Chapter 90: Echoes of Change

The Jin Kela ad played on the TV, drawing the shop’s diners to turn and watch, their laughter echoing through the room.

“This ad is pure genius!”

“It’s way better than those skits!”

“It’s so silly yet hilarious—how does that work?”…

Xu Chen glanced back and couldn’t help but smile.

At least twenty or thirty people in the shop were hooked by this catchy ad.

Just moments ago, during the serious variety show, everyone was zoning out and chatting, but now this ad pulled them right into the tiny TV screen.

Yet no one realized that the mastermind behind it, Xu Chen, was sitting right among them.

Whether this ad would boost sales for Zhao Fengshou’s fertilizer factory was anyone’s guess, but it sure shot Jin Kela’s fame through the roof.

The ad on TV was rough and casual, lacking any big-budget polish.

But its target audience was rural farmers, and airing on local county town stations, this level of production was more than sufficient.

In fact, this down-to-earth style bridged the gap with the intended customers perfectly.

As for Jin Kela, a few days earlier at the factory grounds, Xu Chen had casually asked his maternal uncle Zhang Yongqing about it.

His uncle adjusted his glasses and gave a meaningful smile:

“They make other fertilizers too, so stick with the regular ones…”

Lately, ads for HuiShuang Shenbao and Jin Kela had been flooding local TV stations.

Their brainwashing effect was already kicking in.

Even at school, Xu Chen occasionally overheard students twisting the ads into jokes:

“Lend me your homework to copy—it’s good for both of us!”

“The homeroom teacher’s face looks awful—must’ve overdosed on Jin Kela.”

“I’ve been overthinking lately, feeling drained—I need some Jin Kela to recharge.”

“Should we chip in for the teacher to buy some Shenbao? That way, evening study might end early.”

And so on.

It was like the viral “remixes” of this era, spreading by word of mouth.

As the “evil genius” and true instigator, Xu Chen suddenly felt a thrill from pulling strings behind the scenes.

Hmm…

In Zhang Liqun’s words, the homeroom teacher, this was “corrupting social norms.”

…

…

During the afternoon break, Xu Chen received a message from his father Xu Zhiquan:

[Son, tomorrow at the factory grounds, let’s throw a celebration for Chenxin Nurseries—we’ve landed three more projects, and your Fourth Uncle has secured two plots of land!]

[The party’s in the afternoon, so just get back by noon. I’ll have Li Rui drive to pick you up!]

[Okay, Dad, I’ll contact Li Rui tomorrow.]

[News from the Mechanical Factory is out—things are getting chaotic there these days.]

[Once you’re back tomorrow, son, we can sit down and plan together.]

…

After school that evening, Xu Chen headed to a newsstand near the school.

He sifted through the newspapers and finally spotted a story about the Mechanical Factory in the corner of a local paper.

“The city’s State-run Bright Machinery Factory is facing operational difficulties and has formed a self-rescue task force for bankruptcy…”

“Operational difficulties” was out in the open, but “bankruptcy” was still hushed up, masked with “self-rescue”…

Behind the scenes, they were probably weighing the social fallout, including arrangements for the current employees.

Layoffs were a messy ordeal for both officials and workers alike.

Everything unfolded just as Xu Chen had predicted—and as it had in his past life—the Mechanical Factory was truly collapsing.

If he hadn’t stopped his father from signing with the Mechanical Factory back then, their family would be in deep trouble now.

But with Xu Chen’s intervention, not only were they safe, they were plotting to acquire the factory.

…

Xu Chen searched his memories from his previous life and recalled some useful details about the factory’s bankruptcy and what followed.

In the coming days, as his father Xu Zhiquan planned to join the restructuring and acquisition, he could lend a hand.

He wondered how his father’s funds were shaping up.

Snagging a former state-owned Mechanical Factory would likely require some key behind-the-scenes connections.

His father had mentioned trying to connect through Huang Furen—Xu Chen was curious about the progress…

On Friday night, Xu Chen headed to the internet café for some “studying.”

He polished his college entrance essay on the computer and listened to the era’s trendy retro music to unwind.

His headphones looped the “Thousand Whispers” playlist.

The last track was by Sun Yanzi, and this one was by Liang Jingqi.

“Short Hair”.

…

The next day, Xu Chen slept in at the dormitory, grabbed a bite at Back Street, and it was already noon by the time he finished.

He wandered to the school gate where Li Rui pulled up in the black Accord.

“Xu Chen, head straight to the factory grounds or stop by home first?”

“Straight to the factory grounds.”

…

…

The signs for East Morning Star Co. and Chenxin Nurseries hung high, even draped with red cloth.

The black Accord parked at the factory entrance, and before Xu Chen got out, he heard the noisy bustle inside.

Li Rui set the handbrake and killed the engine, grinning as he said:

“Today’s celebration includes the farmers we hired from Beishan—your dad’s invited them all.”

Xu Chen smiled, thinking that explained it.

They stepped out and entered the yard, hit by the lively scene.

The potted plants that usually cluttered the yard were pushed to the sides, making room for a dozen large tables in the middle.

Dozens of people gathered, munching on seeds and snacks, chatting away.

They were rugged farmers, clearly used to fieldwork.

Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt bustled around, handing out cigarettes to the tables.

Li Rui spotted them and dashed over to help.

“Little Xu, you’re here!” Fourth Aunt called out with a smile as she spotted him.

“Fourth Aunt!” Xu Chen replied with a grin.

She grabbed his arm and led him inside:

“It’s too noisy out here—come in and relax. I saved some sweet grapes for you!”

“Thanks, Fourth Aunt!”

A few sharp-eyed workers noticed Xu Chen and asked:

“Who’s this college kid? Got a girlfriend yet?”

Fourth Aunt laughed and answered:

“That’s our boss Xu’s son!”

The group crowded around:

“So he’s the young boss!”

“Handsome guy! Still single?”

“We didn’t know Boss Xu had such a fine son—this is the little boss!”

…

Fourth Aunt fended them off with jokes, finally pulling Xu Chen free from the crowd.

In the back yard, four or five “chefs” had set up stoves and were prepping food.

It was a rural catering team handling events like weddings and funerals.

Plenty of food, and it tasted decent.

Xu Chen followed Fourth Aunt to the back office, where his maternal uncle Zhang Yongqing was studying some documents.

“Xu Chen, you’re here!”

“Uncle, what’s got you so focused?” Xu Chen asked with a smile.

His uncle adjusted his glasses and chuckled awkwardly:

“Bidding documents… Your dad landed another project, and we’re bidding next month!”