Reborn in 1977

Chapter 627: Not Going

Xu Zhirui watched Chen Fan lower his head in thought, not in a hurry, he picked up his teacup and slowly took a few sips.

Before long, Chen Fan raised his head and said, "Teacher, I've thought about it, let's leave this opportunity to others."

Hearing this, Xu Zhirui couldn't help but look surprised, "Oh? Are you sure?"

Before Chen Fan could speak, he continued, "You must understand that our country hasn't sent students abroad for more than ten years. It's one thing for science and engineering students to study advanced technology, but cultural exchange for liberal arts is also very important.

If you are selected and sent to study abroad, you will most likely shoulder the important task of promoting our country's traditional culture abroad in the future. By then, making achievements and becoming famous will not be difficult.

Such a good opportunity, haven't you thought about fighting for it?"

After this news came out, let alone students, many teachers who have been working for many years were very excited, including some researchers in scientific research departments, who were preparing to sign up to participate.

Why is his own student indifferent?

Chen Fan chuckled twice and said softly, "I understand this, it's just that I really don't need this opportunity."

Xu Zhirui stared at him intently, "How do you mean?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "I am very clear about the importance of international students. Jiangnan University is also a receiving school for international students. Right now, in our school, there are more than 50 international students from more than a dozen countries studying.

Most of their predecessors have become bridges for exchanges between their countries and our country. Some have become diplomats, and some teach Chinese knowledge in their own countries, making very important contributions to cultural exchanges.

It's just that…"

He shrugged, spread his hands, and smiled, "I am now the head of the European and American branch of the Foreign Liaison Department of the Jiangnan Writers Association. After the higher authorities have clear policies, I will start communication with European and American Writers Association units to promote foreign literary exchanges.

From this perspective, even if I study abroad, I will still be doing these things when I come back, so why bother going far away?"

Seeing Professor Xu thoughtfully put down his water glass, he immediately picked up the kettle to fill his water glass. After putting down the kettle, he took out his travel cup from his bag, unscrewed it, took a sip, and continued, "As for personal prospects, it's also unnecessary."

He shrugged, "My uncle is in the United States, and he is also a capitalist of considerable size. The United States is a money society, and the best universities are almost all private schools. As long as you can afford the money, getting an admission spot is not difficult."

He suddenly chuckled twice, "Besides, with my conditions, I only need him to help me get an assessment opportunity, and I can directly test into it.

In this way, naturally, there is no need to occupy a national quota. If one more person can be sent out, then there will be one more international exchange talent. Why should I compete with those classmates who need opportunities more?!"

After listening to his explanation, Professor Xu couldn't help but feel a little speechless.

His words sounded like bragging, but what his disciple said was indeed the unadulterated truth.

The opportunity to study abroad that others seek but cannot obtain, for him, he lacks neither money nor knowledge, and even his relatives help to bring the opportunity to him, so naturally he is qualified to disdain it.

Thinking of this, Professor Xu couldn't help but sigh, "Sure enough, people have different fates."

Then he said to Chen Fan, "Since that's the case, then I won't persuade you any more. This spot will not be reserved for you."

Chen Fan smiled, "Don't reserve it, it's best to give it to others."

After a pause, he added, "If you ask me, with you here, what's the point of studying abroad?

On the contrary, those who admire our country's thousands of years of cultural heritage are probably trying every possible way to become your disciples."

Hearing this, Xu Zhirui couldn't help laughing, "You little rascal, you're flattering me to this extent, you're shameless."

Chen Fan's expression became serious, "Words from the heart, how can it be shameless? Do you believe me, those few international students in our Chinese department, if I call out, definitely every single one of them will be fighting to learn from you!"

Xu Zhirui waved his hand directly, "Stop teasing me in front of me, get out of here."

Chen Fan stood up and made a long bow, "May you be well, teacher, I'll take my leave."

Then he slipped out amidst Xu Zhirui's laughter and scolding, and a sentence came from behind, "Go back and read more books, I will check in a month."

Chen Fan held the door frame and looked back, "Okay."

…

Coming out of the teaching building, Chen Fan touched his head, thinking about what just happened.

Not the international student quota, but those international students who are studying at Jiangnan University.

I hadn't thought of it before, these people can also be considered rare resources!

