Black Gold 1983

August 15th, the day of the surgery. Before dawn, Renye got up. Li Yue'e had gotten up even earlier and was sitting in the main room, clutching a string of prayer beads, muttering something, seemingly praying to some deity for protection. Seeing Renye come out, she put the prayer beads away in her pocket, stood up, went into the kitchen, and brought out two bowls of noodles. One was for Renye, and the other, wrapped in a cloth, was placed in a cloth bag.

"Let's go." The voice was a little hoarse.

When the two arrived at the hospital, it was just dawn. Ren Shouyi was already awake, wearing a hospital gown and leaning against the headboard, holding the book he had read many times, unopened, just clutching it. Li Yue'e placed the cloth bag on the bedside table, opened it, took out a bowl of noodles, and handed it to Ren Shouyi. "Eat it while it's hot."

Ren Shouyi took the bowl, picked up his chopsticks, scooped up a mouthful of noodles, put it in his mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed. His movements were slow, as if he were savoring something very important. Li Yue'e sat by the bed watching him eat, without urging him, just watching.

The surgery was scheduled for 9:00 AM. At 8:30 AM, the nurse came to wheel him in. Ren Shouyi lay on the trolley, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression, but Ren Ye noticed that his knuckles were white as he gripped the bedsheet.

"Dad," Renye called out. Ren Shouyi turned to look at him. "It's nothing, just a minor surgery. I'll wait for you outside."

Ren Shouyi didn't speak, turning his gaze away from Ren Ye and back to the ceiling. The nurse pushed the trolley into the operating room, and the door closed. The corridor fell silent, save for the ticking of the wall clock.

Li Yue'e sat on a bench in the corridor, took the rosary from her pocket, held it in her hand, and began to chant again. Ren Ye sat down next to her, took out a cigarette from his pocket, looked at the "No Smoking" sign on the wall, and put it back.

Time passed slowly, each minute feeling like an hour. Renye stared at the operating room door, which was tightly closed and completely silent. He imagined Ren Shouyi lying on the operating table, the doctor cutting open the leg that had been lame for three years with a scalpel, wondering if the bones could be aligned and if the muscles could heal properly.

Li Yue'e kept turning her prayer beads in her hand, one by one, very slowly and steadily, as if she were counting the passing of time one by one.

At 11:30, the operating room door opened. A doctor came out, wearing a mask and holding a folder. Renye stood up to greet him. The doctor took off his mask; it was the specialist.

"The surgery was a success. The bones are aligned, and the muscle repair is better than expected. The next step is rehabilitation training, which must be done slowly and patiently."

Renye's legs went weak, and he almost couldn't stand. Li Yue'e stood up from the bench, walked over to the doctor, and after stammering for a long time, she only managed to say two words: "Thank you." The doctor nodded and left.

When Ren Shouyi was wheeled out, the anesthesia hadn't worn off yet; his eyes were closed, and his face was a little pale. Li Yue'e rushed over, touched his face, then his hand, and tears finally streamed down her face.

Renye stood beside him, watching Ren Shouyi lying on the stroller, and felt a weight lifted from his heart. He reached out and shook Ren Shouyi's hand. The old man's hand was rough, covered in calluses, but it was warm.

In late August, the output of the West No. 2 mining area exceeded 4,000 tons. More and more trucks came to haul coal, and the dirt road outside the village was riddled with potholes. Ma Dewang led the village's laborers to load more than a dozen truckloads of gravel to fill in the potholes. When the villagers received their dividends, their smiles grew wider and wider. Ma Decheng also smiled, but his smile was much more natural than before. Ma Maocai became the shift leader, leading seven or eight people working hard underground and producing a considerable amount of coal.

Renye would rush to the hospital every day after leaving the West Second Mine. It took more than four hours by bus from Hongxing Mine to the provincial capital. He would leave in the morning, arrive at noon, spend the afternoon with Ren Shouyi, and then rush back in the evening.

Ren Shouyi's recovery is better than expected. He was able to stand up less than a week after the surgery. Although he can't walk yet, his leg, which had been lame for three years, can finally straighten.

"Dad, does it hurt?" Renye helped him up and slowly lowered his leg.

Ren Shouyi shook his head, gritting his teeth, his forehead covered in sweat. "It doesn't hurt."

Li Yue'e stood beside him, clutching a towel, wanting to go over and wipe him but not daring to move, afraid of disturbing him. Ren Shouyi stood for less than a minute before sitting back down, panting heavily, but his eyes were bright—the kind of brightness that only appears when one sees hope.

On September 1st, the West No. 2 Mining Area released its third monthly report. Production reached 4,500 tons, and revenue exceeded 200,000 yuan. Renye posted the report on the wall of Ma Dewang's main room, and the villagers gathered around to read it, laughing, joking, and patting each other on the shoulder.

