Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 628 Big Difference

First, we went back to the guesthouse to pick up Liu Lu, then went to the post office to send a telegram, quickly ate something, and then drove to Lujiawan.

They switched from a car to a small boat and returned to Lujiawan around 5 p.m.

When the small boat docked, birds flew, dogs jumped, and horses neighed; the dike was incredibly lively.

Standing on the dike and looking into the distance, the autumn rice has grown very tall, a lush green expanse, with the seedlings swaying in the wind like green waves.

In rural areas, people still need to consult the lunar calendar when doing farm work.

It's currently the end of July in the lunar calendar. The double harvest has long since ended, and the autumn harvest is still more than a month away, so farm work isn't too busy.

There were only a few scattered people weeding and spraying pesticides in the rice paddies, while duck herders waved long bamboo poles with strips of cloth tied to them, shouting as they drove the ducks from one pond to another.

Many others were busy at their own vegetable gardens, chopping pig feed, feeding chickens, ducks and geese, or tending to rabbits that had already been ready for market.

The rabbits Chen Fan is raising now are not the wild rabbits he domesticated last year, but the large white rabbits he bought from Shanghai at the beginning of the year.

These specially bred meat rabbits are larger, more docile, and reproduce faster. In just over six months, they have become common in almost every household.

With last year's example in mind, everyone in Lujiawan is now engaged in aquaculture. Every household raises pigs and rabbits, and those with larger families also raise chickens, ducks, and geese.

Not only do families raise livestock, but small teams and large teams also have their own breeding farms.

Needless to say, the brigade's breeding farm was designed and its breeding and disease prevention plans were formulated by Chen Fan. It was located next to the brigade headquarters and had the most complete range of breeds, including various domestic poultry and livestock, as well as large livestock such as horses, cattle, and sheep.

The team's farm simply copied the operation, only on a much smaller scale, without large livestock, and the breeds were similar to domesticated poultry and livestock.

Family farming allows individuals to freely choose from pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and geese. The team's veterinarian provides technical guidance and disease prevention support. After a small portion of the income is handed over to the team, the remainder is distributed among the team members.

Thanks to the strong performance of the sales company led by Zhang Wenliang, they secured one deal after another and even opened several more cooked food shops at the wharves upstream and downstream of Yunhu Lake.

Otherwise, let alone taking care of other teams, it would be a huge problem if they could even sell their own goods in Lujiawan.

Of course, there are no such concerns now. We sell as much as we receive, without any discounts.

Moreover, Lujiawan is currently considering establishing a food factory. Once this processing plant is set up, the entire Nanhu Commune will not be able to handle all the demand. It would be perfect to bring in the two neighboring communes to supply Lujiawan together.

Standing on the embankment, Chen Fan pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at Lujiawan, which was very different from last year. He couldn't help but put his hands on his hips and feel a little triumphant.

Looking back at Liu Lu, she had one load on her back and another on her shoulder, with two large bags in her left hand and a computer case in her right. She had climbed up a slope, and a layer of fine sweat had already appeared on her forehead.

Chen Fan frowned slightly, "Your stamina isn't good. You can't even lift this little bit."

Liu Lu said with a wronged expression, "Master, the braised meat and bones are too heavy, and the computer is also very heavy."

Why do we have to carry all our own luggage while our master doesn't have to carry anything?
Isn't this just common sense?!
How can a disciple follow his master around and still make the master work hard?

Since I am so filial, my master will surely teach me his most secret skills in the future.

Upon thinking of this, Liu Lu immediately beamed with joy.

Oh yes, she has now formally become Chen Fan's disciple, and even his future master's wife has drunk the tea she offered.

Although it's a bit of a pity that the master's wife isn't the eldest sister, it's still a cause for celebration that she can become a formal disciple of the master, just like Zhang Cuie from Team 5.

Look at Zhang Cuie before, she was so arrogant. So when she was chosen to go to her master's house last year, her parents' requirements were either to marry into the family or to formally become his apprentice.

They used to pin their hopes on the eldest sister's marriage, but unfortunately she got into university... well, maybe that's not so bad.

In short, having lost all hope, they placed their hopes on themselves.

It's impossible for me to marry into the family now, since my parents didn't give birth to me as beautiful as my master's wife. But having formally become her apprentice, I guess I've completed my mission.

Chen Fan looked at the girl. She had just been looking miserable, but now she was chuckling to herself. He couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. She was still young and immature.

When will I be able to be as mature and composed as myself?

The barking of dogs and neighing of horses on the dike, along with the chirping of falcons and the circling calls of mynah birds in the sky, startled Captain Yang and his companions who were smoking and chatting at the doorway.

He waved and said, "Let's go up and take a look."

The youngest son, Yang Jun, immediately ran up to the roof, stood on the roof and looked out, then shouted down at the top of his lungs, "Dad, Teacher Chen is back with Liu Lu!"

