Reborn in 1977

Chapter 661: When to Be Cautious, Be Cautious

What to look at?

Of course, look with your eyes while sitting!

When Chen Fan heard Yang Kangnian mention ear-reading, he silently estimated the timeline and knew that the nearly twenty-year craze for Qigong was about to begin.

It might even be the trigger for this event.

At its peak, ear-reading was nothing.

Instant teleportation, telepathy, object manipulation… countless "miraculous powers" emerged.

Some people could even contact aliens by emitting energy, making it incredibly absurd.

The key was that there wasn't even a basic demonstration, yet so many people believed it.

In 1991, someone even made a TV series called "Superman Zhang Baosheng," specifically telling the story of this "top-tier superman."

Surprisingly, the values portrayed were quite positive.

After the TV series aired, it caused a ratings frenzy.

Zhang Baosheng became popular, and people everywhere invited him to perform and appear on TV shows.

However, the more he performed, the more flaws were exposed.

Over the years, many major performance accidents occurred, but he always managed to deceive and muddle through because the performances were small-scale.

It didn't matter if he couldn't muddle through, because communication wasn't as developed as it is today.

Unlike today, where something that happens in one place is known worldwide in a day, he could just move to another place and continue.

It wasn't until 1995, during a performance on Beijing TV, that he was exposed on the spot.

This time, the impact was too great, and he was quickly labeled as a liar, disappearing from the public eye ever since.

This bucket of cold water poured down, and within a year or two, few people mentioned special abilities again.

Finally, with Li Mu Zi adding fuel to the fire, no one mentioned it anymore.

This farce that lasted nearly 20 years completely vanished.

After several thoughts crossed his mind, Chen Fan silently sighed and decided not to wade into this murky water.

Because the danger was too great!

A leader initially wanted to stop it.

However, before the document could be sent out, a series of phone calls flooded his office.

Behind each of those calls were retired veteran comrades, any one of whom could make one's scalp tingle.

Even though this person had just joined the group and was himself an experienced veteran, he couldn't withstand so many people.

In the end, he had no choice but to respond passively, which was equivalent to taking a step back.

Chen Fan didn't think he was tougher than that leader, able to stand up to the old leaders.

Besides, he also practiced Qigong himself.

According to the standards of ordinary people, he was also a "miraculous person," genuinely capable of splitting stones with his palm, fighting tigers with his fists, shooting arrows with unerring accuracy, and jumping several meters high.

If he took the lead, wouldn't he be opposing himself?

Therefore, his attitude was to never publicly express his opinion.

With a few casual words, the matter was considered over.

The main thing was to be cautious when one should be cautious.

…

The banquet ended, and everyone took their cars back.

Chen Fan pulled Yang Kangnian back to the automobile factory.

After entering the office, Yang Kangnian, his alcohol buzz wearing off, lay on the sofa and said to Chen Fan, "Should we go home and rest for a while, or take a walk around the factory?"

Chen Fan tore off two pieces of scrap paper from his desk, first tearing off the letterhead, then slowly walked over and smiled, "No rush, I'll perform a magic trick for you."

Yang Kangnian was slightly stunned, "Magic trick?"

His eyes flickered, and looking at the paper in his hand, he had a hint of guess in his mind, "Are you talking about… ear-reading?"

Chen Fan shook the scrap paper in his hand, placed it in front of him, and smiled, "Write a few words, fold it up, and give it to me."

After speaking, he turned around, indicating that he wouldn't look.

A trace of contemplation flashed in Yang Kangnian's eyes, along with some interest.

Then, he took out the fountain pen from his pocket, wrote a few words, folded it up, and handed it to Chen Fan, "Okay."

Chen Fan turned back, took it with his left hand, first held it in front of his eyes and looked at it for a while, then put it to his nose and smelled it, and held it in both hands, looking at it back and forth without opening it.

Finally, he put it to his ear, tilting his head to listen.

After a moment, he looked at Yang Kangnian and chuckled, "You wrote Yunhu Automobile Factory, and the ink is black."

