Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1002 High-Level Reception in Guangzhou in the Late 1970s (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets: 3K Chapters)

After Director Liao finished speaking, the twenty-odd people present gradually stood up from their seats.

Shen Huaimin looked outside and saw a military band and several people in military uniforms waiting outside the tarmac.

It was clearly people from the city and military region who came to pick them up at the airport.

He looked at Fang Yan and the group of veteran cadres around him with some surprise.

"I'm leaving now!" Fang Yan said to Shen Huaimin as she took her luggage off the luggage rack.

Shen Huaimin nodded, somewhat bewildered.

Then, Fang Yan followed a group of old men out of the airplane cabin.

As soon as I stepped out of the cabin, the unique humid heat of Guangzhou rushed in, carrying with it a rich fragrance of subtropical plants.

Fang Yan looked up and saw several cadres standing guard on the tarmac. The one in the lead was an elderly man with a square face. He was of medium build and rather thin, with a straight back and a firm and bright gaze.

Several men in military uniforms stood beside him, their eyes filled with respect and expectation as they stared intently at the hatch.

Not far away, soldiers stood in neat rows, their postures upright, forming a solemn honor guard. Under the blazing sun, the bayonets on their rifles gleamed coldly.

What are the specifications?
As Director Liao and his entourage slowly descended the gangway, the sound of their shoes striking the metal steps echoed across the empty tarmac.

Suddenly, a dialect was heard in the distance:

"preparation!"

"play music!"

Then, the military band played a stirring welcoming tune, with drumbeats and bugle calls creating a powerful and majestic atmosphere.

Old Yang, who was leading the group, strode over and shook hands with Director Liao, who was at the front of the group. He shook the hand vigorously and said warmly, "Old Liao, you must be tired from your journey! I've been looking forward to seeing you!"

Director Liao responded with a smile: "Old Yang, we meet again. Guangzhou is changing so much, it looks different every year!"

Then other retired cadres went up one by one to shake hands with Comrade Yang.

As everyone exchanged pleasantries, Fang Yan's gaze was drawn to the surrounding scenery.

The climate in the south is indeed warmer and more humid than in the north.

The scenery in early summer is also more vibrant and colorful than in the north.

Under the azure sky, tall kapok trees stand tall, their branches covered in red flowers that resemble burning flames, passionate and unrestrained.

Bougainvillea blooms freely in the green spaces surrounding the airport, with clusters of red and purple flowers adorning the land with vibrant colors.

After Fang Yan got down to the ground, he saw Director Liao waving to him.

After Fang Yan walked past, Director Liao introduced him to Old Yang:
"This is the dialect I mentioned before; it has helped me accomplish quite a few things."

Old Yang laughed and said:

"Haha, I know! He's your top lieutenant!"

Fang Yan quickly greeted Comrade Lao Yang:

"Hello, Chief!"

"Good, good, good! Such a young age and such superb medical skills! His future is limitless!" Comrade Yang looked Fang Yan up and down and nodded. Putting everything else aside, his appearance alone was pleasing to the eye.

It makes a good impression at first glance.

"You flatter me, sir!" Fang Yan replied with a smile.

Old Yang smiled, glanced at his watch, and said:

"Alright, it's getting late, there are still people waiting to get off the plane!"

After saying that, he called out to the people behind him:

"Drive the car over here."

Soon, several Hongqi cars drove up.

The old men got on the bus first.

Fang Yan got on the last bus.

The motorcade then slowly started moving towards the guesthouse and drove out of the airport.

The convoy was led by a jeep with police license plates, its roof lights flashing but no sirens blaring.

Fang Yan sat in the black Hongqi sedan, looking out the window at Guangzhou in 1978.

Leaving the airport, you'll reach the suburban section of Baiyun Airport leading to the city center, also known as Airport Road.

The first thing that catches the eye is a vast expanse of lush green farmland and fishponds.

Water buffaloes slowly plowed the paddy fields, farmers wearing straw hats bent over planting late rice, bamboo "scoops" were placed on the edge of the fields, and occasionally barefoot children chased and played.

Tall eucalyptus and casuarina trees line both sides of the road, their branches rustling in the wind. Occasionally, you can see a postman riding a heavy bicycle, with empty green parcels on the back, the bicycle bell ringing crisply and pleasantly.

It's a little past eleven o'clock now, and I'm riding my bike back to work after I've finished my work.

As the convoy entered the city, its speed slowed down. Fang Yan recalled that they should have entered Jiefang North Road, where the arcade buildings gradually became denser.

Arcades are the most distinctive streetscape in Guangzhou. The upper floors extend to the street boundary line, forming ground-floor corridors that provide shade and shelter from the rain while also being aesthetically pleasing.

Sunlight shines through the clouds onto the arcade buildings, creating a play of light and shadow.

The banyan trees lining both sides of the street are lush and leafy, with aerial roots hanging down to the ground, resembling natural sunshades.

Fang Yan noted that the ground floor of the arcade buildings was mostly occupied by shops.

In the tailor shop window, blue work clothes samples hung, and the tailor's feet operated the sewing machine, the "clack-clack" sound rising and falling; at the entrance of the grocery store, large jars of fermented bean curd and pickled vegetables were displayed, and the shop assistant was wrapping the candy bought by customers in straw paper.

Of course, there are also the local specialty herbal tea shops.

A large copper kettle steamed over a charcoal stove, and enamel labels for "Ban Sha Tea" and "Xia Ku Cao" were displayed on the counter.

