this small village, which was just a small mountain village with about a hundred households.

But right now, there are probably at least several hundred people sitting on this square.

This was the first time that He Xiaofei had seen such a grand occasion, and he couldn't help but express his feelings to his master.

"Ok!"

Hearing this, his master Lei Dajiang also nodded.

Not to mention He Xiaofei, even an old projectionist like him hadn't seen such a grand occasion for a long time.

After a moment of hesitation, Lei Dajiang couldn't help but say, "It's a poor mountain village, that's normal!"

"I remember the last time I came here to show a movie was..." Lei Dajiang scratched his head and thought for a long time before saying, "It seems to be the year before last or the year before last!"

"It's only once in such a long time?" He Xiaofei smacked his lips.

"That's right!" Lei Dajiang curled his lips, "If everyone in their village follows this way, we will have nothing to eat!" "Haha!"

He Xiaofei couldn't help but smile, and then he sighed, "This village is really too high! If you hadn't brought me here, Master, I would never have known that there is a village on this mountain!"

"I guess their ancestors came here to escape disaster!" Lei Dajiang smacked his lips. "It's really hard for the people in these mountains!"

"That's not right, Master!"

He Xiaofei on the side suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but ask, "For such a poor village, how come they booked it for four days at once, and two shows per day?"

"This...I'm also confused!"

Lei Dajiang couldn't help scratching his head when he said this: "I've dealt with the old Party secretary of this village before. He was a stingy old man. How come he is so generous this time?
Not only did they call a car to pick us up, they even paid half of the money in advance! Is this really the case? "

"This..." He Xiaofei was also a little confused.

My gaze inevitably returned to the villagers.

Looking at those people, their expectant expressions, I always felt that there was something weird going on.

On the other side, it was noticed that the master and apprentice had already set up the projection equipment.

Immediately, a villager from Shiwan Village came over.

He walked over and asked the two of them, "Master! How much does it cost to show a movie? My old man is going to celebrate his 70th birthday on the seventh day of next month. Can I book a movie with you first?"

Order a movie?
Upon hearing this, He Xiaofei's eyes suddenly lit up.

He immediately turned to look at Lei Dajiang.

Lei Dajiang was just about to roll a cigarette.

Hearing this voice, he immediately stopped what he was doing and quoted a price.

The price he offered was slightly higher than that of other villages.

After all, we have to climb this mountain.

Of course, I had already thought about it and was waiting for the other party to bargain.

At that time, this will be left as room for price reduction.

But unexpectedly, after hearing the offer, the rustic-looking villager nodded without saying anything: "Okay! It's settled then. We'll release it here on the seventh day of next month!"

After saying that, he clapped his hands and prepared to leave.

But just as he turned around, he remembered something and reached into his inner pocket: "Oh, right! I need to pay a deposit first, right? How much is it?"

Lei Dajiang was so overwhelmed by this grand scene.

After a moment of silence, he stammered, "Give... give me ten dollars?"

"Here!" The villager quickly pulled out a brand new bill from his pocket and threw it directly to Lei Dajiang, "Here you go!"

After that, he immediately introduced himself: "My name is Fang Qingxiang, and my house is over there, by the pond!

Come when the time comes! Oh... come early for lunch! Try our big pieces of deep-fried meat! And our sweet potato liquor!"

Under such enthusiasm, he actually shook hands and greeted the two people in advance.

Hearing this, Lei Dajiang and He Xiaofei couldn't help but look at each other.

Watching the villager named Fang Qingxiang leave, He Xiaofei couldn't help but smack his lips: "Master, why do I feel that this man doesn't look poor!"

"Who said it wasn't true?" Lei Dajiang pulled out his remaining hair and muttered, "This is really weird!"

He hasn't finished muttering yet.

Not far away, when Fang Qingxiang returned to his seat, he talked to the people around him about the movie that was scheduled to be shown.

In less than a moment, another person stood up.

He glanced at Lei Dajiang and the others.

Then, he strode straight over.

Seeing this scene, He Xiaofei and Lei Dajiang couldn't help but look at each other again.

They had a premonition of something, and in shock, their breathing quickened.

Immediately, the villager's loud voice rang out: "Comrade! I want to order a movie, too!"

"Ok?"

"It'll be the thirteenth of next month! My grandson will be a hundred days old! Just like Qingxiang Gong, I'll book two shows a day! The price... will be the same, right?"

Lei Dajiang: "One...same!"

"That's fine! Ten dollars is the deposit! Here, here you go!"

With a quick and decisive move, a ten-yuan bill was handed to Lei Dajiang.

While Lei Dajiang was in a daze, the man introduced himself: "My name is Fang Qingming! I live next door to Fang Qingxiang who just booked a movie with you guys!"

