Reborn in 1977

Chapter 670: Promotion and Moving

Speaking of which, Chen Fan had never been a leader in either of his lifetimes.

Especially a leader in this era, which is very different from later generations.

For example, there are still many senior veterans in positions, many of whom have just returned to work. Some of them are very meticulous in their work and conduct.

Some people are leaders themselves, but their family members are just ordinary employees, still tightening screws in the workshop, and some haven't even solved their employment problems and can only rely on their parents at home.

It wouldn't be wrong to describe them as unfeeling.

But they are not really unreasonable; it depends on the angle from which you approach them. The same thing that cannot be explained from a direct approach can be easily solved by changing the angle and clarifying the interests of the masses.

In this regard, He Qingsheng had a lot to say, and even Xu Qizhen had a lot of experience.

One represents "old" and the other represents "middle," together teaching a young person how to deal with people above and below.

Dealing with the leaders above is one thing, and dealing with the young people who have just started working below, and the old workhorses who have been working for decades, or the old foxes, is another.

All kinds of people have different ideas. After becoming a leader, where should the bottom line be set, and how to deal with different situations flexibly? There is a lot to learn here.

He Qingsheng and Xu Qizhen really treated him as one of their own, telling Chen Fan about the pitfalls they had stepped on, the experiences they had, and the lessons they had learned.

Although it may not be everything, it was all practical stuff, which was enough.

Regardless of whether it was useful or not, Chen Fan memorized it all in one go.

Finally, when he was dizzy, He Qingsheng took half a pack of his cigarettes.

By the time he reacted, the door slammed shut, leaving only one sentence: "Don't be late for the meeting tomorrow."

Only then did Chen Fan come back to his senses, standing there with his hands spread out, wondering, "I don't manage people or affairs, why do I need to learn these things?"

… …

December 7th, Thursday, heavy snow.

Before dawn, snowflakes began to fall, and the north wind howled. Chen Fan was nestled in his quilt, not wanting to get up at all.

What can dispel worries? Only retirement!

Now he doesn't even do his usual morning exercises, let alone in this kind of weather that is best for sleeping?

Speaking of morning exercises, Chen Fan couldn't help but sigh that the museum had good stuff!

When he was browsing ancient books in the museum, he found many out-of-print Taoist scriptures, including two cultivation notes written by unknown cultivators, interspersed with several Qi training techniques.

In the eyes of others, this is the fantasy of the ancients, but in the eyes of a Taoist who has achieved Qi training, it is a rare true inheritance.

Chen Fan was naturally someone who could understand it. He found that there was a technique similar to the Hibernating Dragon Sleeping Meditation Technique passed down by Chen Tuan, which emphasized cultivation in sitting, lying, walking, and standing.

Isn't this a coincidence? The Yushan School Taoist scriptures he obtained from Master Zhang also emphasized the combination of movement and stillness, and the dual cultivation of nature and life.

Then, after confirming this with each other, he didn't have to exercise seriously from the day before yesterday.

Stretching can relax his muscles and bones, and rhythmic breathing is breathing and exhaling. Especially after having a special sleeping technique, he basically said goodbye to sitting meditation and Qi training. Every day he sleeps, he feels refreshed and energetic.

Cultivating this kind of Taoist technique doesn't have supernatural powers or abilities, but it can strengthen muscles and bones, prolong life, and increase a little bit of agility and strength.

Originally, he thought that he could be a truly lying-flat salted fish from now on, but he didn't expect that the learning had just ended, and before he had time to rest for a day, he had to get up early for a meeting.

Couldn't it be like some meetings, starting at 10 am?!

When he finished washing up, put on his clothes, and went to the cafeteria for breakfast, he realized that it really wouldn't work.

Because there were leaders present!

The provincial leaders in charge of publicity and culture came and were sitting at a table with He Qingsheng, Tan Yong, Xu Qizhen, and other leaders, chatting while eating. Almost all the big shots from the Propaganda Department and the Cultural Department were also there.

