Black Gold 1983

Chapter 81

In late September, the output of the West No. 2 mining area exceeded 5,000 tons. The coal piled up on the open ground next to the mine shaft looked like a small mountain, black and shiny, gleaming in the sunlight. More and more trucks came to haul coal, and the dirt road outside the village, which had just been filled in a few days ago, was riddled with potholes again. Ma Dewang led the villagers to load several truckloads of gravel and filled the road in again.

Ma Dehou squatted beside the coal pile, holding a piece of coal in his hand, examining it closely. He had worked in the mine his whole life and had seen all kinds of coal, but this coking coal from Xi'er was the best he had ever seen. It was black and shiny, oily, and heavy in his hand, like a black gemstone.

"Uncle Dehou, what are you looking at?" Renye walked over and squatted down next to him. Ma Dehou handed him the piece of coal, which Renye took, weighed in his hand, and then handed back.

"Good coal." Ma Dehou placed the coal on the pile, clapped his hands, took out his pipe from his pocket, filled it with tobacco, lit it, and took a puff. "Renye, is your dad's leg any better?"

"Much better. I can walk a few steps now without crutches, but I can't walk very fast."

Ma Dehou nodded and exhaled a puff of smoke. "That's good. Your father was a very strong-willed man his whole life. Making him use a cane would be worse than killing him."

Renye smiled, stood up, and walked to the edge of the mine shaft, looking down. The dark shaft seemed bottomless; the beam of his miner's lamp shone down, revealing only the wet stones and wooden stakes on the shaft walls. The winch was turning, the steel cable creaking and groaning, as a cart of coal was rising from the mine. As the cart emerged from the shaft, he reached out and grabbed the edge of the bucket, pulling it over. The cart was packed full of coal, piled high, with a few pieces spilling out and rolling on the ground. He picked up those pieces, threw them back into the bucket, and dusted his hands off.

Ma Tiejun climbed out of the mine, his face covered in coal dust, with streaks of white sweat running down his face. He took off his safety helmet and wiped his face.

"Brother Ren, the tunnel has been advanced to 150 meters, the roof is still stable, and the coal quality hasn't changed."

Renye nodded. "Let's bring a few more people tomorrow and push the schedule forward a bit more. Winter is coming soon, and the peak season for coal consumption is approaching."

Ma Tiejun responded and turned to make the arrangements.

On September 28th, Ren Shouyi came to the wellhead. This time he didn't use a cane; he walked slowly but steadily. Ren Ye was checking the accounts in the shed when he heard someone outside calling "Uncle Shouyi." He put down his pen and went out, seeing Ren Shouyi standing next to the coal pile, holding a piece of coal in his hand and looking at it.

"Dad, what brings you here? Didn't you say you were resting at home?"

Ren Shouyi put down the piece of coal and dusted off his hands. "I've rested enough, let's go for a walk."

Renye helped him into the shed, made him sit down, and poured him a bowl of water. Ren Shouyi took the bowl, drank a sip, put it down, and looked at the well and winch outside the shed.

"How much of the tunnel has been advanced?"

"One hundred and fifty meters."

Ren Shouyi nodded. "Is the roof still stable?"

"It's stable. Uncle Dehou checks it every day and hasn't found any problems."

Ren Shouyi picked up the bowl of water, took another sip, stood up, walked to the entrance of the shed, and looked at the ever-growing coal pile. The coal pile was black and shiny, gleaming in the sunlight. He looked at it for a while, then turned to look at Ren Ye.

"Tomorrow, I'll go down the mine."

Renye paused for a moment. "Dad, your leg isn't fully healed yet, and the road down the mine is difficult to walk on—"

"I said, go down the well." Ren Shouyi interrupted him, his voice not loud, but firm.

Renye looked at him and didn't try to persuade him further. He knew Ren Shouyi's temper all too well; he was a man of his word. If he wanted to go down the well, no one could stop him.

Ren Shouyi arrived early the next morning. He was wearing old work clothes, his safety helmet was polished to a shine, and his miner's lamp had newly replaced batteries. He stood beside the mine shaft, looking at the dark shaft, and took a deep breath.

Renye handed him the rope. "Dad, take it easy."

Ren Shouyi took the rope, gripped it, and slid down the well section by section, pushing off the wall with his feet. His movements weren't as nimble as before, but he was steady, each step firm. Ren Ye followed behind, and Ma Tiejun also came down.

When he reached the bottom of the well, the water was above his ankles. Ren Shouyi steadied himself, looked around, and bent down to crawl into the alleyway. The alleyway was very low, requiring him to stoop to walk. Ren Shouyi walked slowly, but steadily, each step firm and firm, feeling the wooden stakes on both walls with his hands, one by one, very carefully.

When he reached the working face, he stopped and looked at the shiny black coal face. He reached out and touched it; the coal was cool, hard, and rough. He withdrew his hand and wiped it on his trouser leg.

