Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 88 has a hidden agenda.

Unlock and enter the house.

Having not seen each other for a few days, Chen Fan first checked the machine.

I turned on the radio, but all I heard was a buzzing sound. It was almost 7 o'clock, and they still hadn't started broadcasting?!

However, as long as you make sure the radio isn't malfunctioning, it's fine.

Then I turned on the record player, took out a vinyl record and put it on, and immediately a melodious song came out.

Xiao Liewen stood aside watching him tinker, and couldn't help but ask, "How is it?"

Chen Fan turned around and smiled, "It's nothing, everything is normal."

Xiao Liewen nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay."

He then glanced at the alarm clock on the table. "There are still 10 minutes left."

Judging from his tone, he clearly couldn't wait.

Chen Fan blinked and whispered, "How about we play a song first?"

Xiao Liewen blinked as well, "Then... let it go?"

Chen Fan nodded. "Okay, I'll put it in."

He then rubbed his hands together, turned down the volume on the record player, turned on the radio, and gently tapped the microphone. A muffled sound immediately came from the loudspeaker outside.

The militiamen who were training in the front yard couldn't help but turn their heads to look at the loudspeaker when they heard the noise.

Zhang Wenliang immediately reprimanded, "We're training, what are you looking at?"

Someone muttered, "Didn't they say the broadcast would start at 7 o'clock? The loudspeakers are already on, it's already 7 o'clock."

Zhang Wenliang: "I have to finish this set of exercises by 7 o'clock."

He then pointed at them and said, "Seriously, don't do it wrong, or don't blame me for hitting you."

A boy who looked about sixteen or seventeen at the back laughed and said, "Third Brother, how about we speed things up?"

Someone nearby immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, let's speed things up without going astray, okay?"

Just as Zhang Wenliang was about to speak, Chen Fan's Mandarin voice came through the loudspeaker.

"Hello everyone, I am Chen Fan, the broadcaster from the Lujiawan Production Brigade Broadcasting Station. Today is January 30, 1977, the 12th day of the twelfth lunar month, Sunday. It is 6:52 AM Beijing time, and there are 8 minutes left before the official broadcast. We are now in the broadcast testing phase. Next, we will play a song for you, 'The Wa People Sing a New Song.' Please enjoy."

Zhang Wenliang's eyes darted around, and he shouted, "Listen to me, everyone, 1234223432344234..."

The militiamen, who had just been practicing their skills with meticulous precision, immediately sped up and finished a set of punches in a few moves. Then they ran to the central courtyard and sat on the steps to listen to music.

At that moment, the entire Lujiawan production brigade erupted in excitement.

Even those who hadn't gotten out of bed yet weren't afraid of the cold anymore; they just threw off their blankets and got dressed.

Of course, some people didn't want to get out of bed, but they still sat up, wrapped themselves tightly in the blanket, and pricked up their ears.

Those who had already gotten up rushed outside, some even running to the village loudspeaker, gazing expectantly as if that would allow them to hear it more clearly.

Soon a large crowd gathered under the utility pole.

A rousing song immediately blared from the loudspeaker:

In every village and hamlet, drums beat and gongs clang, the Wa people sing new songs. Mr. Li's glory shines on the borderlands, mountains laugh, waters laugh, people rejoice, socialism is good, it builds a bridge to happiness, hey... the road grows wider and wider...

Everyone beamed with joy as they listened to the songs blaring from the loudspeaker.

However, some people were not too satisfied, saying, "Where is this Awa? I've never even heard of it. They should play some new songs from Nanhu."

Someone nearby burst into laughter, "Why don't you say you're singing a new song at Lujiawan?"

Someone else chimed in, "Our team would be best." This immediately drew laughter from the crowd.

After that song finished, they played "Little Militia of the East China Sea," and it was already 7 o'clock.

As Chen Fan turned on the radio, he said, "Comrades, this is the official broadcast time. We will now be broadcasting radio news. Please tune in."

