Children spoke without restraint.
Fan You Shan’s words made the adults burst into laughter. Feng Man laughed until her eyes curved into crescents. Cheng Lang only rubbed his nephew’s head. “What do they teach you in elementary school?”
Fan You Shan argued righteously. “I saw it on TV dramas. They all say that! Whoever saves someone has to promise their body in marriage!”
“You’ve watched too many messy TV dramas and fried your brain!” Fan Zhenghua laughed as he scolded his son. “You don’t learn anything good all day. Go back, do your homework while watching TV, and see if your teacher scolds you!”
Fan You Shan’s little face fell. He quickly put on an act. “Uncle, then you better not promise your body in marriage. Don’t copy the TV.”
Cheng Lang: “…”
At the end of the 1980s, families with decent salaries all brought TV sets into their homes. Fan Zhenghua and Dong Xiaojuan bought a black-and-white one last year—a twelve-inch Jinxing Brand TV that cost six hundred eighty yuan.
Feng Man and Cheng Lang had also planned to buy one before their wedding banquet. But the Department Store had been out of stock. As hot items, they sold out quickly and were pre-ordered early. That was why they waited so long.
The day after the ribbon-cutting at Red Star Mine District, Feng Man received a call from the Department Store salesperson. The TV she reserved had arrived.
Cheng Lang was leading a team on the mountain to survey and confirm the mining plan. He arranged for Song Guodong to help pick it up.
Song Guodong was an old acquaintance of Feng Man’s. After all, when she fled from Nine Mountains Village, the first person she met was Cheng Lang, and the second was Song Guodong. She even ate several meals at his house. They shared a bit of revolutionary camaraderie.
After chatting briefly about his family’s situation, Feng Man smiled. “How’s Auntie doing with her clothing business?”
“Great!” When it came to that, Song Guodong thanked her repeatedly. “My mom listened to you. She set up the clothes and tidied the stall. It looks so nice now, and business has improved a lot.”
“Auntie has a knack for business. It’s only natural.” Feng Man thought back to when she worked there part-time and earned a few dozen yuan. It was only two months ago, yet it felt so distant.
They tied the TV box to the back seat of the 28-Inch Bike with two thick ropes wrapped around several times and secured tight. The two headed back together. Once they reached the flat house, Song Guodong deftly untied it. Under Feng Man’s directions, he placed the TV on the low, long cabinet against the wall in the living room. Finally, he climbed onto the roof and used a pole to fix the antenna in place.
Song Guodong debugged the antenna from the roof. Feng Man listened to the static crackle inside. Amid the snowstorm of static, the exciting TV picture finally appeared.
“There’s signal!” Feng Man ran to the door and shouted up to the sky.
Song Guodong came down the ladder. The task was successfully completed.
The TV took root in the home as the greatest entertainment device of the era. Whenever Feng Man had free time, she watched even the news reports with great interest.
Cheng Lang had been extra busy lately. By the time he returned home at night, the TV signal had ended. Most times, he only saw static snow.
The TV temporarily became Feng Man’s exclusive domain. The TV dramas of the 1980s had exciting plots and dared to depict anything. The news broadcasts were serious and proper. Various government policies and economic development news flashed before Feng Man’s eyes.
Among them, the midday news from Ink River City’s local station caught Feng Man’s attention.
“The Ink River City Party Committee held its fifth congress, where it focused on determining three major development directions. First, adhere unwaveringly to the economic development policy centered on mineral exploitation. Second, vigorously promote economic construction, emphasize commercial openness, and build Ink River’s four core commercial zones…”
Feng Man’s eyes flickered. She watched the familiar face of Huang Zhiyi, the director of the Development Office under Yangping District Committee—the mine district’s affiliate—flash by on the screen. She fell into thought.
In mid-August, the long-prepared mining operations officially started. The target was the “dead mountain” that no one thought held any minerals.
The miners only knew to follow Cheng Lang’s lead. After all, he was Master Chen’s disciple and had the same eagle eyes.
On the day of mining, following local custom, dozens of miners set off a string of firecrackers. It was both festive and warded off evil.
On the same day that Cheng Lang’s designated mountain officially began mining, over a hundred miners gathered at the neighboring Liberation Mine District. With great fanfare, they set off for Red Mountain to mine.
Survey team leader Sun Weiguo felt uneasy in his heart but was powerless. He only hoped Cheng Lang’s earlier words wouldn’t come true. There had to be a large deposit of minerals at the base of the mountain. Otherwise…
The grand pre-mining ceremony at Red Mountain also began and ended amid firecrackers. Twelve strings crackled, red paper scraps flew everywhere, reflecting on You Jianyuan’s flushed face as he led the team for the first time. He brimmed with pride.
