Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 556 Everyone's in a state of anguish
When it comes to wedding sets in period dramas, almost everyone knows about the "three turns and one sound" (referring to a set of three watches, one ring, and one radio).

Actually, the "three turns and one sound" (referring to a watch, a bicycle, a radio, and a sewing machine) didn't exist from the beginning.

Back in the 5s and 60s, people didn't care about this; they cared about "legs."

28 legs: a bed, a wardrobe, a table, and four chairs.

32 legs: Add a five-drawer cabinet.

36 legs: multiple writing desks.

There are 42 legs, 48 ​​legs...

The more legs a house has, the more furniture it has; the more furniture it has, the bigger the house it is.

After all, a small house can't fit so much furniture.

By the same token, the more legs a family has, the better their living conditions are considered to be.

Things like wedding dowries are always something that rural areas follow the urban trend of.

While 32 legs are all the rage in the city, 12 legs are enough in the countryside—that is, a bed, a wardrobe, and a square table. The low-end version might even only have a bed and a table.

While rural families started competing to see who had the most legs at a wedding, sewing machines, bicycles, and watches were already popular in cities. It wasn't until the 70s that the slogan "three turns and one sound" (referring to a series of turns, bicycles, and watches) officially came into being.

While rural areas were beginning to regard the "three turns and one sound" (turning a turn, turning a ring, turning a dial on a radio, and turning a watch) as the standard for marriage, the "three big items" (referring to three essential items) had already become popular in cities.

That is: television, refrigerator, and washing machine!

That was in the mid-to-late 80s.

By the 90s, in addition to the three major items, there were the "three golds," namely gold necklaces, gold rings, and gold earrings. And then there were the "five golds"... not the five gold items themselves, but two more items: gold bracelets and gold pendants.

Hey, you have to hang a big one below the gold necklace.

Later everyone learned that the house was the "proper gift," and everything else was just things inside the house or additional auspicious gifts.

However, while the general trend is that rural areas are following the cities, there are still different classes within the city.

By the late 70s, many urban families had already set their sights on the "three major items," putting them ahead of ordinary working-class families.

However, with the current shortage of goods, these three expensive items are extremely difficult to buy.

In 78, my country produced a total of 2.8 household refrigerators and 3800 color televisions.

Yes, it's 3800, there's no "ten thousand" at the end.

There are quite a few black and white TVs available, with an annual production of around 50 units. This should be enough to supply some and bring the price down a bit, so you can buy a nine-inch black and white TV for around 400.

And when it comes to washing machines, that's even more outrageous.

The total production for that year was only 400 units!
So he couldn't understand how Yunhu Machinery Factory got the washing machine and air conditioner they had previously rewarded him.
It's awkward to ask, otherwise everyone will feel embarrassed.
High demand and low production levels have led to a shortage of these goods.

So naturally, when domestic production was insufficient, imports were used to make up for it.

Imported electrical appliances have become the darlings of the market.

Moreover, compared to the current crude domestic appliances, imported appliances are of higher quality and more stylish. Although they are more expensive, they are more popular and therefore harder to buy in the market than domestic appliances.

Without remittance certificates or foreign exchange, it was practically impossible to buy imported goods.

How scarce were imported electrical appliances at that time?

Li Zongren's relatives wanted to buy a color TV, but they still needed the Xiyuan government to submit a report for special approval.

(Special approval form for Li Zongren's relatives to purchase color TVs)

In terms of family background, He Qingsheng, Tan Yong, and Xu Qizhen all belong to the group of people who "got rich first," and their families are estimated to be at least 10,000 yuan each.

The biggest problem for the wealthy is having money but not being able to spend it.

Because we need tickets!
If it's normal, it's fine, but if there are no imported products, you can buy domestic ones; if there's no TV, you can buy a radio. How can we still get by?
But when it comes to crucial moments, you really can't do without these things.

For example: getting married!
Old Wang next door bought a 12-inch black and white TV for his son's wedding. If our son gets married, how can we go out and greet people if we don't buy him a 14-inch color TV?

Ultimately, it's all about keeping up with the Joneses.

As long as we can save face, what does it matter if we exchange remittance certificates at a 1:1 ratio?
We're not afraid of replacing a lot of things, we're afraid of not having anyone to replace them!

In an emergency, there are plenty of people willing to make substitutions even when the odds are 1 to 2.