Then replace it with a radio connector.

Immediately afterwards, a beeping sound came from the radio, and after the hourly chime, a baritone voice rang out.

At this point, Chen Fan was no longer needed.

He turned off the microphone, stood up, stretched, and wiggled his hips. When he turned around, he saw Xiao Liewen, Secretary Yang, Captain Zhang, and Captain Ye all looking at him expectantly.

Chen Fan was dumbfounded. "What's wrong?"

Xiao Liewen pointed to the broadcasting machine, "Is that all?"

Chen Fan glanced back, then turned around and nodded. "Ah, once the news on the radio is over, we can turn it off. That will end the morning broadcast."

Captain Zhang blinked rapidly, paused for several seconds, and then nodded, "Oh, okay."

He then pointed to the radio station, "Then you keep a close watch on it and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Chen Fan said, "Don't worry, I'll be here watching over things. I guarantee there won't be any problems."

He paused for a moment, looked at the four leaders, and then said with a smile, "Um, Secretary Yang, Captain Zhang, Captain Xiao, Captain Ye, may I submit a request?"

Secretary Yang and the others looked at each other, then pointed at him and said, "You speak."

Chen Fan pointed to the small alarm clock on the table and said with a smile, "You see, I don't have an alarm clock and don't know the time. Could I ask if I could take this alarm clock back with me? That way, I can make sure I won't be late in the future."

Secretary Yang exclaimed, "Ah, okay, I approve it."

Chen Fan nodded quickly, "Thank you, thank you."

Captain Zhang, watching him from the side, asked in a low voice, "The radio and clock I gave you last time, are they still not fixed?"

Chen Fan said with a bitter face, "I don't even have the tools. You can't cook without rice. Besides, I can try the radio, but I've never learned how to make a clock."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Captain Zhang's eyes. "Oh."

At this moment, Xiao Liewen suddenly said, "Hey, the militia company's communications squad has a set of repair tools. I'll talk to Sanhu later, and you can go and get them from him, then return them when you're done."

Chen Fan was stunned for a moment, then feigned great joy, "Thank you, Captain Xiao!"

He couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Captain Zhang's expression seemed a bit off, and Captain Xiao was so eager to lend him tools. What did they mean?
What are the challenges of becoming a militia maintenance technician?

Seeing that everything was alright here, Captain Yang and the others left Chen Fan here to keep watch, while they went to the front.

Outside the brigade headquarters, the group saw many commune members gathered under the loudspeaker listening to the news. Captain Zhang took out his pipe, lit it, and frowned, saying, "Just turning on the machine for a moment and then standing guard there, 10 work points a day, isn't that a bit too much?"

Ye Shubao also took out his own hand-rolled cigarette, struck a match, and lit it.

Just as he was about to speak, Secretary Yang brought his pipe over, lit a match, and then lit Xiao Liewen's pipe. He then discarded the nearly burnt matchstick, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said...
"There's nothing we can do. That's the standard for broadcasters. The other brigades all have the same price. Besides, none of them can speak Mandarin or repair the equipment. You should be grateful."

Secretary Yang nodded and said, "Xiao Ye is right. Xiao Chen can operate the machine and even repair it. Can you do that?"

Secretary Zhang grinned and said, "I was just saying."

At this moment, Xiao Liewen also said from the side, "Old Zhang, I really have to remind you of this. What did the people at the post office say the other day? They wanted to transfer Chen Fan there as a clerk and even set him up as a level 9 clerk. A level 9 clerk has a salary of 27, 30 yuan a month, plus other benefits. It's much higher than your 10 work points."

Ye Shubao nodded repeatedly, "That's why we canceled the original three-month probation period and immediately registered his household. Old Zhang, don't lose the big picture for a little bit of trouble!"

If Chen Fan were here and heard these words, he would definitely shout, "There's something fishy going on!"

There's still more today, I'm rushing to finish this draft o(╥﹏╥)o
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(End of this chapter)