Reborn in 1977

Chapter 606 Selling Nostalgia

In the following days, Chen Fan had no time to date his girlfriend. He first took Liu Lu to various bookstores, hauling books home by the carload.

Fortunately, buying books didn't require coupons; otherwise, no amount of money would have been useful.

He not only bought all the tailoring books he could find but also purchased many books on winemaking and cooking.

After all, he couldn't favor any one of the three students, right? One had already been pulled out to study in Shanghai, and the other two also needed some books to help them catch up.

Liu Lu was not only not unhappy about this, but she was even more enthusiastic than when buying books for herself.

She would often run to Chen Fan with a book and ask, "Have you bought this one yet?"

She seemed afraid of missing a single book, as if her good friends would have nothing to read.

Chen Fan expressed his heartfelt appreciation for this spirit of unity and fraternity and assured her that all the books on the market had been bought and that absolutely none had been missed!

Whenever Liu Lu frowned at the large pile of books she had to read, she would feel better when she looked at the two piles next to her that were no smaller than her own.

Once they had bought all the materials, Wang Zekai called to say that he had studied the drawings and could buy the fabric and start work.

After that, Chen Fan took Liu Lu and shamelessly followed Old Wang around.

A week later, a brand-new set of sapphire-blue Zhongshan suit was freshly made.

Looking at the Zhongshan suit on the clothes rack, Wang Zekai's face was full of pleased smiles. He smiled at Chen Fan and said, "To make this suit for you, I've used all my best skills. Fortunately, I haven't failed your trust."

He walked around the suit, and then said, "This kind of clothing is similar to a Western suit, but there are many differences in the details and cannot be made completely according to the tailoring of a Western suit. In addition, this style is also different from Western suits. Even if you wear it on the street, it won't be too eye-catching and is much better looking than ordinary Zhongshan suits. You must have put a lot of thought into the design, right?"

Chen Fan nodded with satisfaction, "Indeed, I put a lot of thought into it."

He turned to look at Wang Zekai and asked with a smile, "Old Wang, if this suit were placed in a display case, in your experience, do you think anyone would order one?"

Wang Zekai was slightly stunned, looking at him in surprise, "Are you willing to contribute this suit?"

Under normal circumstances, most people who came to the master craftsman with a design drawing would not want the design to be leaked. What people liked was the "uniqueness."

Otherwise, with so many clothing styles in the old shop, why would they have to find someone to design their own?

Of course, this was the situation in old Shanghai. Since the public-private partnership, the rich had all become honest, and their clothing and hats were all focused on conforming and blending in, never standing out.

It had been more than 20 years. That day when Chen Fan came with the design drawing, Wang Zekai even had a moment of returning to old Shanghai. But after all, the times were different. If this design drawing hadn't been truly wonderful and piqued his interest, he wouldn't have agreed to take the order.

Even so, he had still declined it a bit at the time.

But he didn't expect that now that the task was completed, the guest would actually take the initiative to offer to share the clothing. It was very unexpected.

Faced with Old Wang's surprise, Chen Fan smiled and said, "If more people buy this suit, it shows that they like my design. As for myself, wearing this kind of clothing on the street is not eye-catching. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Wang Zekai suddenly understood and nodded, "So that's how it is."

Then he smiled and said, "The style you designed is more beautiful than ordinary Zhongshan suits and will definitely be very popular. There's no doubt about that."

He hesitated for a moment, "However, this suit is complicated to make. Even after the master craftsman is familiar with it, it will take about 7 days to make one. If you add the time to modify the size, it will take at least 10 days. In that case, a low price might not be appropriate."

Chen Fan said, "The pricing is not my concern. I won't get a penny of that money. It's up to your store leaders to decide."

After a pause, he added, "But there's another matter that I'd like to ask the old gentleman to help with."

Wang Zekai's expression remained unchanged, looking at him with a smile, "I wouldn't dare to offer help. Feel free to ask, as long as I can do it, I will not refuse."

Chen Fan pointed to Liu Lu standing next to him, "Old Wang, what do you think of my apprentice?"

As soon as Liu Lu heard herself mentioned, she immediately stood up straight, looking at Wang Zekai with a nervous expression.

Old Wang looked at her twice, then turned to look at Chen Fan, "A promising talent. Among her peers in the garment store, her skills are inferior to none."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "Then, I wonder if it would be convenient for Old Wang to give her some pointers for a few days?"

