Black Gold 1983

Ma Maocai didn't answer. He lowered his head, finished his cigarette, stubbed it out on the sole of his shoe, stood up, picked up the pickaxe, and continued hammering. Thump, thump, thump, even harder than before.

It was almost dark when they came up from the mine. Renye climbed out of the well, took his miner's lamp off his forehead, and hung it on a pillar of the shed. Ma Tiejun and Ma Maocai also came up, and the three of them squatted by the wellhead in silence.

A figure walked towards them from the distance along the dirt road. As he drew closer, it was Ma Dewang. He was carrying a bulging cloth bag. Reaching the well, he placed the bag on the ground, opened it, and inside were several lunchboxes and a kettle of water.

"Uncle Dewang, what brings you here?" Renye stood up.

Ma Dewang took out the lunchboxes one by one and placed them on the ground. "You've all been working hard underground all day. Your families have prepared meals and brought them to you."

Ma Maocai squatted there, motionless, watching the lunchboxes and Ma Dewang arrange the food one by one. His hands were trembling, his lips were trembling, and he looked as if he had been struck by something; his eyes instantly reddened.

"Uncle Dewang..." His voice seemed to be squeezed out from deep in his throat.

Ma Dewang knelt down in front of him, looking at him with a deep gaze, but without reproach, only the heartache of an elder looking at a younger person. "Maocai, eat. After you finish eating, get back to work. Don't think about anything else."

Ma Maocai's tears finally fell, leaving two white streaks on his coal-dust-covered face. He didn't wipe them away, picked up his lunchbox, and shoveled large mouthfuls of rice down his throat, swallowing them along with his tears.

On July 15th, the first shareholders' meeting was held in the West Second Mining Area. The main room of Ma Dewang's house was full of people, including all the villagers from Shigou Village who had invested in the project, and even Ma Maocai. He sat in a corner, head down, not saying a word, but he was present.

Renye stood beside the eight-immortal table, distributing the second month's dividends one by one. When it came to Ma Maocai, he handed over the money, which Ma Maocai took and clutched tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white. "Brother Maocai, the mine is preparing to recruit another batch of people to expand production," Renye said, looking at him. "If you're healthy, you can start leading shifts next month."

Ma Maocai paused for a moment, then looked up at Ren Ye, his eyes filled with something indescribable—a mixture of gratitude, guilt, and a desire to say something but unable to express it. Finally, he nodded and uttered only one word: "Okay."

After leaving Ma Dewang's house, Renye didn't go home but went to the back mountain. The moonlight was bright, shining on the hillside and illuminating the weeds and stones clearly. Gu Guihua's grave was just ahead, not large or high, the stone mound dark in the moonlight, like a tiny ink dot.

He walked over, squatted down, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, placed it in front of the grave, and then lit another one and put it in his mouth. "Aunt Guihua, Han Changhe is in jail. Your matter can be considered settled." The cigarette burned gently in the moonlight, and the smoke dispersed in the wind, like an invisible thread connecting the sky and the earth.

He squatted there, finished his cigarette, stood up, and dusted off his trousers. The moonlight stretched his shadow long and thin, casting it on the wild grass, like a silent night watchman.

A figure walked up the hillside in the distance. As she drew closer, it was Tian Sui'er. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt, her hair tied in a ponytail. The moonlight softened her features, casting a gentle glow on her face. She carried a bulging cloth bag.

Renno was taken aback. "Why are you here?"

Tian Sui'er walked up to him and handed him the cloth bag. "My mom made dumplings and asked me to bring them to you. She said you've lost weight recently, so eat more."

Renye took the bag; it was still warm, and the dumplings had just come out of the pot. He opened it, and inside was a full lunchbox of dumplings, filled with cabbage and pork, the wrappers pinched tightly, not a single one broken.

How did your mom know I was here?

Tian Sui'er lowered her head, looking at her toes. "I told her." Her voice was very soft, so soft that it would have been inaudible if the night wind hadn't stopped.

Renye looked at her, a warmth spreading through his heart. "Aren't you afraid to come to the back mountain alone so late at night?"

