Reborn in 1977

Chapter 227 Storing Rice

Chen Fan's entire fortune, including the cured meat and fish he received from teaching how to cook soft-shelled turtles, and the rice, paddy, cured meat, cured fish, sausages, homespun cloth, and other items he exchanged for the charcoal stove, were all stored in his room.

Initially, he used a few bamboo poles placed on two cabinets to hang the meat, fish, and sausages. Later, two bamboo poles weren't enough, so he simply set up a row of bamboo against the top of the wall, squeezed together with the roof beam, and hung everything there.

Most of the other items were stored in the two unused cabinets, leaving only a dozen bags of rice and paddy, packed in sacks and placed on the bamboo bed, making him feel like he was sleeping in a granary.

It wasn't a problem when there were no mice before, but now that mice were appearing, he couldn't leave things like this.

In fact, almost every household had a room for storing grain. The grain room was enclosed on all sides, with only a small door for entering to retrieve grain.

Moreover, the grain wasn't stored openly. Inside the grain room, there would also be a small granary.

The granary was a bit like a large fish tank, with an opening at the top. When storing grain, people would climb to the top, pour the paddy in, and then seal the entrance with a wooden lid to prevent mice from getting in.

When retrieving grain, it would be taken from the "small door" at the bottom. This small door was only the size of a book. When the wooden board was pulled out, the paddy would naturally flow out. After taking the grain, the wooden board would be sealed again, which could minimize damage from mice and other pests.

Jiang Lili's idea was for him to build a grain room as well.

Chen Fan was a bit hesitant. "Originally, I only wanted to renovate the stove and toilet. Now I have to build a row of rabbit hutches and open a back door. If I build a granary on top of that, it feels like I could just build a new house."

Jiang Lili looked at him, feeling a bit helpless. "There's so much grain, we can't just leave it unattended, can we?"

It was the first time she had seen so much grain. There were three large sacks of white rice, totaling more than 660 pounds, and even more paddy, thirteen sacks, about two thousand four hundred pounds. So much stuff was only worth 300 yuan, enough to exchange for 30 charcoal stoves. The price of grain was really too low.

Chen Fan stroked his chin, his eyes darting slightly. Suddenly, he chuckled and snapped his fingers, saying with a smile, "I have an idea."

Jiang Lili looked up, watching him curiously. "What idea?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "We'll keep the white rice for ourselves, saving the trouble of husking it. We'll take the paddy to the brigade headquarters. The brigade headquarters has a granary, which is usually reserved for lending to members in need. Since we can borrow, we can also store it there. I'll store it at the brigade headquarters, and in the future, for livestock feed, besides deducting work points, we can also use grain as payment."

If work points are more valuable, we'll keep work points; if grain is more valuable, we'll keep grain. The choice is that simple.

Jiang Lili nodded slowly, thoughtfully, and said with a smile, "That's also a solution."

After a pause, she asked again, "Then where will we put the white rice?"

Usually, Jiang Lili and Yang Ju used their own white rice for meals, not taking advantage of Chen Fan. Originally, Chen Fan had more than two hundred pounds of white rice. He had eaten some during this period, but there was still a lot left. Adding the later 3 sacks, 660 pounds, it would be enough for him, plus the four girls, to eat for a whole year.

So much white rice definitely couldn't be left scattered like this, or it would be like inviting the mice for a feast, and a filling one at that.

Chen Fan waved his hand, saying confidently, "Simple, we'll make a few large rice jars in the next few days. Besides storing rice, we can also raise fish."

Jiang Lili puffed out her cheeks and grinned, saying, "That works too."

… …

In the afternoon, after work, Chen Fan first went to the brigade headquarters office to find Secretary Yang and the others. They went to Team 6 together to welcome An Quan and wash away the dust, and to discuss preparing for the farm.

Along the way, Chen Fan rode his horse, Ye Shubao rode his bicycle with Team Leader Zhang on the back, and Xiao Liewen and Secretary Yang each rode their own bicycles.

It had to be said that the income of the brigade leaders was higher than that of ordinary members, and it was easier to get bicycle tickets.

Their bicycle tickets weren't allocated to the brigade headquarters by the commune, but directly rewarded to them by the commune.

In the past production competitions, Lujiawan Brigade had won first place many times. Each time they won first place, in addition to commending the production team, the commune would also give another reward to the production team's leading cadres. They didn't want anything else, just bicycle tickets, so after saving for so many years, they finally had one per person.

Except for Team Leader Zhang, because he gave his ticket to his eldest son.

Chen Fan rode his horse, slowly following behind the three bicycles, and said lightly, "Team Leader Zhang, you're not riding a bicycle, why don't you find a horse to ride? Sitting on the back seat of the old 28, without even a cotton cushion, aren't you afraid of getting sore?"

