Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 705 Young Friends Come to Meet
On January 1, 1979, the land of China was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

Because this is not only the beginning of a new year, but also represents the arrival of a new era.

Regarding this day, the vice president stated at the meeting that New Year's Day 1979 was an extraordinary day with three characteristics: from this day forward, we must shift the focus of our work to the construction of the Four Modernizations; Sino-US relations were normalized; and the return of Taiwan to China and the completion of the great cause of reunification were put on the specific agenda.

Based on these three characteristics, a second-rate newspaper published a "Message to Taiwan Compatriots" on its front page.

Across the country, slogans began to be changed, with old battle pledges painted over and replaced with more constructive propaganda phrases, such as "Reform and opening up will lead to a great future for building our motherland," "We must achieve industrial modernization, agricultural modernization, national defense modernization, and scientific and technological modernization," and "Emancipate our minds, seek truth from facts, and unite to look forward."

The change in slogans made the public more aware of the changes in society, and some people became a little bolder.

On the same day, Woodcock, the first U.S. ambassador to China in the true sense of the People's Republic of China, held a New Year's reception at the embassy. At the reception, he said: "The normalization of relations between the two countries is a historic event in the relationship between the two countries and a major event with far-reaching influence in international life."

The Vice President also stated that his upcoming visit to the United States will undoubtedly further promote understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries, as well as friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields such as science and technology, economy, and culture.

In short, his speech and actions are very different from before.

Chen Fan was driving, listening to Woodcock's original English on the car radio. He was driving the two sisters to school for a performance, and then he would pick them up again in the evening.

After Woodcock's speech and the commentator's remarks, the radio announcer's voice came on again: "WMC Communications of the United States will become the first company to invest in China after the establishment of diplomatic relations. WMC will export a batch of 10,000-line program-controlled exchange equipment to our country on a seller's credit basis, while providing maintenance support... With the arrival of this equipment, our country's telephone communication environment will be greatly improved, which will help accelerate the construction of the Four Modernizations..."

Hearing the announcement, Jiang Tiantian was startled. "Could it be that my uncle and his team didn't get the agency rights? How come the company selling 10,000-line program-controlled switches is this WMC?"

After a pause, she quickly asked, "What does this company do? It doesn't seem to be on the list of top-tier telecommunications companies that Yali mentioned?"

Chen Fan hummed twice, glanced at the rearview mirror, and laughed, "You didn't learn your pinyin well, did you? WMC, isn't that just Wan Muchun?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantian was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing a few seconds later.

Jiang Lili lives nearby, and she was dropped off at school shortly after leaving home, so she's the only one in the car now.

Taking a breath, Jiang Tiantian smiled broadly, "So this company belongs to my uncle and his family. I never remembered that WMC is the first letter of the pinyin for Wan Muchun."

She looked up at Chen Fan, her eyes shining, "So, Uncle and Yali succeeded?"

Chen Fan nodded slightly, "It's pretty much a done deal. They usually don't report it on the news unless it's confirmed. But securing the agency rights and reaching a cooperation agreement is just the beginning. There's still a lot to do: technical coordination, equipment selection, finalizing delivery dates and installation procedures. I reckon Uncle and Yali will be very busy these days."

Jiang Tiantian smiled and said, "Given Yali's personality, she should be out of the country right now and very busy, otherwise she would have contacted us."

Chen Fan shrugged. "If you want to wear the crown, you must first bear its weight. Being a boss isn't like what's written in books, where you just have workers do the work and sit back and collect the money. Business is always accompanied by risks, and to run a company well, you need to work hard and avoid risks."

The project my uncle chose certainly has a bright future, but it also involves many complexities. A slight misstep could cause it to collapse; for example, a single piece of equipment malfunctioning could render the entire project worthless. Naturally, they cannot afford to be careless.

Jiang Tiantian pursed her lips thoughtfully, "That makes sense. It seems that being a capitalist isn't as easy as it's portrayed in books."

The two chatted as they walked, and despite the slippery roads due to the snow, they arrived at the school gate in less than half an hour.

Jiang Tiantian got out of the car, while Chen Fan remained seated. He simply turned to her and raised his fist, saying, "Go for it."

Holding up her umbrella, Jiang Tiantian turned around, her face beaming with a smile, "You keep it up too."

He waved gently before walking into the campus.

After her figure disappeared around the corner, Chen Fan drove away.

……

Rather than a celebratory cultural performance, today's arts and culture gathering is more like a small-scale networking event between organizations.

The venue for the gala was not the auditorium of the Municipal Cultural Palace or a large theater, but the headquarters of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, located at 238 Yan'an West Road.

(Old building of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles)

Inside the building, many people were busy at work.