As soon as Chen Fan entered the door, he was spotted by Xu Qizhen, who waved him over.

Oh, right, now he is also qualified to sit at the main table.

The leader looked at Chen Fan with a very kind expression and took the initiative to chat a lot.

However, this was after all a crowded cafeteria, not even a private room, so it was kept to a minimum.

However, in front of everyone, his attitude was made very clear.

As for the reason, Chen Fan could guess it without guessing.

Aside from the background of the three masters, which was almost an open secret, just looking at himself, his contribution to the literary world in Jiangnan was not small.

In the past, although the development of literary work in Jiangnan was not bad, it was not comparable to places like Beijing and Shanghai, and it was far inferior to the famous Shanxi Yam Egg School.

But since Chen Fan came out of Yunhu, not to mention the old generation, among the new generation of literati, there was not one that could compare with him. This alone was enough to make the leader happy.

Not to mention that after Chen Fan transferred to the Writers Association, he successively handled several major events.

First, he founded the Literary Correspondence Center, making the literary world of Jiangnan Province famous. Then, he founded the "Literary Youth" magazine, and then he started the trend of "Literary Earning Foreign Exchange."

These were all real benefits.

With such a person in front of him, which leader wouldn't like him?

The leader's attitude was naturally seen by everyone. Thinking about what He Qingsheng said to everyone yesterday when he informed them of the election of the board of directors and the new presidium of the Writers Association, almost everyone knew that someone would be promoted in the next two days.

… …

In fact, the meeting was quite boring.

At least for Chen Fan, it was.

The entire morning was spent with He Qingsheng and Xu Qizhen giving work reports.

Well, Chen Fan was not spared either.

If you want to be promoted, how can you not show some achievements?

Although his achievements were almost well known, even if it was formalism, it had to be done once.

So Chen Fan sat at the end of the presidium, lightly recited the work he had done, and finally praised the entire unit and the brother units that provided help for the relevant work.

Well, this rhetoric used the little trick He Qingsheng taught last night.

The result was of course ideal. The leader was satisfied, and the colleagues agreed.

So, in the afternoon election, Comrade Chen Fan, who had just turned eighteen on his household registration book, was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Third Council of the Jiangnan Provincial Writers Association and the Vice Chairman of the Third Presidium, mainly responsible for foreign cultural exchanges.

The writers' representatives attending the meeting were selected from 12 special zones, a total of 36 people, plus representatives from the Provincial Writers Association, the "Jiangnan Literature" magazine, the "Literary Youth" magazine, the Literary Correspondence Center, and other units, totaling 56 people.

The meeting elected 7 members of the Board of Directors, 5 members of the Presidium, and 1 Secretary-General.

He Qingsheng was re-elected as Chairman of the Presidium and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Xu Qizhen was re-elected as Secretary-General. Tan Yong was still the Vice Chairman and also the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, but he did not hold a position on the Board of Directors, that is, he did not manage affairs, purely a mascot, which Chen Fan envied very much.

In addition to the newly added old comrades who came out to preside over the work, the only young person who was promoted was Chen Fan, who served as Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.

He also concurrently served as the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department, managing the entire Foreign Affairs Department.

As for the Literary Correspondence Center and the "Literary Youth" magazine, which he created, they were taken over by three old comrades respectively. Two people managed the Correspondence Center and one person was responsible for the magazine.

They were none other than the other three members of the Board of Directors besides He Qingsheng, Tan Yong, Xu Qizhen, and Chen Fan.

Further down, the cadres of each department were also arranged.

In short, a big pie was clearly divided, and everyone was full and happy.

The meeting ended at 5 pm. At 5:30, 7 tables were set up in the cafeteria. When eating, all the participating representatives were given a Yunhu brand thermos as a souvenir. This meeting ended successfully.

