Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 606 Selling Nostalgia
For the next few days, Chen Fan didn't have time to date his girlfriend. He first took Liu Lu to various bookstores and brought home loads of books.

Luckily, you don't need tickets to buy books, otherwise no matter how much money you have, it's useless.

He not only bought back every tailoring book he could find, but also a lot of books on brewing and cooking.

After all, there are three students; we can't favor one over the other. This one has already been taken to Shanghai for separate studies, and we need to buy some books for the other two to take back and help them catch up on their lessons.

Liu Lu was not unhappy about this at all; on the contrary, she was even more enthusiastic about it than when she was buying books for herself.

She would often run up to Chen Fan with a book in her hand and ask, "Did you buy this one?"

It seems they're afraid of missing a single book, lest their good friend have no books to read.

Chen Fan was deeply gratified by this spirit of unity and friendship, and promised to buy all the books on the market, without missing a single one!
Whenever Liu Lu frowned at the huge pile of books she had to read, her expression would brighten up as soon as she looked at the two piles of books next to her that were no less than her own.

After they bought all the materials, Wang Zekai called to say that he had studied the blueprints and they could go buy the fabric to start construction.

After that, Chen Fan and Liu Lu followed each other around Old Wang shamelessly.

A week later, a brand new royal blue Zhongshan suit was freshly made.

Looking at the Zhongshan suit hanging on the clothes rack, Wang Zekai's face was full of gratified smiles. He smiled at Chen Fan and said, "I used all my best skills to make this suit for you, and I finally did not disappoint you."

He circled the garment and said, "This garment is similar to a suit, but with many subtle differences. It can't be made entirely according to the tailoring of a suit. In addition, the style is different from a suit. Even if you wear it on the street, it won't attract too much attention, and it looks much better than a regular Zhongshan suit. You must have put a lot of thought into its design, right?"

Chen Fan nodded in satisfaction, "You really put a lot of thought into it."

He turned to look at Wang Zekai and asked with a smile, "Mr. Wang, if we put this outfit in the display case, do you think anyone would order it?"

Wang Zekai was slightly taken aback and looked at him in surprise, "You're willing to give up this outfit?"

Generally speaking, most people who bring their own design drawings to a master craftsman for custom-made items are unwilling to have their designs leaked; they prefer something unique.

Otherwise, with so many clothing patterns available in established stores, why bother finding someone to design your own clothes?

Of course, this refers to the situation in old Shanghai. After the public-private partnership, wealthy people became more discreet, dressing and adhering to the norm, and never standing out.

More than 20 years have passed. When Chen Fan brought the design drawings that day, Wang Zekai still felt a lingering sense of nostalgia, as if he were transported back to old Shanghai. But times have changed. If the design drawings hadn't been truly brilliant and piqued his interest, he wouldn't have agreed to take on the project.

Even so, I declined at the time.

Unexpectedly, now that the task is complete, the customer has offered to share the clothes, which is quite surprising.

Faced with Mr. Wang's surprise, Chen Fan smiled and said, "If more people buy this outfit, it means they like my design. As for myself, I wouldn't stand out if I wore this on the street. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Wang Zekai suddenly realized and nodded, "I see."

He then smiled and said, "The design you gave is much better looking than the regular Zhongshan suit. It will definitely be very popular, without a doubt."

He hesitated for a moment as he spoke, "However, this outfit is very complicated to make. Even after a master tailor has become familiar with it, it will take about 7 days to make one set. If you add alterations, it will take at least 10 days. In that case, it might not be appropriate to price it too low."

Chen Fan said, "The pricing is none of my business. I won't get a single penny of that money. It's all up to your store management to decide."

He paused for a moment, then said, "There is another matter I would like to ask for your help, sir."

Wang Zekai's expression remained unchanged as he looked at him and smiled, "I wouldn't dare to offer help. Just tell me what you need, and I'll do my best to help if it's within my power."

Chen Fan pointed to Liu Lu standing beside him, "Old Wang, what do you think of my apprentice?"

Upon hearing her name mentioned, Liu Lu immediately stood up straight and looked at Wang Zekai with a nervous expression.

Old Wang looked her over twice, then turned to Chen Fan. "She's a beautiful and talented woman. In the clothing store, none of the people her age are as skilled as her."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "Then, I wonder if it would be convenient for Elder Wang to give her some guidance for a few days?"

Wang Zekai is a shrewd and experienced man. He guessed that Chen Fan's offer to contribute the outfit and his mention of Liu Lu were related to learning martial arts.