So, naturally, the 50000 yuan in remittance certificates in Chen Fan's hands were all bought up. Moreover, apart from the main leaders of the Department of Culture and the Department of Propaganda who got a little something, the rest were exchanged by people inside the Writers Association.

This also allowed Chen Fan to witness the strength of the Writers Association members.

They usually look unremarkable, many of them smoke cigarettes that cost 3 or 4 cents a pack, wear cheap cloth shoes and cotton clothes, and wear an old watch that costs only 80 yuan. But when it comes to exchanging money for remittance certificates, they are surprisingly quick to do so.

They almost stole the last 1750 yuan from Chen Fan's pocket.

Chen Fan finished counting all the banknotes and put them into his backpack in bundles, feeling very pleased with himself.

I sent out 380,000 yuan, but I didn't expect to still have 77,000 yuan left. Sigh, having too much money is a problem!

He didn't plan to send the money to Master Zhang anymore. The previous 38 yuan was enough to show his stance, and he believed no one would try to take advantage of him anymore.

He planned to save the money from exchanging remittance certificates for his future publishing house.

After the meeting at the end of this year, he can use this as a reason to request to be affiliated with a publishing house.

If you have the resources, start a magazine publishing house. If the resources aren't ready yet, start a publishing house to publish your own books. That's pure profit!
Royalties?

That's bullshit.

……

After putting the money away, Chen Fan turned to look at Xu Qizhen, whose eyes were red, and said helplessly, "Sister Xu, I only have 1750 remittance certificates left. You have to leave me some, right?"

Xu Qizhen sighed, "Originally, my cousin had her eye on a 14-inch Hitachi color TV, which cost 1200, but later, for some reason, she wanted another 18-inch large color TV, which was 400 more expensive. That's why we didn't have enough remittance coupons."

While speaking, his eyes were still fixed on his pocket.

As for He Qingsheng and Tan Yong, they had already run away.

Maybe he's hiding at home watching TV right now.

Chen Fan put his backpack aside, looked at her and said, "Didn't you exchange 2000? You still have 400 left from 1600."

As I spoke, I couldn't help but marvel at how incredibly expensive televisions were back then.

With the average wage generally only 35 yuan, it's outrageous that a television set costs 3 or 4 years' wages.

He didn't know that two years later, in 80, the higher authorities deregulated television prices, and the price of a 14-inch imported color TV immediately rose to 2300 yuan, while the price of an 18-inch color TV rose to 3200 yuan.

After that, the price went up rapidly, and by the late 1980s, a large Hitachi color TV cost more than 10,000 yuan!

In the 80s, it was a time when being a "ten-thousand-yuan household" was still a highly regarded thing. Your entire fortune wasn't even enough to buy an imported large-screen color TV.

This situation didn't change until after 90, when domestically produced color TVs were widely available and their prices finally came down.

Although Chen Fan did not know the specific price trend, he did know how high the profit margin of color TVs was in the 80s.

Besides color TVs, refrigerators and air conditioners are also synonymous with high-priced appliances, yet they are still in short supply.

Therefore, there is never a shortage of rich people; the only difference is that I am not one of them.

Thinking about all this, Chen Fan wondered when he could set up a few imported production lines to increase the depth and thickness of his wallet and strive to become a wealthy man unknown to others.

Then Xu Qizhen said, "Were you so busy counting money that you didn't even hear me?"

Chen Fan remained calm and composed, directly changing the subject, "If I give you more, what about Uncle He and Uncle Tan?"

Xu Qizhen didn't even notice, and waved her hand, saying, "You don't need to worry about them, I haven't settled accounts with them yet. I have important business to attend to, my cousin is getting married, they're just enjoying themselves, not doing anything important at all."

Then she changed her tune, "I had no choice. She's my only cousin, and we want to give her the best of everything. We bought imported washing machines and refrigerators, which cost over 1000 yuan. Luckily, they managed to scrape together some remittance certificates, which was just enough. But now that they've exchanged them, it's not enough."

She cupped her hands in a respectful gesture to Chen Fan and said with a smile, "Please, I'm begging you, please help me out, okay?"

Chen Fan sighed softly, "I was thinking of buying a color TV, but never mind, it's your kindness to take such good care of me."

He pulled out remittance certificates from his pocket, counted out four, and handed them over, saying, "You can't take any more!"

"That can't be."

