Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 275 Still not happy?

Chen Fan put down his satchel, but then picked up the cloth bag containing the easel before turning around and going downstairs.

Lin Yuanxiang noticed the bag in his hand and asked curiously, "What's this?"

Chen Fan smiled and said, "I'll go paint after we finish talking."

Lin Yuanxiang's eyes lit up. "Why wait until we're done talking? Let's find a secluded spot, you draw yours, and I'll talk."

Chen Fan's lips twitched slightly. "Is this even possible?"
But since he said so, let's do it that way. Maybe we can save some time to go home and brew wine.

After leaving the brigade headquarters, Chen Fan headed straight for the embankment. Turning around, he saw the puzzled look on Lin Yuanxiang's face and said with a smile, "Let's draw a distant view first. The embankment is a good place to look out. We can draw close-ups in the fields later."

Lin Yuanxiang nodded, put his hands behind his back, and followed him slowly, smiling, "You're just like some of the reporters I met on the battlefield back then. They didn't have cameras, they just used a pencil to draw on white paper."

Chen Fan said, “I dare not compare myself to them. They, like you and Captain Xiao, are heroes who dared to advance amidst gunfire. As for me, I am just a young man enjoying the fruits of your victory. I can only use a paintbrush to depict a corner of the peaceful and prosperous scene of our motherland as a tribute to you and to the millions of other heroes.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuanxiang immediately threw his head back and burst into laughter, unable to stop smiling.

After a long while, he smiled and said, "No wonder Lao Xiao likes you so much. You have such a sweet tongue, you've said all the nice things. I can't even say you're flattering him."

Chen Fan chuckled and said, "That's not exactly a compliment; it's more like stating the facts."

After a short while, you climb up the riverbank, walk a little further, and pass through a grove of trees, and you can see the busy scene in the fields in the distance below.

The weather was nice today, sunny and clear. Chen Fan looked around and decided to paint here.

With Lin Yuanxiang's help, Chen Fan opened the bag, set up the stand, placed the drawing board on the stand, took out a piece of white paper he had cut himself, and fixed it in place before preparing to start painting.

There are no professional drawing paper or brushes in Nanhu Town. The paper is just ordinary white paper, and it's the full-size kind, with each sheet being about one square meter in size. You have to cut it yourself before you can use it.

Fortunately, Chen Fan's drawing skills are quite good; he has already reached LV3 and doesn't care about paper or pen when drawing. He can pick up a pencil and start drawing.

Lin Yuanxiang stood to the side, and saw several messy lines appear on the drawing paper, all over the place, making it impossible to tell what he was drawing.

As time passed, more and more lines appeared on the paper, and gradually one could see the long dike and hillside in the distance, as well as the houses and smoke rising from the hillside.

Below lies a vast expanse of fields, from perfectly equal "grids" in the center to irregular paddy fields on the edges. Just by looking at the outline, the topographical features of Lujiawan are already vividly displayed.

Chen Fan wielded his pencil across the drawing paper, completing the basic framework in just over ten minutes. The next step was to fill in the details, which was also the most challenging part.

He relaxed, turned to look at Lin Yuanxiang, and smiled, "Uncle Lin, didn't you say you wanted to chat with me? What are you going to talk about?"

Lin Yuanxiang then came to his senses, laughed, and said, "I've just heard a lot about you these past few days, all sorts of things about you."

Then she quickly added, "Don't misunderstand, it's all just nice things."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "I believe that. After all, I don't do anything bad."

Lin Yuanxiang smiled and pointed at him, "You're quite confident."

He paused for a moment, then continued, “I have seen many outstanding young people. Some entered university at the age of thirteen or fourteen, and some became leaders in their twenties. Back in the northern battlefield, there were countless brave warriors who killed countless enemies at a young age. They were all young but very capable.”

He turned to look at Chen Fan, his eyes full of curiosity. "Their prowess is beyond doubt. However, whether they are college students studying academic subjects or soldiers who kill more than 280 enemies in a single day, single-handedly repel several platoons of enemies, or defend two high grounds, they all specialize in a particular field. Those who are literate are literate, and those who are martial are martial. Unlike you, you are a veterinarian, a martial artist, and a writer. Even your cooking skills are far superior to those of ordinary chefs, who would need twenty or thirty years of hard work to be as good as you."

