Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 22

This was actually a cassette tape recorder, produced by Haishi Zhongsheng Electrical Factory.

In the seventies, the three major must-have items were bicycles, wristwatches, and sewing machines. Now, at the end of the seventies, the “three major items” had also changed. In some big cities, black-and-white televisions, single-tub washing machines, and cassette recorders had replaced the original three.

Especially the cassette recorder—this was practically the most coveted item among fashionable youths. They obtained tapes of Hong Kong and Taiwan singers through various channels. At private gatherings, whoever pulled out a cassette recorder and played songs by Teresa Teng or Tsui Siu-fung instantly became the center of attention, the leader of the group.

In the first half of this year, the city department store had only received five cassette recorders. Three were reserved the moment they reached the warehouse by people with connections. Only two machines appeared on the store shelves, and even though the price was high, they were still sold out within two hours.

The second batch of cassette recorders ordered by the store had not yet arrived. The reason Baobao managed to obtain this one was because she shamelessly used the Huo family connection.

To buy this cassette recorder, Baobao had thrown in almost all the stipends she had saved over the years.

When Zhen Baoli got married, he made an entire set of new furniture himself. As Baoli’s adoptive grandfather and master, Old Niu the carpenter secured a rare Phoenix-brand bicycle ticket and chipped in some money, buying a brand-new bicycle. And the eight new quilts were made using the cotton and cloth Liu Sanmei and her daughter-in-law had saved over the years.

Adding this cassette recorder as the finale, Zhen Baoli’s wedding was the most impressive event in the Third Brigade of Xiagou Village. It was extremely glorious.

In the days after the wedding, many households in the production team felt regret. Such a capable, wealthy son-in-law had actually been snatched away by a girl from another village.

Some busybodies even dug up old gossip from over ten years ago, talking about the joking engagement between the Lin and Zhen families, and about how Madam Lin had spoken ill of Liu Sanmei behind her back, causing the two families to fall out and the childhood engagement to fail.

Because of this, the Lin family had no face in the village for quite some time. It was Xu Panhao who couldn’t stand hearing such things—first, she feared her excellent daughter-in-law would misunderstand, and second, she felt it was unnecessary to ruin the Lin family girl’s reputation—so she fought with those gossiping women, and gradually, those rumors subsided.

Unexpectedly, after this incident, Xu Panhao’s reputation in the village began to improve. When speaking of her, people no longer only called her a shrew—other descriptions appeared. For example: “the righteous widow of the Zhen family.”

Huo Jun, studying at the military academy, knew little of rural gossip. He only watched Zhen Baoli holding the cassette recorder and revealed a confused expression.

He did not understand. He had only asked Baoli to pass along a few words—why did he bring out a cassette recorder for this?

“I’m just going to say a few words.”

Huo Jun rubbed his nose.

He really didn’t want to record those few sentences. It felt too strange. And if he actually had the courage to say those words to Baobao face-to-face, he wouldn’t have run all the way to find Baoli to pass the message.

“Baobao said that from now on, no matter who asks me to pass a message, I have to record it and play it directly to that person.”

Zhen Baoli spoke seriously. His mind was simple, but he understood many principles intuitively.

For example, in the past he listened to his grandmother, his mother, and his sister. Now he added his wife to that list. These four people would never harm him. Whatever they told him to do, he would just do it.

“My grandmother also said so. She said my sister did an excellent job and told me I must listen to Bao.”

Zhen Baoli gave a silly smile. He still didn’t understand what was so “excellent” about it, but since his grandmother and sister both said so, it must have made sense.

Huo Jun couldn’t help glancing at Baoli a few more times.

His build was similar to his own—tall and sturdy. Yet every time he opened his mouth, it was “my sister said,” “my grandmother said.” Did he have no opinions of his own?

Huo Jun had a rebellious streak in his bones. He had never been a particularly obedient or well-behaved child. He felt he could never become someone like Baoli, who treated every piece of advice from his family as absolute truth.

Baobao and her brother seemed to have a very good relationship; otherwise she wouldn’t have asked her mother to help him get a cassette recorder ticket. Could it be she liked men with this kind of personality?

Huo Jun fell into deep thought.

Impossible. Even if he died, he could not become a henpecked man.

“You just tell her… I’m leaving. When I come back, I want to ask her to watch the first snowfall of early winter with me.”

He spoke too quickly, and Baoli hadn’t even pressed the record button yet.

“This summer lasted too long. Even after autumn began it was still terribly humid. The old folks in our production team say there might not be any snow this winter.” Baoli wasn’t just simple—he loved being literal.

Their area didn’t get snow every year. Even when it snowed, it rarely accumulated above the ankles. Farmers cared most about the weather. Their experience wasn’t necessarily worse than meteorologists.

“Maybe you should come back next year. There’ll probably be snow next year.” Baoli earnestly offered the suggestion.

Oh, this damned temper of mine!

Huo Jun stared seriously at the simple-minded young man in front of him, wondering whether he was serious or messing with him.

“Just—just pass the message like that.”

Baoli looked too honest, and his eyes too sincere. Faced with a face three or four parts similar to Baobao’s, Huo Jun’s temper faded.

He had already bought his train ticket out of Xihuai for today. Time was almost up. Coming here at all had been pure impulse.

Before Baoli could ask him to repeat it, Huo Jun hurriedly left.

“What did he just say?” Baoli watched Huo Jun’s back and slapped his own forehead. “Something about watching snow?” he muttered.

He pressed the record button, cleared his throat, and said: “I’m leaving. It might not snow this winter. We’ll watch it next year.”

That should be right…?

After thinking a bit, he added, “This was said by the son of that female hero who trains you in the army.”

Mm. Now both the speaker and the content were complete. No mistakes this time.

Baoli happily put the cassette recorder back into the small room. Something this expensive couldn’t be left out in the shop.

Honestly, a smart person like him didn’t even need this thing. But to put his sister and grandmother at ease, he would use it.

Baoli chuckled, looking at the small wooden carving he had placed on the workbench—something like a cow, like a pig, like a sheep, but really not much like a dog. 

He instantly felt full of motivation again.

He wanted to work hard and earn lots of money to give his family the best life.

Today was another fulfilling day!