"You guys should come earlier then... Come and have a good meal in advance..."

Another warm and confident greeting, and repeated reminders of the time. Only after He Xiaofei took out his notebook and made notes did he leave.

This time, Lei Dajiang and He Xiaofei didn’t stay stunned for long!

There was not even time to communicate with each other.

because……

The villager named Fang Qingming had just left for less than a few seconds.

Another loud voice rang out: "Comrade..."

Process.

It's almost exactly the same as before.

The first thing you do is decide on a movie.

Then let’s talk about time.

Pay the deposit, and then warmly invite to come early...

The only difference is that this villager also made requirements for the films shown.

"Comrades! You must remember to find some new films to show!"

Lei Dajiang thought he was afraid that he would play the same movie as the two people before him, so he immediately promised, "Don't worry, fellow villager! I definitely understand! I promise that when I play the movies, I will stagger the movies you want to play! I won't play the same old stuff!"

Unexpectedly, the villager shook his head after hearing this, "No! No! That's not all I meant!"

“I mean… besides staggering the time! We also need to show some new, rarely shown movies!
Forget about old movies like "The Battle of South and North", "Tunnel Warfare", "Land Mine Warfare", etc. I'm tired of watching them all!"

"Are you tired of seeing it?" Lei Dajiang stared.

The movies that the villagers are talking about are indeed some old movies.

But no matter how old they are, based on their experience in screenings.

These classic old movies are still the most popular ones.

If this was said by people in big villages that often show movies, Lei Dajiang could still understand it.

But in Shiwan Village, the last time a movie was shown was two or three years ago, and people are tired of watching these classic old films as soon as they open their mouths.

These words sounded strange and harsh.

As if he had seen through Lei Dajiang's thoughts, the villager smiled, grinning with his big white teeth, "Why... do you think I'm bragging?"

He smiled with the corner of his mouth tilted, "These movies! How many times have they been shown on TV? We can even recite the plots of these movies with our eyes closed! We are tired of watching them!"

When the villager said this, not only was there a smile on his face, but there was also a sense of complacency and pride in his tone.

Hearing this, Lei Dajiang and He Xiaofei felt a strange feeling of being despised.

Lei Dajiang was also keenly aware of a key word and couldn't help but mutter, "TV? Your village has a TV?"

"What do you mean there's a TV?"

The villagers laughed contemptuously when they heard this, "Who...are you looking down on?"

"It's just a TV! We have a lot of them in our village!"

"At least... there should be more than 40 of them!"

"Four...more than forty units? No...impossible!" He Xiaofei couldn't help but exclaimed in disbelief.

To be honest, he also comes from a rural background.

Their village is a big village close to the county town.

There is a lot of land and people in the village, and we can grow vegetables to sell.

Those are all famous wealthy villages nearby.

But in a village of nearly 400 households, only a few families buy TVs!
In Shiwan Village, a village nestled in the mountains where even a movie hasn't been shown for two or three years, how could so many families buy televisions?

He Xiaofei's first reaction was that this was absolutely impossible.

Lei Dajiang on the side, although he did not say it out loud like He Xiaofei, the expression on his face also revealed obvious disbelief.

"Ha ha!"

Seeing this scene, the villager was not angry, but laughed proudly.

"Don't you still not believe it!"

“There really are so many!”

"That's just now! By the time you guys come next time, there should be at least fifty!"

After saying this, he didn't give Lei Dajiang and He Xiaofei a chance to question.

He pointed at the houses around him one by one: "Look! Look... there, there, and... there! Look what's there?"

I looked in the direction of his pointing hand.

Immediately, the eyes of Lei Dajiang and He Xiaofei, one big and one small, quickly widened into a round state, as if they were frozen in time, without even a blink.

All I saw was that the sky was almost completely dark.

At the place where the villager pointed.

You can see tall bamboo poles rising into the sky.

The bamboo pole stood next to the house, and its height was at least five meters.

The tops of the bamboo poles are all lined up horizontally and vertically...

antenna!

Although it was dark, the answer immediately appeared in Lei Dajiang and He Xiaofei's minds.

As the answer came out, the two of them couldn't help but hold their breathing!
This time they were invited here on an emergency basis.

After arriving in the village, we immediately started setting up the projection equipment.

and so……

I didn't even notice the existence of these outdoor antennas.

Now after this villager pointed it out, I realized...the images in these movies were wrong, and it seemed that most people's houses had them at their doorsteps.

And these days.

Under what circumstances would you erect an outdoor TV antenna near your house?
The meaning of each antenna is obvious.

“Four…more than forty TVs!!!”

Then think back to what the villagers said.

Lei Dajiang and He Xiaofei couldn't help but stare at each other with their eyes wide open.

A poor village in the mountains?
This... isn't right!

(End of this chapter)