Reborn in 1977

Chapter 538: A Big Change

After 50 days away, returning home, it was as neat and clean as before.

It seemed the three little girls hadn't been slacking off.

Since they were all familiar faces, Chen Fan didn't stand on ceremony. He had Captain Yang and the others drink tea in the living room downstairs, while he went upstairs to his study. Sure enough, there was an ordinary envelope on the desk.

If there was anything unusual about this envelope, it was the "Jiangnan University" printed in the lower right corner.

He picked up the envelope and looked at it, the seal intact.

He took a paper knife from the bamboo holder on the corner of the desk, cut open the seal, and poured out two sheets of paper. Opening them, he saw the graduate admission notice from Jiangnan University, which also stated "Literature Major" and "Chinese Modern Literature" as the research direction.

(78 Graduate Entrance Examination Admission Ticket)

The two light sheets of paper were as simple and unadorned as the undergraduate admission notice.

Like the 1977 college entrance examination, the graduate entrance examinations across the country this year were also handled separately. Not only did the timing vary, but some even directly abandoned the 1977 class and only prepared for the 1978 enrollment.

Generally speaking, the application time for the 1978 graduate enrollment was in March, then candidates would take the preliminary examination in April or May, the school would send re-examination notices in June, the re-examination would be held at the school in July, and finally the results would be released in August and admission notices issued, with enrollment in early September.

The entire enrollment process lasted nearly half a year.

(78 Re-examination Notice, notice issued on June 15th, re-examination at Peking University on July 13th)

However, this was only the application process for the 1978 graduate students, and the 1977 class was different.

For example, the graduate students recruited by the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences "snatched a class", with the examination in March 1978, the re-examination in April, and enrollment in May, the time was particularly tight.

There were also some other schools that, after the completion of the 1977 college entrance examination, immediately began the 1977 graduate enrollment work, rushing to advance the enrollment time, basically completing the new student enrollment work in April to May, so that they could "snatch" an extra class of students.

This batch, like the 1977 undergraduates, was counted as the 1977 class despite enrolling in 1978, but in reality, they were counted as the 1978 class because the examination and enrollment were both in 1978.

Chen Fan was now holding such a graduate admission notice.

So, he was already an "old student" before he even went to school to register.

"Time flies."

Chen Fan glanced at the enrollment instructions again, which were similar to those for undergraduates, and then stuffed the two sheets of paper back and put them in the drawer.

Then he went downstairs and ran to the panda enclosure.

In the enclosure, Gun Gun was lying on a thick wooden beam, sulking. When its owner came back, it howled at him, but he didn't even come over. Hmph, it didn't want to pay attention to him!

Then it saw its owner walk out of the house, carrying a basket in his hand, filled with many delicious things, which smelled very fragrant.

However, Gun Gun resolutely didn't move, instead turning its head away. Hmph, it was angry and wouldn't eat.

Chen Fan walked into the yard carrying the basket. Seeing Gun Gun's appearance, he couldn't help but grin, "Oh, are you still angry? Then I'll give these things to Chang Chang and Shui Shui."

The two little ones were only two months away from turning one year old. They were fed well every day, and their bodies already resembled their mother's in some ways. They were round and chubby, and looked very well-nourished, but they were much smaller.

The mother was angry, but they weren't. As soon as they saw their owner coming, they immediately pounced on him, not to mention that there were delicious things in the basket.

Chen Fan put down the basket, sat on the stone, and laughed as he hugged the two pandas, "Oh dear, so heavy, I can hardly hold you."

But luckily, he could still hold them and play with them.

Unexpectedly, just as he put the two pandas on his lap, Gun Gun couldn't wait to run over, "Awoo."

Chen Fan immediately burst into laughter, and the next second he was pounced on by the embarrassed and angry Gun Gun, scaring him into quickly begging for mercy, "Okay, okay, I won't laugh at you, eat, eat."

After playing around for a while, Chen Fan sat down again, Gun Gun leaning against his back, holding a bamboo shoot and chewing sweetly, Chang Chang and Shui Shui also sitting on Chen Fan's lap, each holding a bamboo shoot and chewing, only occasionally looking back to make sure their owner was still there.

