It wasn’t just one of many entertainment programs—it was the absolute core.

At 6:30 in the evening, it was time for the radio’s “Storytelling Broadcast.” At that hour, every area of the steel plant, including the loudspeakers at the main gate, would be playing it. Anyone walking by would stop in their tracks.

Some factories would even adjust their work shifts, and the cinemas would delay their screenings, all so that workers could listen to the program in its entirety.

It was even said that when Sarah Thompson told the story of “The Legend of Yue Fei,” public security improved dramatically. The police department presented her with a banner honoring her as a “Guardian of Safety,” and from then on, people called her “The Street-Clearing Marquis.”

The city’s radio station was even more in the limelight. Colleagues from other cities would line up with their equipment, because every tape had to be copied one-to-one by hand. For a hundred-episode storytelling series, a hundred tapes had to be copied...

You could say that the entire city’s arts and culture scene revolved around the Quyi Troupe, and within the troupe, Grace Miller was undisputedly at the center.

David Clark had solid skills, but wasn’t well-known. He was more than ten years younger than Henry Reed. The old man was clear about his likes and dislikes, treated him like a younger brother, and looked after him without question. Before long, he too became a rising star.

That’s the origin of the connection between the two families.

As for the original protagonist, this guy was eighteen this year. He finished elementary and middle school during turbulent times, when the school system was shortened—elementary school was five years, and both junior and senior high were two years each.

He was a complete academic underachiever. He graduated from middle school just as the Quyi Troupe was being revived. His parents saw that the academic path wasn’t working out, so they arranged for him to join the troupe instead.

At first, he was basically a temp worker, earning a little over ten yuan a month, and only became a full member at the beginning of this year. But he was always restless, never staying put in the troupe, wandering around all day, but in the process, he built up a strong physique.

At this moment, Henry Reed greeted him in his raspy voice, and Brian Clark ran over eagerly, grinning, “Wasn’t I just out buying you cigarettes? Oh, you even bought meat—how generous of you!”

“You little rascal, is that how you talk to your elders?” David Clark scolded.

“Hey, it’s good for the kid to be lively... Come on, take the meat inside.”

Henry Reed smiled and handed over a piece of pork, half fat and half lean, weighing at least two jin, with a string of hemp rope tied around it. Brian Clark handed it to Emily Bolton, who got busy preparing it, and before long, the food was on the table.

The The Clark Family had two rooms: the inner room for the couple, and the outer room had a bed for their son. The dining table was set inside, with the old man sitting at the head.

According to modern customs, you’d call elders who aren’t relatives “uncle” or “aunt.” But the parents didn’t see it that way—they ranked everyone as if they were truly family.

Just like with the Reed and Clark families, he had to call him “Grandpa.”

Today’s meal was especially lavish: a big bowl of braised potatoes and pork, two plates of stir-fried dishes, a spicy stew, and an egg soup. In 1983, food and groceries weren’t as scarce as before, but it still wasn’t common to eat meat at every meal.

Brian Clark resisted the urge to dig in, shoveling rice into his mouth while listening to the elders chat, their conversation ranging from abroad to home, from the province to the city. As they talked, they suddenly brought up the biggest issue on everyone’s mind in the troupe.

“Isn’t the current system good enough? Why do we have to reform it?”

David Clark’s personality was the opposite of his face—he had a loud voice. “And what about what they said at the meeting a few days ago? I still don’t get it—what exactly is this contracting system?”

“It’s simple: from now on, the troupe won’t pay us a salary. We’ll negotiate our own performances and fees. Then, thirty percent of what we earn goes to the troupe, and we split the rest.”

Henry Reed took a drag on his cigarette and said unhurriedly, “I think the troupe is really determined this time. They’re set on making it happen, and those who are jumping up and down in opposition won’t be able to stop it.”

“Negotiate ourselves? Isn’t that just like before? How is this reform any different?” Emily Bolton said.

“Hey, you have to look at it this way. Quyi is an art form, and it’s close to the people. More and more people should be able to enjoy it. Right now, there are too many restrictions—this isn’t allowed, that isn’t allowed—it actually holds back development.

But with this reform, the constraints are gone. It’s good for the development of Quyi, and our income will go up too. Look, twenty years ago when I was in Hailar, I made over four thousand yuan in just a few months. Now the environment is better, people love it—I think it’s great...”

Compared to the couple, Henry Reed was much more sophisticated. He was a bona fide college student, only forced to drop out because of family troubles.

“Brother, what do you think?”

“My guess is, there won’t be any big changes this year—they’ll need to give us time to prepare. Probably starting early next year. My idea is to tour around the province first, and after we’ve made a name for ourselves, reach out to other provinces.”

“Alright, I’ll definitely follow you!”

David Clark immediately agreed, then slapped someone on the shoulder, scolding, “And you, kid—you’ve been here for years and still can’t recite a short script. When you’re out there, you’d better watch yourself, don’t...”

“I don’t want to go.” Brian Clark muttered with his head down.

“What?” Dad was stunned.

“I don’t want to go.”

“Say that again!”

David Clark glared, starting to get angry. Henry Reed was about to help smooth things over, when the kid pulled out a copy of “Popular TV” and shoved it in front of his dad. “I want to try this.”

The three of them were confused and all looked down, only to see a very eye-catching headline: