Reborn in 1977

Chapter 482: Going Home

The machinery factory had converted a former auto repair shop into an automobile testing laboratory after adding a considerable amount of equipment.

The vans and high-end cars provided by Chen Fan were undergoing trial production here.

After finishing his exams and returning home, he rested for a while. Taking advantage of the remaining time in the afternoon, he came to the machinery factory to see if there were any issues with automobile production.

He was surrounded by a group of more than ten people, including several engineers from the technology department, a few eighth-grade technicians from the workshop, and some veteran workers from the newly formed automobile company (which was essentially the original auto repair shop), all holding blueprints and discussing "technical difficulties."

In reality, the blueprints were already quite complete. The discussion was primarily focused on the points to be aware of during the production process and certain technological issues.

Factory Director Yang, who had been closely monitoring the automobile trial production for the past few days, was not present.

Nearby, he held his Writers Association work permit, his eyebrows twisted together. After a long while, he turned to look at Deputy Factory Director Li, "Old Li, what should we do?"

Deputy Factory Director Li held his Writers Association membership card, looking even more stunned than Old Yang. After hearing Factory Director Yang's words, he let out a long sigh and turned to look at Chairman Zhao of the labor union, "Old Zhao, what do you say?"

Chairman Zhao waved his university bachelor's degree, saying with a serious face, "According to regulations, those who obtain a secondary vocational school, junior college, or bachelor's degree will have their salaries increased by…"

Before he could finish speaking, Deputy Factory Director Li waved his hand dismissively, "Forget it. You always try to smooth things over at crucial moments. Is this about adjusting salaries?"

The other two deputy factory directors, as well as Secretary Zhang of the Youth League Committee, Director Qian of the Women's Federation, and several other leaders, all grinned and laughed without restraint.

Chairman Zhao was not embarrassed and instead looked somewhat smug.

Anyway, you asked for my opinion, and I gave it. Whether you adopt it or not is none of my concern.

Don't ask me again!

Factory Director Yang wiped his face and turned to look at Chen Fan, who was surrounded by the crowd, his mood complex.

When the comrades from the Provincial Public Security Department came to investigate Chen Fan's background, he was especially happy. He had thought that the old brother's family was gone, but he didn't expect that there was still a surviving member. That day, he ran to the cemetery to tell his deceased friends the good news, patting his chest and promising to take good care of the child.

But he didn't expect that after painstakingly bringing the child into the machinery factory, thinking that he could take care of him, it turned out that he had made a great contribution to the factory. If everything went smoothly, the machinery factory would definitely have a leapfrog development.

Now it's even more outrageous.

At such a young age, just over 17 years old, he has already become a leading cadre of the Provincial Writers Association by his own ability, and he is still at the deputy director level, only one level lower than himself.

In comparison, the newly acquired university bachelor's degree is a bit insignificant.

As expected, heroes have emerged since ancient times. I don't know who will be taking care of whom in the future.

It's a pity that this kid is already engaged to a child from Jiang Heng's family in the cotton mill. Otherwise, my own daughter would actually be quite suitable. Everyone praises our daughter for being beautiful… Well, she's just not as good-looking as the Jiang family's child.

Young people nowadays are too superficial!

Factory Director Yang was lost in thought. After thinking it over, Deputy Factory Director Li said softly, "After all, Little Chen is not a formal employee of our factory. Whether it's a salary increase or a promotion, it won't be applicable."

Hearing his words, Factory Director Yang came back to his senses and turned to look at him, "Then what do you say we should do? Little Chen is now the Director of the European and American Division of the Foreign Liaison Department of the Provincial Writers Association, a deputy director-level cadre. He's coming to your broken factory as a consultant, and you don't have any expression at all?"

Hearing these words, the expressions on the faces of the other people around were extremely strange.

You are the dignified secretary and director of the machinery factory, and you're talking about your own factory like that?

Deputy Factory Director Li simply rolled his eyes, "When did I say I didn't have any expression?"

He glanced at Chen Fan, who was still discussing, and lowered his voice, "This is what I think. Although Little Chen has become a member of the Writers Association and is a leading cadre of the Provincial Writers Association, he still serves as a technical consultant in the health department. Moreover, his medical license is still registered at the Regional First People's Hospital, so our factory can continue to have him as a health consultant."

Factory Director Yang "hmm"ed, waiting for him to continue.

In his heart, he sighed slightly. Why is the First Hospital so stingy? It's clearly just a medical license hanging there, but they refuse to let go. Otherwise, Little Fan would be considered half an employee of the machinery factory. In that case, we could promote him to director or deputy director, although the level wouldn't be comparable to the Writers Association, it could be a legitimate promotion and salary increase.