As early as June 1950, Czechoslovakia and Poland proposed to exchange students with our country.

At that time, Premier Zhou personally made the decision, not only agreeing to the request to exchange students, but also actively proposing to Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria to exchange students, all of which received positive responses from these countries and quickly reached an agreement.

That winter, the first batch of 33 international students from five countries arrived at Tsinghua University and entered the "Chinese Language Training Class for Eastern European Exchange Students" to study.

Later, this training class was transferred to Peking University, and Peking University basically became the main training base for foreign students.

In the following 15 years, our country received a total of 7,239 international students from 68 countries, distributed in 94 schools in 17 cities across the country.

In addition to 90% of the socialist camp countries, there were also 533 people from Asian, African, and Latin American Third World countries, and 135 students from Western Europe, North America, and Japan.

Then it was suspended, and it was not until 1973 that enrollment was resumed, but the scale was much smaller, far less than before.

From 73 to 78, in these five years, the cumulative total was only 2063 people.

However, as Chen Fan said just now, most of these people became the backbone of exchanges with China after returning to their countries, playing an important role.

At this moment, the more than 50 international students at Jiangnan University are those who were recruited later.

Now, Chen Fan hopes that they can play a greater role.

With an idea in his mind, he immediately drove to the Writers Association.

When He Qingsheng saw him coming, he immediately took out an approval form from the drawer, put it on the table and pushed it towards him, then threw down a cigarette, "Don't be so anxious, let them print it if they should, this thing won't stop you."

Chen Fan waved his hand, pulled out a chair and sat down, "It's not about this…"

Saying that, he picked up the approval form and looked at it. Everything was normal, so he folded it and put it in his bag, and continued, "I was thinking, my uncle's publishing house is not big, if my book becomes a bestseller in the future, and other comrades also want to operate it for publication in the United States, I'm afraid the resources won't be enough."

He Qingsheng, with a cigarette in his mouth, looked at him with a dark face, "Are you slapping my face?"

Chen Fan took out a lighter and lit a cigarette, shaking his head as he said, "No. That's what I'm thinking."

He gestured, "Look, the Ministry of Culture knows about my book going overseas, but they haven't said anything. And this time, you guys definitely informed them when you signed the contract with Takahashi, right?"

He Qingsheng frowned slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes, and nodded gently, "Yes."

Chen Fan patted the table, speaking seriously, "Look, look, here's the key point. Not prohibiting is allowing, right? So, shouldn't we activate our Foreign Liaison Department?"

This time, He Qingsheng understood. While thinking, he said, "You mean we should take the initiative to contact overseas writers' associations or publishing institutions to promote cultural exchange."

As he spoke, he looked at Chen Fan, not even smoking his cigarette anymore, taking it down and placing it on the ashtray, gesturing as he said, "And at the same time, through cultural exchange, recommend our works to them?"

Chen Fan nodded repeatedly, "Considering the sake of reunion after a long separation, writers' associations in relevant countries will most likely recommend some publishing resources to us.

This kind of official liaison approach allows the overseas resources to be firmly controlled by the association, and the association can coordinate in the middle.

Internally, it can control the quantity and quality of works going overseas. Externally, more publishing houses can bring more choices, so that we don't end up like now, with only one Takahashi Publishing House connecting with us, and not understanding the real situation outside."

Speaking of this, he suddenly lowered his voice sinisterly, "Most importantly, if the Jiangnan Writers' Association can promote this matter, if it succeeds, it will definitely be noted by the General Association, and our branch will be in the spotlight!"

He Qingsheng looked at him, "Being in the spotlight is fine, but why are you making that expression? It's kind of creepy."

Then, he took a breath of cold air, baring his teeth as he said, "Originally, our branch's Foreign Liaison Department was established following the General Association's new structure. We never thought about being in the spotlight from the beginning.

It would definitely be a good thing if we could be in the spotlight, but what if we don't get the spotlight and instead expose our flaws?"

Chen Fan rubbed his face, sat up straight, and said, "It doesn't matter. Since we're the vanguard, there will be successes and failures. Who can guarantee perfection? Let's take a step back. If the higher-ups really want to investigate, I'll just take the blame. It's not a big deal. They can't possibly remove me.