Tian Sui'er looked up at him, her eyes filled with something indescribable. "Don't be afraid." The wind blew down from the mountain ridge, lifting her hair and letting it fall back down, lifting it again and letting it fall back down.

Renye closed the lunchbox and carried it in his hand. "Let's go, I'll take you home."

The two walked down the hillside, the moonlight illuminating the path so bright that they could see the pebbles and potholes under their feet without having to fumble in the dark. Tian Sui'er walked in front, Ren Ye followed behind, the moonlight casting their shadows on the ground, one longer than the other, very close together, like two trees growing side by side.

When they reached the entrance of the family compound, Tian Sui'er stopped and turned to look at Ren Ye. "When are you going to the provincial capital?" Ren Ye thought for a moment. "I'll go once things stabilize at the mine."

Tian Sui'er nodded, turned around, took two steps, then stopped without looking back. "Ren Ye, I'll wait for you." Then she left, her footsteps growing lighter and lighter in the hallway until they disappeared.

Renye stood at the entrance of the family compound, holding the bag of dumplings in his hand, for a long time. He looked up at the sky; the moon was round and bright, hanging there like a silent eye. He lit the cigarette he was holding, took a puff, and the smoke dispersed in the moonlight like a small silver cloud.

When he pushed open the door, Li Yue'e was sitting in the main room sewing shoe soles. Seeing him come in, she put down what she was doing and glanced at the cloth bag in his hand. "Did Sui'er send this?" Renye nodded. The corners of Li Yue'e's mouth curled up slightly, then quickly closed again.

"Your dad went to the mine today, and he came back in a good mood." Renye's heart skipped a beat. "What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything, but he had a smile on his face."

Renye entered the bedroom, where Ren Shouyi was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the tunnel map of the West Second Mining Area. The map was completely covered; every corner was filled with writing and red circles. Seeing Renye enter, he put the map down.

"Dad, did you go to the mine today?"

Ren Shouyi nodded. "I went. I spoke with the mine manager."

"What are you talking about?"

Ren Shouyi took off his reading glasses and placed them on the bedside table. "We're talking about West Second Mine. The mine manager said that the coal in West Second Mine is being mined well. He told us to keep up the good work and avoid any safety accidents." His voice wasn't loud, but it was steady.

Renye looked at his father. This old miner, who had spent his whole life working underground, saving people, and who was now lame, sat in front of him with a faint smile on his face—very faint, but very genuine.

"Dad, don't worry. Nothing will happen."

Ren Shouyi nodded, lay down, and pulled the blanket over himself. "Go out, I'm going to sleep."

Renye stood up, walked to the door, and turned off the light. He stood in the darkness for a while, listening to Ren Shouyi's breathing gradually become even, before closing the door behind him and leaving.

Li Yue'e was still sitting in the main room, having finished sewing the shoe soles and was putting away her needle. She looked up at Ren Ye. "Your father is much better lately. He's finally gotten over the knot in his heart regarding Han Changhe."

Renye sat down next to her. "Mom, is there any way to cure Dad's leg?"

Li Yue'e paused, then stuck the needle into the sole of her shoe and placed it on the table. "I asked a doctor before, and they said it could be cured, but it would cost a lot of money. Our family can't afford it, so we've been putting it off." She looked at Ren Ye, "Now that you're earning money at the mine, are you going to treat your father?"

Renye nodded. "Treat it. I'll pay whatever it takes."

Li Yue'e didn't speak. She lowered her head, picked up the sole of the shoe, pulled out the needle, and then stuck it back in. She stuck it in very hard, as if she were mending something very important.

The next morning, on his way to Xierjingkou, Renye stopped at Ma Dewang's house, borrowed the village phone, and called a hospital in the provincial capital. "My father has a leg injury, an old one, several years ago. I'd like to see a specialist... Okay, I'll take him there in a few days."

After hanging up the phone, Renye came out of Ma Dewang's house. The sunlight was dazzling, and he squinted for a while. In the distance, the winch at the West Second Wellhead was turning, the steel cable creaking and groaning. He walked in that direction, his steps light and steady.