Although there will be meetings tomorrow, it has nothing to do with those representatives from other places, but a working meeting held internally by the Board of Directors.

Unfortunately, Chen Fan still has to participate.

… …

After the banquet, Chen Fan waved goodbye to those he knew and those he had just met, and walked out with the thermos.

Luggage, computers, and printers had been moved to the car at noon.

Xu Qizhen also gave him the key to the new house before.

In the new house, in addition to the furniture that had already arrived, even the bedding was bought by Vice Factory Director Li and placed in the house, waiting for him to use it.

He didn't have to worry about anything, he could move in directly when he went back.

Just as he opened the car door and was about to get in, He Qingsheng, Tan Yong, and Xu Qizhen trotted over from behind.

Xu Qizhen even shouted, "Wait, wait, wait, give us a ride."

Chen Fan stood there, watching them pull the door and get into the car, couldn't help but be a little surprised, "Doesn't the unit have a car?"

He had helped the unit buy several vans before, why didn't they use the car and ran to hitch a ride?

Xu Qizhen grabbed the co-pilot's seat, shivered while sitting in the chair, and turned to him and said, "Hurry up and get in the car and close the door, it's freezing."

Seeing Chen Fan get in and close the car door, she continued, "Many people are locals, and they don't have cars, and there aren't that many rooms here, so let the driver team send them back. Anyway, they are all going to Literary New Village, so we a few will just take your ride."

Tan Yong was sitting in the back row, and at this time the alcohol was kicking in, he was a little confused, and simply closed his eyes and threatened, "If you don't drive, I don't care if I throw up in the car."

Chen Fan's face darkened, and he started the car and set off.

After driving for a short distance, he said, "Didn't you say that those small appliances were used to distribute welfare, why did you distribute souvenirs?"

The warm air in the car blew up, Xu Qizhen felt much more comfortable, lazily lying on the backrest, and said with a smile, "The way you say it, there are more than a dozen kinds of small appliances in a set, who would distribute so many welfare products at once?"

Chen Fan glanced at her, "According to you, those things, shouldn't they be the amount for a year?"

Before Xu Qizhen could speak, He Qingsheng, who was lying in the back, interjected, "What are you saying? Isn't a year's worth enough? Look at other units; which one gives as much in annual benefits as we do?!"

As he spoke, he rolled down the window a crack, took out a cigarette, lit it, and continued, "The small appliances from Yunhu Factory are in high demand these days. Thanks to you, our unit bought two hundred sets, but we can't hog them all."

Tan Yong took the cigarette from He Qingsheng's hand, tossed one onto the dashboard in front, took another for himself, put it in his mouth, and nodded, saying, "Yeah, hogging it all can lead to bursting."

Xu Qizhen, as if taking the baton, explained where the small appliances went, "For appliances like induction cookers, microwave ovens, and electric ovens that use too much power, we only kept a small portion. The rest were distributed to the leaders of various departments within the cultural system.

The remaining ones, like hair dryers and rice cookers, which are a bit more ordinary, are used as holiday benefits, and some can be given as prizes to outstanding employees…"

At this point, she suddenly turned to look at Chen Fan, her eyes full of curiosity, "I've been busy preparing for the meeting and haven't had time to ask you. What exactly is your relationship with that Yunhu Factory? You can take shortcuts to buy a car, and even to buy these small appliances?"

Hearing this, He Qingsheng and Tan Yong also widened their eyes and looked at Chen Fan.

They could understand the car thing. After all, they heard that the car was designed by Chen Fan, even if it was based on his father's designs. That was still a remarkable achievement.

The Yunhu Automobile Factory had benefited so much; of course, they would give him face. Besides, it wasn't like they weren't paying for it; it was just jumping the line, which wasn't a big deal.

But these small appliances were different. It didn't even seem to be the same system, and everyone with connections was trying to get their hands on them. Many leaders hadn't been able to buy any, but he could get two hundred sets just like that, without even having to notify them in advance. He could make the decision himself.

