Mixed in 1980

Chapter 4 People's Literature
In the blink of an eye, a week has passed!
Chen Fan got up early, washed up, picked up his Chinese textbook and went out.

When passing by the "Beijing Dance Troupe" in Courtyard No. 45, Chen Fan looked around for a few times, making sure that the long-legged dancers were still getting their beauty sleep, then he slowly ran in the alley.

After running out of the alley and turning a few corners, you will arrive at Beihai Park.

Feeling a slight heat in his body, Chen Fan stopped running. Although this body was young, it was very weak and not suitable for strenuous exercise.

After finding a shady spot under a tree, Chen Fan took out his Chinese textbook and began to read it carefully.

Chen Fan was not worried about the upcoming college entrance examination. He had taken it once in his previous life and had been a high school teacher for several years, so many things were engraved in his mind.

A safe thing!
After more than an hour, the park gradually became lively.

A group of young people came to the open space not far from Chen Fan. They were dressed quite fashionably, with bell-bottom pants, pointed leather shoes, pointed collar shirts, and MacArthur's frog-eye glasses.

They carried a Sanyo tape recorder that was more than one meter long, turned the volume up to the maximum, and danced to the popular swing dance.

“A group of spirited young men!”

Chen Fan shook his head, stretched, and planned to find a quiet place to read.

In the early days of reform and opening up, with the influx of Western culture, the Chinese people, who used to dress in a monotonous way, were immediately attracted by bell-bottom pants, which became a fashionable standard.

This is originally a good thing, but the problem is that many young people who follow fashion are currently unemployed. These people are idle and fighting is a common occurrence.

Gradually, people get the impression that "people who wear bell-bottom pants are not necessarily bad people, but bad people specifically wear bell-bottom pants."

Just like the saying: Girls with tattoos are not necessarily bad girls, but good girls definitely don’t have tattoos.

To some extent, there is still some prejudice!
Even if one is just following the trend, he or she will definitely be blamed and be labeled as dangerously "unfashionable and not a good person".

Chen Fan changed his place and read for more than ten minutes. The place became lively again.

Another group of young people dancing.

No wonder people in later generations would say: It’s not that people love to square dance when they get old, it’s that people who love to dance get old.

Other places are also very lively, with people either walking their birds or fighting crickets.

Chen Fan was no longer in the mood to read, so he took out a cigarette and smoked one, then walked back slowly. When he passed by Courtyard No. 45, he took a few more glances at it.

Sure enough, there are so many long legs!

"Hey, what are you looking at? Your eyeballs have fallen to the ground."

The security guard came out vigilantly. Chen Fan looked calm and took out a cigarette and handed it to the guard. "Uncle, I live in the next yard. I want to ask if you are hiring?"

The security guard took the cigarette, and perhaps because he was grateful for the favor, his tone became more pleasant: "What are you thinking? Our dance troupe is composed of professionals, selected through layers of selection."

Chen Fan took out a match and helped the old man light his cigarette: "We don't want to join the dance team. Are there any clerks or logistics staff here?"

The security guard took a sip and shook his head: "Why are we hiring more people? Last year, a large number of educated youth returned to the city, and the street office stuffed more than a dozen temporary workers here, and we haven't even absorbed them yet."

"That's a shame."

Chen Fan raised the corner of his mouth and chatted with the old man over a cigarette. Before leaving, he gave the old man another cigarette, thinking that after getting familiar with the old man, he could find a chance to go in and see the long legs.

A few steps ahead is Courtyard No. 46. A group of retired middle-aged women are blocking the door. Some are sewing shoe soles, while others are gluing matchboxes together.

Chen Fan hated dealing with this group of "intelligence organizations" the most. Every dog that passed by would be talked about by them, and Chen Fan was naturally no exception.

Especially during this period of time, I have been studying at home and not going out to find a job. In their eyes, I am idle and not doing my job properly, and I am useless.

Without stopping at the door, Chen Fan quickly walked in and returned to his room. He sorted out the manuscripts he had written this week and carefully put them into a file bag.

"Chen Fan, Chen Fan!"

Zhou Xiaoying's clear voice was heard at the door again. Chen Fan responded with "coming", put the file bag away, and then slowly opened the door.

Compared to a week ago, Zhou Xiaoying has become whiter.

She was wearing a blue dress and carrying a military green crossbody bag made of canvas with five red words "Serve the People" embroidered on it.

