Reborn in 1977

Chapter 686: Restoring the Old to Its Original State

December 20th, Wednesday.

At half past four in the afternoon, Chen Fan drove to the Beijing Hotel. After registering at the front desk, he went straight upstairs.

In the room, Zhou Zhengdong and Zhou Yali were packing their things. Someone must have been here just now, as even the door wasn't closed.

Chen Fan knocked on the door and walked straight in. He first took off his light cashmere coat and hung it in the closet, then rolled up his sleeves, looked around, and said, "What else needs to be packed? I'll help."

Zhou Yali casually pointed, "Help me drink that bottle of soda."

Chen Fan turned his head and saw a bottle of yellow soda on the coffee table, with several empty bottles beside it.

Without even looking at the label, he knew it was Beijing's Arctic Ocean soda.

He picked up the soda and, without using an opener, used his finger to pop off the cap.

He tilted his head back and took a big gulp. Chen Fan let out a breath, "Too warm, the taste is a bit off."

Zhou Yali turned her head to look at him, her face a little speechless, "Why drink something so cold in the dead of winter? Aren't you afraid of getting a stomachache?"

Chen Fan finished the remaining half of the bottle in one gulp, put the bottle on the coffee table, and let out a full belch. He twisted his butt and sat on the sofa, saying unhappily, "You know it's the dead of winter. Who drinks soda in the dead of winter? You couldn't even pour some hot tea."

It would be best to add a few goji berries for health. Calculating my actual age, I'm almost thirty. It's time to take good care of myself. Otherwise, what if people say I'm prematurely aging in a few years?

Zhou Yali struggled to zip up the suitcase, took a few breaths, turned around and sat beside him, "Why not? I even asked the hotel staff. They usually drink this too, and they even take their thermoses to the market to buy it in bulk."

(Soda vending machine in Dongfeng Market in '78)

Chen Fan blinked and turned to look at her, "I know about taking a thermos to get draft beer, but getting soda?"

Aren't sodas all sold by the bottle? In the summer, there were soda stalls everywhere on the streets, just a simple folding wooden table with two cases of soda and a big ice block.

Bottles of soda were placed on the ice block to cool quickly. Sometimes, when there were too many customers, they were bought before they could be chilled.

After selling out, the vendor would ride a bicycle to the nearest supply and marketing cooperative to get more goods, sometimes making a dozen trips a day, selling dozens of cases. Two or three large ice blocks would be used up.

If one stall sold dozens of cases, how much would the entire capital sell? And what about the whole summer?

It is said that as early as '61, Arctic Ocean soda had a net profit of 8.78 million yuan a year. Now it's only more, which shows its popularity.

But draft soda?

He had never seen that before.

Zhou Yali patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Young comrade, you're out of touch with the masses! I know about it, but you've never even heard of it. No excuses, tomorrow your sister will take you shopping. We'll go to the market and see for ourselves, won't we?"

Chen Fan curled his lips slightly, "You can just say you want to drag me shopping, no need to make excuses."

After a pause, he added, "But haven't you forgotten that we're going to see the house tomorrow?"

Zhou Yali, "Uh... then we'll go get draft beer the day after tomorrow."

Zhou Zhengdong pushed two large suitcases out of the room, widened his eyes, and glared at his daughter, "You still dare to drink alcohol?"

Zhou Yali chuckled foolishly, "Buy both soda and beer. I'll drink the soda, you guys drink the beer."

Seeing his father nod slightly, Zhou Yali couldn't help but sigh, "Comrade Lao Zhou, your youngest son hasn't even been born yet, and you're already starting to dislike me?!"

The 'youngest son' originally refers to the son who stays at home to support his parents. And because in most parts of China, it is the youngest son who supports his parents, it has gradually become a pronoun for the youngest son.

But, does Zhou Zhengdong have a youngest son?

Chen Fan widened his eyes, looked at the two of them, and asked, "When did Auntie give birth to a son?"

Zhou Yali blinked and looked at Zhou Zhengdong, "Dad, didn't you tell Brother?"

