Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 861 Who Isn't a Boss at Some Point?
Upon receiving Zhou Zhengdong's call, Chen Fan didn't hesitate and immediately went out to wait on the sofa in the gap of the corridor.

In the past, these temporary meeting places, which utilized a recessed space in the corridor, were quite popular in hotels.

Especially in the 1980s and 90s, many high-end hotels had this kind of setup, and many people who traveled for business were very familiar with this kind of temporary meeting place.

Chen Fan also experienced it today.

As for why not in the room?
There was no fresh air system at that time, and the whole house smelled of smoke when people smoked. Wasn't that unpleasant?

Asking the floor attendant to bring two cups of green tea, Zhou Zhengdong eagerly inquired, "The ancestral worship ceremony is tomorrow, has everything been arranged?"

Chen Fan took out a cigarette, offered it to him, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, since you've entrusted this matter to me, I'll definitely arrange it well. I called this morning and everything is fine."

He then lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said while counting on his fingers, "First of all, we need to arrange accommodation for the people. There's no other way. The Taoist group has 108 people, and there aren't any hotels at the Zhou family's old residence that can accommodate so many people."

The Liaoning Hotel where we are staying now is also a popular hotel. Most of the foreign guests who come to Shenyang stay here, so it's impossible to accommodate so many people.

If the Taoist temples here are restored, it might be possible to stay at Taiqing Palace, but unfortunately, Taiqing Palace is still in bad shape. Bixia Palace, which locals often call the Niangniang Temple, is in even worse shape; it's basically all destroyed, and nobody knows when it will be rebuilt.

Zhou Zhengdong's face darkened. "Can you get to the point?"

All you've said so far is about your difficulties. You're just like some of your subordinates in the company! Besides, I'm your uncle, not your boss. The assets have been clearly divided. No matter how many difficulties you complain about, I'm not going to give you a few hundred million more!
Is it because you want to pay more when you get reimbursed?

Hmm, this tactic seems familiar?
Could it be...? My nephew has been led astray by my own daughter?
Chen Fan was just being his habitual chatterbox, never expecting his uncle to be so critical of him. He then smugly swung his legs and laughed, "Here comes the important part. Luckily, I have connections. I sought help from the Writers' Association, the Music Association, and the Fine Arts Association, dividing the 108 people into three teams and arranging them to stay at the guesthouses of these three organizations."

If it weren't for this connection, I wouldn't have bothered arguing with the local literary federation members who came to pick me up at the airport yesterday, let alone drinking with them.

Speaking of this, Chen Fan couldn't help but shake his head. "They weren't even drinking water like that. They made me drink several bottles of baijiu just for the sake of this accommodation. I really lost out."

Anyway, I don't want to ask them for favors anymore. If I have to drink with them again, I'm afraid I'll just ascend to heaven on the spot.

Upon hearing this, and recalling the scene from the previous night, Zhou Zhengdong couldn't help but nod, "This time, the sacrifice for the ancestral worship was truly immense!"

The two were silent for a few seconds before Zhou Zhengdong snapped out of his reverie. "Get to the point. When will the Taoist priests arrive?"

Chen Fan blinked. "They arrived this morning. They took the train yesterday and arrived this morning. I just called and the local Writers Association, Musicians Association, and Musicians Association arranged several cars to pick them up and take them to the guesthouse. I guess they've settled in by now."

Zhou Zhengdong's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and got up to leave. "Where's the address? Let's go take a look."

Chen Fan quickly waved his hand, "Don't worry, they're all on our side. They won't be angry that we didn't show up right away."

Besides, I've already entrusted Section Chief Ye from yesterday to help arrange the reception and accommodation. We can just go over and have lunch with him later, and then tomorrow morning, we'll set off together for the Zhou family's old residence.

Zhou Zhengdong turned to look at him and said irritably, "It's never a bad thing to be polite, especially since it's a Taoist priest. Anyway, you had nothing to do this morning, so why didn't you go over there sooner?"

Chen Fan blinked. "Who said there was nothing wrong this morning?"

Zhou Zhengdong, “???”

……

Half an hour later, in a conference room in the hotel, a circle of sofas was placed along the side, leaving a spacious area in the middle, which was the layout for leaders to meet with VIPs.

Zhou Zhengdong sat in the head seat of the guests, with Zhao Wanru, Zhou Yali, and Chen Fan sitting next to him in order.

As for the two Jiang sisters, they were not used to such occasions, so they stayed in their rooms and did not come.

Zhou Zhengdong had changed his clothes and was dressed in a suit and tie, looking very much like a big boss.

