Reborn in 1977

Chapter 443: They're Just Talking Nonsense

The next morning, at the Lujiawan pier.

The dike was still under construction, with a constant stream of people moving along the riverbank, spreading a mixture of stones and earth onto the dike's surface, making it noticeably higher than before.

On the exposed riverbed on both sides, workers and machines were leveling the areas above the water, with the soil being carried by commune members in baskets to the dike's surface, becoming part of its highest point.

Just as everyone was working diligently, a speedboat sped along the Liuhua River, splitting the water and approaching in the blink of an eye with a roaring sound.

Tang Xianjun, the captain of Team 7, immediately raised his right hand and waved, shouting, "Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen."

Chen Fan slowed down and steered the boat towards the shore. Tang Xianjun quickly ran down and called out, "Why is it just you? Where are Secretary Yang and the others?"

Chen Fan stopped the engine and dropped the anchor before stepping out from behind the awning and standing on the deck, saying, "They're behind me. Are you waiting for them?"

He then looked at the completed cement pier, "This pier is a good place to unload cargo, but the feed factory is located next to the breeding farm, so we still need to unload at the brigade headquarters."

Tang Xianjun immediately said, "Then you should suggest to Secretary Yang to build the feed factory in our Team 7. We'll provide the land for the factory, right on the hillside next to the riverbank. It'll be convenient for receiving raw materials and transporting feed. How great!"

This morning, he saw Secretary Yang and Ye Shubao personally escorting the boat, using the rarely used Luwan No. 4, a 10-meter wooden boat, and couldn't help but feel curious, so he went over and asked.

It turned out that the brigade headquarters had quietly bought two feed machines from the Prefectural Committee's Machinery Factory.

Everyone knew that the most difficult thing to buy these days was production machinery. Even with Lujiawan's financial resources, it was extremely difficult to buy suitable machines.

The last purchase was made by Chen Fan, who went to the County Agricultural Machinery Factory and bought a batch of problematic agricultural machines, which took a lot of effort to repair and put into production successfully. These agricultural machines have since shown their skills in agricultural production such as autumn harvest and silage making.

Even this dike reinforcement was aided by these agricultural machines, which could be used to turn the soil, greatly saving the commune members' labor time.

These were not the most crucial points.

The most crucial point was that, according to the current development pattern of the production team, buying feed machines definitely meant building a feed factory!

Since everyone was part of Lujiawan, why couldn't the feed factory be built in Team 7, which was close to the pier?

Looking at the smiling Tang Xianjun, Chen Fan quickly waved his hand and said, "Captain Tang, please don't say that. Don't mention that I can't persuade Secretary Yang and the others. Even if I could, I would persuade him to move the feed factory to Team 6. Persuade him to move the feed factory to Team 7? Our Captain Yang would eat me alive!"

Tang Xianjun grinned, "Then you can move to our Team 7. I'll not only approve the land for you, but I can also build a house for you, guaranteed to be no worse than your current one!"

At this moment, Yang Ju, Huang Ying, and the others emerged one by one. Yang Ju shouted loudly, "Uncle Tang, if you say that again, I'll go back and tell my dad to come and find you."

Tang Xianjun's old face darkened. He wanted to argue, but the girl was a junior, so he could only grumble angrily, "Am I afraid of your dad? Let him come, and see if I'm afraid of him!"

Chen Fan laughed and said, "Then we'll go back and tell him now, and let him come and find you."

After saying that, he went into the awning. After the girls came in and sat down, he pulled up the anchor, started the engine, and left.

Tang Xianjun watched the departing boat and couldn't help but shake his head, "That old Yang is really willing to spend the money!"

After waiting for another half an hour, the rumbling sound came from the river again. This time, it was finally Secretary Yang and the others' big boat.

Tang Xianjun could joke with Chen Fan, but he wouldn't make things difficult for Secretary Yang and the others when transporting the machines.

When the boat approached, he took the red flag from the militia squad leader next to him and waved it high, "Comrades, let's shout!"

On the wooden boat, Director Yang of the Machinery Factory and Secretary Yang stood side by side at the bow.

This time, he came along with the boat transporting the feed machines, wanting to see what the place where Chen Fan had stayed for a year was like, and also wanting to express his gratitude to Lujiawan.

But he didn't expect that before he even got on the boat, Chen Fan had driven away in a strange-looking speedboat... saying something about not disturbing the meeting between their two leaders?

This scene naturally aroused Director Yang's curiosity. He spent almost the entire journey pulling Secretary Yang aside to ask about Chen Fan.

Outsiders only knew that Chen Fan was a well-known writer and had some medical skills, creating the "Yunhu First Aid Method." They only had a superficial understanding or were even completely ignorant of other things.