"Chen Fan, there is a party this weekend. We are going to have dinner together. Do you want to go?"

"I really have no choice. I'm busy looking for a job. I've been busy for more than a month. If it doesn't work out, I guess I can only go out and set up a street stall."

"Trust the organization, it will definitely be arranged."

Zhou Xiaoying consoled him and sighed, "It was a pity that you didn't go last week. There were more than a dozen high school classmates who came back from working in the countryside. They talked about all sorts of things, which was very interesting."

"We're all in the city of Beijing. If there's a chance, we can make an appointment again." "Yeah yeah ..."

Zhou Xiaoying wanted to chat for a few more words, but suddenly she heard her mother's voice: "Xiaoying, don't you have to go to work? Hurry up, don't miss the bus, or you'll miss it."

"I got it, Mom."

Zhou Xiaoying turned around and called out, then stuck out her tongue at Chen Fan: "I'm leaving first."

"be careful on the road."

"See you."

Zhou Xiaoying waved and walked towards the door. Zhou's mother passed by with a basket of vegetables: "Xiaofan, why didn't you go to the class reunion?"

Chen Fan knew clearly that Zhou's mother didn't like him and she had deliberately sent Zhou Xiaoying away.

The reason is simple: I don’t have a job.

In my previous life, I liked Zhou Xiaoying, but we didn’t confirm our relationship right away. I waited until I received the admission letter before we got together. During that time, Zhou’s mother caused a lot of trouble.

Chen Fan had no intention of marrying Zhou Xiaoying again, so he was happy to go along with her words and said, "Auntie, I have to find a job, so I won't join in the fun."

Zhou's mother nodded seriously: "Yes, it's more important to find a job. Xiaoying and the others who went to the party together all have jobs. It would be awkward for you to go."

"..."

Zhou's mother left and the door creaked open.

Guan Yuemei came out with a sullen face: "This Zhou Shuhua, didn't she brush her teeth when she went out this morning? Her mouth stinks. Son, remember this, don't have to deal with her family in the future."

Chen Fan burst out laughing: "You don't miss Zhou Xiaoying now?"

"If I had known her family was like this, I wouldn't have worried about her. Son, you have to work hard to get into college and find a college-educated wife in the future. I won't make her die of rage."

"Don't worry, I will marry three wives in the future. When you go out, you will need someone to support you on both sides, and someone to carry your bag will need to follow you." Chen Fan joked.

"Screw you."

Guan Yuemei was so angry that she laughed and patted her son: "Study hard, I will buy an old hen later and make soup for you in the evening."

"Thank you mom!"

Chen Fan went back to the house to get some money, took the briefcase, went straight out the door, and took the bus to "Dongsi 8th", which is the eighth alley on the east side of Dongsi North Street.

The famous educator and writer Mr. Ye Shengtao lived here and created works such as "Selected Fairy Tales of Ye Shengtao" and "Collection A of Ye Shengtao's Essays" here.

Of course Chen Fan was not here to visit Mr. Ye. What kind of person was he? To put it nicely, he was an unemployed youth, to put it bluntly, he was a vagrant.

If you drop one level again, you will become a vagrant.

After asking around in the alley, Chen Fan found Yard No. 52. There was a sign at the door that read "Dramatists Association" and a small sign next to it that read: People's Literature Magazine.

The door is open.

Chen Fan quickly took out a cigarette and handed one to the security guard: "Hello, uncle, is People's Literature here?"

The old man took the cigarette and nodded: "It's inside, what's the matter young man?"

"I wrote a novel and came here to submit it."

"Can't you just send your contribution by mail?"

"My home is nearby, so I just wanted to stop by and take a look. Even if I can't submit my work, I can still gain some knowledge, don't you think?"

Chen Fan also thought about sending it over, but this is People's Literature, and there is no telling how many manuscripts they receive every day. It might take several months to wait in line for the editor to review it.

He is still waiting for the money.

Moreover, many magazines have stated that if there is no response within three months of submission, the manuscript can be submitted to another publishing house and they generally will not be rejected.

“I’ve never seen anyone come here in person to submit an article.”

"Uncle, please help pass on a message." Chen Fan quickly took out a bag of peonies worth 49 cents and stuffed it into the security guard's hand.

"Then I'll try. As for whether you'll be allowed in or not, I don't know."

"Thank you, sir."

(End of this chapter)