Reborn in 1977

Team Leader Yang and the others had quite a bit of mud on them, but since they had to continue transplanting rice seedlings in the afternoon, they didn't change their clothes, though they did wash their hands and feet clean.

An Quan wasn't much better off, and it was clear that he hadn't just been watching; he must have gone down into the fields as well.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, An Quan shouted, "Get a basin of hot water ready; I feel uncomfortable if I don't wash."

At this moment, Yang Ju and the other two returned. Hearing this, she immediately ran to the kitchen, "I'll go get hot water."

Chen Fan called out, "There's water in both earthenware jars; everyone get a basin."

This was water that had been boiled while cooking just now, and it was still hot.

Yang Ju replied, "Okay."

Huang Ying and Liu Dan also quickly ran over to help.

Jiang Lili hobbled out on her crutches and greeted Team Leader Yang and the others, not missing a single one.

Team Leader Yang was uncharacteristically amiable towards her, stepping forward and asking, "How's your foot? Is it serious? Did you get Doctor Zhang to take a look?"

Jiang Lili forced a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Team Leader. It's already fine."

She turned to look at Chen Fan before turning back and saying, "Teacher Chen helped take a look and applied medicine. It should be better in a few days."

After a pause, she lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly and said, "Team... Team Leader, I might need to take a few days off."

In this era, the emphasis was on 'minor injuries not leaving the front line'. Generally, minor wounds, as long as they didn't become inflamed or worsen, were basically ignored, and people would continue working directly. In the past three years, she hadn't taken a single day off, but she didn't expect to break the rule today. However, the place she was injured was not ideal. Now that she had applied medicine, her foot still hurt a bit, and she couldn't stand or walk at all. How could she work?

Fortunately, Team Leader Yang was understanding, waving his hand and saying with a smile, "It's okay. Just rest and recover well. We'll talk about it when you're better."

Then he lowered his voice a little, "However, there won't be any work points for these few days, but they won't be deducted either."

Jiang Lili quickly nodded repeatedly, "It's only right that there are no work points. Thank you, Team Leader."

This wasn't aimed at her, but the rules were like this.

Absence from work without a valid reason would result in a deduction of points. Taking leave to engage in sideline businesses required paying to 'buy work points'. In her situation, there would be no deduction, but no work points would be calculated either. Even if the brigade leader's own son were in her place, the rules would be the same. No one was an exception.

Seeing that they had finished speaking, Chen Fan waved to Jiang Lili, "Xiao Jiang, go help Yang Ju and the others fetch water. They need to rinse off too."

Jiang Lili lowered her head, "Oh, I'll go right away."

After speaking, she turned and hobbled towards the kitchen on her crutches.

Team Leader Yang looked at her back, then at Chen Fan, feeling that something was strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Accountant Liu and Huang, the storekeeper, didn't think much of it, but An Quan glanced at Chen Fan, smiled slightly, and said nothing.

Chen Fan didn't look at Jiang Lili either. He took out four Peony brand cigarettes, pushed them out of the pack, first handing one to An Quan, then taking out a match and striking it.

An Quan took out one, lit it on the match, and then took out a silver lighter from his pocket and handed it to him, "I forgot to give it to you just now. Take it."

Chen Fan didn't stand on ceremony, took it in his hand, and tried it out. His thumb pressed down, and a flame popped up. He immediately found it interesting, "Where did this come from?"

He then lit cigarettes for Team Leader Yang and the other two.

(Diamond brand lighter, made in Shanghai in the 1970s)

An Quan chuckled, "I swiped it from the director of the shipyard. That guy often travels everywhere with the ships and has a lot of good stuff. Didn't you say you didn't have a belt? Next time I'll go see if he has any new ones there, or I'll find Manager Zhao from the water transport company and have him ask someone to bring one back."

Chen Fan gave a thumbs up with a face full of admiration, "Brother An is still the best."

Going to find someone else to do something, and also swiping their things, truly a man of my kind.

Then he lifted his shirt and chuckled, "I don't need a belt. I sewed one myself, made of crocodile skin."

An Quan's eyes went wide, "Crocodile skin isn't easy to get. Where did you get it?"

Team Leader Yang, smoking his cigarette on the side, said with a smile, "The 9th team has an old hunter who retired from the provincial hunting team. He had a piece of skin hidden at home, and he bought it from him at the price of cowhide."

Chen Fan hadn't actively told anyone about this, and only a few people in the courtyard knew. He was telling Chen Fan that he couldn't hide anything about the educated youth spot from his eyes. Unfortunately, Chen Fan remained unmoved, knowing full well but pretending not to understand.

An Quan's eyes were full of envy, "That's still a steal. Crocodile skin is a rare commodity. Some people like this kind of pattern and are willing to pay a high price for it, but it's just too rare."