Ma Dewang stood at the back of the crowd, a pipe dangling from his lips, squinting at the monthly newspaper. He took the pipe out of his mouth, tapped it on the sole of his shoe, and walked over to Renye. "Renye, is your dad's leg better?"

Renye shook his head. "I'm not fully recovered yet; I'm still in the recovery phase. The doctor said I'll be able to walk again in about a month."

Ma Dewang nodded and put the pipe back in his mouth. "When he gets better, let him come visit the village. The villagers miss him."

Renye looked at him, a warmth spreading through her heart. "Okay."

On September 5th, Renye went to the provincial capital to pick up Ren Shouyi from the hospital. Ren Shouyi, leaning on his crutches, walked slowly but steadily from his ward to the hospital entrance, without needing anyone's help. Li Yue'e followed behind him, carrying a cloth bag, her eyes red-rimmed.

Sunlight shone on Ren Shouyi's face. He squinted and looked at the tall buildings of the provincial capital for a long time.

"Dad, let's go home," Renye said.

Ren Shouyi nodded, leaning on his cane, and walked step by step towards the long-distance bus station. For the entire four-hour journey, Ren Shouyi didn't close his eyes, his gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window. The view changed from the city to fields, from fields to hills, and from hills to the familiar mining area.

By the time the train arrived at the station, it was almost dark. Renye helped Renshouyi off the train, with Li Yue'e following behind. The three of them stood at the station entrance, looking at the lights of the mining area in the distance.

"Dad, the West Second Wellhead is over there." Renye pointed to the light in the distance. "The winch is still turning, and the workers are still working."

Ren Shouyi stared in that direction for a long time, then gripped his cane tighter. "Take me there tomorrow."

The next morning, before going to the well, Jinye first went to check on Jin Shouyi's room. The old man was already up, wearing his faded Zhongshan suit, the buttons neatly fastened, and his hair combed. He leaned on his cane against the headboard, but didn't use it; instead, he stood by the window, looking at the family compound outside, holding onto the table. Hearing the door open, he turned around.

"Dad, why aren't you using your crutches?"

Ren Shouyi shook his head and slowly walked back from the window. He walked slowly, but more steadily than yesterday, and his body stopped swaying. "No need. I can walk while holding onto something."

Renye picked up the cane and handed it to him. "I'll take you to see the well today. The road is difficult to walk on, so please use it." Ren Shouyi took the cane without pushing it away.

The two went out the door and walked west along the dirt road. Li Yue'e stood at the courtyard gate and watched them walk away before turning back. Ren Shouyi walked slowly, each step firm, his cane tapping on the dirt road with a soft thud. Ren Ye walked beside him, neither urging him nor helping him.

It takes more than 20 minutes to walk from the family compound to the West No. 2 mine shaft. Ren Shouyi walked for almost an hour, stopping to rest several times. Each time he rested, he would look at the distant mining area, at the derricks, factory buildings, and chimneys.

"It's changed," he said. "There wasn't that derrick before; that area was just empty land."

Renye followed his gaze. "That's the transport team's new warehouse, it was just built this year."

Ren Shouyi nodded, having rested enough, and continued walking forward with his cane.

When they arrived at the wellhead, the winch was turning, and the wire rope was creaking and groaning. Ma Tiejun was standing beside the wellhead, holding a shovel. He saw Ren Ye coming over and was about to greet him when he saw Ren Shouyi. He paused for a moment, put down the shovel, and quickly walked over.

"Uncle Shouyi! What brings you here?"

Ren Shouyi looked at him. "Are you Tie Jun?"

"Yes, it's me." Ma Tiejun grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth. "You still recognize me?"

Ren Shouyi looked him up and down. "You've grown up and gotten stronger."

Ma Tiejun chuckled, scratched his head, and turned to shout into the shed, "Uncle Dehou! Uncle Shouyi is here!"

Ma Dehou emerged from the shed, still holding a pipe, and paused for a moment when he saw Ren Shouyi standing by the well. He walked over and stood in front of Ren Shouyi, looking him up and down several times before reaching out and patting him on the shoulder.

"You're back?"

Ren Shouyi looked at him and nodded. "You're back."

Ma Dehou put the pipe back in his mouth, took a drag, and the smoke drifted between them. "It's good that you're back."

Ma Xiaojun peeked out from behind the coal pile, holding Hu Xianfeng in his arms. Seeing Ren Shouyi, he ran over and called out, "Grandpa Shouyi!" But then he realized he was calling him the wrong person, scratched his head, and didn't know what to call him. Ren Shouyi glanced at him, his lips twitching as if he wanted to laugh but didn't.

Renye helped Renshouyi sit down in the shed and poured him a bowl of water. Renshouyi took it, drank a sip, put it down, and looked at the well and coal pile outside the shed.

"How much coal have you produced?" he asked. Renye squatted down beside him. "By the end of last month, 4,500 tons. This month it should reach 5,000."