At this point, he asked, "I just wanted to ask you if you have any special methods that allow you to learn so much at once and achieve mastery in a short period of time?"

Hearing this, Chen Fan stopped drawing, turned to look at him, and said with a smile, "Uncle Lin, if I said I had a learning method, would you believe me?"

Lin Yuanxiang pursed his lips and thought for a moment, then gently shook his head, "I can't believe it."

He paused for a moment, then said seriously, "So-called learning methods are, in the end, just techniques that can help you master a certain subject as quickly as possible. But I have never heard of, nor do I believe, a universal learning method. If there is any universal method, it is a strict schedule and a serious learning attitude."

Chen Fan spread his hands, "So, I really don't have any special learning methods. If I had to name one, it would probably be that I'm quick-witted and can delve into things that interest me, so my learning progress is relatively fast."

Chen Fan's current abilities are all the result of his own hard work. Skill boards can't fill his brain with knowledge; they're just icing on the cake!

Looking at Lin Yuanxiang, who was nodding thoughtfully, Chen Fan smiled and said, "Moreover, there's one thing you might all misunderstand."

Lin Yuanxiang looked up at him. "Oh? Which point?"

Chen Fan laughed and said, "Don't be fooled by how much I know. If you really delve into it, I'm not an expert in most things. My only skill is cooking, which is passable. Everything else is just so-so. They think I'm amazing because Nanhu Commune lacks talent in this area. Without comparison, they think I'm impressive."

If you went to a big city, the situation would be different. A veterinarian certainly wouldn't be as skilled as a senior expert from the prefectural agricultural bureau, an appliance repairman might not even be as good as a master craftsman in the county, and a radio announcer wouldn't be as competent… In short, they might know a little bit about everything, but they wouldn't be considered truly capable.

As he said this, he was silently complaining to himself. This skill board is still not very useful. The higher the level, the harder it is to gain experience points. It's okay before level 3, but after level 3, not only does it require more experience points to level up, but it's also harder to obtain them.

This is also the main reason why he never thought of developing in a single direction, such as becoming a scientist or a great writer.

Upgrading later on is too much work!
He had been working hard for over a decade before he transmigrated, and all he wanted in this life was to live comfortably and happily. If he had the energy and it was also in his own best interest, he would help those around him develop together. That would be enough.

Why make yourself so tired when you've already gone through so much trouble?
As for contributing to the country, he can only do so by "paying more taxes," and in this regard, he guarantees he can become a "model taxpayer."

Hearing Chen Fan's words, Lin Yuanxiang frowned and thought for a moment, "What you said seems to make some sense."

Chen Fan turned back to continue drawing, "What he said is true, of course it makes sense."

Lin Yuanxiang looked at the drawing board and said, "As for painting, I heard from Lao Xiao that you learned to paint in just one day."

Chen Fan looked completely matter-of-fact. "Did Captain Xiao ever tell you that I have amnesia? Maybe I used to study painting, but I forgot it. Then I picked up a pen again and started painting, and I remembered it as I was painting."

Lin Yuanxiang glanced at him and said, "What about martial arts? Kung fu can't be faked. Old Xiao is sure you've never practiced it before, but you've learned it to this level in just two months. What do you say about that?"

Chen Fan turned around, smiled slightly, and shrugged. "Then I can only say it's because of good talent, it's innate, there's nothing I can do about it."

Lin Yuanxiang was speechless with anger.

This kid's shamelessness is just like my own back in the day.

He took two steps to the side, took out his pipe, lit it, took a puff, and suddenly laughed, "Actually, the main reason I asked you out today is to ask you something, to see if you're interested."

Chen Fan turned to look at him. "What is it?"

Lin Yuanxiang said with a smile, "I have a comrade-in-arms whose son is stationed abroad on business. He said that the situation abroad is quite different from what the newspapers say. In many places, almost every household has a multi-story house with electricity and telephones. They eat meat and drink alcohol at every meal, and there are many other good things. For example, private individuals can buy cars there, not bicycles, but four-wheeled cars. The way they live is unimaginable."

