Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 300 Only Eats Small Rice Balls

In the educated youth compound, while the girls were busy running around, Chen Fan found a moment to speak to Jiang Lili and said, "I'm going to the prefectural committee this time, and I might be staying for a few days. Do you have anything or any letter you want to bring home?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lili was somewhat tempted, but also hesitated, "Wouldn't it be inconvenient?"

Chen Fan chuckled and said, "What's inconvenient about that? They can't just make me work all the time without giving me a break, can they?"

He paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Just in case, even if they really don't let me rest and have to come back as soon as they're done, they can still make a phone call, right? You can have your sister come and get it from me then, can't you?"

Jiang Lili was still somewhat hesitant, turning to look at Huang Ying and the others, clearly not wanting them to know.

Chen Fan followed her gaze and smiled, "That's easy. I'll hold them off for you. Once you're ready, just put it in my bag."

Hearing him say that, Jiang Lili finally smiled and nodded at him, "Well, then, I'll trouble you."

Chen Fan pointed to her room, "It's still early. I'm catching the 2 o'clock train, so I'm not worried about being late. You go and get ready, I'll wait for you."

Jiang Lili nodded vigorously, then turned and ran out.

Chen Fan rolled up his sleeves and walked towards the kitchen. "Xiao Dan, I said I would teach you how to cook, but I haven't had time until now. I'm going to make some food to take away, so come and learn from me."

Liu Dan's eyes immediately lit up, "I'm here!"

Huang Ying and Yang Ju, who were sitting nearby with nothing to do and feeling a bit lost, couldn't help but run over after hearing their words, "Teacher Chen, can we learn?"

Chen Fan had originally intended to lure them over, so he readily agreed.

Although Liu Dan was reluctant to learn with them, she could only silently accept it since Teacher Chen had already agreed. Then she asked Chen Fan, "Teacher Chen, will you teach me how to make steamed buns?"

Once inside the kitchen, Chen Fan casually sat down to the side, coughed, and said, "I'm leaving soon. Although my train is at 2 o'clock, I can't be delayed for too long. So, I can't make steamed buns or other wheat-based foods that require leavening."

Liu Dan was a little disappointed; she thought they were going to make steamed buns.

Chen Fan continued, "Steamed buns, mantou, flatbread, pancakes, and the like are common dry foods in the North. Do you know what kind of dry foods people from the South used to bring when they traveled long distances?"

The three people looked at each other and shook their heads in unison, "We don't know."

They had never traveled far from home, and neither had their families; how would they know these things?

Chen Fan laughed and said, "Northerners eat noodles, while southerners eat rice. So, noodles are common in the north, and noodles are also the main type of dry food. In the south, rice products are the main type of food."

Upon hearing this, the three of them finally realized what was happening and exclaimed in unison, "Rice ball!"

Although they never left the hospital, it doesn't mean they never ate dry food.

During the busy farming season, the adults in the family are too busy to come home for lunch. Instead, they take a rice ball and a pot of hot water and eat it in the fields.

They just couldn't immediately connect the rice ball with going on a long trip.

Chen Fan smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right, it's a rice ball."

He paused for a moment, then continued, “There are generally two ways to make rice balls. One is to mix rice with various cooked fillings and then shape them into rice balls. The other is to use rice as a dough and wrap various fillings inside, which is similar to making steamed buns.”

Of course, the simplest way is to just shape the rice into balls, without any filling, and eat them plain, or with pickled vegetables. But that's too simple, so there's no need to learn it.

Today I'll teach you how to make these two types of filled rice balls. The key is in making the fillings. Now I'll explain, and you can follow along. Let's begin!

Under Chen Fan's guidance, Liu Dan and the other two were busy around the stove, completely forgetting about Jiang Lili.

Before I knew it, a pot of rice was cooked, and several different fillings were stir-fried.

Chen Fan tasted it and, although it wasn't as delicious as what he made himself, it was still above average and much better than what they usually made.

Only then did Jiang Lili walk in, wink at Chen Fan, and then join them in making rice balls.

In no time, a dozen rice balls were formed, wrapped in clean dried lotus leaves, and placed in a small cloth bag along with a dozen tea eggs.

Chen Fan switched his backpack to shoulder bag mode, which made him look more mature. He glanced inside and found an extra letter and a small cloth bag. The envelope had Jiang Tiantian's name and address written on it.

He smiled, zipped up his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and then slung his water bottle over the other side. He only carried a PPK pistol at his waist. The tea eggs and rice balls were in the canvas bag that Jiang Lili had given him, which he slung over his shoulder along with the water bottle. Then he strode towards the brigade headquarters.

……

"Huh? They're coming with me?"

When he arrived at the brigade headquarters, all the leaders were there. Chen Fan wanted to get the letter of introduction and leave, but when he heard Secretary Yang say that he would send Zhang Wenliang and Zhang Juemin to accompany him, he was a little stunned.

Secretary Yang looked at him and asked, "What's wrong? You're not happy about it?"

Chen Fan immediately shook his head, "How could that be?"

