Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 425 Learning to Write Articles Starts with Raising Animals
The Jiangnan region is different from the North, especially the Northeast. In winter, it is so cold that almost everyone stays indoors to hibernate until the ice and snow melt and spring arrives before they can start working for the new year.

In the Jiangnan region, production teams never lacked work, even in the dead of winter, tasks were always assigned.

The biggest highlight was the repair of the river embankment.

Repairing river embankments is a long-term project. Whether the weather is favorable or there is drought or flooding, it will not affect the task of repairing the embankments. The only difference is whether it is a major repair or a minor repair.

Last year, the Nanhu Commune carried out minor repairs. The members of the production team took shovels and hoes, and carried baskets and shoulder poles. They worked for almost a week to complete the task of reinforcing the dike.

This year is different. Following instructions from the local water conservancy department, the commune assigned tasks to all production teams within its jurisdiction, requiring them to raise and thicken the dikes and dredge some sections of the river.

Under the old conditions, this whole ordeal would probably have taken at least a month and a half to complete.

However, this year the production team has so many agricultural machines that they can be put to good use with just a little modification, which can provide a lot of help.

At the very least, you can attach a plow to the farm machinery and loosen the soil, saving the effort of digging.

If all goes well, the entire project should be completed within a month at the latest, which will be around the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, giving the commune members some time to prepare for the New Year.

However, these things had nothing to do with Chen Fan. Although he was still working as a broadcaster, the broadcasting room had long been handed over to Zhang Cuie. Even if Zhang Cuie left in the future, her cousin Zhang Xiuyue would take over.

Indeed, tradition is everywhere!

Moreover, Chen Fan plans to officially relinquish his broadcaster position after the end of this year.

The reason he hasn't been let go yet isn't because he's reluctant to give it up, but because Secretary Yang and the others said they'd let him work until the end of the year so they could calculate his work points.

This wasn't him intentionally trying to fleece the Zhang Cuie sisters.

As for still holding the title of "Chief Veterinarian,"... veterinarians have even less to do with dike breaking.

Besides, he's currently a special commissioner of the prefectural committee's health department, so there's even less reason for him to go and sabotage the dike.

In short, all he can do is clap and cheer; everything else is secondary.

The production team has begun mobilizing resources and holding frequent meetings to prepare for the major repair of the river embankment, while Chen Fan plans to go to the prefectural committee for a few days after the snow stops.

Otherwise, it would be inappropriate for him to stand by and watch the excitement while the whole village was busily repairing the dike.

So it's better to go further away.

The snow continued for two days without stopping; the first snow of the winter of 1977 was quite heavy.

The snow in the yard in front of the new house had been cleared away. The six girls then took wooden shovels and continued to shovel snow down the slope, pushing it into the orchard next to them.

Without paying attention, the youngest, Liu Lu, slipped and fell on her bottom.

Fortunately, the snow on the ground was thick, and she was wearing many clothes, so she was alright, just a little dazed.

The closest oriole quickly pulled her up and laughed, "You can't even walk steadily, you can only learn to be a tailor."

When I came here, my family told me to be diligent, listen to Teacher Chen, and focus on learning a skill, at least one.

Of course, it would be even better if we could gain something else!

Liu Dan quickly came over, pulled her younger sister up and down to check her over, and asked, "Did you hurt yourself?"

Liu Lu shook her head with a smile, "This is nothing. In the summer, I climb trees to pick fruit and fall from such heights without any problems."

Upon hearing this, Liu Dan's brows furrowed even more angrily, "You fell from the tree? Are you out of your mind?"

Liu Lu quickly covered her mouth, shook her head repeatedly, and her eyes were full of fear.

How did you let it slip?

Yang Ju shoveled up a shovel of snow and threw it out. Catching her breath, she turned around and said, "You can't jump around like that here anymore. There's so much to learn from Teacher Chen, but you have to take the initiative and work hard yourself. Otherwise, he won't urge you on, and you'll be the one who suffers in the end."

Liu Dan nodded vigorously in agreement, and gave her younger sister a few more instructions. Yang Mei and Huang Li took these to heart and then continued to shovel snow diligently.

From the top of the slope to the bottom, and then all the way to the entrance of the educated youth compound, a few people shoveled in front while two others swept behind. In less than an hour, the passage was cleaned up.

However, if the snow doesn't stop, it will have to come again tomorrow.

After finishing their work, the group put their tools away and headed back along the cleared path.

Yang Mei held onto the bamboo railing, slipping with every step she took, panting and on the verge of tears. "Why doesn't they build a staircase? This slope is so slippery!"

