Five Animal Exercises
“Alright, thanks for your trouble this time. It must have been exhausting to run all this way. Next time, I’ll bring you something delicious, big brother!” Zhao Dongchan said to Lanxiang with a smile.
Lanxiang smiled shyly, not answering, and turned to go home.
When she reached her doorstep, she saw a man in a green post office uniform standing in the courtyard. Due to constant exposure to wind and sun, his skin was dark, and it was hard to tell his age.
Next to him was a bicycle, with two heavy mailbags hanging on the back, filled with letters from various Communes and newspapers and magazines ordered by some families.
“Hello, I am Zhao Dongchan. I heard there’s a letter for me that requires my personal signature?” Zhao Dongchan said.
“That’s right, an urgent letter, specifically stating it needs your personal signature. If you hadn’t come, I would have been ready to leave. Here, please sign for it!” The postman said, taking out a letter and handing it to Zhao Dongchan.
Zhao Dongchan took the letter and glanced at the envelope. It was a letter from his family. He figured it had been quite a few days, so it was probably a reply.
“Oh, and there’s also a pickup slip. A large parcel was sent at the same time. You’ll need to go to the county post office to pick that up!” The postman said, pulling out a unique post office pickup slip.
“Comrade postman, you’ve worked hard. Come in and have a drink of water!” Zhao Dongchan took the slip with one hand, preparing to go inside to pour water.
Seeing this, the postman quickly stopped Zhao Dongchan and said, “No need, I still have many letters to deliver. Next time!”
Zhao Dongchan was not one to dally, and seeing that the postman truly had business, he did not press him to stay.
Watching the postman leave, Zhao Dongchan went back inside to read the letter.
The letter was written by the original ‘Zhao Dongchan’s’ father. In the letter, he expressed his satisfaction with Zhao Dongchan’s love of learning, and also mentioned some recent family news, telling him not to worry about home. At the same time, the family was also trying to find someone to help him return to the city. He then said that the books he wanted had been found, and some other miscellaneous items had also been sent to him. Fearing he was anxious, they even arranged for urgent delivery.
In the original owner’s memory, their family’s financial situation wasn’t great. Although his father worked at the Steel Rolling Mill in the city, his mother’s health had always been poor. She was weak and couldn't work, which had cost a lot of money over the years.
Zhao Dongchan thought that when he returned, he would definitely improve his family’s situation.
Looking at the letter in his hand, Zhao Dongchan was also thinking about submitting his manuscript. Logically, the editor should have received the letter sent on the same day by now. He wondered what the situation was; it couldn't be that it wasn't accepted, could it?
For a moment, Zhao Dongchan was a little unsure. After all, he had transmigrated, and was already a “little butterfly,” so things might have changed.
At this moment, what Zhao Dongchan didn't know was that his poem manuscript had indeed caused some “commotion.”
Zhang Jian, an editor at Yan River, was middle-aged. Years of reviewing manuscripts had given him severe myopia, and he wore thick, black-rimmed glasses. He came from a humble background and had always been undervalued at work. Invitations for submissions from famous poets and writers were monopolized by other editors. He seemed to have no luck, and had yet to discover any quality works.
Due to the large number of submissions, both from within and outside the province, he had to review them one by one.
As he casually opened a submission as usual, his eyes were instantly captivated. He couldn't help but read aloud:
“'love of life'”
“I do not think”
“Whether I can succeed”
“Since I have chosen the distant path”
“I will only brave the wind and rain”
“…………”
“Since I am fond of roses”
“I will bravely express my sincerity”
“……”
“As long as there is love of life”
“Everything is within expectations”
He was captivated. He read it over and over, feeling the spiritual elevation the poem brought him, immensely moved. This was the charm of poetry.
“love of life” was such a resounding slogan, such sincere emotion, thought-provoking and unforgettable.
This middle-aged editor, as if a young man, was filled with strength. He immediately ran to the Chief Editor’s office and reported this manuscript to the Chief Editor.
The Chief Editor also took this poem manuscript seriously and immediately convened an editorial team discussion, wanting to urgently include this poem in the current month’s issue. Generally, periodicals select manuscripts and lay them out in advance. To add one, one would certainly have to remove one.
For a time, everyone argued. Some said the “love” was too explicit, others said it was inappropriate. In the end, the appreciation for the “poem” still prevailed. The Chief Editor withstood the pressure and added “love of life” to the current month’s issue. This work was indeed excellent and would surely increase the sales and reach of their periodical.
After the meeting, “love of life” was placed in the current issue, ready for publication.
And Zhang Jian, the editor who discovered this excellent work, naturally became Zhao Dongchan’s responsible editor. He was very excited inside; he clearly knew that he had reached a turning point in his career.
Zhang Jian discussed and communicated the manuscript fees with the Chief Editor. The Chief Editor finally set a 20 yuan writing fee. In the past, there were manuscript fees, but they were abolished 9 years ago when the trend started. Some magazine agencies changed manuscript fees to writing fees. Most people who got their manuscripts accepted received around 10 yuan for writing fees. Given the excellence of this work, a manuscript fee twice as high as others was set.
Zhang Jian sent the remittance slip and acceptance notice together, and wrote a letter inviting Zhao Dongchan to meet in the provincial capital.
Zhao Dongchan, of course, didn't know any of this. Far away in Shuangshui Village, he had already finished work and was at home studying the system-produced “Wuqinxi.” He took out the book. The book was old-fashioned, with a grayish-white cover that read “Wuqinxi.” He opened the cover, and inside were some human movements and accompanying breathing techniques.
Zhao Dongchan felt a little disappointed. He had thought that this book would also fly into his mind like the “cooking” skill, but it turned out to be an actual book.
Thinking about it, he felt relieved again. He realized he was overly reliant on the system, which shouldn't be the case.
He roughly flipped through the entire book, then put the system away. He decided to start getting up early to exercise and practice “Wuqinxi” tomorrow.
Staying fit is never out of date in any era; after all, health is the capital for revolution.
Several days passed in a flash. In the morning, Zhao Dongchan would first practice Wuqinxi, then drink porridge made with the “rice” produced by the system. After returning from work, he would eat rice produced by the system mixed with the coarse grains distributed by the team for dinner. And surprisingly, the combination was both fragrant and sweet.
These past two days, the team’s “lifeline” had fallen ill. Its mouth was green, its strength was great, and it was excellent at work, the most robust ox in the entire village. With its illness, Shaoan also seemed to be ill. This ox was usually personally ploughed by Sun Shaoan, who feared others would not spare the ox’s strength and overwork it. Shaoan also often instructed Tian Wanjiang, the village’s feeder, to give this ox extra grass and feed, and to indulge its picky eating and drinking.
Hearing that Sun Shaoan was taking the ox to Mijia Town to see a vet, Zhao Dongchan also wanted to go to the county to pick up his parcel. So, he accompanied Sun Shaoan. They drove the ox all the way to the veterinary station in Mijia Town. Zhao Dongchan originally wanted to go directly to the county, but when he heard the vet station staff instruct them to administer medicine again at 12 AM, he told Shaoan he needed to go out for a bit. Sun Shaoan, in his hurry and confusion, didn't pay him any mind.