Xu Qizhen took the remittance certificate, pulled out a stack of banknotes and slapped them into his hand, saying, "I'll remember your kindness. Let's see who does better next time!"

After saying that, he got up and ran away.

Chen Fan chuckled as he watched her retreating figure.

The fact that neither He Qingsheng nor Tan Yong showed up today speaks volumes; it's creating an opportunity for Xu Qizhen.

However, a woman in her thirties at the deputy director-general level has a very predictable future.

It's worth knowing this woman.

As for those remittance certificates, they were even less worth mentioning. He already had a whole house full of appliances in his old house at the prefectural committee, including an air conditioner and a 19-inch Jinxing color TV. What need did he have for remittance certificates?

At most, I'll buy some imported snacks and send them to Xiao Jiang.

……

First, I went to the department store to shop and spent the remaining 350 yuan of my remittance coupons. Then I packed everything up in a box and wrote a letter to Xiao Jiang.

In the office, Chen Fan held a pen in one hand and scratched his head with the other, scribbles on the letter paper, "Lili, it's like seeing you in person."

Then I didn't know what to write next.

As a post-95s generation, Chen Fan has never written a love letter. He didn't understand when he was young, and who still writes letters when they grow up?

Even using WeChat is too slow; people just make phone calls, okay?

What's more, he had never been in a relationship before.

Well, even if some of my classmates and friends are dating, they hook up after just a few words and then flirt over the phone.

love letter?

Sorry, he has only read Lin Juemin's "Letter to My Wife" and Lu Xun's "Brother Guangping".

The former is heart-wrenching, the latter is sincere yet clumsy.

None of these fit the reality of the talented Chen.

But I can't not write it.

Jiang Lili wrote a letter every week, from Beijing to Changchun, from Lujiawan to the provincial capital, without missing a single one. She didn't treat money like money, always using registered mail.

I haven't replied to any of the previous letters yet. If I hadn't made two phone calls and sent a telegram in between, do you believe that girl would have secretly hidden away and cried if I hadn't replied?!
Helpless, after scratching his head a couple of times, Chen Fan sighed and could only write down a chronological account.

"I have received all your letters, but I have been too busy with worldly affairs to reply. Only today, when I have a little free time, have I been unable to suppress my longing and have finally picked up my pen to express my feelings."

Looking at the few lines he had written, Chen Fan felt an urge to tear them up and rewrite them.

Isn't that too direct?
Should we be a little more tactful?
But that girl's writing was much more explicit than this... I really don't know how she, who usually seems gentle and reserved, could write such passionate and unrestrained words.

"Little brother, I miss you," oh my, how cheesy.

Chen Fan gritted his teeth and decided, "Fine, let's just write it like this, and we'll all suffer together."

"When I was in Beijing, I bought a piece of land right next to Shichahai Lake. I designed a house there myself. I'm sure you'll love it. It's a different kind of scenery from the small buildings on Panyu Road, just like how I always see different charms when I look at you..."

I am now studying at Jiangnan University, following in the footsteps of Mr. Xu Zurui. The campus of Jiangnan University is beautiful, and it often reminds me of your face…”

After painstakingly crafting a love letter of less than 600 words, Chen Fan felt more exhausted than writing a 60-word novel.

It's not that I'm being insincere, but as a straight man in the new century, writing such straightforward words does make me feel a little embarrassed.

After rubbing his face a few times, Chen Fan folded the letter into a heart shape.

This was supposedly the most popular style of love letter on middle school campuses in the 90s. Does anyone remember how to fold it?

Put the letter into the envelope, and then put the envelope into the snack box.

Chen Fan stopped the moment he sealed the gag.

He stared at the opening of the cardboard box for several seconds before letting out a soft sigh, getting up, and carrying the box out.

……

I arrived at the post office with my suitcase; there were many people queuing to mail parcels.

These days, there aren't that many cardboard boxes available. The main problem is the lack of transparent tape for sealing, and cardboard boxes aren't safe to mail as they're easily damaged.

Therefore, there are generally two types of packaging for sending parcels. If the items are not easily damaged, such as clothes and bedding, you can use a cloth bag. The post office staff will sew the parcel tightly with strong needle and thread, making it difficult to damage unless it is violently pulled.

But Chen Fan wanted something different.

Use a small wooden box to put the snack box inside, and then fill any gaps with newspaper to ensure it won't loosen.

