Reborn in 1977

Zhou Yali ate her breakfast at a leisurely pace, while Chen Fan looked at a book, his mind occupied with arranging the publishing cooperation between the two sides.

His cousin was right; once the Jiangnan Writers Association reached a cooperation agreement with the Zhou family's publishing company, given his relationship with Old Ba and himself, they certainly wouldn't turn a blind eye.

Furthermore, the Writers Association of China would likely find ways to tap into this channel.

With literary exchanges with foreign countries having been interrupted for over a decade, reopening the country's doors not only required finding ways to renew old relationships but also to develop new channels.

Especially book publishing that could generate real economic benefits.

It should be known that one of the core topics of the recently concluded meeting was to strengthen economic construction.

Finding ways to earn foreign exchange was naturally a way to keep up with the policies, and no one would oppose it.

In fact, the cooperation between the Jiangnan Writers Association and Takahashi Publishing had already attracted the attention of the national association.

Now that they had been cooperating for nearly half a year, the effects were already very obvious. This kind of cooperation not only promoted domestic literary works overseas but also generated tangible foreign exchange benefits. According to He Qingsheng, the national association was already preparing a cultural exchange event to expand this cooperation, not only limited to Jiangnan Province, but also not just book publishing. There might also be bilateral exchanges, reading forums, and other activities.

However, the specific details had not yet been released, so Chen Fan didn't know much about it.

If they could cooperate with the Japanese, then they could also cooperate with the Americans.

Moreover, against the backdrop of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, if they could reach a cooperation agreement with an American publishing company at the earliest opportunity, its significance would be even greater than cooperating with the Japanese.

However, as a major shareholder of the Zhou family's publishing company, he certainly couldn't screw over his own people, and by 'his own people' here, he meant Zhou Yali.

With the cooperation with Takahashi Publishing, the Writers Association would submit a list of books to be published, and then they would choose from that list.

Takahashi Publishing had been deeply involved in the Japanese book market for many years and naturally had its own judgment of the market. Even if the selected books weren't bestsellers, they wouldn't be too bad.

The Zhou family's publishing house had previously been a semi-public welfare enterprise serving the Chinese community, and its investigation and understanding of the American book market would certainly not be too in-depth, not to mention that Zhou Yali was still a publishing novice.

Therefore, the task of selecting works for publication would naturally fall on Chen Fan's shoulders.

So, rather than saying that Zhou Yali had approved two more potential cooperation partners, it was better to say that she was letting Chen Fan expand the scope of selection so he could choose literary works suitable for the American market from more works.

Well, domestic literary works were indeed very different from those of the Americans, but even if they didn't aim to make money, they should at least not lose money!

Chen Fan silently recalled domestic literary works that were considered relatively famous… he could forget about the unknown ones; if even domestic readers didn't like them, he couldn't expect them to go overseas.

Then, based on Western values and preferences, he compared them and divided them into two major categories: one was drama or comedy, and the other was tragedy.

He didn't realize it until he started planning, but when it came to calculating, he found that there were quite a few metrics to consider.

It was only because he had read enough and had a better understanding of the similarities and differences between Eastern and Western cultures that he could do this.

After thinking for a while, and having a few targets in mind, he relaxed and temporarily put the matter aside.

Then, he picked up his teacup and took a sip. Looking at Zhou Yali, she had just finished breakfast, stacked a few bowls together, and trotted off to the kitchen to put them away.

After washing her hands and wiping her mouth, she trotted back, jumped onto the recliner, snuggled in, wrapped the bearskin tighter, and looked at Chen Fan, blinking her eyes, "Old brother, when are we having lunch?"

Chen Fan's face darkened, and he pointed to the grandfather clock in the corner, "Look at the time."

Zhou Yali turned her head to look, "11:30."

Turning back, "It's noon, huh? Are you going to make lunch?"

Chen Fan threw the book aside, looking at her speechlessly, "Are you still hungry enough to eat?"

Zhou Yali lay on the chair, changing her position to snuggle in, "I can eat if you make it."

Chen Fan sighed, "We haven't finished the dumplings that Tian Tian and Lili made yesterday. I'll cook you a bowl later, and then we'll have dinner when they come back."

Zhou Yali thought for a moment, smacked her lips, "Alright, then."

Mentioning Tian Tian, Chen Fan's heart stirred, and he turned to look at Zhou Yali. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Have you ever been in love?"

Zhou Yali was thinking about where to go for a walk in the snowy weather when she suddenly heard this, and immediately turned her head, looking at him with a face full of astonishment, "Why are you asking this?"

The next second, she seemed to think of something, and her eyes lit up, "Could it be that you've encountered a romantic problem?"