The next morning, when Renye arrived at the mine entrance, Zhang Jianguo was already there. He was squatting beside the coal pile, holding a piece of coal in his hand, examining it closely. He was in his forties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and wearing a gray-blue work uniform, his safety helmet at his feet. Seeing Renye approach, he stood up and dusted the coal dust off his hands.

"Boss Ren?" Ren Ye nodded and extended his hand. "Section Chief Zhang." Zhang Jianguo grasped his hand firmly. "Boss Ren is young and promising; you've done a good job managing the West Second Mine."

Renye didn't respond to that question, but instead pulled a cigarette from his pocket and offered it to Zhang Jianguo. "Section Chief Zhang, you said you wanted a long-term contract, one thousand tons per month?" Zhang Jianguo took the cigarette, put it in his mouth, and Renye lit it for him. He took a puff, squinting at the ever-growing pile of coal. "One thousand tons, a long-term contract, five percent higher than the market price." Renye looked at him without speaking; high returns often come with high risks. The transport team was a fleet under the Hongxing Mine. Although it was independently accounted for, it was still a unit of the mine. Signing a long-term contract with them wasn't about them not paying; it was about them taking the profits and then denying their obligations.

"Section Chief Zhang, I can sign the contract. But there are three conditions."

"you say."

"First, monthly settlement, no credit. Second, quality meets national standards, no downgrading or price reduction. Third, annual contracts, both parties have the right to choose."

Zhang Jianguo finished his cigarette and stubbed it out on the sole of his shoe. He looked at Ren Ye and smiled. "Boss Ren is a smart man. Okay, we'll do it your way."

The two men squatted beside the coal pile, finalizing the general terms of the contract. Ma Xiaojun, squatting nearby with Hu Xianfeng in his arms, listened intently, only joining in after Zhang Jianguo left. "Brother Ye, five percent, a thousand tons—how much more can we earn in a month?" Ren Ye thought for a moment and roughly calculated. "Over three thousand yuan." Ma Xiaojun's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he planted a big kiss on Hu Xianfeng's forehead. "Hu Xianfeng, we're really going to be rich!"

Tiger Vanguard was bewildered by the kiss, squeaked twice, broke free from his embrace, ran to the coal pile, sniffed around, and then ran back.

In the afternoon, Renye went to the mining headquarters building to find Wang Jianguo. Wang Jianguo was in his office looking at documents. Seeing Renye enter, he put the documents down and leaned back in his chair. "I heard you're going to sign a long-term contract with the transportation team?" Renye nodded and sat down opposite him. "Mine Manager Wang, are the transportation team's accounts clear now? Are there any outstanding issues from before?"

Wang Jianguo knew what he was asking about: Xu Dongsheng's matter. Xu Dongsheng used to be in charge of the transport team; the accounts were chaotic, and there was illegal sales and outbound transportation. The mine was currently cleaning up the mess. He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of water, and frowned; the water was cold. "It's all cleaned up. What needed to be rectified has been rectified, and what needed to be punished has been punished. Zhang Jianguo is newly transferred; the accounts have been in place since he took over, so there won't be any problems."

Renye was relieved. Wang Jianguo was a man who never beat around the bush; if he said there was no problem, then there really was no problem.

"There's one more thing." Wang Jianguo put down his teacup, took an envelope from the drawer, and handed it to Renye. Renye took it and opened it. Inside was an invitation, bright red with gold lettering. It was for a provincial small coal mine experience exchange meeting hosted by the Provincial Coal Industry Bureau, to be held on August 10th in the provincial capital. Representatives from small coal mines in the West Second Mining Area were invited to attend.

Renye looked up at Wang Jianguo. "Why did you invite us? Xier has only been open for a few months." Wang Jianguo leaned back in his chair, his hands crossed on the table. "Because of your geological data. The experts from the Mining Bureau reviewed it and said it was even more detailed than that of professional exploration teams. People from the Provincial Coal Industry Bureau came to investigate, heard about your case, and specifically requested your assistance."

Renye carefully put the invitation away in his pocket. "I'll go."

