Volume 5: Party School Studies Chapter 134: Shocking and Astounding!

  Liu Bihua calmly sensed this terrible silence, sensing the shock and strange gaze of his classmates... He knew what he was doing.

  Liu Bihua knew he was playing with fire! Because in this era, there are almost no officials who dare to speak like this! Such words would have been immediately labeled as counter-revolutionary if spoken not long ago! Such words might be harmless when casually mentioned at home, but speaking them out loud at the Party School, or at the National Excellent Young Cadres Study Class... what does it imply?

  Liu Bihua didn't think much about these things, he just spoke his mind. As for the principle that trouble comes from one's mouth, he understood it, but even if he did, he still wanted to say it, knowing that he shouldn't do something yet doing it anyway... Is Liu Bihua a fool or what? Who knows?

  The old professor looked at Liu Bihua with great surprise. Among the thousands of cadres he had trained, Liu Bihua was almost the youngest. He did not expect that such a young cadre would give him a refreshing feeling. Yes, the old professor had not seen a cadre who made his eyes shine for a long time. Nowadays, all the cadres were like being molded from the same model, and it was hard to find some bright spots on them. So, the old professor was going to do something.

  After a moment of silence... Suddenly many classmates burst out: "Traitor... Counter-revolutionary... National traitor... Get out... How can such a loser be in our revolutionary ranks..." The classroom completely turned into a vegetable market.

  Ren Tianxiang, Wang Xiaomeng and Wang Yaohui looked like they had been struck by lightning... They stared at Liu Bihuah in shock for a long time, unable to utter a word. Liu Bihuah's words were crystal clear - capitalist societies are rich, if we want our country to become rich, we must choose to replace socialist planned economy with capitalist market economy. What does this mean? This means that Liu Bihuah wants to rebel! He wants to overthrow socialism!

  "Quiet!" The old professor is now "very excited"! All the students can see the old professor's face turning red with excitement. Most of the classmates know that the teacher is angry, and the consequences are severe, Liu Binghua is in trouble!

  The old professor waited until the classroom was completely quiet, then stared at Liu Bihua with his eyes and said: "You think it's not a problem whether our country is capitalist or socialist? You think that set of capitalism can be fully implemented in our country? Then what kind of country are we, socialist or capitalist? Do you mean that the Western powers didn't destroy socialism with cannons and atomic bombs... and we ourselves can peacefully evolve into capitalism? I'm giving you a chance to explain now, otherwise you'll lose this chance to explain at least in the party school."

  The old professor's words were very straightforward, and everyone knew that Liu Bihua was finished! Now no matter how Liu Bihua explained himself, he was done for. Someone like him would definitely be expelled! What? Official career? It's all a dead end, what official career is there to talk about?

  The whole class looked at Liu Bihua with complex expressions, now most of the students' eyes contained shock, incomprehension, and admiration! The kind of schadenfreude gaze was much less! Yes, Liu Bihua is a fool, but sometimes the courage of a fool is still worthy of admiration!

  Liu Bihua smiled slightly and said: "Teacher, fellow students... I know that my previous remarks would have been immediately condemned as counter-revolutionary in the past! I know what I'm saying and doing. I'm an ordinary person, I don't want to be a heroic prophet like Copernicus. But here I am prophesying - planned economy will change! Market economy will be implemented! Because only market economy can make our country's people rich! Can make our country strong!"

  Liu Bihua finished speaking, and the classroom was completely silent. Even Xiao Qiang lowered his head, with a hint of guilt and admiration on his face. Yes, the professor had given Liu Bihua an opportunity to explain himself. If he admitted his mistake, although he might be expelled from the party school, his future life would not be affected.

  But Liu Bihua did not cherish this opportunity, he was stubborn to the end! He insisted on himself! He is a complete fool! His persistence will send him to the 18th level of hell and never turn over!

  "Good! I really admire your perseverance. Now that things have come to this point, can you say everything that's on your mind?" The old professor became even more agitated after hearing Liu Bihua's words. Perhaps he was moved by Liu Bihua's persistence and gave him a chance to fully express himself. But in the eyes of the whole class, Liu Bihua seemed like a prisoner about to be executed, and the old professor was just letting him have his last meal! Ah, yes, the old professor is benevolent!

