Reborn in 1977

Chapter 613: Intercepting the Deal

After spending two days at home with them, the Jiang sisters went off to attend to their own affairs, leaving only Chen Fan at home with Zhou Yali.

Although they were an unmarried man and woman alone, they were cousins, and it was common knowledge in the mainland that relatives did not marry, so the two sisters were very much at ease.

Moreover, they would both return home for lunch every day, so there was even less need to worry about anything happening.

In the second-floor room, the air conditioner hummed, mingling with the noise of the computer, rising and falling, making one's head ache.

Chen Fan, however, seemed oblivious, calmly typing on the computer keyboard, the screen displaying lines of English.

Zhou Yali sat beside him, slumped on the desk, her fingers covering her ears, her eyes fixed on the computer, blinking only after a long time.

After half a day like this, Chen Fan suddenly said, "Take note of this."

Zhou Yali snapped out of her trance and turned to look at him, "Note what?"

Chen Fan said, "After you return to America, find a few hardware engineers and design something."

Zhou Yali wearily picked up the notebook beside her, opened it, and slumped on the desk, "What thing?"

Chen Fan released the keyboard, gesturing as he said, "It's a computer peripheral that can control the movement of the cursor…"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yali turned her face and looked at him curiously, "You want a mouse?"

"Huh?"

Chen Fan was immediately stunned, looking at her in confusion, "There's such a thing?"

How did he remember that the mouse was first launched on the market by Apple in the early 1980s?

Could his memory be wrong?

Seeing his blank expression, Zhou Yali's face finally became more animated, and she smiled, "What you're talking about is called a mouse. Dr. Douglas Engelbart invented the prototype of the first mouse in 1964. After several years of research, it was finally successfully developed, and he applied for a patent in 1967, which was finally approved in 1970. The patent name is 'Computer Mouse'.

It's just that this mouse didn't receive much attention from the market. I only learned about some things in the computer industry during this time because of the Hanker Company's affairs, when I went to chat with a few technical researchers."

Chen Fan blinked. Was that so?

Then what about Apple?

He narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment, guessing one possibility: Apple bought the patent, improved it, and transplanted it to personal computers, launching it on the market in the early 1980s, thereby achieving great success.

Yes, that's right. Apple spent $40,000 in 1979 to buy the mouse patent from Engelbart and used it on its computers.

If he waited until next year, he wouldn't have this opportunity. Now was the time to intercept the deal.

After pondering for two seconds, Chen Fan raised his head and smiled, "Then send a telegram to your dad and have him check if the mouse patent is still in that doctor's hands. If it is, see if there is any possibility of acquiring it."

Zhou Yali made a gesture, "No problem."

She recorded it in her notebook while saying, "If the patent is still in the hands of Dr. Douglas Engelbart, buying the patent shouldn't be a problem, because the doctor's career doesn't seem to have been very smooth in recent years. His research lab has fallen into a slump and disbanded.

I heard from a few employees of our Hanker Company that Dr. Engelbart believes that the future should be collaborative, networked, client-server computers, but young programmers refuse to support the development of personal computers."

As she spoke, she turned to look at Chen Fan, smiling, "This is very similar to you, believing that the future belongs to the world of personal computers."

At this moment, Chen Fan's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Are you saying that he believes that future computers will be networked and collaborative?"

Zhou Yali nodded, "I heard that after his research lab disbanded, he went to work for a communication network company in Cupertino, California, as a senior scientist. It seems that this company uses computers to provide communication network services."

She shrugged as she spoke, "I'm not a computer major, so I can only remember so much. For more, you'd need to chat with a professional, but then you'd have to go to America."

Chen Fan smiled slightly, "Don't try to lure me abroad."

He thought for a moment and said, "Like this, add another line to the telegram, asking your dad to contact this Bart doctor."

Zhou Yali, "It's 'Engelbart'."

Chen Fan, "Yes, yes, Engelbart, see how his current situation is. If possible, you might as well talk to him about connecting computers on different local area networks."

Zhou Yali looked at him in confusion, "Different local area networks?"