He leaned back on the sofa, turned slightly to the side, looked at his leader across the coffee table, and smiled, "I am truly ashamed and grateful that you have to trouble your esteemed place with such a large-scale operation for a small family matter."

The leader opposite smiled and humbly said that it was nothing, just a small token of the motherland's affection for overseas compatriots. He suggested that if Mr. Zhou had some free time, he might as well go back to his hometown for a visit.

Liaoning has been a land of outstanding people and abundant resources since ancient times, with a complete industrial base and a solid economic foundation. The Zhou family, as a well-known Chinese family in the United States, has risen rapidly in the last two years, with its industries developing and expanding. This would be a perfect match for Liaoning, a powerful alliance indeed.

After talking for more than ten minutes, Zhou Zhengdong expressed his willingness to investigate economic exchanges with his hometown and to sign a memorandum of understanding worth no less than 20 million US dollars. ...Anyway, it's not a formal investment agreement, so let's sign it.

Besides, even a formal investment agreement can be changed at any time, so what about this kind of memorandum of understanding? The amounts on it can be filled in arbitrarily!
These days, the leaders had never tasted the bitterness of being maliciousd by capitalists. Having received Boss Zhou's promise, they felt as if they had already secured 20 million US dollars in foreign investment, and they got up to leave satisfied.

Since the higher authorities made it clear more than a year ago that they should make good use of foreign investment and develop the domestic economy, not only the higher authorities have been looking for foreign investment, but local governments are also eager to follow suit.

Even if the Northeast is rich and has no shortage of money, can local money be treated the same as foreign money?
Putting aside other issues, can local funds be used to directly pay for the installation of a 10,000-line program-controlled exchange?
Moreover, foreign money is not just money; it also represents the achievements of carrying out orders from superiors and making good use of foreign investment!
They had already found out that the Zhou family were billionaires in the United States, and that Mr. Zhou had even worked as a legal advisor in some trade office of the White House. Later, he made hundreds of millions of dollars in profit through a publishing house.

Such a wealthy boss has already been handed to them; if they let him go easily, they'd be slapping themselves in the face without anyone else even lifting a finger.

This trip back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors was the perfect opportunity to build relationships.

This is also the main reason why Chen Fan is confident that the local authorities will pick him up at the airport.

As for the other places Zhou Zhengdong went to, ... the situation was actually similar. For example, in Jiangnan Province and Guangdong Province, the provincial leaders talked to him, but Chen Fan was not involved.

After much effort and a lot of talking, Zhou Zhengdong finally saw the leader off. He then turned around and went into the conference room, sat down on the sofa, and asked Sun Ruihe, who had picked him up at the airport the day before, "Comrade Sun, what are the arrangements for tomorrow's activities?"

After the leaders left, Sun Ruihe, whose own rank was not low, unceremoniously sat down in the seat where the leaders had just been sitting and smiled at Zhou Zhengdong, saying, "Mr. Zhou, please rest assured, according to the itinerary provided by Vice Chairman Chen, all related matters have been arranged properly to ensure that tomorrow's ancestral worship will proceed smoothly."

He then took out a document and handed it to Zhou Zhengdong with both hands, saying, "Please take a look." Zhou Zhengdong carefully flipped through the few pages and saw that each item was assigned to a specific person and had detailed explanations. He nodded in satisfaction and smiled at Sun Ruihe, saying, "Thank you for your hard work. Let's proceed with this plan."

On the other side, Zhou Yali pulled Chen Fan aside and whispered, "You had everything arranged, why didn't you tell Dad beforehand? Look how scared he was."

Chen Fan glanced at her. "Didn't I already tell you? I've contacted both local and Beijing people. I guarantee everything will be perfect."

Besides, I'm used to listening to reports, okay? Who remembers to write them?

Zhou Yali's face stiffened slightly, and she pursed her lips speechlessly, "Well, who isn't a boss?"

Chen Fan nodded seriously, "That's right."

……

In the afternoon, Zhou Zhengdong finally met the Taoist priests he had been longing to see.

First are the thirty-six "scripture masters," who are high-ranking priests responsible for chanting incantations and reciting scriptures. The leader of them is naturally Master Liu.

As Zhou Zhengdong got out of the car and looked at the elderly people dressed in ordinary clothes, wearing earmuffs, and with their hands clasped together in the early spring of Northeast China, he couldn't help but feel a little doubtful. He muttered to himself, "Xiao Fan, are they really Taoist masters? They don't seem like it."

Are these people really not retired workers brought over from some factory dormitory area?
It does have a certain cultured air about it, so is it from a printing factory?

