Reborn in 1977

“Self-draw, counting the concealed kong just now, a total of 6 fan, 32 times the base. With a base of one dime, that's 3 dollars and 20 cents. Thank you, pay up!”

Chen Fan pushed over his mahjong tiles and quickly calculated the bill. He then spread out his hands to collect the money.

Zhang Wenliang wiped away a cold sweat, lifted the tablecloth in front of him, and reached out to touch it. His eyes immediately glazed over. “Where's the money? Where's all my money?”

“It's all gone, didn't you notice?”

Zhang Changjiang was very dissatisfied. While taking out money, he muttered to himself, 'Wasn't it fine to play for one cent to begin with? Why show off and dare to play for a dime?'

Another person, Zhang Juemin, unbuttoned his jacket, then unbuttoned his cotton coat, reaching inside to pull out a handful of loose change. He counted out 3 dollars and 20 cents and handed it over, secretly feeling fortunate. Thanks to San Huizi's quick thinking, when he saw Little Chen trying to pong, he changed the base to one cent. Although it was later changed to a dime, it was still much better than playing for a dollar!

Actually, in the past when playing mahjong, they would play for a dime or two, or even five cents or a dime. But this year, hadn't they "struck it rich"? And since it was a family gathering, they started a commotion to play for a dollar, but they didn't expect there to be a "Mahjong God" here?!

After twenty-odd rounds, no one else had won a hand, and every time it was a self-draw with multipliers, ridiculously so!

Chen Fan collected the money from the three players and tossed it into the basket held by Zhang Cuie next to him. Zhang Cuie immediately organized the money, one bill at a time, smiling as if she had won it herself. “Master, it's over 600 already.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Changjiang, Zhang Juemin, and Zhang Wenliang all felt dizzy. The Zhang family members watching the fun on the sidelines were also dumbfounded.

The stakes were that high?

And they were only playing for a dime!

Especially Zhang Juemin, who almost fainted. Little Chen had won over 600, which meant that the three of them had lost an average of over 200 each. Although he now held a regular position at the health clinic, with a monthly salary of over 40 dollars, 200 was half a year's income!

Fortunately, his job was still stationed at Lujiawan. Besides seeing patients, he spent a lot of time working with the production team. This year's dividends were also quite substantial, and the brigade even gave him work point subsidies, otherwise… Oh my gosh, it hurts!

Chen Fan pushed the mahjong tiles a couple of times, then looked up and saw their expressions. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

Crap, he couldn't help himself just now and won too much all at once. He was afraid it would be difficult to play in the future.

Sure enough, Zhang Wenliang tidied up the tablecloth and said with a serious expression, “Uh, there are still important matters to discuss. How about we stop here for today… ”

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Changjiang frantically winked, his eyeballs almost popping out.

Yang Xingxiu swiftly rolled up the tablecloth and ran off with the mahjong tiles.

Within seconds, a large fruit platter was placed on the table, and cups of green tea were placed in front of each person.

The mahjong table instantly turned into a tea table.

Chen Fan feigned pushing his hand a few times, looking rather dejected. “Actually, we can chat while playing.”

He turned to look at Zhang Wenliang with a sincere face. “The wheel of fortune turns, maybe it'll be your turn to have a winning streak soon!”

Zhang Wenliang didn't take the bait at all.

He had figured it out. Whether it was academic or martial, serious or unserious, and regardless of whether he had learned these things before, when it came to a certain person, depending on the difficulty, he could learn them from one minute to one day, or from one day to one month.

This guy was simply a monster!

If he played mahjong with him again, he'd chop off his hands!

He immediately changed the subject and said seriously, “Mahjong is just for entertainment. We still need to focus on work. The expansion of this breeding farm is now ready, lacking only the final push… ”

Zhang Cuie whispered, “Hmph, can't even afford to lose 200, stingy.”

Everyone looked at her. Could it be that your surname is also Zhang?

Zhang Cuie wasn't easily intimidated and glared back.

Seeing this scene, Chen Fan couldn't help but grin and laugh.

Seeing that her master was also laughing at her, Zhang Cuie blushed slightly and lowered her head.

Chen Fan took out his pipe, filled it with tobacco, and asked Zhang Wenliang, “Do you have any red paper?”

Zhang Wenliang was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Yang Xingxiu.

Yang Xingxiu immediately nodded. “Yes, how big do you need it?”

Chen Fan smiled. “For red envelopes.”

As soon as these words came out, everyone reacted and looked at Zhang Cuie with envy.

Only Zhang Cuie was still confused, clutching the money her master had won tightly, glaring at her third brother.

Her uncle and eldest brother didn't dare to look, so they could only glare at her third brother.

When Yang Xingxiu brought the red paper, Chen Fan beckoned her over, and she handed over the money.

Chen Fan didn't even count it. Instead, he took out a ten-yuan bill from his own pocket and added it to the pile, wrapping it all up in red paper. He then handed it to her. “Here, a red envelope from your master.”