As he spoke, an idea struck him, and he looked up at Chen Fan, "Do you have any more skin?"

Chen Fan spread his hands, "The remaining skin is for making a saddle."

An Quan chuckled, "You don't necessarily have to use crocodile skin to make a saddle. I'll use a sheepskin to trade you for two belts."

Chen Fan immediately agreed, "No problem."

Hehe, a sheepskin is more than enough to make a saddle. Maybe half a sheepskin is enough. If I cut off enough crocodile skin for two belts, the rest can still be used to make two pairs of shoes and several pairs of gloves. This is a huge profit!

Team Leader Yang and the other two watched with smiles on their faces, without saying a word. Whether it was crocodile skin or sheepskin, their attitude was that it was good to just look at it. Isn't being frugal and simple good? Why bother spending that money!

Living in brick houses and riding bicycles was the pursuit of men in the production team.

At this time, Yang Ju, Huang Ying, and Liu Dan each came over with a basin of water. After putting them down, Liu Dan ran in again and brought out another basin.

An Quan and the others didn't use towels, rolled up their trouser legs, and washed their hands and feet again with the hot water, then rinsed the water from their legs from the ceramic basins.

Shaking the water off his hands and feet, he smiled at Chen Fan, "I've noticed that you have the most pottery here. There are countless ceramic basins, ceramic jars, ceramic bowls, and ceramic plates. How much pottery is there in this yard anyway?"

Without waiting for Chen Fan to answer, Team Leader Yang, who had casually washed his hands and face, said with a smile, "Are you asking him? He doesn't even know himself. These are all experimental products that were fired when he first started making pottery. There are all sizes and strange shapes. You can't even count them all."

Chen Fan pointed to the utility room, "There are several stacks piled up inside. If you like, go in and pick whatever you want."

An Quan didn't stand on ceremony, "Okay, I'll pick a few to take back later as flower pots. My wife likes to grow flowers, and she'll definitely like your strangely shaped ceramic basins."

He then looked at Team Leader Yang, his words full of disgust, "Can you not be so perfunctory when washing your hands and feet? Although the probability of schistosomiasis in the paddy fields is very small, you still shouldn't be careless."

Team Leader Yang smacked his lips, "All the ditches were renovated in December. How can there be so many schistosomiasis?"

Seeing An Quan's speechless face, he could only helplessly pick up the basin and rinse himself, "Okay, okay, I'll wash, I'll wash."

Huang, the storekeeper, also finished rinsing and let out a long breath, saying, "I don't know when this damn schistosomiasis will be eradicated."

An Quan smiled, "Isn't it much better now than when I first came? As long as we persevere, there will be a day when we eradicate schistosomiasis. At that time, everyone can go into all the ditches without worry, and both people and livestock will be safe."

Accountant Liu nodded, saying, "I think the most important thing now is not to eradicate schistosomiasis."

Everyone turned to look at him. He chuckled, touched his stomach, "Of course, it's to fill our stomachs first."

Everyone laughed. Chen Fan stretched out his hand and led them inside, "Everything is ready. Let's go to the table and eat."

Entering the room, they took their seats in their usual positions. Chen Fan carried the wine bottle and poured wine, glanced at Team Leader Yang, and asked, "There aren't any more mussel shells, right?"

Team Leader Yang's face immediately changed, and he gently shook his head, saying, "How could there not be? As soon as you left, I organized everyone to check the paddy fields, and we found another five pieces. Fortunately, they were all on the surface and hadn't been inserted into the mud. You could see them at a glance, otherwise it would still be a troublesome matter."

Accountant Liu also shook his head, saying, "Xiao Jiang was unlucky, being the first one to get pricked. If it had been later, I'm afraid someone else would have been pricked."

Huang, the storekeeper, had a bitter smile on his face, "Those naughty kids, I don't know who threw them?"

Team Leader Yang snorted twice, "It's not difficult to find out. When the students come back from school later, we'll ask every household, and we'll know who threw them."

The village elementary school only had classes for half a day, dismissing at 12 noon, and then the entire Sunday was a holiday. Since Lujiawan Elementary School was a junior elementary school and only had two grades, there were no agricultural holidays. Even during the busy farming season, the school had more 'students', as many families nearby would send their young children to school for Teacher Xiao to take care of, and he became the king of the children.

It wasn't until the 1980s, when the people of the whole country saw the power of 'education' with their own eyes, and some individuals around them jumped onto the branches and turned into phoenixes through schooling, that all places began to value school education, and the learning time became longer year by year. Decades later, some places even had evening self-study starting in the fourth grade of elementary school, causing the old people who came from the 'free-range learning' stage to suspect their lives.

Chen Fan finished pouring the wine and sat down, turning to look at An Quan.

