Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 608 The Butterfly Comes Naturally
An Quan asked curiously, "What is a white-collar worker?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "White-collar is a term from Western countries. I heard it from my uncle and his family. It refers to non-manual laborers with higher incomes. These people wear white shirts and earn more than ordinary workers, so they are called white-collar workers. They are one of the main forces that make up the Western middle class. The opposite is blue-collar, which is the working class."

Western countries had already made distinctions between white-collar and blue-collar workers in the 20s, but these distinctions were not introduced to China until the 80s. However, they were not widely accepted by society until the late 90s.

Because my country does not classify social classes by occupation, but rather by whether or not one controls the means of production.

In the eyes of capitalists, white-collar and blue-collar workers are all just employees, with no essential difference between them.

Hearing Chen Fan's words, An Quan was surprised again, "You have an uncle?"

Chen Fan smiled slightly, took a puff of his cigarette, and simply hummed in agreement without offering any further explanation.

Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, Anquan stopped asking and instead started talking about the projects he did at school. "The first thing I did was work-study programs and side hustles. After I had some income, I joined the student union and proposed expanding the school magazine. It just so happened that many students had a need to publish their literature, so I naturally got everyone's support."

Although there used to be a school magazine, it was mostly for publicity. After that, the school magazine did a complete 180-degree turn, went through a period of chaos, and even stopped publishing for a while.

Furthermore, even if the school magazine hadn't stopped, it still couldn't meet the needs of all students.

Hey, you're in college now. Does your school have a literature wall?

Yes, that's true. Our school has it too. Actually, many universities are similar. Usually, they spontaneously find a wall near the cafeteria or dormitory entrance, post their own articles for other students to read, and then observe the students' reactions. It's quite interesting.

When I relaunched the school magazine, I adopted this approach, setting up a dedicated "Literary World" section for student submissions, and another "Public Comments" section where I would randomly select a few reader letters…

Chen Fan listened and nodded slightly. He had also noticed that today's college students were very different from those born after the 90s. They were not only more enthusiastic, but also more concerned about social issues. Whether it was discussing current affairs or expressing their feelings, they were not shy at all.

If you're really embarrassed, then don't sign your name. Anyway, if you write a few pages and stick them on the wall, not many people will know who wrote them.

In another ten or so years, these literary walls will become notice boards, mostly filled with announcements and advertisements posted by schools, student unions, or businesses, and no one will post their own articles on them anymore.

After the internet became widespread, this thing disappeared, and instead, it returned in another form online.

Anquan didn't notice that Chen Fan was distracted and was still talking to himself, "After publishing the school magazine, I also organized inter-school social events, which included learning exchanges, course sharing, and of course, student gatherings and work-study programs."

If all goes well, our work-study group will expand to other schools when the new school year starts. My goal is to unite all the universities in Shanghai to form a super-large work-study platform. At that time, the work-study group will be able to expand dozens of times, and my own income will also increase accordingly.

He smiled at Chen Fan and said, "If you can achieve that, will you still be a white-collar worker?"

Chen Fan chuckled, "It's more upscale than a white-collar worker; the collar is trimmed with gold, so it could be called a gold collar."

Anquan nodded, feigning arrogance, "Hmm, add some gold, it'll be befit my status."

The two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Anquan, with his legs crossed, said smugly, "Hey, white-collar workers can't compare to you, but being a gold-collar worker shouldn't be any worse than you, right?"

Chen Fan calmly tossed away his cigarette butt, lit another one, and said with his head down, "In April, a small book publisher read my book and decided to pursue it for small book publishing, giving me a one-time royalty of $120,000."

Anquan was stunned for a moment, and after a long while, he muttered, "What a disgrace!"

That's over ten thousand! How long will it take him to earn that much?!
Chen Fan tilted his head and looked at him, chuckling, "Back then, we hadn't even counted 'Cloud Lake Romance' and 'Shanghai Spy Shadow.' If nothing unexpected happens, those two books will be published together, and we can collect another forty or fifty thousand US dollars."

