dognovel Chapter 577 Zhang Chi: I represent all the people of all ethnic groups who are oppressed and exploit
Chapter 577 Zhang Chi: I represent all the people of all ethnic groups who are oppressed and exploit
In the garment area in front of Jin Sanchen and his wife, there are men's Mao suits, overalls, white shirts, and women's modified cheongsams, bragi (dresses), and floral shirts. Although the styles are not particularly trendy, they are sturdy and durable, and the prices are affordable.
Many young men and women are choosing, their faces filled with anticipation for the New Year.
Xiuying couldn't move her feet in front of a piece of cotton cloth printed with elegant small flowers, and her fingers gently stroked it.
"Brother Sanchen, with this cloth... you can make a new jacket for Dad and a smock for me, is that okay?" she asked in a low voice, a little shy.
"Yes! Why not?!" Jin Sanchen waved his hand, "Pull off a few more feet and make a new set for myself. It's the New Year, so we have to wear new clothes."
He remembered that in his hometown, a piece of clothing would be new for three years, old for three years, and patched up for another three years. It was considered good to have a piece of clothing without patches during the New Year.
Next to him was a customer who looked like an old Saka farmer. He was trying on a brand new grass-green hat with the words "Labor is Glory" printed on it. He looked left and right in the mirror, grinning, and was obviously very satisfied with this sturdy and energetic hat.
A salesperson was selling him a pair of thick rubber-soled safety shoes in slow Chinese with gestures.
The third floor is the area for hardware, small appliances and "Nanyang domestic products".
There are relatively fewer people here, but the goods are more "high-end".
Brand new tin thermoses, enamel washbasins with peony flowers printed on them, lunch boxes, sturdy and durable hoes and sickles, Nanyang-made "Starlight" flashlights, and even a few compact "Voice of Nanyang" radios were placed in the glass cabinet.
Jin Sanchen stopped in front of a counter selling plastic products. Transparent plastic combs, colorful plastic soap boxes, lightweight and sturdy plastic buckets...
These things were unheard of in his hometown. He picked up a red plastic bucket and weighed it. It was light and thick.
"Comrade, this is called 'plastic,' made from 'Bakelite,' produced in Nanyang. It's light, strong, and resistant to drops. It's more practical than wooden or iron barrels," the salesperson explained enthusiastically. "It's made by the Polaris Plastics Factory, a subsidiary of the Nanhua Petroleum Group. It's 'Diamond', a well-known brand, and very affordable. Buy one and it'll be even more convenient for watering your vegetables."
In 07, White Eagle chemist Leo Baekeland successfully industrialized phenolic resin and established a company in 10 to produce Bakelite products.
Bakelite was rapidly applied to industrial fields such as electrical switches and telephone casings due to its heat resistance and insulation properties.
Because the earliest industrial plastic was phenolic resin, its commercial product was named "Bakelite." Before Zhang Chi's time travel, the common "plastic" as a broader concept gradually took shape after Bakelite.
However, in 45, plastic was not a common product. On the contrary, it was a "high-end, classy and high-end" industrial product!
Of course, this is a product far beyond this era, and it is also the credit of Zhang Chi and the system. Now Nanhua Chemical can skillfully produce polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with the help of the system's production line.
Jin Sanchen listened to the salesperson's introduction and picked up the red plastic bucket with interest.
After all, in today's Nanyang, products produced by Nanhua Group are synonymous with guaranteed quality.
Light, really light.
Jin Sanchen handed the red plastic bucket to his wife, and the latter's eyes immediately widened in surprise.
"Is this made of oil?" Jin Sanchen asked curiously. He had learned in night school that oil is the source of modern life.
He remembered that the tractor in the village, which was more powerful than an old cow, was powered by oil.
The salesperson nodded, and with a bit of city arrogance, he boasted, "You don't know, this plastic is synthesized from petroleum in large factories!"
Jin Sanchen was very surprised. He couldn't understand how the sticky and pungent liquid in the agricultural machinery station turned into the solid red bucket in front of him?
Soon, he remembered the series of reports in the Nanyang Daily.
Battle of Sumatra! Oil Fields!
The newspaper said that seizing those oil fields was not just for gasoline and diesel for war, but more importantly, oil could be turned into fertilizer to make crops grow better (fertilizer and pesticides), it could be turned into plastic to make basins and buckets, and it could be turned into medicine to cure diseases...
The newspapers called this the "petrochemical industry chain", saying that it was the foundation of national strength and was closely related to the well-being of every Nanyang citizen.
"It is an honor to join the army. The Nanyang National Defense Force is fighting for the interests of every citizen of Nanyang." This sentence in the newspaper became extremely concrete and real in Jin Sanchen's mind at this moment.
The plastic bucket in his hand, the asphalt road on the street, the electric lights in the shopping mall, and even the medicine his father uses to treat his illness... may all be related to the oil refineries in Sumatra that are emitting black smoke in the newspaper photos.
A simple sense of identity and pride arises spontaneously.
"Buy it!" Jin Sanchen said to the salesperson without hesitation, "I want this red one! And two washbasins, one red and one with flowers!" He wanted his family to use this new thing produced in Nanyang!
At this moment, the loudspeaker in the center of the mall rang. After playing some festive music, a deep and powerful male voice began to read the news summary:
"...Our latest news is that our heroic Nanyang Defense Force, after successfully recovering the old port (Palembang), continues to advance triumphantly on the island of Sumatra.
Yesterday in the waters near Belawan Bay, our naval escort fleet successfully repelled the harassment of the remaining Japanese Navy ships, ensuring the safety of the landing force's flanks.
The Army's armored forces, with strong support from the Air Force, are rapidly advancing toward Mindanao (not Mindanao). This campaign once again proves that any enemy attempting to obstruct the United States of Southeast Asia from recovering its inherent territory and seizing vital strategic resources will inevitably be crushed by our army's iron torrent.
The broadcast was still clearly audible in the noisy mall. Jin Sanchen noticed that the customers around him, whether Chinese or locals, unconsciously slowed down their pace and listened attentively.
Several young men from Pegu, dressed in work clothes and resembling factory workers, cheered softly in their native dialect and pumped their fists when they heard the slogan, "Repel the Japanese Navy." A native woman, bringing her child to buy candy, also nodded repeatedly.
The broadcast continued: "According to reports sent back by accompanying reporters, our head of state, His Excellency Zhang Chi, the President of the Nanyang United States, held fruitful talks with leaders of the White Eagle, the Russian Bear and other countries during the Yalta Conference.
In his speech, President Zhang Chi reiterated that the United States of Southeast Asia represents all the peoples of Southeast Asia who have suffered colonial oppression and yearn for independence. He said his visit was to speak for the common interests of all citizens of Southeast Asia and to strive for a more just and peaceful world for our future generations.
Zhang Chi's words on the radio were clearly transmitted through the airwaves to every corner of the mall, and also to Jin Sanchen's heart.
He remembered the photo in the newspaper of the President standing among a group of foreigners, neither humble nor arrogant.
Yes, the commander-in-chief not only led his troops to seize oil fields for us in Sumatra, but also spoke to those foreigners who were once high and mighty on an equal footing thousands of miles away, fighting for status and interests for all of us in Southeast Asia.