You Jianyuan had wide connections and kept his eyes and ears open everywhere. He had long heard that Cheng Lang was also starting mining that day—on the mountain that Boss Wang, after hiring countless survey experts, had decisively labeled a “dead mountain” on the brink of bankruptcy. He sneered at once. “I think he’s digging his own grave.”
Mining was no overnight affair. A protracted battle began, facing complex mountain terrain that required adapting on the fly.
For the first few days, Cheng Lang returned home under moonless, windy nights. Feng Man had long fallen asleep.
But the inner room always glowed with a dim yellow light. In the pitch-black night, Cheng Lang caught sight of that glow and quickened his steps home.
The man’s light-footed movements still woke Feng Man.
The woman groaned softly on the soft big bed, her sleepwear disheveled. She slowly opened her eyes. “Back? Did mining go smoothly?”
“Mm.” Cheng Lang showered and came to bed. As soon as his broad back touched the sheets, he saw the woman lift her eyelids to look.
After sleeping, Feng Man’s voice was a bit hoarse. “Did you wash clean? Don’t bring any sand onto the bed.”
Cheng Lang hadn’t been so particular before. If he worked nonstop for too long, even without washing, he could crash on the bedboard and sleep.
Now it was different. The soft, beautiful big bed was too precious to soil. And there was a woman blooming like a delicate flower on it. Without washing clean, Cheng Lang wouldn’t dare get on this bed himself.
“Washed clean.” For some reason, answering this question made his throat tighten.
“Mm, that’s good.” Sleepiness overtook Feng Man. She only managed two sentences before her eyelids drooped and she fell deeply asleep.
Cheng Lang still left early and returned late. The new mine district needed him as its pillar of strength. Feng Man knew a strong start was crucial and naturally supported him. She continued making food daily with her cousin-in-law to sell at the stall.
Their coordination grew more tacit. After over two months, business stabilized. While one chopped filling and the other kneaded dough, Feng Man mentioned, “Pork at the market is now two yuan per catty. Over time, with stable supply, the pork stall boss might give us a slight discount to one-ninety-nine per catty at best. Costs haven’t dropped. Better to go straight to the slaughterhouse. Fresher and cheaper.”
Skipping the middleman naturally lowered the price.
“That slaughterhouse boss you mentioned last time, the one at the end of the road you said to go all the way?” Dong Xiaojuan vaguely remembered Feng Man mentioning it briefly before. But business had just started then and needed time to stabilize volume.
“Yes. I’ve chatted with that boss these days. He said our daily pork volume isn’t much. Normally, they supply market stalls, not individuals. But I’ve been sending food to neighbors often. His mom, wife, and kids all like it. He’s willing to make an exception for us. One-seventy per catty for pork, one yuan per catty for pig head meat and offal scraps.”
Dong Xiaojuan hadn’t studied much—just three years of primary school—but even she knew going straight to the slaughterhouse saved a lot! Costs could drop significantly.
“That’s perfect! I’ll go pick it up. So much cheaper, worth the extra steps!”
Their stall wasn’t huge now. Feng Man didn’t want to work herself to death. Business was good, earnings solid. In these two months, she had saved over a thousand yuan—quite substantial.
Dong Xiaojuan’s sodas and snacks sold on the side. Once food sold out, they packed up—no need to guard the stall. Business improved over before. But with more customers, the spot felt crowded. Feng Man pondered expanding at some point, but they’d need to hire help.
The midday forty sesame flatbreads and fifteen catties of braised pork sold out clean. Feng Man had reserved a few flatbreads and a catty of braised pork ahead. Dong Xiaojuan went to the market for missing ingredients. Feng Man carried her things to Red Star Mine District.
Half the miners followed Cheng Lang to the new mining site. The other half used improved procedures and equipment to continue mining the already developed areas. They hauled coal down daily. The mine district’s transport team drove trucks to deliver to Ink River Steel Plant.
Song Guodong had learned to drive big trucks from Cheng Lang. Lately, he covered transport duties. On the truck, he greeted Feng Man. “Sister-in-law.”
“Guodong, hauling goods? Want something to eat?” Feng Man shook her bag.
Song Guodong wasn’t that greedy. He was rushing to work and left after a quick chat. He drove the truck to the steel plant, waited to unload, then drove empty back up the mountain to wait for workers to load coal and return to the mine district for processing.
Cheng Lang oversaw the mountain site. The new mine district needed its pillar. He naturally went to the front lines. When Song Guodong saw him, he recalled just meeting Feng Man.
“Lang Bro, I ran into sister-in-law on my way out.”
Cheng Lang had been chatting idly with other miners during a break. He had just politely refused a offered cigarette. Hearing this, he walked to Song Guodong and popped a mint candy into his mouth. The familiar cool flavor spread slowly, just like Feng Man’s usual scent.
“Where did you run into her?”