Outside the barbershop, an old-fashioned rotating lamp slowly turned, and several elderly men sat inside, enjoying the barber's service with their eyes closed. Along the street, workers in blue overalls could be seen hurrying past on bicycles. On roadside bulletin boards, slogans such as "Go all out, strive for excellence, and build socialism faster, better, and more economically" were posted, accompanied by the latest industrial production data charts showcasing Guangzhou's booming industrial development.

Occasionally, we would pass under a stone arch bridge, where a few small wooden boats floated in the river below. From the stoves at the stern of the boats, the aroma of porridge mixed with the fishy smell of the river water would waft over.

When passing by Yuexiu Mountain, you can see the outline of the Five Rams Statue appearing and disappearing among the green trees. It is the symbol of Guangzhou and caused a sensation when it was built in 1960.

The convoy slowly stopped at No. 603 Jiefang North Road. On either side of the blue brick gate of the guesthouse, two guards in grass-green military uniforms stood upright.

Director Liao and his group got out of the car, and Fang Yan followed suit.

He followed at the back of the group, carrying his luggage and looking around.

At this moment, a waiter came over, took Fang Yan's package, and handed him a key.

This is his room key; packages will be delivered directly to his room.

They went straight to the banquet hall for a welcome dinner.

As we entered the gate with the group, we were greeted by the rich fragrance of lychee blossoms. Looking up, we saw that the lychee trees in the courtyard were in full bloom, with clusters of small white flowers on the branches, and bees buzzing around.

Passing through the winding corridor, you can see the eaves and brackets of the main building, with red lanterns hanging under the eaves and red banners that read "Warmly Welcome" pasted on the pillars.

Inside the courtyard, artificial hills and strange rocks stand tall, surrounded by babbling streams, and schools of fish swim freely in the clear pond.

Aside from being a bit hot, it's a vibrant scene of southern life.

Stepping into the restaurant, the Lingnan-style decor is a refreshing sight.

A large Lingnan landscape painting hangs on the wall, its brushstrokes revealing the beauty of the mountains and rivers. Upon closer inspection, Fang Yan discovered that the artist was Guan Shanyue.

This man is from Yangjiang, Guangdong Province. He is a contemporary master of traditional Chinese painting, calligrapher, art educator, and an important representative of the Lingnan School of painting.

In my past life, I knew Xu Jinjiang before I knew this big shot.

I never expected to see his paintings here.

He seems to still be the director of the Guangdong Academy of Painting at this time.

Looking around, the rosewood tables and chairs are neatly arranged, their surfaces wiped spotless, reflecting a soft light.

On the dining table, dishes with distinctive Cantonese characteristics have been carefully arranged.

These are all appetizers, meant to whet the appetite.

Cantonese cuisine is particularly particular about this aspect. Appetizers and cold dishes are usually refreshing and savory, serving to whet the appetite, and today is no exception.

Fang Yan glanced at the menu and saw a platter of roasted meats, small dishes of braised meats, cold seasonal vegetables, and pickled products.

These are all dishes that require meticulous knife skills.

After everyone was seated, the drinks were served.

However, this time neither Old Yang nor Director Liao asked for alcohol. Both of them had medical orders to refuse alcohol. Only the other old men were not polite and raised their glasses to drink.

Then the dishes started to be served.

Unlike other places, soup was served next.

Cantonese cuisine is characterized by the saying "no feast is complete without soup." Soup is prepared in advance, symbolizing "reunion," and it also soothes the throat and whets the appetite, setting the stage for subsequent dishes.

The soup is a soup made with night-blooming cereus and lean pork.

This "dragon fruit flower" is actually the flower of the dragon fruit. It is slightly cold in nature and sweet in taste. It is rich in plant protein, dietary fiber and various minerals, and can clear heat, moisten the lungs, regulate qi and resolve phlegm.

It contains lean meat, candied dates, figs, as well as apricot kernels (both sweet and bitter), and ginger slices.

The soup is light brown, clear and bright, with the natural fragrance of night-blooming cereus and the sweetness of jujubes, and the lean meat is tender and not dry.

This soup is especially suitable for drinking in summer and autumn. It can relieve symptoms such as dryness, cough, and dry throat. It is also a common choice for "cooling down" in this area.

Since she didn't have to accompany the leaders this time, Fang Yan could focus on eating her food.

After the soup, it was time for the hot dishes: steamed fish, poached chicken, stir-fried bok choy, and chicken stew in a clay pot...

Honestly, the quality is quite high; I wonder which expert made it.

Then came staple foods, desserts, fruits, and all sorts of other things.

……

After the meal, Director Liao and several veteran cadres were going to visit the military region. Before leaving, they didn't forget to give Fang Yan a gift, so they asked Secretary Zhou to bring over two cans of Xinyang Maojian tea from Henan.

This is one of the most famous green teas in northern China and is one of the top ten famous teas in China.

The can still has a seal on it, which reads "Special Supply to the Central Government".

In addition, Secretary Zhou also brought Fang Yan a set of light shirts and shorts.

The creases clearly indicate that it's new.

After expressing his gratitude, Fang Yan went back to his room to change his clothes before leaving.

Just like in Shanghai, there are cars available for them to use for transportation here.

When I left, Director Liao was downstairs. He didn't forget to remind Fang Yan about dinner at six o'clock in the evening.

Fang Yan replied, "Okay!"

This led many cadres around who were unaware of the situation to believe that Fang Yan was a nephew or niece brought by Director Liao.

Fang Yan then got into the car and asked the driver, who said that it was only a little over four kilometers from here to the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and would only take about ten minutes.

Then, the car started and drove out of the guesthouse.

PS: I've gained another 500 monthly votes, so I owe you all another 10000 words.

After finishing this chapter, I currently owe everyone 87000 words.

There will be more this afternoon.

(End of this chapter)