Xu Qizhen also remembered that later, a deputy director from that factory personally arranged for the delivery, and even after hearing that Chen Fan had a new home, he took the initiative to furnish it completely, even arranging for people to buy and deliver bedding and sundries.

Could this be just an ordinary relationship?

Faced with three pairs of curious eyes, Chen Fan simply shrugged, "Originally, the automobile factory and the machinery factory were one entity. They haven't completely separated yet, but they will after the New Year. The automobile factory will be formally independent, and the small appliance production line will also be spun off.

I suggested that they research and produce small appliances. Deputy Director Li will be the future head of Yunhu Small Appliance Company, serving as both secretary and factory director."

Hearing this, the three of them suddenly understood.

Xu Qizhen sighed repeatedly, "In that case, this Director Li, ah no, Secretary Li, really needs to thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know when he would have been able to get promoted."

He Qingsheng and Tan Yong also praised Deputy Director Li's good fortune.

These days, getting promoted isn't easy. So many people return to their jobs, and if their original positions weren't occupied by those who made mistakes, it's hard to say how difficult it would be to truly resume their work.

Let alone get promoted.

This Chen Fan is truly a blessed person. From Lujiawan to the Health Department, from the Yunhu Machinery Factory to their Provincial Writers Association, it seems that wherever he goes, that place benefits.

Even though they had unwavering beliefs in their hearts, they couldn't help but murmur at this time. Agriculture, health, machinery, literature—he's proficient in everything. Could this kid be blessed by the gods?!

Fortunately, they didn't say it out loud, or Chen Fan would have definitely retorted.

Before long, the car passed the road next to Jiangnan University and arrived at Xinghu Lake.

The once-dark Literary New Village was now brightly lit.

From the lights shining through the windows, it could be seen that the occupancy rate here was actually one hundred percent?!

Well, not all the houses were lit. In a corner of the lake island, one house was dark.

Chen Fan was lamenting that only his house was empty when he suddenly realized something, turned to look at the three of them, and asked, "Don't you all have homes? Did you also move here to live?"

Hearing this, Xu Qizhen just snorted, "What are you saying? Who wouldn't want to live in a new house rather than an old house that's almost a dilapidated building?"

Chen Fan widened his eyes. You? A dilapidated building?

Then he heard He Qingsheng in the back say, "My big family, a dozen people, was getting too crowded, so I simply brought my old partner here to live. It's much quieter here."

Tan Yong also nodded, saying, "Yeah, yeah, I'm the same as Lao He. And there are all kinds of shops here, as well as kindergartens and schools, so I brought a few of my young grandchildren to live with me. It will be convenient for them to go to school in the future."

Xu Qizhen chuckled, "I remember your eldest granddaughter is in the third grade of elementary school, right? My youngest son is too. Maybe they're classmates."

Chen Fan's head was a little numb. Did he fall into a leadership nest? He couldn't help but say, "When the houses were being built, didn't you say you didn't want to move?"

Xu Qizhen turned to look at him, smiling, "What are you saying? We didn't expect the houses to be built so well at the time."

He Qingsheng nodded repeatedly, "That's right, and with such complete facilities—hospitals, schools, vegetable markets, supply and marketing cooperative shops, bookstores, post offices… everything is right at our doorstep, much more convenient than my old house."

Tan Yong, "That's…"

So, amidst their successive boasts, Chen Fan listlessly drove the car into the community, then stopped, turned around, and asked, "Which building and number do you live in? Should I drop you off here, or go further in?"

Xu Qizhen chuckled, "Keep driving forward."

She pointed at He Qingsheng, "Lao He lives next door to you."

Then she pointed at Tan Yong, "Lao Tan lives next door to Lao He."

Finally, she pointed at herself, "I live in the apartment above you. Just a few steps up the stairs, we're all together."

