Reborn in 1977

Chapter 647 Advertisement

Yunhu Automobile Factory, the office of the secretary and factory director.

Chen Fan leaned back on the sofa, still reeking slightly of alcohol, holding a cup of green tea. He turned his head to look around, pursed his lips, and said, "Uncle Yang, you've changed offices, but the layout is still the same as before. The area hasn't changed, the desks and chairs haven't changed, and even this washbasin stand hasn't changed."

Yang Kangnian washed his face, hung the towel on the washbasin stand, waved for the secretary to leave, turned around, and said unhappily, "These things were all moved from the original office. It would be strange if they had changed."

He grabbed a cigarette from the desk, walked over and tossed one to Chen Fan, took one for himself, put it in his mouth, pulled at his trouser legs, sat down, lit the cigarette, and exhaled a long breath of smoke before saying, "Although this automobile factory has the support of FAW, Second Auto Works, and the provincial factory, and the province has approved funding, the funding is limited after all. We have to save where we can."

He turned to look at Chen Fan and chuckled, "Save a little here, save a little there, piece things together, and we can put together another set of equipment."

Chen Fan put down his teacup, lit a cigarette, looked at him, and said, "Is Yunqi Factory still short of money? I heard that many units have paid for their cars in advance, even if they have to wait half a year or a year. And this time, the prices are all above the cost price, leaving room for profit. Shouldn't you be making money for every car you sell? Why are you still short of money?"

Yang Kangnian laughed, "Short? How can we not be short? We only have two car production lines and five minibus production lines now. I still want to continue expanding production, increasing the car lines to ten and the minibuses to twenty. If we want to improve our lives, we have to wait until these production lines are expanded."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan frowned slightly, "Increase so much? Don't end up with overproduction."

Yang Kangnian shook his head, "We already have nearly a thousand orders accumulated, and more and more units want to buy cars. Although there are many production lines, a car assembly line can only produce three to four cars a day, and minibuses are slightly more, but still no more than eight.

Even if all the production lines are in place as scheduled, the daily output of cars will only be 30 to 40, and the daily output of minibuses will be 160. Deducting holidays, the total annual output will only be a little over 60,000, which is about the same as FAW's output in 1971.

This is only because our product types are relatively simple that we can achieve this number. If we had as many products as FAW, such as cars, jeeps, light trucks, heavy trucks, etc., I'm afraid we wouldn't even be able to do half of that.

And 60,000 cars are completely insignificant compared to the national demand for cars."

He took a puff of cigarette and chuckled, "So, unless one day every unit in the country has more than two cars and doesn't have to worry about not having a car to use, there's no need to worry about overproduction.

Besides, the design drawings came from our factory, and our products are the best among all automobile factories. Even FAW is only about the same as our factory's cars. No matter how well other factories do, there's still a gap between them and us.

And the prices are the same. In this situation, I'm not afraid of not being able to sell better than other factories."

After hearing his words, Chen Fan blinked and didn't dare to say anything.

Having just drunk a little wine, he almost forgot that it was still the 1970s, not later generations.

For example, BYD's four assembly lines in the Xi'an plant have a daily output of more than 4,000 vehicles and an annual output of over one million.

In comparison, today's car assembly lines are really no different from small workshops.

Technology needs to be developed urgently.

However, Chen Fan didn't say much, just smiled, "It's good that you know what you're doing."

Yang Kangnian nodded triumphantly, "Don't worry, your uncle has a sense of proportion and will never repeat the mistakes of the 'Great Leap Forward'."

After a pause, he turned to look at Chen Fan and asked curiously, "Today, you specifically brought Director Huang and the others to the factory for a meal, and even had our factory provide several cars for them to use for free. Is there a special purpose?"

Although this drama is based on Chen Fan's own work, Chen Fan obviously didn't take it to heart and didn't ask much about the filming process, at most just answering some of Director Huang's questions.

Instead, he was very concerned about the use of cars, and more than once suggested in which scenes cars could be used for filming, and how the camera should be used.

He also said that the automobile factory would provide gasoline for them to experiment with a few more times.

Nowadays, filming movies is very economical. The ratio of film used is generally 1.1 to 1, and at most no more than 1.2, which means that if a movie is edited to be 100 minutes long, then the allowed use of film can only be between 110 minutes and 120 minutes.

