Chapter 124: Picking Cotton
Mu Lantu stopped in his tracks and grabbed Xu Huazhang.
“I forgot—you’re not with us. Do you need to check with the brigade leader about lodging and meals?”
Xu Huazhang flicked his forehead lightly with a finger. “By the time you remember, I’d already be sleeping on the street.”
Mu Lantu shamelessly poured out sweet words. “Because we’re always together, in my heart, you and I are one—never to be separated.”
Xu Huazhang’s heart softened. “You’d better remember those words…”
The occasion wasn’t right, so he stopped himself. “I already spoke with the brigade leader. I can stay in the dormitory and eat in the canteen with you all. Today’s lunch is free, but after that, I’ll have to pay and provide meal tickets, since the food supply from above is rationed. Otherwise, I’ll cook separately for myself. I’ll explain more later.”
“When did you talk to the brigade leader? How come I don’t know?” Mu Lantu thought carefully but had no memory of it.
Xu Huazhang really wanted to flick him again and said coolly, “Because you were busy fighting Miao Jiaze to get on the truck.”
Mu Lantu rubbed his nose. “Wasn’t I just trying to get on early so I could grab us a good spot?”
It was just an open truck bed with no seats—where they sat didn’t make a difference.
Xu Huazhang didn’t call him out. “Thanks?”
Mu Lantu grinned. “You’re welcome.”
The two caught up with the main group.
Wang Guofu said, “I heard the people in Xinjiang eat lamb at every meal. I wonder if it’s true. Since we just arrived, will we get to eat lamb later?”
Zhao Chengxin replied, “Every meal? Who told you that? Impossible. Even getting a bowl of lamb soup is considered a great treat.”
Yan Xuan muttered weakly, “Doesn’t matter what it is, as long as there’s food.” He was already starving.
The canteen was crude—a mud-brick house with a thatched roof. Tables and benches were just raised dirt platforms, showcasing the principle of cutting costs to the extreme. Still, it was tidy, with straw-and-leaf collages on the walls that added a childlike touch, keeping the place from feeling perfunctory.
The food was laid out on a long table. Behind it stood two middle-aged women in their fifties, neatly dressed.
Mu Lantu went along with the others to look. The staple was a big bucket of rice, with lamb stewed with radish, braised winter melon, stir-fried bitter melon, and pumpkin soup.
The cook had good skills—simple dishes still smelled delicious.
The educated youths eagerly lined up with their lunch boxes.
Mu Lantu held their two lunch boxes to get food, while Xu Huazhang went to fetch hot water.
At the table, to avoid others misunderstanding that Xu Huazhang was freeloading, Mu Lantu explained that he had already cleared things with the brigade leader.
Zhang Guodong smiled. “I know. Comrade Xu told me himself.”
Most of the time, unless they needed his help, the educated youths didn’t take Zhang Guodong, the general team leader, seriously. When Xu Huazhang told him, Zhang Guodong was genuinely moved, suddenly struck by Xu Huazhang’s personal charm.
No wonder that despite his cool temperament, Mu Lantu, Miao Jiaze, and Du Xuewen all got along well with him. That day at the Chen household’s dinner, Zhang Guodong had also noticed Tang Mingjie’s appreciation for Xu Huazhang.
“Are you two going to cook separately in the future?” Miao Jiaze asked.
Mu Lantu said, “Mm, you all know we both eat a lot.”
Miao Jiaze chuckled slyly—another chance to mooch off their meals!
“Will we be put to work this afternoon, or do we get to rest today?” Yan Xuan asked. He had arrived at the educated youth camp with a bit of aristocratic aloofness, but at the moment he was wolfing down food, finally touching the ground of reality.
Wang Guofu said, “They probably won’t make us work immediately, right? I feel like I could fall asleep the second I hit the bed!”
Zhang Guodong answered, “You can rest this afternoon. Work officially starts tomorrow.”
Thinking of the endless cotton fields, everyone looked more like they were about to cry than laugh.
Zhao Chengxin tried to console them. “It’s fine—just think about the work points.”
It was the only comfort they had.
“Brother!” Zhang Jingxian suddenly rushed in. Seeing the others, she stopped.
Zhang Guodong hurried over.
“What’s wrong?”
They only heard him exclaim “What!” His expression shifted from surprise to shock to puzzlement.
“Another accident?” Miao Jiaze muttered. “That little Zhang comrade really is accident-prone.”
Mu Lantu glanced at him.
Miao Jiaze blinked. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Mu Lantu said casually, even praising, “You’re very smart.”
He and Xu Huazhang exchanged a glance and went back to eating.
When Zhang Guodong returned, it was obvious his mind was elsewhere. No one pressed him.
After the meal, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang went to see the brigade leader.
First, they discussed cotton procurement.
Xu Huazhang came representing the machinery factory, with an official introduction letter.
The brigade leader made things easy and gave him a quota of 10,000 jin. But since the cotton harvest wasn’t finished yet, shipping would have to wait.
They signed a contract, reaching a preliminary agreement.
