Chapter 40: Meeting at the Pinnacle (Please Continue Reading)

Yang Chenglin was the director of the Luocheng Mining Bureau. He wasn’t required to attend this meeting, nor was he invited. However, upon hearing that the region’s top achiever would be giving a report, he put aside his pride and brought along his second daughter, who had failed her exam, to join the occasion.

“Hello, Director Yang. I’ve long heard of your reputation!” Liu Yimin greeted him warmly, shaking his hand.

Yang Chenglin raised his brows with interest. “Oh? Comrade Liu Yimin, you’ve heard of me?”

“I saw your name often in the newspapers posted on the information board when I sent my elder brother to work at the No. 3 Mine,” Liu Yimin replied smoothly, without a hint of embarrassment.

Yang Chenglin nodded, realizing that Liu Yimin had some connection to the coal mines. He inquired further about Liu Yimin’s brother and learned that he had won the title of Model Worker at a recent mining skills competition—a memory that clicked, as it was the leadership from the Mining Bureau who had personally presented the award at the time.

“This wristwatch of mine was actually bought with the industrial coupon my brother received as a prize!” Liu Yimin turned his wrist to display the Shanghai-brand steel watch, further reinforcing Yang Chenglin’s impression.

As the meeting had not yet begun, Yang Yushan made sure there was no awkward silence, launching into a speech filled with slogans urging everyone to contribute to the nation.

Yang Chenglin kept asking Liu Yimin about his study methods and finally, a bit sheepishly, said, “Old Yang and I, we’re from the same place, both surnamed Yang. Comrade Liu Yimin, I’ll be frank. I hear you’re working at the Cultural Center as a writer. I have a rather bold request: I’d like my daughter to study with you for a few days.”

“Director Yang, you’re too polite. I don’t have much to do at the Cultural Center anyway—I’m free anytime,” Liu Yimin replied.

Yang Chenglin nodded with satisfaction. This young comrade, he thought, is someone trustworthy! And if he could get along with my daughter, all the better!

At nine o’clock, Yang Yushan was already parched from speaking; the staff had refilled his tea several times.

“Yimin, don’t be nervous—just do as I did!” Yang Yushan encouraged, worried that Liu Yimin would be anxious.

“I will learn from you!”

Once the meeting officially started, stirring music filled the cinema. Liu Yimin was adorned with a large red flower and, led by Yang Yushan, was greeted with thunderous applause that shook the hall.

The auditorium boasted thirty-nine rows of seats, 1,134 fixed seats in total. Now, not only were all the seats taken, but people were standing in the aisles and at the back rows as well.

The applause was unending, rattling eardrums with its force.

“Now, let’s welcome Comrade Liu Yimin to give his report!”

Liu Yimin rose and stepped beyond the podium, choosing instead to use the old-fashioned wired standing microphone—he felt sitting on the stage would stifle his delivery.

“Hello, comrades. I’m Liu Yimin. Those standing in the aisles, please have a seat. There’s nothing much to see about me—just an ordinary young man, dark and thin, with a straight nose and a mouth beneath it. So sit down, you can hear me just as well!” Liu Yimin said with a smile.

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

“The topic of my report today is ‘Hold Your Head High and Look Forward.’ Compared to everyone here, I am nothing special—just one among a million examinees. This time last year, I was still working in the fields.

“Of course, there’s nothing wrong with bending over to work the land, but for me, going to university means a wider world to explore! The college entrance exam in China is a grand undertaking, and I was merely lucky enough to stand at the crest of this wave for the moment.

“How do we look forward? For us, the college entrance exam is looking forward. Where is the future? The future is in every test paper, every report card!

“But the future is also vast: it is in the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the Five Great Mountains, the North and South Poles, and the wonders of the world—only by venturing out can we see it. Beyond the mountains of Ruxian, there are more mountains, but as long as we keep walking, we will surely see the boundless ocean.

“And what must you do to see this marvelous world? Calm your mind, study hard, solve problems, and keep solving them!”

The Revolutionary Committee had invited Liu Yimin to inspire everyone, so he naturally emphasized the importance of the college entrance exam. In 1978, for ordinary people, this was the only path; private business was not yet an option.

“No one is born first place. My achievements come from hard work. Have you ever seen Ruxian at four in the morning in winter? I have. The sky at 4 a.m. is truly dark, but a score of 450 shines brilliantly. When you feel tired and rest for a while, I am studying; when you eat, I seize the chance to study as well..."

Back in Maiji Brigade, Liu Fuqing and Yang Xiuyun squatted by the radio, exchanging glances. “Did Yimin really get up at 4 a.m.?”

“He… probably did, I guess!”

“Last year, during the entrance exam, heavy snow sealed the mountains. By the time I rode my bicycle to the school gate, I was already bruised and missed the entry time. I felt like the sky had collapsed. It was the proctor who took me to the hospital. But this year, I became the top scorer. I’m not showing off; I just want to say that life allows for more mistakes than you think. If you don’t do well this time, just try again next time.

“Every year, hundreds of thousands go to college—why can’t it be you?”

Yang Yushan and Old Zhang wiped away tears. This child’s life has been so hard!

“The fact that you’re here listening already puts you ahead of many! In the past, we kept our heads down and worked; now, we must look up at the stars! I wrote a poem: ‘The dark night has given us black eyes, but with them, I seek the light.’ Each of us has black eyes, and we must all seek the light!

“My dear comrades! Nothing comes easily. You must work extremely hard just to make it look effortless! There will always be a stretch of road that can only be traversed with tears. Bow your head, and you see a sea of exam questions; look up, and you see your future; immerse yourself in problems, and your future awaits!”

On stage, Liu Yimin was nearly shouting by the end. What started as slight embarrassment faded as he immersed himself in the speech. No wonder motivational speakers don’t feel awkward—when passion rises, it’s actually exhilarating!

“Reporters from the Daily, record everything! Publish the full text tomorrow, not a single word missing!” Yang Yushan instructed excitedly. The speech was simply outstanding!

“The place where you stand is China; your heartbeat is China’s heartbeat. For the nation, a new era has dawned. Fellow young comrades, let us hold our heads high and march toward the future!

“Remember, a young person’s lofty ambitions once promised to be the best in the world! Let us use our dreams as steeds, and live up to our youth!”

As Liu Yimin finished, he still felt something was missing, not quite satisfying enough. After some thought, he raised his right fist and declared loudly, “Comrades, those who pursue the light will surely shine brightly!”

At that moment, only Liu Yimin’s voice echoed throughout the entire cinema, carried through the wires to every production brigade in Ruxian, resounding through every mountain and river!

The applause was endless, as if everyone’s soul had been magnified, making the packed cinema feel even more crowded.

The reporters’ hands were numb from taking notes, yet they shouted excitedly for even more!

“Comrade Liu Yimin, you’re sure to become a great person, a great writer!” someone in the audience yelled, followed by a chorus of voices.

“Comrade Liu Yimin, may I ask, were you happy the moment you saw your results?” a reporter asked, hand raised.

“There wasn’t much to be happy about; it was simply the result of hard work. Besides, higher mountains await me. The scenery at the summit is always more beautiful than halfway up. So, comrades, I wish to meet you all at the peak!”

Yang Yushan clapped excitedly, turning to Yang Chenglin. “This kid! I was worried for nothing—he’s a better speaker than me. I’ll have to learn from him someday!”

“Yeah, right! With your education? Save it. My second daughter can learn from him, though!”

“I might not be up to it, but my eldest daughter might! As for your second daughter, please, she’s still as rough as freshly mined coal!”