Yang Kangnian looked at the unfolded paper in his hand, his eyes wide open, "How did you know?"

Chen Fan smiled, stretched his right hand in front of him, and in the palm of his hand was surprisingly another unfolded piece of paper.

Throwing both pieces of paper on the coffee table, Chen Fan turned around and sat down, lit a cigarette, and said softly, "This kind of sleight of hand is very simple.

The key is hand speed.

Take the scrap paper just now, for example, I actually tore off two pieces, one for you and the other in my own hand.

After you finished writing, when folding the paper, I was also folding the paper.

When the paper you wrote on reached my hand, it was easy to switch them.

Then, I used various small movements and language to attract your attention, and at the same time, I found an opportunity to open the paper with the writing on it.

My eyes could see clearly, so of course I knew what was written on the paper and what color ink was used."

Yang Kangnian suddenly understood, "So the truth about ear-reading is like this?"

Chen Fan smiled and shook his head, "The techniques of folk tricks are varied, and they may not necessarily use my method.

But the principle remains the same.

In the end, it's just a small trick, not some special ability."

Yang Kangnian nodded in realization.

After a pause, he suddenly looked up, and asked puzzledly, "Then just now…?"

"Why not explain clearly?"

Chen Fan looked at him, smiled, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said, "Since this matter has spread, the local authorities will definitely verify it.

As long as there are not many people on the scene, even if they verify it a hundred times, I can pass a hundred times.

I estimate that person is similar.

In other words, as long as that child skillfully masters the skills of the trick, fooling those people is no problem at all.

As the saying goes, every profession is like a mountain.

Those people probably don't understand tricks and magic, and they can't even see through them, so how can they expose them?

And as long as they pass the test there, they will most likely report it extensively.

When this trend picks up, there will definitely be other people who know tricks and magic who will follow suit.

Most people believe what they see with their own eyes.

What if the people above, and those retired but ubiquitous old comrades see it…?"

Speaking of this, he stopped abruptly, just pointed to the ceiling, and said nothing more.

Yang Kangnian was also someone who had fallen into a valley and then climbed up from the bottom, and instantly understood Chen Fan's meaning.

The people above, if they see it, will most likely believe it.

If they let them know that Chen Fan publicly questioned it, what if they encountered a short-tempered person… In fact, most of those people are old soldiers who fought on the battlefield.

How many of them have particularly good tempers?

If this happens, wouldn't Chen Fan be scolded for no reason?

Even if Chen Fan had backers and nothing would happen, being scolded for no reason, and the people scolding him were untouchable and un-scoldable, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?!

Understanding this, Yang Kangnian exhaled a long breath, also took out a cigarette and lit it.

After a long while, he sighed, "If this trend picks up, it will be a big deal."

Looking back, even he, an experienced old fox, was skeptical.

What about those ordinary people who may not have even traveled ten miles from home in their entire lives?!

However, he didn't care too much.

Compared to the previous typhoon, this little thing was indeed nothing.

At least it didn't directly harm people, right?

At most, they would be scammed out of some money.

If there were any outrageous behaviors, the relevant units were not vegetarians.

Yang Kangnian quickly made a decision and said softly, "I understand this matter, I won't talk nonsense, and it has nothing to do with you."

After a pause, he turned to look at Chen Fan, his eyes quite complicated, and smiled, "If your dad and I had your wisdom back then, we wouldn't have fallen to that point."

Chen Fan pursed his lips and shook his head, "It's different.

You were confronting others to protect public interests back then, but now it's none of our business, so of course we can stand by and watch."

He turned to look at Yang Kangnian and smiled, "I'm just reminding you not to be deceived by others, and don't get involved with such people.

Otherwise, when the scam is exposed in the future, it may affect your future."

Yang Kangnian is only in his forties now, not yet fifty, and is in his prime.

At this age, relying on the foundation of the automobile factory and the machinery factory, as long as the east wind comes, he will definitely soar.

When the Qigong craze dissipates, who knows where he will be.

