Reborn in 1977

Calligraphy and paintings need mounting. As a time-honored brand renowned throughout the country, Rongbaozhai's mounting skills are unparalleled. Naturally, the calligraphy and painting were left here for mounting and will be picked up in a few days.

After leaving the shop, Chen Fan drove the minibus, taking Mr. Huo with him.

Mr. Huo sat in the passenger seat, curious about the vehicle. "Is this car produced domestically?"

He couldn't find any English or Russian markings on the vehicle, only the two characters "Yunhu" on the center console and steering wheel, which piqued his curiosity.

Chen Fan didn't mention that he designed it himself, only smiling and saying, "Yes, it's produced by Yunhu Automobile Factory in my hometown, Jiangnan Province. Currently, the automobile factory has two products: this minibus and a sedan."

After a pause, he explained, "I'm a consultant for Yunhu Automobile Factory. This car is borrowed from their Beijing office, just for temporary use. I'll have to return it later."

Mr. Huo shifted in his seat, feeling around, and said in surprise, "The quality of this car is quite good. The power output is even, and it drives smoothly, almost like the Hongqi I usually ride in on the mainland."

Generally speaking, minibuses are both passenger and cargo vehicles. In terms of stability and comfort, they certainly can't compare to sedans, but this car doesn't have any obvious bumps. It feels like sitting in a sedan, indicating that the structure of this car must be relatively advanced.

Actually, it's not that this minibus is so good, but that current sedans are truly disappointing. Otherwise, Cadillac wouldn't have maintained its position at the top of the comfort car list for so many years.

Chen Fan smiled. "It still can't compare to the Hongqi, but the other sedan can compete."

The Hongqi he mentioned wasn't an ordinary Hongqi sedan, but a specially made vehicle for important figures, exclusively for Xiyuan. The current Yunhu sedan can indeed compete with the specially made Hongqi.

However, no one would ever think of replacing the Hongqi with a Yunhu sedan, including Factory Director Yang.

In today's terms, the brand value of the two is not on the same level at all, and they are not comparable.

Moreover, FAW has a large operation with 30,000 employees and is closely related to the First Ministry of Machine Building, almost becoming a representative of the domestic automobile industry.

Replacing the Hongqi with Yunhu Automobile is not as feasible as FAW directly using Yunhu sedan technology to produce Hongqi sedans.

In fact, that's what's happening now.

The latest Hongqi car uses the Yunhu sedan's frame, with the same shape and interior, just changing the logo and adding a Hongqi symbol to the front.

Therefore, unless Mr. Li were still alive and directly designated the use of Yunhu sedans, there would be no possibility of replacement.

This is also why Chen Fan has never thought of promoting Yunhu Automobile in Beijing.

It's good as it is now. As long as it doesn't compete for that honor, Yunhu Automobile will still be a unique flower rising in the domestic automobile industry.

Mr. Huo felt it for a while, thinking the car was indeed good, and wondered if he should purchase a batch to take back.

Before investing in the White Swan Hotel, he had spent a lot of money in the country, but the current domestic industrial base was weak. Even materials like steel and cement were not enough for domestic use, let alone export.

Moreover, there was no advantage in quality.

As for other things, he didn't need them.

So he could only buy some collectibles to take back, spending some money here as a small contribution.

There were quite a few such things. In 1986, a gift he gave to the Queen of England: a snuff bottle with the Queen's portrait inside. It was made at a high price by the domestic inner-painted snuff bottle masters Wang Xisan and Liu Shouben.

Also, in 1972, his daughter was invited to visit the Shanghai Museum and saw a thousand-year-old kesi tapestry "Lotus Pond with Ducklings". She liked it very much and hoped to have a replica made for her father. Later, she found the Suzhou Wuxian Kesi Factory, spent a high price, and successfully replicated it in one year.

In fact, he himself doesn't particularly like collecting, nor is he a great collector. However, buying art in China to give as gifts and buying antiques abroad to bring back to China is something he often does.

It was rare to meet Chen Fan today and ride in this car, so he had the idea of buying a car. He turned to look at Chen Fan and asked softly, "Is this car exported?"

Chen Fan turned to look at him and smiled, "You wouldn't want to buy this kind of car, would you?"

Mr. Huo smiled and said, "When the leaders talked to me, they said something: buy what you need in the country, and don't waste money on things you don't need."

"So, I really think this car is good, that's why I had the idea of buying it. I don't want to give money away for nothing, nor do I want to give you a favor just because you are a consultant for the automobile factory."

Chen Fan nodded and smiled. "Exporting products is probably what every factory in the country wants to do. If possible, Yunhu Automobile Factory would certainly be willing to export products."