There was a small stage at the front of the hall, and in a corner next to the stage, a small band was preparing, checking their instruments and looking at sheet music.

Below the stage were rows of small round tables, where staff members moved about, setting out fruit platters, soft drinks, and ashtrays.

Several people were already seated at the small round table facing the stage, one of whom was Ba Jin himself.

Sitting next to him was He Lüting, vice chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and chairman of the Shanghai Musicians Association.

He Lüting was a renowned Chinese musician, composer, and music educator. He was also the second, third, and fourth chairman of the Shanghai Musicians Association. He studied at the prestigious Yueyun Middle School in Changsha.

He has composed over a hundred songs, including "Boat Song," "Boat-Carrying Song," "In Spring," "Lament of Parting," "Homesick Song," "Love Song," and "Autumn Water Beauty." The songs "Four Seasons Song" and "Wandering Songstress" in the movie "Street Angel" were also written by him.

However, his most famous work is still "The Guerrilla Song".

Yes, it's that song, "We are all sharpshooters, every bullet eliminates an enemy, we are all flying soldiers, even if the mountains are high and the waters are deep..."

He wrote the lyrics, composed the music, and arranged the music.

Old He and Old Ba had a long-standing friendship, but he looked at Old Ba with a hint of disdain. "So, Little Chen was tricked into coming here by you like that?"

Ba Jin took a puff of his pipe, his eyes showing a hint of smugness. "How can you say I lied? I didn't tell a single lie. It's true that every time there's a literary and artistic gathering, the comrades from the Writers' Association are all down there eating sunflower seeds."

Old He snorted twice, "But you didn't tell him that you're still the chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles. As the chairman of the Federation, how can you be so biased towards the Writers' Association? On behalf of the Musicians Association, I express my dissatisfaction."

Ba Jin grinned and said, "Well, what can I do? I'm the chairman of the Writers' Association. Bringing Xiao Chen over is great; he can perform on behalf of the Writers' Association and enrich the program of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles."

He paused for a moment, then turned to look at him again, "You, a great musician, are you afraid of a mere young lad?"

Mr. He immediately retorted, "This is not a question of whether we are afraid or not, but rather a violation of the rules."

Old Ba raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is that so?"

Xia Yan sat on the other side of Ba Jin, writing and drawing in his notebook, making revisions from time to time. He had heard the conversation next to him clearly. He looked up and said, "Old He, don't you want to hear what kind of song that kid wrote?"

Old He frowned slightly. "I believe he can write a very good song lyric, but as for composing music, I'm afraid he'll ruin his own lyrics."

Hearing him say that, even Old Xia's usually serious face became a little lively. He slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, then lowered his head to continue revising the script.

Old Ba chuckled and grinned, "We'll find out soon enough." Thinking of the song Chen Fan sang and played the guitar yesterday, and imagining Old He's reaction during the performance, he couldn't help but laugh even more heartily.

Seeing Ba Jin's appearance, the others at the table couldn't help but show curiosity.

It seems he has a lot of confidence in Chen Fan. Did he hear about him beforehand?
……

When Chen Fan entered, the hall was already more than half full. He breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he wasn't the last one to arrive.

My gaze swept around the hall, and the first thing I noticed was a few tables under the stage.

That was where the leaders of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the leaders of the cultural and propaganda departments were located. Several senior figures in Shanghai's literary and art circles, such as Mr. Ba and Mr. Xia, were sitting there.

Chen Fan naturally wouldn't go there to join the fun. He found the Shanghai Writers Association's location and consciously moved closer to it.

Upon seeing him approach, someone immediately waved to him and found him an empty seat.

Chen Fan was already familiar with them, so he simply waved and that was enough to say hello.

Then Huai Bowen, the middle-aged man sitting next to him, introduced him to the people at the other tables.

Who belongs to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, which part belongs to the Musicians Association, which part belongs to the Film Association, ...

After listening to a lot of things, Chen Fan asked curiously, "Why didn't you mention being the chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles?"

Huai Bowen was stunned. "You don't know?"

Chen Fan looked at him, puzzled. "Know what?"

Seeing that he genuinely didn't know, Huai Bowen couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly and whispered, "Old Ba was the second chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan's pupils dilated. "Huh?"

Seeing the change in his expression, Huai Bowen found it even more amusing and laughed, “The first chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles was Mr. Xia. Then, in 62, the second meeting was held, and Mr. Ba was elected as the second chairman, with Yu Ling, Feng Zikai, and others as vice chairmen.”

Work has been intermittent since then, and the third plenary meeting hasn't been held yet. Therefore, the leadership team is still in its second term, and there's no clear timeline for the election of the third term. Based on the current situation, it's estimated that the election will take place after all the associations have settled down.

