Until Chen Yang left the ward, Zou Chenguang had not recovered. His mind was filled with what Chen Yang had said.
Pave the way when you encounter mountains, build bridges when you encounter water, let the common people make money, have enough to eat, and satisfy the people's urgent needs...
Zou Chenguang had never heard of many of those strange terms, but they seemed to speak directly to his heart.
Zou Chenguang was also from a farming family. If he hadn't joined the army, he might have been destined to till the soil his whole life.
He had personally experienced scenes of people starving to death and could understand the common people's obsession with having enough to eat.
Chen Yang stopped at the right moment and did not elaborate on opening the radio shop. Some words, if spoken too much or with too strong an intention, would be repulsive.
He had already pointed the way for Zou Chenguang. The rest was for him to think about and act upon.
Chen Yang believed that with his words, Zou Chenguang would not, as in his previous life, simply turn the Administration for Industry and Commerce into a decoration.
If he could promote Zou Chenguang's recognition of the private and individual economy, it would be a win-win situation.
If this matter truly succeeded, Zou Chenguang and the Qinghe City Administration for Industry and Commerce would undoubtedly leave a significant mark on the entire process of China's reform and opening up.
To be remembered in history was something that, in ancient times, would have made countless literati exclaim, "To hear the Way in the morning and die in the evening would be enough."
With the Administration for Industry and Commerce breaking new ground, Zou Chenguang might even have the possibility of further advancement.
As for Chen Yang, he could calmly prepare for the opening of the radio shop.
Even if Zou Chenguang ultimately still did not dare to be the first to venture into this business with him, with this existing relationship, he would not be arrested as a speculator.
Before he had this connection with Zou Chenguang, he dared to start the shop.
Now that he had Zou Chenguang, he had even fewer worries.
At worst, he would close the shop, losing only a few months' rent, and let the scrap collector secretly develop sales channels.
However, doing so would slow down the development of the radio business considerably compared to his expectations.
If he had to wait until 1980 for the nationwide boom in individual businesses, it would take too much time.
If there was an opportunity, Chen Yang still wanted to seize it.
Having been reborn, it would be a disservice to his reborn identity to simply wait for the timeline to unfold.
If he could have defined the legality of individual businesses in Qinghe City a day earlier, perhaps the timeline for the widespread recognition of private and individual economies across the country could have been advanced from 1980 to 1978.
This way, many people who were forced into desperate situations might find a legal way to earn money earlier, without the fear of being arrested as speculators.
Do not underestimate the importance of two years, nor the threat that speculation posed to the private and individual economy of that era.
For an individual, two years might not make a significant difference, but for hundreds of millions of people nationwide, having enough to eat a day earlier could save countless lives.
If the Household Responsibility System were implemented nationwide now, and everyone's initiative in production was mobilized, leading to more land reclamation, perhaps fewer people would starve in rural areas.
On the way back, Hu Dong looked at Chen Yang, increasingly unable to understand Da Bao's father.
He knew how cautious and prudent his old leader, Zou Chenguang, was. Anyone who could reach the position of head of the Public Security Bureau was extremely careful.
Yet, Chen Yang's bold statements could make Zou Chenguang ponder seriously. Hu Dong even vaguely felt that the old leader seemed swayed by Chen Yang.
It was simply miraculous.
After leaving Zou Chenguang, Chen Yang felt a surge of passion and went directly to the shop.
If before, doing this radio business was just to make money and provide a better life for his wife and children, then now, succeeding in this radio business had an additional meaning.
That was to set an example for the leaders across the country who were still hesitant, allowing the spring breeze of reform and opening up to blow faster.
Legalizing the private and individual economy earlier would encourage more struggling common people to find a way to survive.
The development and growth of the private economy would further liberate productivity, a matter of great benefit for generations to come.
"Brother, I've already taken down the wall, and the boards are here. Old Qiao, how are the measurements coming along? Can you finish the wooden door today?"
As soon as he saw Chen Yang arrive, Zhang Weiyang, who was busy, stopped. He admired Chen Yang immensely.
"It's a small matter. I'll have the door installed for you before sunset today."
Old Qiao, the carpenter next to him, was using a measuring line and a plane, shavings flying everywhere. Wooden boards were taking shape in his hands.
This type of wooden door was easy to install and remove. Many people would have seen them in old supply and marketing cooperatives or large stores. Chen Yang did not try to be innovative and have a roll-up door like those commonly used in shops later on.
Firstly, the technology was not available at the time, and secondly, state-owned large stores represented business authority. Imitating them would be correct.
To do business, one must understand the customers' minds. Compared to state-owned large stores, most people were still not confident in individual businesses.
This kind of renovation would make more customers more receptive to their radio products.
"You need to wire it properly. Pay attention to the plugs and sockets when plugging in the radio. Use good quality materials for all of this, and absolutely do not cause any short circuits or fires. We don't want the shop to burn down."
Only in cities at this time did many households have electricity. Many villages in the countryside still did not have power lines, and the awareness of safe electricity usage was not strong. Chen Yang had to remind Zhang Weiyang of this.
"Brother, don't worry. I'm an electrician myself. If I don't know this, my master would beat me to death."
"Everything valuable will be stored here from now on. I'm even planning to move my family here. There's an empty room behind the shop, and I need to guard the radios."
Zhang Weiyang grinned. The shop would hold dozens of radios, and perhaps more in the future. He had to live at the shop to guard them.
If they were stolen, the loss would be immense.
"As long as you know what you're doing, that's fine. Start with this, and later you can find a few smart people to learn from you."
"We won't just do business in Qinghe City. In the surrounding areas, even in Henan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei, Jiangsu, and Shanghai, you will have much more to do in the future."
"Weiyang, think long-term. You are someone who will do big business."
Chen Yang had high hopes for Zhang Weiyang. In his previous life, he was able to make the radio business successful through his own exploration. With his guidance in this life, he should do even better.
Once these regional sales channels were opened and kept under their control, they would be useful for whatever business they engaged in in the future.
Establishing stable sales channels was the lifeblood of the real economy.