Reborn in 1977

Finally understanding the meeting time, Chen Fan felt this trip was worthwhile.

Returning the meeting notice, he looked up and asked, "What's the theme of this meeting?"

The notice only had the meeting time and location; the time was December 7th, and the location was the conference room of the Writers Association. Anyway, there were only a little over 100 members in the whole province, so a classroom-style conference table would be enough to seat everyone.

Besides that, there was nothing else.

Guo Daorong shook his head and said, "Dozens of years ago, before the Provincial Writers Association shut down, there was also an annual provincial representative meeting, but at that time, it was just to discuss some association charters, important work arrangements, and the indispensable 'study session'.

This year is the first plenary meeting after the reconstruction, I guess it should be different. What I can guess is that one thing will be the formal restoration of the council.

The Writers Association mainly has a council and a secretariat. The council is truly responsible for specific affairs.

But now the organization only has the secretariat and a temporary presidium. This time, convening the provincial representative meeting and electing council members is definitely an indispensable item on the agenda.

As for the others..."

He said, looking at Chen Fan, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, "Foreign exchange, I guess there will be a lot of it. You will definitely be the main character in this work."

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes, pursed his lips, and wanted to retort a few words, but in the end, he remained silent.

He was already cooperating with Xiaobenzi to earn foreign exchange, and on the other hand, he had a US partner (Zhou Yali) waiting to negotiate. This issue was something Chen Fan couldn't avoid.

Frankly speaking, Chen Fan was not familiar with the working methods of the Writers Association. Who in their right mind would pay attention to the Writers Association for no reason?

At most, when reading online novels, some gossip about the Writers Association would be brought up, but other than that, he knew nothing.

However, Chen Fan felt that the current Writers Association should be somewhat different from the historical one, but he didn't know exactly where the difference lay, which made him a little conflicted.

After thinking for several seconds, he decided not to dwell on it anymore.

There were too many things he didn't know. If he dwelled on everything, how could he live his life?

Anyway, as long as the general direction was correct, it would be fine. Anything else was up for grabs.

After chatting for a while, before saying goodbye, Chen Fan took out the ticket he bought at the entrance, "Here, get this reimbursed for me."

Old Guo stared at the 5-cent ticket, speechless for a long time.

Finally, he sighed, took out two Zhonghua cigarettes with filter tips and handed them to him, "I've lived for so long, and this is the first time I've seen such a stingy person. No wonder you make money. Two cigarettes are worth 7.5 cents, no need to give me change."

Chen Fan only took one, frowned and said, "Does that mean I have to buy a ticket every time I come to you?"

Saying that, he carefully sized him up, "Could it be that you are also from some animal hall?"

Old Guo rolled his eyes, "Get out."

Just as Chen Fan was about to walk out briskly, he shouted again, "Come back."

After speaking, he took out two cards from the drawer and handed them to him, "This is next year's zoo annual pass, valid for the whole year. You can give it to someone else if you want, but don't ask me for ticket money in the future."

Chen Fan happily put it in his pocket, "Uncle Guo is generous!"

Then he turned and left.

Guo Daorong watched his back disappear at the door, and couldn't help shaking his head and smiling, "This kid."

Now the Writers Association has not fully recruited new members, only inviting new writers who have emerged in recent years and have some fame, and also paying attention to removing those who praise the 'Gang of Four'.

As a result, after selecting and selecting, only Chen Fan in Jiangnan Province was qualified to join the association.

Perhaps among the members of the Writers Association across the country, Chen Fan is the youngest. Therefore, the other members of the Jiangnan Provincial Writers Association did not regard him as a peer, but rather like watching their own children and nephews. They would not be angry when he joked and made fun, but instead found it very interesting.

Of course, Chen Fan would not make too much trouble. All his words and actions were just right, able to make people jump with anger without really getting angry. This was also a way for him to interact with people.

After smoking a cigarette, Guo Daorong took out the draft he had just stuffed at the bottom of the document and continued to code, scratching his head.

Anti-Japanese War literature, and specially for Xiaobenzi, I haven't written it before?

This question is a bit difficult!

...

Chen Fan strolled out, and when he passed the gate of the office area, he gave a cigarette to the gatekeeper.

After leaving the zoo, he got in the car and left.

Today is November 17th, and there are still about 20 days before the meeting, so he naturally doesn't need to rush to the provincial capital.

But he didn't plan to return to Lujiawan immediately either.

Come to think of it, he still had many acquaintances in the prefectural committee, and the relationships were all good.

Such as the Yunhu Health Department.

Fortunately, Lin Liwen and Xia Yuping went to Jiangda University to study, otherwise he wouldn't dare to go.