Only then did Zhang Cuie react, her big eyes widening. “Ah?”

Zhang Changjiang chuckled and slapped the back of her head. “Ah what? Hurry up and kowtow to your master to wish him a Happy New Year.”

Zhang Cuie's face was blank. She didn't know what to do for a moment.

Whose red envelope was this big?

Even if it was from a master to a disciple, one dollar would be the limit, and that was only if the disciple brought at least 5 dollars worth of gifts to visit the master for the New Year. That's when they will give red envelopes.

Moreover, after the disciple got married, the red envelope would be gone, but the New Year's gifts from the disciple to the master could not be reduced.

I haven't even wished him a Happy New Year yet, and he's already giving me a New Year's red envelope?

Zhang Cuie's father had been watching the whole time and naturally saw everything.

He wanted to refuse, but that was impossible!

This was from the master to the disciple. An elder's gift could not be refused. Did the disciple dare not accept it? Could it be that she didn't want to acknowledge this master?

He could only walk over with a wry smile and pat his daughter's head. “Kowtow to your master first, then accept the red envelope.”

Zhang Cuie came back to her senses, quickly pulled out a chair and stood up. Then, she knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed three times with loud bangs.

Chen Fan took the big red envelope and tapped her head three times according to the old custom before handing it to her.

Seeing this scene, the Zhang family members all smiled.

It wasn't because of the money. Who cared about a few hundred dollars these days? The point was the three taps!

The three taps were an old custom with three meanings: blessing, admonishment, and true inheritance.

Blessing the disciple to succeed in their studies, preferably surpassing the master; admonishing the disciple to respect the master, be calm and steady, and not take crooked paths; and true inheritance naturally meant passing on true skills. As long as the disciple could learn it and the master had the ability, they would teach everything.

In short, this was a privilege only for direct disciples. Ordinary disciples or registered disciples didn't have the qualification to have the master tap their heads.

Yang Chuanfu and the others from Team 6 had tried their best to send six girls to Teacher Chen's house. Everyone knew what the purpose was: to build relationships. Whether it was to become a son-in-law or to seek a master, they could all secure this connection.

Unfortunately, none of them succeeded.

Now, Zhang Cuie had done what they hadn't.

A direct disciple was no different from a biological child, and even closer. Biological children could be unfilial, but direct disciples not only had to provide for the master in their old age and bury them, but also had the obligation to take care of the surviving family, and not allow the mistress and the master's children to be bullied.

The master would also naturally treat this disciple as family.

Wasn't this even closer than Yang Ju and the others?!

Zhang Cuie took the red envelope and wanted to kowtow again, but Chen Fan pulled her up, "Alright, I'm going to the district committee today. If you want to wish me a Happy New Year, do it early and wait for me at my house."

The Zhang family was dumbfounded.

Could it be like this?

Zhang Cuie was also stunned. The next second, she was dragged out by her father, who carefully instructed her, "The gifts have been prepared for you long ago. If your master isn't home, you have to cook dinner for him and not just wait foolishly…"

This didn't conflict with the rule that one could only wish the most senior elders of their own family a Happy New Year on the first day of the Lunar New Year. As an indoor disciple, the master was even closer than one's own father. What was wrong with wishing him a Happy New Year?

After they left, Chen Fan took a sip of tea and discussed the trip to Shanghai with Zhang Wenliang and Captain Zhang.

Zhang Changjiang smoked a cigarette, frowning and said, "This matter should be done sooner rather than later. I think it's better to leave as soon as possible."

He flicked the ash and smiled at Chen Fan, "It's not that I'm not letting you have a good New Year. The timing still depends on you. Whenever you're done, that's when we'll go."

With what had just happened, Chen Fan was half a member of the Zhang family, and of the same generation as him, so naturally everything was easy to discuss.

Thinking of this, Zhang Changjiang suddenly felt a shock in his heart.

Chen Fan was half a member of the Zhang family, and although Xiao LieWen hadn't formally accepted him as a disciple, he was also half of his master. In addition, Yang Xingxiu was a daughter-in-law of the Zhang family, so Secretary Yang was naturally one of them.

Except for Ye Shubao, the leaders of the Lujiawan Brigade were all related to him?

Hmm, hmm, hmm, they should be tightly bound together now, right?

Chen Fan didn't know what he was thinking. He pondered for two seconds and said, "I'm going to the district committee today and won't be back until the afternoon the day after tomorrow. Then Secretary Yang, Captain Xiao, Captain Ye…"

Before he could finish, Xiao LieWen walked in through the door, waving his hand and said, "We don't need you to wish us a Happy New Year. It's better to buy back the meat rabbit breeding seedlings than anything else."

Someone from the Zhang family immediately brought him a chair, and Zhang Juemin consciously took the initiative to get up, "Captain Xiao, sit here while you guys chat."

After speaking, he left.

