Reborn in 1977

Old Yang's house wasn't far from Yang's house, just two or three households ahead. Compared to his son's house, Old Yang's house was much more dilapidated, but it was still spacious and clean.

The ground was a tamped and leveled three-earth mixture. Although the house was quite old, the ground was even, indicating that it had been frequently repaired. From this, one could tell that there were diligent people in this household.

The three-earth mixture was made by mixing clay, lime, and river sand in a certain proportion with water. It could be used to build roads, as a foundation for houses, or to pave indoor floors. Before cement became popular, it was widely used.

Rumor had it that the Old Summer Palace used a large amount of three-earth mixture as its foundation. If there was no external force to damage it, this kind of three-earth foundation could last for more than a hundred years.

However, if used as a surface for roads or floors, its solidity was far inferior to cement ground. Over time, it would easily crack or form potholes. But repairing it was also very simple: mix some three-earth mixture and pour it on the damaged area, then compact it with a wooden hammer and smooth it out.

This house was like that; there were some areas on the ground with inconsistent colors, which were the places that had been repaired later.

Chen Fan was thinking, when he built his house, should he also use three-earth mixture to lay the foundation?

However, he would definitely add more stone material to make it more stable.

An eight-immortal table was placed in the center of the main room. Old Yang and An Quan sat in the seats of honor; one was the host, and the other was the guest of honor. The four leaders of the brigade headquarters accompanied them on both sides, while Chen Fan and Yang accompanied them at the bottom of the table. Eight people were just right.

As for the other people living in this house, other arrangements had naturally been made, which Chen Fan didn't need to worry about.

In terms of status and age, Chen Fan was the youngest, so he was responsible for pouring tea and wine.

The wine cups and tableware were all fired in Chen Fan's earthen kiln. At that time, he had made many strangely shaped containers for experiments, some large, some small, some round, some flat, and some deformed ones. After they were fired, they were not easy to sell, so he gave them to Huang Ying and the other two.

Almost every household in this village was related, so inevitably, every household had some of these kinds of pottery.

Of course, what Yang Ju brought to her grandfather was definitely the best batch, with almost no flaws, except that they were all square, which did not conform to the aesthetics of people of this era, so they were not taken out for sale.

An Quan held up his wine cup, clicking his tongue in wonder, "This wine bowl is quite interesting. It looks a bit like a wine goblet, and a bit like a boat."

Chen Fan held the wine bottle and poured wine for him, smiling and saying, "At that time, I wanted to make a wine goblet, but I couldn't figure out how to make the three legs. After fiddling around, they were either thick or thin, and not round enough, so I simply got rid of the legs and flattened the bottom, and it became like this."

An Quan tapped the table three times with his finger to express his thanks, then looked up and smiled, "I remember, the last time I went to the market, you sold a lot of pottery. I heard you made a lot of money."

Chen Fan continued to pour wine, chuckling, "It's okay. But there aren't many opportunities like this. There are only so many people buying pottery, and there are also potters from the Victory Brigade. They won't just sit by and watch, so I guess there won't be such opportunities in the future."

An Quan nodded, "That's true."

Then he looked at him with a smile and said, "It's just that there's a lack of natural resources for firing ceramics here. Otherwise, the commune could set up a ceramics factory and invite you to be the director."

Chen Fan was immediately dumbfounded. He finally understood what Yang meant by An Quan liking to talk big.

Yang chuckled, "If there were resources, I would have asked Little Chen to be the director of our Lujiawan Ceramics Factory long ago. How could it be the commune's turn?"

Ever since Yang Ju carried the basket and brought those unqualified pottery pieces home, he had understood that even without the limitations of natural resources, this kind of earthen kiln was simply not suitable for running a factory to fire products for sale, otherwise, he would lose money.

Unless Chen Fan could improve his pottery-making skills and form a technical standard that could be taught to others, then there would be a possibility of running a factory.

In fact, it was pretty good as it was now. He could take advantage of the market to fire a few kilns of pottery to sell, earning a little bit where he could. Anyway, his daughter Yang Ju had a share, which was a subsidy.

As for the other people in the village, they got those scattered unqualified products. No one's family lacked bowls and plates, and even if some people were a little envious and jealous, they were too embarrassed to say it.

Thinking of the market, Yang asked, "Have you heard anything at work about when the next market will be?"

As soon as he said this, everyone at the table looked at An Quan.

The first market after the restoration of the rural market was on the 19th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the second was on the 17th day of the first lunar month. Now it was already the 9th day of the second lunar month. If there was still a market, the notice should be issued soon, right?

After Chen Fan poured wine for everyone, he put down the wine bottle and sat down on the stool, looking at An Quan.

An Quan smiled and said, "I have indeed heard a little about this matter. The feedback from the previous two markets has been quite good."

He turned to look at Chen Fan, smiling and saying, "Especially the cooked food stalls that Teacher Chen set up, which have allowed the villagers to earn a lot of money. The people who go to the town to go to the market are also quite satisfied. After all, it's more fun to be able to shop and eat than to just wander around, and you don't need food stamps or meat coupons, so everyone thinks it's a good deal."