"Good coal," he said.

Renye stood beside him, watching his father standing before the mine. The light from the miner's lamp shone down on his head, casting his large, dark shadow on the coal face. He remembered when he was a child, Ren Shouyi would always come back from the mine covered in coal dust, his face blackened, only his eyes shining. Back then, he thought his father was the most amazing person in the world, knowing everything and capable of anything.

"Dad, when you were in Xiergan, did you ever imagine you'd come back one day?"

Ren Shouyi didn't answer. He placed his hand on the coal face, touching the shiny black coal, and remained silent for a long time. "I've thought about it. Countless times."

He stood at the working face for a long time, touching every wooden stake and examining every crack in the roof. Only after confirming there were no problems did he turn around and walk out along the tunnel.

When he emerged from the mine, the sun was already high in the sky. Ren Shouyi stood beside the mine shaft, squinting at the distance. The sunlight shone on his face, deepening his wrinkles, like the tunnels beneath the mine. He took off his safety helmet, clutching it in his hand, and stared at the ever-rising pile of coal for a long time.

"Rinno, do a good job at this mine. Don't cause any accidents." Renno nodded. "Dad, don't worry."

Ren Shouyi didn't say anything more. He put down his helmet, turned around, and walked home step by step. His steps were slow but steady, and his back was very straight. The wind blew, lifting his gray hair and then letting it fall back down.

October 1st, National Day. The West No. 2 mining area did not have a holiday, and the workers went down the mine as usual. Renye had lunch with the workers at the mine entrance. It was simple: steamed buns, pickled vegetables, and boiled water, but everyone ate with relish.

In the afternoon, Tian Sui'er arrived. She was wearing a red coat, her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was carrying a cloth bag. She walked to the wellhead, stood in front of the coal pile, and looked at the small black hill.

"Why are you here?" Renye came out of the shed.

Tian Sui'er handed him the cloth bag. "These are dumplings my mom made. It's for National Day, so you can have something nice to eat too."

Renye took it, opened it, and found a lunchbox full of dumplings. They were filled with pork and cabbage, the wrappers tightly pinched together, not a single one broken, and still steaming hot. He picked one up, popped it into his mouth, chewed a couple of times, and nodded. "Delicious."

Tian Sui'er watched him eat, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

Renye took another one and handed it to her. Tian Sui'er hesitated for a moment, then took it, took a small bite, chewed, and swallowed. The two of them stood in front of the coal pile, one after the other, and finished the box of dumplings.

A broadcast came from the distant mining area, a special program for National Day, singing "Ode to the Motherland." The song drifted on the wind, intermittent but powerful.

"Rinno," Tian Sui'er said, her voice not loud.

"Um."

"I've registered. For the college entrance exam, I'm aiming for a university in the provincial capital."

Renye looked at her; the sunlight shone on her face, making her eyes bright. "When is the exam?"

"July. Next July."

Renye nodded, took the cigarette from his lips, and squeezed it in his hand. "Before you get into university, I'll go with you to the provincial capital to check it out. Let's get familiar with the area and see the schools."

Tian Sui'er looked at him, something flashing in her eyes for a moment, then quickly disappeared. "You said it, don't forget."

"I won't forget."

Tian Sui'er turned around, took two steps, then stopped without looking back. "Ren Ye, I'll wait for you." Then she left, her red coat receding into the sunlight like a flickering flame.

The October wind was already cool; it no longer felt warm on the face, but rather a dry, crisp chill. The poplar trees beside the West Second Mine entrance were beginning to shed their leaves, golden leaves fluttering down one by one, landing on the coal piles, the winch, and the workers' hats. Ma Xiaojun tried to sweep the leaves away with a broom, but after he finished, a gust of wind came and another layer fell.

Renye squatted by the wellhead, clutching a piece of coal in his hand, examining it closely. This piece of coal had been taken from the newly advanced working face, and it was even better than the previous ones—black, shiny, and oily, feeling heavy in his hand. Ma Dehou squatted beside him, a pipe dangling from his lips, his eyes squinting.

"Uncle Dehou, the quality of this coal is even better than expected."

Ma Dehou took the pipe out of his mouth and tapped it on the sole of his shoe. "That layer of coking coal underneath, which we couldn't find back then, was a gift from God. Mine it carefully, don't waste it."

Renye nodded, put down the coal, stood up, and dusted his hands. A jeep drove up from the dirt road in the distance, kicking up a cloud of dust. The jeep stopped beside the wellhead, the door opened, and Wang Jianguo got out.

Renye paused for a moment, then went to greet him. "Manager Wang, what brings you here?"

Wang Jianguo glanced at the mine shaft, then at the winch, and then at the ever-rising pile of coal. "Director Chen from the Provincial Coal Industry Bureau is coming to inspect tomorrow. He specifically requested to see your mine."

