Reborn in 1977

Chapter 174: Seeking Help

The class lasted for a full 100 minutes. Chen Fan explained all the key points, giving everyone a solid understanding of what they were going to learn and where to start.

Seeing that it was almost 9 o'clock, and Chen Fan needed to return to the broadcasting station to turn off the radio, he announced the end of the class.

As he walked out with his lecture notes, he heard two 'ding' sounds in his head.

In addition to his regular work these past few days, he had been practicing martial arts, gun handling, calligraphy, and veterinary skills every day. He would occasionally mold clay, draw sketches, and cook meals. He received experience points daily, but there would be no notification unless he leveled up.

The two 'ding' sounds indicated that two of his skills had leveled up.

He opened the skill panel and saw that his teaching skill had reached LV4 (10/200) and his veterinary skill had reached LV3 (5/100).

He was slightly stunned, not expecting that teaching one class would level up two skills at the same time.

Could this be considered killing two birds with one stone?

LV3 was considered the level of a formal worker, so could he now be considered a qualified veterinarian?

Just as he walked to the backyard, preparing to go upstairs, someone suddenly appeared in front of him.

Chen Fan was lost in thought at the time, so when someone jumped out in front of him, he was startled. He quickly took two steps back, and upon seeing clearly, he realized it was a girl of about 14 or 15 years old. Her face was smaller than the palm of his hand, and her eyes were wide and round, filled with stubbornness.

Chen Fan blinked. "You, who are you?"

The girl suddenly bowed to Chen Fan at a ninety-degree angle, and without straightening up, she said while bent over, "Hello, Teacher Chen. My name is Zhang Cuie. I am 14 years old and a graduate of elementary school. I scored 276 on the exam, which is the first place in the 5th team. I want to learn veterinary medicine from you."

Chen Fan was dumbfounded by her actions. He then realized that the score was quite high, even higher than Huang Ying and Yang Ju.

After a couple seconds of being stunned, he smiled and said, "No, although I suggested this veterinary class, the spots are all determined by your team. It's not my business."

Zhang Cuie then straightened up, puffed out her cheeks, and said angrily, "They don't keep their word. They clearly said that whoever gets first place will be allowed to study veterinary medicine, but after I got first place, they let the person in second place go."

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly. This little girl was a bit stubborn.

Then, he patiently explained, "I am only in charge of teaching. The candidates are decided by the team. So, if you want to join the veterinary class, you need to get Team Leader Zhang's approval and replace Xiao Yimin, because I can't teach too many people. Too many people will affect the learning effect, and no one might get a veterinary certificate by then. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Zhang Cuie lowered her head, her mouth pouting high. Her voice even had a hint of crying as she said, "I clearly got first place, but they don't keep their word."

Chen Fan was helpless. He looked back and saw that there was no one there.

That's right, this was the backyard. Unless he shouted loudly, the people in front wouldn't be able to hear him.

Looking at the little girl again, Chen Fan sighed slightly.

Although she was very unconvinced, she didn't make a big fuss. Otherwise, she could have gone over during the lecture just now, or waited for him to come out of the classroom and argue in front of everyone in the front yard, but she didn't.

So, this little girl wasn't trying to cause trouble, but simply wanted to attend the class.

Zhang Cuie looked up at Chen Fan and said softly, "Teacher Chen, I'll just listen in the corner. I promise not to talk, okay?"

Chen Fan looked at her, pondered for two seconds, and asked, "Let me ask you a question. Why do you insist on learning veterinary medicine?"

Zhang Cuie's face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head without saying anything.

Chen Fan was helpless again. What was there that she couldn't say?

After several seconds, Zhang Cuie said softly, "I, I want to learn a skill. I don't want to farm for the rest of my life."

Chen Fan nodded in realization. It was normal to have such thoughts.

Or rather, that's what farmers all over the country thought these days.

As the old saying goes, "A craftsman will never starve in a famine year." The people's thinking was very simple. Learning a skill could not only support a family but also be passed on to future generations.

At this time, Chen Fan also realized why the production team valued him, this "potential" veterinarian, so much. Perhaps what they valued was not just the veterinary skills, but that he wasn't hiding anything and was generously teaching the skills to others.

To put it bluntly, learning this skill meant that even if there were disasters here in the future, and everyone had to go out and beg for food, those with skills would live ten times better than ordinary commune members.

Chen Fan nodded slowly, thought for a moment, raised his hand, and pointed to the stairs. "My radio is still on. It's almost time. Let's go up and talk."

After speaking, he walked upstairs.

Zhang Cuie's eyes lit up immediately, and she quickly followed behind him.

When they arrived at the broadcasting room, Chen Fan pulled out a chair and sat down. He also pointed to the chair next to him. "Sit."

After Zhang Cuie sat down, he said, "So you just want to learn a skill, and not necessarily veterinary medicine?"

He paused for a moment and smiled. "You can think about this question carefully first. You don't need to answer right away."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cuie's expression couldn't help but become hesitant.

After all, she was just a 14- or 15-year-old girl. She had never been outside, let alone the commune, a few times in her life. Her knowledge was probably not even as good as that of a primary school student in later generations. It was normal to hesitate when faced with this kind of life choice question.

Chen Fan wasn't in a hurry either. When 9 o'clock arrived, and the morning broadcast ended, he deftly turned off the radio and the receiver, then smiled and said, "You can score 276 on the exam. This score is enough to get you into junior high school, but you only graduated from elementary school. This shows that you are a diligent and studious child."

Zhang Cuie glanced at him, couldn't help but puff out her cheeks, and muttered silently in her heart, 'Aren't you only 16 years old? You're only a year or two older than me. And you're calling me a child?'

However, Chen Fan was already a teacher in her eyes, so she didn't dare to talk back.

Chen Fan took his water bottle and took a sip of water, looked at her, and continued, "Frankly speaking, although the list this time was submitted by each team, I myself don't approve of girls learning veterinary medicine."

Zhang Cuie's face was immediately filled with disappointment. She looked at him and said, "Do you also look down on girls?"

"No, no, no, no, no."

Chen Fan quickly denied five times in a row, and said seriously, "It's not that I look down on girls, but in terms of innate conditions, there is a specialization in skills. Some jobs are more suitable for girls than boys. For example, nurses and accountants. Girls are more careful, so they have more advantages in doing this kind of work.

"And veterinary medicine? You deal with livestock all day long. It's smelly, and many times when giving livestock injections and medicine, you have to hold the livestock down to do it. Girls are relatively weaker than men, so they will be slightly worse than boys when doing this kind of work."

He smiled and said, "Of course, there are definitely girls who are stronger than boys, but look at yourself."

He pointed to Zhang Cuie, "Skinny arms and legs, can you be stronger than Xiao Yimin?"

Zhang Cuie lowered her head and didn't speak.