Chen Fan, "…? ? ? ! ! !"

Restarting the car, under the illumination of the streetlights, he drove onto the lake island along the black asphalt road, stopping at the innermost part. The three of them got out of the car.

Chen Fan leaned against the window, watching Tan Yong enter the third-to-last courtyard and He Qingsheng enter the one next to his.

As for Xu Qizhen, she walked through the open space between Chen Fan's and He Qingsheng's houses, followed a narrow pebble path, went up a few steps, and walked straight into the small courtyard.

Finally, he completely gave up hope.

Wouldn't they be pulling him to talk about work until the middle of the night from now on?

Letting out a long sigh, Chen Fan finally drove the car into the courtyard.

Originally, it had snowed heavily today, and there was a lot of snow piled up on the roadside. Now, the courtyard was about the same. He didn't know which kind person had helped, but the snow had been shoveled to the side of the fence, and only a thin layer of fresh snow remained in the courtyard.

Pushing the door open and getting out of the car, he closed the door and walked to the front of the house, stepping on the snow. He took out the key to open the door, then turned on the light. The orange light pierced through the darkness but couldn't bring much warmth to the room.

That's how houses by the lake are. If you want the coolness of summer and the charm of opening the door to see the water, you have to accept the cold of winter and the heavy humidity.

Unlike the last time he came, all the furniture was in place. On the central wall of the living room, there was a portrait of Mr. Li.

Although the old man was gone, even in later generations, many rural families still hung his portrait, let alone now, when his influence hadn't faded away yet.

Below the portrait, instead of the common eight-immortal table of this era, there was a wide Luohan bed.

Originally, Chen Fan had ordered three large beds, one for the master bedroom and two for the guest rooms, but since the master bedroom had been converted into a heated kang, the original bed was moved to the guest room, and then one of the Luohan beds from the guest room was moved to the living room, which is how it is now.

As for the sides of the main room, there were sandalwood chairs and coffee tables, giving it a somewhat retro feel.

Well, all the furniture in the house is sandalwood; otherwise, it wouldn't have cost so much money. In Chen Fan's words, the humidity is high by the lake, and sandalwood is resistant.

Turning left into the master bedroom, the front half is a study. The west wall is a full bookcase, and the bedroom is separated by a full, floor-to-ceiling bookcase. Further in is the bedroom.

Looking at the heated kang that occupies most of the bedroom's area, Chen Fan felt very satisfied.

He stepped forward and touched it. Hiss… so cold!

And there's a little bit of dust.

There's no one to help him with housework here. Sadly, he can only do it himself in the future. Maybe he can increase the experience points of his long-dormant housework skills?

Without further ado, let's get to work!

First, go to the kitchen. The eight-immortal table originally prepared for the living room was placed here. If there aren't many people, this can be used as a dining room, after all, the kitchen is big enough.

Next to the wall adjacent to the bedroom, a kang stove was built. Beside the stove was a pile of firewood and charcoal. Under the north window, there was also a stove, with a gas stove on top and a gas tank below.

There was also a small notebook on the stove. Chen Fan picked it up and took a look. It turned out to be a gas book. With this book, you can go to a designated place to refill the gas.

Putting down the notebook, he turned around and started burning firewood, and also boiled a pot of bathwater.

After the fire was burning strongly, he was busy cleaning.

He didn't need to do everything, mainly to wipe the kang clean. The basins and buckets to be used later had to be washed out.

Vice Chairman Chen couldn't help but sigh. He's promoted but still has to do his own work, both mentally and physically exhausting.

After a busy time, the heated kang was finally heated, and the house was warm, especially the master bedroom, which was almost like a warm room, without a trace of smoke.

After a hasty wash, he spread out the bedding and burrowed inside.

Turning off the light, listening to the howling of the bleak north wind outside and the vaguely visible snowflakes, a sense of satisfaction arose spontaneously.

This is life.