Chen Fan laughed and said, "You're not a professional, so you wouldn't understand even if I told you. Just have your dad go talk to him. Hmm, your dad should understand what I mean, right?"

"You're not a computer major either. Forget it, I'll just treat you as an alien."

Zhou Yali complained, then raised her eyebrows, "Hmm, I've noticed that you two are very similar, you both like to only say half of what you mean, and say things like 'should understand what I mean, right'."

She slumped down again to take notes, muttering, "No wonder they say the nephew resembles the uncle, it's really true."

Chen Fan remained expressionless, pretending not to hear.

After finishing the notes, Zhou Yali asked again, "Anything else?"

Chen Fan casually said, "It's best to send another computer and printer over as a backup."

Zhou Yali nodded lightly, "No problem, it should arrive before I go back. Hmm…"

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then turned to look at Chen Fan, "Little brother, do you know about video game consoles?"

Chen Fan turned to look at her, "I've seen reports in books, but I'm not very clear about the others."

Zhou Yali immediately waved her hands excitedly, "It's actually also an electronic product that can be connected to a TV, using a controller to play games…"

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Fan waved his hand, interrupting her, "Enough nonsense, send two machines over, and I'll know when I see them."

Zhou Yali clapped her hands, "Exactly what I was thinking!"

She immediately slumped on the notebook, scribbling notes.

Then she closed the notebook, her face full of hesitation.

Chen Fan looked at her, his fingers continuing to type on the keyboard, "What's wrong again?"

She turned her face and chuckled twice, "I wanted you to accompany me to the post office to send a telegram, but I also want to see the novel you're writing."

Chen Fan pondered for two seconds, then turned and pointed to the telephone in the corner, "Or, you can just call instead."

Zhou Yali's eyes widened, "Can this phone make international calls?"

Chen Fan nodded, "Yeah, I called you last time, I made it at home."

"You didn't say so earlier."

Zhou Yali stood up and walked over angrily, "You even asked me to send a telegram, isn't that a waste of time."

As for the fact that it was still midnight in the United States at this time, it was completely beyond her consideration.

Chen Fan also got up and walked over, saying helplessly, "Do you think this is America? Basically, they've all been replaced with program-controlled telephones. Making international calls here is a pain in the neck. It's common to spend a whole day making a call. If it's not necessary, I really don't want to call."

Fortunately, China opened a direct telephone line with the United States in the 1930s, and you can still dial directly. If you switch to a place like Australia, you have to transfer from the European telephone bureau. It's normal for a call to take two or three days to connect.

Hmm, should I get a switch factory through Hanker Company?

This matter definitely has potential. In the early days of reform and opening up, the biggest obstacle to international trade and foreign investment was the communication problem, without exception.

The example just mentioned of taking two or three days to call Australia is a real one. The person in charge of a foreign company had negotiated a business deal in China and wanted to get approval from the headquarters, but this one thing took three days to get a reply, leaving the person with no temper at all.

At that time, it wasn't that China didn't want to do a good job in the telecommunications infrastructure, but mainly because there was no money!

Under limited funding, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications made a decision at that time, which was to prioritize the development of international telegraph services.

The meaning is, don't think about making phone calls for now, just use telegrams instead for the time being.

Even so, it would not be until the mid-1980s that the coverage of international telegraphs to key cities was basically completed.

Difficult oh.

So starting a telecommunications equipment company definitely has a future in China. With the development of the country, there may be a chance to become an industry giant.

Shaking his head, Chen Fan dialed the phone according to the procedure, then made a gesture to Zhou Yali, "Wait."

Zhou Yali looked at the hung-up phone, then looked at him, "Is that it?"

Chen Fan sat in front of the computer, saying without turning his head, "If it connects, the telephone bureau will call back."

Zhou Yali felt enlightened, "Really amazing, it can be like this?!"

She also returned to Chen Fan's side and sat down, continuing to stare at the computer, "Little brother, how many words do you plan to write for this book?"

Chen Fan's fingers kept typing on the keyboard, "Not sure. Referencing The Lord of the Rings, I want to make a single book about 360,000 words, 400,000 words at most, that should be about right. As for how many books to write, I'll talk about it later."

