Reborn in 1977

Chapter 527: Are We All the Same?

City bricks are the large blue bricks that make up the walls of the capital.

The standard size of old Beijing city bricks is approximately 48 centimeters long, 24 centimeters wide, and 13 centimeters thick, with a weight of around 24 kilograms each, several times larger than the blue bricks used for ordinary residential buildings.

What? Are the old bricks of good quality?

That's a great question; don't ask it again!

The city bricks used to build city walls in ancient times all came with a "source code." During the production process, each batch would have several bricks engraved with detailed inscriptions, recording the names, positions, and production years of the responsible persons at all levels involved in making these bricks.

Poor quality had serious consequences!

Therefore, under strict quality control, these city bricks were harder than ordinary stones.

City bricks were not only hard but also had the advantages of moisture retention, fire resistance, and water resistance, making them the best brick and stone building materials in ancient times, especially the preferred choice for building city walls, capable of lasting for hundreds or even thousands of years.

If they hadn't been demolished back then, how could Chen Fan have gotten them to build his house!

But now, these things are not rare at all; many old Beijing residents have them at home, the only difference being the quantity.

For ordinary people, when the walls were demolished back then, these large city bricks were everywhere, and they would take as many as they could, using many to build side rooms. ... Because the large blue bricks were too large, they were often disliked for taking up too much space, so they were often used as foundations, while red bricks were still used for building walls.

But this was ultimately an individual action, so how much could they take?

Construction companies were different.

They used large trucks to haul them!

Many of the city bricks that were demolished back then were used as base materials for municipal buildings.

For example, building subways, train stations, repairing ditches, underground waterways, etc., all involved city bricks.

In later generations, hundreds of thousands of city bricks were found in a construction warehouse in Shunyi. In 1996, when Yongding Gate was being restored, a "donate city wall bricks" campaign was launched, and the people enthusiastically handed them in, resulting in the return of 540,000 city bricks.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the municipal construction bureau's construction company warehouse has hundreds of thousands of city bricks.

Moreover, this is a municipal-level construction company!

They have participated in the construction of many important building projects, and in addition to city bricks, various building materials can be given priority supply, and even some special materials for war preparedness.

Chen Fan took Director Li to the company's warehouse for a tour, and his heart was itching.

He asked the construction company for a stack of white paper and pencils specifically used for drawing renderings and construction drawings, and after returning, he began designing his own small nest.

Even with his ability to design without thinking and draw without revisions, he didn't finish until 3 a.m.

If it weren't for his profound Taoist skills now, requiring only two or three hours of deep sleep a day to rest well, he would have been a little sleepy.

...

The next morning, Chen Fan took the drawings to the newly purchased courtyard to meet with Director Li and the construction company people to discuss how to modify it.

The car drove into the courtyard, and Chen Fan spread the drawings on the hood of the Lada car, explaining his design to them.

"This courtyard is arc-shaped, and I'm dividing it into two parts, separated by a courtyard wall with only one small door. The north side is allocated 1000 square meters, where an H-shaped four-story building will be built, surrounded by gardens. This is the rendering, this is the construction drawing..."

After they understood, Chen Fan flipped the drawings over, "The remaining 1800 square meters will be used to build a collective dormitory. Look, this is the rendering."

Several people around looked forward, and a set of Chinese villa buildings leaped into view.

Approximately in the middle of this 1800-square-meter courtyard is a two-story building, 16 by 16, exactly 256 square meters, square in shape. The overall appearance of the building is gray-blue, with a basement below and a sloping roof attic above.

The roof does not have traditional flying eaves and brackets but is simply paved with blue tiles. From the walls to the roof ridge, everything is square and stable, and the windows are large, giving people a simple yet grand feeling.

If it were placed in later generations, everyone would know at a glance that this is the most common Chinese villa roof, simple, refreshing, and grand, without being too eye-catching.

Although the building is only two stories high, each floor reaches a height of 4.5 meters, and the roof part is also designed as an attic. Including the basement, which is half exposed, the overall height reaches 14 meters, almost the same as the four-story building, making it look very unusual.

