Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 255 What kind of receipt?
Chen Fan rode his horse forward. After a short period of adjustment, the mare gradually got used to the feeling of "wearing shoes" and even slowed down her pace, taking one step at a time.

Horseshoes made a crisp, clear sound when stepped on stone slabs.

Just then, a car horn sounded from behind. Chen Fan turned around and saw that the bus from the county town had arrived.

Nanhu Commune has only two public buses connecting to the county seat, departing simultaneously at 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM every day.

It was already past 8 o'clock, which was about the time when the bus that had departed from the county arrived at the station.

He didn't pay any attention, pulled on the reins to urge the horse to the side, and let the car drive through the middle of the road.

Soon we arrived at the crossroads, which is also where passengers get on and off at the Nanhu Bus Station. One by one, passengers got off the bus, and some of them ran to the roadside as soon as they got off and vomited all over the ground.

Some were holding their heads and swaying from side to side, unable to distinguish east from west, as if trying to figure out which way to go.

Others carried large bags and small packages and went straight into the state-run restaurant without saying a word, probably intending to fill their stomachs first.

Finally, an old man wearing a blue cotton jacket and a hat got off the bus with a leisurely gait, carrying a black travel bag.

Upon seeing this scene, Chen Fan couldn't help but take another look.

These days, most people don't have many opportunities to travel by car. The symptoms mentioned above are the most common after traveling by car. Vomiting and dizziness are symptoms of motion sickness. Hunger is also related to motion sickness. Traveling on an empty stomach and being swayed around will consume your energy, making you feel hungry more easily. That's why many people will find a place to eat as soon as they get off the car.

But the old man showed no signs of motion sickness at all. Instead, he looked around nonchalantly as if he had never been in a car before.

He immediately spotted Chen Fan riding a horse not far away, but after only glancing at him twice, he turned to a passenger who was struggling to find his way and asked, "Comrade, could you please tell me how to get to Lujiawan Production Team?"

Upon hearing his words, Chen Fan gently pulled on the reins, bringing the horse to a stop.

The man who was asked shook his head, finally coming to his senses. He looked at the old man and asked, "Which team in Lujiawan are you going to?"

The old man laughed and said, "I'm going to Team 5, which is their brigade headquarters."

The man pointed in the right direction and said, "Just follow this road. When you get to the end, there will be several forks in the road. One of them leads to Team 6 of Lujiawan, one leads to Team 5, and the other two lead to other places nearby. You can ask someone for directions when you get there."

The old man smiled, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you."

The man smiled and waved his hand, "You're welcome."

Just then, the driver, who had gotten out of the car to smoke, shouted, "Why are you asking who I am?"

He then pointed to Chen Fan, "This is Teacher Chen from Lujiawan Brigade. Just follow him."

Chen Fan's lips twitched slightly. Am I that famous already? Even bus drivers know me?
Despite his inner grumbling, he didn't slow down. He immediately dismounted, led his horse over, and said with a smile, "Old sir, you're going to Team 5 of Lujiawan. I'm going back anyway, so you can come with me."

The old man immediately nodded and smiled, "Alright, then I'll trouble Comrade Chen."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "No need to be so polite. You must be much older than me. Just call me Xiao Chen."

He then took the travel bag from his hand, and instead of putting it on the horse, he carried it forward.

The old man didn't refuse, and followed beside him with a smile. He glanced at the bare horse's back and said, "Comrade Chen, is this horse a draft horse?"

Chen Fan turned to look at him and smiled, "It used to be, but I bought it a little over a month ago and planned to train it as a riding horse. However, there are no saddles for sale here, so I didn't put a saddle on it."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "What is your name, sir? Who are you looking for in Team 5 of Lujiawan?"

The old man nodded in realization and smiled, "My surname is Lin, you can just call me Old Lin. I'm going to Lujiawan this time to find an old brother."

Chen Fan said with a smile, "I'll still call you Uncle Lin. Uncle Lin, what's your old brother's name? Maybe I know him."

Grandpa Lin followed Chen Fan with steady steps and said with a smile, "He is the deputy captain of your brigade, named Xiao Liewen."

Chen Fan was startled and turned to look at him. "Oh, you're going to find Captain Xiao? He was still at the brigade headquarters when I came out. You can go directly to the brigade headquarters to find him when you get there."