As Renye emerged from the mine building, he stood on the steps and lit a cigarette. The sun shone brightly, illuminating every corner of the mining area. The red flags on the mine shafts fluttered in the wind, and coal trains passed by from the east, their whistles carrying far into the distance. He finished his cigarette, stubbed it out on his shoe, and headed towards the West Second Mine entrance.

August 10th, provincial capital. Renye stood at the door of the Coal Industry Bureau's conference room, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. The conference room was full of people, all representatives from small coal mines throughout the province, some old, some young, some fat, some thin, some wearing suits, some wearing work clothes.

Renye found a corner to sit down. Someone on stage was speaking, sharing their safety production experience in a small coal mine. He listened attentively and took many notes. When it was his turn, and the host read out "Hongxing Mine West Second Mining Area Small Coal Mine," he stood up and walked onto the stage.

The people below the stage looked at him, some whispering among themselves. He knew what they were saying—too young, is this mine reliable? He adjusted the microphone to a suitable height and looked at the audience. "Distinguished leaders, fellow colleagues, I am Ren Ye from the small coal mine in the West Second Mining Area. Today, I will share our mine's experience with you."

He didn't preach grand theories; he spoke of concrete things. How to explore coal seams, how to provide support, how to drain water, how to ventilate, how to train workers, and how to ensure safety. Data, case studies, and figures were presented clearly, one by one.

When I finished speaking, some people in the audience applauded. It wasn't just polite applause; it was genuine.

An elderly man stood up from the front row. He had gray hair, wore black-rimmed glasses, and a dark gray Zhongshan suit; he looked like a leader. "Young comrade, did you prepare that geological data yourself?" Renye nodded. "Yes."

"You studied geology?"

"No. I learned it in the mine."

The old man looked at him for a while, nodded, and sat down. After the meeting, the old man found him and handed him a business card. It read: Director of the Provincial Coal Industry Bureau, surnamed Chen. Renye took it with both hands, glanced at it, and put it in his pocket.

"Young comrade, your mine is doing a good job." Director Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it was steady. "Keep up the good work. If you encounter any difficulties, come to me."

Renye nodded. "Thank you, Director Chen."

After leaving the Coal Industry Bureau, Renye didn't go directly to the train station but went to the hospital. Ren Shouyi's surgery was scheduled for August 15th, five days away. When he arrived at the hospital, Li Yue'e was sitting by the bedside peeling an apple. The peeled apple was cut into small pieces, skewered with toothpicks, and placed in a bowl. Ren Shouyi leaned against the headboard, holding a book and wearing reading glasses.

"Dad, Mom, I'm here."

Li Yue'e looked up at him and handed him the bowl. "Eat an apple." Ren Ye took a piece and popped it into his mouth; it was very sweet. Ren Shouyi put down his book and took off his reading glasses. "Is the meeting over?"

"It's over. The director of the Provincial Coal Industry Bureau even spoke to me, telling me to do a good job."

Ren Shouyi didn't speak, but his eyes lit up. Li Yue'e placed the bowl of apples on the bedside table, stood up, and poured Ren Ye a glass of water. "Drink some water, take a break, you're all sweaty from running."

Renye took the water and drank a large gulp. The water was warm, just right. He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at Ren Shouyi. The old man's complexion was much better than a few days ago; his face had regained some color, and his eyes had brightened.

"Dad, what did the doctor say about the surgery?"

Ren Shouyi placed his hand on the lame leg and patted it gently. "The doctor said the success rate is very high. Don't worry."

Li Yue'e chimed in from the side, "Your dad hasn't been able to sleep these past few nights, tossing and turning, I don't know if it's from nervousness or excitement."

Ren Shouyi glared at her. "Say less."

Renye smiled and stood up. "Dad, it's nothing. It's a minor surgery, I'll be fine in a few days. Once you're better, I'll go with you to West Second Mine to have a look. The tunnel has been advanced almost a hundred meters, the coal quality is excellent, black and shiny, it crumbles at the slightest touch."

Ren Shouyi looked at him, his lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something but swallowed it back. In the end, he only said, "Okay."