Black Gold 1983

Chapter 86

"You have one more class this afternoon, take a break."

Tian Sui'er nodded and placed the cloth bag on the bed. "Renye, when are you going back?"

"Wait until you finish your exam."

Tian Sui'er looked at him, something flashing in her eyes. She didn't speak, but lowered her head and opened the book, the corners filled with dense notes.

In the afternoon, Renye stood outside the examination hall, leaning against the large locust tree, and lit the cigarette he was smoking. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering across the ground like shattered gold. He waited for almost an hour before Tian Sui'er emerged. This time, a faint smile graced her face, a gentle but genuine one.

"Finished the exam?"

"The exam is over."

Renye stubbed out his cigarette, took out a new one from his pocket, put it in his mouth, but didn't light it. "Let's go, I'll take you home."

The two walked back along the road in silence. A breeze blew, ruffling Tian Sui'er's hair. She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced at Ren Ye. "Ren Ye, do you think I can pass the exam?"

Renye took the cigarette from his lips and squeezed it in his hand. "Yes."

Tian Sui'er didn't speak, and looked down at her toes.

On July 10th, Renye returned to Hongxing Mine. Ma Tiejun was standing beside the mine shaft, holding a shovel. Seeing him approach, he put down the shovel and grinned. "You're back? How did Sui'er do on her exams?"

Renye strapped his headlamp to his forehead, gripped the rope, and slid down the shaft, pushing off the wall with his feet. "Not bad."

On July 15th, the West No. 2 Mining Area released its seventh monthly report. Production exceeded 9,000 tons, and revenue exceeded 700,000 yuan. Renye posted the report on the wall of Ma Dewang's main room, and the villagers gathered around to read it.

Ma Dewang stood at the back of the crowd, a pipe dangling from his lips, squinting at the monthly report.

On July 20th, Tian Sui'er wrote a letter. The letter was thick, and inside, besides the letter paper, was a photograph—at the gate of the provincial university, she was wearing a white dress, standing under the big locust tree, smiling. The letter read: "I felt okay about the exam; I'll let you know when the results come out." A classmate took the photo; they took several before choosing this one.

Renye read the letter several times, then turned the photo over. On the back was written the date—July 15, 1983. He folded the photo, placed it inside the letter, and put it in his inner pocket, keeping it close to his body.

On July 25th, a major safety inspection was conducted at the coal mine. The inspection team came from the province, led by Director Liu from the Provincial Coal Industry Bureau. They spent the entire day at the West No. 2 mine entrance, going down into the mine, inspecting equipment, checking records, and questioning workers—they checked everything.

When Director Liu came up from the mine, he was soaked to the bone, his trousers covered in coal dust. He stood by the mine entrance, took off his safety helmet, and looked at Renye. "Your mine does a great job with safety. It's the best small coal mine I've ever seen."

Ren Shouyi came out of the shed and stood next to Ren Ye.

Director Liu was taken aback when he saw him. "You're Ren Shouyi? From Hongxing Mine?"

Ren Shouyi nodded. "Yes."

Director Liu grasped his hand. "You're an old miner, very experienced. With you here watching over things, safety won't be a problem."

Ren Shouyi didn't speak, just held the cigarette in his mouth. After the inspection team left, Ren Ye helped Ren Shouyi back into the shed. Ren Shouyi sat down and stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.

"Dad, does the section chief from the provincial government know you?"

Ren Shouyi picked up his enamel mug and took a sip of water. "I've seen it before at the mine."

On July 28th, Tian Sui'er wrote again. This time the letter was very short, only a few lines—"The results are out, I passed the cutoff score. Waiting for the admission notice. Renye, thank you." There was nothing else written, but Renye noticed a crumpled mark on the letter, as if it had been dampened by a drop of water, and the paper was no longer smooth after it dried.

On August 1st, the shareholders' meeting was held in the West Second Mining Area. Renye stood beside the octagonal table, distributing last month's dividends one by one. Ma Dewang stood at the back of the crowd, smoking a pipe, squinting as he watched everything.

After the meeting, Ma Dewang kept Ren Ye behind. The two sat in the main room, and Ma Dewang poured him a cup of tea. The tea was freshly brewed, dark in color, and steam rose gently from it.

"Rinno, that girl, she got in?"

Renye picked up his teacup and took a sip. "I passed the cutoff score. Now I'm waiting for the acceptance letter."

Ma Dewang nodded and put the pipe back in his mouth. "Good. Getting into university is a good thing. When are you going to take care of your own affairs?"

Renye was stunned for a moment, almost choking on his tea. "Uncle Dewang, what are you saying?"

Ma Dewang glanced at him. "Don't play dumb. The whole village knows about you and her." Renye didn't speak, put down his teacup, and looked down at the table. Ma Dewang took the pipe out of his mouth and tapped it on the sole of his shoe. "Renye, let me tell you something. A man should be responsible for his actions. If you're interested in her, settle down sooner rather than later. Don't keep the girl waiting."

