Ning Shu understood her meaning well. She replied earnestly, “Teacher Hong, don’t worry. I will take good care of it and won’t damage it. If there’s any problem with the recorder, I will cover the repair costs. If the repair isn’t successful, I’ll compensate based on its condition.”

Teacher Hong nodded in agreement. “If it breaks while in your care, compensation is fair. However, it shouldn’t be compensated at its selling price. If it’s new, replacing it with a new one is reasonable. But if it’s been used for years and breaks, I can’t expect a new replacement.”

Unfortunately, there was no receipt for the recorder, so buying a new one would be difficult.

Ning Shu wondered if industrial coupons could be used.

Since refrigerators and TVs can be bought with them now, a recorder should be no problem.

She decided to visit the city soon to inquire.

Moreover, the recorder would be useful once bought.

Teacher Hong understood Ning Shu’s proposal and found it reasonable. “Alright then. Before you take it, I’ll play it for you to confirm it’s in good condition. Also, any thoughts on the songs Lin Haizhi and the others will perform?”

As Teacher Hong spoke, she inserted a cassette into the recorder and started playing it.

During playback, the recorder worked perfectly.

The three children marveled at the music coming from the recorder.

“Mom, this recorder is amazing! It can sing inside,” Er Bao exclaimed in surprise.

Ning Shu chuckled, “Yes, that’s the power of science. If you do well in your studies, you could become a scientist. Scientists invented the recorder, which is a great invention, like trains, cars, TVs, refrigerators, and more. So, study hard, all of you.”

Er Bao asked：”Mom, was the electric fan also invented by scientists?”

Ning Shu replied, “Yes.”

Er Bao continued, “Then what about bicycles, watches, and…”

“And soccer balls, tricycles, tractors…” added San Bao.

Ning Shu nodded, “You’re right. These inventions are all very impressive and deserve everyone’s respect.”

“And they make a lot of money too,” Er Bao’s eyes sparkled. “Trains can carry many people, and each person has to buy a ticket. Mom, all the money from those tickets added together must be a lot, right?”

Teacher Hong listened curiously.

How would Ning Shu respond to Er Bao’s question?

It was definitely a lot of money.

No, the money from those tickets wouldn’t be as much as the value of the train itself.

She thought for a moment and said, “Trains are more valuable than all the money from those tickets combined. For example, a TV costs 420 yuan, but the patent… or the blueprint for inventing the TV, is even more valuable than the TV itself. This blueprint represents the ideas and creativity behind it, you understand?”

Ning Shu knew how to explain this to Er Bao.

Wide-eyed, Er Bao nodded. “Mom, so you mean if I create something and draw it out, it can earn a lot of money?”

Ning Shu explained, “Not just that. The thing you draw must be something that can be made, and once it’s made, it must be useful.

After confirming it’s useful, you can sell that drawing for a lot of money. For example, a drawing of a train, or a TV…”

“Painting—that’s something your dad and I couldn’t afford even if we saved all our lives.” Lin Erbao seemed to glimpse another opportunity for making money.

But how could he invent something?

Listening to their conversation, Teacher Hong felt strongly about the importance of family education in a child’s development.

The way Comrade Ning Shu educated his children differed from what she saw in the residential area.

Different starting points meant parents had different understandings of certain things.

“Lin Hairui, if you want to be a scientist and invent things, you need to study hard. Keep it up,” Teacher Hong said at the right moment. “And Lin Haizhi and Lin Haiyang, you must do your best too. I look forward to the day you all become scientists.”

After chatting with Teacher Hong for a while, Ning Shu took the three kids home.

On the way, they didn’t see Ning Shu, but when they got home, they found Lin Guodong already there.

Seeing him, Ning Shu was holding a tape recorder, and he asked curiously, “Bought a tape recorder?”

Before Ning Shu could answer, Lin Erbao said, “No, we borrowed this from Teacher Hong’s house to use for our performance. Dad, this recorder is amazing! You put a cassette in, and it plays music. Dad, do you know what a cassette is?”

Lin Guodong replied, “Yes, I know what a cassette is. You’re using it for a performance?”

Ning Shu explained, “They’re practicing martial arts and need music to accompany them. So, we need the recorder to play the songs while they practice.”

Lin Guodong understood, “What songs are they planning to use? Do we need to buy cassettes?”