An Quan understood what he meant, that it was time to start the meal, so he took the initiative to raise his glass, but said unrelated words, "We definitely have to find them, scold them if they deserve it, and hit them if they deserve it. But after hitting and scolding them, we have to explain clearly to them that they can play anywhere else, but they absolutely can't go into the farmland, and they can't throw things into it."

As soon as he finished speaking, he extended his glass, and the glasses gently touched each other, and the meal began.

Chen Fan made the first move, picking up a piece of sweet and sour fish for Captain Yang, "Captain, try this. I just made this sweet and sour fish. I don't know how it tastes."

Captain Yang's face lit up with a smile, "Why are you giving it to me? Give it to your Brother An."

An Quan took a piece himself, grinning as he said, "Teacher Chen respects you as the captain, so it's good that he gave it to you first. Someone like me can only help myself."

The few of them burst into laughter. Chen Fan picked up a piece of sweet and sour fish for the warehouse keeper, Huang, and the accountant, Liu, before officially starting to eat.

After a few bites, Captain Yang sighed and said, "Whether it's hitting or scolding, we'll finish teaching this group of kids, and in a few years, there will be another batch. You can never finish teaching these naughty kids."

Chen Fan laughed and said, "Then let the older kids manage the younger ones. That way, it'll be passed down from generation to generation, forming the excellent tradition of our Sixth Team of Lujiawan."

An Quan almost spat out his wine, "Excellent tradition? And you want to carry it forward?"

He chuckled a few times, looked at Captain Yang, and said with a smile, "But Little Chen's method is worth a try. Children don't listen to adults, but they listen to older kids, so it might work."

Captain Yang shook his head and smiled, "That's all we can do."

Then he smiled at Chen Fan, "Your sweet and sour fish is delicious, but I'm not used to sweet food. I still prefer this spicy fish head."

Chen Fan didn't mind, "Everyone has their own tastes. It's good as long as you like it."

An Quan picked up two more pieces of sweet and sour fish, smiling as he said, "We Shanghainese love sweet food. This dish really suits my taste. When I go home someday, make me some. I'll take it back for my wife to try. She likes sweet food too."

Chen Fan readily agreed, "No problem."

After a pause, he smiled again and said, "Or you can invite your wife over to play for a day, and I'll make you some Shanghai cuisine."

An Quan's face was instantly filled with surprise, "You can also make Shanghai cuisine?"

Chen Fan looked smug, "Not just Shanghai cuisine, from the Eight Culinary Traditions to Northeastern cuisine, Northwestern cuisine, Hakka cuisine, Ningbo cuisine, Chu cuisine, Hebei cuisine, Henan cuisine, Xinjiang cuisine, Yunnan cuisine, Guangxi cuisine…"

An Quan stared wide-eyed, "You can do all of them?"

Chen Fan shook his head decisively, "Not really."

Accountant Liu next to him turned his head and spat out a mouthful of wine, almost spitting it on the warehouse keeper, Huang, who scolded him jokingly.

An Quan looked at Chen Fan helplessly, "Then what are you talking about?"

Chen Fan chuckled, "Not really, but I know a little bit."

Regardless of the cuisine, he could roughly recreate anything he had eaten. As for the various dishes in the entire cuisine, he could only improvise and adapt.

An Quan simply couldn't be bothered with him, scooped a spoonful of Chen Fan's classic braised rice, which he always served when treating guests, and said, "Where's your sample copy?"

Chen Fan's expression turned serious, "Let me make this clear first. You can look at the sample copy, but you can't take it away. I only have one left. If you take it, it's gone."

An Quan widened his eyes, "Huh? There can't be only one sample copy, right?"

Chen Fan said, "But the brigade headquarters took one away. Anyway, I only have this one left, and I have to keep it as a souvenir."

An Quan's eyes were full of regret, but he said, "Tch, it's okay. Why would I want your sample copy? Xinhua Bookstore also sells 'Jiangnan Literature'. I'll just buy one myself later. I don't need to take yours."

Chen Fan smiled silently. If your expression could be a little more normal, I would have believed you.

But Teacher Chen is generous and doesn't bother with him. He pointed to his room next door, "The sample copy is in my room. Let's eat first, and I'll show it to you after we're done."

An Quan wasn't in a hurry and nodded, "Okay."

At this time, Captain Yang asked curiously, "What sample copy?"

An Quan raised his head, "Oh, you guys don't know yet?"

Then he pointed at Chen Fan and laughed, "Teacher Chen from your team has published a novel in 'Jiangnan Literature', the best literary magazine in the province and also a first-class literary magazine in the country. This matter has probably spread throughout the entire Nanhua Commune by the postman. This time, the Sixth Team of Lujiawan has really shown its face!"

Hearing this, Captain Yang immediately widened his eyes and turned to look at Chen Fan, "Really?"

Before Chen Fan could speak, An Quan became unhappy. He glared and said, "Am I making things up?"