Therefore, every shot must be rehearsed repeatedly before it is officially filmed.

In this way, shots with cars will definitely consume more fuel.

Now that Yunqi Factory is bearing the cost of gasoline, Director Huang and the others dare to let go and rehearse.

Chen Fan flicked the cigarette ash, leaned forward, rested his arms on his knees, turned to look at Yang Kangnian, and smiled, "Uncle Yang, you're right. I didn't propose to let them use cars just because this drama is my work, but for the sake of Yunqi Factory."

Yang Kangnian was slightly stunned, "What do you mean?"

Chen Fan smiled, "Think about it, when this movie is released, if 1 million people across the country go to see it, then 1 million people will be able to see with their own eyes what Yunqi Factory's cars look like through the movie. Do you understand what I'm saying?!"

Yang Kangnian suddenly understood, "You're trying to find a way to advertise our cars?!"

Chen Fan laughed and didn't say anything else.

Yang Kangnian scratched his head and laughed, "Your mind is so flexible that you can even think of this method."

He was also a person who came from the Republic of China era, so of course he knew what advertising was.

In the 1920s, China had its first professional advertising company. At that time, advertisements all over the country were various.

Cars, bicycles, airlines, clothing and shoes, beauty and skin care, radios, records, etc. From clothing, food, housing, and transportation to household chemicals, there was everything.

And the scope was extremely wide, from Harbin in the north to Guangzhou in the south, and from Kunming and Chengdu in the west. As for the east, of course, Shanghai was the most important, covering almost all major cities.

However, since the mid-1950s, advertising has disappeared from society imperceptibly. Good products were only passed down by word of mouth among the people, and different manufacturers could only win by word of mouth.

In fact, it didn't matter whether they won or not. Anyway, the factories produced according to plan, and as long as the products produced were qualified, they didn't have to worry about not being able to sell them. Over time, advertising became even more isolated from the people, and many newcomers born under the red flag didn't even know that such a thing existed.

This is why, after the resumption of advertising in 1979, many people thought it was a TV program, and that the TV station was promoting the advertised products, so they rushed to buy them.

When Chen Fan was in the crew just now, he heard Director Huang mention several scenes where cars would be used, and immediately had an idea, wanting to try to put Yunhu cars into the movie to do an advertising placement.

And when Director Huang heard that there were free cars to use, he immediately agreed, fearing that Yunqi Factory would not agree.

As for Yang Kangnian, he agreed to this "small request" made by the car designer and nephew without even thinking about it.

But he didn't expect that this "favor" was a great gift.

It wasn't so much about being able to sell more cars, but mainly because his previous proposal to increase production lines had not yet been approved by the higher authorities.

If the movie is released and causes a certain social response, then the matter of the production line will basically be a sure thing.

In this way, he was naturally happy.

At this time, Chen Fan said again, "Uncle Yang, in fact, other factories in Yunhu can also send some products over."

Yang Kangnian came back to his senses from his excitement, turned to look at him, "Let them advertise too?"

Chen Fan smiled, "For example, the 'Yunhu Specialty Products' from the food factory, the good fabrics from the cotton mill, and Yunhu Department Store. These things can all be put into the movie, and it won't seem abrupt at all.

When you go back, mention it to your close friends and explain the key points clearly. Most of the leaders of these units will be very happy."

Yang Kangnian slapped his thigh and laughed, "You're giving me a chance to do favors."

After a pause, he said with a smile, "Okay, I owe you a favor for this. Well, the previous ones don't count, those have to be counted as the unit's, this one is my personal one."

Chen Fan waved his hand, "You're being too polite. Before I even knew you, you took back my family's house, renovated it, and tried to restore everything to its original state.

If we have to be clear about it, then how should this favor be calculated?!"

The smile on Yang Kangnian's face quickly faded, and he looked at him with emotion, "Given my relationship with your father, what does this matter? Besides, he was also implicated by me."

After a brief silence, Yang Kangnian patted his thigh and smiled at Chen Fan, "Okay, since that's the case, then we're all family and don't need to be so polite."

"You haven't been here in ages. The factory's welfare goods for you are still here. Why don't you just take them today...?"