This type of building can perfectly utilize the characteristics of large blue bricks, and the future house will also be moisture-proof and warm, making it comfortable to live in.

Skipping the structural diagram of this main building, looking further south.

In front of the house, there are small ponds, rockeries, stone steps, pavilions, bamboo forests... a series of embellishments, with a slightly smaller building in the back as a connecting point, circling back to the main building, the entire movement line is connected by a covered corridor, appearing scattered but not chaotic, forming a whole, with a small garden in the middle.

The small building at the south end is slightly smaller than the main building, and the layout is also different. The main body is in a "冂" shape, a bit like a tube building, but only two stories plus an attic, making it appear somewhat exquisite.

As for the open space behind the house on the north side, it is all paved with bluestone or cement, which can be used as a parking lot or outdoor sports field.

At most, add some flower beds and some greenery for embellishment.

Team Leader Qin of the 2nd Construction Team, who was assigned the construction task, suddenly pointed to the rockery on the drawing and said, "Is there also a man-made waterfall here?"

Chen Fan gave a thumbs up and smiled, "The old master is indeed experienced. There is a detailed diagram in the construction drawing. I also need your help to point out any errors."

The corners of Team Leader Qin's mouth twitched slightly, "Easy, easy."

He looked at the "dormitory" design drawing, which looked like a string of necklaces, and secretly complained in his heart.

You call this a dormitory?

Are you bullying me for not knowing what a "garden-style villa" is?!

I was also an old construction worker who demolished royal mansions and pushed down Western-style gardens, okay? As long as you're not blind, you can see that this is going to be a big villa.

And it's a 1800-square-meter one, with front and back gardens!

However, he didn't say much. Since Director Li of the Housing Management Bureau personally brought him here, it means that selling this courtyard is in accordance with the rules, and he naturally wouldn't be nosy.

Besides, he is just a worker; if something goes wrong, it won't be his responsibility.

Then he leaned over and flipped through the drawings.

After looking for a while, he couldn't help but raise his head and look at Chen Fan, "Little comrade, which unit are you from?"

Chen Fan was chatting with Director Li, wanting to ask him where to buy good wood.

Director Li directly said, "We have it in our construction company. Are you planning to make furniture? What kind of wood do you want? Sandalwood, oak, teak, Phoebe zhennan, rosewood are all available. Pine is the cheapest, and Phoebe zhennan is the most expensive, with prices ranging from tens of yuan per cubic meter to hundreds of yuan per cubic meter."

After a pause, he smiled again, "Seeing that you can draw this design drawing in one night, I know you are an expert in architecture. Since ancient times, building a house cannot be separated from carpentry, so you must also know something about wood?"

Seeing Chen Fan nod, he continued, "Good wood is available every year, and it is not rare. If you like old furniture, then I can take you to the second-hand store. They have several warehouses of old furniture, even goods from the Forbidden City. There are fewer from the Tang and Song dynasties, and you can buy whatever you want from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Even the best beds, chairs, tables, and cabinets are not new.

It's just that old furniture is not cheap either. Beijing is the place with the most collectors of cultural relics in the country. People with discerning eyes know the value of old furniture. Even in a second-hand store, exchanging a bed for a single courtyard is not an exaggeration."

The implication is that Chen Fan should be prepared to "bleed heavily."

Chen Fan pursed his lips and smiled, calculating in his heart that the old furniture in Shanghai was cheaper. He bought so much and it only cost three or four thousand yuan.

Seeing that Chen Fan was noncommittal, he continued,

"If you are not interested in antique furniture, then it's simple. There are plenty of good wood in our unit's warehouse. You can take as much as you want and settle the bill together later.

By the way, you also have to find a good carpenter to make furniture. I also know the leaders of furniture factories. Chinese and Western styles are no problem. Many of the Western-style furniture in the Beijing Hotel were made by them, and the quality is said to be good..."

Chen Fan was about to speak when he heard Team Leader Qin's voice. He turned his head and smiled, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Team Leader Qin pointed twice on the drawing, "This drawing of yours is too professional, like a textbook. You can understand it at a glance."