Renting a kitchen also went smoothly.
The brigade leader had recently divided property among his three sons. The youngest, Kutuluk, had a new house built for future marriage arrangements but wasn’t yet wed.
His kitchen was just right for Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang to rent, while Kutuluk could eat with his parents.
It was difficult to calculate firewood, oil, and seasonings separately, so Mu Lantu paid 0.2 yuan per day to cover everything, including rent.
The price wasn’t cheap and Kutuluk wanted to save money, so both sides were pleased.
Knowing he was getting the better deal, Kutuluk even offered to fill their water tank daily.
Mu Lantu also traded some rice, flour, and eggs with him.
Back at the dormitory, everyone else was already asleep, snoring loudly.
Neither Mu Lantu nor Xu Huazhang snored, so the environment wasn’t great for them—but they didn’t show it. It was only twenty days; they could endure.
They could have rented elsewhere, but since they were here to fulfill a political task, standing out wasn’t wise.
The next morning, a gong woke everyone up. In a flurry, they dressed and washed, not daring to delay.
Zhang Guodong was quick, reminding them before leaving, “Don’t forget to lock the door if you’re the last one out!”
Breakfast was vegetable noodles in a thin broth—plain, but plentiful enough to fill a box per person.
Mu Lantu wasn’t full, but didn’t mind. He followed the group to the warehouse to collect cotton-picking tools. Xu Huazhang didn’t have to work in the fields—he would “make” breakfast and bring it to him.
The young man leading them looked familiar but didn’t talk much. Even after seeing him a few times, Mu Lantu didn’t know his name.
The women wore long sleeves and pants with headscarves. The men also wore long sleeves and pants, with straw hats. Some had never picked cotton, but having picked corn before, they knew to protect their faces and arms.
The cotton field was rectangular, two people to a plot, working from one end to the other.
Those with scissors clipped the cotton into baskets. Without scissors, they had to snap or pull by hand—harder work that hurt the hands. Farm labor was never easy.
Mu Lantu brought scissors and gloves and got right to work.
[Ding, you picked a cotton boll. Points +10.]
[Ding, you picked a cotton boll. Points +10.]
[……]
Monitors watched in the field. If the youths deliberately slacked off, they wouldn’t get full work points.
Mu Lantu deliberately kept his pace only slightly faster than the other men, not too far ahead.
Xu Huazhang appeared at the field’s edge with two lunch boxes. Amid the rows of youths, he spotted Mu Lantu instantly. He clipped a cotton boll, tossed it backward, and it landed precisely in his basket.
Sensing something, Mu Lantu turned and saw Xu Huazhang speaking with the monitor. Then Xu Huazhang waved to him.
Leaving his basket, Mu Lantu walked over.
Xu Huazhang poured water from his canteen for him to wash his hands, handed him the lunch box, and went into the field himself.
The monitor smiled. “We’re not that strict—we wouldn’t deny you mealtime. But Comrade Xu insisted, saying he didn’t want anyone gossiping, so he’d pick in your place.”
“Comrade Muzepal, that’s only right,” Mu Lantu replied. “Even though we’ve only been here a day, we’ve already received much kindness. Since you’ve welcomed us so warmly, we shouldn’t cause even the slightest trouble.”
“No wonder you educated youths are so well-mannered. I’ll check over there so I don’t disturb your meal.”
When Muzepal left, Mu Lantu opened the box, eating while watching Xu Huazhang pick cotton. Even at that, Xu Huazhang looked graceful, unhurried, yet surprisingly efficient.
When Mu Lantu finished, he went to replace Xu Huazhang, sending him back.
With his strength, picking cotton was easier.
Around ten, Xu Huazhang returned with two thermoses, bringing water to Mu Lantu, Du Xuewen, and Miao Jiaze.
Miao Jiaze collapsed to the ground like a dead dog.
The boiled water had a touch of sugar, refreshing better than plain. Du Xuewen felt even his aching muscles relax.
“Thanks, Brother Xu.”
“No need,” Xu Huazhang said. “Just fill your cups.”
There was still water left afterward. Since giving it to some and not others would be awkward, no one mentioned it.
Sweating heavily, Yan Xuan came with his military canteen and boldly asked if there was extra water to spare.
“Yes,” Mu Lantu handed him the thermos.
“Thanks, Brother Mu, Brother Xu.” Yan Xuan poured it into his canteen and drank deeply. “This is way harder than I imagined.”
Du Xuewen said, “Wait till we harvest wheat and rice—you’ll think differently.”
Yan Xuan scoffed. “At least you can use sickles for those—it won’t hurt your hands.”
Du Xuewen and Miao Jiaze just smiled knowingly. Still too young.
“Oh right,” Yan Xuan said. “Now that we’re in Xinjiang, how can we not eat roast whole lamb? Yesterday morning I heard there’s an uncle in the brigade who’s really good at making it. I already reserved a thirty-pound lamb, ready to be slaughtered anytime. I can’t finish it myself. Do you four want to pitch in?”