Zhou Zhengdong came out of the room again with large and small bags, "You often correspond with Xiao Fan, didn't you say you're about to have a younger brother?"

Zhou Yali puffed out her cheeks, her eyes a little dazed, "Isn't this something I should be saying?"

Zhou Zhengdong was a little speechless, gathered his energy for five seconds, and immediately poked his daughter's forehead with a One Finger Flick, "When your brother grows up, don't come crying to me when he bullies you!"

Zhou Yali rolled her eyes, looking defiant, "Then I'll bully him first!"

Chen Fan understood everything. So the little guy hadn't even been born yet.

However, calculating the time, a trace of realization flashed in his eyes, and he grinned and chuckled, "Old Uncle, does the old liquor work well?"

Zhou Zhengdong was just thinking about whether to vent his anger for his son first and beat his daughter up. Hearing Chen Fan's words, even with his thick skin, he couldn't help but blush slightly, "It works, it works."

Then he threw down his things, walked over, pushed his daughter away, sat next to his nephew, and whispered, "It's just that the quantity is too small. This time, when we go back, can you get more to take away?"

Chen Fan stroked his chin and thought, "Or, I can find you some medicinal herbs. You can take them back and soak them yourself?"

Zhou Zhengdong blinked, "It's good, but the effect...?"

Chen Fan smiled, "As long as there are no problems with the medicinal herbs and the old liquor, and you follow the method I tell you, the effect will definitely be good."

Zhou Zhengdong clapped his hands, put his arm around his nephew's shoulder, "Hehe, then I'll have to trouble you."

After packing up, they asked the hotel attendant to bring a luggage cart and pushed five large boxes and three bags of various sizes downstairs.

This didn't even include Zhou Zhengdong's briefcase and Zhou Yali's shoulder bag.

It could only be said that they had a lot of things.

After moving everything into the van, Chen Fan drove them back home.

Entering the yard, a group of people heard the noise and came out to greet them.

Liu Juan and Ma Lan first greeted Zhou Zhengdong and Zhou Yali. They hadn't met Zhou Zhengdong before, but they had met Zhou Yali, so they weren't so unfamiliar. Then they quickly helped carry the luggage.

As for the other three, they were naturally the three masters who had met Zhou Zhengdong once.

As Chen Fan's elders in the country, even if it was his own uncle who came, they had to come forward to receive him.

It was a bit outrageous. On one side was "A master is half a father," and on the other side was "The maternal uncle is the greatest relative," so they were considered equals.

Chen Fan watched them exchange pleasantries and was happy to relax and leisurely enter the house.

Considering that there were guests coming, the heating pipes in the house were all turned on, making it warm and comfortable, comparable to a medium-sized boiler in a company.

Zhou Yali took off her down jacket as soon as she entered the door, and was about to speak when she turned her head and saw two little monkeys squatting on the cabinet by the wall, blinking at her.

(So big)

Seeing their cute appearance, Zhou Yali couldn't help herself. She quickly ran over, picked up the two monkeys, and held them in her arms, her face full of surprise, "Oh, oh, oh, how cute! Little brother, where did you find these?"

Chen Fan didn't go to join his masters and old uncle, but walked to the sofa and sat down. He looked at Zhou Yali who was walking over and smiled, "These things are not easy to find, don't think about taking advantage of me."

Zhou Yali pouted and sat not far from him, "I didn't say I wanted to..."

Halfway through her sentence, she turned to look at Chen Fan and raised her voice, "Little brother..."

Chen Fan shuddered and quickly said, "Don't mess around. These monkeys are as precious as pandas. If I dare to let you take them abroad, guess what will happen?!"

Although there is no Wildlife Protection Law this year, it is only that there is no legislation. From the common people to the leaders, everyone knows the preciousness of rare animals. Although 'everything is permitted that is not forbidden by law,' even if Zhou Yali really took the monkeys back, things wouldn't be handled this way.

At least Chen Fan didn't have the guts or the intention to send the little monkeys abroad.

