Chapter 634
Buying Cigarettes for the Country
Chapter 634 Buying Cigarettes for the Country
Contrary to its usual practice, the Eastern government stopped hiding things and signaled to those uncrowned kings to write freely.
Oh ho, if I do it this way, I won't be sleepy anymore! That suppressed, burgeoning desire to speak out, like the surging fighting spirit of the people, is about to burst forth.
The reporters spent their days hiding under the covers, writing furiously and passionately. This momentous occasion, so exhilarating and proud that they could offer incense to their ancestors, was suffocating them because they couldn't utter a single word about it!
CCTV News was relatively restrained, spending a mere ten minutes during prime time on various channels to introduce the entire event and release official video footage.
The male and female hosts' mouths never stopped twitching from beginning to end; their two big white teeth shone brightly.
Paper coal and online media are much more convenient.
The Weibo trending topics exploded.
The phrase "Where have the street hustlers gone?" was at the top of the list, followed by the word "hot," making it incredibly popular.
The editors of the official media seem to have been holding back for half their lives and finally waited for this day.
The aerial footage of the Luan Bird cutting through the deep blue sea is accompanied by the "March of the Steel Torrent." The camera slows down, and eight different camera angles are used to capture the moment when waves splash up from the bow.
The comments section is so thick you can't scroll to the bottom.
[Everyone stand up!]
[Is this something I can watch for free?]
[I recommend playing it on repeat; I've watched it forty times already.]
A military blogger posted a long article with a title of only six characters: "We've got our day too."
The accompanying image at the end of the article is an old photo of a certain country's aircraft carrier entering the strait during the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis, displayed alongside a high-resolution image of the Luan Bird.
The top-rated comment: [How you swaggered around back then, that's how we'll swagger back today. We never let revenge linger overnight.]
With the rapid development of the internet, official media outlets now have official accounts online.
The official account's title was much more restrained, "[Naval fleet goes to distant seas for training]", but the editor clearly didn't intend to be restrained.
The official account responded to a comment from a user who posted "[Street vagrant, be careful]" with eight characters: "[It's your own beach, feel free to wander around.]"
Another highly-rated comment was, "I suggest going to Hawaii; I heard the waves are big there," to which the official Weibo account replied with a smiling emoji.
What does this smile mean?
No one dared to imagine it, but the nickname "Global Street Scoundrel" had already spread.
State media outlets seem to have unlocked their full potential, releasing a video of an exercise every few days.
The top-rated comment below is: "The street hustler is at work."
The second question is: [Where are you going today?]
Thirdly: [Where are the street urchins?]
The official Weibo account admin replied with a "shh" emoji, which received over 100,000 likes.
A week later, at a regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense, the spokesperson announced expressionlessly: "According to the annual training plan, the fleet will conduct long-range training in relevant waters of the Western Pacific and the North Pacific."
A netizen translated: The street urchin is going to visit the beautiful country and the Korean country, and is loitering near the cherry blossom country.
When pressed by reporters from Japan for specific flight routes, a spokesperson said, "Freedom of navigation is a right granted by international law."
A netizen's translation: It's none of my business where I go.
On the day the Luan Bird set off, the central media published a nine-grid photo.
Nine high-resolution images showcasing the electromagnetic catapult track, the integrated mast, and the moment of carrier-based aircraft takeoff and landing. The accompanying text is a simple four-word message: "Come home often."
That evening, Director Zhang sat in the National News studio with a model of the Luan Bird in front of him.
“Let me tell you,” he picked up the model and pointed to the deck, “there are only a handful of countries in the world that can independently develop this catapult track.”
The host asked, "How does it compare to the United States?"
Director Zhang smiled broadly, his eyes crinkling with tears.
"How many years did it take to develop the beautiful Ford-class electromagnetic catapult? From research and development to deployment on board, it took nearly twenty years. And what about us?" He gently put down the model. "From the formal project approval to sea trials, guess."
He opened his right hand, spread his five fingers, and then closed two of them.
"And it's medium-voltage DC, a different technical approach than ours. They're still working on the reliability of AC catapults, while we've already switched tracks." A moment of silence fell over the studio.
Then, he abruptly changed the subject, seemingly casually mentioning, "The Luan bird is conventionally powered, but the next type..."
He paused.
The pause was very short, so short it sounded like a sore throat.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down: "The next one will be even bigger."
The comments section went crazy.
He said it! He didn't say it! He said it! He didn't say it!
[Translation: Nuclear, it's already being built.]
[Director: I can't say. Director's mouth: Even bigger.]
The entire nation understood.
Yo-yo, let's get hyped up and celebrate the Chinese New Year!
In a supermarket, cheerful songs filled the air.
Guo Lidong put the fifth pack of cigarettes into the shopping basket.
Guo Xiaodong finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Dad, smoking is bad for your health."
Guo Lidong didn't even look up: "It's not like I'm the one smoking."
"Then who's going to smoke?"
"Nobody smokes them. Just leave them there." He neatly arranged the cigarettes, like a row of bullets.
Guo Xiaoqiang curled his lip: "You're wasting resources. Do you know how many people want to smoke but can't afford it?"
Guo Lidong... this kid is a little too clever.
"What do you know? I'm buying cigarettes for the country."
Guo Xiaoqiang looked incredulous, his large, round eyes seeming to say, "I'll just watch you make this up. You adults, hypocrisy is your epitaph."
"Our tobacco profits and taxes ranked first in the country last year. The first aircraft carrier is called the Jiangsu ship, and we have to take charge of that."
Grandpa Guo, who had been following silently behind the father and son, spoke up for Guo Lidong: "Your father wasn't lying. Most of the taxes paid by the tobacco industry went to national defense. Everyone says that the first ship... will be named after the province that made the biggest contribution."
"Don't talk nonsense, kid." Guo Lidong interrupted him, but his face was full of smiles.
Guo Xiaoqiang's eyes lit up, and he put two packs of cigarettes into the shopping basket: "Dad, this is on me, I have New Year's money."
Before the Lunar New Year, tobacco sales across the country reached a peak. No matter what kind of cigarette it was, as long as it was on display, people would buy it!
In the past, some cigarettes that were difficult to sell were sold in bundles.
Now, as long as there's stock, there's no worry about selling it.
……
While the East was overjoyed, the South was shrouded in gloom.
“Gingrich, you’re insane! I absolutely disagree with your proposal.”
"If you push your carrier battle group inside the first island chain, how will the people of East Korea react? We need to reassess East Korea's strength!" The Minister of Defense was getting increasingly annoyed.
Why resort to force when capital can use its most effective means to reap enormous wealth?
Doesn't war cost money?
When a warship goes out to sea for a short trip, the cost of fuel and soldiers' allowances are all deducted from the military budget.
"Stupid, useless, trash!" Gingrich was furious.
These stupid, pig-like carbon-based humans have nothing but money, money, money!
Gingrich roared, “The East is rising! They won’t be content with their current position. They will be our biggest threat. You can’t be so short-sighted.”
The Minister of Defense wanted to turn and leave, but considering what was in Eden, he patiently said, "Gingrich, we have many ways to deal with them. The Easterners are like springs; the stronger you are, the stronger they become. We should try a different approach to achieve our goals."
The argument raged in the meeting room for three hours, until Gingrich finally backed down.
That evening, the White House press secretary said at a briefing, "We believe that keeping communication channels open is beneficial to both sides. The president remains committed to peace and stability."