Ren Shouyi nodded, picked up the bowl of water, and took another sip. "How much has the tunnel been advanced?"

"120 meters. Stable roof, good coal quality, caking index above 85."

Ren Shouyi put down his bowl and looked at the coal pile in the distance. The coal was black and shiny, gleaming in the sunlight. He stared at the coal for a long time. "Rinno."

"Um."

"You did a good job."

Renye squatted there, watching his father say those words, feeling a lump in his throat. Ren Shouyi was a man who rarely spoke or praised others. For him to say "You did a good job" was already a huge compliment.

In the afternoon, Renye helped Renshouyi to Shigou Village. Ma Dewang was watering vegetables in the yard. When he saw Renshouyi come in, he threw the water ladle into the bucket, wiped his hands on his trousers, and came to greet him.

"Shouyi!" He grasped Ren Shouyi's hand tightly. "Is your leg better?"

Ren Shouyi shook his head. "Not fully recovered yet, but you can walk."

Ma Dewang ushered him into the main room, poured him a cup of tea, and the two old men sat down at the octagonal table. Renye stood at the doorway and did not go in.

"Shouyi, you've done a good job with the Xier Mine." Ma Dewang's voice wasn't loud, but it was steady. "Renye is a capable kid, even more so than you were back then."

Ren Shouyi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said nothing, but his eyes were bright.

As Ren Shouyi left Shigou Village, the sun was already setting. Leaning on his cane, he walked back step by step. When he reached the entrance of the family compound, he stopped and watched the children running around in the yard for a while.

"Jinno," he said.

"Dad, what's wrong?"

Ren Shouyi turned his gaze from the children to the gray sky in the distance. "Tomorrow, take me to see Han Changhe."

Renye was taken aback. "Dad, why did you see him?"

Ren Shouyi didn't answer. Leaning on his cane, he continued walking forward. Tap, tap, tap, the cane tapped on the cement pavement, making a crisp sound, one tap after another, as if he were knocking on something.

The next day, Renye accompanied Renshouyi to the detention center. Han Changhe was being held in a detention center next to the mining bureau, awaiting transfer. Renye used his connections to arrange this meeting.

The meeting room was quiet, with a long table, two chairs, and the words "Confess and be treated leniently, resist and be punished severely" painted on the wall. When Han Changhe was brought in, he was wearing a blue prison uniform, his hair was shaved short, he had lost a lot of weight, his face was sunken, his cheekbones were prominent, and his eyes were sunken.

He walked in, saw Ren Shouyi sitting there, and paused for a moment. He stopped, then slowly walked over and sat down opposite him. Across the long table, the two looked at each other. Neither spoke.

Han Changhe placed his hand on the table, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface, one tap at a time, without making a sound.

Ren Shouyi looked at him for a long time. "The Long River."

Han Changhe stopped. "Brother Shouyi."

Ren Shouyi took the cigarette from his lips and stubbed it out in the ashtray. "I didn't come here today to see you make a fool of yourself. I have a question for you, and you'd better tell me the truth."

Han Changhe looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"You knew that batch of timber was substandard, so why did you still use it?"

Han Changhe lowered his head, looking at his hands, and remained silent for a long time, so long that Ren Ye thought he wouldn't answer. "Because it's cheap." His voice was very low, almost as if he were talking to himself, "The supplier gave me a high kickback, so I took it."

Ren Shouyi remained silent, looking at Han Changhe. Han Changhe raised his head, his eyes holding something indescribable.

"Brother Shouyi, I'm so sorry. I can never repay those six lives. I can never repay your leg either."

Ren Shouyi stood up, bracing himself against the edge of the table. His leg, which was still recovering, was weak, and he swayed slightly. Ren Ye reached out to help him, but Ren Shouyi pushed him away.

"Changhe, what you owe isn't me, it's those six people, their wives and children."

Han Changhe didn't speak, but looked down at his hands.

Ren Shouyi turned around and, leaning on his cane, walked out of the meeting room step by step. Tap, tap, tap—the cane tapped on the terrazzo floor, the sound crisp, each beat like a heartbeat. Han Changhe sat there, watching Ren Shouyi's figure disappear behind the iron door, burying his face in his hands. His shoulders trembled, but he made no sound.

Emerging from the detention center, the sunlight was blinding. Ren Shouyi stood on the steps, squinting as he gazed into the distance. He tightened his grip on his cane and slowly descended the steps.

"Dad, let's go home," Renye said. Ren Shouyi nodded and walked towards the long-distance bus station. After a few steps, he stopped and didn't look back.

"Rinno, tell me, if someone does something wrong, can they do it again?"

Renye thought for a moment, then walked to his side. "No. But we can move forward."

Ren Shouyi didn't speak, and continued walking forward, leaning on his cane. Tap, tap, tap, one step at a time, very steadily.