"However, Yunqi Factory's current production capacity is seriously insufficient. They are still expanding production lines one after another, so delivery may be a little later."

"In addition, China implements a foreign trade monopoly system. If you want to buy a car, it's useless to find Yunqi Factory. You have to find an import and export company and place an order with Yunqi Factory through them."

Speaking of this, Chen Fan smiled and explained, "Mr. Huo, I'm not trying to flatter Yunqi Factory. If you really want to buy a car, you must specify Yunqi Factory's car when you go to the import and export company to place an order."

"Because so far, among all the factories producing this kind of car, only Yunqi Factory's car has the best quality."

Hearing this, a few thoughts flashed in Mr. Huo's eyes, but he didn't ask any more questions, just nodded gently, "Understood."

Although he doesn't come to Beijing often, he spends a lot of time in Panyu, spending several months there every year, so he is not completely ignorant of the situation on the mainland.

Hearing Chen Fan say this, he understood the situation.

Moreover, this matter is easy to investigate. If he really wants to buy a car, he can find someone to investigate and find out.

Chen Fan drove, turning left and right, but didn't go home immediately, but went to the vegetable market.

The vegetable market generally has two peak periods, one around 7 am and the other at 4 pm. It was a little before 4 pm at this time, which was a good time when the goods were all on the shelves and the people buying vegetables hadn't arrived yet.

Chen Fan parked the car and smiled at Mr. Huo, "Wait a few minutes, I'll be right back."

Mr. Huo turned to look at the vegetable market, then turned back to look at him, his eyes full of surprise, "Buying vegetables and cooking?"

Chen Fan chuckled, "That's right, I'm cooking myself today, is it very surprising?"

Mr. Huo came back to his senses and laughed, "It is indeed a bit surprising. I thought someone like you, a great writer and calligrapher, wouldn't touch spring water with your ten fingers."

Chen Fan shook his head proudly and smiled, "Then you wait, I'll let you taste my cooking later."

With that, he pushed the door and got out of the car.

As a result, Mr. Huo also got out of the car, walked up to him, looked at the entrance of the vegetable market, and sighed softly, "Back then, I used to buy vegetables and cook often. Especially when I was a child, my family was poor, and I even picked up vegetable leaves."

Later, I got busy with my career and never came to such places again.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed, “Today, I’ll borrow your light and stroll through the wet market again to see what the differences are between the markets in Jing City and Hong Kong.”

Chen Fan stepped inside, “There are many differences, enough to give you a fresh look.”

Mr. Huo really enjoyed chatting with Chen Fan. Although the two were far apart in age, there was no barrier between them, and they chatted very easily. Hearing this, he couldn't help but laugh, “Could it be that you've seen the wet markets in Hong Kong?”

Chen Fan shrugged, “I haven’t eaten pork, but I’ve seen pigs run. Hong Kong is close to the sea, so there must be a lot of seafood. Most of the vegetables rely on Shenzhen for supply, so they are basically leafy vegetables.

Jing City is in the north, and there are not so many leafy vegetables. What's more, it's winter now. I suspect that there won't be ten kinds of vegetables in this market.”

As they spoke, the two entered the wet market.

(The slogans in the wet market in 1978 were very distinctive)

It was a large house with a very high roof. The heating was very strong, and it was warm inside, making people want to take off their coats.

Chen Fan made a quick decision, bought a large vegetable basket, and started shopping.

Yellow River carp caught in Henan, hairtail sent from Tianjin, Liaoning sea cucumber from Dalian, pork from Changping, chicken from Fangshan…

As for vegetables, it would be generous to say there were ten kinds.

Potatoes, Chinese cabbage, and radishes. Apart from these three, Chen Fan only saw Shandong scallions.

If there weren't enough varieties, they made up for it with quantity. One stall sold one kind, and four kinds of vegetables occupied four stalls, which was indeed tough.

Mr. Huo followed behind, watching with curiosity. When he came out of the wet market, he couldn't help but clap his hands and exclaim, “It really is different from the wet markets in Hong Kong.”

After buying the vegetables, they went home.

Uh, not his own home, but the home of his three masters.

As a result, no one was at home.

The courtyard door was open, and the doors to the rooms were not closed. With such poor security these days, they were not afraid of being stolen. Those calligraphers' and painters' works were still hanging on the walls of their bedrooms.

There was no other way but to put the vegetable basket in the kitchen, invite Mr. Huo to sit down in the living room, make him a cup of tea, and say with a smile, “Please wait a moment, I'll go and find them.”

Mr. Huo naturally had no objections, and sat quietly drinking tea.