"That's exactly right. Haven't you heard the saying, 'A true master doesn't reveal his abilities'? Even if others don't say it, look at me. I'm the only living true master in the Taoist community, as recognized by the authorities. Do I look like one?"

Chen Fan whispered to Zhou Zhengdong, "Uncle, let me tell you, we've really struck gold today. These thirty-six high-ranking Taoist priests are all highly skilled in the Daoist Association and the few remaining Taoist temples in the capital. If it were before the Great Wind Day, any one of them could preside over a ritual on their own."

This time, we invited thirty-six people directly. It can be said that, including the most powerful Taoist priests from Zhengyi and Quanzhen, about half of them are here.

Even in ancient times, if the emperor himself ordered it, it would be impossible to gather so many highly respected and virtuous Taoist masters.

Zhou Zhengdong's eyes widened instantly. "Is it really that amazing?"

He wasn't doubting; he believed his nephew's words without reservation. He just felt that it was a bit too exaggerated.

Chen Fan snorted twice, "That's putting it mildly. To exaggerate further, if I were to hold the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony in the future, each of them could independently lead a scripture group to participate in the Dao discussion!"

He paused for a moment, then continued,
"If you still don't understand what I mean, let me give you another example. The Taoist priests of Shangqing Palace on Qingcheng Mountain and Taihe Palace on Wudang Mountain are all capable of competing for the position of sect leader."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengdong was visibly shaken.

Even if he was completely ignorant of the subject, he knew the status of Shangqing Palace on Qingcheng Mountain and Taihe Palace on Wudang Mountain in Taoism. To be a headmaster, one must be a highly respected and virtuous person in the Taoist community.

As for why we didn't use Longhushan Tianshi Palace as an example? Well, Tianshi Palace is a family-run business, and the headmaster's surname is Zhang, okay?

Coming to his senses, Zhou Zhengdong immediately took a deep breath, unable to suppress the smile on his face. He strode over to the group of kind-looking, gray-haired Taoist priests, his smile widening. He cupped his hands and said loudly, "Esteemed Taoist priests, you've had a long and tiring journey. You've had plenty of good food and drink these past few days. If you have any requests, just let me know. It's all on me!"

With Master Qinglian mediating between them, Zhou Zhengdong treated him with utmost sincerity, shaking hands with Master Liu one moment and bowing to Master Ma the next. The Taoist priests, seeing his proper etiquette and that he didn't use his hands clasped together to greet him, all smiled happily.

As a result, the atmosphere was naturally quite harmonious.

Chen Fan also took the opportunity to discuss the arrangements for tomorrow's Dharma assembly with Master Liu and others.

It's nothing really, just Chen Fan hosting and going through the motions. Who doesn't know the Eight Great Incantations?
……

When you're busy, time always flies by.

Before we knew it, it was the next day, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

Early in the morning, before it was fully light, Chen Fan and his companions got out of their warm beds, quickly ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant, and then got into two jeeps they had rented from the hotel and drove to the outskirts.

It's not that the hotel doesn't have Hongqi cars, it's just that in this kind of weather and road conditions, apart from jeeps and Jiefang trucks, other vehicles are in danger.

Before even leaving the city, they met the Taoist priests in several Jiefang trucks. After joining together, they formed a long line of vehicles and headed straight for the Zhou family's old house, more than 50 kilometers away.

Everyone knows how bad winters are in Northeast China. It's a bit better in the city, but once you leave the city, the cars can only crawl. If you're agile, you can run and overtake others.

The bicycle won't work; it'll get stuck in the mud.

That's why I have to get up so early.

Looking at the slowly moving scenery outside the window, Zhou Zhengdong had no interest in appreciating it at all. He frowned and said, "Won't this delay us?"

Chen Fan was in the same car as him and immediately said with a smile, "Don't worry, I've calculated it, we won't be late."

Zhou Zhengdong clung to the back of the driver's seat, looking at him with a face full of surprise, "You can tell fortunes?"

Chen Fan sat in the passenger seat, glanced at the driver next to him with a strange look on his face, pondered for two seconds, and said, "My master calculated it, and he said we won't be late."

Zhou Zhengdong blinked. Although he didn't know which master he was referring to, he knew that they couldn't continue talking about this topic at this moment.

Then they started talking about the Zhou family's older generations.

As he spoke, he would occasionally glance at the youngest son his wife was holding in her arms. With an heir to the Zhou family, he could now face his ancestors with a clear conscience.

Zhou Yali, who was petting a monkey in the car behind: Then I'll go.
(End of this chapter)