Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 898 I'm going
Tuesday, May 6th.

At 12 noon, after Teacher Chen finished speaking his last sentence, the bell rang precisely on time to signal the end of get out of class.

After tidying up her lesson plan, Teacher Chen left immediately, never extending the class time by even a second.

The students in the auditorium were also packing up their textbooks and notebooks, marveling at Mr. Chen's precise time management.

Lin Liwen packed her things into her schoolbag, turned to look at Xia Yuping, and whispered, "Hey, do you think he planned this in advance? Otherwise, why does he always finish his lecture and end get out of class right away, not a second more or less?"

Xia Yuping had almost finished packing. She slung her schoolbag over her shoulder and looked at her, saying, "What you're saying is, lesson plans can be counted, and the time spent on the lecture content can be counted. But what about the time spent on students asking and answering questions?"

Lin Liwen blinked. "Oh right, how come I didn't think of that?"

Xia Yuping snorted twice, pushed up her non-existent glasses on her nose, and said with a serious face, "Based on the theories I learned from auditing classes in a literature correspondence course, I can draw a very certain conclusion."

Suddenly, a head popped up beside me. "What conclusion?"

Xia Yuping was startled and quickly stepped back. When she saw that it was Tang Li, she breathed a sigh of relief and said irritably, "Do all the people from Lujiawan like to appear out of nowhere? They just suddenly pop out like that."

Tang Li shrugged innocently, "I was right behind you. You were just too focused on the lesson to notice us."

Several students from Lujiawan were admitted to Jiangnan University, both male and female, and their majors varied, mostly in physics and chemistry. They usually attended their own classes, only gathering to audit Chen Fan's classes.

As it happened, Xia Yuping and Lin Liwen also attended every event, and before long, they actually became friends.

However, the two of them only knew the boys and didn't interact much. They mainly had a good relationship with Tang Li and a few other girls.

This is also one of the characteristics of our times: social interactions mainly occur between people of the same sex, while the proportion of social interactions between people of the opposite sex is relatively small.

Seeing that she was still pouting and not saying anything, Tang Li couldn't help but laugh and said, "Alright, alright, I'll get you a stir-fried pork dish at the cafeteria later. Now you can tell me, what's your conclusion?"

Having earned a meat dish, Xia Yuping stopped pouting. She first laughed happily twice, then lowered her voice mysteriously and said, "I've come to a conclusion: a lot of the content Teacher Chen teaches is improvised."

Otherwise, he couldn't have kept such precise time, almost to the second.

Upon hearing this, Lin Liwen, Tang Li, and the others all gave her a gesture, "Huh... we thought it was something else, but it's just this. Did you even need to tell us?!"

Xia Yuping was very indignant. "Hmph, you all knew, so why didn't you say so before? Why are you doing this now?"

Tang Li stood up, pulled her along, and walked out. "Alright, alright, you're the smartest. Smart Xia, guess if we get to the cafeteria any later, will there still be stir-fried pork left?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Yuping quickened her pace, "Hurry up, hurry up! If we run out of food, you can go to Chen Fan's house and cook for me. You have a key to his house anyway..."

Upon hearing this, Tang Li was speechless. "We take the keys so we can clean the house easily, not so we can give you special treatment."

Lin Liwen pushed from behind, "Then hurry up!"

The group ran forward, laughing and joking, and found a long queue already formed in the cafeteria.

However, the wait wasn't too long. There were only a few dishes, and almost everyone had already decided what they wanted to eat. Each student held a lunchbox, lined up at the counter, got their meal tickets, picked up their food, and then immediately left to find a seat to eat.

Jiangda University's canteen has two types of meal tickets: one is for staple food, which comes in three sizes: one liang, two liang, and four liang, with options for rice, steamed buns, and noodles; the other is for side dishes, which are actually vegetable tickets, with denominations of one fen, two fen, five fen, and one jiao.

(A meal ticket from a university in 1980)

Under normal circumstances, 1/2 cent coupons are sufficient for non-staple food coupons; only when buying meat and vegetables are "large" coupons such as 1 cent coupons used.

The students from Lujiawan were all well-off, and Tang Li generously took out a stack of food coupons to add a small stir-fried pork dish for Xia Yuping.

Xia Yuping and Lin Liwen were not short of money. Smelling the aroma of meat, Lin Liwen also added a meat dish to her meal.

After getting their food, the group found a table and sat down.

Tang Li stirred the food in her bowl, her face full of disgust. "Even the meat dishes only have a layer of oil on top. This is too much."

Hearing her words, a classmate next to her immediately said, "More than that, I'm curious how the cafeteria chefs manage to cook meat dishes that look like vegetables?"

Someone on the other end immediately chimed in, "How else can you stir-fry it? Just boil it."

They didn't actually know each other, but they could start chatting as long as they had a topic to discuss.