Wang Zekai was a shrewd old man. Chen Fan had first taken the initiative to contribute this suit, and then mentioned Liu Lu, so he guessed it was related to learning skills.

Normally speaking, old craftsmen rarely send their apprentices to learn from others, otherwise, wouldn't it show that they are not capable?

Not only that, but they are particularly taboo about their apprentices learning from others. If discovered, it is not impossible to be expelled from the school.

Therefore, most old craftsmen only have one master, emphasizing orderly inheritance.

Perhaps only professional martial arts masters and Red Gang tailors are two exceptions.

Not to mention martial arts masters, those grandmasters who have made a name for themselves have almost all taken multiple famous masters as teachers, and their own masters took them there, hoping that their apprentices could learn more skills and gain the ability to establish their own schools.

The Red Gang tailors are a more special group. They basically all come from Ningbo, either from the same clan or related as fellow apprentices. For example, the famous tailor shops in Shanghai back then were almost all from Rongchangxiang, so apprentice exchanges between them were more common.

Wang Zekai didn't find Chen Fan's request strange.

However, he would not agree casually.

After all, Chen Fan is not a Red Gang tailor, even if he is a well-known writer, what does it have to do with him?

But Wang Zekai did not directly refuse.

He looked at Liu Lu again, and then asked, "Do you want to keep her in Shanghai in the future?"

Chen Fan shook his head gently, "It's just a short-term advanced study. When I go back to Jiangnan at the end of next month, I will take her back with me."

Wang Zekai was even more surprised, "With your ability, plus her skills, it shouldn't be difficult to help her stay in Shanghai. Why do you want to go back?"

Chen Fan smiled, but didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at Liu Lu, "You say it."

Liu Lu immediately raised her forehead slightly, "The teacher said that after learning skills, one should build their hometown and not always think about running away, living a good life themselves, but not caring about what happens to their hometown.

So, after I learn my skills, I will go back to help the production team set up a clothing factory.

I read in the newspaper that the Huaxi production team has set up a hardware factory and a scenic spot. It is because all the Huaxi members have worked together to get rid of poverty and become rich under the leadership of Secretary Wu. If the Huaxi production team can do it, so can our Luji湾 production team."

As early as 10 years ago, the Huaxi Production Team had secretly started a hardware factory to subsidize the income reduction caused by rapid population growth and slow agricultural growth. Over the past 10 years, this hardware factory has created a profit of 3 million yuan for the Huaxi Production Team.

After this matter was exposed, the higher-ups were still arguing about it, while many production teams below wanted to learn from their experience. For a time, all kinds of disturbances flocked in.

The Huaxi Production Team simply went all the way and opened a scenic spot this year.

Chen Fan: They know how to make money. If the timing wasn't inappropriate, Lujiawan should also learn from them.

As soon as the Huaxi Scenic Area opened, there were more than 80 attractions, including agricultural demonstration areas, Huaxi Happiness Garden, Faith Grand View Garden, Huaxi Golden Pagoda, Huaxi National Palace, factories, and so on.

Therefore, long before that decisive meeting, many places were already eager to move, and even started to take action. It wasn't that they slowly planned their development only after the meeting.

Uh… As for Yunhu, a land of fish and rice, it hasn't changed for a long time because it wasn't so poor. The higher-ups say how to change, and the lower-ups change accordingly. Anyway, they can live without worry by just farming, so they lie at home and watch the outside world change.

Even the city, which was once glorious due to some old factories, eventually fell in the fierce market competition.

Compared with places that needed relief every year, Yunhu and other places have unknowingly fallen far behind.

It wasn't until the 1990s, mainly in rural areas, that a wave of migrant workers suddenly emerged as the retained fees became higher and higher, and a small number of people who went out to work easily brought back banknotes that they couldn't earn in a few years.

It can be regarded as thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, which is regrettable.

After Wang Zekai heard Liu Lu's words, he immediately turned to look at Chen Fan, "Did you teach this?"

Chen Fan smiled and shook his head, then nodded, "I guess so. I just showed her the newspaper with the Huaxi Production Team and told her that the production team is not without prospects for development. As for the decision, she made it herself, and I don't interfere."

Wang Zekai nodded lightly and looked at Liu Lu again, and said with emotion, "It's already very good. If everyone is like this, why worry about the prosperity of China?!"

Chen Fan pursed his lips and glanced at Liu Lu. The two exchanged glances and showed a bit of a smile.