Yang Ju pushed her from behind and said, "If you're repairing the stairs, they'll be slippery just like when it snows. But when you fall, it won't just hurt your butt like Liu Lu did. The steps are sharp, and you could easily break a bone."

Liu Lu followed behind her, her eyes full of curiosity. "Sister Ju, why do you walk so steadily and not slip at all?"

Yang Ju turned around and glanced at her, then laughed, "It's not just me, your sister and Huang Ying are too."

The three newcomers immediately looked down and, sure enough, all three older sisters were walking steadily, as if there were no ice shards under their feet.

Huang Ying, who was at the very back, waved her hand and said, "This is the benefit of practicing Little Baguazhang. Not only can you run faster and be more agile, but your footwork is also more stable, and you are less likely to fall. In short, the benefits are countless."

Liu Lu and the others' eyes lit up immediately. "It's the Little Bagua Palm that we practice every morning?"

Liu Dan quickly stepped forward, pulled her upstairs, and said, "You talk the most. Can't you be like your older sister, talking less and doing more? Let me tell you, Teacher Chen has a lot of skills. What's a little Bagua Palm? It's just like calisthenics at best..."

Amidst chatter and a few giggles, the group climbed to the top of the slope and headed into the house.

In front of the fireplace, Duoduo and Qiuqiu lay on the ground, comfortably squinting their eyes. It was hard to tell whether they were asleep or not. All four ears twitched slightly at the same time before drooping down again. They didn't even open their eyes once from beginning to end.

On the chair next to it, the raccoon dog was curled up in a ball, already fast asleep.

Chen Fan leaned over the tea table, his pen flying across the paper as he wrote a draft of his novel.

This is a novella, about 3 to 4 words long, titled "The Ferryman".

The story is about... well, it's a Jiangnan-style boat version of "The Herdsman".

It doesn't count as plagiarism, or even borrowing, because Chen Fan hadn't read the original novel or watched the movie adaptation.

However, in this era, similar stories emerged one after another. He simply picked one at random, adapted it into a literary work, and then slightly "elevated" it to elevate its ideas, resulting in a story from that era similar to "The Herdsman".

As someone who comes later, knowing which types of works will be popular is the biggest advantage. You can just write that type of story directly without having to copy what others are doing.

After finishing the last page, Chen Fan gave it a cursory check and then set it aside to copy it again.

Meanwhile, he was thinking to himself that Zhang Xianliang, the master who wrote "The Herdsman," entered the Tao through literature and eventually became the owner of a Western film studio.

Many films and television dramas, such as "A Chinese Odyssey", "New Dragon Gate Inn", and "Red Sorghum", were filmed here, and Master Zhang can be regarded as a big name in the cultural and entertainment industry.

Chen Fan wondered if this article would ever be adapted into a movie, and if that would lead to the creation of a "Jiangnan Film and Television City".
Just as he was copying and letting his thoughts wander, six girls filed in.

Huang Ying ran ahead, "Teacher Chen, the snow has all been shoveled away." Chen Fan looked up and smiled, "Thank you for your hard work. Quickly wipe your sweat so you don't catch a cold."

The group smiled and nodded, then picked up towels from the shelf next to them to wipe their sweat.

Yang Ju walked over to Chen Fan and saw him copying something, so she said, "Teacher Chen, let us help you copy it."

Chen Fan glanced at her, then decisively put down his pen. "Fine, you can divide it up and finish copying it quickly."

Before he finished speaking, the stack of drafts was completely devoured by the group.

Chen Fan walked around the tea table; the handwriting of the six girls was different from the others.

Without a doubt, the handwriting of Huang Ying, Yang Ju, and Liu Dan is much better, while that of Huang Li, Yang Mei, and Liu Lu is much worse, and could even be described as ugly.

However, Chen Fan didn't care. The copies were just for keeping a record, while the originals were the ones he would send out for submission. As long as he didn't make any mistakes, it didn't matter.

I'll find some time later to write out a calligraphy practice manual and let them practice properly. That should do it.

Seeing that they were all copying diligently, Chen Fan felt relieved and left.

When we arrived at the panda enclosure, Gun Gun didn't go out to play in the snow today; instead, he lay inside, lost in thought.

Upon seeing Chen Fan enter the room, it immediately rolled over and pounced on him with a howl.

Chen Fan laughed and hugged Gun Gun, "Goodness, you've gotten even fatter."

Now Gun Gun must weigh about 200 pounds, and it's only because Chen Fan is strong enough that he can hold it steadily.

But once I hugged the tumbler, its two little babies started climbing up my pants legs.