After a basket of bamboo shoots was eaten, Chen Fan patted the heads of the three pandas, played with them for a while, and then got up and walked out.

Having eaten the shoots and played, Gun Gun was satisfied and continued to play games in the enclosure with its two little darlings.

They were playing "Gun Gun Selling Art", somersaulting and handstanding. It still remembered the skills taught by the animal trainer before, and planned to pass them on to its two children.

Chen Fan came out of the panda house, and Huang Li immediately came over and said, "Teacher Chen, the hot water is ready, you can take a bath."

After a pause, she lowered her head and said embarrassedly, "I haven't handled the things you brought back before, and I don't know how to cook them."

She was talking about the box of wild game that Chen Fan had given her earlier, asking her to pick out a portion to cook for Captain Yang and the others, but she didn't know how.

Chen Fan smiled, "It's okay, just follow the way you cook wild boar meat. Isn't there a steel needle brush for catching frogs at home? Wash the steel needles clean, scald them with boiling water to disinfect them, and then use the steel needle brush to poke the largest piece of tiger meat all over, so it will be softer."

He said, thinking for a moment, "How about this, you do what you can do first, and I'll teach you how to do it after I take a bath."

Huang Li then smiled happily and nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay."

Captain Yang had just come out of the house and stood outside the panda enclosure watching Chen Fan tease the three bears. Seeing Chen Fan teaching his apprentice at this time, he couldn't help but walk over and laugh, "Only you teach your apprentice so patiently. In the early years, the village craftsmen taught their apprentices, who wasn't beaten and scolded."

Chen Fan patted the dust off his body, glanced at Yang Mei who was helping him take his change of clothes into the bathroom, and said with a smile, "I'm definitely different, I'm a cultured person."

Accountant Liu also walked over, smoking a cigarette, and said with a smile, "That's right, otherwise why would everyone want to become your apprentice."

He turned his head to look at the pandas in the enclosure and said, "There's also something else, it's not a big deal, just telling you."

Chen Fan followed his gaze, then turned back, "Not enough bamboo to eat?"

Accountant Liu gave a thumbs up, "You really have a clever mind. Before I even said it, you could guess."

He pointed to the pandas and said, "Before, we raised one big and two small ones, and the bamboo in our own team was enough. Now the two small ones have grown up, and they only eat arrow bamboo, not mao bamboo. There was a time when the food supply was almost not enough, and we supplemented it with vegetables.

But later, the other teams knew about this, and they would bring some bamboo when they came to deliver goods, so that we could supply it.

That little bamboo is not worth much money, they didn't make any requests, and when we settled accounts with them, we would slightly add a few yuan to make it a round number, anyway, everyone can save face. This is not a big deal, just mentioning it to you, it's also their kindness."

Chen Fan nodded in understanding, "I understand, I'll remember this favor."

Although he had previously used the diesel engine to fool Secretary Yang and the others into providing bamboo for Gun Gun for free, in the end, he still took advantage of them, and he had to acknowledge the favor he received.

He looked through the fence at the three pandas playing happily in the enclosure, and silently calculated in his heart that even if the food problem could be solved, when the Wildlife Protection Law came into effect in a few years, without legal procedures, the three bears would also be taken away by the zoo.

Well, it seems I have to find some time to meet Lao Guo.

Lao Guo, whose main job was the deputy director of Yunhu Zoo, and who was also the chairman of the Yunhu District Branch of the Writers Association, should have no problem helping with a small favor, right?!

…

Taking a bath, changing clothes, and then teaching Huang Li how to cook wild game.

By the time all the food was cooked, it was already past 5 o'clock.

During this time, Zhang Wenliang also rode his bicycle over. There was no doubt that he was called over by the myna.

The weather was neither cold nor hot now, and there were a few too many people, so they set up two tables in the yard.

Chen Fan, Captain Yang, Accountant Liu, Guard Huang, and Zhang Wenliang were at one table, and the others would rather squeeze together than join their table. Fortunately, the round table was relatively large, and thirteen people could squeeze in.

The three girls naturally took their bowls and went to eat in the house, not joining in the fun with these men.