Chen Fan looked at his exaggerated expression, somewhat puzzled.

His eyes seemed to say, "Why are you telling me all this?"
Lin Yuanxiang smiled and continued, "In short, as long as you have the ability and are willing to work hard, you can live a good life. With your skills, not to mention anything else, you could make a lot of money just by opening a restaurant. Have you ever thought about making money abroad?"

Chen Fan blinked. "What do you mean?" Lin Yuanxiang chuckled, looked around mysteriously, and whispered, "I'm not asking you to be a traitor, nor am I asking you to be a collaborator. My comrade's son is fine in every other way abroad, except for one thing."

Seeing that Chen Fan's face was still full of confusion, he clicked his tongue and said, "It's just that the food isn't good. His stomach can't handle foreign food, so he's thinking of finding a chef to take him abroad. Besides him, there are more than a dozen other staff members in his unit. If you're willing, I'll recommend you to go."

"Once we get abroad, he can invest in opening a small restaurant for you. That way, they'll have a place to eat, and you can make money too. What do you say?"

Chen Fan shook his head incessantly, as if his neck had a motor, saying, "Not good."

Lin Yuanxiang's eyes widened. "You'd better think this through. Opportunities like this are rare. If it weren't for their high standards and insistence on finding a top-notch chef, and the fact that you're a good cook, you wouldn't have this chance."

He paused for a moment, then added, "And right now it's just a recommendation; you still have to get past him first."

Chen Fan shook his head again, "I'm not going."

He sighed inwardly. It seemed that this old man Lin rarely lied. His excuse was full of holes and couldn't stand up to scrutiny.

What era are we living in? 77! If you want to go abroad, not only do you have to use unorthodox methods, but you also have to go through the proper channels. Doesn't everyone have to have their family history investigated for three generations?

Whether he can withstand scrutiny is another matter. If the son of his so-called comrade-in-arms really needs a chef abroad, he can submit a report to his superiors and, after approval, transfer a chef from the relevant unit. The salary and allowance would not cost more than 100 yuan a month.

Borrowing money to open a restaurant? How could he even think of that!
However, to be honest, if you're not worldly-wise, the old soldier aura surrounding Mr. Lin can easily fool most people into believing him without a doubt.

But he was unlucky and ran into himself. Back then, even a high-paying job in northern Myanmar couldn't lure him out of the country, let alone now.

Chen Fan was also wondering to himself, why would this old man lie to him about going abroad?
After thinking about it for a while and not being able to figure it out, he stopped thinking about it.

As long as you remain calm and don't try to get something for nothing, and don't dream of getting rich overnight, you won't be fooled. As for the rest, let it be.

Chen Fan's firm attitude surprised Lin Yuanxiang. "Don't you believe me? I can assure Mr. Li that I didn't lie at all!"

Chen Fan was surprised; how could someone say something like "assure Mr. Li"?

For someone like Old Man Lin, a simple "I assure Mr. Li" is enough to guarantee almost everything. That's unwavering faith, a thousand times stronger than any oath!
Could he be telling the truth?

Chen Fan's eyes flickered slightly, but he decided to stick to his principles and resolutely shook his head, "I believe what you say, but I won't go."

Whether it's true or not, I'm not going.

Lin Yuanxiang was at a loss now, looking at him in confusion, "Why?"

If you already believe it, why don't you want to go? Who doesn't want a good life?

Chen Fan turned to look at him and smiled, "No matter how good foreign countries are, they are still foreign countries; no matter how poor our hometown is, it is still our hometown. Even though our country is now somewhat behind some foreign countries, it's not that we are inferior to foreigners, but rather that we have suffered too many difficulties in the past, which delayed our development."

Now that we have good leaders who are working together with the people of the whole country to seek development, I believe that one day we will have everything that other countries have, and we will also have things that other countries do not have.

Believe it or not, by then, let alone trying to escape, even those who have already left will have to find a way to come back.

Lin Yuanxiang was stunned when he heard this, and his eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at Chen Fan.

However, he was still not giving up and continued, "But that's many years from now. Before things develop, are you willing to suffer here?"

Chen Fan shrugged and chuckled softly, "That's a question for you guys to answer."

