Reborn in 1977

Chapter 477 Thorough

He Qingsheng was a little anxious. After the meeting, he immediately gave Chen Fan the membership card that had been prepared in advance.

The photo used was the one he asked Chen Fan for yesterday. With the photo pasted and the seal stamped, from today onwards, Chen Fan was a person with a certificate and could officially be called a "writer"!

He Qingsheng looked at the writer's certificate in Chen Fan's hand with a bit of emotion. "In the fifties, the Writers Association had welfare subsidies for every writer. I remember that each person received a pack of Feima cigarettes and half a kilogram of brown sugar every month, plus some other welfare items.

Later, the Writers Association was disbanded, and even wages could not be guaranteed, so these welfare items were naturally cancelled."

He looked up at Chen Fan and said, "Now that the Writers Association has just been re-established, many things are not perfect yet. However, once the corresponding institutions and personnel are in place, these welfare conditions will gradually be restored.

Don't worry, since you joined the Writers Association this month, you will definitely not miss out on your share. Once it is restored, all welfare items will be supplemented one by one."

Chen Fan put the certificate in his coat pocket, trying hard to suppress the corners of his mouth, "Yeah, I'm not in a hurry."

Compared to this certificate, what is that little bit of welfare?

Old Guo next to him put one hand in his pocket and the other hand holding a cigarette, and said with a smile, "This certificate is not just an identity certificate. A provincial-level membership certificate is very useful. For example, you can buy second-class or even first-class tickets on a boat. When buying plane tickets, you don't need to open a separate cadre certificate.

In two months, when you go to the capital for a meeting, Lao He will recommend you to join the National Writers Association. That membership certificate will be even more useful. Shopping and traveling will be convenient in all aspects."

Chen Fan blinked. He could even buy plane tickets?

He couldn't help but touch the Writers Association membership card in his pocket again.

(Writers Association membership card in the 1950s)

In this era, not just anyone could take a plane. You had to have a cadre certificate above the county or regiment level plus a letter of introduction. If Chen Fan could buy a second-class cabin on a passenger ship at Yunhu Passenger Station by showing his face, he could only sigh at the thought of airplanes.

His rank was right there. Unless one of his book friends worked for an airline and opened a back door for him, he couldn't even enter the airport.

Well, I'll flip through the book friends' letters again when I get back. What if a reader from an airline company writes to me?

After the meeting in the morning, the preparatory meeting of the Writers Association was in the afternoon. Chen Fan didn't participate, nor did he ever think about being a full-time writer, so he didn't need to stay in the meeting room, so he had another half day of free time.

Unlike him, the other 22 representatives had to participate and assist or be responsible for the establishment of various branches.

For example, the Yunhu area branch of the Writers Association, Lao Guo and the others would definitely participate.

In addition, there was the determination of the internal structure, staffing, and personnel of the Writers Association, such as the director of the Foreign Liaison Department of the Jiangnan Writers Association. This position was very important and could even apply to the National Writers Association to independently organize groups to visit foreign countries. …If this director didn't get along with the representatives, wouldn't that cut off the possibility of going abroad for exchanges and visits in the future?!

The full name of the Foreign Liaison Department is the Department of Foreign Liaison, and its main responsibility is to contact and communicate with overseas counterparts to promote exchanges and cooperation.

Before the dissolution of the Writers Association, there was no such department, but at that time there was a Foreign Literature Committee, whose responsibilities were somewhat similar, and it also involved foreign visits and exchanges.

This year, the capital will rebuild the Writers Association, and the news came that this newly established department would be established, so the provincial branches are also planning to establish their own branches, hoping to keep up with the pace of the General Association.

The Foreign Liaison Department also has European and American and Asian-African divisions, and the meeting room was full of fierce collisions.

Everyone wanted to recommend their own people to the Asian-African division, but the European and American division was avoiding it.

The cold winter hasn't gone far yet, who would be so bold as to take the initiative to provoke European and American countries? Aren't you afraid of being stabbed in the back?

The Asian-African division was different. Those were "countries of traditional friendship." Entering this department was not only risk-free, but also had the opportunity to go abroad for exchanges and visits. Who wouldn't want it?

As a result, after arguing, the deputy director in charge of the European and American division was left undecided.

He Qingsheng had a headache and wrote and drew on the list of all members, thinking about who could take on the responsibility of the European and American division?

… …

Chen Fan didn't know about Chairman He's troubles. He was preparing to drive out shopping again.

However, compared to yesterday's aimless wandering, today's purpose was very clear, which was to buy souvenirs.

