Reborn in 1977

Chapter 67: A Scheming Old Fox (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Secretary Yang, draped in a cotton-padded coat and with his hands clasped behind his back, walked with a wobble to the small building at the back.

The others followed behind him, standing together at the door of a room on the first floor.

The three rooms on the first floor here served as the brigade's exclusive warehouses.

Originally, the entire building was used for this purpose, but to build a broadcasting station, two rooms on the second floor were specially vacated. One became the broadcasting room, and the other became a reading room for newspapers and magazines, thus forming a comprehensive building.

Secretary Yang didn't have the key to this place either, and stood waiting at the door with everyone else.

Soon, Luo Guitian, the brigade's storekeeper, ran over, took out a bunch of keys to unlock the door, and opened it.

Then, looking at Secretary Yang, he asked, "These are all old, tattered things left over from a long time ago. What are you looking for here?"

Back when the area was liberated, our troops took over the Lu family's compound, which had been occupied by the Japanese devils, and cleaned out some broken things that they couldn't bear to throw away, all of which were placed in this room.

Although several generations of storekeepers had been dutiful, often coming in to wipe off the dust, broken things were still broken things. What use could they be?

Secretary Yang smiled, "I wouldn't bother if they weren't broken."

Then, the group walked into the room, only to see many things piled against the wall inside.

The unhealthy trends from above couldn't penetrate the remote Lujiawan Village. Even during the most chaotic times, this place wasn't much affected. At most, meetings were held more frequently. There were no other disturbances, so everything was completely preserved.

Secretary Yang walked around, finally stopping in front of a small clock, uncovering the homespun cloth covering it.

This clock was only about a foot tall, half a foot wide and thick. It had a base at the bottom and a glass cover on top. Compared to the new-style alarm clocks of today, it was just a "big, dumb, and clumsy" thing.

Even in the 1970s, this kind of clock had been eliminated from the stage of history. Except for finding them in old goods stores, regular stores didn't sell such things.

Zhang Changjiang tilted his head to look at it, then looked at Secretary Yang, and said with a surprised face, "You're not going to reward him with this, are you? This is a broken thing!"

If it hadn't been broken for decades, this clock wouldn't have been left here unattended.

Even Secretary Yang's own daughter, Yang Xingxiu, couldn't help but mutter in her heart, "Old miser!"

Even sending something worth one or two yuan would be better than sending a broken toy!

Now, a new alarm clock only costs a dozen yuan, about the same as the set of clothes Chen Fan was given before.

This "big, dumb, and clumsy" thing, even if it were in good condition, would only fetch three to five yuan at most in an old goods store. Really, no more than that!

As for broken ones, they were worthless. The money from selling it as scrap metal wouldn't even cover the repair costs. Who would fix it?

Seeing their expressions, Secretary Yang gave them a dark look, "You don't know anything."

Then, he lowered his voice and said, "This little Master Chen is eccentric. On the one hand, he can cook, and on the other hand, he can repair broadcasting machines. He also knows how to operate radios and record players.

Didn't you see just now? He didn't even need Technician Huang to do anything. He adjusted everything in a few strokes. You have to know that he's only 16 or 17 years old. How did he learn all this?"

Xiao Liewen thoughtfully said, "Cooking and repairing electrical appliances are completely unrelated. It is indeed a bit strange."

Zhang Changjiang looked at Secretary Yang, "Then what do you mean by giving him this clock?"

Secretary Yang chuckled, "I don't care what his background is. Anyway, I pretend not to know anything without evidence. He's useful to our Lujiawan Village. That's the real deal. As long as there's no evidence to prove that he's a bad person, then he's a treasure of our Lujiawan Village."

After a pause, he smiled again, "Didn't he say he forgot his background? I'll help him think about it carefully. Since he can repair broadcasting machines, let's see if he can repair this clock."

Zhang Wenliang immediately said, "But these two are different."

Even if he didn't understand, he knew that one required electricity and the other required winding. They were completely different things.

Secretary Yang chuckled, "That's exactly what I want. I want to see how much ability he has. If he can repair this too, then we won't have to worry about things breaking down in the brigade in the future."

Zhang Changjiang suddenly realized, then gave a thumbs up, "When it comes to being cunning, you're the best!"

Secretary Yang glared at him, "Tch, you can't even speak properly. Is this being cunning? This is clearly being shrewd and far-sighted!"

Ye Shubao and Xiao Liewen's lips twitched slightly. That word wasn't much better either.

Secretary Yang waved his hand, "Sanhu, wrap this up and take it to him tomorrow. Tell him that this is a reward for him, but he has to fix it himself."

Zhang Wenliang suppressed a smile, "Don't wait until tomorrow. I'll arrange it later and have someone carry it over on horseback."

Yang Xingxiu shook her head and sighed, "You're just bullying honest people."

She was thinking of using the thing as a freebie, but she didn't expect it to be this way. Isn't this bullying honest people?

After taking a look at his own daughter, Secretary Yang pondered for two seconds, then pointed to a wooden box next to him that was even bigger than the clock, "Storekeeper Luo, include this phonograph as well."

Then he smiled and said, "He can repair broadcasting machines, so he can definitely repair the phonograph. Isn't that treating him well?"

Yang Xingxiu didn't say anything this time, but her heart was full of doubts. Could this broken radio that had been broken since the War of Resistance really be repaired?

… …

Chen Fan, leaning on his dog-beating stick, strode across the vast fields.

Although he hadn't deliberately exercised these past few days, walking like this every day, coupled with good wine and good food, his physique had increased to 9, and his strength had reached 7.5, definitely not worse than a strong adult laborer.

Then he saw a thin man in the distance carrying a wooden utility pole with brisk steps, and without needing anyone's help, he set the utility pole up.

He silently corrected himself in his heart, definitely not worse than half a strong adult laborer!

Speaking of which, people these days may not eat good things, but their strength is much greater than the pampered people of later generations.

It's very unscientific.

Discouraged, Chen Fan buried his head and hurried on his way. After more than half an hour, he returned to the educated youth spot.

When he entered the courtyard, he found that a utility pole had been erected next to his room, adjacent to the courtyard wall. What was going on?

Jiang Lili walked out, a smile on her face, "You're back. Was it smooth?"

Chen Fan nodded with a smile, "Smooth. The brigade also installed a broadcasting machine today. Once the lines for the whole team are connected, broadcasting can begin."

Then he pointed to the utility pole, "Didn't you say that lines wouldn't be run into homes this time? Why was a line run in?"

Jiang Lili walked to his side and looked at the line side by side, smiling and said, "I heard it was the commune's request. All the educated youth spots in the commune's five production brigades, including the Lujiawan Educated Youth Spot, must have lines run in and electric lights installed."

Chen Fan's eyes widened, "There's such a good thing?"

Then his brow furrowed slightly, and he asked a crucial question, "Who pays for the electricity?"