Renye looked up at Ma Dewang, feeling as if something was blocking his heart.

On August 5th, the acceptance letter arrived. Tian Sui'er was at home helping her mother pick leeks when she received it. The postman called out at the gate, and she ran out, taking the brown paper envelope with trembling hands. She tore the envelope as she opened it.

She stared at the acceptance letter for a long time. Sui'er's mother came out of the house, wiping her hands on her apron, and asked, "Who sent the letter?" Tian Sui'er handed her the letter, and Sui'er's mother took it and read it once, her eyes immediately reddening.

When Tian Sui'er ran out of her house and reached the West Second Wellhead, Ren Ye was down in the well. She stood beside the wellhead, and Ma Tiejun saw her and asked, "What's wrong?" She handed him the admission notice. Ma Tiejun didn't recognize many words, but he saw the words "admitted".

When Renye came up from the mine, he immediately saw her standing beside the coal pile, clutching a manila envelope. He took his miner's lamp off his forehead, held it in his hand, and walked over. "You passed the exam?"

Tian Sui'er nodded and handed him the notification letter.

Renye took it and looked at it. It was white paper with black text, stamped with the university's official seal, a bright red one. He folded the notice, handed it back to her, took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag. The smoke dispersed in the sunlight, like a small cloud.

"I told you, you could pass the exam."

Tian Sui'er's tears finally fell. She didn't wipe them away, letting them flow as she looked at Ren Ye. Her lips trembled for a long time before she could only utter one sentence: "Ren Ye, I'm going to the provincial capital in September."

On September 1st, coal was being mined as usual in the West No. 2 mining area, but Renye did not go down the mine. He changed into clean clothes, put on the cloth shoes with multi-layered soles that Li Yue'e had made for him, and stood at the entrance of the family compound, waiting.

When Tian Sui'er came out of the building, she was wearing a brand-new floral shirt, her hair tied in a ponytail, and carrying a small brown suitcase. The suitcase was slightly worn, but very clean. Sui'er's mother followed behind her, carrying a cloth bag filled with food for the journey. Tian Mancang stood at the door, not seeing her off, but leaning against the doorframe, watching his daughter's back for a long time.

Renye walked over, took the suitcase from Tian Suier's hand, and carried it himself. "Let's go."

Tian Sui'er nodded and glanced back. Sui'er's mother stood at the door, her eyes red-rimmed. She seemed about to say something but swallowed it back and waved her hand. Tian Mancang remained leaning against the doorframe, silent, but his lips moved as if he wanted to call out, yet he didn't.

The two left the residential compound and walked along the dirt road towards the station. The suitcase wasn't heavy, but Renye had switched hands several times, his palms were sweaty, and the handle was a little slippery. Tian Sui'er walked beside him, occasionally glancing down at the suitcase, and occasionally looking up at his profile. They didn't speak, but their steps were in sync, pattering on the gravel road like a silent melody.

When they arrived at the county bus station, the bus was already waiting. Renye put his suitcase in the luggage compartment, dusted off his hands, and stood at the door. Tian Suier stood in front of him, her hands gripping the opening of the cloth bag.

"Nino, I'm leaving."

"Call me when you arrive."

Tian Sui'er nodded, turned around, got into the car, sat down by the window, and opened the window. Ren Ye stood outside the window, the two of them facing each other through that window. Everyone in the car was looking this way, but no one paid any attention.

The bus started, the engine chugging along, a plume of black smoke billowing from the exhaust pipe. Tian Sui'er reached out the window and waved at him. Ren Ye also raised his hand and waved back. The bus pulled away, going further and further away, until it disappeared around the corner at the intersection.

Renye stood at the station entrance, lit the cigarette he was holding, and took a drag. The smoke dispersed in the sunlight like a small cloud. He stood there for a while, finished the cigarette, stubbed it out on the sole of his shoe, threw it in the trash can, and turned to walk towards the mine.

On September 5th, another headframe was added to the West No. 2 mining area. The new working face went into production, and output reached a new level. Trucks hauling coal lined up on the dirt road outside the village, and the drivers squatted by the roadside smoking and chatting, waiting to be loaded. Ma Tiejun ran around with his notebook in hand, and Ma Xiaojun followed behind him. The two of them were so busy that they didn't even have time to eat.

When Renye came up from the mine, it was almost dark. He took his miner's lamp off his forehead and hung it on a pillar in the shed. Ren Shouyi was sitting by the stove, holding an enamel mug in his hands; the water in the mug had gone cold. When he saw Renye come in, he put the mug down, took an envelope from the side, and handed it to him.

"Sui'er is here."