Team Leader Zhang placed his feet on the pedals of the old 28 bicycle, panting, "That horse has been pulling a cart all day, how could it still move? It needs a good rest."

Ordinary 28 bicycles didn't have these kinds of pedals, only the postman's special vehicle had them. This must have been a frame that Team Leader Xiao got from an acquaintance at the post and telecommunications office and assembled himself.

(The old 28 bicycle with pedal supports, some have two horizontal bars on top)

Chen Fan glanced at it and withdrew his gaze, smiling at Team Leader Zhang, "Then what if you guys drink too much later, what will Team Leader Xiao do if he can't carry you?"

Xiao Liewen pedaled hard, "What to do? Just sleep at your place!"

Chen Fan clicked his tongue, "But I only have two single beds, the four of you can't squeeze in."

Ye Shubao turned his head and laughed, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Every year we have to welcome the cadres stationed in Team 6 and wash away the dust. After drinking, we don't go back, we just sleep at Uncle Yang's house. Oh, Uncle Yang is your Team Leader Yang's father. He used to be the captain of Team 6, Old Yang is considered to have inherited his father's business."

Hearing his words, Chen Fan suddenly nodded, realizing the situation.

At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was still wondering if he should send them home one by one after they were all drunk. The key was that Secretary Yang was from Team 4 and Ye Shubao was from Team 7, the directions were wrong, which would be a bit difficult.

Now that there was a place to sleep, it was fine.

At this time, Xiao Liewen turned his head and glanced at him, saying unhappily, "You kid don't even put a saddle on the horse, riding bareback, it's uncomfortable for both the person and the horse. Otherwise, we could switch."

Chen Fan was slightly stunned, "I'm not uncomfortable, it's just a good opportunity to practice riding stance."

Then he lowered his head to touch the horse's mane, and asked softly, "Are you very uncomfortable?"

The little mare snorted a few times, "I don't know, I haven't carried people before, just hauled goods."

Xiao Liewen was speechless when he heard his words.

Practicing riding stance on horseback, who knows who he learned it from. The problem is that the horse stance "starts with strength from the feet", without even stirrups, what's there to practice?

Chen Fan carefully pondered Team Leader Xiao's words. Since he said so, it must not be unfounded, there should still be a basis.

But where could he find a saddle?

Anyway, none of the production team's horses had saddles. In his opinion, the so-called saddle was just a blanket draped over the horse's back, and then fastened with a rope modified from a military belt, which couldn't be counted.

Then there were also horseshoes, stirrups, and bits, none of which he had. If he were to do it, he would do the whole set.

If you don't know, just ask.

Chen Fan immediately asked, "Does our commune sell saddles?"

Xiao Liewen said without turning his head, "No."

Secretary Yang chuckled, "30 years ago, when we were first liberated, there were troops stationed here. At that time, there was a cavalry company left behind. They had people who could make saddles and forge horseshoes, but when the troops left, those craftsmen were also taken away.

What was left behind were draft horses, either pulling carts or plowing the land like cattle. Even if they occasionally rode a horse, they would just casually put something down and tie it tight with a rope. No one knows how to make saddles."

Chen Fan's face fell, then why did you say it?

Xiao Liewen knew what he was thinking without turning his head, and immediately continued, "When I said to put a saddle on, it wasn't that kind of real saddle, you should at least put a thin cotton quilt on it, just like the horses that Yang Zhijun and Li Zhengqun ride. You went back and forth to the commune with them for more than half a month, didn't you have any ideas at all?"

Chen Fan shrugged, "Better to have none than something shoddy."

Xiao Liewen chuckled twice, "You have to solve the problem of having something first, and then solve the problem of whether it's good or not."

Chen Fan nodded, "Understood, the basic development route. But I still prefer to have none than something shoddy."

Secretary Yang suddenly said, "There's really a saddle in the brigade headquarters warehouse, and there are stirrups too."

Team Leader Zhang seemed to remember it too, scoffing, "That saddle was left behind by the cavalry company when the troops were here. At that time, Uncle Huang was the village chief, and he couldn't bear to throw it away, but it was useless, so he put it in the warehouse and it's been there ever since. That thing can't be used."

Ye Shubao suddenly said, "Didn't Xiao Chen say he's a carpenter? He made that drawing board himself, try to see if he can make a set himself based on that saddle."

Chen Fan couldn't help scratching his head when he heard this, "Do you really think I can do everything?"

Then he clapped his hands, "It doesn't matter if it's a broken saddle, the key is that there's no material."

The manufacture of a proper saddle is not that simple, wood, leather, sponge, rivets, etc., a lot of various materials, where would he find them?

Speaking of materials, Secretary Yang had no solution, so he smiled and said, "Then you continue to ride your barebacked horse."

The group talked and laughed, and ten minutes later, they arrived at Old Team Leader Yang's house in Team 6.