  Liu Bihua bowed deeply to the old professor and said, "Thank you, teacher. Since we've already spoken so many rebellious words, I might as well speak my mind."

  The whole class immediately quieted down and listened intently, wanting to hear what Liu Binghua had to say as his "last words" before rushing to the execution ground.

  Liu Bihua spoke up, his tone very calm, unable to discern what he was thinking in his heart: "What does socialism represent? What is the superiority of socialism? Is socialism represented by poverty and backwardness? Can't socialism develop the economy? Can't it make the country rich and strong? Who can answer this question?"

  The classroom was silent, and no one dared to speak. Everyone knew that capitalism was more prosperous than socialism. But no one dared to say like Liu Bihua that they wanted to replace the socialist system with a capitalist one. Even though many students in the class admired the prosperity of capitalism.

  Liu Bihua continued: "Now our country is in a state of devastation, can we not develop the economy? I come from rural areas, and I think everyone here are grassroots cadres, so you should be familiar with rural areas. In the past, the production teams and communes... could they bring wealth to the broad masses of peasants? Now, after major reforms have been carried out in rural areas, implementing household contract responsibility system... people's communes have become towns... what was the result? The result is that a tremendous change has taken place in rural areas!

  Is it that just because the countryside is like this, cities don't need reform? Is the economic system going to remain unchanged? Everyone knows that reform and opening up is our country's national policy, but now we are in a planned economy era. How will this economic system adapt to reform and opening up in the future? Reform and opening up means opening up the country! We can't even say we're connecting with the international community...but at least we need an environment that allows foreign investors to come in!"

  Liu Bihua said this, a female classmate seemed to have grasped something... She immediately said: "Comrade Liu Bihua, what does 'linking up with the international community' mean? This name is quite novel. How do we link up with the international community? What will happen if we don't?"

  Liu Bihua looked at this female classmate with gratitude, and it was clear that she was supporting Liu Bihua at this time! Her words also became the focus of all the classmates.

  Liu Bihua said: "As for how to connect with the international community, I have no way to answer this question because it is something that the country needs to do. If we don't connect with the international community... Let me give you an example: if foreign businessmen come to invest and work hard to produce a product, but our market doesn't accept it, saying that it's not part of the plan so we won't purchase it! How can the foreign businessman survive? We are currently under a planned economy. If the foreign businessman wants to sell their products on their own, that would be considered capitalist and is not allowed by our country! In that case, how can we attract foreign investment?"

  What Liu Bihua said is a problem that most of my classmates have not considered before. Because in the late 1980s, attracting foreign investment was not yet emphasized, and our country had very few foreign investors coming to invest outside of coastal areas. Now after hearing Liu Bihua's introduction, everyone knows this is indeed a big problem. How can it be solved?

  The old professor spoke up: "Liu Bihua, I think the things you raised aren't problems. We can completely rely on government regulation and give preferential policies to enterprises that invest in us, isn't that enough?"

  Yes, the teacher is great. By giving those companies some special policies, they can sell their products and solve this problem. Besides, most of the foreign merchants' products should be for export, right? The whole class has an epiphany.

  Liu continued to smile and said, "Teacher, the economy of any country in the world is not completely dependent on the government, but rather on the market itself. Therefore, a market economy is indeed the trend of the times. I still insist on my point of view."

  The old professor revealed a hint of a mysterious smile, and suddenly asked: "Who doesn't know that developing the economy to make our country rich is a good thing? But we are a socialist country! Can't follow the capitalist model to develop market economy, can it? This is a matter of great importance! Concerns national survival! Wanting both national prosperity and absolute stability in socialism... do you have a solution?"

  The whole class of students was thinking about the old professor's question. Is there a way? No way! This is fundamentally completely contradictory and opposing! Just like water and fire, can you think of a way to make them fully integrate?