Chen Fan's face darkened. "You think I'm some kind of tree branch?"

He dragged the two pandas, each weighing 4 or 50 pounds, a couple of steps to the side, then plopped down on a tree stump. Only then did he put Gun Gun aside, and pick up Chang Chang and Shui Shui, sitting on one leg each.

It's finally quiet!
Gun Gun didn't mind. He stretched against Chen Fan, then leaned against him and closed his eyes to sleep.

Changchang and Shuishui were quiet for less than 10 seconds before they started playing around in his arms again.

Chen Fan leaned back against a wooden stake, letting the two pandas play.

There were pandas leaning against me, and I was holding two more in my arms, like I was holding two big heaters. I looked at the snowflakes falling outside the window and soon felt sleepy.

It's true that you should stay home and relax in winter; it's so comfortable to just sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, the door was suddenly opened, a gust of cold wind rushed in, and the three pandas and one person opened their eyes at the same time, looking at the doorway with displeasure.

Huang Ying said helplessly, "Teacher Chen, the food is ready, you can eat now."

As she spoke, she walked over and picked up Changchang, placing him aside. "Little Fatty has gained weight again."

Then he went to hug Shui Shui, saying, "You're a girl, if you get chubby, you might never get married."

What does it mean when the panda stares wide-eyed at the ground?
Chen Fan propped himself up on Rolling's head, yawned, and stretched. "Are they still getting enough food?"

Huang Ying held Shui Shui in her arms, reluctant to put her down, and looked up with a smile, "Don't worry, they won't go hungry. There's not enough bamboo in Lujiawan, but there are four other brigades. There's enough to feed them."

A giant panda needs about 80 to 100 acres of high-quality bamboo forest. In Lujiawan, which has 12 teams, almost every household has bamboo forests in front of and behind their houses, as well as on the slopes in front of and behind the village. All of them together cover about 120 acres.

Moreover, most of them are arrow bamboo, which giant pandas love to eat.

Previously, there was only one giant panda, Gun Gun, with two panda cubs, and they could hardly finish all the food.

However, as Changchang and Shuishui grew up, the entire bamboo forest in Lujiawan was no longer enough to support the three of them.

However, if we include the other four production teams, then there won't be a problem.

Chen Fan nodded, then gave Huang Ying a wink, and Huang Ying blinked instantly to indicate that she understood.

The two then worked together to carry the three pandas to a corner, and then got up and ran.

As soon as its bottom touched the ground, it rolled over and chased after it using all four limbs.

Unfortunately, he made a wrong move. As the door was about to close, he slapped it, and the bear froze, hanging on the door and slowly sliding down, still howling in dissatisfaction.

Chen Fan patted himself off, put his hands behind his back, and stood at the door, saying, "Stop yelling. With this much snow, we won't let you out."

"Ouch..."

"Unless you agree to take a bath!"

"Woo?"

"Of course it's true. First, play in the yard for a while, then take a hot bath. It'll feel so good."

"...Woof woof."

"Okay, you said it yourself, so you can't go back on your word."

He opened the door, grabbed Gun Gun who was trying to sneak out, kicked away Chang Chang and Shui Shui who were quietly running over, closed the door, and then walked to the opposite corner to open the door leading to the panda yard.

The three bears immediately roared with excitement and pounced into the snow.

In the kitchen, the three newcomers were filled with disbelief when they saw this scene.

Yang Mei, pulling her sister along, looked at her as if she'd seen a ghost. "Teacher Chen can talk to pandas?"

Yang Ju couldn't help but chuckle, "We used to think that Teacher Chen could talk to animals, but actually he was just playing around with them."

Even without saying a word, if he wants to bathe the pandas, can they possibly resist? Just wait and see, Teacher Chen will definitely be the one dragging them to the bathroom for a bath later.”

Huang Ying couldn't help but laugh and shake her head. "Animals are just animals, how can they talk? But Teacher Chen said that we should have a heart full of imagination. Animals can't talk, but you can pretend that they can, and then imagine that they also have language and can talk to humans. That way you can make up a lot of stories."

Hearing this, the three newlyweds were filled with admiration.

Huang Li tugged at her sister's arm, her eyes shining, "So, Teacher Chen is able to write so many novels because he often plays with animals?"

Liu Lu also raised her right hand, "Does learning to write articles mean you have to raise so many animals?"

Yang Mei immediately felt a wave of despair wash over her. "Then I definitely have no chance. Keeping animals is too expensive."

Huang Ying couldn't help but shake her head, "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and get ready to eat."

(End of this chapter)