Reborn in 1977

A gust of wind swept through, and more than half of the dishes on the table were emptied in an instant.

Only then did everyone react. Zhang Changjiang pointed at his wine bowl, but before he could say anything, he burst into laughter.

His laughter triggered a chorus of laughter, and everyone was doubled over with mirth.

Xiao Liewen chuckled and said, "Look at your pathetic selves, acting like you've never eaten at a feast before."

Master Zhu grinned, raised his hand, and pointed at Chen Fan, "You can't blame us for this. It's all because Master Chen's cooking is too good. We just couldn't help ourselves."

This remark elicited another round of hearty laughter.

However, after that frenzy of eating, everyone had filled their bellies to about half-full, and they began to drink leisurely.

Just then, Chen Fan's wine had warmed up and his stomach was full, so he wasn't afraid of feeling uncomfortable from drinking too much. He picked up his small wine cup and clinked glasses with everyone one by one.

After a round of drinks, everyone began to chat idly.

Xiao Liewen looked at Secretary Yang, "Old Yang, what did they say at the commune meeting this time?"

Secretary Yang wiped his mouth and habitually took out his dry tobacco pipe and lit it. Zhang Wenliang immediately took out a pack of Peony cigarettes and offered one to Master Zhu and Chen Fan each.

These cigarettes weren't cheap. Compared to the 8-cent Economic brand, Peony cost 49 cents a pack.

As everyone knows, cigarettes are divided into grades. At this time, cigarettes were divided into three grades: A, B, and C.

The cheapest C-grade cigarettes didn't even require cigarette coupons. You could buy them with cash. The standard was no more than 20 cents a pack. For example, Badaling, Donghai, and Golden Leaf were all C-grade cigarettes, and of course, the cheapest Economic cigarettes were also included.

B-grade cigarettes were those priced between 20 and 50 cents. Ink Chrysanthemum at 36 cents, Daqianmen at 35 cents, Flying Eagle at 32 cents, Jinghu, and Chaoyang Bridge at 29 cents were all B-grade cigarettes. The most expensive was Peony at 49 cents.

"Flying Horse," which had made outstanding contributions during the Anti-Japanese War and was once as famous as Zhonghua, had now been reduced to 29 cents a pack, relegated to B-grade, almost falling to the level of C-grade cigarettes.

Cigarettes of this grade required cigarette coupons, so cadres generally smoked B-grade cigarettes, just because these types of cigarettes were not easy to buy, in order to show that they were different.

Fortunately, it was just to be different, not to the point of being superior.

Because to be superior, one had to smoke A-grade cigarettes at the very least.

A-grade cigarettes were naturally those priced above 50 cents. Small Zhonghua at 62 cents and Big Zhonghua at 72 cents were both A-grade cigarettes.

If anyone pulled out a pack of Zhonghua, even the county leaders would think highly of them. It wasn't because of the 72 cents, but because these coupons were too hard to get. Being able to get these cigarette coupons meant that, even if they weren't that powerful, they at least knew a few powerful people.

And that wasn't even the most expensive. The most expensive were imported cigarettes, priced in US dollars, but that was beyond the consumption range of ordinary people and not within the scope of consideration.

Judging from the cigarettes, Zhang Wenliang, the militia company commander, was living a much better life than Yang, the Sixth Team leader.

Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that he was pretending to be wealthy.

But no matter what, Master Zhu was very satisfied with the Peony cigarette he had received. The way he lit it was different from when he was at Team Leader Yang's house. He raised his chin high, rested his right hand on the table, and held the cigarette up high, as if smoking it was a big deal.

Chen Fan, who didn't smoke, also had Xiao Liewen light a cigarette for him, and then held it in his hand, letting it burn, which was a waste.

Then he was surprised to find that Ms. Yang Xingxiu was also smoking a pipe.

Great, of the nine people in this room, he was the only one who didn't smoke.

Secretary Yang took two puffs and said triumphantly, "Tomorrow, send someone to the post office to pull the telephone poles. Next Wednesday, someone will come to pull the wires."