Hearing this, Chen Fan couldn't help but smile wryly.

He thought something had happened. It turned out to be this. He immediately smiled and said, "I learned a little before, and I also drew some house design drawings in the production team."

Production team?

Team Leader Qin was even more surprised, "You are not from a architectural design unit?"

Director Li couldn't help but wipe his sweat. Which production team did this come from, startling the professional construction team leader?

Chen Fan chuckled dryly. What, do you have to be from an architectural design unit to draw?

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Team Leader Qin didn't ask any further questions.

Anyway, he decided to take this set of drawings back to the design department for them to take a good look at.

Not to see if there were any flaws in this set of drawings, but to let them learn and see how other people draw!

From the inside to the outside of the house, from infrastructure to decoration, even the wiring of water, electricity, and gas is clearly drawn. The construction sequence, the materials used, and the process requirements are also clearly marked.

With this set of drawings, there is no need to think. Given enough equipment and materials, he can complete it in one go, saving more than half the time compared to ordinary construction!

How can they not learn well!

Team Leader Qin took the drawings and hurried back to prepare for construction.

In the past two years, except for participating in the construction of the memorial hall, there have been almost no major projects. Their old-brand construction company can only repair some civil residences everywhere, and they have been holding back their energy for a long time.

Today, they finally received a "big order" to build a large villa, and the construction difficulty is not low. How can they not seize this opportunity!

Needless to say, the excavators and cranes in the warehouse must be driven over. If they don't move, these guys will rust. There are also other construction machinery. Use everything that can be used...

Anyway, they must have their fill this time!

...

Chen Fan didn't know that Team Leader Qin was preparing to give him "big machinery." He turned around and went with Director Li to choose wood and order furniture.

In the construction company's warehouse, it was the first time he had seen so many precious woods.

Director Li introduced from the side, "This is Hainan's Huanghuali rosewood. This kind of wood is very good. The furniture made from it is not only strong and durable, but also very beautiful, and the price is not expensive, about 30 cents per pound."

Chen Fan turned to look at him, "30 cents a pound?"

Is it only ten times more expensive than cabbage?

Director Li chuckled, "Compared to Phoebe zhennan and sandalwood, this wood is still much smaller and not suitable for large pieces, so it can't be sold at a high price. The wood company's purchase price in the local area is only 8 cents. The 30 cents is the price after processing plus the cost of transportation to Beijing, so I suggest you use this wood. It's cheap and easy to use!"

Chen Fan's eyes twitched slightly. That was indeed very cheap!

In later generations, genuine Hainan Huanghuali wood costs millions per ton. Converted into pounds, that's 4,000 to 5,000 yuan. Compared to 30 cents, it has increased more than ten thousand times!

This is easier than picking up money.

Chen Fan looked around and finally said, "Let's use Huanghuali, Phoebe zhennan, and Zitan sandalwood. Mainly use the cheaper Hainan Huanghuali wood, and use Phoebe zhennan and Zitan sandalwood for the important bedrooms."

He sighed as he spoke, "I bought a courtyard and built a house, and now I'm out of money!"

Seeing his sad look, Director Li couldn't help but hold back.

Didn't you have 10,000 yuan in your bag yesterday?

Just building a few houses and making a complete set of furniture... oh, it's really not enough.

It seems that I have to discuss with Captain Qin later to use more 'old materials' from the warehouse to reduce construction costs as much as possible.

With a feeling of pity, Director Li took him to the furniture factory to customize furniture.

Chen Fan didn't stand out too much. He selected several styles from the furniture factory's product catalog, and the wood was drawn from the construction warehouse. This was considered processing with supplied materials, and only a processing fee was required.

(Foreign trade mahogany furniture product catalog in the 1970s, represented by Hong Kong Dexin Trading Company and Macau Nanguang Trading Company)

After paying the deposit, Chen Fan calculated in his mind and suddenly realized that he didn't have enough money.