He then looked at Ye Shubao with a hint of doubt, "I mean, Captain Ye only approved 50 jin of grain coupons and 20 yuan before, which was definitely enough for me alone, but now that there are three of us..."

The expression, the look in his eyes, the tone—the meaning was clear. More money is needed!
Surprisingly, no one was surprised by Chen Fan's reaction.

Ye Shubao pointed at him irritably, "What, do you think I'd owe you money?"

Zhang Juemin was a little embarrassed, "Actually, I can pay for it myself."

This trip to the Prefectural Committee's Health Department is also a valuable experience for him. He'll definitely have priority when the health center conducts training or recruits new doctors. Not to mention, if things go smoothly at the Prefectural Committee's Health Department, he might not only learn new techniques but also get to know some leaders in the bureau.

If such a good thing happens, I'd be happy to pay for it myself.

Secretary Yang waved his hand, "This is official business, how can you let yourself pay for it?"

He turned to Chen Fan and said, "You're still too young. You might be looked down upon when you're out in the world. Although Da Hu Zi and San Hu Zi haven't traveled far before, having them around means you have more strength, which is a good thing for you."

Chen Fan nodded without hesitation and smiled, "I definitely understand."

He then looked at Zhang Juemin and Zhang Wenliang and said with a smile, "I'd love to have Brother Dahu and Brother Sanhu accompany me."

He paused, then hesitated again, "That's right, our brigade only has one doctor, Brother Tiger. If he goes out..."

Before he could finish speaking, Captain Zhang said with a smile, "I know what you mean. You're worried that if Da Huzi goes out, the villagers won't have a doctor to see, right?"

Your considerations are valid. So, while you were away, we discussed it with the health center. Director Wang said that, to thank Lujiawan for contributing the "First Aid Manual," they will send a medical team to Lujiawan for mobile clinics.

He gestured, "One squad stays for one day, and there are 12 squads in total, which is 12 days. You should all be back by now!"

Secretary Yang and the others nearby were thinking to themselves, "If he doesn't come back in 12 days, we'll go to the prefectural committee and snatch him away!"

Chen Fan only felt that Captain Zhang's tone was a little strange, but he didn't think much of it. Upon hearing the arrangement, he immediately nodded and smiled, "Then there's no problem."

Then I got a letter of introduction and received my travel allowance; everything went smoothly.

Chen Fan carried his own bag, while Zhang Wenliang carried the weasel skin backpack that Chen Fan had made for him a few days ago, with a pistol tucked into his waistband. They were both eager to try.

Only Zhang Juemin, carrying a canvas bag, set off with them, filled with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

……

The three arrived in town first. Zhang Juemin pointed ahead and said, "The bus station is just ahead. We need to buy tickets first."

Zhang Wenliang was a little confused. "It seems that the cadre said that we could get on the train first and then buy tickets, and if we got on late, there might not be any seats left."

Chen Fan was still thinking about something when he heard this, so he subconsciously said, "Those who have no face should buy tickets first, and those who have face should get on the train first."

The two Zhang brothers looked at him together, "How did you know?"

Chen Fan then came to his senses and shrugged, "It's just common sense."

Actually, I heard it from the ticket seller when I was giving Jiang Tiantian a ride on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Someone boarded the train immediately, and a rather naive young man next to him asked why the person wasn't buying a ticket. The ticket seller retorted with that question, and the young man was quite indignant, shouting that he was going to complain. The ticket seller was very considerate and immediately took him to another station office to complain.

The young man refused, saying he was afraid of missing the bus, but the ticket seller said that a man's word is his bond, and anyone who doesn't complain is a coward...

Chen Fan didn't know what happened after that. Anyway, the young man missed the train, and the ticket seller continued to sell tickets.

This incident also served as a reminder to Chen Fan: adapt to different situations and don't take things too seriously unless you're at a significant disadvantage, or you'll be the one who suffers.

The three walked and talked, and soon arrived at the bus station.

The so-called bus station is located at the crossroads, but it's just a sign and doesn't even have an office.

The ticket seller moved a chair and sat in front of a house. There was a ticket holder on the table. He crossed his legs, smoked, and chatted with a few people around him.

The car bound for the county was parked not far away, its doors tightly shut and no one inside.

Chen Fan was the youngest, so he didn't have to worry about buying tickets. Zhang Juemin went over and bought three tickets for 1.5 yuan, then went to the bus to wait for it to depart.

While waiting for the bus, Chen Fan took out the still-warm rice balls. "You haven't eaten yet, have you? Here, one for each of you."

Zhang Wenliang didn't stand on ceremony. He took the lotus leaf, tore it open, and took a bite. "Mmm, delicious."

Zhang Juemin also got one.

Then, seeing Chen Fan picking and choosing among the items and picking up a small one, he couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you get a big one?"

Chen Fan smiled slightly, "I have a small appetite, I only eat small rice balls."

The rice balls in the bag came in two kinds, one slightly larger and one slightly smaller. The larger ones were made by Huang Ying and the others, and the smaller ones were made by Jiang Lili. It was that simple.

(End of this chapter)