Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 424 Don’t give up

Captain Yang looked at Chen Fan, then at custodian Huang and accountant Liu, and finally turned back to ask, "Which three chapters?"

Chen Fan held up one finger. "First, only three people are allowed. I can't take care of any more than that."

Captain Yang thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "When Xiao Jiang was here, weren't there four of us?"

Chen Fan pursed his lips slightly, "Back then, I wasn't even part of the health department."

Captain Yang also pursed his lips, glanced at Huang and Liu, and they both nodded almost imperceptibly. He then decided to stop while he was ahead, saying, "Alright, three it is."

Anyway, there are only three families with the same surname in the team. As before, each family will contribute one person, which is just right. However, it's not easy to divide among four people.

Captain Yang then asked, "What's the second condition?"

Chen Fan picked up his teacup, took a sip, looked out the window, and said, "I arranged for Yang Ju and the others to stay here so they could study. After the exams, I didn't let them move back."

However, if new people come, they can't stay here anymore. They should be asked to clean up the educated youth compound downstairs and live there, or they can stay in their own homes.

Chen Fan agreed to let Huang Ying and Yang Ju move in because he had gotten to know them well and understood their personalities and lifestyles. What if someone else had moved in, perhaps someone who was taciturn or slovenly?
He can't stand it, it's better to keep your distance, at least from the beginning.

Upon hearing this, Captain Yang immediately nodded without hesitation and said, "That's only right. They're here to learn from you, not to enjoy themselves. There's no reason for them to stay in your house. Even without you saying anything, I wouldn't let them stay."

Chen Fan smiled and directly stated the third point, "I don't have much time to teach them. They can only do what Yang Ju and the other two do normally. I'll teach them whenever I have time. They don't need to become apprentices; they can just be apprentices. However, I won't pay them a salary."

After he finished speaking, Captain Yang laughed and said, "I thought it was some kind of three-point agreement, but it's just these few. Okay, I guarantee there won't be any problems."

Even apprentices don't get paid, do they? And after they've completed their apprenticeship, there's this three-year apprenticeship, two-year service, and three festivals and two birthdays.

You can say it's old-fashioned, feudal, or a bad custom, that's fine. Whether or not to teach it is up to the master. If the master also thinks it's a bad custom but imparts his skills selflessly, then just learn it.

But how many masters like that are there?!
It was only after the explosion of knowledge that people could learn any skill they wanted by paying money at school, and these old customs gradually faded from the mainstream historical stage.

Even in the new century, many people still follow the old ways when taking on apprentices, which shows that there is a reason for its existence.

After all, the premise of "three years of apprenticeship and two years of service" is that there is no tuition fee, which is still very attractive to many people.

As for now, since it's about teaching a skill, even if Chen Fan doesn't ask to kowtow and become an apprentice, the proper rules still apply.

Otherwise, regardless of their actual skills, the gossip alone could drown them.

Just then, Huang Ying came over to invite someone, "Teacher Chen, the meal is ready."

Chen Fan stood up and chuckled, "Please, everyone."

Several people stood up one after another and moved to a different location.

The meal was naturally arranged in the restaurant, where they ate, while Huang Ying and the other two ate in the kitchen next door.

With just a few people, they didn't need a large table. Huang Ying and the others knew Chen Fan well, so they placed the dining table near the window. There was an open space in the middle, with a coal stove underneath and a large iron pot on it. The rim of the pot was level with the tabletop, and six plates of stir-fried dishes with meat and vegetables were arranged around it.

Dozens of glistening yellow croakers floated in the soup, the broth bubbling occasionally with its rich sauce, instantly whetting one's appetite with its aroma.

Since they were all acquaintances, there wasn't much formality. Captain Yang and Anquan sat on one side, Accountant Liu and Warehouse Keeper Huang sat on the other, and Chen Fan sat in the seat facing the window, where he could enjoy the snow scene outside while eating.

Captain Yang and his group weren't interested in such sentimentality; they had already eagerly taken their seats and waited for Chen Fan to extend his hand, saying, "Please."

They immediately picked up their chopsticks and started eating.

After taking a bite of the delicious fish, An Quan's face lit up with delight, and he gave a thumbs up without hesitation, exclaiming, "This taste is absolutely amazing!"

Captain Yang nodded repeatedly, "Even Chef Zhu from the commune's state-run restaurant probably couldn't make this dish taste as good."

He picked up the wine bowl in front of him and smiled at Chen Fan, "Little Chen, come on, let me toast you."

Before Chen Fan could speak, Accountant Liu chuckled and picked up his wine bowl, saying, "This dish is made by Chef Liu Dan, what are you toasting for?"

After saying that, he waved to Chen Fan and said, "Here, let me toast you to thank you for teaching my Liu Dan so many skills. I'll drink it, you can do as you please!"

Chen Fan hadn't even taken a bite of the food yet, but he could only pick up his wine bowl and say with a smile, "We're all family, so let's not stand on ceremony. Come on, let's have a toast together."