Captain Yang immediately laughed heartily, "Oh dear, this is a big deal."

Accountant Liu looked shocked, "So, our team has produced a great writer?"

He considered himself a cultured person, so he naturally understood the difference between 'Jiangnan Literature' and the prefectural party committee newspaper. Although it was also rare to publish a newsletter in the prefectural party committee newspaper, the newspaper paid more attention to the event itself. But publishing an article in 'Jiangnan Literature' was a real test of writing skills, which was amazing!

Chen Fan quickly said modestly, "It's just a novel. I wouldn't dare call myself a writer."

Captain Yang ignored him and looked at Accountant Liu and the warehouse keeper, Huang, with a beaming face, "We have to give him a reward."

The two immediately nodded, "Yes, we must give him a reward!"

With a unified opinion, Chen Fan looked at them with anticipation, "Then what should I be rewarded with?"

Captain Yang was stunned, his mind racing. That's right, what should he be rewarded with?

Generally, the production team rewarded advanced team members with things like enamel mugs and plastic washbasins. But Chen Fan had published a novel this time, so they couldn't use the same standard, right?

It would be good to reward him with something better, but the team didn't have anything good. He was a little stuck and couldn't get off the stage for a while.

Accountant Liu and the warehouse keeper, Huang, also frowned, unable to make up their minds.

In the end, Chen Fan saw that they were in a dilemma and chuckled, "Why don't you give me a certificate and reward me with an old tea tree?"

After he went to Old Peng's house a few days ago to get the crocodile skin back, he searched the forest but didn't find a tea tree. However, there were a few wild tea trees at the entrance of the village, but they didn't grow very well, and they didn't produce much tea. If he wasn't careful, he would miss the season, so no one cared about them. He could just ask for one.

When Captain Yang heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief and nodded immediately, "Okay."

Then he looked at the warehouse keeper, Huang, "Anyway, no one manages those tea trees. Just bring them all over to him."

The warehouse keeper, Huang, also raised his head and smiled, "That's no problem. Our team isn't like the Ninth Team. We don't have anyone who can fry tea, and there aren't many tea trees. Those few at the entrance of the village were dug up from the Ninth Team by the old captain. I'll bring someone to dig them up for you later."

Chen Fan immediately smiled and raised his glass, "Then I'll toast the three leaders."

The glasses clinked. An Quan took a sip, put down his glass, and smiled at Chen Fan, "Well, you've made a profit again. Hey, how much did you get for the manuscript fee this time?"

Hearing this, Captain Yang and the other two looked at Chen Fan, their eyes full of curiosity.

That's right, they almost forgot that there was a manuscript fee for publishing articles.

Chen Fan shook his head and smiled, "There's no manuscript fee. They just gave me a few tickets."

An Quan, "I'm talking about the tickets. You didn't think the manuscript fee was money, did you?!"

Chen Fan: Okay, I misunderstood.

He chuckled, "Mainly 10 industrial coupons and 50 jin of national food stamps, plus a little bit of oil coupons, cloth coupons, sugar coupons, tea coupons, and cigarette coupons. It's not much, just a token."

Here he laid a trap, not telling the truth, but not hiding too much, wanting to be vague and unpredictable.

An Quan nodded, "That's about right."

He acted like he knew everything and turned to look at Captain Yang and the other two, "The school I went to was a factory's children's school. There were kindergartens to high schools. One of our school's language teachers often published articles.

The manuscript fees were high at that time. If his submissions were accepted, it was 10 yuan for 1,000 words. Moreover, the Writers Association also gave out monthly benefits, mainly cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, and tea. Every month, one carton of cigarettes, one bottle of wine, half a catty of sugar, and two ounces of tea. And there were rules. The cigarettes were Flying Horse cigarettes, which were expensive at that time and as famous as Zhonghua. The wine was also good wine, a few yuan a bottle. In addition, there would be big gift packages during festivals.

Later, when the manuscript fees were cancelled, they gave out tickets. He never lacked non-staple food."

Chen Fan turned to look at him, even forgetting to eat the fish in his chopsticks, and asked in surprise, "They gave out things directly?"

An Quan looked at him and nodded vigorously, "Yes, they gave out things directly."

Saying that, he pointed at him, his eyes full of sympathy, "You didn't catch the good times. Otherwise, in addition to getting money, you could also join the Writers Association with this novel, and the monthly benefits would be higher than a county-level cadre."

As soon as he finished speaking, Accountant Liu asked, "Can't you join the Writers Association now?"

An Quan ate some food, shook his head, and smiled, "It was stopped a few years ago. Let's see if it can be restored someday."

Then he comforted Chen Fan, "It's not bad now either. Ordinary people can't save up so many tickets. It's better than nothing."

Chen Fan pursed his lips. Was he being sympathized with?