Chen Fan stood up and first raised a glass of wine, "First of all, I want to thank all the leaders, during the days when I was not at home…"

Then he was pulled down by Zhang Wenliang, "Cut it out. You are now a deputy director, the same level as the county magistrate. A hundred years ago, we would have to kowtow to you. Still a leader, a tie is more like it."

Chen Fan looked at him in surprise, "Yo, someone who has been to the big port is different. You even know about ties. Did you buy two to hide at home?"

Zhang Wenliang rolled his eyes, about to speak.

Chen Fan changed his face again and said earnestly, "Don't mention kowtowing again, it's not conducive to unity. Now it's a new society and a new era, everyone is the same."

Captain Yang and the other three grinned and laughed, watching them joke around.

Naturally, no words of thanks were spoken.

Everyone directly raised their glasses and had a lively toast.

Putting down his glass, Zhang Wenliang said seriously, "The things I brought back from Shanghai have all been arranged. According to your instructions, the domestic rabbits are not raised with the wild rabbits, but a separate rabbit shed has been set up to avoid bacterial infections. Broiler chickens, laying hens, and three pairs of lake sheep are also treated in the same way, raised separately, and not mixed with other poultry and livestock.

The 15 kinds of fruit tree seedlings are being planted on a small hill found by the brigade headquarters…"

Chen Fan immediately widened his eyes, "The seeds and fruit tree seedlings are mine!"

Zhang Wenliang picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. Just as he was about to speak, his eyes suddenly lit up, "What kind of meat is this? The taste is very special."

Chen Fan, "Tiger meat. No, don't interrupt…"

"Tiger meat?"

Zhang Wenliang's eyes lit up at once, and he no longer had the mind to talk about anything else. He immediately took the plate and shoveled it into his bowl.

When Captain Yang and the other three saw this, they quickly stepped forward to snatch it. After much effort, they snatched the plate back, leaving only half of it inside.

Chen Fan looked at the four of them, not even drinking their wine, burying their heads in their food, a little unbearable to look at.

Isn't it just tiger meat, is it necessary to be so uncouth?

Then he knew that it was not just uncouth, it was simply silent!

Okay, Chen Fan didn't say anything, picked up his bowl and ate.

If they didn't drink alcohol, people in this era ate quickly, especially the strong laborers, who ate like a whirlwind.

In just ten minutes, a table of dishes was left with only a mess of cups and plates, no, it should be a mess of bowls and plates, the wine glasses hadn't been touched.

Zhang Wenliang put down his rice bowl, wiped his mouth, and then let out a satisfied burp. He exclaimed, "I never thought I'd have the chance to eat tiger meat in my life!"

Captain Yang followed suit, comfortably patting his stomach, and asked curiously, "What are the other kinds?"

Chen Fan shrugged and pointed to the dishes, saying, "This is wolf meat, this is venison, this is gazelle, and this is leopard. That's all the wild game we have."

Accountant Liu put down his chopsticks and said contentedly, "This is more than enough. Tiger and wolf, those are fierce beasts! I never thought we'd have the chance to feast on them."

Storekeeper Huang nodded repeatedly, "Agreed."

Chen Fan blinked at him, "That's rare. Storekeeper Huang agreeing with Accountant Liu!"

As soon as he said that, Zhang Wenliang and Captain Yang couldn't help but laugh, while Storekeeper Huang and Accountant Liu blushed.

Storekeeper Huang quickly said, "We're just joking around normally. We don't have any irreconcilable conflicts, let alone any grudges."

Accountant Liu nodded repeatedly, "Agreed."

As soon as he finished speaking, the laughter grew louder.

Having satisfied their appetites, they finally picked up their wine glasses to savor the drinks.

Zhang Wenliang continued the previous topic, saying, "There were five or six saplings of each fruit tree. You don't need that many by yourself, so we left you one of each kind. The rest were planted in another area. If they bear fruit, the brigade headquarters will have another orchard, and you'll get a share of the harvest without having to manage it. Isn't that great?"

Chen Fan nodded in silence after hearing what they said.

He didn't really care anyway. As long as the things were in Lujia Village, where could they run off to?!