Renye's heart skipped a beat. "Director Chen? What's he doing here?"

Wang Jianguo pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a puff. "He said he's going to investigate the development of small coal mines. Your mine is doing well, so he wants to come and see for himself." He looked at Renye, "Prepare well tomorrow, and don't let anything go wrong."

Renye nodded, saw Wang Jianguo off, turned back to the shed, took out the account book, and looked at it page by page, mentally reviewing the figures that needed to be reported. Production, sales, revenue, profit, safety, and labor—everything was clearly recorded.

The next morning, when Renye arrived at the wellhead, Director Chen was already there. He was wearing a dark gray jacket, his hair was gray, and he wore black-rimmed glasses. He was squatting next to the coal pile, holding a piece of coal in his hand, examining it closely. Wang Jianguo stood behind him, along with a man who looked like a secretary, carrying a briefcase.

"Young comrade, we meet again." Director Chen stood up and patted the coal dust off his hands.

Renye walked over and shook his hand. "Director Chen, welcome to our inspection."

Director Chen waved his hand. "It's not an inspection, just a look around. Your mine is well-run; I'm here to learn from your experience."

Renye led Director Chen on a tour around the mine shaft, showing him the winch, the coal piles, the workers' sheds, and the safety facilities. Director Chen examined everything carefully, asking questions about everything: safety, production output, sales channels, and workers' income.

How can safety be guaranteed underground?

Renye pointed to Ma Dehou, who was squatting beside the wellhead. "We have dedicated safety officers who check the support and ventilation before each shift goes down the well. They can only go in if they're sure there are no problems. If the roof is unstable, we reinforce it; if the gas level is too high, we evacuate. We don't take any risks."

Director Chen glanced at Ma Dehou, walked over, and shook hands with him. Ma Dehou rubbed his hand on his trouser leg before extending it, looking somewhat reserved.

How many years have you been doing this?

"More than thirty years." Ma Dehou's throat was a little dry.

Director Chen nodded. "You're a veteran miner, very experienced. With you overseeing things, safety is guaranteed."

Ma Dehou grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and put the pipe back in his mouth.

Director Chen then inquired about the workers' income, dividends, and changes in the village, which Renye answered in detail. After listening, Director Chen remained silent for a while, gazing at the hazy sky in the distance.

"Young comrade, your mine is doing a great job. You've taken safety seriously, ensured quality, and the workers earn high wages, which benefits the village as well. This is the path a small coal mine should take."

He took a file folder from his secretary and handed it to Renye. Renye took it and opened it; inside was an official document—"Notice on Commending Advanced Units of Small Coal Mines in the Province." The name of the small coal mine in the West Second Mining Area was circled in red on it.

"You'll attend the year-end commendation meeting. Share your experience with the small coal mines throughout the province."

Renye put the documents away and nodded. "Thank you, Director Chen."

After Director Chen left, Renye stood by the wellhead, lit the cigarette he was holding, and took a puff. The workers gathered around, and Ma Xiaojun was the first to ask, "Brother Ye, what document is this?" Renye handed him the document, but he couldn't recognize many of the words after looking at it for a while. Ma Tiejun took it and didn't recognize it either. Renye carefully put the document away in his pocket. "The province commended us, saying our mine is well-run."

The workers erupted in excitement. Ma Xiaojun, carrying Hu Xianfeng, weaved through the crowd, shouting, "Our mine is famous now!" Ma Tiejun grinned, his eyes narrowing into slits. Ma Dehou squatted against the wall, a pipe dangling from his lips, watching the crowd with a faint, genuine smile. Ma Maocai stood at the back of the crowd, smiling too, a hearty, contented smile.

When it was time to wrap up work at dusk, Renye didn't leave with the others. He squatted alone by the mine shaft, lit a cigarette, and watched the sunset in the distance. The clouds on the horizon were dyed orange-red, layer upon layer, like a richly colored painting. The red flag on the mine shaft fluttered in the wind, and a coal train passed by from the east side of the mining area, its whistle carrying far away.

He heard footsteps behind him, but didn't turn around. The footsteps stopped behind him, and he knew who it was.

"Dad, what brings you here?"

Ren Shouyi squatted down beside him, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it. The setting sun shone on his face, making the wrinkles look deep, like the tunnels in a well.

"I heard people from the provincial government came, so I came to check on them."

Renye took the document out of his pocket and handed it to Renshouyi. Renshouyi took it, glanced at it, folded the document, and returned it to him.

"Okay," Ren Shouyi said, offering only one word. Renye nodded, finished his cigarette, stubbed it out on his shoe, stood up, and reached out to help Ren Shouyi up. The two stood beside the well, gazing into the distance. The setting sun cast their shadows long and thin on the ground, like two trees standing very close together.