But if he gets involved in this kind of thing, maybe what could have been a step further will turn into giving young people a chance, which would be embarrassing.

Therefore, Chen Fan will only privately remind people who are close to him.

As for the others, letting them suffer a little loss and learn more things is actually quite good.

After finishing a cigarette, Chen Fan patted his thigh and stood up, smiling, "Uncle Yang, I won't disturb your work, I'll go to the machinery factory to take a look first, and then leave tomorrow."

Yang Kangnian stood up, nodded, and smiled, "If you have something to do, I won't keep you.

Come over and sit down more often when you have time.

The technical department is looking forward to you."

Chen Fan smiled, suddenly remembered something, took out the key from his bag, took apart two of them and handed them over, "Uncle Yang, this is the key to the courtyard door and the main door of my place.

The doors inside the house are not locked.

I would like to trouble you to find someone to go over and clean two or three times a week."

After Yang Kangnian took it, he smiled and explained, "Originally, my three apprentices were doing it, but they all went to work in the brigade headquarters some time ago.

They have a lot of things to do every day, and it takes a lot of time to travel back and forth…"

Before he could finish speaking, Yang Kangnian interrupted, taking the key and nodding in realization, "A small matter.

Don't worry, I will definitely find you someone who is both honest and diligent."

Chen Fan smiled, "Thank you, Uncle Yang.

Her salary…"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Yang Kangnian, "You don't need to worry about the salary.

You are our factory's consultant.

How can you pay for cleaning a house?

I'll just pick someone from the factory later.

The logistics department will guarantee that everything is arranged properly."

After a pause, he added, "You should have mentioned this earlier.

Those girls often come over, and I often see them.

They run so far just to clean your house.

You are quite the master."

Chen Fan chuckled, "It's okay, it's okay."

Yang Kangnian's face fell, "You think I'm praising you?"

Chen Fan laughed awkwardly, turned around and left.

…

After coming out of the automobile factory, he first went to the machinery factory in front.

Under the leadership of Deputy Factory Director Xue, he looked at the industrial sewing machines that were about to be shipped tomorrow.

Overall, although it looks a bit rough and bulky, it has all the basic functions it should have: straight stitch, zigzag stitch, overlock, buttonhole, handwheel, speed adjustment, stitch length rotation, return, presser foot...

No wonder it's several times more expensive than a household sewing machine. Besides the motor, it also has several times more functions. The more mechanical functions there are, the more complex the internal structure will be. According to the current industrial conditions, this price is probably still the result of state regulation, otherwise it could be sold even more expensively.

After inspecting the industrial sewing machine, Chen Fan ordered two sets of cutting machines, ironing machines, fusing machines, packaging machines, needle detectors, embroidery machines, and printing machines.

He wasn't worried about the Lu Family Bay not being able to pay, but rather that the machinery factory wouldn't be able to manufacture these machines.

Faced with the list given by Chen Fan, Deputy Director Xue scratched his head, "Why didn't you give it to me all at once before?"

Chen Fan said with perfect justification, "I didn't even know if you could produce an industrial sewing machine. What if I gave you everything and you didn't accept the order?"

Deputy Director Xue was speechless, "Having the technology makes everything possible; not having the technology makes giving things one by one useless!"

Chen Fan chuckled and handed him a cigarette, "So, does the machinery factory have them or not?"

Deputy Director Xue pondered for two seconds, then took a pen and ticked on the paper, "Cutting machine, ironing machine, fusing machine, packaging machine, these are no problem. Anyway, you don't need many, and they will be delivered by next month at the latest.

But this needle detector, embroidery machine, and printing machine require special equipment. I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult..."

Before he could finish speaking, he pondered for two seconds, then said to Chen Fan, "Why don't I help you buy them through the machinery factory? I guess a production team in Lu Family Bay can't find this connection."

Although Lu Family Bay has now tied the South Lake Commune to its chariot, some equipment can be applied for through the South Lake Commune, but it is not guaranteed to be bought.