Xiao LieWen didn't stand on ceremony and sat directly on the chair he had vacated, crossed his legs, and said to Chen Fan, "We will also say hello to the other teams. They will definitely understand and no one will think you are impolite just because you didn't wish them a Happy New Year."

Zhang Changjiang nodded, "In the early years, we used to reinforce the dikes on the thirtieth and first day of the Lunar New Year. Wishing a Happy New Year is bullshit. Being able to make money and let the people in the production team live a good life is the most important thing. These trivial matters are not worth mentioning. We should leave as early as possible."

Yang Xingxiu stood behind Zhang Wenliang and raised her hand, "Yes, I support it!"

Chen Fan glanced at her. Well, three of the four giants of the brigade department agreed, and only the poor Captain Ye Shubao had no one to represent him.

After pondering for two seconds, he looked up and smiled, "Then, in that case, we can leave on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year."

Today he would go to the district committee, tomorrow he would be at the Jiang family's house all day, and on the third and fourth days he would have to wish a Happy New Year to Director Yang and Deputy Director Li of the machinery factory, as well as the leaders of the Health Department and Sister Zuo of the Education Department… Oh, and he had to visit Old Guo of the Yunhu Writers Association.

As for the Provincial Writers Association, it was too far away, so forget it.

Calculating like this, he should be able to finish on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year and set off on the fifth.

Xiao LieWen and Zhang Changjiang looked at each other and nodded in unison.

Zhang Changjiang turned to look at Chen Fan, "Then the boat tickets will be left to you. The travel expenses will be given to San Huzi at that time, but you will be responsible for how they are spent. He is only responsible for keeping accounts and paying the money."

After a pause, he took a puff of cigarette and turned to look at Xiao LieWen, "San Huzi will definitely go. Do you think we should send anyone else?"

Xiao LieWen frowned slightly, carefully thinking about who else could be sent.

At this time, Zhang Wenliang proudly raised his head and said, "There's no need for anyone else. Xiao Chen is responsible for making decisions, and I'm responsible for running errands. The two of us are enough."

As he spoke, he pointed to Chen Fan and then to himself, "Moreover, the two of us have the best skills in the entire brigade. If something happens, the two of us can handle it. There's no need for anyone else to follow."

When the others heard this, they couldn't help but nod slightly.

Chen Fan glanced at him and snorted twice in his heart, You're quite confident.

Then he said, "What if there are a lot of things to buy? No matter how great your skills are, can you carry four loads?"

Zhang Wenliang's face collapsed and he didn't say anything.

Xiao LieWen looked at Zhang Changjiang and said softly, "Then let two more militiamen follow. They can't do anything else, but they can still be used to move things."

Zhang Changjiang nodded lightly, his eyes glanced over Chen Fan and Zhang Wenliang's faces, paused for two seconds, and then said, "Let's have 3 more, more people means more hands."

Xiao LieWen smacked his lips, and immediately understood what he meant.

Although Comrade Lao Xiao was upright and honest, he was not an inflexible old antique.

Even Bao Qingtian had times when he showed leniency outside the law. Working in the countryside, how could he not understand human relationships and social customs?

As long as it didn't violate major principles, he was still very understanding and reasonable about minor matters.

He immediately nodded and said, "Okay, I will arrange this matter."

Among the four leaders of the brigade department, Yang, Zhang, Xiao, and Ye, now that Zhang Wenliang had gone to the big Shanghai to see the world, how could the other families not send someone to follow?

Even for the sake of balance, each family must send someone.

Moreover, it was also beneficial for each family to send someone. More people would make it seem fairer and would not lead to internal conflicts.

Chen Fan didn't care who went or who didn't go. Anyway, no one could control him, and no one in Lujiawan dared to easily question his opinion now.

After Captain Xiao and Zhang Changjiang made up their minds, he said, "Okay, including me and Brother Sanhu, there will be a total of 5 people."

After a pause, he winked at the two leaders, "I can buy second-class tickets, what class of tickets do they want?"

The two leaders immediately said in unison, "Fifth class!"

The corners of Chen Fan's mouth twitched, and it took a lot of effort to finally not laugh.

Zhang Wenliang's face collapsed, "Uncle, Master, our team has made so much money this year, isn't it too stingy?"

Zhang Changjiang coughed twice and looked at Xiao LieWen. Well, his face was actually flushed?

Then he looked at Chen Fan and said with a smile, "Habit, it's purely a habit, mainly because we're used to being frugal."

As he spoke, he took two puffs of cigarette and pretended to be calm and said, "You are the director of the Writers Association, so you definitely can't be like them. I can reimburse you even if you buy a first-class ticket."

Then he looked at Zhang Wenliang, pondered for two seconds, and finally said, "You can decide what class of tickets they buy."

After speaking, he thought of what Zhang Juemin had told him about how Teacher Chen spent money when he went to the district committee to compile books, so he quickly added, "Anyway, they can't sit in second-class or above, not even second-class."

Chen Fan understood, "Oh, then let's take third class."