Chapter 120: The Lost Letter of Introduction
At the county machinery factory, the old gatekeeper saw Xu Huazhang riding up on his bicycle and quickly opened the gate.
“Secretary Xu, what brings you here at this hour? It just rained today—the road must’ve been hard to ride.”
Xu Huazhang got off his bicycle, pushing it forward, and handed the old man an orange that looked like it had been kept for a long time but was still good.
“Uncle Yu, I have something to take care of. Is Director Wang in the factory?”
Uncle Yu always had a good impression of Xu.
He was different from anyone else in the factory. Every time he asked Uncle Yu to open the gate, he would casually give him something—a handful of sunflower seeds, a few candies, sometimes even a tomato.
It wasn’t that Uncle Yu was greedy for those things, but he felt respected. Xu Huazhang’s upbringing showed in his bones. Even though he was aloof, he was never impolite. At first, Uncle Yu refused, but Xu had insisted. Later, he stopped refusing, but in return, he always helped Xu Huazhang with little things when he could.
“Director Wang’s here, haven’t seen him leave.”
“Good, thank you.”
After entering, Xu Huazhang parked his bicycle in the shed near the gate.
Once Xu Huazhang had gone, Uncle Yu took a twig and carefully scraped all the mud off his bicycle.
As Xu Huazhang walked deeper inside, many people greeted him. He just gave a slight nod and walked past.
A young man ran up, drenched in sweat.
“Secretary Xu, I finally caught up with you!”
This was Huang Mincai, a colleague who had often helped Xu Huazhang pick up meals in the past. Xu Huazhang couldn’t pretend not to hear, so he stopped.
“You need something from me?”
He handed Huang Mincai a cigarette.
“Ha, just what I like! You should know what I came for!” Huang Mincai grinned, winking exaggeratedly.
“You should also know what my answer is. I still have things to do—” Xu Huazhang glanced at his watch, ready to leave.
“Wait!” Huang Mincai blocked him. “This time the girl is really a perfect match for you. She’s beautiful, I swear! If I’m lying, I’m a dog!”
Xu Huazhang felt helpless with people like this—kind-hearted but oblivious to social cues.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Huang Mincai tried to plead for the girl. “She’s liked you for a long time. Can you really bear to hurt her feelings? At least meet her once, right?”
“There are thousands who may like me. Do I need to meet every one of them?” Xu Huazhang finally lost all patience. “Comrade Huang, as far as I know, you’re already married. But there are still plenty of women who admire you. Do you go out of your way to comfort them all so they won’t be heartbroken?”
Huang finally realized his mistake.
“No, no, of course not. I don’t have anything to do with them! I get it now—this won’t happen again!”
Xu Huazhang was satisfied. If it did happen again, he wouldn’t mind teaching Huang Mincai a deeper “lesson.”
He successfully obtained the letter of introduction for Xinjiang. Before leaving, he stopped by the canteen.
“Master Song, do you still have any salted eggs left? I’d like to exchange for a few.”
“There are some, though not many. The salted chicken eggs are almost gone, but there are still salted duck eggs. How many do you need?”
“Nine.”
Xu Huazhang handed him the money.
He used to dislike the word “nine.” Whether it was “the Ninth Rank of Nobility” or “the Emperor’s Ninety-Five Supremacy,” it reminded him of bad things. But now, nine was his favorite number—it meant he and his baby would be together forever. (9 = Jiu = Forever in Mandarin)
At home, Xu Huazhang knocked calmly on the courtyard door.
“Lantu.”
“Coming. What’s the rush? We’re not pressed for time.”
Mu Lantu let him in, bolted the door, and pulled a basin of warm water and a towel from his space.
“Wash your face.”
Xu Huazhang’s white shirt had been soaked with sweat and dried again and again, and his hair was the same.
After washing his face and hair, he felt much refreshed. A popsicle appeared before his eyes.
A faint smile flickered in his dark eyes as he took it. “I got the letter of introduction—one month’s leave. Enough to stay in Xinjiang with you.”
Mu Lantu also took a popsicle, and the two went inside.
“Mm. I’ve packed most things already, see if I missed anything.”
“What about Wangcai?” Xu Huazhang asked.
“Bring him. If we leave him with someone else, he’ll cause trouble when he doesn’t see us for too long.” Mu Lantu watched leisurely as Xu Huazhang checked the luggage. “What dry rations should we bring?”
“Jerky, biscuits, canned food?”
Anything else was too hard to carry.
“Alright.” Mu Lantu bought jerky, biscuits, and canned food from the system shop, plus apples and oranges—two of each.
He prepared a backpack for himself too, more convenient for travel.
Money and tickets were ready in duplicate, tucked into hidden pockets in the bags.
After checking, Xu Huazhang went to the backyard and guessed Mu Lantu’s plan.
