Black Gold 1983

The underground work was left to Renye, Ma Tiejun, and Ma Maocai.

On January 20th, the equipment for the new working face arrived. Two winches, three water pumps, twenty mine cars, five hundred meters of rails, along with cables, wires, lighting, and switches, were piled up like a small mountain on the open ground next to the mine entrance. Ma Tiejun led the workers to transport them down the mine piece by piece, and it took them several days to finish.

On January 25th, work began at the new working face. Renye stood beside the shaft, watching the workers descend one by one. Ma Tiejun, walking at the very end, turned back and glanced at him. "Brother Ren, you keep an eye on things up here. I'll handle things down here." Renye nodded. "Be careful."

The winch started turning, the wire rope creaking and rattling, as cart after cart of materials was transported down the shaft. Renye stood beside the shaft, looking into the dark shaft and listening to the winch's whirring. Ren Shouyi came out of the shed and stood beside him.

"Dad, it's cold outside, please come inside."

Ren Shouyi didn't move, staring at the dark well opening. "Rinno, do you know what I was thinking when the West Second Well collapsed?"

Renye shook his head.

Ren Shouyi took the cigarette from his lips and squeezed it in his hand. "I was thinking, I can't die. What will happen to you and your mother if I die?" He put the cigarette back in his mouth. "Later, I made it out alive, even though my leg was crippled. Those six people didn't make it out."

Renye didn't speak, looking at Ren Shouyi's profile. The moonlight shone on his face, making the wrinkles appear even deeper.

"So you have to remember, those dozens of people down in the mine all have wives and children. You can't let anything happen to them."

Renye put his hands in his pockets and clenched his fists. "Dad, don't worry. Nothing will happen."

Ren Shouyi didn't say anything more, turned around, and walked back to the shed step by step.

In February, the northwest wind was still blowing, but it had begun to soften. It wasn't as harsh on the face as it was in December, and it carried a damp, thawing earthy scent. The workers at the West Second Mine had taken off their cotton-padded coats and were working in just their autumn clothes, their bodies steaming with heat.

With the new working face put into operation, production doubled. Trucks coming to haul coal formed a long line on the dirt road outside the village, stretching from the village entrance all the way to the West No. 2 coal mine entrance, seemingly endless. Ma Xiaojun ran around with a notebook, noting truck numbers, tonnage, and issuing tags, his feet barely touching the ground. Hu Xianfeng followed behind him, also panting heavily. Ma Dewang found several young men from the village to help maintain order, directing vehicles to enter, turn around, load, weigh, and leave the factory in an orderly fashion, one after another, without the chaotic traffic jams of the past.

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 sat beside the furnace, holding an enamel mug in his hands; the water in the mug had gone cold. He sat in the shed all day every day, watching the workers go down and up the mine, watching the winch turn, watching the coal pile grow higher day by day, and then walking home step by step in the evening. He didn't talk much, but his presence made everyone feel at ease.

Ma Tiejun followed him up from underground, took off his safety helmet, and wiped the sweat from his face. "Brother Ren, the progress at the new working face is faster than expected. At this rate, the output this month can exceed 10,000."

Renye nodded, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag. "What about sales?"

"The transportation team doesn't owe us any money, and the factories in the county town pay us on time. We also have several out-of-town clients who have come to inquire and want to sign contracts with us."

Renye thought for a moment, then flicked the ash from half of his cigarette. "First, stabilize what we have. We can't let the quality drop, but we can gradually increase production."

Ma Tiejun responded and turned to leave.

On February 10th, Tian Sui'er arrived. She was wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was carrying a cloth bag. She walked to the wellhead and stood in front of the coal pile. Renye came out of the shed and saw her standing there—the wind was blowing her hair, and the setting sun was shining on her face, making her silhouette soft.

"Why are you here?"

Tian Sui'er handed him the cloth bag. "These are dumplings my mom made. It's the beginning of spring, so I wanted you to have a good meal."

Renye took it, opened it, and found a lunchbox full of dumplings. They were filled with pork and cabbage, the wrappers pinched tightly, not a single one broken. 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 Suier took it, took a small bite, chewed, and swallowed. The two of them squatted beside the coal pile, eating one dumpling after another until they finished the box of dumplings. In the distance, the mine's loudspeaker blared, broadcasting the weather forecast; the female announcer's voice drifted on the wind.

"Renye, I've finished reviewing all the study materials," Tian Suier said softly.