  Even though they knew Liu Bihua wouldn't be able to answer, the eyes of the whole class were still fixed on him... They had a vague sense of anticipation. It had been a long time since they'd seen such a bold official; Liu Bihua brought them a different kind of feeling.

  Liu Bihua is now more and more calm, he smiled lightly and said: "Teacher, I have already expressed my views just now. I don't think the surname of capital or socialism is a problem. This issue does not need to be discussed, because theory and practice are two different things. Theory is empty, practice is real. All I know is that our country's current economic situation is not optimistic!

  Let me give you an example: under the planned economic system, we had to buy everything with a plan and with a ticket! What grain tickets, oil tickets, cloth tickets... all sorts of things, covering every aspect of life. Most goods were supplied by ticket, what kind of goods must be purchased with corresponding tickets, must match or else they won't sell even if you have money!

  "Can such an economic system possibly develop a private economy? Can state-owned enterprises under the big pot of rice possibly achieve rapid and vigorous development? Shouldn't we change it a bit? As far as I know, Pengcheng Economic Special Zone has already started to gradually cancel various certificates, and people can freely buy their own goods with money, isn't that good?"

  Pausing for a moment, Liu Binyuan raised his voice and said loudly: "In conclusion, I reiterate my personal view - the market economy will eventually be implemented! Because the market economy is not a product of capitalism, can't it be used in socialism? Why do people always associate the market economy with capitalism? Can't we change this inherent way of thinking?"

  Liu Bihua's words were like a refreshing rain! It was as if they had opened up a new world of understanding for everyone. Yes, why does the market economy have to belong to capitalism? Why can't it belong to socialism? This... many students felt that Liu Bihua had opened a door for them! They didn't know what was behind this door, but every single student present wanted to find out what was behind it!

  Liu Bihua became more and more agitated as he spoke, waving his right hand loudly: "Have you all been inspired? Have you thought of something that has never occurred to you before? I think when looking at things we should look at the essence, not the surface! It's like a bird flying into a capitalist country - we call it a capitalist bird! Flying into our country, we call it a socialist bird! Is there really any difference? The bird... is still that same bird!"

  "'It's still that bird'... The phrase kept echoing in the minds of the classmates... Yes, this principle is very superficial, but it can illustrate the truth. Is the moon in foreign countries rounder than ours? Liu Bihua seems to have made a lot of sense, but everyone knows that things that make a lot of sense are not necessarily true! Although everyone admires Liu Bihua, under the current circumstances, Liu Bihua can only become a tragic figure!"

  The classroom had been quiet for a long time, and the old professor suddenly sighed: "Yes. The birds themselves have not changed, only changing countries and systems... This example is simple, but it touches me deeply... Liu Bihua, go on, say all you want to say."

  "Thank you, teacher!" Liu Bihua bowed again! Liu Bihua did not expect the teacher to give himself so much time and opportunity. Originally, Liu Bihua thought that an old professor like this would definitely have very conservative ideas. Now Liu Bihua is even suspecting whether the old professor is supporting him? Otherwise, how could he let him speak freely at the party school?

  Liu Bihua shook his head and drove away his unrealistic thoughts from just now. He knew that the old professor would absolutely not support him, at most only sympathize with him!

  Chang took a deep breath and Liu Guanghua knew that his speaking time was almost up, so he concluded.

  Liu Bihua scanned the scene and said emotionally: "I think our top priority now is to make people rich! Make the country strong! So let's not argue, let's take action! If we discuss like this every day, it will waste a lot of time and opportunities!"

  "I think it's meaningless to debate whether we should focus on socialism or capitalism! As long as it benefits the development of socialist society's productive forces, enhances the comprehensive national power of a socialist country, and improves people's living standards... as long as we grasp these points, everything can be done!"

  Stunned, he stared at his old professor and the whole class... Liu Bihua added generously: "No matter how open the country is, no matter how economic development is carried out... as long as we always adhere to 'economic construction as the center... adhere to the four basic principles... adhere to reform and opening up...' socialism will never change!"

  Silence! Absolute silence! A pin can be heard dropping!

  Shocking! Absolutely shocking! Stunning!