As she spoke, she sat up straight, crossed her legs on the chair, stared at Chen Fan, not even blinking her eyes, "Tell me, tell me, I'll analyze it for you."

Chen Fan's eyes twitched slightly, and he sized her up suspiciously, "Could it be that you're very knowledgeable in this area?"

Zhou Yali stretched her neck and said with confidence, "Although I haven't been in love, haven't I seen pigs run even if I haven't eaten pork?"

Then, she held up her finger, "I've also read Erich Fromm's classic psychological work on love, 'The Art of Loving'. Fromm believes that love is an art, not simply an emotion of throwing oneself into it, and it's also related to a person's maturity."

She said, raising her head and patting her chest, "Like your sister, I'm especially mature. If you have any problems with love, it's definitely right to ask me."

If it weren't for the gossip flashing in her eyes, Chen Fan would have almost believed her.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying slowly, "What romantic problem do I have? What romantic problem could I have?"

Hearing this, the disappointment in Zhou Yali's eyes was undisguised, "Ah? You don't?"

Saying that, she deflated like a punctured balloon, slumped back on the chair, and said weakly, "Then why are you asking this? Could it be that you want to explore your sister's love history? You'll be disappointed. Under the earnest teachings and strict guarding of Mr. Zhou and Ms. Zhao, this young lady hasn't even had a male friend, let alone been in love. I haven't had as exciting a love life as you."

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly, "What's so exciting about mine? It's just being in a relationship and preparing to get married."

Zhou Yali glanced at him, her eyes instantly turning into a glare, not wanting to talk to him.

Chen Fan coughed dryly, took another sip of water, and said seriously, "'The Art of Loving' is a psychological work published by Erich Fromm in 1956. I've read a few excerpts in magazines, and it does have some insights, but it's a pity that there's no such book in China, otherwise, I would definitely read it."

Then, he looked at Zhou Yali, "Since you've read it, you should also have some insights, even if it's not your own idea, just repeating the views in the book is also an opinion."

Zhou Yali glared at him again, how could these words sound so irritating?

Chen Fan's expression became serious, and he continued, "Here's the thing, I have a friend, he's encountered a little problem in love…"

Zhou Yali sat up with a whoosh, staring at him suspiciously, "Friend?"

Chen Fan said righteously, "That's right, just a friend."

Zhou Yali blinked, "What's your friend's name? Where's he from?"

Chen Fan… this is so serious?

He took a deep breath and said without hesitation, "His name is Anquan, he's from Shanghai. If it weren't for his busy studies and work, I would have called him over for you to see."

So, he absolutely couldn't let Anquan come over, especially when Zhou Yali was around.

Hearing him say it so confidently, the suspicion in Zhou Yali's eyes finally faded a bit, but she still didn't fully believe it.

After a two-second silence, Zhou Yali tightened her fur coat, looked at him, and asked, "So, what kind of relationship problems does this friend of yours have?"

Chen Fan changed his posture, crossed his legs, and said, "Here's the thing, this guy, he's quite outstanding, especially since he's handsome and a student at a key university. After entering school, he also started a work-study program, helping classmates earn money on one hand, and openly earning quite a bit himself on the other, so he's quite popular with girls.

But, he's married, and his child is about to be born, so he's always been quite self-disciplined.

But then again, being too outstanding isn't always a good thing. Now, there's a girl who really likes him, like, really likes him.

This has caused Comrade Anquan some distress."

He nonchalantly took another sip of tea, then turned to look at Zhou Yali, "In this situation, what do you think he should do?"

Zhou Yali had almost dismissed her suspicions, but after hearing the end, the suspicion on her face was even stronger than at the beginning. She stared intently at Chen Fan, "You said he's outstanding and many girls like him?"

Chen Fan nodded, "Yeah."

Zhou Yali, "He's married, and his child is about to be born?"

Chen Fan blinked, "Yeah."

Zhou Yali continued to press, "And now he knows a girl likes him, but he doesn't know what to do?"

Chen Fan thought for a moment, feeling that there was nothing wrong with saying it that way, and continued to nod, "Yeah."

Zhou Yali gasped softly, her eyes full of doubt, "Then that's very strange. Why wasn't he troubled when so many girls liked him before, but now he's troubled when this girl likes him?"

Chen Fan's face froze. After several seconds, he frowned and said with a thoughtful expression, "That's a good question. I'll ask him tomorrow."

Zhou Yali subtly rolled her eyes, "What's there to ask? There's only one answer."

Chen Fan looked up at her, "What?"

Zhou Yali glanced at him, "What else could it be? He didn't like those girls before, but he's fallen for this one. Otherwise, why wasn't he troubled by those people before, but now he's troubled by this one?"

Chen Fan gasped, his eyes widening involuntarily, "Is that so?"