Director Yang wanted to know about Chen Fan's past. Secretary Yang and the others naturally answered everything they knew and praised him without holding back.

In terms of rank, they were only leaders of the production team, not even qualified as the lowest-level clerk, while Director Yang was a department-level cadre, the same level as the county director!

In terms of the unit, the Machinery Factory was the top enterprise in the entire region. Others always begged them; when had they ever begged others?

Finally, in terms of relationship.

He was Chen Fan's proper "elder." Otherwise, would he personally come along with the boat to understand Chen Fan's situation this year?

Therefore, both emotionally and rationally, Secretary Yang, Ye Shubao, and the others couldn't possibly hide anything or say anything bad.

Even Zhang Wenliang praised Chen Fan against his conscience, saying that he worked in the fields in the sweltering heat and researched the production team's development plan at home on snowy days, which made his conscience start to hurt a little.

When the boat was about to arrive at Lujiawan, everyone managed to piece together a "History of Chen Fan's Struggle" for Director Yang, which made him feel a little dazed and unable to wrap his head around it.

His old brother's son was so outstanding?

He could speak Mandarin, repair electrical appliances, and repair agricultural machinery... These were nothing. After all, his father was a top student in electromechanical engineering and was from the capital. It was normal to have some technical skills and speak Mandarin.

But after only a few days of learning veterinary medicine, he was stronger than the head of the veterinary station. After only half a year of learning medical skills, he could diagnose patients independently, and even created a brand-new first aid method. Not only were his own grades good, but he also worked hard to cultivate talents for the production team...

Take the seven girls he took away just now, for example. Four of them participated in this year's college entrance examination, and their estimated scores were very high, only a dozen points away from full marks.

The other three were also "skilled talents" entrusted to him by the team for training.

Director Yang couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw how highly Secretary Yang and the others praised Chen Fan.

It seemed that the idea of transferring this kid to the Machinery Factory could not be realized.

With so many villagers supporting him, he probably wouldn't be embarrassed to leave if he were in his shoes.

As for the treatment, the Health Department gave him a deputy section-level salary without requiring him to go to work. He also had income from royalties and had three part-time jobs in the production team, two of which were paid in work points and one in consulting fees.

The consulting fee from the pottery factory alone was 100 yuan a month!

Overall, his monthly income was estimated to be 400 or 500!

Could the machinery factory really offer such a high salary?

Impossible!

The larger the organization, the more emphasis it places on 'rules.' Even with his factory leadership salary, position subsidies, and various allowances, a factory leader doesn't even make 200 yuan. How could he offer a cadre below him 500 yuan a month?

I'm afraid that before the higher-ups come to investigate him, the people below would have already taken him down!

Thinking of this, Factory Director Yang couldn't help but shake his head secretly, finally giving up on the idea of poaching Chen Fan.

If he knew that Chen Fan, in his spare time, could earn more than two thousand yuan a month in manuscript fees by casually writing for two hours a day, he would probably faint on the spot.

Just as he was sighing inwardly, a burst of gongs and drums, and the clamor of firecrackers suddenly came from ahead. He immediately looked up and saw red flags waving on the dam, with a sea of people, all cheering.

Secretary Yang naturally saw this scene as well, and couldn't help but feel gratified. He silently noted Tang Xianjun's contribution in his mind, and then said to Factory Director Yang, "These are the members of our production team, welcoming you."

Factory Director Yang smiled slightly. Welcoming me? Isn't it welcoming the feed mill?

Of course, he wouldn't say this out loud, but instead said with feigned humility, "The members are too kind. I really don't deserve it!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Secretary Yang looked at the cheering crowd on the dam and couldn't help but frown slightly.

It's so lively on the shore, but it's so deserted on the boat. It doesn't look good!

He then gave Zhang Wenliang a look and glanced at the loudspeaker on top of the cabin.

Zhang Wenliang instantly understood that he wanted to liven things up with the loudspeaker.

But... apart from Factory Director Yang, almost everyone on this boat is a roughneck... Wait, An Quan is not!

He immediately pulled An Quan aside, took two steps, and said, "In an emergency, you go turn on the loudspeaker. Anyway, the momentum can't be worse than on the shore."

When An Quan heard this, his old face turned red. "Tui, do you think I'm a freak like Chen Fan? Or do you think anyone can be a broadcaster? Why don't you go yourself?"

Zhang Wenliang was so ruthless that he even hurt himself. He immediately gritted his teeth and said, "I'm just an illiterate. Can I be compared with you, a quasi-college student? And you are still a quasi-college student from a key university!"

When An Quan heard this, he thought it made sense.

Who am I? And who is this little Zhang? How can they be compared?!

He immediately rolled up his sleeves and said with great enthusiasm, "Don't worry, leave it to me!"