“Baby, take out some eggplants, long beans, cucumbers—divide into three shares. We’ll give them to the brigade leader and the secretary, say it’s the last batch of fresh produce, the rest has been dried.”
“Got it.”
As expected, Aunt Chunhua asked if they needed her to look after the vegetable garden.
Mu Lantu explained, “We’d still have to trouble the brigade leader or auntie to check in sometimes. I’m afraid of thieves breaking in while we’re gone.”
The brigade leader reassured, “Don’t worry, I’ll have my eldest check every morning and evening.” Not just Mu Lantu’s house—he also planned to watch over the educated youth quarters and Miao Jiaze’s place. If they came back to find everything stolen, it would be disastrous, and he, as leader, wouldn’t be spared.
Aunt Chunhua asked about Wangcai.
Mu Lantu said, “Probably ran off into the hills. He won’t starve.”
Everyone knew the dog was clever and could hunt. They didn’t think much of it. If Mu Lantu had asked them to take care of Wangcai, they would have, but worried about being blamed if he lost weight. Since Mu Lantu didn’t ask, it saved them the trouble.
That night, all three households of educated youths cooked fragrant meals in preparation for the next morning’s journey, saving time.
The night passed quietly.
At dawn, all three courtyards bustled.
The youths hurriedly washed and ate breakfast.
The tractor driver arrived, yawning at the wheel.
The brigade leader came too, giving him a hard slap on the back and telling him to wash his face again.
Mu Lantu gave both the leader and the driver an egg pancake each.
Nearly twenty people, each with plenty of luggage, piled onto the tractor. There was barely room—women sat on women’s laps, men on men’s, everyone squeezing.
Mu Lantu sat on Xu Huazhang’s lap.
One hand holding the seat, the other naturally around Mu Lantu’s waist, Xu Huazhang looked ahead with a faint smile in his eyes.
Mu Lantu pretended to still be sleepy, leaning back against him. The tractor’s jolts made the back of his head tap gently against Xu Huazhang’s cheek again and again.
In the crowded company, their hidden affection found its fullest expression.
The waiting hall was jammed with people. Voices weren’t loud, but in the enclosed space they merged into a deafening buzz. Children played, babies wailed.
They searched twice and found no seats, so they sat on their luggage or spread old newspapers on the ground.
There were several groups of young people with unusual bearing—obviously educated youths from other brigades.
Mu Lantu spotted two familiar faces sitting apart from others, not fitting in.
“You know them?” Xu Huazhang caught his subtle change in expression at once.
“Remember when we were robbed on the road? It was those two.”
The police had come to ask Mu Lantu about it later. Considering they were educated youths sent to support the countryside, that the robbery failed, and that their brigade leader begged for mercy, the station gave them a chance—just three days’ detention, no record. But next time, the punishment would be severe.
The two spotted Mu Lantu too, their faces darkening, eyes full of hate.
Xu Huazhang’s expression was flat, but a cold glint flashed in his black eyes. “Doesn’t look like they’ve repented.”
Mu Lantu chuckled. “If they dare try again, I’ll be glad to send them back inside.”
Xu Huazhang smiled too.
The two muttered among themselves.
“Don’t mess around. If we go in again, we’re finished for life,” Zhao Canxing warned.
“You mean you don’t hate him?” Qian Yongning fumed, glancing at nearby youths. If not for Mu Lantu, why would their whole brigade and the other educated youths shun them?
Zhao Canxing said nothing. How could he not hate?
As the sun rose higher, the waiting hall grew hotter.
Xu Huazhang fanned Mu Lantu with a folded newspaper.
“Need the bathroom? Once we get on, it’ll be inconvenient.”
“No. You?” Mu Lantu folded the paper into a fan.
“Went before we left.”
Others discussed going in pairs to the restroom while the rest watched the luggage. Better safe than sorry.
When they returned, Yue Xiaoying suddenly said, “I wonder if our tickets have seats.”
Everyone froze.
Lin Shuzhen’s eyes widened. “There should be seats, right? Heiliao Province to Xinjiang is so far—without a seat, I’ll die!”
Cai Xiufen pouted at Xie Xiaojun.
“Xiaojun…”
He said gently, “Don’t worry. If we don’t have seats, I’ll find a way.”
Zhang Guodong checked the big clock on the hall wall and called out, “Everyone, our train leaves at 10:08. At 9:40 we’ll do a roll call and board together. Don’t wander off—keep track of the time!”
At 9:50 they began queuing to check tickets.
Zhang Guodong responsibly reminded, “Get your letters of introduction ready, keep them handy!”
Zhang Jingxian reached into her shoulder bag—then her face went pale. “Where’s my letter? I swear I put it in here, but it’s gone!”
Zhang Guodong rushed over. “Jingxian, what’s wrong?”
“Brother!” she cried, face white. “My letter of introduction is missing! I clearly remember putting it in my bag—but it’s gone!”
Everyone was shocked!