He stood tall and had a loud voice; not only could his father hear it, but the entire village of Team 6, including Chen Fan on the dike, could hear it clearly.

The sound could be heard even on the dike, so naturally, people working in the fields not far from the village could also hear it.

Everyone looked up toward the dam, but almost no one moved.

It wasn't that they had a problem with Chen Fan, but from beginning to end, only Captain Yang, Warehouse Keeper Huang, and Accountant Liu were close to him in their team. The others were at most neighbors or acquaintances with Teacher Chen. They would greet each other and offer a cigarette when they met, but their relationship was far from that level.

If you were like Captain Yang and the others, and went to Teacher Chen's house as soon as you heard he was back, that would be considered tactless.

So after hearing the shout, those working alone glanced at it and continued working, while those nearby started talking, and those still at home came out to chat with their neighbors, gossiping about Teacher Chen taking Liu Lu to Shanghai to broaden her horizons.

As for Yangmei and Huangli, they were still working at the brigade headquarters at that time, so their voices couldn't travel that far.

On the other side, Captain Yang heard his son shout and immediately got up and went inside to call the brigade headquarters. "Captain Xiao, is it you on duty again? Ah, it's nothing, it's just that Xiao Chen just brought Liu Lu back. Yes, yes, they just arrived and haven't gone home yet. We saw them from the rooftop."

Could you please call Yang Mei and tell her to come back as soon as possible if she's not busy?

Yes, that's it. Thank you for your help.

After hanging up the phone, he turned and walked out of the house. Accountant Liu and custodian Huang were still standing at the door. As soon as he came out, without any greeting, the three of them walked together towards the back of the village.

On the embankment, Chen Fan pointed to the mare and said, "Take off the carrying pole, tie the rope tightly, and put the things on the horse's back. That will save you some effort."

Then he put his hands behind his back and shuffled down the slope.

Liu Lu's eyes lit up, and she quickly did as her master said.

Duo Duo and Qiu Qiu whimpered and wagged their tails at Chen Fan's feet, walking in an S-shape.

The foal followed along with light, quick steps.

It's almost two years old now, and its shoulder height is nearly 1.5 meters. When it grows up, it will definitely surpass its mother's height.

Actually, the so-called "Oriental horse" is more accurately divided into Oriental riding horse and Oriental draft horse. The draft horse is a breed developed from the Hungarian Persian draft horse and the Hokkaido mare.

The Japanese riding horses were developed in the early 20th century by crossbreeding world-famous Anglo-Norman horses and a small number of Arabian horses with native horses.

The final "Oriental Horse" was over 80% Anglo-Norman in bloodline, with only a very small amount of native horse blood, used to adapt it to the local climate.

Although they obtained the coveted Japanese horses, one consequence of this was that it nearly led to the extinction of Japan's native horses. Especially after Japan replaced its cavalry with mechanized legions, without continuous improvement, the so-called Japanese horses rapidly degenerated. Some reverted to Anglo-Norman horses, a small portion degenerated into native horses, and many more became inferior hybrids.

The Japanese horse eventually disappeared completely.

So strictly speaking, Chen Fan's two horses should be Anglo-Norman horses.

However, since the common people knew that these horses were spoils of war, they continued to use the name "Eastern horses".

Xiao Ma stood with his head held high next to Chen Fan, looking quite pleased with himself.

Chen Fan placed his hand on the horse's back, felt the foal's stamina, and nodded inwardly.

This little guy is ready to start training.

Starting training at the age of two is the most suitable time for a riding horse, especially a warhorse. In the future, its speed and endurance will definitely far exceed that of the mare carrying two large packs.

After walking across the flower-covered hillside, I soon arrived at my doorstep.

Through the fence, Chen Fan touched the three pandas as a greeting before turning and going inside.

Liu Lu, carrying only a large backpack, had already stepped forward to get the key and open the door.

As usual, the house was clean and tidy, requiring no cleaning at all.

After unloading her luggage, Liu Lu first poured Chen Fan a large cup of cold tea, and then went to boil water to brew the tea.

Just as Chen Fan was about to take a shower, he heard Captain Yang's voice from outside, "Little Chen, we're here."

Following the sound, Chen Fan went to the front of the slope to greet them. When the three came up, he handed them cigarettes. "Didn't you go to work today?"

Captain Yang took the cigarette and followed them back, saying, "These days aren't so busy. Half a day's work in the morning is enough. In the afternoon, we'll arrange for a few more people to weed and kill pests. We just need to wait for the rice to ripen and for the autumn harvest."

Chen Fan nodded. "The harvest this year was alright, wasn't it?"

Upon hearing this question, all three of them burst into laughter.

Accountant Liu, who knew the harvest best, immediately began to talk at length about the bumper harvest.

This year, the proportion of hybrid rice planting has increased, and the yield has also increased significantly. After this wave of autumn rice harvest is completed, starting from next spring, all five production teams in the entire Nanhu Commune are preparing to plant hybrid rice.