Zhou Yali nodded, "Is it that if the results are good, there will be more books, and if the results are poor, there will be fewer books."

As she spoke, she suddenly laughed and said, "I think you're definitely going to write a lot. I thought it was great just from reading the beginning, and the rest must be even more exciting."

Chen Fan turned to look at her, just smiled, and didn't say anything.

Just kidding, he planned to write this "Legend of the Dragon Knight" to surpass "Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter" has a total of 8 books. If I don't write more than 9 books, how can I live up to the many online novels I've read?!

Chen Fan coded words on the computer, and Zhou Yali watched the text live next to him, and couldn't help but exclaim when she saw the exciting parts.

At this time, a flick on the forehead would most likely come over, which could calm her down a little, and then continue to repeat this.

It wasn't until the sun set and there was movement at the door that she suddenly realized, "Ah, the day is over?"

Chen Fan stretched lazily and saved the more than 30,000 words he had coded today. (I don’t know how the old eagle codes words. I heard that the old wolf listens to music with headphones and can code 5,000 words in an hour without having to change it much. Amazing.)

Then he turned off the computer and stood up, "Let's go, go downstairs and rest for a while, and then we can eat."

Zhou Yali followed closely behind him, and glanced at the phone when she walked, "Don't you need to answer the phone?"

Chen Fan didn't stop, "There's one downstairs too, it won't delay answering."

Zhou Yali said "Oh", "You've all been tired all day, why don't I cook tonight?"

Chen Fan looked back at her, "Can you?"

Zhou Yali chuckled dryly, "No."

Chen Fan simply and decisively turned around and left.

She quickly followed behind, "But I can learn, just like Lili, I'll do it and you can guide me from the side."

Chen Fan, "Forget it, I don't want to drag it out until I'm watching the stars and eating dinner at night."

Zhou Yali, "… … It's not that serious, is it."

When they went downstairs, they happened to see Jiang Tiantian and Jiang Lili changing into slippers and coming in.

Zhou Yali immediately greeted her, "You're back."

She waved her hands and said excitedly, "You must read the novel written by the old brother later. He wrote more than 30,000 words today. It's so good."

Jiang Lili pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes glanced at Chen Fan, and she sighed slightly in her heart, "Okay."

After all, she still couldn't be Xiao Fan's first reader, it seems she can only wait for the next book.

Jiang Tiantian also nodded and smiled, and then said, "Wait a moment, I'll cook, it'll be ready soon."

Zhou Yali followed her without stopping, "I'll help you."

Jiang Lili ignored Chen Fan and hurried over, "I'll do it, you should rest."

Breaking a few bowls and plates is a small matter, if she cuts her hand, she doesn't know how to explain it to her uncle and aunt.

In the end, the two sisters did it themselves. The vegetables were bought back in the morning, processed, and put in the refrigerator, and they could be taken out and put into the pot.

Before Chen Fan finished a cup of tea, the food was already on the table.

Zhou Yali was holding a rice bowl, chattering in her mouth, transforming into a storyteller, sharing the story that Chen Fan had just written.

The two sisters also listened with relish, but this kind of second-hand book is not as enjoyable as reading it yourself, so they sped up their eating speed.

Chen Fan was very helpless, "Just eat properly, I'll print out what I've written later, you can take it and read it slowly, it won't delay you."

Only then did the two sisters smile embarrassedly and slow down.

At this time, Zhou Yali suddenly said, "Old brother, you can write more than 30,000 words a day, so can you finish the first book in just 10 days?"

Chen Fan glanced at her, "Almost, what's wrong?"

Zhou Yali put down her chopsticks, looked at him and chuckled dryly, "Old brother, the last time I came here was just a fleeting visit, and I didn't have much fun. Why don't we go out and play after you finish writing?"

Chen Fan nodded, then looked at the two sisters and asked, "Can you spare the time?"

Jiang Tiantian and Jiang Lili looked at each other, both a little moved.

Strictly speaking, they had never gone out to play with Chen Fan before. If they had to count, it was only on New Year's Day this year that they went hunting and played for half a day.

Jiang Lili thought for a while and said, "I need to ask the teacher tomorrow to see when the experiment will end."

