Reborn in 1977

Chapter 255: What Receipt?

Chen Fan rode his horse forward. After a brief period of adjustment, the little mare was gradually getting used to the feeling of "wearing shoes." She even slowed down, taking each step deliberately.

The horseshoes clattered crisply on the stone slabs.

At this moment, the sound of a car horn suddenly came from behind. Chen Fan looked back and saw that it was the bus from the county town.

Nanhu Commune only had two buses connecting to the county town, departing simultaneously at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. every day.

It was already past 8 a.m., about the time the bus from the county should be arriving.

He didn't pay much attention, pulling the reins to guide the horse to the side of the road, letting the bus pass in the middle.

Soon, he arrived at the intersection, which was also the place where the Nanhu Bus Station picked up and dropped off passengers. He saw passengers getting off the bus one after another. Some had just gotten off and were already running to the roadside, vomiting on the ground.

Some were holding their heads, staggering, unable to distinguish east, west, north, and south, seemingly wondering which way to go.

Others were carrying large and small bags, heading straight into the state-owned restaurant, probably planning to fill their stomachs first.

Finally, an old man wearing a blue cotton jacket and a hat got off the bus, carrying a black travel bag, his steps unhurried.

Seeing this scene, Chen Fan couldn't help but take another look.

These days, most people had few opportunities to ride in a car. The previous few situations were the norm after riding a car. Vomiting and dizziness were all signs of motion sickness. Hunger was also related to motion sickness. Riding on an empty stomach, swaying back and forth, would consume physical strength, making it particularly easy to feel hungry. Therefore, many people would find a place to eat as soon as they got off the bus.

However, this old man showed no signs of motion sickness at all. On the contrary, it was as if he hadn't been on the bus at all, looking around nonchalantly.

He immediately saw Chen Fan riding a horse not far away, but after only glancing at him, he turned to a passenger who was struggling to find his way and asked, "Comrade, may I ask, how do I get to the Lujiawan Production Team?"

Hearing his words, Chen Fan gently pulled the reins, stopping the horse.

The person who was asked shook his head, finally managing to wake up. He looked at the old man and asked, "Which team of Lujiawan are you going to?"

The old man smiled and said, "I want to go to Team 5, which is their brigade headquarters."

The man found the right direction and pointed, saying, "Go straight along this road. At the end, there will be several forks. One of them leads to Team 6 of Lujiawan, one leads to Team 5, and the other two go to other places nearby. You can ask someone again when you get there."

The old man smiled and cupped his hands, "Thank you."

The man smiled and waved his hand, "You're welcome."

At this moment, the driver who got off to smoke said loudly, "Why are you still asking people?"

As he spoke, he pointed to Chen Fan, "This is Teacher Chen from the Lujiawan Brigade. Just follow him."

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly. 'Am I already so famous? Even the bus driver knows me?'

While complaining in his heart, his movements were not slow. He immediately dismounted, led the horse over, and said with a smile, "Old gentleman, you're going to Team 5 of Lujiawan. I'm going back too, so we can go together."

The old man immediately nodded and smiled, "Okay, then I'll trouble Comrade Chen."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "You're too polite. You should be much older than me, just call me Little Chen."

Then, he went to take the travel bag from his hand, not putting it on the horse's back, but carrying it as he walked forward.

The old man didn't decline, following him with a smile, glancing at the bare horse's back, and saying, "Comrade Chen, is your horse a draft horse?"

Chen Fan turned to look at him and said with a smile, "It used to be, but I bought it more than a month ago, planning to train it into a riding horse. It's just that there are no saddles for sale here, so I haven't put a saddle on it."

After a pause, he asked, "How do I address you, old gentleman? Who are you looking for in Team 5 of Lujiawan?"

The old man nodded in realization, smiling, "My surname is Lin, you can just call me Old Lin. This time I'm going to Lujiawan to find an old brother."

Chen Fan said with a smile, "I should still call you Uncle Lin, Uncle Lin, what's the name of your old brother? Maybe I know him."

The old man Lin followed Chen Fan with steady steps, smiling, "He is the deputy captain of your brigade headquarters, named Xiao Liewen."

Chen Fan was immediately surprised and turned to look at him, "Oh, you're going to see Captain Xiao. He was still at the brigade headquarters when I came out. You can go directly to the brigade headquarters to find him when you get there."

Then, he smiled again, "I heard that Captain Xiao is a combat hero who retired from the army. You are his old brother, could you be Captain Xiao's comrade-in-arms?"