"Then find some more problems to do and practice more."

Tian Sui'er nodded, stood up, and dusted off her pants. "I'm going back; I still need to study." She turned around, took two steps, then stopped, without looking back. "Renye, July 7th."

Renye knew she was referring to the day of the college entrance exam. "I remember."

Tian Sui'er left, her red cotton-padded coat receding further and further into the twilight, like a flickering fire.

On February 15th, the West No. 2 Mining Area held its first board meeting of the new year. Several people sat in the main room of Ma Dewang's house—Ma Dewang, Ma Decheng, Ma Delin, Ma Dehou, Ren Ye, and Ma Tiejun. This was the board meeting of the small coal mine in the West No. 2 Mining Area, with six people including three elders from the village and three managers from the mine, to make important decisions together.

Renye explained the expansion plan in detail. The new working face has already started production, doubling the output, but transportation can't keep up. The dirt road outside the village is too narrow; trucks can get in but can't get out, and traffic jams are common, so the road needs to be repaired. There's also the coal washing plant; customers have increasingly higher requirements for coal quality, so raw coal isn't fetching a good price, but washed refined coal can double in price.

After listening, Ma Dewang took the pipe out of his mouth and tapped it on the sole of his shoe. "The village will provide the labor for the road repair. It's a road for Shigou Village; we can't let the mine pay for it all by itself." Ma Decheng nodded in agreement. "Right, the village will provide the labor, and the mine will provide the materials."

Renye glanced at the elders, a warmth spreading through his heart. "Alright, the road deal is settled. I'll raise the money for the coal washing plant."

Ma Dewang put the pipe back in his mouth and took a puff. "Okay. You do it, the village supports you."

On February 20th, road construction began. Ma Dewang led the village's labor force—men, women, old, and young—all who could work came. Some carried shovels, some carried pickaxes, and some pushed wheelbarrows. Renye brought in an old bulldozer from the mine, leveling the road surface and doubling its width. The villagers followed behind, laying gravel on top and compacting it with stone rollers.

Ren Shouyi also arrived. He stood by the roadside, leaning on his cane, watching the villagers work. After watching for a while, he handed his cane to Ma Tiejun next to him, took a shovel from a young man, scooped up a shovelful of soil, and dumped it into the ditch by the roadside.

"Uncle, your leg isn't fully healed yet, don't do it." The young man quickly came up and grabbed the shovel.

Ren Shouyi didn't give it to him, and instead shoveled another spadeful. "It's alright, just stretch your legs."

Ren saw it from a distance but didn't go to stop him. He knew Ren Shouyi's temperament; once he decided to do something, no one could stop him.

The road repairs took a week. The original dirt road was transformed into a gravel road, doubling in width, allowing two trucks to pass side by side. Ma Dewang stood at the intersection, looking at the road, taking his pipe out of his mouth, and squinting at it for a while. "Good road. Coal trucks won't get stuck in traffic anymore."

On March 1st, the West No. 2 Mining Area released its first monthly report of the new year. Production reached 9,800 tons, and revenue exceeded 500,000 yuan. Renye posted the report on the wall of Ma Dewang's main room. 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 report. He didn't smile, but his eyes were bright.

In mid-March, Renye received a phone call. It was from a bank in the provincial capital, saying that his loan had been approved and he needed to come and sign the contract. It was 200,000 yuan, a three-year term, and the interest rate was not high.

Renye put down the phone, squatted down by the wellhead, and lit the cigarette he was holding. Two hundred thousand, plus the mine's profits, would be enough to fund the coal washing plant.

He stood up, dusted off his trousers, and went into the shed. Ren Shouyi was sitting next to the stove, holding an enamel mug filled with steaming water.

"Dad, the loan has been approved."

Ren Shouyi looked up at him. "How much?"

Two hundred thousand.

Ren Shouyi nodded, picked up the jar, and took a sip of water. The water was very hot, so he blew on it and took another sip.

Is that enough?

"That's enough. Add a few more pieces of equipment, and the coal washing plant can start operating."

Ren Shouyi put the jar down and looked at the fire in the stove. The flames were strong, making the shed warm and cozy. "Ren Ye, with the coal washing plant up and running, will the coal price double?"

Renye nodded. "Refined coal is twice as expensive as raw coal."

Ren Shouyi remained silent, staring at the fire in the stove for a long time.