"So the commune is discussing whether to completely restore the regulation of holding a big market on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, and also set up a separate cooked food area in the market, which will be managed by the commune's health department and catering company. There may be hygiene inspections of the cooked food stalls."

"Now it's just that some details have not been finalized. Once everything is settled, a notice will be issued, and you will know then."

The commune's catering company was the governing body of the town's state-owned restaurant and the commune's guest house. It was also a small "state-owned enterprise" with officially assigned staff, responsible for managing all the catering establishments in the commune… which were just those two restaurants.

If the grand market was confirmed and a cooked food section was added, it would indeed fall under their jurisdiction.

Hearing his words, everyone's faces lit up with joy.

If the grand market could be restored, the commune members would have another way to earn money. Even if they only earned a few cents or dimes each time, it would still be an income.

However, Secretary Yang seemed to think of something, his expression changed slightly, and he frowned slightly as he asked, "Will there be a fee for the health inspection of these cooked food stalls?"

An Quan shook his head and smiled, "How much can the peasant brothers earn from roasting sweet potatoes or selling candied hawthorns? These small vendors won't be charged. However, for those selling turtle meat or noodles, because we have to send staff to take samples for inspection, we will charge a symbolic inspection fee, but it's not much, just thirty to fifty cents. Compared to their 'big' business, it's not worth mentioning."

Everyone couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this. They all knew that Zhang Wenliang had earned over a hundred yuan last time, so thirty to fifty cents was indeed not worth mentioning.

Even those whose profits were not as good as his could still earn at least ten or twenty yuan.

Captain Zhang turned to look at Chen Fan and said with a smile, "You're still smart, you stopped after doing it once, saving yourself an inspection fee."

Chen Fan chuckled twice and asked curiously, "Are there any food safety regulations now?"

If there were no regulations in this area, it would be impossible for the health center and the food company to jointly manage it, right?

An Quan thought he didn't understand the fee, so he looked at him and patiently explained, "It's normal that you don't understand since you don't do this. Actually, as early as 1953, with the 'Cleanliness and Hygiene Campaign,' the higher authorities proposed that we should pay attention to food safety. At that time, catering companies across the country formulated their own internal food management regulations.

By 1964, the Ministry of Health proposed the 'Food Hygiene Standards,' which meant that the concept of food hygiene was elevated from the internal level of the unit to the overall national level of food hygiene and health. Before long, the internal regulations of catering companies became the regulations of various local streets and communes."

He smiled as he spoke, then turned to look around at everyone, "So, this is really not the commune trying to find ways to charge fees, but rather that we really need to manage food hygiene. I heard from our Director Hong that the commune leaders argued endlessly over that thirty to fifty cents inspection fee during the meeting.

In fact, it could have been waived, after all, it wouldn't amount to much money. However, some leaders meant that setting this standard was to remind those commune members selling cooked food not to use inferior goods and to pay attention to food hygiene and quality, to ensure the health and safety of the broad masses of people."

Everyone nodded in understanding.

Captain Zhang smiled and said, "As long as we can completely establish the rural market and set some management regulations, it's very reasonable. As for the hygiene inspection fee, the commune leaders' consideration also makes sense. If you don't control some people, they might really mess around. It's good to give them a reminder anyway, I have no objections."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone laughed.

Secretary Yang said, "You don't have a stall, of course you have no objections."

Ye Shubao smiled and said, "He's speaking for San Huzi."

Xiao Liewen smacked his lips, "If you ask me, San Huzi shouldn't show his face next time. He's still a militia company commander and a public security director, it's really inappropriate for him to go out and set up a stall."

Captain Zhang thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, "What you said makes sense. Regardless of whether it's right or wrong, the impact is not good in the first place. I'll tell him when I get back that he should let other people in the family go next time, he definitely won't have any objections."

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Captain Yang, who had been listening without saying a word, raised his head, "He has no objections, but I do."

An Quan quickly turned sideways, smiling and asking, "Old man, what objections do you have?"

Old Captain Yang pointed to the dishes on the table, "The chicken stew is almost dried up, how long are you going to keep talking?"

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

An Quan quickly nodded and admitted his mistake, "Yes, yes, you're right to criticize us."

After a pause, he added, "But we don't dare to move until you do."

Old Captain Yang grinned, revealing a mouthful of teeth, and without being polite, he picked up his wine glass and said, "It's rare for all of you leaders to come to my house, I'll toast you all first."

Everyone present was younger than him, so how could they let the old man toast them? They all consciously stood up, holding their wine cups with both hands and lowering the rim of their cups to clink with his.

After a series of clinking sounds, they each took a sip of wine before sitting down again.

Old Captain Yang put down his wine glass and pointed at An Quan with his right hand, "You are the guest today, so you must be the first to start eating."

An Quan didn't decline, he cleanly picked up a piece of chicken and put it in the old man's bowl instead.

Old Captain Yang was so happy that his eyes narrowed into slits.

Once An Quan started eating, the others began to pick up their chopsticks and start eating.

Chen Fan first ate some dishes to fill his stomach, preparing for the upcoming toasting.

But unexpectedly, today's meal was really a working meal, or you could say a family banquet. There was no individual toasting, and no forcing people to drink until they were drunk.

Everyone chatted while eating and drinking, and when they were half full, they began to talk about serious business.