Normally, experienced craftsmen rarely send their apprentices to learn from others, otherwise wouldn't that show they lack skill?

Moreover, they were particularly averse to their apprentices learning from others, and if discovered, expulsion from the school was not out of the question.

Therefore, most veteran craftsmen only have one master, emphasizing the orderly transmission of skills.

Perhaps only professional martial arts instructors and Hongbang tailors are two exceptions.

Not to mention martial arts masters, those grandmasters who have made a name for themselves have almost all studied under multiple famous masters, and it was their own masters who took them along, hoping that their disciples could learn more kung fu and improve their skills so that they could establish their own school.

The Hongbang tailors were a rather special group. They were mostly from Ningbo, either from the same clan or as fellow apprentices. For example, several famous tailor shops in Shanghai at that time almost all came from Rongchangxiang, so it was quite common for them to exchange apprentices.

Wang Zekai didn't find Chen Fan's request strange.

However, he wouldn't agree to it so easily.

After all, Chen Fan isn't a tailor from the Red Gang. Even if he's a famous writer, what does it have to do with me?
However, Wang Zekai did not directly refuse.

He looked Liu Lu up and down again, then asked, "Do you intend to keep her in Shanghai from now on?"

Chen Fan shook his head slightly, "I'm just here for short-term training. When I return to Jiangnan at the end of next month, I will take her with me."

Wang Zekai was surprised again, "With your abilities and her skills, it shouldn't be difficult to help her stay in Shanghai. Why do you want to go back?"

Chen Fan smiled, but instead of answering directly, he looked at Liu Lu and said, "You answer."

Liu Lu immediately raised her forehead slightly, "The teacher said that once we learn a skill, we should contribute to the development of our hometown. We can't always think about going out and living a good life for ourselves, without caring about the state of our hometown."

So once I've mastered the skills, I'll go back and help the production team set up a garment factory.

I read in the newspaper that the Huaxi Production Team started a hardware factory and even a scenic area, all because all the members of the Huaxi commune worked together and, under Secretary Wu's leadership, escaped poverty and became prosperous. If the Huaxi Production Team can do it, so can our Lujiawan Production Team.”

Ten years ago, the Huaxi Production Team secretly set up a small hardware factory to subsidize the income reduction caused by rapid population growth and slowing agricultural growth. Over the past ten years, this small hardware factory has generated 3 million yuan in profit for the Huaxi Production Team.

After this incident was exposed, the higher-ups were still arguing about it, while many production teams below wanted to go and learn from it. All sorts of noise and commotion flocked to the scene.

Huaxi Production Team, going all in, opened a scenic area this year. Chen Fan: They're good at making money. If the timing hadn't been wrong, Lujiawan should have learned from them.

The Huaxi Scenic Area has over 80 attractions since it opened, including an agricultural demonstration zone, Huaxi Happiness Garden, Faith Grand View Garden, Huaxi Golden Pagoda, Huaxi National Palace, factories, and more.

Therefore, long before that decisive meeting, many places were already eager to make moves and had even begun to take action; it was not a matter of slowly pursuing development after the meeting.

Well... as for Yunhu, a land of plenty, it hasn't changed much because it's not that poor. The higher-ups say how to change, and the lower-ups do exactly that; anyway, you can easily make a living by farming, just lying at home watching the world change.

Even though the city enjoyed a period of prosperity by relying on some old factories, they eventually succumbed to fierce market competition.

Compared to places that still needed to receive relief every year back then, places like Yunhu have unknowingly fallen far behind.

It wasn't until the 90s, mainly in rural areas, that a wave of migrant workers suddenly emerged, as the retention fees increased and a small number of migrant workers easily returned with more money than they could earn in several years.

It's a case of fortunes shifting every 30 years, a truly poignant situation.

After hearing Liu Lu's words, Wang Zekai immediately turned to Chen Fan and asked, "Did you teach this?"

Chen Fan smiled and shook his head, then nodded. "I guess so. I just showed her the newspaper about the Huaxi Production Team to tell her that the production team wasn't without prospects. As for the decision, it's hers to make; I won't interfere."

Wang Zekai nodded slightly, then looked at Liu Lu and said with emotion, "It's already very good. If everyone were like this, how could China not prosper?!"

Chen Fan pursed his lips, glanced at Liu Lu, and the two exchanged a look, both revealing a hint of a smile.

Sure enough, when dealing with an old gentleman like Mr. Wang who has experienced countless ups and downs, appealing to nostalgia is definitely a powerful tool.

