Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 225 The Hunting Plan
Chen Fan walked back carrying his homemade drawing board bag, still thinking about the breeding farm.

Originally, he was thinking of selling rabbits to the brigade headquarters, and that he would find an opportunity to suggest to Secretary Yang and the others that they build a brigade breeding farm as a side business.

Unexpectedly, when they went to the market last time, Secretary Yang and his team brought it up on their own initiative, but they have been busy until now and haven't had time to deal with it.

However, he had also thought about starting a breeding farm during this period. The first principle was that he couldn't overwork himself, otherwise he would just be making trouble for himself. Secondly, the breeding farm had to be profitable, otherwise how could the importance of a veterinarian be demonstrated? How could his value be shown?
As for the others, he had some ideas, and he would discuss them with them over dinner that evening.

As he walked forward, Chen Fan's eyes suddenly flickered. He quickly opened his shirt, drew his gun, and aimed it at a figure rushing through the woods.

But he didn't fire a shot until the figure disappeared.

Chen Fan put the pistol back in its holster, pursed his lips, and continued walking forward.

A short while later, he arrived at the brigade headquarters. He turned left and went into the brigade office, where he said to Xiao Liewen, who was looking through documents, "Captain Xiao, I almost fired just now, but I held back. Otherwise, we could have eaten fox meat tonight."

According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, fox meat is "sweet, warm, and non-toxic," and is mainly used to replenish deficiencies, warm the middle burner, and relieve sores and toxins. It is used to treat weakness, forgetfulness, epilepsy, edema, and scabies.

Braised fox meat is also a specialty dish, but if it is not prepared properly, the fox meat will have a sour taste and be very unpalatable. With Chen Fan's level 5 cooking skills, it should be fine.

Captain Xiao looked up at him. "You ran into a fox?"

Chen Fan nodded and pointed in the direction of the woods, "Just now, I saw it in the woods. It had red fur all over its body. It would look really nice if it were made into fur."

He then sighed regretfully, "But I was afraid the gunshot would startle everyone, so I didn't fire."

Xiao Liewen snorted twice, "It's good that you didn't fire. If you had dared to fire so easily and startled everyone, you would have gotten a beating."

He got up and went outside, shouting into the yard, "Old Zhang, we've found the culprit who stole your chickens!"

Captain Zhang's voice rang out immediately, "Where is it? Who is it?"

Before the words had even faded, he had already stepped out, carrying a wooden stick in his hand. "Which petty thief dares to steal from me? They must have a death wish."

Xiao Liewen laughed gleefully, "Just now, Xiao Chen saw a fox in the woods outside. There's no way it could have escaped; it must have stolen it."

Captain Zhang was speechless. "Where the hell are we supposed to get revenge?"

Chen Fan said with a smile, "If you could find me an air gun right now, I'd immediately go and track down the killer."

He's now discovered the advantages of air rifles; they make such a quiet sound that even firing them openly won't startle anyone. Unlike gunpowder guns, even a small pistol like the PPK can make a loud "bang" that travels a long distance.

People these days can all hear gunshots. It's not like it's militia training time. If a shot were fired, there would be an uproar.

Captain Zhang looked at him and said, "We don't have air guns, only sticks and knives."

He paused for a moment, then asked with some curiosity, "You can track down foxes?"

Chen Fan shrugged, "I can't help it, but the Eurasian Hobby can."

Captain Zhang's lips twitched slightly. "That bird is practically a spirit."

Chen Fan then looked at Xiao Liewen and chuckled, "Captain Xiao, how about you teach me a few more knife-throwing techniques, or archery too? I'll go and capture that fox."

Xiao Liewen's face darkened. "You can't shoot arrows, and you can't throw knives. Who in their right mind would learn those things?"

Then he pondered for a moment and said hesitantly, "My old company commander was skilled at throwing stones, hitting them every time. I don't know if he could throw knives."

Chen Fan said with a long face, "What's the use? Your old company commander isn't here. Even if I wanted to learn on the spot, there's no one to teach me."

Xiao Liewen kept his eyes downcast and remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Chen Fan didn't mind and told them about the security incident. He then said, "I guess Captain Yang will call the brigade headquarters later to invite you over for dinner."