Chen Fan looked at her and smiled, "Don't tell me that you are still the main force in this experiment?"

Jiang Lili quickly shook her head and said with a dry smile, "How is that possible, I'm just following the teacher to learn."

That teacher is an expert in textile materials, especially likes Jiang Lili, and took her to do experiments together to study new textile materials, and hopes that she will work hard in this direction, and even plans to accept her as a graduate student in the future.

The main reason is that the cultural quality of this year's students is generally "low", lacking a lot of basic knowledge. And Jiang Lili is almost the only one in the class who stands out. Not only is her foundation solid, but she also has enough understanding of professional knowledge, and she has obviously done a lot of homework in advance.

She was already smart and hardworking, so naturally the teachers couldn't help but like her.

But Chen Fan shook his head gently and said to her, "Don't forget that your ideal is fashion design, and you chose textile engineering because this major is the closest. If you always run to the laboratory, you can easily run astray."

After a pause, he said again, "Of course, running to the laboratory more often is also good for you, it can make you more aware of textile materials. But you have to distinguish between primary and secondary, otherwise you will really run towards materials, which is far from your ideal."

Jiang Lili nodded thoughtfully and lightly, then looked at Chen Fan with a sad face, "But the teacher likes me very much, and I don't know how to tell her."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "This is also simple. You can privately ask her more about fashion design, and it's best to explain your ideals to her clearly, and she will naturally understand what you mean."

Jiang Lili pursed her lips and thought, "Well, I understand, I will pay attention."

Chen Fan turned to look at Jiang Tiantian again, "I don't even want to talk about your business. Why are you working so hard? Repetitive labor is the most meaningless. Your purpose is to learn, figure out the ins and outs of the publishing house, and at the same time get to know as many people as possible to prepare for your own business in the future.

You're really soaking in work day and night, what, you want to be a strong woman, make "Guanghua Literature and Art" bigger and stronger, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun?"

Jiang Tiantian puffed up her cheeks in anger, "I'm the oldest here, you're the youngest, can you give me some face and not scold me?"

Jiang Lili, however, turned her elbow outward, moved closer to Chen Fan, and said very seriously, "Sister, I support Xiao Fan this time."

Even Zhou Yali put down her chopsticks, raised her right hand, "I vote for the old brother."

Jiang Tiantian sighed dejectedly, "Okay, okay."

She turned her head and looked at the three of them, and finally her eyes fell on Chen Fan's face, "Then tell me, what should I do?"

Chen Fan's face relaxed, and he nodded, "Well, a child can be taught."

Before Jiang Tiantian could glare at him, he quickly said, "Go and say hello to your school leaders tomorrow, just say that something happened to your family and you will be leaving for a while in a few days, and you will come back to report when school starts."

After Jiang Tiantian's anger subsided, Chen Fan said softly, "Working in a collective unit is different from learning. While you are working hard, you also have to consider the opportunities of others. Although they may not be as capable as you, they also want to improve. Besides, if you don't give others opportunities, how can others prove themselves?"

Hearing this, Jiang Tiantian didn't even have the playful anger, lowered her head and thought for a while, then raised her head to look at Chen Fan and smiled, "I understand, I will pay attention in the future."

Chen Fan laughed, "Just understand, eat."

Zhou Yali quickly took a few bites, finished her meal, wiped her mouth with a paper towel, and looked at Chen Fan and asked, "Then when shall we leave?"

Chen Fan thought for a while and said, "Today is the 12th, I will speed up the progress in the next few days and try to leave on the 20th."

Jiang Lili couldn't help but imagine the days of traveling, with a bit of longing in her eyes, and asked, "Then where are we going?"

Chen Fan thought for a while, there are really few scenic spots this year, and the transportation is inconvenient. Except for a few big cities, it is not very convenient to go to other places.

After a few seconds, he raised his head to look at the three of them and said, "10 days is not short or long. Lili and Tiantian haven't been to the capital yet, why don't we go to Beijing for two days first, and then take you to the old forest in the Northeast to hunt, how about that?"

The three girls looked at each other, and couldn't help but smile on their faces, clapping their hands together, "Okay."