With a loud clang, Captain Yang and his two companions took a sip, their eyes immediately lighting up as they downed the rest of their bowls of wine.

Actually, these wine bowls don't hold much wine. The stems are tall, and the top looks like a plate. A bowl of wine is just enough for an ounce or two, which is enough for these old drinkers to rinse their mouths.

Setting down his wine bowl, Captain Yang picked up the bottle and poured some wine, saying, "Your wine is quite good, even better than Yunhu Daqu. Have they learned how to make it yet?"

The "them" here naturally refers to Yang Ju and the other two.

Chen Fan laughed and said, "They know how to brew wine, but as for how well they can brew it, we'll have to wait until they brew it themselves to know."

The warehouse keeper, Huang, chuckled, "I don't ask for much, as long as it's better than the wine Old Tang makes."

Accountant Liu rolled his eyes and pointed at the wine bowl, saying, "If it were even half as good as this wine, it would be miles ahead of Old Tang!"

Captain Yang nodded repeatedly, "Yes, when the weather is sunny, my family will brew a vat too."

At this point, Anquan poured cold water on their enthusiasm, saying, "Xiao Chen's wine has been brewing for almost half a year. At the latest, they will be going to university by March next year. Will they still have time to brew wine for you?"

Chen Fan chuckled but remained silent.

The brewing time varies, ranging from as short as half a month to as long as three or four months.

The reason this batch of wine is so mellow right after it was brewed is because the fermentation period was more than 100 days. Then, through distillation and blending, several different flavors were created. Finally, it was placed in the wine cellar below the restaurant and aged for several months before it was recently taken out to be drunk.

It's certainly possible to have Yang Ju and the others brew wine in a short time, but it certainly won't be as mellow or as delicious as the batch he brewed himself.

When Captain Yang and the others heard that it was safe, they all fell silent.

Yang Ju and the others are all destined to become cadres; how can they let brewing delay their careers?
However, Yang Ju and her group weren't up to par, but the people who came later were.

It's just a matter of waiting a few more days.

Thinking of this, Captain Yang said impatiently, "Xiao Chen, how about we send someone over today?"

Chen Fan understood that he was referring to people coming to be apprentices, so he nodded. "Sure, there's everything in the courtyard downstairs, and the rooms are empty. You can move in after a quick clean." He paused, then asked, "Are you coming today? Have you booked everyone?"

Although he wasn't particularly familiar with the people in the village, he had at least become a familiar face to them and knew most of them.

Captain Yang immediately said, "Let Yang Mei come over from my family."

Chen Fan nodded. Captain Yang's family has five children. The eldest is Yang Ju, who will turn 16 next year. The second oldest is Yang Mei, who is a little over a year younger than Yang Ju. She should be 14 and a half years old now, not even as old as Yang Ju was when she entered the family. But she is just right to be an apprentice.

The key point is that he had a good impression of Yangmei. Like her sister, she was a quick and efficient person who knew a lot about farm work, though she lacked experience.

However, Chen Fan doesn't farm here; he only has a vegetable garden and some animals to take care of, which he should be able to handle.

Just as he was about to change his mind, the storekeeper, Huang, said with a smile, "What a coincidence! Our order is also for Huang Ying's younger sister, Huang Li, who was born in the same month as your Yang Mei, just a few days apart."

Chen Fan raised an eyebrow. Why are they all younger sisters?

Could it be that the position for doing odd jobs here has been designated as a family heirloom?
At this moment, Accountant Liu also laughed and said, "Liu Dan also has a younger sister..."

Before he could finish speaking, the custodian, Huang, scoffed, "Give me a break. You might say Xiaodan's younger brother is alright, but her little sister isn't even 10 years old yet, is she? Are you having her come over to help Teacher Chen with chores, or to have Teacher Chen babysit your kids?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan's eyes widened. Not even 10 years old?
This is unacceptable!
Accountant Liu's face immediately darkened. "When did I say I'd let her younger sister come over? You interrupted before I even finished speaking!"

He snorted and turned to look at Chen Fan, a smile spreading across his face. He said, "Liu Dan's sister is too young to be sent over. But my second brother's eldest daughter just turned 14 the day before yesterday. She would have been eligible for marriage in the past, but of course not now. She'll have to wait two more years."

That girl wasn't cut out for studying; she dropped out before finishing second grade. However, she was definitely good at recognizing characters and doing math, but she couldn't compete with other educated people in reading and writing, so she couldn't expect to work in the production team's sideline business.

My second brother came to see me a few days ago, hoping I could find her a way to learn a trade. Since you also need someone, I'll have her come over when I get back later.”

Hearing him say that, Captain Yang and custodian Huang nodded slightly.