Anquan gasped, then collapsed onto the sofa, too scared to say a word.

Chen Fan threw his head back and laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Let's see if you can still brag!

As they chatted, the conversation turned to the educated youth who had been sent to work in the Nanhu Commune.

He threw away the cigarette butt, lit another one safely, turned to look at Chen Fan, and said in a low voice, "Sigh, do you still remember Ding Qian?"

Chen Fan thought for a moment, "The one in the Hongxing Production Team?"

He looked at her and said, "I remember she had a family. If it weren't for her husband's support, she probably wouldn't have been able to go to school so easily."

Anquan nodded gently, a smile appearing on her face, and said with emotion, "She is also a grateful person; her husband's support for her was not in vain."

Chen Fan raised an eyebrow slightly. "She brought her husband out?"

Anquan glanced at him and said, "You were just saying how nice you are. What do you mean by 'bringing someone out'? That's just the wife following the husband's lead."

Chen Fan nodded mindlessly, "Mmm, mmm, the wife follows the husband. Tell me quickly."

An eye flashed with emotion as he said softly, “Ding Qian is studying at Tongji University. She doesn’t have a job and therefore no salary. At first, she was on her own and could manage with her savings. But when her husband came over, the couple rented a small apartment and started to struggle financially.”

Just then, my work-study program started, so I helped them set up a small stall outside Tongji University.

Her husband was thick-skinned and didn't care about being pointed at or gossiped about, so he was in charge of setting up the stall and selling goods. Ding Qian didn't care what her classmates said about her behind her back either; every day after school, she would go and help her husband set up the stall.

At this point, Anquan flicked off his cigarette ash and a smile appeared on his face. "After getting through the initial period, their stall business has stabilized, and they can earn 2 or 30 yuan a day, which is much better than being a factory worker."

At this rate, they might save enough money to buy a house before Ding Qian even graduates from university. With a house, they can transfer their household registration and settle down in Shanghai. They can then bring their children from their hometown over, making them new Shanghainese.

Chen Fan nodded repeatedly as he listened, "That's great. Setting up a small stall is a way to be self-reliant. It's not stealing or robbing, and it's not shameful. As long as you can earn money to support your family, that's commendable."

Anquan nodded, then shook his head slightly, and suddenly sighed, "That's right. But those who can understand this and aren't afraid of losing face are, after all, only a minority."

He turned to look at Chen Fan, "Back then, Secretary Yang held a banquet at the brigade headquarters for everyone who got into university. We educated youth ate in a separate room, and many of us were worried about our families."

He suddenly cursed, "Damn it, back then I really thought they were genuinely worried about their families, and I even went to you to offer advice and suggestions."

You're right. As long as you have the will, you can live together even if you just set up a tea stall outside the school gate.

But some people, because they can't bring themselves to do it, stubbornly look down on this kind of work. They'd rather eat cornbread and porridge every day than let their husbands or wives set up stalls to earn money. As a result, they can't last more than a few days before sending their spouses back home. Some don't even mention bringing their spouses over. It's infuriating!

Chen Fan remained unfazed, glanced at him, and chuckled, "Hmph, whether you look down on the street vendor job or your former husband and wife, that's hard to say."

Anquan was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Chen Fan.

After a long while, he finally said, "Isn't that Chen Shimei?"

Chen Fan chuckled, but there was little amusement in his eyes. "From ancient times to the present, when has there ever been a lack of Chen Shimei and Pan Jinlian?" (Note: Don't mention official history, as both of them were wrongly accused by rumors. This refers to drama.)
Anquan stared at him blankly for a long while before letting out a long breath and gently shaking his head. "He's not someone I should associate with."

Chen Fan pursed his lips and said softly, "That's not necessarily true. Some people are useful and can be befriended, while others are befriended but not useful. Naturally, there are also those who are useful but not befriended."

You're a seasoned veteran, having spent 10 years in Nanhu Commune, including several years working in the Finance Department, and you've also accomplished some significant things at the school this year. You should understand this principle.