Seeing that her little brother's attitude was so firm, Zhou Yali didn't say much. She could only hold the little monkeys with a wronged expression, "Then can I have them for this period of time?"

Chen Fan tilted his head at the two wronged little monkeys, indicating that he couldn't help, "Yes."

As a result, the two monkeys became Zhou Yali's accessories, going wherever she went.

Fortunately, Chen Fan bathed the little monkeys every day, and they basically didn't touch the ground, making them cleaner than many people, otherwise he really wouldn't dare let Zhou Yali play with them.

Who would take monkeys to sleep?

Aren't they afraid of the little monkeys holding it in?

… …

The next day, December 21st, Thursday.

Chen Fan took Zhou Zhengdong and Zhou Yali, and picked up the three masters, and together they went to the Ningjun Prince's Mansion.

Unfortunately, Mr. Huo had left the capital and gone south yesterday because he had something to do, otherwise he would have come to see the excitement today.

But it's okay, although the number of times he publicly announced his trip to the mainland is very few, in fact, since his first visit to the capital, he has secretly gone north almost every year, staying in the capital for a shorter time and in his ancestral home of Nansha for a longer time.

Especially now that the meeting is in progress, after the meeting is over, the number of times he goes north will be more frequent, and he will no longer hide it, but will come and go openly.

So there will be plenty of opportunities in the future, and there is no need to care about the moment.

The car drove to the gate of the Ningjun Prince's Mansion, and Deputy Director Li was already waiting there.

After a brief greeting, everyone walked inside.

The last time I came here, there were still people watching the gate, but now it is empty, and since it is winter, there is not even the sound of insects in the huge mansion.

As for the architecture, there is not much difference from the last time I came to see it.

After Deputy Director Li brought everyone in, he went straight to the first main hall, which is the Yin'an Hall.

Yin'an Hall is also the main hall of the entire Prince's Mansion, with a width of seven rooms, a depth of five rooms, nine purlins, a cloister form on all sides, a hip-and-gable roof, and a barrel tile roof. Single-arched and heavy-angled seven-step brackets are applied under the eaves, … … .

It's just a pity that the current Ningjun Prince's Mansion has long been unrecognizable, and the Yin'an Hall, as the main hall, is no exception. The vermilion corridor pillars are mottled and unbearable, and the gray tiles on the roof are also somewhat incomplete, covered with a few other colored tiles, coupled with a few weeds falling on the roof, it looks particularly desolate.

Inside the main hall, a large table made up of several long tables is placed in the middle, covered with a cotton cloth. Dozens of design drawings are placed on the cotton cloth table, and five middle-aged men in thick cotton coats with pens clipped to their pockets are standing next to the table.

Without asking, you know that they should be designers from the design institute.

As expected, after entering the Yin'an Hall, Deputy Director Li said with a smile, "These are all designers from the design institute."

Then he introduced them one by one, "Engineer Yang, Engineer Tong, Engineer Liu, Engineer Lu, Engineer Liang."

Chen Fan had told Zhou Zhengdong yesterday that he would be the one to come forward for today's meeting.

Although the name on the house deed is Zhou Yali, she is still relatively young and not suitable for dealing with those older engineers. Chen Fan is even more unsuitable, so he can only let him come forward, and then Chen Fan will give him a hand.

After Deputy Director Li finished introducing them, Zhou Zhengdong took two steps forward and shook hands with them to greet them.

After the greetings, they began to discuss the design plan.

Engineer Yang took the lead and said solemnly, "Our design institute attaches great importance to this task from top to bottom, and specially selected five of us to be responsible for the restoration and reconstruction of the Ningjun Prince's Mansion."

Then he focused on introducing the specialties of several people, "I am good at the research and restoration of ancient buildings. Engineer Tong and Engineer Liu, like me, are experts in the field of ancient buildings and have a deep understanding of this aspect."

Speaking of the remaining two, "Engineer Lu and Engineer Liang know a lot about modern architecture and have also participated in many large-scale projects. For example, the Beijing Hotel building, which was completed not long ago, was also designed by them and they fully participated in the construction."

