Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 133 Rational Allocation of Work
"The wasteland behind the educated youth settlement?"

Chen Fan stared wide-eyed at Zhang Wenliang in surprise, "You're going to give me that piece of land?"

That place is great. It has ditches, embankments, and earthen slopes, making it easy to build a drainage system. There are also various miscellaneous trees that can be used as landscaping trees or cut down for timber. There are also small earthen slopes for excavating soil in the back, which will definitely save a lot of trouble when building a house.

With proper design, it could be transformed into a charming rural courtyard house. He was even thinking about how to ask for the land after the team agreed to provide it, but unexpectedly, they chose this piece of land on their own initiative. It must be fate!
It was already 5 o'clock. He had just turned off the radio, put a few books in his bag, and was about to go home after get off work when Zhang Wenliang came to his door again and took the initiative to talk about the homestead.

Could it be that they have already set some rules?
Zhang Wenliang sat in his chair, crossed his legs, and chuckled, "I should say that piece of land 'can' be allocated to you, but it depends on your performance."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "After all, no matter what, you're an outsider. If you were to be allocated land as soon as you arrived, our commune members would definitely have objections. Relations with the masses are the most important thing. We certainly can't do anything that the masses are unhappy about. Don't you agree?"

As he said this, he was thinking about what Secretary Yang had just told him: "The homestead can be given away. Anyway, it's just a piece of useless wasteland. I remember there are slopes and embankments there, and a lot of miscellaneous trees growing there. If it's not cleared and leveled, you can neither farm nor build houses. If you give that piece of land away, the people in Team 6 will definitely have no objections."

However, the homestead land cannot be given directly; he must first demonstrate some achievements. This will convince the people and also prevent them from appreciating things that are too easily obtained.

This is similar to dangling a handful of grass in front of a mule; you want him to see it but not be able to eat it. He has to finish the task before he can eat the grass.

Another factor is his instability, which must be addressed. Although we can reclaim the homestead after he leaves, it will ultimately be a wasted effort.

Ask him first if there's any way to resolve this concern. If there is, we can discuss any terms!

Chen Fan looked at Zhang Wenliang, nodded slightly, and smiled, "I understand the principle, of course, but, Brother Sanhu, the team wants me to produce results. How should we determine these results?"

Zhang Wenliang smiled and said, "If you can become a veterinarian and contribute to the team, everyone will definitely recognize your achievement."

Chen Fan clicked his tongue and deliberately made a bitter face, saying, "It's not that I can't be a veterinarian, but what about the problem I just mentioned?"

Zhang Wenliang coughed lightly, lowered his head, and didn't dare to look at him. He then took out a cigarette and lit it. "You're an educated man, you must have a way!"

Chen Fan's lips twitched slightly. Good grief, they've kicked the ball back to him again?
He took the cigarette Zhang Wenliang offered, lit it with a match, but only held it in his hand as a pretense.

After a while, he raised his head and said hesitantly, "I do have a way, but I have two conditions."

Zhang Wenliang was stunned for a moment, his eyes shining as he looked at him. This kid actually had a solution?
She immediately took the cigarette out of her mouth, pointed at him, and said, "Tell me quickly."

Then, realizing he might be too hasty, he coughed again and said, "Let's not worry about whether it works or not, let's talk about it and discuss it."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "Actually, solving this problem is quite simple. You can pick a few more people and come with me to study veterinary medicine."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenliang's smile vanished instantly, and he was about to speak.

Chen Fan waved his hand and said with a smile, "Let me finish. I know that most of the young people in the team are not highly educated, otherwise you wouldn't have come to me."

However, education level can be improved. You should find a few young people, preferably those who have just graduated from school, but not too young. Around twelve to fifteen years old would be better. Those who are too young cannot settle down, and those who are too old have been away from school for too long and will find it difficult to learn.

After you select the candidates, you will hand them over to me, and they will come with me to attend a veterinary training course, complete the course together, and graduate together to receive their certificates.

After that, instead of becoming students or apprentices, they became my assistants. I taught them cultural knowledge and also taught them things from veterinary books that they couldn't learn in the training courses.

"I promise I'll teach them everything I know..." Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Wenliang excitedly slapped his thigh, "Wow, that's a great idea! I'll go talk to Secretary Yang and the others."

He then got up to leave.

They hadn't thought of this before because Chen Fan himself wanted to learn, so naturally he hadn't considered finding someone to be his apprentice.

If they study together, and Chen Fan is the top student in the class, while those who are not academically strong are the underachievers, their relationship will be similar to that of the top student helping the underachiever. In that case, there will definitely be no problem.

Chen Fan quickly pulled him back, saying with a wry smile, "I haven't finished speaking yet."

Zhang Wenliang sat down again, feeling embarrassed, and said with a smile, "Then you go ahead, go ahead."

Now that a solution has been provided, it's time to set the conditions.

But then Chen Fan said, "There's another issue here, which is practice. No matter what profession you're in, you won't learn anything if you only study but don't practice. Isn't that right?"

Zhang Wenliang nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that's how it is."

Anyone who has been an apprentice knows that the hardest part is when you can actually put your skills into practice. Otherwise, if you follow your master for three to five years but never get to practice even once, then no matter how much you learn, you're still just an apprentice and no one will take you seriously. But masters don't trust their apprentices and won't let them get hands-on easily, which shows how important the opportunity to practice is.

She looked at him with a puzzled expression. Why bring this up now?

Chen Fan smiled and said, "So, my idea is that after they graduate, we will go on house calls together every time, and learn and improve together. But once they are able to go on house calls independently, we will let them be responsible for the daily medical work, and I will work with them to solve any problems that arise."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenliang nodded repeatedly and said, "That's a good idea."

He paused for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Are you worried that you might suddenly have to leave one day, before they've even developed their skills, so you're giving them all the opportunities to practice?"

As he said this, he was still thinking to himself that he had given up the opportunity to gain experience in order to leave talent for the team. What a noble character he was!
Chen Fan's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this. Oh right, how come he didn't think of such a good reason?
He then coughed lightly and said with a righteous expression, "That is of course the main reason. They need to learn and practice more to surpass the veterinarians of other teams. Otherwise, you wouldn't need to come to me."

Zhang Wenliang nodded in agreement, "No problem, absolutely no problem."

Who wouldn't want their medical skills to be better? Who wouldn't want the veterinarian in the production team to be more capable? Anyone who dares to say no, please stand up, and I promise I won't beat them to death!

Then Chen Fan continued, "But besides that reason, there's another one: I'm worried that if the commune members see other veterinarians busy while I'm sleeping soundly in the brigade headquarters, people will gossip."

Zhang Wenliang immediately raised his hand, "Don't worry about that, we will definitely explain it to all the members and won't let you suffer any injustice!"

Chen Fan nodded with satisfaction. "Now I can legitimately slack off."

As the saying goes, you get what you ask for. They wanted the opportunity to practice their skills, they wanted a leisurely life, and after the work was reasonably allocated, everything was perfect!

Zhang Wenliang: "You just said there were two conditions, this isn't one of them, is it?"

Chen Fan paused for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Yes, this is the first one."

Looking at Chen Fan, Zhang Wenliang was filled with emotion. He had voluntarily given up the opportunity for practical experience, but had made it a condition. What a good person!
(End of this chapter)