Reborn in 1977

Chapter 108: The Main Problem Is I Don't Know How

Today is Thursday, the day we agreed to pick up the cotton wadding.

As soon as the morning broadcast ended, Chen Fan packed the prizes into a bag and ran home.

Jiang Lili was busy in the yard as usual.

Dike maintenance and ditch renovation were both good jobs, and since they only needed men, she naturally wasn't eligible. She couldn't even get a job lighting the fire and cooking, so she could only stay at home and busy herself.

Chen Fan really didn't understand where Jiang Lili found so many things to do.

If it were him, he wouldn't be able to find anything else to do besides cooking, washing clothes, and sweeping the floor.

But look at her, dismantling and washing things one moment, sewing and mending the next, watering vegetables, and then organizing the woodpile. It seemed like she had endless tasks to do all day long.

To this, Chen Fan could only say that talents differed, and there was no need to force it.

Seeing Chen Fan, Jiang Lili put down the needlework in her hand and walked over quickly, smiling, "I heard that the article you wrote was published in the Yunhu Daily?"

While taking off his satchel, Chen Fan asked curiously, "How did you know?"

He had brought today's Yunhu Daily back with him, but one was missing. Needless to say, Secretary Yang had intercepted that newspaper.

Xiao Liewen even found a large photo frame and put the entire page of the newspaper inside. Then Zhang Wenliang hammered in the nails, Zhang Changjiang handed him the hammer, and Ye Shubao checked the angle, hanging the frame in the brigade office, afraid that others wouldn't see it.

When Chen Fan came back, there were still many members of Team 5 crowded there to watch the excitement.

In fact, most people couldn't even recognize all the words on the newspaper, but being crowded there seemed to give them a sense of shared glory.

Hearing Chen Fan's words, Jiang Lili said with a smile, "Huang Ying came specifically to tell me. She said that when the postman delivered the letters today, he made a special detour to Team 6 just to tell everyone the news. And there are portraits of Captain Yang and the others in the newspaper."

Chen Fan was a little surprised, but not because of the postman spreading the news, "Did Huang Ying become friends with you?"

He hadn't seen anyone take the initiative to talk to Jiang Lili in the dozen days he'd been here. Today, Huang Ying came to tell her this news, which was a big change.

Jiang Lili pursed her lips and smiled, but shook her head, "Not really friends, just chatted a few more times at Uncle Huang Si's house last time."

She said it that way, but it could be seen that she was still relatively happy.

Chen Fan laughed and said, "Friends all start from chatting."

Of course, there was another possibility that Huang Ying had come specifically to inquire about inside information.

But no matter what, change was a good thing.

While speaking, Chen Fan had already entered the house. First, he took out all the things in the bag and put them on the table, then hung the bag on the wall.

Jiang Lili immediately saw the folded certificate of merit, her eyes glued to it, "Is this a certificate of merit?"

Chen Fan looked back, "Ah, Secretary Yang and the others gave it just now, saying it's a reward for publishing an article in the Yunhu Daily."

Jiang Lili looked at him, "Can I take a look?"

Chen Fan laughed, "Look all you want."

Jiang Lili carefully picked up the certificate of merit and opened it, looking at the "Advanced Laborer" on it, her eyes full of envy.

She had worked diligently for three years. She certainly couldn't compare to the old members here, but among the educated youth, she was definitely the most hardworking and had the best work performance, even stronger than many members of the same age, but she never got the chance to be named an advanced educated youth every year.

Seeing this certificate of merit at this time, she was naturally very envious.

Chen Fan noticed the look on her face, pursed his lips, and didn't say anything. If it was something else, it wouldn't matter if he gave it to her, but this certificate of merit, if you said you were giving it to someone else, others might think you were insulting them.

He rubbed his hands and naturally changed the subject, "I'll go and pick up the cotton wadding first. Help me take out the two bowls I used to buy tofu last time, and take out two more bowls. If there's still tofu, buy some more."