Seeing that Factory Director Yang didn't speak, Deputy Factory Director Li continued, "As long as Little Chen is still a consultant for our factory, we can publicize his membership in the Writers Association."

As he spoke, he lowered his voice even more, causing the others to gather around.

"My idea is that, on the one hand, we should hang banners inside and outside the factory to warmly celebrate Little Chen's becoming a member of the Provincial Writers Association, and give him a certain amount of material rewards. This is to make a name for him."

Chairman Zhao hummed a few times, "Does he still need us to make a name for him?"

Deputy Factory Director Li turned his head impatiently, "Then you come up with something!"

Chairman Zhao waved his hands repeatedly, "Continue, continue, I won't interrupt."

Deputy Factory Director Li rolled his eyes, turned back, and continued, "Just give the material rewards as you see fit. Anyway, there are precedents in the factory for this kind of thing. Just benchmark it against provincial individual honors."

Factory Director Yang pondered for two seconds and finally nodded, "Yes, I have no objection."

Since he had no objection, the other leaders had some thoughts.

Chairman Zhao, "Will it be a little less? After all, Little Chen is a consultant and not an employee of our own unit. He doesn't have many of the daily benefits."

Deputy Factory Director Li slowly exhaled a long breath and smiled softly, "Of course I know this, but…"

He turned and pointed to Chen Fan not far away, "Isn't he still helping to develop cars? In addition, there are suggestions for several small household appliance production lines. Every time one is implemented, we will reward him once, all according to the highest standards for foreign aid. He will never be treated unfairly."

The rewards for foreign aid are much higher than the internal rewards. An internal reward of one or two hundred yuan is considered top-notch, but a reward for foreign aid of one or two thousand yuan is not uncommon. For example, the last time Chen Fan was rewarded with a lot of electrical appliances.

This reward method is partly based on the idea that "foreign monks are better at chanting scriptures," and partly because internal rewards, although small, are recorded in the personnel file and will be prioritized for future promotions and salary increases, which is a long-term benefit. Foreign aid is a one-time deal, so it will naturally be more generous.

It's just that Chen Fan's hammer is a bit numerous, and it has been banging many times in the machinery factory.

Hearing Deputy Factory Director Li say this, Factory Director Yang nodded in satisfaction, "Yes, your suggestion is good. I have no objection."

Seeing that Factory Director Yang also agreed, Deputy Factory Director Li smiled in relief.

It wasn't that he was afraid of offending his direct superior; their ranks were only one level apart, and with different backers, he really didn't fear this leader. It was just that the two had slightly different ideas on production and management. It was only because the current situation was special and not suitable for confrontation that they maintained the current harmonious situation.

However, once the factory continued to develop and grow, as long as both of them were ambitious, they would inevitably clash head-on sooner or later.

But it was all for the sake of work, and there was no personal grudge involved.

Since it was for the sake of work, it was easy to understand that they had common ground on certain matters.

Coincidentally, befriending and winning over Chen Fan was one of their common goals.

Factory Director Yang was motivated by half personal and half public interests, while Deputy Factory Director Li was entirely motivated by public interests. He even hoped more than Factory Director Yang that Chen Fan could stay in the machinery factory for a long time. Previously, it was to gain fame and earn achievements that would impress the leadership, but now it was to extract as much technical know-how as possible.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Chen Fan again, his eyes full of confusion. Could it really be that dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and mice beget hole-diggers?

Old Chen was a technical expert, belonging to a unique class in the technical department of the machinery factory back then. His son was even more incredible, beating the entire technical department at just over ten years old. The drawings he made couldn't be fully understood, and they had to ask him to come back and explain?!

There was no reasoning with this!

Chen Fan spent more than an hour finally explaining the technical points and process requirements to the technical department and the old workers. Then, he let them study it themselves, "Make the parts first. The machinery factory doesn't lack materials. Try several times repeatedly, and you can always find the optimal solution.

Once the optimal process standard is determined according to the existing mechanical equipment conditions, you can start manufacturing the production line. Try to achieve mechanized operation for the vans. There's no way for the sedans. With our current conditions, it is almost impossible to achieve mass production on the production line. We can only rely on the skills of senior master craftsmen."

An eighth-grade worker immediately grinned and said, "Little Chen's meaning is that we are high-end production equipment. He thinks highly of us."

As soon as these words came out, there was a burst of laughter all around.

After finishing his work, Chen Fan offered to leave.

Factory Director Yang held him back and refused to let him go. "Why are you leaving as soon as you arrive? It's almost evening. You have to have dinner no matter what."

Chen Fan leaned closer and said softly, "We're not strangers, so why should I be polite? I really have something to do. There's a friend in Lujiawan who was supposed to get married the day before yesterday, but I temporarily ran to the provincial capital and didn't even say hello to him. I have to go back and see what's going on."

