Chapter 115: Brother Xu Leaves
Du Xuewen said, “No, I forgot the school’s name, but it’s not in the same city.”
Mu Lantu said, “Shall we all treat Xu Jincheng to a meal together? Tomorrow night, at your place. Huazhang and I will bring the ingredients, you two cook.”
Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze didn’t have much in the way of supplies, so the idea of saving while still joining in suited them perfectly.
Standing outside the courtyard gate, Xu Jincheng overheard the last few sentences. His eyes glistened with tears. He quickly wiped his face and forced them back. After a moment, as though nothing had happened, he knocked on the door.
“You’re all here. The food’s ready. Come, let’s go eat together.”
The atmosphere at the table was subtle, with almost no one speaking.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang endured until the banquet was over, then went home for a small meal themselves. The next morning, they brought gifts to the party secretary’s home to congratulate him on his younger son’s admission to college.
The secretary’s family had received a golden opportunity—he was happier than if his son had married. But given the times, they didn’t dare celebrate openly or host a banquet.
They declined overly lavish gifts but accepted the rest, returning thank-you gifts of equal value.
To Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, however, the secretary’s family gave a double return, since the two had provided things urgently needed by the boy—national food coupons, industrial coupons, cotton coupons, all items useful for university life.
Because of their work shifts, Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze could only visit early in the morning, at noon, or in the evening. They had already gone to offer congratulations at dawn.
After their morning shift, they came to find Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang. Lu Manman, Yue Xiaoying, Zhang Jingxian, Su Qianqian, and Zhang Guodong also wanted to contribute something, so they pooled together to organize a farewell celebration for Brother Xu.
That afternoon, after work, Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze came again.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang found them somewhat annoying.
Miao Jiaze joked, “Report! The new arrivals, Comrade Yan and Comrade Jiang, want to join in too.”
At this point there were already so many people that two more didn’t matter.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang prepared five dishes: smoked pork stewed with dried mushrooms, spicy crayfish, garlic eggplant, pickled chili bamboo shoots fried with dried green beans, and a cold shredded vegetable salad.
The pickled chili bamboo shoots were added at Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze’s strong request. Xu Huazhang begrudgingly doled out only a small bowlful, frying them with the soaked beans, which still made a big plate.
Lu Manman’s group contributed dishes like stir-fried tomato and eggs, soybean-paste-braised dried fish, wild greens salad, and sauerkraut stewed tofu.
Yan Xuan and Jiang Qiaohui were especially generous. Yan Xuan brought two jin of eggs and steamed a large basin of custard. Jiang Qiaohui traded with a villager for a chicken and made chicken stewed with potatoes.
Xu Jincheng also paid dearly to obtain a chicken, which he made into chicken stewed with mushrooms.
There were too many dishes, and Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze couldn’t handle such a large cooking task, so the women did most of the kitchen work.
Du Xuewen brought a large watermelon, Miao Jiaze brought two melons, and they cut them up and served them.
Jiang Qiaohui’s cooking was indeed excellent. Every dish she made was delicious and beautifully presented, drawing endless praise.
Those who stayed behind at the educated youth site regretted their decision, tortured by the aromas. Xu Jincheng’s return to the city was already certain—why had they made things so tense with him before?
Before leaving, Xu Jincheng appointed Zhang Guodong to take over as squad leader and leader of the male educated youths.
In terms of seniority and experience, Lu Manman was more suited for squad leader, but as a woman, managing the men would have been inconvenient, and she had no interest anyway.
Zhao Chengxin and Xie Xiaojun both wanted the position, but unfortunately, the others didn’t support them.
So responsibility fell to Zhang Guodong.
Two days later, Xu Jincheng left the Dongfanghong brigade. Perhaps he would never meet the others again.
The educated youths quickly realized the difference between having Xu Jincheng around and not.
Without his authority, the site fell into chaos. Conflicts broke out almost daily—between the men, between the women, and between the men and women.
Day one: Xie Xiaojun quarreled with Wang Guofu because Wang put his foot on Xie’s bed.
Day two: Cai Xiufen accused Lin Shuzhen of stealing her peanut candy; Lin denied it, and the two fought.
Day three: Xie Xiaojun cut Bai Ningning’s gardenias to give to Cai Xiufen, leading to a huge row among the three.
Day four: Zhao Chengxin apparently took a liking to Jiang Qiaohui and pursued her fiercely. She ignored him, so he kept pestering until she beat him with a club.
…
Miao Jiaze and Du Xuewen gleefully reported all this gossip to Mu Lantu.
Ever since they learned Xu Huazhang could help them find ways to avoid farm work, they seemed liberated, dropping by the site every day to watch the drama.
“Cai Xiufen’s really been won over by Xie Xiaojun,” Du Xuewen said. “She paid for two jin of eggs and steams custard every morning, giving him half.”
Miao Jiaze sneered. “That Xie Xiaojun just loves staring at the women…”
Du Xuewen had caught him a few times—men know men; it was obvious what Xie Xiaojun was looking at.
“I heard from Bai Ningning that Lu Manman warned Cai Xiufen in private, but she wouldn’t listen.”
Mu Lantu shifted the topic. “Is Jiang Qiaohui rich?”