Now that Deputy Director Xue is willing to come forward, Chen Fan is naturally happy to be relieved of the trouble of running around to build relationships, and immediately smiled, "Then thank you, Uncle Xue."

Deputy Director Xue was immediately amused and pointed at him, "You, you call me Uncle Xue when you need something, and Deputy Director Xue when you don't."

Chen Fan replied with a straight face, "That's not necessarily true, it depends on the occasion. Official business is Deputy Director Xue, and private matters are Uncle Xue."

Old Xue snorted twice, "I believe your lies."

Chen Fan stood aside and chuckled.

The machinery factory is a treasure trove. All the equipment needed by the garment factory can be solved here.

As for the things needed by the food factory, the hygiene requirements are relatively high, and there are certain restrictions on materials. The machinery factory is probably powerless in this regard and can only apply through normal channels.

Secretary Yang had already submitted a report. Originally, there was no movement, but now the commune is also helping to promote it. There should be results by New Year's Day at the latest.

If it really doesn't work, Chen Fan can only use his money power to ask Zhou Zhengdong to purchase them in the United States and send them back.

What? Foreign exchange control?

Ahem, what bad intentions could there be for an uncle to send his nephew a little toy?!

As for the money for buying the equipment, just put it on the production team's account first, and then convert it into shares when the system is changed in the future. Isn't that great.

...

After finishing all this, it was not yet four in the afternoon. Chen Fan thought for a while and drove to the vegetable market.

The afternoon vegetable market was particularly deserted. Most of the stalls were empty, and only a few vegetable stalls had a few rotten vegetables. A few female comrades who were salespersons set up a table behind the stalls and were playing cards?

Chen Fan was a little dizzy. In Lu Family Bay, that broken place, playing mahjong was still done secretly behind closed doors. Has Yunhu City already become so open?

He wandered around in front of the vegetable stalls, but the comrades were all immersed in the card game, unable to see his handsome face, so naturally no one greeted him.

In the end, Chen Fan could only leave silently.

On the other side of the vegetable market, several meat stalls had already been cleaned up, and only a corner still had fish for sale.

Chen Fan glanced at it from afar. Forget the fish, there's still a tank at home.

Although he has been living in Lu Family Bay this month, Liu Lu and the others did not take away the meat and fish they had placed in the old house before.

The cured meat won't spoil anyway, and there are no mice at home, so it has been left there. The fish in the large water tank are fed every few days, just throw in something.

In fact, there's no need to feed them. Throw some stones and aquatic plants into the bottom of the tank, and plankton and algae will naturally grow in the water. They can eat and grow at the same time, so why feed them?

As for the green vegetables, some have actually been planted in the backyard.

He came to the vegetable market today mainly to see if there was any fresh meat, or vegetables that were not available in the garden.

It seems I'm going to be disappointed.

Chen Fan walked out of the vegetable market listlessly. Just as he was about to get in the car and leave, a voice rang out not far away, "Uncle Wang is here, hurry up, hurry up."

Who is Uncle Wang?

He stopped and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw many people walking out of the houses, and their common direction was an old man pulling a cart.

Chen Fan sniffed, and suddenly his eyes lit up. It was actually tofu?

And it was hot, freshly made tofu!

He immediately walked towards the tofu stall without hesitation.

The Wang surname old man who sold tofu smiled and shouted, "Make way, make way, it has to be parked in the right place, if it's parked in the wrong place, you'll be criticized."

A big sister shouted at the top of her voice, "Who dares to criticize you? I'll let Old Ma beat him up."

No need to ask who Old Ma is, you can tell there's a story behind it.

Although that's what she said, the people around still made way, allowing Uncle Wang to continue moving forward, and then, without deviation, he stopped right in front of Chen Fan.

The old man put down the cart, straightened his back and took a breath, then turned around and uncovered the thick gauze covering the tofu.

As the cloth was uncovered, a rich aroma of beans immediately wafted over.

Without further ado, let's start selling.