Chen Fan pursed his lips, turned his head to look at Old Ba in front of the crowd, and felt a slight pain in his teeth.

Regardless of whether he had a toothache or not, the party started on time as soon as the city lights came on.

An elderly gentleman walked shakily onto the stage, and the audience immediately fell silent.

Chen Fan quickly threw away the sunflower seeds in his hand and turned to face the stage.

He knew this person without needing Huai Bowen's introduction.

Mr. Yu Ling, also from the Shanghai Writers Association, was recently elected as vice chairman. He had only resumed work two years ago after recovering from illness. He was a kind and approachable person. Chen Fan had chatted with him a few times when he was hanging around the Writers Association.

Mr. Yu is now speaking on behalf of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Standing on the stage, he recounted the arduous struggles of Shanghai's literary and art circles and how hard-won the current situation is...

If we were to name the person who endured the most hardship among those present, Mr. Yu would undoubtedly be among them. During the War of Resistance against Japan, when Shanghai fell to the Japanese, he and some patriotic artists resolutely stayed on the isolated island, creating more than 20 multi-act and one-act plays in five years. It wasn't until the events in southern Anhui that he was ordered to move to Hong Kong.

His achievements in the arts are also extraordinary. Chen Fan is only a member of the Writers Association, while Mr. Yu is not only a member of the Writers Association, but also a member of the Film Association and the Dramatists Association. He is indeed a multi-talented person.

Mr. Yu reminisced about the past on stage, which resonated with many people and was met with bursts of applause from time to time.

After he stepped down from the stage, several other leaders gave speeches.

More than half an hour later, the cultural performance was officially announced to have begun.

Chen Fan sat quietly in his seat, enjoying the artists' performance.

It has to be said that his skill level is very high, at least comparable to his current skill level. Although his level in music is slightly lower than his level in calligraphy and writing, it is only one level lower, which is very high at LV5!
Of course, this only applies to music. As for dance, well, let's not even compare, he's never danced it, let alone crosstalk or storytelling.

He could sing a few lines in a play, but unfortunately, he didn't apply.

After a while, a young man in his twenties came over, leaned close to Chen Fan, and whispered, “Vice Chairman Chen, I am the program coordinator for today’s party. There are two more programs before it’s your turn. Please come backstage with me to prepare.”

Chen Fan said "Oh," put down the snacks, and stood up. "Okay, let's go."

First, go out through a door, walk through a corridor, turn two corners, and enter a room.

Several comrades inside were making preparations. When they saw Chen Fan, they didn't say anything to greet him, but simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Chen Fan was led to a corner to sit down, and the man asked in a low voice, "Vice Chairman Chen, Mr. Ba only announced the program you want to perform, but did not provide the sheet music. If you need accompaniment, please provide the sheet music."

Looking up at him, Chen Fan smiled and said, "No need, I see you have a piano here, I can play it myself later."

He did bring an accordion, but if a piano is available, it would be more suitable.

The man nodded. "Okay, we'll prepare it for you."

He then got up and left.

After waiting for two more programs, the person came over to remind us again, and the announcer outside began to announce the program in a very simple and straightforward manner: "Today, in addition to our comrades from the Shanghai literary and art circles, we also have a special guest, Comrade Chen Fan, the vice chairman and vice president of the Jiangnan Writers Association, a famous young writer, and the author of wonderful literary works such as 'Shanghai Spy Shadow'. He will bring you a new song that he composed and will sing himself. Please welcome him."

As applause erupted, Chen Fan walked onto the stage from the backstage passage.

There was a black upright piano on the stage. He walked to the piano, bowed slightly, and glanced down at the audience. He saw the familiar faces of Ba Jin, Xia Jin, and Yu Jin watching the spectacle, as well as the camera at the very back.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Fan said with a smile, "I am very happy to participate in the Shanghai literary and art circle's gala. The performance by the Shanghai artists just now was wonderful. I was so scared that I almost ran away, but I failed because of the strict guard of the program coordinator."

A burst of laughter immediately erupted from below.

After the laughter subsided, Chen Fan continued with a smile, "Since there's no escaping it, we'll just have to bite the bullet and go for it. Next, I'll be performing a song for you all, 'Young Friends, Let's Meet Again'."

Mr. Li once said to young people, "This era belongs to us, and also to you, but ultimately it will belong to you. Today marks the beginning of a new era, and I dedicate this song to my young friends. I hope everyone can join hands to build this new era into a better place!"

Another round of applause rang out, and Chen Fan turned around, sat down at the piano, and began his performance.

(End of this chapter)