Although a lot of old materials were used, such a large courtyard, building a four-story complex with an office building, and then building a complex consisting of two villas and several small landscapes, would still cost 15,000 even with discounts.

If it was at the original price, 20,000 yuan wouldn't be enough.

The house in Lujiawan, if it were at market price, would cost more than 4,000 yuan!

This price is already very conscientious!

Then these wood and processing cost another four to five thousand, so the 20,000 yuan in his box was just used up!

With a worried mood, Chen Fan returned to Li Laobo's small courtyard, sighing before he even entered the door.

Inside the main room, Zhang Xuansong was reminiscing with two old partners, "The front is the place for external affairs, and the back is the dormitory and the private land for martial arts practice. Outsiders are not allowed to enter unless there are fellow Taoists who need accommodation..."

Then he heard a sigh after another, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look, "What's wrong?"

Chen Fan took his own tea mug, poured a glass of water, sat down on the chair opposite him, took a big gulp first, and then sighed, "I'm out of money."

Zhang Xuansong blinked, turned to look at Li Shangde and Lin Yuanxiang, who were also inexplicably confused, and then looked at him, "No, didn't you still have 20,000 yuan in your box last night? Where's the money?"

Chen Fan raised his head, "Didn't I buy a courtyard yesterday? Today I went to the construction company to ask them to build a house, and the money is all..."

He gestured a few times, "It's gone."

Lin Yuanxiang blinked and stared at him, asking, "What kind of house are you building that costs 20,000 yuan?"

Zhang Xuansong also frowned, "For a courtyard house like a Siheyuan, one room only costs three to four hundred yuan. Even if you build a five-courtyard house, it will only cost 15,000 yuan. Besides, why are you building it so big?"

Chen Fan chuckled dryly, "You guys went to bed early last night and didn't see the design drawings I drew. Mine is not a Siheyuan house, it's a small building."

Zhang Xuansong was even more confused, "The small building has a smaller area. Why does yours cost so much money?"

Chen Fan gestured a few times, "My own house is not big. When I bought the land, didn't I say that I wanted to get a location for the cotton mill and the machinery factory to set up an office? So I built a four-story complex. The first and second floors are offices, and the third and fourth floors are dormitories."

"You're stupid."

Lin Yuanxiang quickly said, "You have to let their unit pay for this money. How can you pay for it yourself?!"

Chen Fan nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, they have to pay for it."

Then he smiled sheepishly and looked at Zhang Xuansong, "I still owe Master Zhang 11,000 yuan, so I won't be able to pay it back so quickly."

Zhang Xuansong rolled his eyes, "I didn't expect you to pay it back."

After a pause, he pointed to the small satchel on the bed, "My entire wealth is only 10,000 yuan left. I'll give it to you too. Anyway, I only have one request. When the time is right, you have to support the Chaoyang Temple! If the money is not enough, ask your Master Lin to make up for it."

Chen Fan was overjoyed when he heard this. He didn't expect to have income?

This master is good to recognize!

Of course, Master Lin is also very good, and he will definitely not stand by and not pay in the future.

Zhang Xuansong looked at him as if he had changed his face, and couldn't help but laugh and cry. Then he narrowed his eyes and looked at him, "You kid, remember it for me. If you mess things up, I won't spare you!"

Chen Fan didn't care at all. He walked over, put on his satchel, and said righteously, "Don't worry, if there is no money to repair the Taoist temple at that time, I will be a mason and carpenter myself, and I will use the bricks and tiles from that warehouse to build the Taoist temple for you!"

When Zhang Xuansong heard this, he was still a little confident, but suddenly he felt unsure, "You are still a mason?"

Chen Fan gestured a few times, "I built my own house! It's still a thatched roof."

Zhang Xuansong's eyes darkened, "A thatched house?"

Lin Yuanxiang couldn't help laughing, "Stinky boy, you only tell half the story, just to scare your Master Zhang."

Then he smiled at Zhang Xuansong, "Lao Xiao said in his letter that he designed his own house, and the villagers contributed their efforts and materials to help him build it. It is the first small western-style building in Lujiawan, very grand.

