Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 40
As soon as Chen Fan finished speaking, Jiang Lili's blood rushed to her head and her face turned bright red, even her ears turned red, and a fine sweat appeared on her forehead.

Seeing her like this, Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat.

broken.

He had drunk two ounces of liquor and couldn't keep his mouth shut, speaking without any regard for what he said.

Jiang Lili was already living cautiously here, and regardless of whether she knew those circumstances or not, there were some things she couldn't say.

A casual joke from me is nothing, but when she hears it, she only thinks the worst.

Thinking of this, Chen Fan quickly said, "Well, I was just joking, you're not angry, are you?"

Jiang Lili walked forward with her head down, remaining silent.

Chen Fan raised his hand, but didn't dare to reach out and pull her. By this time, he had sobered up considerably. Considering the era and Jiang Lili's situation, he feared that if someone saw him struggling with her, it would cause a major incident.

You have to fill the hole you dug yourself.

He had no choice but to quicken his pace and say with a wry smile, "I was just joking. Look at me, I don't know where I came from, and I don't know if Officer Zhu can help me find my family. If he can find them, I'll be very grateful, but if he can't, I don't know where I'll go. In my situation, I'll be living in constant fear."

First, he played the victim to evoke the young girl's sympathy. Chen Fan glanced at Jiang Lili, and sure enough, she slowed down.

I felt a sense of relief and then continued my efforts.

"Sigh, I still remember waking up the day before yesterday and being surrounded by so many people. My stomach was growling with hunger, but I didn't dare to move, afraid that everyone would think I was a bad guy. Later, after they left, I almost fainted from hunger. At that moment, you suddenly came over and called me to eat. In my eyes, you are a living Buddha and a great savior."

Jiang Lili slowed her pace further, but still didn't look up.

But Chen Fan knew the problem was probably minor, so he relaxed even more and laughed, "Don't laugh at me, but I shouldn't have eaten your food. Food is so precious, it can save your life in a critical moment. But I was so hungry, so I shamelessly ate it, and even ate two big bowls. You must have been scared at the time, right? You didn't even dare to eat any vegetables, you just ate pickled radishes."

Jiang Lili: "No."

Chen Fan was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at her. "Huh? What?"

The voice was so soft, and I wasn't paying attention; I didn't hear what she was saying at all.

Jiang Lili looked up at him, and Chen Fan noticed that her complexion had improved slightly, and her face wasn't as red anymore.

Seeing Chen Fan's gaze, she quickly lowered her head again. After two seconds, she continued, "I said I wasn't scared by you. You eat quite elegantly. Although you eat very quickly, you don't seem rude. I'm just used to eating pickles. The dishes that day were specially made for you."

"Oh, is it so."

Chen Fan laughed and said, "I'm a little curious, there are so many vegetables in the backyard, why don't you eat them?"

Jiang Lili lowered her head and said, "I don't want to do so much when I'm alone. I'll just eat some pickles."

She paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up, cautiously glancing around before looking at Chen Fan, pursing her lips and whispering,

“Last year I read an article in the newspaper about people like me who were criticized for being hedonistic just because they ate a bowl of stir-fried cabbage with pork cracklings. If I eat too well and someone sees me, people might gossip. So I only eat pickled vegetables when I eat.”

After saying that, she lowered her head again, "This is a secret in my heart, I have never told anyone else."

Chen Fan looked at her and suddenly felt a little sorry for her. This girl was only 17 years old, and she was worried about what others would say, so she was guarding so many fresh vegetables but not eating them. He really didn't know what to say.

After realizing what he had done, he forced a smile. "Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret and won't tell anyone." Jiang Lili's lips curled up slightly, and she nodded gently.

But she still had her head tied up, so Chen Fan couldn't see her.

They had arrived at the educated youth settlement. After the two entered, Chen Fan closed the door and whispered to her with a smile, "Look, the day before yesterday, you treated me to dinner, and then you made turtle for me that night. You have no idea how much laughter I got when I went to find Captain Yang and the others after finding that turtle."

Jiang Lili smiled and said, "No one here has ever eaten soft-shelled turtle before."

Chen Fan smiled and nodded, "That's why it's so rare that you're willing to help me. From that moment on, I considered you a friend. That's why I told you about me secretly pouring wine and even made a joke with you, because I truly consider you a friend."

Jiang Lili looked up at him, a glint in her eyes, "Friend?"

Three years ago, she had many good friends at school, but after her family had a tragedy, all her friends cut ties with her. In the past three years, apart from her parents and sister who care about her, she has not made any new friends.

Not to mention friends, even among the educated youth living under the same roof, no one was close to her. Now Chen Fan says he treats her as a friend.
Chen Fan nodded and smiled, "Yes, friend. There was no one else around just now, it was just a little joke between friends, you're not angry anymore, are you?"

Jiang Lili bit her lip, about to lower her head, but quickly stopped herself and gently shook her head, "I'm not angry."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Originally, I wasn't angry."

I wasn't angry just now, I just felt really sad.

"Haha, it's good that you're not angry."

Chen Fan chuckled and said with a smile, "I'm the kind of person who's very easygoing and sometimes I don't think before I speak. If I ever say something wrong again, please don't take it to heart. Just tell me and I'll apologize."

Jiang Lili smiled and shook her head, "It's okay."

She thought for a moment, glanced at the courtyard gate, and then whispered to Chen Fan, "I heard the commune members talking about how the butcher from the food station goes to the countryside to slaughter pigs. According to regulations, he charges 2 yuan and is not allowed to accept anything else. But in addition to money, the host family usually treats him to a meal and drinks, and gives him some pork and pig's trotters as a parting gift."

If you don't have money, you can give them the whole pig offal, which is worth about 5 yuan in total, roughly the same as 2 yuan for pork and pig's trotters. According to regulations, these should all be handed over, but very few are actually handed over; most are kept for themselves.

So if you see someone slaughtering a pig and someone is paying you, never ask questions, or the butcher will be unhappy.

Chen Fan nodded in realization, "I see."

He then smiled at her and said, "Okay, I understand. I promise I won't ask again."

Jiang Lili nodded. "If there's anything you don't understand, just come back and ask me. I'll tell you everything I know."

Chen Fan grinned, not blaming her for not saying it earlier, but only now.

Since we're friends, we should be more understanding. Trust between people takes time to develop. If she told me everything every time I asked, we wouldn't have been able to get along so well until now.

It's good as it is now. I have the first person in the village with whom I can confide in. Although I am just a marginalized educated youth, it is a good start. Its significance is no less than teaching everyone how to cook turtles.

Oh, right, soft-shelled turtle.

Chen Fan patted his head and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll boil some hot water to wash my face. I have to rush to Team 5 to become a mentor."

Jiang Lili smiled as she watched his retreating figure, then quickly followed, saying, "I'll help you."

(End of this chapter)