All the boasts that Secretary Qian made to Secretary Yang and the others last year have come true this year.

Then Captain Yang asked, "That plot of land behind your house wasn't included in the production team's rice paddy count. What are you thinking? Should you continue planting those three types of common rice, or should you also plant hybrid rice?"

Chen Fan led them to sit down in the living room and turned on the electric fan to dissipate the little heat.

He then sat down in a chair and said with a smile, "Let's not bother with that little bit of land. Let's just continue planting the same three types of rice."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Next spring, we'll divide the paddy fields into four sections, and we'll also plant some of the Jiangnan rice varieties we have here."

Captain Yang couldn't help but click his tongue, "Don't all rice taste the same? Hybrid rice tastes slightly worse, but not by much."

Before Chen Fan could speak, he waved his hand, "I was just saying, plant whatever you like..."

He then looked at Accountant Liu and said, "Old Liu, write this down, and don't forget it next year."

Accountant Liu, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, took out his notebook from his pocket, held it in one hand and a pen in the other, and began to write, saying, "I won't forget it."

After he finished recording, he looked up at Chen Fan and said, "The rice harvested from your field has been returned to you as your rations. Any excess will be credited to Liu Lu and the others. You won't be shortchanged by a single grain. The three varieties were divided into three batches and all were marked. Yang Mei and the others know about it."

Chen Fan nodded. "Okay, thank you."

Accountant Liu chuckled and said, "Don't be so polite."

At this point, Captain Yang mentioned another matter: "The dozen or so educated youths at the educated youth settlement all passed the university entrance exam this year. They all passed the undergraduate admission line. The worst one got into an undergraduate university in the provincial capital, and the best one got into a university in Beijing."

They were originally planning to wait for you to come back so they could treat you to a meal as a way of expressing their gratitude.

"Because you haven't come back yet, and they need to report for duty before September 1st, they couldn't wait any longer, so they each prepared a gift."

She pointed to the guest room next door and said, "Xiaomei and the others put them away in that small guest room in the back."

Chen Fan chuckled twice but didn't say anything.

Gifts don't matter; he wasn't there to express his gratitude. What he was more concerned about was another question: "Has no one been sent from above?"

Captain Yang shook his head, smoking a cigarette, and said, "No, I heard that the prefectural committee hasn't given any definite answer yet about whether or not to send more educated youth down here."

Last time, Secretary Qian accompanied a provincial leader here to inspect the harvest season, and Secretary Yang mentioned it briefly. That leader said they might not send anyone down for the summer; they're waiting for further instructions from higher authorities.

Even if there's no definite answer this year, arrangements will be made at the end of the year. However, the situation this year is very complicated, and many things are uncertain.

Chen Fan listened and nodded slightly, his eyes thoughtful.

If his memory is correct, in early 79, that is, this winter, after the Spring Festival, there would still be a group of educated youth being assigned to schools.

In fact, this is the smallest group of people. Many places across the country have already made their own decisions and suspended the arrangement of unemployed graduates to go to the countryside.

Even if arrangements are made, it will be the last batch.

This group of people didn't stay in the countryside for long; almost all of them returned to the city that year. Those who stayed in the countryside for many years and insisted on not settling down completely also returned to the city after the complete closure of the educated youth settlements in January 1980. The term "educated youth" officially became history.

Chen Fan took a puff of his cigarette and said with a smile, "It's better if they don't come. If they did, you would have to make arrangements, and I wouldn't have any peace and quiet. If we hadn't sent anyone down this time, there would be no need for those educated youth to apply to come in the future."

The reason this group of educated youth fought for a spot in Lujiawan was not only because Chen Fan's teaching reputation had spread far and wide, but also because all of his students were college students.

But the main reason is that the courses taught in school before had nothing to do with exams.

However, since the beginning of this year, the previous teaching textbooks have been fully reinstated.

With a proper teaching syllabus and good teachers, urban students may not be willing to come to the countryside to suffer.

Besides, at the beginning of the year, he was a cadre in the health department and was still in the Yunhu circle, which is why those educated youth wanted to come here to freeload off the teachers.

Now he is the deputy director of the provincial writers' association. He has gained considerable influence not only in the provincial capital but also nationwide, even beyond Yunhu. If he doesn't want to go back to his old ways, he can simply retreat to the provincial capital or even Beijing. What can those who come to him do then?
Having figured all this out, Chen Fan completely put these people out of his mind and began to look forward to the day when the educated youth settlement would be closed a year later.

He'll talk to the team and ask them to take over the educated youth settlement for renovation; that place will definitely be more comfortable to live in.

The former educated youth settlement is quite large, which is suitable for renovation. More importantly, it was his first stop in this era and the place where he met Jiang Lili. Keeping it as a memento is better than letting it fall into disrepair and collapse in the future.

(End of this chapter)