This kid is also a serious mason and carpenter, and he also knows some bamboo weaving work. In addition, he also has a carving skill. The old master said that the skill is good when he saw it. I think he can carve the statues of gods.

Simply, don't look for other people, just let him build the Taoist temple, maybe it will be better."

Zhang Xuansong smacked his lips and turned to look at Chen Fan, who was smiling, and was about to ask him what line he was in?

But thinking that he could learn all kinds of secret stunts by reading books, it seemed reasonable to have more skills?

... What a ghost!

He immediately took a sip of tea and waved his hands repeatedly in anger, "Get out, get out."

Chen Fan picked up his large suitcase and ran away, "Goodbye, masters."

Zhang Xuansong put down the teapot and turned to say to the two old partners, "Compared with him, I feel like I have lived my whole life in vain."

Lin Yuanxiang leaned on the bed and laughed so hard that he couldn't speak.

Li Shangde slowly poured a cup of tea and said, "Who told you to compare? Look at us, we don't compare! Not only don't compare, hey, he is still our apprentice, aren't you angry!"

Zhang Xuansong, "...? Seems right."

...

Chen Fan carried a canvas satchel, carried a large suitcase, and called a taxi at the taxi station on Qianmen Street, heading straight to No. 2, Shatan North Street.

That is the office of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles that has just resumed its office.

The journey is not too far, just east of Jingshan Park.

If Zhang Xuansong chooses the newly bought courtyard yesterday to build a Taoist temple, it happens to be on each side with Jingshan in the middle.

Chen Fan sat in the car and looked at Jingshan from afar. He was very happy and thought that he could jump horizontally in the future. The left jump is a Taoist priest, and the right jump is a writer, mainly a cross-border!

But he didn't know that a super big "surprise" was waiting for him soon.

In fact, Shatan North Street was not originally the office location of the Writers Association.

In the earliest days, the Writers Association was at No. 22, Dongzongbu Hutong. Many major events in the literary and art circles in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China took place here. At that time, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles had no place to go, so the Writers Association allowed them to work here as well.

Later, the memorial service for famous people in the literary and art circles was also held here.

Later, because the place was too small, and it happened to be the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, when all units were building large-scale construction projects, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles also took advantage of the east wind to apply for a piece of land to build a building. The location was very good, just at the north entrance of Wangfujing Street and south of the Capital Theater, covering an area of 5,196 square meters, which was very large.

One floor underground, five floors above ground, six floors in some parts, 22 meters high, wooden doors and windows, internal cement floor, and an elevator, the exterior is a clear water brick wall, and the bottom floor is washed stone, which looks very grand.

They even set up a Federation of Literary and Art Circles Club, which is specially used for gatherings of people in the literary and art circles. Including a auditorium, tea room, and billiard room, and a small shop.

At that time, Mao Dun, Zhou Yang, Tian Han, Xia Yan and others often came to participate in activities.

Later, it didn't work.

When they left here, this building became the territory of Commercial Press and Zhonghua Book Company in the 1970s.

So now that the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Writers Association are to be rebuilt, they can only find another office address.

But there is a shortage of houses everywhere this year. There are more units returning to Beijing to work than just the literary and art circles. From academics to factories, almost every unit has them. Everyone is looking for houses like crazy. Where can they spare some for them?

There was no way, the preparatory group had to build a few wooden houses in the courtyard of the "Qiushi" magazine to serve as temporary office space.

That is the current address.

When Chen Fan got out of the car, handed over the letter of introduction and entered the courtyard, and saw the few poor wooden houses, his eyes almost popped out.

The day before yesterday, I was still pitying the Taoist Association, who could only nest in an old house waiting for dawn. Today, I saw with my own eyes the tragic situation of the National Writers Association living under someone else's roof.

So everyone is the same?!

No, can't such a large magazine, "Qiushi", spare a few offices for them to use?

With full of doubts, Chen Fan walked to the wooden house according to the guidance of the guard at the door, knocked gently on the door, and asked weakly, "Excuse me, is this the Writers Association?"