Finally, the wooden board was placed on top, and the post office clerk used a nail and hammer to nail the wooden box tightly.

It was much sturdier than the cardboard boxes of later generations.

(Post office sends parcels in wooden crates)

(Postage box)

The postage wasn't cheap either. In addition to the two cents for the wooden box, the initial postage fee was 55 cents, and there would be extra charges if the package was overweight.

Chen Fan gave a full 9 cents before taking the postage slip and leaving.

As he walked out of the post office, he glanced back and felt a pang of regret.

Wasn't the letter a bit too cheesy?

If someone sees me, how will I ever face them again?
……

Today is Thursday, April 27th.

Although he was happy that he didn't have class today, Chen Fan still had to go back to school to study hard.

He did consider buying a house near the school, but ultimately gave up on the idea.

Why buy a house in a provincial capital? It's not like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Shenzhen.

Besides, if he buys a house, will he still be eligible when his employer allocates housing?!
So Chen Fan obediently settled down in the school dormitory.

He drove back to school, and now he is well-known at Jiangda University, almost everyone knows him.

The only student admitted by the three senior professors at Jiangnan University this year lives in the School of Literature dormitory building, in a single room. He goes to work at the Writers Association every day and drives a GAZ-69 jeep.

In addition, he was handsome, tall, talented, and had a good income... so he was probably the object of many female classmates' attention.

Don't assume that girls nowadays are necessarily reserved.

She may be reserved, but when she gets carried away with infatuation, she's even more infatuated than the love-struck people of later generations.

As soon as Chen Fan got off the bus, several girls ran over quickly, their enthusiasm tinged with a hint of shyness. "Hello, Chen Fan, I'm a freshman majoring in literature. May I ask you a few questions?"

Now it was Chen Fan's turn to be reserved. He closed the car door behind him and walked up, smiling as he said, "I'm a freshman like you, so I might not be able to answer your question. I suggest you ask your professors; they'll definitely be able to answer it more clearly."

The girls, unwilling to be outdone, quickly caught up, saying, "But you're different! You've written so many great articles..."

Before they could finish speaking, another group of girls squeezed through, blocking them behind them. The leader approached Chen Fan directly, "Hello, Chen. I'm a mechanical engineering student. Today, our professor told me that your two car designs have passed the evaluation of the First Ministry of Machinery Industry's Design Institute, and as... oh dear..."

Before Chen Fan could react, he was "protected" by Yang Zhijun and a group of people from Lujiawan and pushed into the dormitory building.

These days, girls still care about their image. Seeing their target disappear, they can only stop at the dormitory entrance and sigh with regret.

Then a voice came from behind, "This is the School of Humanities. What are you mechanical engineering students doing here? Want to fight?"

We're all people who came from a time of burning passion, so who's afraid of whom?
Without hesitation, the female student from the Mechanical Engineering department turned around, rolled up her sleeves, and said, "Time, place, and name!"

……

Hearing the noise outside, Chen Fan wiped away his sweat, then waved to Yang Zhijun and the others, "It's safe now, you can go back."

Yang Zhijun rubbed his hands together and smiled sheepishly, "Teacher Chen, two of your friends are looking for you this afternoon."

"friend?"

Chen Fan looked at him and asked, "What's your name?"

He does have quite a few friends, but when it comes to true friends, well, you couldn't count them all on five fingers.

The people from Lujiawan don't count; they're called the villagers.

Yang Zhijun continued rubbing his hands, "Their names are Lin Liwen and Xia Yuping. They used to work at the Yunhu Health Department and still have their work permits, so Tang Li brought them here to find you."

Chen Fan: Hmm?

Are these two also at Jiangnan University?
Oh, right, I remember now, they all got into the associate degree program at Jiangnan University, so they're studying here too.

Once the news of my arrival at Jiangnan University spread, it would be strange if they didn't come.

As he was thinking, Chen Fan pushed open the door and was startled as soon as he entered.

There were three people in the room: Tang Li, who often came to clean for him, and Lin Liwen and Xia Yuping.

Upon seeing Chen Fan enter, Tang Li promptly turned and slipped away.

As for Lin Liwen and Xia Yuping, they jumped in front of him with a book in their hands, their eyes full of joy, "Xiao Fan, teach us to practice calligraphy!"

Chen Fan looked down and saw that it was his own writing, "A Brief Discussion on Hard-Pen Calligraphy".

(End of this chapter)