Ye Shubao calculated the date, "Today is Saturday, January 22nd. Next Wednesday will be January 26th. That's soon."

Zhang Wenliang suddenly said with excitement, "It's exactly the Laba Festival."

Xiao Liewen smirked, "What a coincidence."

Everyone was so excited that they raised their wine bowls and clinked them again.

After putting down his wine bowl, Secretary Yang coughed dryly, looked at everyone, and said solemnly, "After the broadcast lines are pulled, we also need to build a broadcasting station. This broadcasting station needs to connect to electricity.

The commune said that this time, all five brigades in Nanhu Commune must have radio coverage in place. The power lines will follow the broadcast lines. Once the telephone poles are planted, they will come to install the electricity, and we will strive to have it installed before the Spring Festival."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Changjiang immediately said, "That's great. We've already prepared the broadcasting station. We've cleared out a room on the second floor, ready for the equipment to be installed at any time."

Ye Shubao frowned and said, "It's just that the announcer is hard to find."

Xiao Liewen also said, "Currently, our brigade only has a health worker and a communications officer. The agricultural technician is still someone from the commune's agricultural technology station. We can't possibly find an outsider for this last announcer, can we?"

Secretary Yang frowned tightly, "The problem is that no one in our brigade can speak Mandarin."

As soon as he said this, everyone fell silent.

Chen Fan looked around and asked cautiously, "Doesn't the team have any primary school teachers?"

Secretary Yang turned to look at him and gave him a smile, "Our production team does have an elementary school, over in the Tenth Team, which teaches only first and second grade. Starting from third grade, students have to go to Nanhu Primary School. And they only accept students from the first few teams. The children from the other teams go directly to the commune to study.

The teachers at Nanhu Primary School are not from our team. The teachers in our own team can only speak our 'Yunhu Mandarin'. They can't speak the Mandarin on the radio!"

Chen Fan chuckled. Okay, never mind that I asked.

He did have the intention of becoming the announcer, but such a good thing could never fall on his head, so he obediently shut his mouth and said nothing.

Secretary Yang and the others discussed for a long time, but in the end, they couldn't come up with a solution, so they could only put it aside for the time being and wait until the broadcasting station was built.

If it really didn't work, they would find someone who graduated from senior primary school to fill the role. Anyway, there were no outsiders here, so speaking "Yunhu Mandarin" wouldn't matter much, it would just be a bit embarrassing.

The meal lasted until dusk, and Master Zhu had to rush back to the commune, and Chen Fan also had to go back, so it came to an end.

Coming out of the brigade headquarters, Xiao Liewen grabbed Chen Fan's hand and said loudly, "Master Chen, you're amazing. You fulfilled my wish. I never thought I would be able to eat blood sausage again in this lifetime. Come again in a couple of days and teach my children at home how to make sauerkraut. I'll treat you to more wine. When the sauerkraut is ready, I'll slaughter a New Year's pig, and you have to come again. I'll invite you to make a pig-slaughtering feast!"

Chen Fan grinned and smiled, "Okay, when I'm done with these couple of days, I'll definitely come over."

Zhang Changjiang stood aside and waved to the distance. Zhang Wenliang led two horses over.

Secretary Yang smiled at Chen Fan, "Master Zhu has a bicycle, so we won't join in the fun. It'll take you almost an hour to walk back from here, so let Sanhu take you for a ride."

Chen Fan repeatedly refused, "No need, no need. It's just a short walk."

Then he clapped his hands and smiled, "Besides, I don't know how to ride a horse."

Zhang Wenliang walked over and smiled, "Master Chen, don't worry. This mare is very gentle. People in our team use this horse to pick up the bride when they get married. I guarantee your safety."

Chen Fan couldn't refuse, so he had to get on the horse with Zhang Wenliang's help, carefully lying on it, and talking to the horse's ear, "Let's not rush, walk slowly."

The mare snorted, neighed softly, and steadily trotted forward.