Zhang Wenliang continued, "As for your flower seeds, they were all planted on the slope in front according to your instructions. The three kinds of rice seeds were planted in the original pond on the back slope."

"Pond?"

Chen Fan pointed behind him, "You mean the pond on the back slope that was dug out for mud before?"

At this time, Captain Yang smiled and said, "The production team has planting plans for all the paddy fields. Not even a fraction of land can be used for other purposes. You bought rice seeds and had them brought back, so after thinking it over, we figured the only place we could use without reclaiming wasteland was the pond on the back slope of your house."

Accountant Liu nodded, "If we were to reclaim wasteland, we'd have to dig away those small hillocks, which would be too much work. The pond was already there and could be used directly, so we just repaired the edges, drained the accumulated water, and turned it into a paddy field."

Storekeeper Huang grinned, "That place isn't even an acre in total, so I didn't register it. When that field yields a harvest, it'll be handed over to the team for safekeeping, and then distributed to you and Huang Li when it's time to distribute rations."

Chen Fan looked at them and couldn't help but chuckle, "Alright, let's do it that way."

He then looked at Captain Yang and asked, "Have all the new educated youth arrived?"

Captain Yang nodded slightly, "They all came to register within two days of your departure. I must say, these people are quite different from those who came before. They're all well-behaved, doing whatever they're told. They go to work and leave work with everyone else every day.

In the evenings, they go to the newly built study room to read and study. Since Yang Ju and the others hadn't gone to study yet, I had them go over to tutor for a few days. I heard they've made quite a bit of progress.

Anyway, everything is normal now. Let's just leave it at that."

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment, "So, there are no troublemakers, and no one has made any special requests?"

Captain Yang shook his head without hesitation, "No."

Chen Fan pondered for two seconds and said, "In that case, we might as well take another step forward. When the two months are up, if they're still the same as before, without anyone complaining, we'll assign them a bit more light work.

Anyway, none of these people come from poor families, and they don't care about the team's work points, so let them have more time to study. When I have time, I'll occasionally go over and give them a lecture or two. As for whether they can get into university in July, that's up to them."

Captain Yang nodded slightly, "Alright."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his head again and said, "Speaking of lecturing, I was reminded that our Lujia Village Elementary School has been built. The students who used to attend Nanhua Elementary School have also returned to study. When the fourth-grade students pass the exam this year, the first batch of senior elementary students will begin classes.

The teachers all learned from those who were admitted to university, so teaching elementary school is definitely not a problem. They've all passed the school district's teacher qualification exam and are considered certified teachers. They're genuine village-run teachers and can receive brigade work points.

The other day, when I was chatting with Lao Xiao, oh, that's Principal Xiao, he asked me to help him with a favor and pass on a message to you. He'd like to invite you to give a few lectures to the students at the village school when you have time."

Accountant Liu laughed beside him, and then continued his words, "Those little guys admire you very much. The students you've taught have all been admitted to university. They say that as long as they listen to your lectures, they can also get into university, so they all want to hear you lecture.

Lao Xiao, in order to encourage the students' enthusiasm, asked Lao Yang for help and asked him to say a few good words to you. But this matter isn't urgent, you can go whenever you have time."

Chen Fan nodded without hesitation and smiled, "Alright, this isn't difficult. It's rare for the students to like me, it's my honor."

Captain Yang laughed and turned to Accountant Liu and Storekeeper Huang, saying, "See, I told you he would agree."

The food on the table was almost finished, and they drank a lot of wine with the remaining dishes and rice.

It wasn't until the sky darkened that they finished drinking and dispersed.

Captain Yang and the others went back to their respective homes. Zhang Wenliang was dizzy and about to ride his bicycle, but Chen Fan stopped him, "Wait, I'll go with you."

Zhang Wenliang thought he was worried that he had drunk too much, and immediately waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, it's not even half a catty, back then…"

Chen Fan turned around and walked into the house, "You slowly think about back then, I'll take something and send it to Fourth Grandpa Lu and your uncle."

Zhang Wenliang's face fell. Well, he was being sentimental.

After a while, Chen Fan came out carrying two large bamboo baskets. Yang Mei happened to have saddled the little mare and led it over, so he put the two baskets on the horse's back, then jumped on the horse and ran towards the Fifth Team.