As long as you are on a business trip, unless you don't understand the ways of the world at all, you will inevitably have to buy some souvenirs to give away.

Of course, you don't have to give them all away, the focus is on giving them to leaders and close friends.

Chen Fan roughly estimated that the four giants of Lujiawan, Captain Yang, Zhang Wenliang, … forget it, let's write down all 12 captains.

Then there were the 6 girls who lived in his house and worked voluntarily. They were quite diligent and conscientious. He didn't have to worry about anything, and they could arrange everything in an orderly manner.

However, the things he gave them didn't need to be too expensive, as long as the intention was there.

Then there were the prefectural committee, several acquaintances from the health department, several from the education department, several from the machinery factory, several from the cotton textile factory, and the leaders of the passenger station and shipping company.

After all, Lujiawan was opening a store on their territory, so the relationship couldn't be bad.

If you calculate it this way, should we also go to several hospitals and the prefectural committee health college?

Chen Fan looked at the names written on the notebook and couldn't help but wipe his face.

Too many, right?

Are there any wholesale markets this year?

It seems not!

So he decided to ask He Qingsheng for help.

The reason was very sufficient. If he hadn't come to the provincial capital for this meeting, would he have had to buy so many souvenirs?

When He Qingsheng was called out of the meeting room by him and heard his request, he couldn't help but roll his eyes, and then called Xu Qizhen, who had just been elected as the secretary-general of the Writers Association, "Lao Xu, call the No. 1 Department Store. Write down what he buys first, only collect the money, and the tickets will be sent to them later."

Secretary-General Xu looked at Chen Fan with a suppressed smile, "You can just go and buy it. As long as it's not too exaggerated, the organization will take care of it for you."

What international joke are you kidding?

Does the Writers Association lack tickets?

Just ask one question, just one question! There is one, count one, no matter whether it is at the provincial level or the district or county level, which unit does not have members of the Writers Association?

You ask if the Writers Association has tickets?

It's as funny as asking Lao Ma if he can get affordable housing!

It's outrageously ridiculous!

Then Chen Fan set off with great interest.

Having an organization is different. In the past, no matter how rich you were, you only had dozens of tickets in your hand, but now you are too generous.

You don't have to consider the tickets at all, just buy whatever you see!

Anyway, after paying the money, someone will make up for the tickets later.

This is called paying first and then making up for the tickets, highlighting freedom and ease!

Chen Fan was excited and drove straight to the No. 1 Department Store.

The place where he bought Xibu for Zhang Wenliang yesterday was just a district-level department store, which was not comparable to the provincial No. 1 Department Store at all.

It is said, it is said.

When this department store was established, it aimed at Wangfujing Department Store.

Unfortunately, the Wangfujing Department Store had the State Council backing it, so even with the entire province's strength, the Provincial First Department Store couldn't compare.

However, it was only incomparable to Wangfujing Department Store, and a few department stores in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

A department store built with the strength of the entire province was naturally extraordinary.

Wangfujing Department Store had four floors, and the Provincial First Department Store also had four floors. They had two additional floors above, and here, there were also two additional floors.

They only opened the first to third floors, while here, all four floors were open!

Chen Fan drove to the entrance of the Provincial First Department Store, got out of the car, and a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit and long cotton coat greeted him.

No doubt, this was a manager of the department store, who had personally waited at the entrance after receiving the call.

The department store was very impressive, even more so than the supply and marketing cooperative, but so what?

Try offending a scholar?

If you befriended a scholar, your unit could produce an "Advanced Worker," widely reported by the city and provincial newspapers, and might even appear in national newspapers.

These days, famous national model workers, apart from the few personally appointed by the leaders and studied by all units, weren't they all made popular by reporters and scholars?

Even starting from now, for the next 20 years, even the most arrogant people would have to treat reporters and famous scholars with respect.

The pen is like a knife, that's how it is!

Conversely, if a scholar helped you…

At this moment, this manager thought so.

Not to mention that this scholar was Chen Fan, who was famous throughout the country.

He personally acted as a guide, taking Chen Fan from the first floor to the fourth floor.

Then, with great enthusiasm, he helped put several bags in the car, and waved goodbye as he watched Writer Chen leave.

……

Chen Fan drove, looked at the bags in the back seat in the rearview mirror, and felt inexplicably guilty.

Other things were fine, just some travel souvenirs like hats, cups, folding knives, and handkerchiefs, but the gifts for the Jiang sisters were two Plum Blossom watches with calendars.

According to the manager, the cheapest place to buy these imported watches was in Shanghai. A Swiss Plum Blossom watch cost 290 yuan, and a Longines watch cost 276 yuan. A 17-jewel manual Plum Blossom with a calendar was 319 yuan, and a 25-jewel with a calendar was 430 yuan, and it didn't even come with the original steel strap.

