Mixed in 1980

Chapter 144: A Bigger Trouble

Chen Fan’s plan is to fabricate reports of the incident!
The incident itself was fictitious, but Li Hongying felt that it was not enough, so she made it into a "real" incident, made the person "disappear", and then asked the family members to report the case to the police station.

Those who disappeared were employees of other industries of the Li family. They were arranged to go on vacation abroad. Their families had only one task: to go to the police station and make a scene to find out the truth of the matter.

Reporters also appeared at the same time!
The power of the Li family is far greater than Chen Fan imagined. Li Hongying has arranged several similar events, and there will be more to come.

Doing this would cause a big trouble in the mainland, but in Hong Kong in the 80s, it was not a big deal and the Li family could settle it with just one phone call.

"According to the investigation by the people we sent out, a certain panic has already been caused."

"We published articles in magazines like Dragon Tiger Leopard, and discussions were particularly heated among young groups, especially students."

Young people love dragons, tigers and leopards!
There's nothing wrong with that. Gossip magazines were part of the plan when it was first made.

Li Hongying took a report from the middle-aged woman and read it carefully. "The current situation is within expectations. The TV station will also follow up with the report. We need to start guiding public opinion and enter the discussion in the virtual world."

The middle-aged woman responded, "Mr. Li, don't worry, the relevant copywriting has been prepared and will be released in two days as planned."

Li Hongying closed the report and said, "The company has spent so much money on this project, and there must not be any accidents. This is also an assessment of you."

……

In Beijing, Chen Fan had already returned to Maoer Hutong. Guan Yuemei came out to help move the luggage and took the things to the backyard: "Don't unpack the luggage. Move directly to the new yard tomorrow."

Chen Fan was stunned for a moment: "Mom, is it so urgent?"

Guan Yuemei was so angry that she slapped Chen Fan twice: "They say that wealth should not be shown off, but you wrote that crap article. Now everyone in the yard is asking how many paintings you bought."

"I've been afraid to go out these days, for fear that my paintings will be stolen. I even have to ask your sister to go shopping for me."

Hearing this, Chen Fan was disappointed.

I can only blame myself for this: "Then we'll move tomorrow. There's no need to hold a housewarming party. I can just invite Qiu'er and her family to help and have a meal together."

Guan Yuemei hummed, "It's better to keep it simple. We'll start the fire in the new yard tomorrow. There's one more thing. What should we do with the four rooms here? Sell them or rent them out?"

"Qiu'er's family's housing conditions are not good either. Ten people are squeezed into three rooms. I'll ask them if anyone wants to move in."

"Let's do it. There's no reason for such a good house to be given to outsiders. I'll leave the house matters to you." Guan Yuemei agreed.

We have no shortage of houses now. The new courtyard has three entrances and a cross-courtyard, covering a total of 2400 square meters. There are also five houses in the small courtyard outside Xinjiekou.

"Then I'll go to Qiu'er's house first and tell them about the move."

The three girls had to stay here for one night, so Chen Fan didn't call Xu Jinqiu and rode his bike to his mother-in-law's house alone. It only took a few minutes.

In the backyard, Xu Changqing, Zeng Hongwen and Zhao Dali were playing chess in the yard.

These three are all old chess fans.

When I'm idle at home and have no other entertainment activities, I like to play a few games of chess. Chess is the most popular game these days and any child can play a few good games of chess.

Chen Fan walked in, put on his bicycle, took out a cigarette, and handed it to the three of them: "Uncle Xu, Uncle Zeng, Uncle Zhao, I'm having fun."

"Xiao Fan, you're here. Move a stool and sit down. Play a round of chess with your father-in-law?" Zeng Hongwen took the cigarette and lit it.

Chen Fan brought a stool over and said, "Uncle Zeng, please don't. You don't know that I am a terrible chess player. Even if you win against me, you won't feel any sense of accomplishment."

Xu Changqing smiled and lit up his cigarette: "Qiu'er didn't come back with you?"

"The three of them were sorting things in Maoer Hutong, and that's why I came here."

Chen Fan also lit up his own cigarette: "The new yard over there has been renovated, and my mother plans to move in tomorrow. Please go over there to help, and go to the new yard to light a fire."

"So anxious?" Xu Changqing was surprised.

After the two children got engaged, they often visited each other. Sometimes Li Xiuzhen brought her children to visit, and sometimes Guan Yuemei brought her children to visit.

When I came here before, I talked a lot about the new yard, but moving is not scheduled for tomorrow.

Chen Fan said bitterly with a bitter smile, "It's all because of that report. Now when people in the yard meet my family, they ask me how many paintings I bought."

Xu Changqing rolled his eyes at his son-in-law and said, "It's the same here. Now none of our three families dare to go out. We have to leave an adult at home."

"..." Chen Fan smiled awkwardly.

This incident was indeed a miscalculation, but Chen Fan only regretted it, especially since exposing the prices of antiques and leaving many antiques in the hands of ordinary people was a good thing after all.

But the problem still needs to be solved. Chen Fan looked at the main house and the wing on the left and said, "Can you buy those two rooms? In this way, there will only be three of you in the backyard. You can install an iron gate so that no one else can get in."

There are four households living in this backyard.

The other family’s surname is Zheng. They are workers in the factory. They have an average relationship with the Xu, Zeng, and Zhao families. They are just ordinary neighbors.