After speaking, he swaggered to the driver's cab.

When he picked up the microphone, he felt nervous again.

I'm a quasi-college student majoring in finance, not literature or journalism. Why should I be a guest broadcaster?

But being forced onto the stage, he had to do it even if he couldn't.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, swallowed, and said tremblingly, "Warmly welcome, Factory Director Yang of the Machinery Factory, to inspect and guide the work of the Lujiawan Production Team. Warmly celebrate, the Lujiawan Feed Factory has purchased two feed mills and is about to open smoothly..."

On the deck, Zhang Wenliang looked at the driver's cab, then looked at the two feed mills surrounded by dozens of militiamen, and silently lit a cigarette.

A quasi-college student? And from a key university? Is that all he's got?

He's far worse than my sister!

Tui!

However, An Quan's shout did have an effect.

From Team 7 all the way to Team 5, all production teams except Team 6 were within the passing range.

Along the way, the boat traveled in the water, and people cheered on the shore.

Secretary Yang felt very gratified, feeling that everyone in the team had gained face.

Factory Director Yang was also very happy. Who wouldn't enjoy this feeling of roaring cheers?!

This is more enjoyable than being the director of a machinery factory.

After all, there are still workers in the factory who scold him, but not here!

Not long after, the wooden boat, carrying dozens of people and two feed mills, steadily stopped next to Team 5 of Lujiawan.

Hundreds of members had already gathered here to wait. Team Leader Zhang of the brigade and Team Leader Xiao Zhang of Team 5 directed the operation together. A dozen gangplanks were placed on the ship's side, and then dozens of people rushed onto the deck, instantly squeezing Secretary Yang, Ye Shubao, and Team Leader Yang out of the railing, watching everything in stunned silence.

Some people tied ropes, some inserted wooden sticks, and some dismantled the railings.

Soon, a dozen people carried a machine, shouted slogans, and walked steadily down the gangplank, then walked onto the dam and towards the brigade headquarters.

Chen Fan stood behind the crowd smoking a cigarette, and silently commented in his heart, "They're inhuman!"

After carrying the machines into the courtyard of the brigade headquarters, they were cushioned with ground supports, covered with tarpaulins, and then everyone dispersed.

In the conference room of the brigade headquarters, or rather, the study room, the originally scattered desks had already been pieced together into a long rectangular conference table under Chen Fan's direction.

Factory Director Yang and Secretary Yang sat together at the head, and had a friendly conversation with all the members of the Lujiawan Brigade Headquarters.

During the meeting, the two sides held cordial and friendly talks. Factory Director Yang highly praised the development of Lujiawan, and praised the leadership of the Lujiawan Brigade Headquarters for adhering to the people-centered approach, vigorously developing the production team's agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, sideline occupations, and other industries, increasing production and income for the majority of members' families, and creating a beautiful situation.

Secretary Yang expressed his gratitude for Factory Director Yang's evaluation, especially the special approval of the machines urgently needed by the Lujiawan Production Team's Feed Factory by the Yunhu Machinery Factory, which solved the urgent problems faced by Lujiawan's development.

After friendly communication, the two sides decided that Yunhu Machinery Factory and Lujiawan Production Team would form a friendly development partnership. To the best of its ability, Yunhu Machinery Factory will provide assistance to Lujiawan's production and development, and Lujiawan will also provide agricultural product services to the Machinery Factory to the best of its ability.

After the meeting, Lujiawan held a village banquet to entertain Factory Director Yang and his party... one person.

Factory Director Yang expressed his gratitude for Secretary Yang's hospitality and sent his best wishes to Lujiawan.

...

On the dam, Factory Director Yang stood with his hands behind his back, listening to the sound coming from the Lujiawan loudspeaker, and couldn't help but have black lines all over his head. He then looked at Chen Fan and asked softly, "Your broadcaster is very talented!"

Chen Fan smiled slightly, "It's okay, it's okay."

Today, Zhang Cuie personally wrote the newsletter, which deeply inherits his true story, how could it not be okay!

Factory Director Yang rolled his eyes and decisively changed the topic, saying, "Looking at your current situation, you probably won't go to work at the machinery factory."

Chen Fan was about to nod when he heard him continue, "However, I have also heard Secretary Yang and others talk about your abilities, from medicine to literature, from machinery to electronics, you are a veritable all-rounder."

Chen Fan immediately corrected himself in a serious manner, "They are talking nonsense, don't believe them."

Factory Director Yang pretended not to hear and said to himself, "During the few years I was down there, the production of the machinery factory was not greatly affected, but the product categories were still those that my father and I developed back then. There is no progress at all.

Since you are so capable and went to the machinery factory to see it yesterday, why not talk about your views on how the machinery factory should go next?