All imported watches required watch coupons and industrial coupons.

Shipping this kind of thing to the inland areas? Thank you! It would cost an extra 20 yuan!

Adding a steel strap would cost another 10 yuan!

And the two 25-jewel Plum Blossom calendar watches that Chen Fan chose, worth 460 yuan, not only required watch coupons and industrial coupons, but also seemed to require overseas Chinese remittance coupons?

Everyone knows about foreign exchange certificates, which are given when relatives and friends with overseas connections send money, and the People's Bank of China automatically converts it into RMB according to the exchange rate at the time, and gives it to you in the form of foreign exchange certificates.

So ordinary people cannot get foreign exchange.

And the time when foreign exchange certificates appeared was in April 1980.

But before that, since the 1950s, overseas Chinese remittance coupons had been issued.

Overseas Chinese remittance coupons are very different from foreign exchange certificates. Foreign exchange certificates can be used directly as money, without the need to pay for additional coupons.

The role of overseas Chinese remittance coupons is similar to that of coupons. They need to be used with money, and cannot be used alone.

Before the appearance of foreign exchange certificates, overseas Chinese remittance coupons were a symbol of "special power."

Coincidentally, both of the watches Chen Fan bought required overseas Chinese remittance coupons for payment.

But Chen Fan didn't have them, and the manager didn't ask for them either.

Because the Writers Association was backing him!

Chen Fan stuffed the two Plum Blossom watches into his pocket and ran back in a hurry.

Anyway, it was impossible to hand them over. At worst, he would write a few more articles to make up for it!

……

The next day's meeting was to discuss the relevant agenda for attending the National Writers Association Reconstruction Conference in the capital in two months.

The leaders of the Cultural Department and the Propaganda Department were no longer here. He Qingsheng sat on the rostrum and said in a serious tone, "This meeting is important and unimportant. It is a major event for the Writers Association in more than ten years, but it is also very simple, that is, to support the decisions made by the superior leaders."

After a pause, he picked up his teacup and took a sip of water, and continued, "However, even if we follow the organization, we must have our own position."

He turned his gaze to Chen Fan and the others sitting in the front row, and said seriously, "I said my opinion yesterday. If any of you still have any objections, you can bring them up for discussion now."

Ten seconds later, the scene was still silent. He Qingsheng continued, "Since no one objects, then the keynote is set. We don't care about other provinces and cities. Anyway, the opinion of the Jiangnan literary world is to abandon the old ways of the past and concentrate our energy on literature.

Doing a good job in literary creation, giving play to the role of literary works, and enriching the spiritual and cultural life of the people, this is the primary and core task of our literary creators today…"

Chen Fan struggled to stay awake and finally made it to the end of the meeting.

When the noon meeting ended, this provincial Writers Association meeting also officially ended.

……

The guesthouse cafeteria.

The members who attended the meeting these two days were gathered together, divided into several tables, exchanging toasts.

When eating, He Qingsheng didn't say too much, just chatted a few words of expectation, and then drank and talked with future colleagues and writer representatives from various regions.

Chen Fan kept a low profile. As the youngest and newest member of the Provincial Writers Association, he did not raise his glass to toast people everywhere, but sat on the stool, shy like an 18-year-old boy.

The old guys in their 50s found it both funny and heartwarming, so they didn't ask him to drink, but moved over one by one and told him a lot of heartfelt words.

Some imparted writing experience, while others exchanged life insights.

Whether it was useful or not, Chen Fan felt a little moved.

After eating the "farewell dinner," He Qingsheng, full of alcohol, followed behind Chen Fan and entered his room.

Chen Fan quickly made two cups of tea, and as on the night before, the two sat opposite each other across the coffee table.

He Qingsheng took a sip of hot tea, put down the teacup, and said to Chen Fan, "The night before yesterday, I asked Lao Guo about your affairs. I didn't expect you to have such an experience."

Chen Fan blinked, without saying a word.

Because he didn't know how much Lao Guo knew about his affairs.

What if he added some personal embellishments?

He Qingsheng leaned on the back of the sofa, took a deep breath, and said, "According to Lao Guo, your main work location now is actually in the Lujiawan Production Brigade. Your positions in the Health Department, Machinery Factory, and Cotton Mill are actually just nominal."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Chen Fan, his eyes full of emotion, "In this way, it makes sense. It's actually a good thing that you are unwilling to take a position in the Writers Association, but I didn't expect that you could see through things so thoroughly at such a young age!"