If they really remove me, that's fine. It's much better for me to go back to the production team and earn work points than being a broken director."

"You wish."

He Qingsheng rolled his eyes, "I'm not dead yet. It's not your turn to take the lead."

He slapped his head, weighed it in his mind for a few seconds, and said softly, "You said something right just now. We submitted explanations for our book going overseas and cooperating with small publishing houses. Since the higher-ups didn't object, that means they agreed!"

He looked up at Chen Fan, "Okay, you draft a more detailed plan and I'll report it to the higher-ups. If they don't object, we'll just do it."

Chen Fan's face fell, "I'm just the deputy director in charge of the European and American division. Shouldn't the director do this?"

He Qingsheng spread his hands, "There isn't a director. There are only two deputy directors in the Foreign Liaison Department, you and Lao Duan. You're the one who proposed this idea, so who else would write it if not you?"

Chen Fan pondered for two seconds, stood up, and clasped his hands together, "Farewell."

"Come back."

He Qingsheng rubbed his temples with a headache, "Okay, tell me your ideas and I'll arrange for someone to write the plan."

Chen Fan sat back down in his chair and said seriously, "During the summer vacation, I told Bian Huifang that the University of Iowa in the United States has an 'International Writing Program,' but she couldn't find any relevant information. You guys have wide connections, so you can try to find it.

In addition, the international students at Jiangnan University are a good resource. Those who are sent here to study at this time are all, without exception, have official backgrounds, but they themselves are nobodies. There's a lot of room for maneuver here.

Asking them to pass on messages won't cause any official concerns. If it succeeds, they are the bridge, and the higher-ups will take the credit. If it doesn't succeed, then it's the bridge's fault for not being built well. We and the people behind them will be fine. We can still laugh and joke when we meet in the future without hurting our feelings.

Then, let's start with spontaneous folk exchanges. First, let the students of the Jiangnan University Literary Society carry out several student exchange meetings with the international student group.

Then, in the name of the Jiangnan Province Writers' Association, we will cooperate with a local writers' association behind them. During the exchange, we ourselves are a pioneer.

If the effect is okay in the future, we can use each other to pass messages to each other, gradually increasing the scale and level of exchange.

Finally, the national writers' associations of both countries will participate and continue the relationship."

After speaking, he took a cigarette from the cigarette case on the table and lit it, "That's all my ideas. Well, I'll declare in advance that I'm a giant in thought and a dwarf in action. It's enough to propose a plan. Don't look for me at the implementation level. It's tiring."

He Qingsheng stared blankly at him, "These international students are basically from socialist camps and Asian, African, and Latin American countries. How are you going to develop your European and American division?"

Chen Fan blinked, "Didn't I just say it? University of Iowa, 'International Writing Program'. Just look in that direction."

He Qingsheng smiled silently, looking at him intently.

After pondering for two seconds, Chen Fan sighed softly, "Uncle He, when you're like this, it's easy to make people doubt the integrity of professional writers."

He Qingsheng's old face darkened, "I just want you to help me find out some information, what's wrong with that?"

Chen Fan, "Okay, I'm going to send a telegram to my uncle later to tell him that the approval has been granted, and then ask him to help find the contact information for the International Writing Program."

He Qingsheng clapped his hands and laughed, "Look, look, I said it, it still has to be you!"

Chen Fan cupped his hands, with a fake smile, "It's still Chairman He's effective leadership. Everyone is just birds of a feather."

Before He Qingsheng could find something handy, he grabbed the cigarettes on the table and quickly slipped out.

He first went to his office to make a turn, indicating that he had been there, and then slipped away.

When leaving the main entrance, he threw the cigarettes he had taken to Grandpa Xiang, "I'm going back to Yunhu in the afternoon. I remember you have a comrade-in-arms there. Do you want to send him something?"

Grandpa Xiang took one out and put it in his mouth, "Forget it, that old man never even sends me Yunhu Daqu liquor, and he still wants me to send him something? Hmm... Well, it's not impossible."

After thinking for a while, he said again, "Then you help me send him a message, asking him when he's going to return the cigarettes he stole from me last time."

Chen Fan's old face darkened, "Okay, you should write a letter yourself. I'm afraid of getting beaten."

Before the words were finished, he slammed on the accelerator, and the car darted out in the blink of an eye.