Chapter 63 National Day - "At the beginning of the 1970s, I made a fortune from zero-yuan purchases"

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On the afternoon of September 30, 1970, Wang Jianxin, wearing a crisp cadre uniform with four pockets, stood in front of the mirror outside his dormitory and put his military cap straight.The cap badge flashed in the sun. He squinted his eyes, adjusted his collar, and straightened the hem of his clothes.

Liu Weidong leaned against the door and looked him up and down: "Captain, you are so energetic."

"It's okay." Wang Jianxin tightened his arms.

Guo Dajiang stood up from the bed and patted his shoulder: "Don't be nervous when you arrive at the Great Hall of the People."

"Why am I nervous?" Wang Jianxin smiled, "It's not like going to the operating table."

At around three o'clock in the afternoon, he took a bus from school.Various people were sitting in the car - representatives of heroic models, model workers, workers, peasants and soldiers. Everyone had a big red flower on their chest, and golden tassels hanging from the red silk.Some people are wearing military uniforms, some are wearing work clothes, some are wearing Chinese tunic suits, and some are wearing ethnic minority costumes.No one knew anyone, but they all nodded and greeted each other.

When we arrived at the Great Hall of the People, it was still dark.

Wang Jianxin got out of the car, stood under the steps, and looked up.The Great Hall of the People was bigger and more spectacular than he imagined.The large light yellow pillars are too big for one person to hug, standing in rows like guards.The glass windows were polished and reflected the sunset on the horizon.

He walked up the steps along the red carpet. There was a thick red carpet under his feet. There was no sound when he stepped on it. It was soft, like stepping on grass.The carpet was spread from the steps to the inside of the door, with no end in sight.The door is made of copper, high and wide, and polished so that people's shadows can be seen.

The door of the Great Hall of the People is open and the lights are brightly lit inside.

In the golden hall, hundreds of tables were arranged neatly. The tabletops were covered with white tablecloths that hung to the floor, spotless.There were dishes and wine glasses on each table. The dishes were made of white porcelain and printed with golden patterns; the wine glasses were made of glass and were polished brightly.The chandelier above the head looks like an upside-down golden flower basket, with crystal beads strung one after another. When the light shines on it, the room is filled with spots of light.

Wang Jianxin was placed in the front row at the side.He sat down, put his hat on the corner of the table, and straightened the red flower on his chest.Next to him was an old worker with white hair, his face was dark and red, his hands were covered with calluses, and there was black putty embedded in the gaps between his nails.He was wearing blue work clothes that had been washed white, and the red flower on his chest was particularly conspicuous.

"Young man, which army are you from?" The old worker took the initiative to chat, his voice was hoarse but full of energy.

"From the Damao Banner Border Guard Regiment. What about you?"

"From Shougang." The old worker stretched out a pair of calloused hands and waved them in front of Wang Jianxin. "I have been refining steel all my life. This life is worth it." When he said the word "worth it", his voice was trembling a little and his eyes were shining.

Wang Jianxin looked at the hands and said nothing.Those are the hands of steelworkers, which have been roasted by furnace fire, scalded by molten steel, and sharpened by iron tongs.The bones are thick and the skin is rough, but strong.

Around six o'clock, the banquet hall suddenly became quiet.

The big leaders wore dark Chinese tunic suits and walked steadily into the banquet hall, followed by other leaders.They walked in from the main entrance of the hall and walked along the main passage, waving to both sides as they walked.Everyone in the audience stood up and applauded from the door to the inside.

After the reception started, the leader stood up and spoke.His voice was low, but every word was clear and echoed in the hall.

"Comrades, friends..."

The banquet lasted for more than two hours.There are dishes on the floor one after another, including hot dishes and cold dishes, Chinese food and Western food.Wang Jianxin didn't move his chopsticks much and just looked at it.The old worker next to him enjoyed the meal very much. While eating, he muttered: "This braised pork is very well done, much better than our factory canteen."

At the end, Wang Jianxin walked out of the Great Hall of the People.

The October night breeze was cool and comfortable on my face.He stood on the steps, looked back at the brightly lit Assembly Hall behind him, and then looked at Chang'an Street in front of him.There were not many cars on the street, the street lights were on, and the Tiananmen Tower in the distance was clearly outlined in the light.

He took a deep breath and stood on the steps for a while.

This life is worth it.

Wang Jianxin returned to the dormitory, opened the door, and found all five people in the room.Liu Weidong was the first to pounce: "How is it? How is it? What's it like inside?"

"Is it particularly big?" Chen Zhiyuan asked.

"Has the leader spoken?" Li Jianguo asked.

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