Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 103 Rushing to the Front
Chen Fan wandered around the embankment for more than half an hour, recording seven or eight pieces of footage, before preparing to go back.

Xiao Liewen was taken aback when he saw him about to leave. "Is it over so soon?"

War correspondents stay for months on assignment, but you can't even stay for a few hours?

Chen Fan explained in a low voice, "Captain, you watch the news often too, how much content is in their news reports?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Liewen frowned slightly, as if deep in thought.

Chen Fan continued, "First, we must stand firm on our position; second, we must clearly identify the key figures; and most importantly, we must promote the name of Lujiawan. As long as we grasp these three points, this press release will be almost ready."

After all, this is a report we submitted ourselves, and it can't be compared to what other newspaper reporters write. What if they think it's too long and too bulky and refuse to publish it?
Besides, this is just a small project; it won't take more than a few days. If we keep dragging it out, we'll only be able to broadcast it within our own team.

Upon hearing this last sentence, Xiao Liewen no longer hesitated, "Okay, it's just a small project anyway, it'll be fine as it is."

Then he waved his hand and said, "Then you go back first, hurry up and finish the manuscript, and then have it reviewed by Secretary Yang and Captain Zhang. If it's suitable, send it up."

Chen Fan nodded without hesitation, "Alright, just you wait and see!"

Back in the broadcasting room, he took out the outline he had written the day before and began writing the script.

The broadcasting room was fully equipped with draft paper, pencils, and pens.

Since he was working for the government, Chen Fan certainly wouldn't use his own things to make up for it, so he used the draft paper and pen here.

However, he did not waste time and energy. He first wrote in pencil, outlined the main points, and drafted the main points. In more than two hours, he wrote 3 words, including what he had heard from Secretary Yang and the others yesterday, the routines he had learned from the newspaper, and what he had seen during his field visit today.

At first, he was a little unaccustomed to it.

After all, most people in later generations use computers to type, and there are few opportunities to write by hand, so they are not proficient in handwriting. In addition, they also need to think about their ideas, so their writing speed is relatively slow, and they only wrote eight hundred words in an hour.

So why was I able to write more than 2,000 words in the last hour?

Because after he finished writing for an hour, he activated his "calligraphy" skill again.

Despite being only at level 2 in penmanship, it immediately brought back memories of his student days, greatly increasing his typing speed to over 40 characters per minute. This allowed him to complete the first draft in just two hours.

The next step was to revise the draft.

First, inappropriate wording should be rejected. Second, check if the key elements are complete, namely the points he listed yesterday. Finally, check if the content of the report on the relevant topic is appropriate.

Another hour passed, and by the time Chen Fan finished revising the manuscript, he was starving.

After broadcasting at 9 o'clock, we spent nearly an hour gathering information, and the writing and revision of the manuscript took a total of 3 hours. By then, it was already 1 p.m.

Apart from the bowl of rice porridge that Jiang Lili cooked for him in the morning, he hadn't eaten anything else, so it's no wonder he was hungry.

However, he lost his appetite at this point and quickly switched to a fountain pen to copy the revised manuscript onto several sheets of paper.

The LV2 penmanship, which is about to reach its maximum level, is not particularly beautiful, but it is neat and tidy, and pleasing to the eye.

By the time I finished copying the entire 3,000-word manuscript, it was already 2 p.m.

Chen Fan, carrying the manuscript, walked unsteadily to the Intermediate People's Court office and placed it in front of several leaders. "The press release is ready. Please review it."

Secretary Yang picked up the manuscript in surprise, glanced at him, and asked, "So fast?"

Chen Fan nodded, "Yes, after the broadcast, I went to gather material, and then I stayed in the broadcasting room writing the script."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Didn't you say that this is a small project that will be finished in two or three days? After today, there are only two days left. If we don't hurry, even if the commune and the county are willing to adopt it, it will be too late."

Ye Shubao clapped his hands and said, "Yes, yes, I've heard people say that a press release needs to be timely."

"Pah, that's called timeliness. You're just showing off your knowledge when you're not cultured."

Xiao Liewen scoffed, then looked at Chen Fan and said, "Didn't you have lunch?" Chen Fan smiled and said, "It's okay, I can go back in three hours, it won't make a difference."

"That won't work."

Captain Zhang immediately stood up, his face stern, and said, "People need food to survive, and there are methods to doing work. As Mr. Li said, health is the foundation of everything, so there's no reason to work on an empty stomach."

He immediately went to the door and shouted, "Sanhu, Sanhu."

Zhang Wenliang appeared in a flash. "Uncle, what's the matter?"

Captain Zhang said, "Xiao Chen hasn't eaten yet. Go get him a bowl of hot rice, and add two pieces of cured pork and fish, the fatty kind."

Zhang Wenliang didn't ask why, just said, "Okay."

Then it vanished in a flash.

By this time, Secretary Yang had already skimmed through the first sheet of paper and handed it out without looking up, regardless of who was standing next to him.

Captain Zhang quickly stepped forward and took it from his hands.

Xiao Liewen and Ye Shubao didn't mind and came over to look at each other, head to head.

A dozen minutes later, Secretary Yang let out a long breath, handed the last sheet of paper to Captain Zhang, and with a smile on his face, pulled out his pipe and started filling the bowl with tobacco.

Soon after, the three team leaders finished reading as well.

Captain Zhang refolded the four sheets of paper, grinned, and patted Chen Fan on the shoulder. "Good lad, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. You're really good material to be a communications officer!"

Ye Shubao nodded repeatedly, "What was that saying again? It was what Secretary Qian of the commune said last time, ah, right, it has height, depth, popularity, and power, that's exactly what Xiao Chen's article is all about!"

Xiao Liewen felt honored and also took out his pipe and laughed heartily, "I accompanied him when he went on the field trip, and I was the one who told him the story of Chaishan."

Secretary Yang took a puff of his cigarette. "You don't need to tell me, it's all written down in black and white."

He then laughed so hard his eyes disappeared. "And me and Lao Zhang, those things about the river construction project, were all told to him by Lao Zhang and me."

Captain Zhang grinned from ear to ear, "So, if this article gets published, we can be in the newspaper too."

Ye Shubao looked envious, but he didn't seem frustrated.

In the manuscript, Chen Fan described him as the "chief logistics officer" who "ensured the supply of materials," and without his coordination, the project would not have started so quickly.

That's quite an achievement.

Even Zhang Wenliang and the militia, who weren't there, were involved. Regardless of whether they patrolled or not, the article states that it was the militia's patrols that deterred the enemy and ensured the smooth progress of the project.

The main feature is to soak up both rain and dew.

Upon hearing Captain Zhang's words, Chen Fan immediately coughed and said tactfully, "Captain, this still needs to be reviewed by the higher authorities. It can only be used after they approve it."

Secretary Yang's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "Yes, yes, time is of the essence, we must send the manuscript up immediately."

Captain Zhang immediately said, "Then I'll go through the trouble and ride my bicycle to the commune right away."

Secretary Yang shook his hand with a friendly expression, "No need, I just need to discuss something with Secretary Qian, I can handle it."

Captain Zhang turned and walked out, saying, "You're the pillar of our team, we can't trouble you every time, I can handle it."

Secretary Yang didn't even bother wiping his pipe, and hurried away, saying, "It's nothing, it's nothing. You guys take care of everything in the team, so I can only run errands."

Chen Fan's lips parted slightly as he watched the two elderly people tug and scramble out of the yard. In the end, Captain Zhang managed to grab the bicycle, and Secretary Yang, not to be outdone, nimbly jumped onto the back seat, and the two of them headed towards the commune together.

(End of this chapter)