He then laughed and said, "I heard that Captain Xiao is a combat hero who retired from the army. You are his old brother. Are you Captain Xiao's comrade-in-arms?"

A glint of surprise flashed in Old Master Lin's eyes, and he asked casually, "Oh, you all know that Old Xiao is a combat hero who retired from the army?"

Chen Fan said with a smile, "Anyway, that's what everyone says. Minister Cao from the county's armed forces department even came to see him personally, so it should be true. However, Captain Xiao himself has never admitted to being a combat hero. He only admits to having served in the army." Hearing this, the strange light in Old Master Lin's eyes faded, and he returned to his smiling face. "Haha, if he doesn't say it himself, I certainly can't say it for him."

Chen Fan turned his head and smiled, "So you really are his comrade-in-arms, right?"

Grandpa Lin threw his head back and laughed heartily, nodding as he said, "Yes, yes, they are comrades-in-arms."

Chen Fan glanced at this old man Lin and began to have some doubts.

Captain Xiao is a skilled martial artist, and his level is quite high. I have never gained the upper hand when I fight him.

The way Old Master Lin got out of the car just now seemed unusual, but when he landed on the ground and looked at his walking posture, it didn't seem like he had any training. At least Chen Fan could tell that Zhang Wenliang and Captain Xiao were both trained fighters, but he couldn't see anything special about him.

But since he is Captain Xiao's comrade-in-arms, how could he not have practiced?
Adding to the old man's reaction when he got out of the car, Chen Fan guessed that perhaps this old man had reached the realm of returning to simplicity and was a master, a master, a master, a master.

However, he didn't ask any more questions and simply accompanied Old Master Lin on his journey.

As for asking him to mount the horse? That's impossible.

They're not old, weak, sick, disabled, or pregnant. Why would someone leave their own horse unridden to let others ride it while they lead it themselves?

He's not the second senior brother.

They chatted and laughed all the way, and time flew by. Before they knew it, they had returned to Team 5 of Lujiawan.

After storing the mare in the livestock shed of Team 5, Chen Fan led Grandpa Lin into the brigade headquarters. As soon as they entered the courtyard, he shouted, "Captain Xiao, Captain Xiao, someone is looking for you!"

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Liewen came out of his office. "Who is it?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he saw Old Master Lin standing beside Chen Fan. His eyes lit up, and he swung his arm and ran forward, exclaiming, "Hahaha, why did you come all this way in person?"

Old Master Lin glanced at Chen Fan, then took a few steps forward and said with a smile, "Your letter is full of flowery words, but if I don't come and see for myself, how will I know if what you say is true or false?"

As he spoke, he gave Xiao Liewen a wink and shook his head almost imperceptibly.

Xiao Liewen didn't understand what he meant for a moment, but he didn't say anything wrong. So he simply changed the subject and smiled at Chen Fan, "Little Chen, I'll need you to help me prepare a meal for lunch today. I want to entertain my old brother."

Chen Fan readily agreed, nodding and smiling, "Sure."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Do you have any ingredients at home? Would you like me to go back and get some for you?"

Xiao Liewen waved his hand, "When old brothers meet, what we eat is not important. We'll kill a chicken later, make a turtle hot pot, and I still have some loach and eel that I caught while plowing the fields. We'll add some soup, and that will be enough."

Chen Fan immediately nodded, "Okay, I know what to do."

He held up the travel bag in his hand, "This is Mr. Lin's luggage."

Uncle Lin?

Upon hearing this word, Xiao Liewen looked at Old Master Lin with a strange expression.

Grandpa Lin remained unmoved, smiling as he took the travel bag from Chen Fan's hand. "I can carry this myself. Thank you for bringing me here."

Xiao Liewen quickly snatched the travel bag from his hand, saying, "Now that we're here, how can you let yourself carry it?"

Then she took his arm and pulled him outside, saying, "Come on, let's go to my place and settle down first. It's been so many years since we last saw each other. We'll be staying for a while this time. I have so much to tell you."

Chen Fan watched them walk out of the courtyard gate and into the distance, smiled slightly, and turned around to check on Zhang Cuie.

Zhang Wenliang stopped him and asked, "I heard you're writing novels?"

Chen Fan nodded. "Ah, I just sent it."

Zhang Wenliang looked on with a gossipy expression. "Show me the receipt. I've never seen someone write a novel before."

Chen Fan was a little confused. "What receipt?"

(End of this chapter)