With a click, the shutter snapped, framing Harmony River Commune's furniture factory.
The furniture factory's gate was built in the style of an ancient structure, with carved beams and painted rafters. It looked antique and elegant, with a real sense of character. Wang Yan had written and carved the factory's sign himself as well.
Wang Yan stood at the entrance. Beside him were the county party secretary, who had become the county party secretary; Brother Old Liu from White Shop Brigade, who had become the commune party secretary; and several others. Together, they took a commemorative group photo.
"My, time really flies. Who would've thought that more than seven years would pass in the blink of an eye?" Brother Old Liu said with a sigh.
"Flowers may bloom again, but people never regain their youth." Wang Yan looked equally melancholy. "I'm twenty-six already."
"Who would've thought you'd accomplish so much by twenty-six?" The secretary shook his head with a laugh and patted Wang Yan's arm. "Have you arranged where you're going?"
"Jingcheng Film Academy." Without waiting for them to ask further, Wang Yan continued, "I heard they learned that I wanted to make films. The academy happened to be rebuilding, so the leaders asked me to go lend a hand and teach the students some ideological and political theory."
When it came to ideology and political awareness, people across the country trusted Wang Yan's reliability. If his convictions had not been firm, he would have had countless opportunities to leave the country and just as many chances to grasp power. Yet even under the scrutiny of a magnifying glass, nothing could be found against him.
As for theory, he was an accomplished theoretical scholar. After many years, as the leadership changed, his original set of theories on "Thought and Development"