Miao Jiaze said, “Rich! Remember when she bought that three- or four-jin rooster for Xu Jincheng’s farewell dinner? Every three or five days, she brings a treat for everyone. She even gave them fruit twice—bananas once, apples once. That’s not cheap, and you need coupons for that!”
Du Xuewen added, “She may be from the city, but she’s quick at farm work. The brigade rated her at eight work points. Besides Lu Manman, she’s the only woman earning that. She also seems close to the brigade leader’s family. She’s been here less than a month and already eaten at their home twice.” He glanced at Xu Huazhang, unsure if he caught the implication.
Du Xuewen suspected Jiang Qiaohui was angling for a spot in the next intake of worker-peasant-soldier college students. Xu Huazhang, recognizing his goodwill, passed him a piece of watermelon.
Du Xuewen took it knowingly.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried running echoed outside.
“Go get the doctor!”
“No need, take her straight to the infirmary!”
“Something happened?” Miao Jiaze darted out quickly.
With him gathering news, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang weren’t so anxious. When they stepped out, they saw a group rushing toward the village in alarm.
Miao Jiaze ran off and soon came back. “It’s Xiao Zhang. She got hurt while collecting firewood. She’s conscious—it shouldn’t be too serious.”
Zhang Guodong came out, his thick brows furrowed. “Xiao Zhang’s hurt?”
Miao Jiaze relayed what he knew.
“I’ll go take a look,” Zhang Guodong said.
Later, Zhang Jingxian returned, and Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang went to visit.
“It’s all my fault,” Jiang Qiaohui said, blushing deeply. She bowed to Zhang Jingxian. “We were collecting firewood together, and I saw a straw rope—I thought it was a snake. I panicked and jumped aside, accidentally bumping into her. That’s how she got hurt. Don’t worry, I’ll pay her medical costs and take care of her until she recovers. I hope she can forgive me.”
Zhang Jingxian had a sprained arm and some scrapes on her knee.
“It’s okay, you didn’t do it on purpose. It’s not serious, just needs a couple days of rest.”
But Jiang Qiaohui insisted on paying medical costs, and even compensating her for the lost work points during sick leave.
Zhang Jingxian couldn’t refuse her.
“Comrade Lu, tomorrow please ask for three days’ leave on her behalf. I’ll handle her firewood duty during that time,” Zhang Guodong said.
Lu Manman agreed.
“Thank you, Squad Leader,” Zhang Jingxian said, touching her knee. “But maybe I don’t need a full three days?”
“It’s hot now—sweat could cause infection. Better take three days,” Zhang Guodong advised.
Zhang Jingxian nodded softly.
Since it wasn’t serious, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang didn’t stay long.
“Bath time?” Miao Jiaze asked Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, meaning the river.
Mu Lantu waved him off. “You go.”
Miao Jiaze pressed, “Don’t stay cooped up. Even if you don’t bathe, come play a bit. The riverbank’s lively at night!”
Mu Lantu shook his head in horror. “Forget it. You may not mind the sight, but we do.”
He’d gone once before—after that, Xu Huazhang never let him go again.
At night, the river was full of burly men completely naked. Some didn’t care, reasoning that since there were no women around, stripping off wasn’t a big deal. They even thought they looked impressive—but the sight was unbearable.
Miao Jiaze and Du Xuewen laughed. “We could go upstream.”
Not just Mu Lantu—none of them could handle the scene, so the educated youths and some of the more bashful local lads usually went upstream.
Xu Huazhang gave them a cold glance. “Not going.”
Miao Jiaze and Du Xuewen slipped away.
Mu Lantu took a warm shower in the back courtyard, then went to check on his grapes.
Watered with spiritual spring, the vines had grown too well. Xu Huazhang had built a sturdy frame to hold them up.
The grapes were nearly the size of ping-pong balls. Still green, but already releasing a faint sweet fragrance.
“Huazhang, when they’re ripe, let’s make some wine.”
“Alright. But no one else can come into the backyard,” Xu Huazhang replied.
“I know.” Mu Lantu glanced at the wall. They had never told anyone how many vegetables and fruits they were growing back there. Usually, no one would think to climb over and check, but they still had to be cautious.
Fortunately, Wangcai the dog was reliable—any unusual sound set him off.
Mu Lantu couldn’t resist picking one grape, peeling it, and feeding it to Xu Huazhang.
“Try it.”
Xu Huazhang’s lips twitched, but he took a bite and nodded. “Very sweet.”
“Really?” Mu Lantu looked at him, then at the grapes. “You finish this one.”
Xu Huazhang peeled it thoroughly and ate it calmly.
Relieved, Mu Lantu picked another. But as he turned, he missed the smile tugging at Xu Huazhang’s lips.
“Ugh! So sour!”
Xu Huazhang burst out laughing.
Mu Lantu was stunned by the rare, genuine smile—but that didn’t stop him from chasing after him. “Xu Huazhang!”
Xu Huazhang bolted.
“Get back here!”
At the educated youth site, the men were all at the river, leaving only the women.
They had already bathed and were lying lazily on mats, fanning themselves.
Hearing the ruckus next door, Cai Xiufen lifted the curtain and peeked outside.
“Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang are having so much fun over there!”
Bai Ningning rolled her eyes. “What, you think you’ve got x-ray vision?”