Jiang Lili came back to her senses, dazed for a moment, before saying, "Ah, we probably can't use the baskets to carry it. We'll have to use a cart to pull it."

Chen Fan was a little strange, "Why is it okay when we go, but not when we come back?"

Jiang Lili put down the certificate of merit and gestured as she said, "The volume of raw cotton expands a lot when it's turned into cotton wadding. The baskets can't hold six quilts, and the baskets can easily break the cotton yarn.

Unless we wrap it tightly in cloth and carry it back directly with a carrying pole, but we don't have that much or that big of cloth."

If there were only two quilts of cotton wadding, you could wrap them in a sheet and tie a knot, and carry them away, but there were a total of six quilts, so there wasn't that much cloth to wrap them.

Chen Fan blinked, "Okay, I'll go borrow a cart from the captain."

Saying that, he walked outside.

He had just helped Captain Yang and the others show off in a big way, so they wouldn't even lend him a cart, would they?

Walking up the village road, people from the households he passed came out to greet him.

"Master Chen is back."

"Master Chen is so capable, the article he wrote was even published in the prefectural committee newspaper."

"Master Chen, have you eaten? We made meat in our house today, come over and have a drink."

Chen Fan also patiently responded one by one.

"Ah, just got off work."

"Thank you, thank you, it's just luck. It just so happened that no one else wrote it, so it was selected."

"You eat, you eat, I've already eaten. I'm going to the front to find the captain about something."

After an article was published on the county radio station and the Yunhu Daily, Chen Fan's image in the minds of the members was different again.

Before, he was capable, but he was just someone around them, so the feeling was naturally not so lofty.

This time was different. An article that could be published in the prefectural committee newspaper, could an ordinary person write that? That must be a cultured person, a Wenqu star!

But such a person lived in their team, what was that feeling?!

It was both awe and pride. If they could talk to such a person, tsk tsk, their faces would be glowing!

Chen Fan arrived at Captain Yang's house under such gazes.

Today's captain was especially enthusiastic, pulling him aside to ask about everything.

"You say such a big thing, why didn't you say anything in advance?"

Captain Yang criticized Chen Fan with a radiant face, "And you only drew the three of us, and you drew me so big, how bad is that?"

This familiar feeling made Chen Fan say without thinking, "Next time for sure, next time for sure."

Captain Yang also knew when to stop, "Mm, mm, pay attention next time."

Neither of them said what to pay attention to next time.

After a pause, Captain Yang looked at him, "Didn't you rest in the brigade office at noon? I heard people say that mental laborers are different from physical laborers. They use their brains and must ensure they get enough rest. You've worked hard writing articles too, don't overwork yourself."

Chen Fan chuckled, "That's right. Isn't there a market in a few days? I was thinking of taking the cotton that the team gave me to turn into cotton wadding and sell a few quilts, so I sent it to Team 10 to be made. I'm going to pick up the cotton wadding today."

Captain Yang raised his head, "Oh, so that's how it is."

Then looking at him, "Then you came to me for...?"

Chen Fan rubbed his hands and smiled, "It's just that there's a little too much cotton wadding, and the baskets might not be able to hold it, so I wanted to borrow the team's cart."

Captain Yang said without hesitation, "A small matter. Go to the livestock shed at the entrance of the village and tell him I said so. Just ask him to let you use it."

After that, he asked very considerately, "Do you want me to get you a mule too?"

These words really surprised Chen Fan. Although he had only been here for less than half a month, he was very clear about what livestock meant to the production team.

Before today, Captain Yang would definitely not have taken the initiative to offer a mule, even if Chen Fan made the request, he would most likely refuse.

Someone who had only been here for less than half a month, who knew if he would run away with the mule.

But now, he actually took the initiative to offer to lend a mule.

Really, so touched!

Chen Fan looked very grateful, "Thank you, Captain, there's no need for a mule, mainly because I don't know how to drive one."

I don't know if it's Eryang or the flu, it seems like my brain has been sealed, asking for votes to comfort o (╥﹏╥) o