Seeing that everyone had started discussing, Tang Li and the others stopped talking and listened to everyone's nonsense with great interest, treating it as an extra side dish to accompany their meal.

When a student said, "Today in class we learned about limits. The teacher talked about infinity and infinitesimal, and gave an example: a cicada climbs a tree. If it climbs halfway each day, can it ever reach the top?"

Then I thought of the steamed buns I bought this morning. Do you think if I only eat half of those buns each time, I'll never finish them?

As soon as he said that, everyone around him burst into laughter.

Before long, someone actually answered seriously, "Theoretically speaking, it can split indefinitely. But in reality, after a few splits, there won't be enough buns left to fill your teeth. It depends on whether you can withstand the hunger or swallow all the remaining buns in one gulp."

Then someone raised a new question: "The cafeteria staff, each wielding a large ladle, use the same meal ticket, and each serving is a ladle of rice and a ladle of vegetables. Why do I always feel that you get more than I get?"

Everyone laughed and chatted as they ate. The boys ate quickly, finishing their rice in no time, and soon most of them had left.

By this time, Tang Li and the others had almost finished eating. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and suddenly remembered something. Looking at Xia Yuping and Lin Liwen, she said, "I remember you were in a junior college program, right? You only have one more semester left before graduation?"

They were all candidates from the class of '77, but those from Lujiawan were all in the undergraduate program. Only Xia Yuping and Lin Liwen had a very poor foundation. Despite having self-study books on mathematics, physics, and chemistry given to them by Chen Fan, and later studying with Jiang Lili and Jiang Tiantian for two months, they still failed to get into the undergraduate program and only got into junior college.

According to the current three-year junior college system, someone who enrolled in March 1978 should have graduated by the end of this year.

Upon hearing Tang Li's words, Xia Yuping and Lin Liwen exchanged a glance, their spirits immediately shattering.

The two nodded in unison. "Yes, this is the last academic year. We'll graduate after next semester."

Tang Li looked at them, somewhat puzzled. "Why do you all seem a little unhappy? Are you reluctant to leave campus, or did you find out in advance which units you'll be assigned to but don't like them?"

Xia Yuping pursed her lips, shook her head, and said, "I am a little reluctant, but the main issue is the job assignment. My family had already arranged a job for me, but I heard that our graduating class has already been reserved. Nobody knows where we will be going until the results are announced."

Both of their families do indeed have very extensive connections in Yunhu. One works in the passenger transport system and the other in the water transport system. Both are families of cadres who have been deeply involved in the industry for many years. Otherwise, neither of them would have had the opportunity to work in the health department.

But this level of connections wouldn't be enough in the provincial capital.

As the first graduating class after the resumption of the college entrance examination, they were under the watchful eyes of countless employers. Some companies had already made reservations when the new students enrolled, and they could only poach them after graduation.

If they are assigned to a normal administrative unit or a large factory, that would be fine. But if they are assigned to a place with harsh conditions, I wonder if they can endure the hardship?

Seeing the worried expressions on Xia Yuping and the other woman's faces, Tang Li and the others remained silent.

They didn't really care. Before Chen Fan went to Lujiawan, they were just ordinary members of the production team, and they were still underage. They still had to work in the fields, following the adults to plant rice seedlings, harvest, and carry loads... What kind of hardship hadn't they endured?
So they remained quite calm. Moreover, Tang Li had previously heard Chen Fan and Jiang Lili mention that the first few graduating classes after the resumption of the college entrance examination would definitely be snapped up by various important organizations. These organizations wouldn't use them as laborers, but rather cultivate them into key personnel.

That way, I won't be sent to some remote corner to suffer.

There's absolutely no need to worry.

As for seeing Xia Yuping and the other woman looking worried, she didn't explain... Who told them to trick her into eating stir-fried pork today? Anyway, there were no serious consequences, so she just let them scare her.

……

Chen Fan came out of the auditorium carrying his bag, preparing to drive home for dinner. After dinner, he would have to rush back to Yunhu.

Two days have already passed; it's time to start filming.

Before he had gone far, a school janitor jogged over and said to him, "Professor Chen, Professor Xu requests your presence."

Chen Fan looked at him and said, "I'll go right now."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you know what it is?"

My graduation thesis defense is over, and I met with my professor yesterday afternoon. I've said everything I needed to say, so what else could there be?

The school janitor shook his head. "Professor Xu didn't mention that."

He hesitated for a moment before speaking again, "However, I noticed three strangers in Professor Xu's office who look like high-ranking officials."

Senior official?

The definition of a high-ranking official is strictly defined in administrative ranking systems.

As early as 46, the higher authorities clearly stated that cadres at the division level or above in the military and at the prefectural committee level or above in local areas could be regarded as "high-ranking cadres".

During the 1955 salary reform, this standard was used to set administrative level 13 as the benchmark for senior cadres.