At this time, Chen Fan realized that the old man didn't come alone. He was followed by a little girl, who collected the money, while the old man used a small shovel to scoop the tofu and put it into the bowls held by the customers.

Not everyone was holding a bowl. Some people directly took it with their hands, and opened their mouths wide to bite into it while it was still hot.

Chen Fan's mouth was slightly open, and his eyes didn't blink. Tofu can be eaten like this?

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Isn't it just solidified tofu pudding, just missing some seasoning? Of course, it can be eaten directly.

When he came back to his senses, most of the tofu on the stall had disappeared.

Fortunately, the customers who looked like they were starving to death had also disappeared with it.

Seeing that there was no one else, Chen Fan said, "Grandpa, give me two pieces of tofu."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly realized that he didn't bring a bowl.

What to do?

The old man saw that he didn't have anything in his hands, and his face was a little dazed. He wasn't in a hurry, but slowly took out two withered lotus leaves from under the tofu stall, scooped two pieces of tofu, stacked them on the lotus leaves, then wrapped the lotus leaves, and gently tied them with a hemp rope, holding it in one hand and supporting it in the other, and handed it to Chen Fan, "Young comrade, hold it like this, walk slowly, it won't scatter, it's just that the lotus leaves and thin hemp rope will cost an extra cent, a total of 7 cents."

Chen Fan paid the money first, then took the tofu, grinning and chuckling, "Your craftsmanship is good."

Uncle Wang smiled honestly, "You flatter me, I rely on this to eat, I can't mess around."

Chen Fan got in the car with the tofu, gently placed it on the seat next to him, and drove home.

Then he fished two fish from the backyard, picked some vegetables, dug a few potatoes, and took out a piece of cured meat. He put everything in a basket and went out again.

This time, he was going to the cadre dormitory area of the cotton mill, the Jiang family's small building.

This year, the prefectural committee has been back and forth many times, but he hasn't eaten a few meals at the Jiang family's house. Every time he comes and goes in a hurry, it is indeed a bit rude.

Before, Chen Fan was used to his previous solitary life, and he rarely had the concept of visiting relatives and friends in his mind, but now he is finally slowly changing.

Besides, Jiang Lili has followed him, and will become a family member as soon as she reaches the age. These two people cannot be bypassed anyway, and it is time to adapt in advance.

He took advantage of his free time today to go over and cook a meal himself, to express a little bit of his heart anyway.

When Jiang Heng and Shen Xueyi get off work and come back, they can have dinner just in time.

Everyone enjoyed the meal, and after dinner, Chen Fan also tried to call Jiang Lili.

He was lucky today. Before he finished a cigarette, the phone was connected.

Both sisters were at home. When they received Chen Fan's call, and heard that he was at their parents' house, they were extremely happy. Even Jiang Tiantian, who usually didn't talk much, held the phone and chatted with her parents for a long time.

Not to mention Jiang Lili, her lover took the initiative to see her parents and even cooked a meal himself. She smiled so hard that her face was stiff and she couldn't close her mouth at all.

After chatting for a while, the phone returned to Chen Fan's hand. At this time, Jiang Lili blushed and looked at her sister next to her, gently pursed her lips, and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Fan, when will you come over next time?"

The soundproofing effect of the microphone was not very good in this era. Although she spoke very softly, everyone still heard it.

Jiang Heng gave Shen Xueyi a look, and the two got up and left.

Chen Fan glanced at their backs, smiled, and said softly, "There are a lot of things going on in Lu Family Bay these days. After arranging things here, and reporting back to the school with the teacher, I will go over."

Jiang Lili's eyes flowed, and she was overjoyed.

At this time, Jiang Tiantian suddenly thought of something and said from the side, "Xiao Fan, the Shanghai Writers Association will hold a general membership meeting next month. Doesn't the Jiangnan Writers Association have a meeting?"

Chen Fan was stunned. Oh right, he seemed to remember that Chairman He said that there would be a meeting at the end of the year, and Vice Chairman Tan also said that he would promote himself. It's already the end of November, why hasn't anyone notified me?