After the production team wrapped up in the evening, Liu Shouren and Liu Shouyi came over to visit Shuzhen and the newborn nephew. Lianshan once again confirmed the news that the village would soon be electrified, and expressed his intention to buy a television to entertain his wife and children, and a washing machine to do laundry for the family of seven.
As for the scarce tickets for televisions and washing machines, Lianshan said he could call the leaders of their seed research institute in town to make a request.
Given the couple’s outstanding achievements over the years, with intercropping, reasonable dense planting, and high-quality, high-yield rice seeds, this should be no problem.
As for the shortage of funds, even before Lianshan could speak, the two brother-in-law rushed to offer help.
"In life, if you see something you lack, you should buy it. Don’t let Shuzhen and the kids feel pressed just because you are tight on money after building the house. Tell us how much you’re short. When I get home, I’ll get it for you; maybe not a lot, but a thousand or eight hundred would still be feasible," Liu Shouren said with a smile, worried that they might be embarrassed to ask for help due to financial difficulty after building a house and walls.
"Yes, yes, exactly. Whatever happens, we can’t let my little sister and the kids feel deprived. If you need money, just say so. Big brother and I are here," said Shouyi. Although he doubted that his sister and brother-in-law, who earned over two hundred yuan a month, would be short of money, he wanted to assure them they could rely on him.
"Alright, thanks, big brother and second brother. If I need it, I’ll surely come to you," Lianshan nodded with a smile.
Although his wife said they still had about a thousand yuan at home and that the couple would soon receive their salaries, which should be enough to buy a six hundred yuan black-and-white TV and a twin-tub washing machine with what’s left.
But you never know when unexpected things might happen, right?
Now that the two brothers-in-law had offered help, he had to seize the opportunity.
If he boldly refused now, what would he do if it later turned out to be unavailable?
Facts proved that Lianshan’s worries were quite reasonable.
After making a call and applying for the television and washing machine tickets, within days, he received a registered letter from the provincial city, which included the washing machine and TV tickets he had applied for.
Given their contributions to the Republic’s grain yield increase over the years, the leadership of the provincial XX Seed Research Institute approved Lianshan’s request right after receiving his call.
Knowing their high income levels, a particularly selfless leader even gave up his own Beijing-brand 14-inch color TV ticket for Lianshan.
Upgrading from black-and-white to color TV, Lianshan was genuinely overjoyed upon receiving the tickets, but it was also true that the money ran out!
A color TV cost twelve hundred yuan, leaving the family’s finances nearly depleted.
Without money to buy a washing machine, Lianshan had to cast a pleading look at his brother-in-law, asking him to bring six hundred yuan from home to buy it first. By the time they would receive another salary in a few months, they’d definitely repay it.
Spending almost two thousand yuan just to amuse Shuzhen and help wash clothes so she doesn’t get tired.
Once the news got out, the young wives and old ladies from miles around were practically soaked in jealousy.
The looks their way at Shuzhen carried hints of envy: Exactly what incredible feats had Liu Shuzhen accomplished in her past life to deserve a man like Lianshan who cherished her like a treasure in this one?
For more than ten consecutive days, the topics of televisions and washing machines remained popular.
Every day, Lianshan encountered dozens of familiar members saying they’d visit to watch TV once they were free.
Not to mention that Lian Xi was not yet a month old and his family needed ample rest. Besides, with his wife’s abilities, their home wasn’t suitable for constant traffic, was it?
If he couldn’t refuse directly, could he perhaps "divert the trouble"?
Members wanting to watch TV merely sought novelty. As the sole owner of this at the village, widespread attention was inevitable.
What if their uniqueness didn’t stand anymore?
Lianshan recalled the salesperson named Xue Guohong they met at the provincial city, who had helped them exchange grain coupons for several industrial coupons and even bicycle coupons.
Apparently, she was well-connected and capable, and she had kept in touch with his wife?
To prevent their home from becoming a public viewing room, disturbing his precious wife and kids, Lianshan was willing to do everything he could.
He quickly asked Shuzhen for Xue Guohong’s contact information to confirm if she indeed had ways to get a TV. Though it turned out she could obtain black-and-white ones mostly and a few color ones at prices slightly higher than the official ticket rates, Lianshan nodded affirmatively when asked if he had a way to get TVs.
In the past few years, the Liu family production team had diversified into animal husbandry, intercropping, and high-quality rice planting, alongside gathering wild vegetables, herbs in the spring, berries in summer to make wine, jams, and dried fruits. They also harvested hazelnuts and pine nuts in autumn. The winter-down products factory was booming, facing high demand for various products.
With many income sources, earnings weren’t very noticeable, but when yearly bonuses were distributed, nearly every family found their pockets full, beaming with smiles.
With extra cash on hand, naturally more homes built houses, and bought TVs and bicycles.
In the summer of ’76, he and Shuzhen bought the first bicycle in the village. Whenever they rode it, they attracted countless spectators, with envy written all over their faces.
Having a family bicycle was basic; families felt embarrassed to say they were from the Liu family production team without a bike!
Once news leaked a bit of his ability to get TV sets, over a dozen people came seeking help.
These were families with children at marrying age, wanting big items for weddings, or newlyweds with extra cash and a taste for fresh excitement.
He helped a few families who had good reputations and weren’t known to be gossips to get connected. Within three days, the Liu family production team had sixteen more TVs.
Mostly black-and-white ones that lacked the impact of Lianshan’s color television.
But as these families lived nearby and were pleasant, they weren’t like Lian, still recovering postpartum, said to not be in great health, known to easily get tired and annoyed by disturbances, right?
No matter how good the color TV, watching a silent film was grating!
Rumor had it that Lianshan, out of love for his wife and fear of his kids disturbing her with TV noise, only allowed visuals without sound.
Given that the Lian family home was quite isolated and, moreover, the thought of an entire room full of people watching a silent film on a perfectly good TV...
Honestly, everyone had had enough!