Ning Shu said, “We haven’t decided on the songs yet. Do you have any suggestions? We can buy the cassettes, and if we have the money, maybe we should buy our own recorder. Erbao seems to really enjoy singing, and borrowing things from others comes with responsibilities. What if something happens? It would be hard to explain to Teacher Hong. It’s unsettling.”

Upon hearing his mom mention his love for singing, Erbao immediately said, “I love singing! I used to listen to the educated youth singing, and I learned a lot.”

“Just learned one sentence, though.”

“Well, it’s still not bad.”

“If we get a recorder at home, you can learn to sing properly and sing for Mom,” Ning Shu suggested.

“Definitely! I love singing for Mom the most,” Erbao replied.

Lin Guodong then suggested, “If they need music, how about using military songs?”

“Military songs are indeed appropriate. Firstly, being in a military setting, using military songs can resonate well with the environment.

Secondly, considering the special era, military songs can be motivational.

Thirdly, Lin Guodong’s martial arts teaching has elements of military boxing, so using military songs also complements the martial arts itself.

“Now, which military songs should we use? I’m not sure if we can buy military song tapes in town,” Ning Shu admitted she wasn’t familiar with military songs and couldn’t recall any off the top of her head.

The military songs she remembered were ones she learned in her previous life, like “For Whom” and “One Two Three Four Song.”

These songs left a deep impression, but they might not be available in this era.

Moreover, in this fictional world, while the general background is similar to reality, the characters and situations are quite different.

So, she was even more unsure about the current military songs.

Lin Guodong suggested, “I’ll check with the cultural troupe after dinner. If they have any, we can borrow them for the kids to practice. I’ll also see if we can buy them in town.”

Ning Shu agreed, “Sounds good.”

After dinner, Lin Guodong went to the cultural troupe to borrow the tapes.

The comrades at the troupe were indeed knowledgeable.

Upon hearing Lin Guodong’s request, they helped select tapes containing shorter, more suitable songs for the three kids.

However, they left the final decision on which song to choose up to Lin Guodong and his family.

When Lin Guodong returned with the tapes, music soon filled the Lin household.

To avoid disturbing others, the volume was kept low.

Lin Guodong said, “The comrades at the cultural troupe suggested these songs: ‘Soldier’s Little Song,’ ‘I Am a Soldier,’ and ‘The Motherland Will Never Forget.’ Have a listen and see what you think.”

Ning Shu added, “Yi Bao, Er Bao, San Bao, come and listen. These songs are for your performance. You can decide which one you like in the end.”

“Alright.” The three kids started listening attentively.

After listening for a while, considering that the song had to match their performance movements, the whole family unanimously chose “Soldier’s Little Song” for their dance.

With the song chosen, the next step was to integrate dance moves according to the music.

Here arose a problem: Lin Guodong could teach military boxing and martial arts, but he wasn’t sure how to synchronize these movements with the song.

Thus, Ning Shu, who had been idle for several years, was finally going to be of use.

Though Ning Shu hadn’t formally learned dance when she was young, she had represented her class in dance performances during junior and senior high school on New Year’s and National Day.

It wasn’t that Ning Shu was exceptionally good at dancing; rather, group performances required 8 to 10 people of similar height, and Ning Shu’s height fit well.

Her appearance was also considered attractive within her class.

From freshman to senior year, she had danced for the class for five years, so she had some experience.

While the three kids practiced their father’s moves to the music, Ning Shu instructed them on how to slow down their movements according to the rhythm of the song, how to line up, and how to change formations.

She even incorporated dance moves into Lin Guodong’s rigid actions.

As Lin Guodong watched, seeing his wife teach their three kids to dance, his body began to sway along, his eyes full of laughter.

People outside often said his wife couldn’t wash dishes or clothes.

Although she could cook and do housework, he didn’t agree with that.

Rather than letting hardships and toils tie a woman down, it was better to let her live more freely.

In his view, marital harmony was far more important than household chores.

Harsh as it may sound, comparing his wife, who didn’t do this or that every day, with others who did, he preferred to do housework himself and see his wife looking beautiful.

Who wouldn’t like to have a pretty wife?

Not only did it look pleasing, but when they slept together, it was particularly easy to feel something.

Ning Shu didn’t know Lin Guodong’s thoughts.

She was teaching her sons enthusiastically, and the three kids enjoyed dancing with their mom.

However, when they went to bed at night, Ning Shu exhausted herself.

She didn’t know if this man had taken some kind of stimulant; how else could he have endless energy?!