Captain Yang also said to Chen Fan, "Old Liu is talking about Liu Lu from Liu Lao Er's family. Her name was given by Teacher Xiao from elementary school, who came up with a few eggs. She has two older brothers and two younger sisters. Although she is called the eldest daughter, she is actually the third child in the family. She is honest and well-behaved, and has an outstanding appearance, no less than her cousin Liu Dan. Moreover, she is quick and efficient, and is a good candidate for work."

These days, the birth order of children in a family is separate, with boys on one side and girls on the other. So, families with many children often have an eldest brother, an eldest sister, a second brother, and a second sister, which is the case for Liu Lu.

At this moment, the storekeeper Huang suddenly interjected, "He's just gotten a bit thin, like a bamboo pole, he needs to rest."

Upon hearing this, Accountant Liu immediately became displeased. "They're all young girls, not married women. Which one of them wasn't fattened up from being skinny?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Chen Fan, but didn't say a word out loud.

Little Chen likes skinny guys, otherwise how come none of the three of them could keep an eye on him and let Little Jiang seduce him?

Chen Fan watched them argue but didn't try to break them up. They were old friends who had been bickering like this for years. If an outsider tried to intervene, it might actually escalate the situation.

He then picked up his wine bowl and said, "Come on, let's drink!"

After a few bites of food and drink, Chen Fan suddenly realized something, tilted his head and looked around, "Wait, why are you sending all women this time?"

Upon hearing this, the table fell silent.

In the kitchen next door, Huang Ying angrily poked at the fish with her chopsticks. Yang Ju glanced at her, then looked at the door separating the dining room, and whispered, "That's enough, you've poked the fish to pieces."

Huang Ying's eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly sighed, "University is four years long, and I don't know what I'll be like when I come back."

Liu Dan looked up, glancing at the two of them with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"

Yang Ju turned her gaze to her, sighed, and said, "Didn't you hear what they said? They're going to send Yang Mei, Huang Li, and Liu Lu over as apprentices. If they really want to learn skills, why don't they send my brother Yang Yong, your brother Liu Tao, and Liu Lu's brother over?"

Liu Dan was just slow to react, but she wasn't stupid; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to keep up with Yang Ju and Huang Ying's learning pace and achieve high scores.

Upon hearing Yang Ju's words, she immediately realized what was going on and pointed outside, saying, "Teacher Chen has already chosen Sister Li, and they still haven't given up?"

Yang Ju gasped, "Keep your voice down."

Luckily, the noise from the restaurant outside was quite loud, otherwise it would have been so embarrassing if they had heard us.

Huang Ying glanced at the restaurant door again, pouted, and said, "Teacher Chen and Sister Li are together, but they're not married yet. You forgot, in the past, when some couples were about to get married, there were always people who came to steal the bride. There have been cases of people intercepting blind dates."

In their eyes, Teacher Chen was a golden opportunity, and they were willing to give it a try as long as there was a chance.

Yang Ju glanced at her and said, "You look so smug and unapproachable. Who are you trying to impress? You're just as persistent as them."

Huang Ying glared at him, "Have you given up?"

Yang Ju ate with her head down, remaining silent.

In the restaurant next door, Captain Yang and his men grinned and laughed when they heard Chen Fan's words.

After several seconds, Accountant Liu said, "It's not that we deliberately chose girls, but you only need three people here, so we can only give them good opportunities. Boys are better at making a living than girls, right?"

His words seemed to open up new avenues of thought for Captain Yang and custodian Huang.

Captain Yang slapped his thigh and said, "That's right. The production team's sideline businesses are doing so well now. Our Team 6 has its own pottery workshop, and the brigade has also bought so many agricultural machines for us. Whether it's farming, pottery making, or joining the transportation team, we don't lack opportunities to make a living."

Girls, on the other hand, if they can't work in delicatessens or workshops, can only toil in the fields for food. They can't even get into pottery workshops, because adults are already doing all the work of making pottery blanks, and it's not their turn.

That's the only way I can send them here. They can learn a valuable skill, so that they can have a long-term livelihood, whether it's for making a living or getting married.

The custodian, Mr. Huang, nodded repeatedly. "And I also heard from Xiaoying that there are many meticulous tasks here, and girls are more careful when they do things."

If there's anything that needs to be done, they can go home and ask their brothers for help, so it won't cause any delays.

Chen Fan looked left and right, chuckled twice, and said, "I was just saying it casually, why are you all so excited?"

Captain Yang blushed slightly and chuckled, "In the end, it was destined to be sent to you, so some things need to be made clear."

"Well, it's settled then. Have them bring their bedding and luggage later. Yang Ju and the others are here too, they can mentor them for a couple of months, so it won't interfere with your plans."

After saying that, he changed the subject, "By the way, the commune issued a notice that the river embankment will be under major repair this year. After this snow stops, the brigade will convene a meeting of all the team leaders to discuss the repair."

If it's just about increasing the height, that's fine. But if it's about increasing the thickness, your boat will need to be moved. I'm giving you a heads-up.

(End of this chapter)