"Not today!"

Chen Fan quickly interrupted him, saying seriously, "I have two computers in the trunk of my car. I still have to take a boat later, so it's really inconvenient to carry them. When the people from Lujiawan come to deliver the goods tomorrow, please have them bring them back for me."

Yang Kangnian nodded, "Alright."

After speaking, he threw Chen Fan a cigarette and asked curiously, "I heard that computers can be used for office work now. Tell me about that computer. Can a factory like ours use it?"

Chen Fan said, "Of course. Even I can use it, so why couldn't you? Moreover, my uncle's company has just successfully developed a Chinese character card, which allows computers to directly use Chinese characters. With the Chinese character card, you can type on the computer without having to learn it specifically. If you know pinyin, you can type, which is especially convenient.

In addition, computers can also create spreadsheets and automatically calculate data. Whether it's administration, finance, or the technology department, they can all use it."

Yang Kangnian sucked in a breath, his brow furrowing tightly. "If that's the case, then computers are a good thing."

He then looked at Chen Fan, "Are those things expensive? Are they easy to buy?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "Computers cost about 1000 to 1500 US dollars. As for the Chinese character card, there is no price yet, but it must be much cheaper than a computer. It's also easy to buy. If your company has foreign exchange, you can directly place an order with an import and export company. You don't have to go to the United States. You can buy it in Hong Kong or Japan.

Oh, right, the Chinese character card will have to wait for a while, but it won't be too long. It should be mass-produced and available on the market before the end of the year."

Yang Kangnian nodded slightly as he listened, then smiled and said, "In that case, I might as well wait until the end of the year."

Chen Fan was quite surprised, "You have foreign exchange now? And you don't have to submit a report?"

Yang Kangnian laughed, "If you're talking about hundreds of thousands or millions of US dollars, then I really have no way and can only ask for help from higher authorities. But for something worth a few thousand US dollars, I can still make the decision."

Then, he lowered his voice mysteriously and said, "Many companies are begging us to buy cars. I'll say hello to the import and export company later and have them deliver the cars in advance. A few computers can be used to offset the car payment, and it can be easily balanced out."

Chen Fan suddenly understood. This was the advantage of a welfare unit these days.

As long as the unit became prosperous, there were many ways to exchange resources with other units. A little foreign exchange was indeed nothing.

Thinking back to the scene when he first earned foreign exchange in April, Yang Shu was excited about a share of a few thousand US dollars.

Tsk tsk, it can be said that half a year the river flows east, and half a year the river flows west!

Sitting, smoking, and drinking tea, before they knew it, it was about 3 pm.

Chen Fan looked at his watch, "Uncle Yang, I have to go. I have to go to the cotton mill later to take a look. If I'm any later, I'll have to travel in the dark."

Yang Kangnian was a little reluctant, "You kid, you always come and go in a hurry. You haven't stayed here for a few days. Your aunt still wants to see you."

Chen Fan laughed awkwardly, "Next time, definitely next time."

He could talk to Yang Kangnian about work-related topics, but what would he talk about when he met his family?

It was better to avoid it if possible.

Just as he was getting up, Chen Fan thought of something else and lowered his voice, saying, "Uncle Yang, you are now both the secretary and the factory director, which I know is to make it easier for the Yunqi Factory to get on the right track. But eventually, it will definitely be separated.

You have to plan ahead and decide which route to take. If you want to enter a government unit, you have to give up the position of factory director, otherwise you have to give up the secretary. You have to consider this carefully."

Yang Kangnian smiled and patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction, "I didn't expect you to think of this. Not bad, not bad."

Then, he patted him twice more, "Don't worry, I know what to do."

Seeing him say this, Chen Fan stopped talking and got up to say goodbye.

After lunch, Director Huang and the others returned to the Yunhu Hotel to discuss the next step of filming, so Chen Fan didn't need to say goodbye to them at this time and left directly in his car.

Turning right out the door, he soon arrived at the cotton mill. Jiang Heng was arranging the work of the down jacket fabric production line in the workshop. Seeing Chen Fan coming, he wanted to have the deputy factory director of production continue and take him back to the office himself.