Lin Yuanxiang was taken aback again, looking at him with confusion, "Ask us?"

Chen Fan exhaled a long breath, looked at the busy figures in the distant fields, and said with a smile, "That's right, I'll ask you. I'll ask you why you gave up a good life back then and crossed the Yalu River to fight. I'll ask those scientists why they gave up the wealth and glory abroad and came back to eat cornbread. I'll ask the 100,000 soldiers who built the atomic bomb and rockets why they were willing to go to the Gobi Desert to suffer in anonymity."

He turned around, looked at Lin Yuanxiang, and smiled, “Whether my hometown is good or not, I know it best. Although I can’t be as selfless and courageous as you, willing to risk my life, I won’t just run to wherever there’s money. If I can’t be a hero, I can be a cog in the machine like Comrade Lei Feng.”

After listening to Chen Fan's words, Lin Yuanxiang slowly exhaled a long breath, his eyes full of relief, "You passed."

Chen Fan was taken aback and turned to look at him in confusion, "Huh?"

Lin Yuanxiang stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance, and said softly, "Actually, I came here this time specifically for you."

Chen Fan's eyes widened. "Huh?"

What the hell?

Lin Yuanxiang laughed, "Old Xiao said he met a martial arts prodigy who mastered the basics in less than two months, equivalent to two or three years of diligent practice for an average person. There's an old saying, 'A good teacher is hard to find,' but for us martial artists, a good disciple is even harder to find..."

After listening to his words, Chen Fan finally understood. So this old man Lin had been secretly observing him all this time. Thinking back to what he had just said, he couldn't help but ask, "So you were testing me just now. All that talk about going abroad to be a chef was a lie?"

Lin Yuanxiang smiled and shook his head. "No, it's true. I do have an old comrade-in-arms whose son works for an import and export company and stays in the United States year-round, specializing in importing advanced American machinery. It's true that he's looking for a chef."

He paused for a moment, then looked at Chen Fan meaningfully, "If your answer is yes, I will recommend you give it a try. However, you definitely won't pass the final hurdle."

Chen Fan was speechless.

It's all a scam!
Lin Yuanxiang smiled and said softly, "Don't blame me for testing you. When choosing a successor, besides talent and aptitude, character is even more important. Learning my kung fu means inheriting not only the mantle of my lineage, but also the connections I have. I don't expect you to be great, but you absolutely cannot be without principles or righteousness. Otherwise, if you do evil, even if I die, I will have no face to meet my ancestors."

Chen Fan raised his hand and said with an embarrassed smile, "Well, Uncle Lin, why don't you think about it again?"

Lin Yuanxiang glanced at him. "What, you're still not happy?"

He rolled up his sleeves. "Today I'm going to show you that your skills are nothing special. I'll show you what real mastery is!"

Chen Fan took three steps back without hesitation. "No need to look, no need to look. I knew you were a master among masters the moment your body trembled. Last time you got out of the car, you weren't out of breath or your legs weren't shaking. Most people can't do that, let alone someone your age. I guessed it then."

Lin Yuanxiang stared wide-eyed, "Then why don't you hurry up and become my apprentice?!"

Chen Fan grinned and chuckled, "The main thing is that I don't have any great ambitions, nor do I want to achieve anything great. I just want to live a peaceful life tending to my two acres of land. So, I'm afraid of delaying your inheritance, which would be a terrible sin!"

If Old Man Lin were just an ordinary martial arts master, Chen Fan would have already rushed up to him and called him master. Unfortunately, he isn't.

Listen to what he has to say. His old comrade's son is in the US, specifically in charge of machinery imports. That's like a foreign trade officer decades from now! These days, someone in that position is truly powerful and influential; it's no exaggeration to say they hold a very high position.

This is just a comrade-in-arms.

Many of the veterans from back then, like Xiao Liewen, retired and went into hiding, while others rose to high positions and continued to contribute. Heaven knows how many comrades like Old Man Lin have.

He had already become his disciple, yet he still wanted to hand over his network of connections to him?

Is he afraid he hasn't exposed himself fast enough, or that he won't suffer a terrible death one day?!
(End of this chapter)