Zhou Zhengdong nodded lightly, his face full of satisfaction, and smiled, "Thank you all, and thank your unit and leaders for their attention. I can guarantee that the budget is sufficient. I hope we can work together to restore the glory of the Ningjun Prince's Mansion and have modern living facilities, which can reflect the advanced technological achievements of the new China in the field of architecture."

Chen Fan stood behind him and couldn't help but blink his eyes.

Old舅 is a talent! He has only returned to China twice, and he has mastered the essence of speaking. He will definitely be able to make a name for himself in China in the future!

Hearing Zhou Zhengdong's words, Engineer Yang and the others also nodded in satisfaction.

Progressive words must be spoken, and the most important budget cannot be less. They felt relieved at Zhou Zhengdong's statement.

When it comes to architecture, the most feared thing is that you want this and you want that, and then when it comes to money, there is nothing and there is less.

Since the budget can be guaranteed, then what else is there to say?!

Engineer Yang immediately spread out the design drawings and began to talk about their design ideas, "When we received the task before, we also received a letter of intent for restoration. The overall idea is to try to restore the original appearance of the Ningjun Prince's Mansion from the outside.

In terms of use, all possible modern facilities are required, including but not limited to tap water, toilets, circuits, telephones, televisions, etc. that need to be buried with pipes and wires.

However, based on the first principle, these pipelines cannot be exposed, but can only be run in hidden lines or grooves, and it must be convenient for future maintenance and replacement, … …"

There is no concept of weak current yet. The formation of the concept of weak current was about between 1990 and 2000, so it can only be said one by one.

Zhou Zhengdong listened very carefully, nodding lightly from time to time.

Chen Fan looked at the design drawings and didn't speak.

After Engineer Yang finished introducing, he said to Zhou Zhengdong, "This is our overall design plan, Zhou Tong, uh, Mr. Zhou, you can raise any different opinions."

Zhou Zhengdong turned his head directly to look at Chen Fan, "Xiaofan, what do you say?"

Engineer Yang and the five others also turned their heads to look at him, their eyes full of curiosity.

They had all seen the design drawings for the self-built building designed by this person. First of all, the drawings were very standard, and secondly, the design ideas were very novel and practical, which also inspired them to a certain extent. They knew that he was a real architectural designer and wanted to hear his opinion.

Chen Fan raised his head and suddenly pointed to a design drawing and said, "There is a four-eyed well here?"

Engineer Yang nodded, "Originally, there was a Xinhua Bookstore there, which belonged to a part of the west courtyard of the Prince's Mansion. Because you bought the entire Prince's Mansion, the entire west courtyard was moved away before this well was discovered.

According to your design ideas, our idea is to restore this well, and then build a well house, transform the ancient well, and connect it to the tap water pipes of the entire mansion, as a backup water source in the mansion."

Chen Fan smiled, "This idea is good."

He stood up straight and said with a smile, "Then I only have one opinion."

Engineer Yang immediately took out a notebook and said solemnly, "Please speak."

Chen Fan raised his hand and pointed outside, and said with a smile, "Although the basic idea of the design of this Prince's Mansion is to restore the old as before, it is ultimately for people to live in, and the house is so big, the safety issue must be considered."

Hearing this, Engineer Yang nodded and didn't say anything.

The current security problems are already well known, and there is nothing to say.

Chen Fan continued, "Therefore, please increase the height of the courtyard wall by one meter and install inconspicuous steel barbed wire on the top, just this."

Engineer Yang immediately said, "It is not difficult to increase the height by one meter and install steel thorns. No problem."

Chen Fan smiled and said to Zhou Zhengdong, "I have no problem."

Zhou Zhengdong turned to look at his daughter, "What about you?"

Zhou Yali was holding the little monkey, raised her head blankly, "I'm okay with anything."

The corners of Zhou Zhengdong's mouth twitched slightly, I should have asked.

Then he stretched out his hand to Engineer Yang and said with a smile, "Then I will trouble you all."