Zhang Wenliang followed behind, pedaling hard on his bicycle, "Slow down, wait for me."

Chen Fan glanced back at him, "By the way, where's the Black Crow you bought? Why aren't you riding that?"

Zhang Wenliang's face darkened, "The Black Crow needs gasoline! It's okay to get some diesel in the team, but where can we get gasoline?!"

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly, "Next time I go to the district committee, I'll bring you a few barrels of gasoline."

With the machine factory supplying unlimited oil, he had never worried about gasoline, how could he have thought that Zhang Wenliang would even have to worry about the oil for a Black Crow.

Alas, so pitiful.

The horse's hooves were urgent, and the wheels turned, and soon they arrived at the alley leading to Fourth Grandpa Lu's house.

Chen Fan looked forward, and saw that most of the adobe houses in the Fifth Team were dark, and couldn't help but feel a little strange, "What day is it today, is no one home? Or are they not lighting lamps?"

Zhang Wenliang huffed and puffed as he climbed the slope, and said unhappily, "They've moved to new homes, with new brick houses, who would still live here?!"

Chen Fan looked at him in surprise, "Have they all moved? The new houses were built so quickly?"

The village started building new houses before the Spring Festival. The house types and layouts were all designed by Chen Fan. According to his calculations, with two months' time, and with the spring plowing in between, it would be pretty good if a quarter of the commune members' families could move into new houses. Why does it look like so many people have moved into new houses now?

Zhang Wenliang rode his bicycle alongside him, grinning, "Why wouldn't it be fast? All the bricks and prefabricated panels were bought from outside. The Nanhua Commune's brick factory and construction team couldn't supply enough, so we bought them from the county seat. Anyway, there are cargo ships, isn't it easy to transport them back?!

As for labor, of course, there used to be fewer skilled workers and more unskilled workers, but unskilled workers can learn.

Originally, the strong laborers in the village had all helped build houses, it's not like they didn't know anything. As long as there are skilled masters to guide them, the technical progress is very fast. They can learn to build walls in about ten days. In this way, building a house, as long as there are two or three skilled workers watching, the frame can be built quickly."

At this time, they had arrived at the alley leading to Fourth Grandpa Lu's house. Chen Fan pulled the little mare to a stop and asked, "Is Fourth Grandpa Lu still here?"

Zhang Wenliang nodded and said helplessly, "Yes, Master Xiao and my uncle have both advised him to move to the backyard of the brigade headquarters, or to build a new small bungalow for him, but he's unwilling, and insists on guarding that thatched shed."

Chen Fan pursed his lips and glanced into the alley, increasingly certain that Fourth Grandpa Lu's treasures were hidden there.

But he didn't take it seriously. No matter how valuable Fourth Grandpa Lu's treasures are, can they be more valuable than the things in his head?

As soon as the opportunity arrives, he will be able to earn a lot of money.

Whether Fourth Grandpa Lu gives his things to someone or not depends on himself, Chen Fan doesn't care at all. He used to play treasure hunting games with him just to amuse the old man.

Shaking his head and throwing this behind him, Chen Fan asked curiously, "Didn't it delay the spring plowing?"

Zhang Wenliang put one foot on the ground, looked at him and grinned, "This is something you should ask. You brought back so many agricultural machines, if we were still worried about spring plowing, wouldn't it be a waste of money."

Chen Fan suddenly nodded, "Got it."

Due to the addition of so many agricultural machines, the demand for labor in spring plowing has been greatly reduced. Then the masters of the original construction team no longer kept their skills secret, and taught the commune members of their own team how to build walls, which greatly increased the number of skilled builders.

In this way, the speed of building houses has become much faster, which is only natural.

I really didn't expect that after only being away for less than two months, the village has changed so much.

After figuring out the reason, Chen Fan decisively crossed the river and demolished the bridge, waving his hand at Zhang Wenliang, "You go back first, don't forget to tell Secretary Zhang and Captain Zhang, I'll go over later, oh, and Captain Xiao."

Zhang Wenliang's mouth twitched slightly, and he pushed his bicycle away, not wanting to pay attention to him.