A strange look flashed in the old man Lin's eyes, and he asked nonchalantly, "Oh, you all know that Old Xiao is a combat hero who retired from the army?"

Chen Fan said with a smile, "Anyway, that's what everyone says. Minister Cao from the county's armed forces department even came to him in person, so it shouldn't be fake. However, Captain Xiao himself has never admitted that he is a combat hero, only admitting that he was a soldier in the army."

Hearing this, the strange look in the old man Lin's eyes dissipated, and he returned to his smiling appearance, "Haha, he doesn't say it himself, I certainly can't say it for him."

Chen Fan turned his head and smiled, "So you really are his comrade-in-arms, right?"

Old man Lin raised his head and laughed, nodding and saying, "Yes, yes, comrade-in-arms."

Chen Fan glanced at this old man Lin, feeling puzzled in his heart.

Captain Xiao has excellent martial arts skills. His level is not low. I have never been able to take advantage of him when fighting him.

The posture of this old man Lin when he got off the bus just now looked unusual, but after landing on the ground, looking at the way he walked, he didn't seem to have practiced martial arts. At least Chen Fan could tell that Zhang Wenliang and Captain Xiao were both practitioners, but he couldn't see anything special about him.

But since he is Captain Xiao's comrade-in-arms, how could he not have practiced martial arts?

In addition to his reaction when getting off the bus, Chen Fan guessed in his heart, could it be that this old man has reached the realm of returning to simplicity and is a master among masters?

However, he didn't ask any more questions, just accompanying old man Lin on his way.

As for asking him to get on the horse? That was impossible.

He wasn't old, weak, sick, or pregnant. There was no reason to leave his own horse unridden, let someone else ride the horse, and then lead the horse himself.

He wasn't the second senior brother.

Talking and laughing along the way, time passed quickly. Before they knew it, the two had returned to Team 5 of Lujiawan.

Conveniently storing the little mare in the Team 5's livestock shed, Chen Fan then led old man Lin into the brigade headquarters. As soon as he entered the yard, he started shouting, "Captain Xiao, Captain Xiao, someone is looking for you!"

Xiao Liewen came out of the office upon hearing the news, "Who is it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw old man Lin following Chen Fan. His eyes lit up immediately, and he flung his arms out and ran forward, "Hahaha, why did you come in person?"

Old man Lin glanced at Chen Fan, then walked forward a few steps, smiling, "What you wrote in your letter was all flowery words. If I didn't come and see for myself, who would know if what you said was true or false?"

While speaking, he winked at Xiao Liewen, shaking his head almost imperceptibly.

Xiao Liewen didn't understand what he meant for a moment, but he didn't say anything random. He simply changed the subject and smiled at Chen Fan, "Little Chen, I'll have to trouble you to cook a table of dishes at noon today. I want to entertain my old brother."

Chen Fan naturally had no objections, nodding and smiling, "Okay."

After a pause, he said again, "Do you have the ingredients at home? Do you want me to go back and get some for you?"

Xiao Liewen waved his hand, "It doesn't matter what we eat when old brothers meet. We'll just kill a chicken later, and make a soft-shelled turtle stew. I also have some loach and eel that I caught while plowing the fields. Add a soup at the end, and that'll be enough."

Chen Fan immediately nodded, "Okay, I know what to do."

He raised the travel bag in his hand, "This is Uncle Lin's luggage."

Uncle Lin?

Hearing this word, Xiao Liewen looked at old man Lin with a strange expression.

Old man Lin remained unmoved, smiling and taking the travel bag from Chen Fan's hand, "It's okay for me to carry this myself. Thank you for bringing me here."

Xiao Liewen quickly snatched the travel bag from his hand, "Now that you're here, how can I let you carry it yourself?"

Then, he took his arm and pulled him out, "Let's go, let's go, let's settle down at my house first. It's been many years since we two brothers have seen each other. You have to stay for a while this time. I have so much to tell you."

Chen Fan watched them walk out of the courtyard, getting farther and farther away, pursed his lips and smiled, and turned around to prepare to see how Zhang Cuie was doing.

As a result, Zhang Wenliang stopped him and asked, "I heard you wrote a novel?"

Chen Fan nodded, "Ah, I just mailed it."

Zhang Wenliang looked gossipy, "Let me see the receipt. I've never seen anyone write a novel before."

Chen Fan was a little confused, "What receipt?"