Factory Director Yang nodded in understanding, but then said, "It won't make a difference if it's just one night, right? I'll have someone send you back tomorrow morning."

Chen Fan's voice was even lower, "Wouldn't it seem more sincere to rush back overnight? Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here this afternoon and would have gone straight back to Lujiawan."

Factory Director Yang was speechless. So you, an outstanding young man, have so many tricks up your sleeve?

However, he was no stranger to this kind of thing, so he didn't say anything more. He turned to Deputy Factory Director Li and waved, "Have someone bring a share of the New Year's welfare items."

Deputy Factory Director Li laughed and said, "It's already been prepared."

Before he finished speaking, two people walked over carrying a lot of things and directly put them into the trunk of the small jeep.

Fortunately, a lot of souvenirs had been cleared out before, otherwise, there wouldn't have been enough space.

A bag of rice, a small bucket of lard, plus a box of apples, a can of malted milk, a bag of canned meat, canned fish, and canned fruit, all of which were rare and high-quality goods.

I don't know what level of standard these many things are, but ordinary employees could not possibly have so many welfare items.

Chen Fan didn't decline, and after thanking him with a smile, he set off.

When he came out before, he had already greeted the Jiang sisters, so now he didn't need to go back again, and drove directly to the freight terminal in the north of the city.

He hadn't been here for a few days, and with the dust on the freight terminal, the small yacht was covered with a thick layer of dust. Chen Fan first found a bucket and washed the deck of the yacht clean, then took a rag and wiped it several times inside before transferring the things from the car to the boat.

Then, he gave the administrator of the management office two packs of cigarettes, parked the car next to the management office, and then drove the boat away.

By the time he returned to the small pier of Team 6 in Lujiawan, it was already completely dark.

Looking at the time, it wasn't even 6 pm yet.

Chen Fan looked at the sky, thinking that it might snow again.

He parked the boat, picked up a few bags, jumped onto the pier, and walked towards home.

As a result, he had only taken a few steps when he heard the "Chirp, chirp" sound of the Eurasian hobby above his head.

Chen Fan looked up, smiled, and whistled. The Eurasian hobby immediately swooped down and steadily landed on his outstretched left arm.

Now the Eurasian hobby is an adult, with a body length of over 40 centimeters, which is almost a tenth longer than the average Eurasian hobby's length of about 36 centimeters. Moreover, its claws are thick and its eyes are sharp, making it look like a fierce bird at first glance.

However, at this time, the fierce Eurasian hobby was very well-behaved, perched on Chen Fan's arm, its eyes half-closed, seeming to enjoy it very much, and occasionally making "Chirp, chirp" sounds, chatting with Chen Fan.

Chen Fan was also very patient, making sounds and asking the Eurasian hobby about his family.

However, the Eurasian hobby didn't have very high intelligence after all, and only said that Little Ma and the others had moved, moving from the front to the back. The myna was very naughty and often went to find trouble with Gun Gun, especially when Gun Gun was sleeping, it would shout "Chen Fan is back!" Gun Gun would wake up but not see anyone, making Gun Gun angry whenever it saw it.

Chen Fan laughed, "Where's the myna? Why haven't I seen it come out."

Eurasian hobby, "Asleep."

Okay, it really is a naughty boy, tired from playing during the day, and goes to sleep when it gets dark.

The man and the bird chatted, and soon they went down the embankment.

The nearby educated youth spot was silent, with no light or shadow. Chen Fan moved his ears and found that it seemed to have been emptied, and he couldn't hear any breathing.

He didn't care either.

When he was fishing in the dry lake before, he had told Captain Yang to move all the animals in the educated youth spot and leave it empty for the new educated youth who were about to arrive.

He just didn't expect Captain Yang to be so fast. He had only been out for a week, and he had already completed the matter.

Going around the educated youth compound and up the long slope, he arrived at his doorstep.

Only then did the Eurasian hobby flap its wings and cry "Chirp, chirp" several times.

This was terrible.

The myna was the first to fly out of the bird's nest. When it saw Chen Fan's figure, it immediately shouted loudly, "Little Chen is back, Little Chen is back."

Chen Fan's face darkened, and he immediately picked up a stone and flicked it out.

The myna remembered the pain but not the lesson, fell to the ground with a thud, and immediately stopped moving.

Then, from behind the house came the sound of horses neighing, accompanied by the sound of dogs barking. Two dogs rushed out of the path next to the house, circling around Chen Fan's feet.

Such a big commotion naturally woke up the girls reading books at the tea table in the living room. They quickly ran out. Huang Ying was the first to open the door. Seeing Chen Fan teasing the dogs, she couldn't help but be surprised and happy, "Teacher Chen is back."