Going to the Health Department was like returning home, constantly greeting people.

After asking a few people, he went to Yan Liyuan's office.

Seeing him coming, Yan Liyuan immediately got up to welcome him, "Oh, you are a rare guest, sit here."

Chen Fan shook hands with him, followed him to sit on the sofa, and smiled, "I really didn't expect that you would become the director?!"

When he first came here, it was Yan Liyuan who received him. At that time, he was just a section chief. Although he was later promoted by one level, which was considered a reward for his merits, now he has directly become the person in charge of the Health Department, which really surprised Chen Fan.

Yan Liyuan handed over a cigarette and laughed, "No matter how fast I get promoted, I'm not as fast as you."

When he said this, Yan Liyuan's eyes were full of emotion.

In the second half of last year, Chen Fan was just an ordinary member of the production team below. Later, he rose to the sky in one step and became a section-level cadre in the Health Department. In order to facilitate his hiding in Lujiawan, a position of health inspector was specially set up.

He thought that he would be in the same unit in the future, but before long, he was transferred by the Writers Association, and was promoted two levels in a row, becoming the deputy director-level director of the Provincial Writers Association, at the same level as himself at the time.

Fortunately, he has taken the lead now, otherwise it would be one level lower than him, which would be very embarrassing.

However, thinking about Chen Fan's contribution, and the fact that "Yunhu First Aid" has been used nationwide, and the "First Aid Manual" has been popularized to almost every commune, and even every barefoot doctor in the production team, saving countless people, he felt that Chen Fan's current position was still low.

Even he himself had benefited from it before he sat in the director's seat, and the previous leaders had already been transferred to the provincial department, and he felt that Chen Fan should go to the ministry.

In that case, not to mention how high the level can be, anyway, it will not be lower than himself now.

Chen Fan smoked a cigarette, chatting with him with a smile, and occasionally asked about the recent situation of acquaintances.

If he knew what Yan Liyuan was thinking, he would probably laugh.

Not embarrassed by one level higher? Wait until the meeting next month to see who is embarrassed!

After agreeing to stay with Yan Liyuan for dinner, Chen Fan went to the Political Work Section to find Sister Zhou.

Sister Zhou was still working in the Political Work Section. It wasn't that there was no better position for her, but she was used to it here and didn't want to schedule her work too full, which was tiring.

However, she was not missed when rewarding for merit.

The level was raised by one level, and the salary was raised by two levels. Now she is at the same level as Chen Fan, the deputy director of the Health Department, in charge of the Political Work Section.

She was too lazy to change the office, and it was still in the original place.

When Chen Fan arrived, he noticed two new faces in the office, likely replacements for Lin Liwen and Xia Yuping. Old colleagues, Sister Yu and Sister Qin, were still around.

After exchanging pleasantries with them for a short while, barely a minute after handing out small gifts, Sister Zhou summoned him to the inner office.

Sister Zhou's first words were: "Xiao Lin and Xiao Xia told me you two are both at Jiangda University, yet you've only met twice this past year?"

Chen Fan remained unfazed, putting on a helpless smile, "I've been busy. There's a mountain of work at the Writers' Association. I also started a correspondence center, you know about that, right? Later, I even launched a 'Literary Youth' magazine. The internal and external affairs are overwhelming.

Then, wasn't my book published in Japan? And coincidentally, I'm also in charge of the European and American division of the Foreign Affairs Department. Even though Japan is supposed to be handled by the Asia-Africa division, that Director Duan, being utterly useless, actually made me do it too.

I don't even have time to breathe from morning till night, and on top of that, I have to juggle my studies. My teacher gave me several reading lists…"

Blah, blah, blah… Sister Zhou had barely started when Chen Fan unleashed a torrent of words, a verbal deluge that left Sister Zhou dizzy and lightheaded.

With great difficulty, she found an opening and quickly waved her hand to interrupt him, "Alright, alright, alright, don't pour out your grievances here. It's not worth it!"

After a pause, she said helplessly, "From the moment you were willing to take a temporary position here for those two sisters, I knew Xiao Lin and Xiao Xia didn't stand a chance. Now, I reckon they've both come to their senses too.

But regardless, they helped you quite a bit. Of course, the two sets of self-study materials you gave them also helped them get into university. In terms of favors, no one owes anyone anything.

However, personal relationships aren't something that can be settled by simply saying no one owes anything. Even if there's no romantic connection, there's no need to deliberately distance yourselves. Being ordinary friends is also good.

What do you think?"

This time, Chen Fan didn't ramble. He listened attentively to her words, pursing his lips and nodding gently.

After she finished speaking, he finally looked up and smiled, "Sister Zhou, I really wasn't deliberately avoiding them. I'm genuinely busy."