Chen Fan walked out of the courtyard and was about to ask someone for information when he heard a burst of noise from the neighboring courtyard, including the voices of his three masters.

He walked in and saw that his three masters were playing with monkeys.

Two golden monkey babies were being treated like treasures, passed around in the hands of a group of old men and women, and some children were curiously reaching out to stroke the monkeys.

Chen Fan stood at the entrance of the central courtyard, speechless.

How old are they? Why are they still like children, always thinking about showing off?

The establishment of diplomatic relations is announced today. As veterans who once beat the American devils, don't they feel a mix of emotions?

He could only walk over, pat Zhang Shifu on the shoulder, “Third Master, we have a guest.”

Zhang Xuansong looked back, blinked, “What kind of guest are you?”

After saying that, he waved his hand, “Go back and wait, we'll go back later.”

Lin Shifu and Li Shifu next to him also didn't move.

Chen Fan was very helpless, so he leaned close to his ear and said in a low voice, “There really is a guest, sitting in the living room. He also participated in the Northern War.”

Zhang Xuansong turned his head, “Really a guest?”

Lin Shifu and Li Shifu also leaned over.

Lin Yuanxiang, “Also participated in the Northern War?”

Li Shangde, “What's his background?”

Chen Fan lowered his voice again, only they could hear him, “Just met him today, a guest from Hong Kong. Back then, you were fighting in the front, and he was transporting supplies in the rear. Iron sheets, rubber, gasoline, and diesel were all transported by them in sea ships, trip after trip.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xuansong didn't ask any more questions, stood up and waved his hand, “Something's come up at home, let's play again next time.”

The neighbors were also unambiguous, immediately sent the monkeys over. Zhang Shifu and Lin Shifu each held one, turned around and left.

Back home, Chen Fan gave a brief introduction, and the four of them looked like they had met each other late, and began to chat around the Eight Immortals table.

No one paid attention to him, Chen Fan went to the kitchen to cook dinner.

Mr. Huo still wanted to be polite, but as soon as he turned his head, before he could say anything, Zhang Xuansong grabbed him, “Don't pay attention to him, let him cook. Hey, Brother Huo, you just said that the British sent troops to seal off the waterways, didn't that bald guy make any moves?”

Hearing this, Mr. Huo didn't care about Chen Fan anymore, and immediately turned his head and said, “Yes, how could he not? The situation was dangerous at that time, not only sealing off the waterways, but also sending bombs…

But we have a large population and great strength, and many overseas Chinese contributed money and effort.

Like Huang Yifei from Sumatra, Indonesia, nicknamed 'Iron Guts', led many overseas Chinese brothers to open up several secret transportation channels to send supplies back to the country.

There is also Li Yintong, the general manager of Nan Yi Company in Singapore, who is truly extraordinary in courage and knowledge. We transport rubber, do you know what he transports? Rubber trees!

It was the rubber trees he provided that enabled us to successfully plant rubber plantations in Hainan, so that we could be self-sufficient in rubber…”

…

Chen Fan was in the kitchen, fiddling with various ingredients, listening with his ears perked up as Mr. Huo told his three masters about their stories back then, his expression changing with the changes in the stories.

Of course, it wasn't all Mr. Huo who was talking.

His curiosity about the Northern battlefield was no less than the three masters' curiosity about the logistics struggles behind the war back then.

So after telling each story, he would ask about the situation on the battlefield at that time.

The three masters had all experienced the battlefield, and their stories were naturally immersive, leaving Mr. Huo stunned, his mouth barely closed.

Whenever he heard how difficult the conditions were at that time, and that many soldiers could not get enough warm clothes, and lacked food and water during battles, he could not help but burst into tears.

When he heard that many unscrupulous merchants used substandard products or even deliberately used inferior products to manufacture medical supplies, causing many soldiers to die not on the battlefield, but in the rear, he couldn't help but curse.

Chen Fan listened in the kitchen, and was also thinking, when should he write two such novels, so that more people can know about the events of that year?

…

After a busy time, dinner was served.

The four sat on each side, Chen Fan squeezed onto a bench with the Third Master, and sat obediently in the corner.

At the dinner table, the four continued the topic just now, toasting each other while chatting enthusiastically.

He suspected that if he wasn't responsible for pouring the wine, he would be arranged to go to the Arhat bed and share a table with two monkeys.

This meal lasted until 7 pm. The car that came to pick up Mr. Huo waited outside for more than an hour before finally picking him up and hurrying back.

As for the three masters, they naturally enjoyed their drinks to the fullest.

Chen Fan made them a bowl of sobering soup, sent them back to their rooms to lie down, then put the sleeping monkeys in a basket, called out to Xiao Hei, and drove home.