Zhou Yali pursed her lips, sighed almost imperceptibly, and said earnestly, "Little brother, you're young, you haven't been in love,…"

Chen Fan immediately corrected, "What do you mean I haven't? Aren't Lili and I dating?"

Zhou Yali smiled coldly, very disdainfully, "You and Lili are dating, that's right, and you're even talking about marriage. But that's not called being in love. Let me ask you, have you ever gone on dates? Don't say the mainland is conservative. I've asked Tian Tian and the others, and there are many people dating in schools and in society now. It's not just about being intimate to be dating.

Going to the park together, watching a movie together, even just going out for a meal or taking a walk together, that's dating. How many times have you and Lili gone to the park, watched movies, eaten out alone, or taken walks?"

Chen Fan's mouth opened slightly, somewhat speechless.

Before meeting Jiang Lili, he was a complete virgin. Even when girls actively pursued him in college, his own poor conditions made him pretend to be stupid and avoid it.

Not to mention after starting work, no time, no money, what was there to date with?

So, he really had no experience in dating, not even the theory.

Zhou Yali continued to speak, "You and Lili, it's completely out of mutual sympathy in times of trouble, and the natural result of shared wealth,…"

Hearing this, Chen Fan immediately interrupted her, saying with a serious face, "That's not it. Whether it's mutual sympathy or true love, I can still tell the difference. She's beautiful, gentle, diligent, and kind, exactly the right match in my heart. Being with her is my luck."

Zhou Yali blinked, paused for two seconds, and looked at him, asking, "So, are you sure you like that girl too?"

Chen Fan, "About her,…"

He suddenly reacted, immediately correcting righteously, "What do you mean I'm sure? I've already said, it's a friend of mine, Anquan, it's him, not me."

Zhou Yali nodded mindlessly, "Uh-huh, uh-huh, it's him, it's him. So you, ah no, is he very sure he likes that girl?"

Chen Fan smacked his lips, thought for a moment, and said, "He shouldn't be sure, otherwise he wouldn't have come to ask me, and then I asked you."

Zhou Yali chuckled coldly twice, "Then I can tell you very responsibly,… Okay, okay, you tell him, he definitely likes that girl. I've already said the reason, so you should let him think carefully about what to do."

Chen Fan exhaled a long breath, his brow furrowing tightly, "That's why this matter is so difficult to handle, that's why I'm asking you."

Zhou Yali spread her hands, "You said it yourself, you can completely tell the difference between what is like and what is not."

Chen Fan corrected again, "Anquan."

Zhou Yali's mouth twitched slightly, "Okay, Anquan. Anquan is actually very clear in his heart, so he could be indifferent to those girls who liked him before, but when facing this girl, his heart started to waver.

As for what to do?"

She leaned back, falling into the chair, and said with her eyes closed, "No one can help him with this, he can only make the decision himself. Anyway, he can't abandon his wife, and as for that girl, either he tells her clearly and cuts ties completely, not leaving her any room for illusions, or,…"

Saying that, she turned to look at Chen Fan, grinning and smiling insincerely, "Then it depends on whether he has the ability to keep her as a mistress, he can't possibly marry both of them."

Chen Fan said with a dark face, "What nonsense are you talking about, keeping her as a mistress, always coming up with bad ideas. Besides, the girl hasn't explicitly expressed her feelings to him, how can you ask him to explain it clearly?"

Zhou Yali clapped her hands, giggling, "Then just continue to play dumb, leaving everything to time. Maybe one day that girl will meet another, more outstanding person, and fall in love with someone else."

She turned her head back, closed her eyes, and muttered softly.

Even with Chen Fan's good hearing, he couldn't hear this sentence clearly, and couldn't help but ask, "What did you say?"

Zhou Yali didn't even open her eyes, "Nothing."

But she laughed to herself, "I'm saying, more outstanding than you? Basically impossible."

Seeing that she refused to say, Chen Fan had no choice but to pat his thigh and stand up, "Asking was the same as not asking, I'll let him figure it out himself."

Saying that, he was just about to leave, but turned back around and said softly, "Hey, this is someone else's privacy after all, don't go around blabbing about it."

Zhou Yali opened her eyes, looked at him and smiled slightly, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Chen Fan nodded, "Also, he's shy, so if you ever meet him, don't go asking him about it."

Zhou Yali made a zipping motion at her mouth, "My lips are sealed, I guarantee I won't ask him, and I won't tell anyone."

Chen Fan nodded in satisfaction, gave her a thumbs up, "You're a good kid, I'll go cook dumplings for you."

Zhou Yali raised her right hand and waved, "Cook them a little mushy, I like them soft."

After Chen Fan walked to the kitchen, she looked up, couldn't help but snicker, then quickly covered her mouth, "Friend? Hehe!"