The next day, Renye went to the provincial capital. He signed the loan contract and then went to the Coal Design Institute to hire an engineer to help design the coal washing plant. The engineer, surnamed Li, was in his forties, wore black-rimmed glasses, and spoke slowly and deliberately. He reviewed the coal quality report for Xi'er Coal Mine, then went to the mine site, squatting beside a coal pile and examining a piece of coal in his hand.

"Good coal. High caking index, low ash content, and low sulfur. Steel mills are scrambling to get the refined coal washed from this kind of coal."

Renye squatted down beside him. "Engineer Li, when will the coal washing plant be completed?"

Engineer Li thought for a moment. "One month for design drawings, two months for construction, and it will be ready for production in three months."

Renye nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you."

In late March, construction began on the coal washing plant. The site was chosen on an open area next to the mine shaft, not far from the coal piles, making transportation convenient. Engineer Li led the construction team to the site, laying out lines, digging foundations, and pouring concrete. The sounds of hammering and clanging filled the air, making it as bustling as a market every day.

Every day when Renye came up from the mine, the first thing he did was check on the progress of the coal washing plant. The foundation had been dug, the concrete poured, the steel structure erected, and the equipment had arrived. Watching the equipment being installed one by one, he felt at ease.

On March 25th, Ren Shouyi no longer needed his crutches. He walked from the family compound to the entrance of the West Second Well, not fast, but very steadily, step by step, his back very straight. Ma Dehou, squatting at the entrance of the shed, saw him coming and took the pipe from his mouth.

"Shouyi, is your leg better?"

Ren Shouyi squatted down beside him, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it. "All done."

Ma Dehou nodded and put the pipe back in his mouth. "That's good."

Two old miners squatted at the entrance of the shed, smoking and watching the coal washing plant construction site. The setting sun shone on them, casting long, long shadows.

On March 30th, the West Second Mining Area held its first-quarter summary meeting. The main room of Ma Dewang's house was packed with people, even the new shareholders from neighboring villages were there. Ren Ye stood beside the eight-immortal table and summarized the first quarter's accounts. Production, sales, revenue, profit, dividends, safety—everything was clearly listed. He spoke a few more words about the progress of the coal washing plant.

"The coal washing plant will be operational next month. Once operational, our coal will be transformed from raw coal into refined coal, doubling its price. Our year-end dividends will also double."

The main room erupted in excitement. Ma Xiaojun was the first to jump up, startling Hu Xianfeng, who darted out of his arms and darted wildly through the crowd. Ma Tiejun grinned, his eyes narrowing into slits. Ma Dehou squatted on the threshold, a pipe dangling from his lips, a faint but genuine smile playing on his lips. Ma Maocai, sitting in the front row, also smiled, a hearty smile, his hands resting on his knees, his back ramrod straight.

After the meeting, Renye came out of Ma Dewang's house, stood under the big locust tree, and lit the cigarette he was holding. The moon was bright, shining on the village lanes and making the road surface look white. In the distance, the winch at the West Second Well was still turning, the steel cable creaking and groaning, the sound carrying far on the night wind.

He stood there, gazing at the lights. The lights of the winches, the lights at the mine shaft, the lights at the coal washing plant construction site, and the lights of the distant mining area—twinkling like a silver river inverted on the ground. He remembered this time last year, when West No. 2 was still a subsidence area, overgrown with weeds, without even a decent road. Now, the winches were turning, coal was being extracted, the roads were repaired, the coal washing plant was almost completed, and the dividends had doubled.

In April, spring truly arrived. The poplar trees beside the West Second Wellhead sprouted tender buds, and wild vegetables grew in the fields of Shigou Village. Ma Dewang's vegetable garden yielded crop after crop of chives, an endless supply. The wind was no longer biting, but warm and soft on the face, carrying the scent of earth and grass.

The construction site of the coal washing plant was bustling with activity. Engineer Li and his construction team worked day and night, and the steel structure workshop had already been topped out, with equipment being installed one by one. Every day, the first thing Renye did after coming up from underground was to check on the progress. He personally inspected every single item: the coal washing machine, the dewatering screen, the filter press, and the belt conveyor. If he didn't understand something, he would ask Engineer Li, write it down in his notebook, and then refer to the relevant books when he got home at night.

Ren Shouyi also came every day, standing by the construction site with his cane, watching the equipment being lifted, positioned, and secured by the crane. He didn't know anything about coal washing, but he knew about the equipment. He would touch each machine, listen to its sound, and check if it was installed securely.