Renye took the letter, opened it, and found a two-page letter inside. Tian Sui'er said she had arrived at school; the dormitory was a six-person room, and the conditions were alright. The food in the cafeteria wasn't as good as home-cooked meals, but it wasn't bad either. She had been to school for three days, the teachers were excellent, and the classmates were very friendly. The letter ended with—"Rinye, I miss home."

Renye read the letter twice, folded it, and put it in his inner pocket next to the photograph. Ma Tiejun peeked in from outside, saw the expression on his face, and asked, "Did Sui'er write?" Renye nodded. Ma Tiejun didn't ask any more questions and went back to his work.

On September 15th, the shareholders' meeting was held in the West Second Mining Area. Renye stood beside the octagonal table and distributed last month's dividends. After that, he didn't leave immediately but sat for a while in the main room of Ma Dewang's house. Ma Dewang poured him a cup of tea, and the two sat around the octagonal table in silence.

"Uncle Dewang, I'd like to tell you something."

Ma Dewang picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Speak."

"I want to hand over the mine affairs to Brother Tiejun and Brother Maocai. I want to go to the provincial capital."

Ma Dewang paused, then put down his teacup. "What are you going to the provincial capital for?"

Renye lowered his head, looking at his reflection in the teacup. "Sui'er goes to school over there. I want to go and be with her."

Ma Dewang didn't speak, put the pipe back in his mouth, and took a drag. Smoke slowly rose in front of him, like a thin curtain. "What about the mine?"

"Brother Tiejun can manage. Brother Maocai can manage too. I come back once a month to check on the progress and handle major issues. They can handle the ordinary matters."

Ma Dewang remained silent for a long time, so long that Ren Ye thought he wouldn't agree. Then he took the pipe from his mouth and tapped it on the sole of his shoe.

"Okay. You go ahead, I'll keep an eye on the mine for you."

On September 20th, Renye called Ma Tiejun and Ma Maocai into the shed. The three of them squatted beside the stove, none of them speaking, the fire in the stove burning brightly.

"Brother Tiejun, Brother Maocai, I'm planning to go to the provincial capital. I'll leave the mine affairs to you."

Ma Tiejun was stunned for a moment, almost dropping the cigarette in his hand. "What are you going to the provincial capital for?"

"Sui'er is studying over there, I'm going to go and keep her company."

Ma Tiejun opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back. He lowered his head, lit a cigarette, and took a puff; the smoke drifted through the shed. "Alright. You go ahead, Maocai and I are here at the mine, don't worry."

Ma Maocai didn't speak, squatting there with his head down, staring at the fire in the stove. After a long while, he finally looked up at Ren Ye. "Brother Ren, when are you coming back?"

"I come back once a month."

Ma Maocai nodded. "Alright. You can relax over there and don't need to worry about things at the mine."

On September 25th, Renye packed his things. Not much: a canvas bag, a few changes of clothes, an account book, and Tian Sui'er's letter and photograph. He slung the canvas bag over his shoulder, stood in the main room, and looked at Li Yue'e.

Li Yue'e came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She walked up to Ren Ye, reached out and pulled off the loose thread on his collar, took a step back, looked him up and down, and nodded. "Go on. Call home when you get there."

Renye nodded, walked to the bedroom door, and knocked. "Dad, I'm leaving." The door opened, and Ren Shouyi stood there, holding the cigarette he was smoking, but not lighting it. He looked at Renye for a while.

"When you get there, treat them well." The voice wasn't loud, but it was steady.

Renye nodded. "Dad, don't worry."

He turned around, slung his canvas bag over his shoulder, and walked out of the courtyard gate. Li Yue'e stood at the gate, watching him walk away until his figure disappeared at the alley entrance, before turning back.

Ren Shouyi stood at the bedroom door, lit a cigarette, and took a drag. The smoke slowly dissipated in the room. He stood there, looking out the window, for a while.

When Renye arrived at the entrance of the family compound, Ma Tiejun and Ma Maocai were already waiting there. Ma Tiejun handed him a pack of cigarettes, and Ma Maocai handed him a bottle of water. Renye took them and put them in his canvas bag.

"Brother Ren, live a good life over there," Ma Tiejun said.

Renye nodded, turned around, and walked towards the station.

The bus journey from Hongxing Mine to the provincial capital took more than four hours. Renye leaned back in his seat, looking out the window. The scenery changed from the mining area to fields, from fields to hills, and from hills to plains. By the time they reached the provincial capital, it was almost dark. The city lights began to twinkle in the distance, like an inverted Milky Way reflected on the ground.

When the bus arrived at the station, Renye got off carrying his canvas bag. Standing at the station entrance, he looked at this unfamiliar city. People were coming and going, and the traffic was bustling; it was even more lively than he had imagined.

He stood on the steps, lit the cigarette he was holding, and took a drag. The smoke dispersed under the streetlights, mingling with the smell of car exhaust from the city.

He carried his canvas bag and walked towards the provincial university. The road was long, but he walked neither fast nor slow, each step steady.