When a cadre stationed there comes, out of courtesy, unless there are special circumstances, the four leaders of the brigade headquarters will definitely come to accompany him. Even if this cadre comes from Lujiawan, the proper etiquette cannot be omitted. Captain Zhang nodded, "Okay, I understand. We'll go together after you get off work this afternoon."

He then picked up the stick and walked forward, muttering to himself, "I'm going to see if that fox is still there. Why does it have to steal chickens, especially my old hen? I'll skin it alive and tear its tendons out of it."

Chen Fan wiped away a cold sweat, feeling that Captain Zhang's chances of success were slim.

Then, glancing at Captain Xiao, who was still deep in thought, he called out softly, "Captain, Captain?"

Xiao Liewen snapped out of his daze. "Huh? What are you doing?"

Chen Fan looked at him. "What are you thinking about?"

Xiao Liewen pulled his hand behind him and pulled out a pipe, then took out a wad of tobacco from the bag and stuffed it into the pipe bowl.

Chen Fan had already taken out a match, struck one, and brought it closer.

Xiao Liewen took a drag of his cigarette and scrutinized him carefully, making Chen Fan feel a little uneasy. "What's wrong?"

"fine."

Xiao Liewen waved his hand, "I was just thinking, didn't you say you saw a fox? Old Zhang's chickens were stolen today, most likely by a fox. So why don't we organize a hunt for the whole brigade after we're done with this busy period, and wipe out all those foxes and weasels that steal chickens?"

Chen Fan was certain that he wasn't thinking about that just now. The logic was simple: if you want to hunt foxes, why are you looking at me?

However, since Xiao Liewen didn't say anything, he didn't feel comfortable asking, so he said, "Sure, it just so happens that my hunting rifle hasn't been used yet, so I'll take this opportunity to see some blood."

Xiao Liewen glanced at him, "So young, yet so bloodthirsty."

Chen Fan said with a long face, "I'm just going to hunt a fox, what does that count as killing? Do you expect me to be like some people who don't even dare to kill a chicken, and that's called being calm and collected?"

Xiao Liewen glanced at him expressionlessly, then turned and went into his office.

Chen Fan followed behind, saying, "Captain, let me know in advance about the hunt so I can make arrangements."

Xiao Liewen pursed his lips, "I will definitely say it, but I also need to make sure the militia members have a good schedule."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Chen Fan and said, "As for you, you only turn the radio on and off twice a day. The rest of the time you're either reading or writing and drawing. What's on your agenda?"

Chen Fan argued, "That's not how it works. Although I didn't directly participate in production, I used my pen to showcase the work ethic of our commune members, which can be considered indirect participation."

Xiao Liewen sat down in the chair, crossed his legs, and nodded. "Hmm, that works. But for your job, you don't need to adjust your schedule, do you?"

Chen Fan laughed again, "It's not because of work. I plan to ask a few people in the team to help me modify the stove and toilet when I'm done with fertilizing these past few days and have a little free time."

It's impossible to have a completely leisurely time during the busy farming season. However, after finishing a period of work, there are a few days when things aren't so busy, and that's when you can do something else.

Modifying the stove was something he had wanted to do for a long time. He had even prepared a lot of adobe bricks. However, after he learned how to fire a kiln, he had a new idea and put it off until now.

And then there was the toilet. That dry toilet was truly indescribable. There was a large vat underneath, with two wooden planks on top. If you weren't careful, you risked falling into the mud. Every time Chen Fan went to the toilet, he was on tenterhooks.

Moreover, now that the weather is getting warmer, the smell will become increasingly unpleasant over time.

For the sake of his quality of life, he decided to renovate the toilet as well, as a way to gain experience for building a handmade villa.

During this month, he also accumulated a lot of materials for the two renovation projects, and now he is just waiting to start construction.

Hearing his words, Xiao Liewen looked surprised. "How are you going to renovate the toilets? Make them like the ones in town?"

Modifying the stove is easy to understand, but how do you modify the toilet?
Are we going to build a brick house like the ones in town?

(End of this chapter)