Chen Fan quickly waved his hand, "Uncle Jiang, don't bother so much. I'll be leaving later."

Jiang Heng was stunned and looked at him, asking, "So anxious? When did you come back?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "I arrived in Yunhu yesterday. I went to the 'Yunhu Love' crew this morning and had lunch at the Yunqi Factory at noon."

Then, he told him about Yunqi Factory lending them cars for free, and then said, "Uncle Jiang, if the car appears in the movie, it's like advertising. Our cotton mill has fabrics, clothing, and even a shoe factory. In fact, we can also talk to Director Huang about sponsoring them with something.

It's just that it's not as natural as a car, but it's still worth discussing.

They are staying at the Yunhu Hotel. If you have this idea, you can mention my name when you go to see him. If he feels embarrassed, you might consider sponsoring them with some film stock. They would definitely be happy."

Film stock must be very precious these days, otherwise they wouldn't limit the film consumption ratio to within 1.2. 1.2 is just the bottom line, and the qualified line is 1.1, which shows how rare film stock is.

But it's not like there's no way to buy it.

When they were running forward in those years, the literary and art circles also had to "launch satellites" together with the whole country.

How to launch it?

For example, at that time, the Truth Department made demands on many places or many literary and artistic backbones, "Exceed Lu Xun in two years", "Each county should produce a Guo Moruo", "Write 60 scripts in one night", etc.

Even Xia Yan made demands on himself, using half a year to "write a multi-act play, two one-act plays; write more than one sketch and commentary every month; write the first draft of 'Memories of the May Fourth Movement'; review and carefully read 'On Contradiction' and 'On Practice', and take study notes..."

As for the film industry, naturally, more film studios were built. That is, at that time, almost every province built its own film studio.

Whether it can be filmed is one thing, but the equipment and personnel must be complete.

Uh... , this personnel completion is really just completion. As for whether they can work, that's another matter.

But in the eyes of the superiors, once there is a film studio, it must accept tasks.

Not only are there tasks, but they must also "overfulfill" them.

Therefore, Jiangnan Province also has its own "Jiangnan Film Studio". Well, it's not the Jiangnan Film Studio in Shanghai. If there is a duplicate name, it is purely coincidental.

But, this Jiangnan Film Studio is just a makeshift team. Except for two people who have filmed a few episodes of documentaries serving as directors, and two photographers borrowed from the TV station to do photography... Well, actually, it's just borrowing a name. People still work at the TV station.

Except for these few people who can barely be considered "professional", everyone else is just making up the numbers, and they just shoot some model operas every year to complete the task.

However, the film stock allocated by the superiors is not small, because in that year, the film stock factory located in Baoding officially started production. Although the output was not high that year, it was later expanded twice, basically meeting the task requirements of the superiors.

This includes supplying film stock to film studios across the country.

In this way, when film studios such as Beijing Film Studio, Changchun Film Studio, and Shanghai Film Studio lack film stock due to vigorous creation, other provincial film studios actually have excess film stock lying idle in warehouses.

The cotton mill's fabrics and clothing are also good things. It's reasonable to pull some "defective products" to the provincial capital and find the leaders of the Jiangnan Film Studio to exchange for some "scrapped" film stock!

With the film stock paving the way, as long as the cotton mill's requirements are not too excessive, Director Huang will definitely agree.

The two chatted for a while, and Shen Xueyi also rushed over after hearing the news.

Compared to Jiang Heng, who only cares about work, she cares more about her daughter, and asked about the situation of the two sisters in Shanghai as soon as she came.

Chen Fan naturally reported the good news and not the bad news... It seems that there is no bad news to report.

Hearing that the two daughters were doing well in Shanghai and even started their own businesses, Shen Xueyi and Jiang Heng were very happy.

Chen Fan didn't stay here for long either. Seeing that it was almost time, he was about to say goodbye and leave.

Jiang Heng and the two knew that he was a busy man, and who knew what important things he had to do when he returned to Lujiawan, so they didn't keep him and sent him outside the workshop, watching the car drive out of the factory gate.

Chen Fan drove the car and soon arrived at the freight terminal. He skillfully gave the administrator two packs of cigarettes, parked the car next to him, lifted the tarpaulin on the small yacht, and rumbled towards the rolling river.