Anquan took a drag of his cigarette and sighed, "Back then, I really treated them as friends, but I never expected them to be like this. If I had known, I wouldn't have helped them."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "That's why we can't let them off the hook. We can't let them get away with this favor for nothing. We have to make them pay back the favor."

An Quan pursed his lips and thought for a moment, then smiled slightly. "I understand the logic. Building connections—I don't need them now, but I might in the future. Falling out with them won't do me any good." He then turned to Chen Fan, "And you? How many connections have you made at school?"

Chen Fan scoffed, leaning back in a boss-like pose. "Me, making connections? Are you kidding me?"

Before Anquan could speak, he arrogantly declared, "Do I need to build connections? Right now, others are trying to befriend me. Even decades from now, which of the 23 college graduates from Lujiawan would dare not give me some face? With them around, why would I need to make connections with others?"

Anquan looked at him speechlessly for a long while before shaking his head and laughing, "That's right, as long as you're still in Lujiawan, who in Lujiawan, young and old, would dare to forget you?"

At this point, a sudden thought flashed through his mind, and he turned to look at him, "You've been lingering in Lujiawan, is it because of this?"

After all, people forget what they have once been together. If Chen Fan moves to another place, it's hard to say how many people will remember his contributions after a long time.

Chen Fan then declared righteously, "Slander! You're slandering me! I stayed in Lujiawan solely because it's a beautiful place with clear waters and lush mountains, and the villagers are good-looking and have pleasant voices. I really like it there."

Anquan narrowed his eyes slightly, then nodded in realization, "I understand, I get it!"

Then he cursed inwardly, "No wonder he's Teacher Chen, he's so cunning."

Although 23 have left, there's still a new Lujiawan Primary School to follow. As long as Chen Fan stays in Lujiawan, with his guidance and support, generations of people from Lujiawan will surely go on to university.

As long as these people can get through the initial learning phase, the harvest season will come after they achieve something.

As the saying goes, "It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person," and Teacher Chen is planting trees.

Yes, I need to learn this. Although we can't plant trees, we can be fertilizer workers. When the trees grow up, won't we get a share of the fruit on them?
I feel like I've figured out what safety is all about.

Chen Fan had no idea that he had such a rich inner world. The reason he stayed in Lujiawan was simply because it was quiet enough.

However, one thing is true: the villagers of Lujiawan don't have that many troublesome issues, and it's indeed comfortable to live there.

Having grown accustomed to the hustle and bustle of later-era metropolises, he now prefers the tranquility of these small towns.

As for developing Lujiawan, it was just a side project, but it was thanks to the hard work of the cadres and members of Lujiawan. Otherwise, he would have already repaid the debt of gratitude for saving his life, and then he would have just hidden away in a small villa in Shanghai or a large courtyard in Beijing, and wouldn't have bothered to care about them anymore.

As for the connections that security talks about, it's like the essential antique collecting in many historical fiction stories. Which protagonist actually gets rich from those things decades later?

Chen Fan's current attitude is, "If I blossom, butterflies will come."

You need to be strong yourself to succeed. No network of connections is as reliable as your own strength. Connections are just about personal relationships. If you have value, even if you've never met someone before, you can make a connection and say hello, and they'll likely give you some face. If you have no value, even if you know Jack Ma and Pony Ma, it won't help. You'll still have to work or farm, and nothing will change.

Anyway, as long as you don't offend people by speaking, once you become powerful, you'll be surrounded by good friends, so why would you need to build any connections?

Of course, Chen Fan didn't correct the safety measures, after all, people are different.

He believes in "power originating from within," capable of strengthening himself behind closed doors. Security, however, lacks this ability and can only rely on cultivating relationships and making friends to become powerful.

This is actually a more suitable path for ordinary people, but the premise is that you have the ability. Otherwise, no matter how much you try to build connections, it will be a waste of money and manpower, and there is no need for it.

Safety gave a few more examples of heartless people, then shook his head and said, "Forget it, it's pointless to talk behind someone's back. It's just a way to vent, but when you see that person in person, you still have to greet them with a smile."