There is a dividing line between level 13 and level 14.

For example, when hospitalized, Level 13 students can be arranged in a single room, while Level 14 students can only enter a regular ward. When traveling by train for business, Level 13 students are eligible for soft sleeper berths, while Level 14 students can only buy hard sleeper berths.

In terms of housing allocation, Class 13 students are generally entitled to three bedrooms and one living room, while Class 14 students are usually entitled to two bedrooms and one living room.

Later, in 70, the military considered that many veteran comrades were not of high rank but should enjoy the treatment they deserved based on their seniority and contributions. So, without issuing any documents or making any public announcement, they quietly included administrative level 14 comrades in the ranks of "high-ranking cadres".

This refers to the saying circulating in the military back then: "A level 14 officer receives level 13 treatment."

In addition, it is stipulated that as long as either the position or the rank matches, the person can enjoy the corresponding benefits.

However, at the local level, the original regulations were still followed. It wasn't until 80, when a notice was issued from higher authorities, explicitly including Level 14 in the senior cadre ranks, that a unified system was finally achieved.

However, the notice had not been issued yet, so if the school staff said it looked like a high-ranking official, then it should be at least a level 13 cadre.

That said, Vice Chairman Chen is currently at level 13, with a monthly salary of 159 yuan. With allowances and subsidies, it easily exceeds 200 yuan.

Vice Chairman Chen was not intimidated at all when facing high-ranking officials.

He went to Professor Xu's office with questions in his mind.

To his surprise, only Professor Xu was in the office at the time; the three senior officials that the school worker had mentioned were not there.

With no outsiders around, Chen Fan dropped the pretense, his body instantly slumping. He pulled out a chair and sat opposite Professor Xu, laughing, "I was just about to go back for dinner, and then head back to Yunhu to film a movie, when the school janitor came looking for me. What, you're reluctant to see me go after graduation?"

Professor Xu grabbed a form with an annoyance and threw it in front of him. "So you can relax now that you've graduated? This form is already filled out for you. Just sign it."

Chen Fan took a look at it, then looked up, his face full of surprise, and asked, "Doctoral student enrollment registration form? So fast?"

"Fast what?"

Professor Xu picked up his teacup, took a sip of water, and said without looking up, "This is a joint decision between me and the school leaders. Didn't you agree before that I would continue my doctoral studies with you?"

I've already arranged for someone to take care of all the other formalities. Once you fill out this form, you can enroll in September with this year's graduate students.

Chen Fan's eye twitched slightly as he picked up the pen and signed his name.

But in my heart I was thinking, is this because they're afraid I'll run away or what?
After Chen Fan signed the form, Professor Xu put it in the drawer and took out a piece of paper covered with writing for him. "Although you will not be enrolled until September, don't be idle during this time. Read this book list and write a reflection for me when you enroll in September."

Holding the book list, Chen Fan suddenly felt like he was back two years ago.

Then I looked at the book list.

Okay, I've read most of them, which saves me the trouble of reading books. It's true that reading more books regularly has its benefits.

But when have I ever been free?
Seeing that Chen Fan had put away the book list, Professor Xu lit a cigarette and looked at him, saying, "The leaders from the provincial organization department just came to see you, intending to transfer you to another unit. You know about this, right?"

Chen Fan looked up, blinked, and thought to himself, "As expected, they are from the organization."

He then said, "I only found out last night from Chairman He that I was to be transferred to the Tourism Administration. But no one had told me about this before."

Professor Xu glanced at him and said irritably, "It's your honor if the organization needs you. What, are you planning to negotiate?"

Chen Fan shrank back and fell silent.

At any time, "the organization needs it" is the highest order, and as long as you are still within the system, you must obey. ... Conditions can be negotiated, but the outcome cannot be changed.

Chen Fan was still wondering what Yang Kangnian had said to them and how he had decided to transfer him there.
He still believes that Yang Kangnian must have wanted him to take charge of Yunhu Tourism Company, which led to all these events.

Then Professor Xu said, "It was Yang Kangnian, the commissioner of your Yunhu Administrative Office, who suggested that you be transferred to the tourism company. However, this decision was made after the province reported to the higher authorities and the higher-ups gave their approval."

Professor Xu glanced at the dumbfounded Chen Fan and a smile appeared on his face. "The old political commissar said that since you want to develop the film and television city project, you should also be given the local tourism business. Let's see what you can come up with."

Only after receiving this statement did the leaders of the Organization Department initiate the process.

Everything else is almost done; all that's left is a face-to-face meeting with you. They're in the next conference room; why don't you go over and talk to them?

Seeing that Chen Fan was still standing there speechless, Professor Xu frowned slightly, "You don't mean you don't want to go, do you?"

Chen Fan, “…, I’ll go.”

(End of this chapter)