Reborn in 1977

Chapter 82: Never Mind I Said That

Faced with Chen Fan's question, Jiang Lili lowered her head and said softly, "Before, no one in the team held feasts. If someone had a baby, they'd buy some eggs and ask someone to deliver them. And if someone passed away, they'd wrap a white envelope and ask someone to take it. And..."

Chen Fan sighed, "Don't 'and' me anymore. What's the point of giving gifts if you don't attend the feast? They took your money but didn't invite you?"

Jiang Lili said, "They did invite me, but I didn't go."

Then, she raised her head and smiled, "But I gave a return gift."

Chen Fan's face fell. "Return gift is a return gift, attending the feast is attending the feast. You're really silly."

Then, he waved his hand, "Let's go, let's go, come with me."

Jiang Lili couldn't help but take a step back, with a hint of apprehension in her eyes, "No, let's not."

Chen Fan looked at her and said softly, "How about this? If no one pays attention to you after you go, just give your gift and come back, okay?"

Jiang Lili looked at him, still feeling a bit timid.

She had been here for three years, with no one paying attention to her, basically not interacting with anyone. Even when participating in collective activities, she was like a half-invisible person. No one asked for her opinion, and she never expressed any.

Now, although she hadn't reached the point of social anxiety, she wasn't far from it.

If Chen Fan's personality wasn't so outgoing, or if he wasn't so sincere towards her, their relationship would definitely not have reached the level of friends.

Actually, Jiang Lili used to be a cheerful and smiling person, but after some changes, very few people could maintain their optimism.

On the contrary, there were many people in situations like hers. Not every educated youth spot had one, but definitely one or two out of every five. Some people's situations were much more serious than hers.

Chen Fan looked at her and suddenly smiled, "How about this? Later, you just follow me. I happen to be helping with the cooking, so you can be my assistant, how about that?"

Jiang Lili's eyes flickered slightly, and then she nodded gently, smiling, "Okay."

Then, she looked at herself, "I'll change my clothes."

Chen Fan immediately turned around, "I'll wait for you at the door."

After a while, Jiang Lili came out wearing a simple new smock, and she had also changed into a pair of clean cloth shoes. The two walked one after the other towards the front.

Along the way, they encountered some people standing at their doorways, who all greeted Chen Fan from afar.

"Master Chen is going to the feast."

Chen Fan had now adapted to this way of communicating by shouting, "Yes, Huang Shishu's house is celebrating the raising of the beam, so I'm going to help make two dishes."

Immediately someone shouted, "Then aren't you going to be a chief cook?"

Chen Fan said, "No, no, I'm just helping, not taking any money."

Hearing that he wasn't taking money, the villagers no longer said anything about it, but just shouted, "If something happens in our house one day, please come and help us too."

Chen Fan said, "Okay, okay, just let me know in advance when the time comes."

Jiang Lili followed him about two steps behind, pursing her lips with a smile in her eyes.

Her three years here hadn't been in vain. When she left home, her parents' instructions were kept in her heart: look more, listen more, observe more, and analyze more. When judging a person, don't look at what they say, but look at what they do.

So, although she didn't talk much, she wasn't a fool who didn't understand anything.

There were some educated youths who got along well with the villagers, but those were all from good backgrounds. Someone like Chen Fan, whose origins were unknown, could be so popular, which could only mean that he was capable and didn't have any bad intentions.

Don't think that these villagers don't have much culture or knowledge, but in terms of interpersonal relationships, they know just as much as city people. Especially some old people who have lived through the previous dynasty, who have experienced countless ups and downs, are full of wisdom and cunning. It is even more difficult to gain their approval.

But among the people talking to Chen Fan now, there were several elderly people in their seventies and eighties sitting at the door, which showed how popular he was. Chen Fan might not even know their names, but they still loved to talk to him.

In contrast, some educated youths who weren't capable, but thought highly of themselves and looked down on others, were somewhat ignorant.

For this kind of people, the villagers also kept their distance, not interfering with each other. Even Jiang Lili avoided them, for fear of getting into trouble.

Walking forward, they soon arrived at Huang Laosi's house.

At this time, the new house had already begun to take shape, with two towering gable walls, waiting to be beamed.

The doors and windows of the house had also been completely made, standing upright against the wall, waiting to be installed after the beam was raised.

A fir wood was placed on three benches in front of the door of the house, and a red silk was tied in the middle of the fir wood. This should be the main beam.

The main beam is generally made of camphor wood, sandalwood or fir wood. These woods are straight and not easy to bend, and rarely have insect infestations, so they are the best beams.

After installing the doors and windows, and laying the thatch on the top, the new house is considered complete. The rest is "decoration", but that's for later.

In the open space in front of the new house, dozens of people gathered together, discussing the house.

Chen Fan glanced at it, and more than 20 of them were the previously hired villagers and masters of the construction team, and the other forty or so should be here for the feast.

When Chen Fan and the two came over, many people greeted him immediately, and even some women spoke to Jiang Lili, which made her feel a little more at ease.

After chatting with the people around, the two went to the square table at the corner to give their gifts.

The accountant turned out to be Huang Baoguan, which was also considered a professional match.

Chen Fan smiled and greeted him, then took out two cents and handed it over.

Jiang Lili also put the money in front of the account book.

Huang Baoguan gave a haha, and smiled at Jiang Lili, "Little Jiang is willing to come out."

Hearing him say this, Jiang Lili blushed suddenly.

Chen Fan quickly smiled and said, "I invited her to come and give me a hand."

Huang Baoguan glanced at him, picked up the brush to record the account, (Chen Fan, two cents; Jiang Lili, two cents.)

At the same time, he said, "Little Jiang can go out more, it's always stuffy to be locked in the house. You're about the same age as Huang Ying and Yang Ju, you can also walk around when you're free."

Then he turned his head and shouted to the side, "Huang Ying, come and accompany Little Jiang."

A seventeen or eighteen year old girl ran over quickly, first smiled at Chen Fan, then took Jiang Lili's hand and left, "Let's go play over there."

Chen Fan looked at this scene in surprise, then sat down next to Huang Baoguan and asked in a low voice, "Huang Baoguan, didn't you tell me to keep my distance, how...?"

Huang Baoguan glanced at him, "Did you keep it?"

Chen Fan said very confidently, "I did keep it."

Huang Baoguan looked around, then turned to look at him, "Then what would it look like if you didn't keep it?"

Chen Fan blinked innocently, "Well, living under the same roof, it's impossible not to talk, right?"

Huang Baoguan pointed at him and said in a low voice, "All who come are guests. She's just a little girl after all, coming to our Huang family to congratulate us. What would it look like if I didn't care about her?

But you're different. It's easy to attract gossip when a single man and a single woman live in the same yard. As long as you're a little clear-headed, you should at least keep your distance in front of others."

Then he glanced at him meaningfully, "If you have other plans, just never mind I said that."