He turned to look at Chen Fan with affection, "Why don't I have your abilities? Otherwise, I wouldn't have to worry about anyone's feelings, and I could do whatever I wanted, living the life of a carefree scholar. That would be so great."

Chen Fan corrected him expressionlessly, "First of all, I'm not arrogant; secondly, I don't do whatever I want; and finally, my skills are innate, you can't learn them."

Anquan clutched his chest, feeling as if he had been stabbed several times. "You're cooking dinner tonight, or I'm not leaving!"

Chen Fan hesitated for two seconds, then got up and walked out.

Anquan quickly shouted, "Where are you going?"

Chen Fan turned to look at him, "Go buy groceries, hurry up and make dinner so I can send you away!"

Anquan looked completely speechless. Should I laugh or get angry at this moment?

When Chen Fan drove to the market, bought groceries, and returned, Jiang Tiantian had already arrived home.

She wasn't familiar with the couple, so she just smiled and greeted them before going to the kitchen to help.

Jiang Lili also wanted to go over, but someone had to accompany the guests, so she sat and chatted with Yu Keying. Since no one was taking care of her safety, she simply took a cigarette and went to the kitchen, standing at the door watching Chen Fan and the other person busy at work.

After a while, he frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Looking at the two working together seamlessly in the kitchen, and then at Jiang Lili chatting with her wife in the living room, his gaze grew increasingly strange.

Jiang Tiantian washed and peeled the potatoes, then turned and handed them to Chen Fan. Chen Fan picked up a cleaver and shredded them, glancing at An Quan in between. "If you're bored, there's a gramophone and a radio in the living room. You can go listen to some music and cultivate your taste, so that Sister Ying won't always say you have no taste."

Anquan held a cigarette, flicked the ash into the trash can, and said nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter if you're not romantic, as long as you know how to flirt."

As soon as he finished speaking, he lightly slapped his mouth and apologized to Jiang Tiantian, "Sorry, I can't keep my mouth shut, don't mind me."

It's not that Chen Fan said this, but it's inappropriate to say it in front of a girl. He was just daydreaming and didn't notice for a moment.

Jiang Tiantian smiled and shook her head, "It's okay."

He then buried his head and continued working.

Chen Fan glared at An Quan, who gave a quiet, obedient smile, then coughed and started making conversation, "Uh, um, Xiao Jiang...? Is it okay to call you that?"

Jiang Tiantian looked up, about to speak, when Chen Fan, who was next to her, put the shredded potatoes into a bowl and said, "People at the cotton mill call the older sister 'Big Jiang,' and the younger sister 'Little Jiang.' You can call her that too."

Jiang Tiantian turned to look at Chen Fan, then turned back and nodded with a smile.

"Okay, then let's call him Big Ginger."

Anquan asked, "How's your school's 'Guanghua Literature and Art' magazine doing?"

"Guanghua Literature" is a campus magazine that Jiang Tiantian started at her school after applying for and receiving approval. It is published every two weeks, except during winter and summer vacations. The name "Guanghua" is taken from the phrase "日月光华，旦复旦兮" (the sun and moon shine brightly, day after day), indicating its relationship with Fudan University.

Jiang Tiantian looked up and smiled, "It's alright. It's the last issue in June. We printed 50,000 copies, and they're almost all sold out."

Anquan clicked his tongue and said, "I knew your magazine sold well, but I didn't expect it to be this good. 5 copies. That probably covers all the universities in Shanghai."

It's impossible for everyone to buy a copy of a magazine. Most people pool their money to buy one together, such as people in the same dormitory or even the same class. With a circulation of 5 copies, it might actually cover universities throughout the region.

Jiang Tiantian pursed her lips and smiled, "Pretty much. Besides universities, some high schools also placed orders, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to sell so many."

Anquan was speechless. The school magazine he was in charge of had just sold over 10,000 copies, but the other one had already sold to high schools. The difference was quite significant.

(End of this chapter)