Sure enough, selling feelings is definitely a powerful weapon for an old gentleman like Old Man Wang who has experienced countless storms.

However, although Chen Fan and Liu Lu used feelings as a tool, they didn't lie.

Lujiawan is indeed preparing to set up a clothing factory, and Liu Lu is the production director that Chen Fan prepared for the future Luwan Clothing Factory.

Her task is not only to learn the skills of the Hong Gang tailors, but also to master the use of industrial sewing machines and related production processes.

You don't need to go to other places for these things. The ready-to-wear store where Wang Zekai used to work has them. Behind such a ready-to-wear store is a small clothing processing factory, which is enough to meet the current needs of Lujiawan.

As for the future, learn slowly and develop slowly.

Retracting his gaze, Wang Zekai happened to look up and said sternly, "Xiao Liu's skills are indeed okay, but her understanding of clothes is not thorough enough."

He turned his gaze to Chen Fan, "Since you are going to stay until the end of August, why not let Xiao Liu go to the production workshop of the ready-to-wear store as an apprentice for a month? During this period, I will go there to give some pointers. In the last ten days or so, she will follow me to learn the unique tailoring techniques of our Hong Gang tailors. What do you think?"

Chen Fan immediately made a look of great joy, "Thank you, Old Man Wang, I'll leave it all to you."

Then he roared at Liu Lu, "Why don't you thank your master quickly."

Without saying a word, Liu Lu knelt down with a plop, "Thank you, Master."

Wang Zekai's eyes were dizzy. When did I agree to accept a disciple?

Seeing Chen Fan's smiling face of success, he couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly. What a way to take advantage of the situation.

But this apprentice cannot be accepted, otherwise, if his disciples and grandchildren know that he has accepted a junior sister who is dozens of years younger than them, wouldn't that cause an uproar?!

Although he ultimately failed to become a teacher, Wang Zekai also agreed to impart his skills without reservation, and Chen Fan's goal was achieved.

In the following days, he will start to retreat and finalize the outline of Western fantasy.

If time permits, he might as well write a novel.

Not to earn those millions of dollars, but mainly to see the current book market's attitude towards Western fantasy novels.

Yes, that's it!

……

From this day on, Liu Lu moved into the dormitory of the ready-to-wear store arranged for her by Master Wang, and lived the life of a working girl day and night.

And it's the kind that doesn't get paid.

As for Chen Fan?

At this time, he was dressed and stretched comfortably, then turned to look at Jiang Lili and said helplessly, "Your body is still not good. You have to lie down for a long time after every exercise. Have you been practicing the Little Bagua Palm every day? Have you worked hard for so many years? Have you made progress? You have to reflect on it."

Lying on the bed, Jiang Lili rolled her eyes weakly, wanting to complain, but not knowing where to start.

Because she was really tired.

She couldn't help but pouted, "I have been practicing the Little Bagua Palm all the time. My sister practices the Vajra Longevity Gong every day, and I practice the Little Bagua Palm. My sister is not as strong as me."

Then her eyes flowed, glared at someone, muttered something, before someone could hear clearly, she chuckled and looked at him infatuatedly.

Chen Fan turned around, saw her eyes, and sighed that his charm was indeed irresistible.

After tidying up his clothes, he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, gently touching her head, "If you're tired, take a good rest. I'll go to the library to check some information later, and I'll probably be back in the evening. You buy some good food, and I'll cook."

Jiang Lili reached out and grabbed one of his fingers, shook it gently, and said with a smile, "I'm not that delicate, and my sister is going to the publishing house to discuss the publication of the school magazine this afternoon, so she should be back at noon, and I can't get up too late."

Chen Fan pinched his chin and blinked, thought for a moment, "Why don't we get a marriage certificate?"

Sneaking around, it feels like having an affair, who can I reason with?!

Although she is his official girlfriend, he really doesn't dare to let outsiders know about this. Chen Fan is okay, but the main reason is that Jiang Lili's skin is too thin, and she would never dare to let people know, not even her own sister.

Hearing Chen Fan's words, Jiang Lili felt a little touched, but just looked at him amusingly, "Get a marriage certificate? Are you old enough? Little brother!"

Chen Fan's old face darkened, "Little brother? I see you don't know how to respect your elders."

Then he pounced on her.

Jiang Lili's face was full of horror, "No!"

It was an hour later when Chen Fan went out.

There was no way, his girlfriend's physique was too weak, otherwise he wouldn't want to go out today.