Xu Changqing rolled his eyes at his son-in-law and said, "What good things are you thinking? We are all short of houses now. No one is willing to sell their house unless they are going abroad or transferred to another place for work." Chen Fan said, "Uncle, we can change. There are four empty rooms in my house. Let's talk to Uncle Zheng. If it doesn't work, we can pay some money."

"My eldest and second brothers are both in a tight spot in housing. If we swap those two rooms, the housing problem at home will be solved."

"This...this won't do. How can I take your house?" Xu Changqing shook his head hurriedly. This son-in-law was really generous, but he was embarrassed to ask for it.

"Uncle, what you said is too polite. How about this, you let me pick a painting and take it away. If the price goes up later, don't come to me." Chen Fan joked.

"Then I'll get you a painting by Qi Baishi."

"Just consider it as Qiu'er's dowry." Chen Fan agreed with a smile. Anyway, his father-in-law already had several paintings, so it didn't matter.

After saying hello to his mother-in-law, Chen Fan rode his bike back to Maoer Hutong and packed his luggage as he would move out early the next morning.

When Li Hongbing was about to move out, he was quite reluctant and sat in the yard late at night, hesitating for most of the day. However, Chen Fan did not have such thoughts as he had had enough of living in the slum.

"Chen Fan, how do we do this?"

Xu Jinqiu pulled out a basket from under the bed, which was filled with bottles and jars left behind by Li Hongbing.

Chen Fan had thought of finding someone to appraise them before, but he soon gave up the idea. He thought it would be better to just leave these things there. He would not sell them anyway, so they had no impact on his life.

"You organize the clothes, and leave these to me."

Chen Fan found some old clothes, packed the bottles and jars one by one, and put them into the box, filling the corners with old clothes.

Early the next morning, the whole family got busy.

Many people from the Xu, Zeng, and Zhao families came, alarming everyone in the yard. They all came up to ask, "Yuemei, are you moving?"

"Yuemei, I haven't heard of you before. Why are you living here so well? Why are you moving out all of a sudden?"

"Yuemei, where are you moving to?"

Since they were all moving away, there was nothing to hide, so Guan Yuemei said directly: "We will move to Yu'er Hutong next door. When you are free in the future, you are welcome to visit our home."

"Yuer Hutong, the yard that Lao Chen went to renovate?"

"Yuemei, you've kept this a secret really well. Good fellow, you'll have such a big yard to enjoy in the future. Come back more often when you have time."

Guan Yuemei unconsciously raised the corners of her mouth in response to the envy of her neighbors, and kept responding, suggesting that everyone come visit more often when they are free.

As for what he was thinking, no one knew.

Anyway, she was tired of living in this slum. There were too many intrigues, especially when her son just returned to the city. Since he couldn't find a job, the Chen family became a stepping stone in the yard and were ridiculed a lot.

Once your family becomes rich, another group of people will come to take advantage of you.

Guan Yuemei still feels angry when she thinks back on it. She lent out two or three hundred yuan, but after such a long time, no one paid her back.

My son is right. Nowadays, anyone who comes to borrow money is a grandson. When you come to collect the debt, you will become the grandson, and the one who owes money will become the uncle.

Whenever they were asked to pay back the money, they would change their faces. Those with some dignity would say that their families were in financial difficulties, while those without any dignity would say that your family is so rich, why are you still thinking about my money? When you have money, you will naturally pay it back.

Thinking of these bad things, Guan Yuemei was too lazy to say anything more. She looked at her watch, picked up the basket and said, "Everyone, please get busy. I have to go out to buy vegetables because I have to cook for lunch."

"Brother-in-law, move these out first."

The first things Chen Fan moved were the antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and old furniture in his home. The antiques and calligraphy and paintings were all packed in boxes, so outsiders could not see them.

When they arrived at the new yard, they moved these things directly to the main house across the courtyard. Chen Fan opened the secret door and moved all the things to the basement.

This basement was built during the renovation. It is not small in size, more than 50 square meters and more than two meters high, which is enough to store some precious items.

After piling up the things, Chen Fan came out of the basement without having time to sort them out, and went back to Maoer Hutong with Zhang Yunze. There were still a lot of things to move.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I returned to the yard, Zhang Jianjun ran over and said, "Chen Fan, don't be in a hurry. Have a cigarette and take a breath first."

As he said that, he handed over the cigarette and helped to light it.

Chen Fan took a breath and slowly exhaled the smoke: "Thanks, Jianjun."

Zhang Jianjun smiled and said, "Why are you being so polite? I have a question for you. If you move to Yuer Hutong, what will you do with the house here?"

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes slightly: "Do you have any ideas?"

Zhang Jianjun nodded: "How can I not have an idea? Before Brother Bingzi moved out, I wanted to buy it. Do you sell your house? The price will definitely not let you suffer a loss."

Chen Fan raised his lips slightly. Buying a house? What good things are you thinking? Even if the house is empty, it is impossible to sell it to Zhang Jianjun.

But this matter can make him laugh: "Jianjun, it's not that I don't want to sell, but I can't sell it recently. I have news from above that our Nanluoguxiang old street is going to be renovated and upgraded. After the renovation is completed, the price of the house will at least double."

PS: The second update is here~
(End of this chapter)