(Here, Secretary Yang, Zhang Wenliang, Bian Huifang, He Qingsheng, Xu Qizhen, and others collectively expressed their heartfelt contempt.)

Hearing him say this, Sister Zhou opened her mouth to speak, but then heard him continue, "But speaking of which, it really has been a long time since we last met. When I go back to school to hand in my assignments in a few days, I'll treat them to a meal and explain things."

Hearing this, Sister Zhou nodded in satisfaction, "That's the right attitude."

After discussing this, she then asked about Chen Fan's recent situation.

Chen Fan selectively shared what he could.

As for what he couldn't say, it was probably about buying several houses and writing a Western fantasy novel, earning a lot of money, right?

Sensing that it wasn't appropriate to reveal too many personal matters, Chen Fan focused on sharing various "inside scoops" from the Writers' Association, leaving Sister Zhou stunned.

In the evening, they had dinner at the neighboring guesthouse. Yan Liyuan and Sister Zhou accompanied him, along with a few newly promoted leaders, making for a lively and enjoyable gathering.

The next day at noon, he pulled Sister Zhou along and invited Zuo Qiuping from the Education Department. Chen Fan hosted a simple meal at Wangjiang Restaurant.

Afterward, he went to Jiangnan University's correspondence center, the health school, the First Hospital, and other places, visiting everyone he knew, maintaining these relationships.

Although with his current position and achievements, it was no longer necessary for him to do so, many of them had provided help in the past. Leaving aside whether he owed them favors or not, under the premise of not interfering with work or affecting life, occasional contact wasn't a big deal.

Sister Zhou was right, sometimes there's no need to calculate things too clearly. Judging character and making a few more friends might not be a bad thing.

The few people he contacted these days were all pretty good. Chen Fan was quite willing to chat and drink with them, considering it making friends.

After eating and drinking for a few days, he returned to Lujiawan.

Originally, he wanted to go directly to the provincial capital, but after considering it, there was indeed something he forgot to bring.

In the open space in front of his house, Chen Fan whistled. The sound wasn't loud, but it was extremely penetrating and carried far, far away.

Before long, a few small black dots appeared in the sky. The black dots grew larger as they approached, and soon calls could be heard.

"Chirp, chirp…"

In a matter of seconds, the small black dots could be identified as four birds of considerable size, namely a hobby and three gyrfalcons.

Before the birds could fly back, Chen Fan took out a relatively stiff pigskin bag and placed it on the table. He called out to the gyrfalcons twice, and the three little fellows immediately swooped down, then flapped their wings to slow down, landing in the bag one after another.

Chen Fan closed the lid of the bag, which happened to have three small holes. A bird popped out of each hole, with only its head exposed, chirping incessantly at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan stroked the heads of the three birds and responded a few times, and the birds quieted down.

Gyrfalcons are different from hobbies. They are full of wildness. If they are separated for a long time, although Chen Fan's ability could still call them back, it would definitely affect their tacit understanding. He could only carry them with him.

At least for the next year or two, he could only raise them like this.

Liu Lu and the other two had made a special trip back to help him pack his luggage, and then stood obediently in a row beside him.

Chen Fan sat in the chair and said to the three of them, "I'm going out for a while. If there are no accidents, I'll probably be back before the New Year."

He didn't want to travel frequently. These days, going out is quite tiring. This time, he estimates he will stay in the provincial capital until the middle or late part of the month, and then go to Shanghai. He estimates he will have to wait until Jiang Lili and the others have their winter vacation… or even until Zhou Yali returns to the country, before returning.

Just in time to come back for the New Year.

Liu Lu and the other two didn't speak, waiting for their master to continue.

Chen Fan said, "This period of time is neither short nor long. You must all work hard, but I will assign you a task."

Yang Mei, like her sister, had an impatient personality and immediately asked, "What task?"

She wouldn't be able to do anything too difficult!

Huang Li and Liu Lu also looked at him expectantly.

Chen Fan smiled and said, "Now Liu Lu is in charge of the garment factory. The first batch of industrial sewing machines has already been shipped back. You must teach everyone as soon as possible, and you can't delay the arrival of the next batch of equipment. Just do this well, and don't worry about anything else."

Then he looked at Yang Mei and Huang Li, "You are now in charge of the winery and the cafeteria, respectively. Looking at the scope of work, it is very small, but in the future, Lujiawan will develop in the direction of industrialization. You must also think carefully about how to transform what you have learned in the direction of industrialization.

This is your task."

Yang Mei and Huang Li immediately looked at each other in dismay. Yang Mei was fine; the winery could be transformed into a brewery. Huang Li was really confused. How could she industrialize her cafeteria?