However, although they used sentimentality as a tool, Chen Fan and Liu Lu did not deceive anyone.

It is indeed planned to set up a garment factory in Lujiawan, and Liu Lu is the production director that Chen Fan is preparing for the future Lujiawan garment factory.

Her task was not only to learn the skills of a Hongbang tailor, but also to master the use of industrial sewing machines and related production processes.

These things don't need to be found elsewhere; they can be found in the clothing stores where Wang Zekai used to work. Behind each of these clothing stores is a small garment factory, which is sufficient to meet the current needs of Lujiawan.

As for the future, we can learn and develop gradually.

Just then, Wang Zekai looked up and said seriously, "Xiao Liu's craftsmanship is indeed quite good, but his understanding of clothing is not thorough enough."

He turned his gaze to Chen Fan, "Since you're staying until the end of August, why don't you let Xiao Liu work as an apprentice in the garment store's production workshop for a month? I'll come over and give her some pointers during that time. In the last ten days or so, she can learn the unique cutting techniques of our Hongbang tailors from me. What do you think?"

Chen Fan immediately put on a look of great joy, "Thank you very much, Elder Wang, I will follow your arrangements."

He then roared at Liu Lu, "Hurry up and thank your master!"

Without saying a word, Liu Lu knelt down with a thud, "Thank you, Master."

Wang Zekai's eyes were dizzy. When did I agree to take on an apprentice?
Seeing Chen Fan's smiling face after successfully stealing the chicken, I couldn't help but shake my head and smile bitterly. What a clever move to strike while the iron is hot!

However, this disciple cannot be accepted. Otherwise, if his disciples and grand-disciples find out that he has taken in a junior sister or junior aunt who is decades younger than them, wouldn't that cause an uproar?!

Although he ultimately failed to become Wang Zekai's apprentice, Wang Zekai promised to pass on his skills without reservation, so Chen Fan's goal was achieved.

In the days that followed, he would begin his seclusion to finalize the outline for the Western fantasy novel.

If time permits, you might as well write a novel.

It wasn't about making those millions of dollars; I mainly wanted to see how the current book market viewed Western fantasy novels.

Right, that is it!

……

From that day on, Liu Lu moved into the clothing store dormitory arranged for her by Master Wang, and began her life as a working girl who worked day and night.

Even if you don't get paid.

As for Chen Fan?

Just then, having finished dressing, he stretched and looked refreshed. He then turned to look at Jiang Lili and said helplessly, "Your health is still not good. You have to lie down for half a day after exercising every time. Have you been practicing your Little Bagua Palm every day? Have you been working hard all these years? Have you made any progress? You need to reflect on that."

Jiang Lili lay on the bed, rolled her eyes helplessly, and wanted to complain, but didn't know where to start.

Because it was really tiring.

She couldn't help but pout, "I've been practicing Little Bagua Palm all along. Every day my sister practices Vajra Longevity Kung Fu, and I practice Little Bagua Palm. My sister isn't as strong as me."

Then, her eyes flickered, she glared at someone, muttered something, and before the person could hear her clearly, she burst out laughing and stared at him adoringly.

Chen Fan turned around, saw her gaze, and sighed at how irresistible his charm was.

After tidying up her clothes, she came over and sat on the edge of the bed, gently patting her head. "If you're tired, take a good rest. I'm going to the library to look up some information later, and I probably won't be back until tonight. Buy some groceries, and I'll cook."

Jiang Lili reached out and grabbed one of his fingers, gently shook it, and said with a smile, "I'm not that delicate. Besides, my sister is going to the publishing house this afternoon to discuss the publication of the school magazine. She should be back by noon, so I can't get up too late."

Chen Fan pinched his chin, blinked, and thought for a moment, "How about we go get our marriage certificate?"

It's all so sneaky, it feels like they're having an affair, who can I complain to?!
Even though she was his official girlfriend, he really didn't dare let outsiders know about this. Chen Fan himself was fine, but Jiang Lili was too shy to let anyone know, not even her own sister.

Hearing Chen Fan's words, Jiang Lili felt a little touched, but she just looked at him with amusement, "Get a marriage certificate? Are you old enough? Little brother!"

Chen Fan's face darkened. "Little brother? I think you don't know your own size."

He then pounced on it.

Jiang Lili's face immediately filled with terror, "No!"

It was an hour later when Chen Fan went out.

There was no other way; his girlfriend was too weak, otherwise he wouldn't have wanted to go out today.

(End of this chapter)