“At the mine district gate. I was driving the truck…” Song Guodong mentioned the truck and suddenly remembered something. “Lang Bro, last time you said to get the southbound ride fare from Feng Man. Did you?”
Cheng Lang: “…”
He pursed his lips and looked helplessly at Song Guodong. Cheng Lang sighed lightly. “Do you know why your last blind date failed?”
Song Guodong had been set up on a blind date before heading south. He thought it went well, but the girl later said through the matchmaker she wasn’t satisfied. It fell through.
Song Guodong scratched his head with a silly grin. “No idea.”
“Forget it…” Cheng Lang shook his head, not planning to elaborate. People’s fates varied.
Song Guodong felt confused but grew curious. “Lang Bro, how did you suddenly marry Feng Man? Didn’t you say before she wasn’t your baby betrothal partner, that she was a liar?”
Cheng Lang walked away quickly in exasperation. “…I remembered wrong before.”
Song Guodong frowned in deep thought. So you could even remember something like that wrong?
……
After running into Song Guodong at the mine district gate, Feng Man headed straight inside. In the duty room, she saw He Chunsheng, who had just changed shifts and was eating lunch while coaxing Elder Huang.
“Master’s wife.” He Chunsheng swallowed his food. Seeing Feng Man was like seeing a savior. Elder Huang had been jabbering about economic development policies, which he couldn’t understand at all!
His master had dumped this glorious yet arduous task of coaxing Elder Huang on him. After work, his ears suffered. He was pondering asking his master for overtime pay. “Master’s wife, Master’s on the mountain. Hasn’t come down yet.”
“I know. I came to check on you all.” Feng Man took out sesame flatbreads and braised pork, quite generously. “Add a meal for you guys.”
He Chunsheng called over a few on-duty colleagues for the extra meal. Elder Huang had been lecturing He Chunsheng on economic development principles, talking nonstop. Then his nostrils twitched. He stopped abruptly, a bit tempted.
“Elder Huang, try some quick. Today’s flatbreads use fresh pork belly from the slaughterhouse. The meat’s top-notch, so fragrant.” Feng Man personally broke open a flatbread. Inside, the golden, crispy pork belly filling gleamed like scattered gold, aroma wafting.
Elder Huang couldn’t hold back anymore. He swallowed hard a few times, forgot his cadre dignity, took the flatbread, and bit in heartily.
When Cheng Lang came down from the mountain, he caught He Chunsheng slacking off, repairing equipment with a bunch of miners nearby. “Where’s Elder Huang? I told you to keep him company, and you’re slacking?”
“Master! Spare me. Elder Huang’s stuff gives me a headache. You know my education level’s low. Economic development, commercial zones—I get a massive headache, just want to nap.” He Chunsheng pointed to the duty room. “Master’s wife is amazing. She’s chatting great with Elder Huang.”
“Mm.” He Chunsheng wasn’t surprised his master knew his wife was there. But he was surprised his master returned to the mine district at this hour. Before he could complain more, his master strode off toward the duty room.
As he neared the duty room, a woman’s crisp voice drifted into his ears.
“Elder Huang, in your opinion, does Ink River City planning the four major commercial core areas definitely include a spot for the mine district area?”
Elder Huang had eaten a sesame flatbread from Feng Man and two liang of braised pork. With his appetite satisfied, it was hard for him to refuse when someone caught him with all these questions: “Definitely, the mine district gets one spot. There are lots of people here, and it’s an economic key area with good spending power and strong consumption, especially suited for developing the food and daily necessities sales industries. It’s the most unrestricted option.”
The old cadre had a long-term vision and understood the municipal committee leaders’ intentions well. Feng Man’s guess coincided perfectly with Elder Huang’s.
After they chatted for a while, Feng Man rose to leave but was surprised by the man who appeared at the duty room door.
“I thought you wouldn’t come down from the mountain until evening.”
Cheng Lang was patting the dust off his work clothes with his head lowered. Hearing this, he stepped back two paces, putting some distance between him and Feng Man: “I’m filthy. Stay back.”
Feng Man then noticed that Cheng Lang was covered in gray dust today. His dark blue work clothes were caked with mud and sand, dust clung even to his hair, and his light wheat-colored skin looked ashen.
“How did you end up like this?” Feng Man glanced at the public bathhouse nearby and was about to suggest he go wash up when someone came running from the mine district entrance.
The dark blue work clothes bore the words “Liberation Mine District” on the left chest—it was one of Cheng Lang’s familiar workmates.
“Lang Bro, someone from your hometown called. He doesn’t seem to know you’re not in our mine district anymore and rang the reception room here.”
A call from his hometown—Feng Man and Cheng Lang exchanged a glance, a faint premonition stirring in their hearts.
Cheng Lang calmly patted his work clothes vigorously, sending dust flying everywhere: “Did he give a name?”
“Said his name is Zhao Gang. He has something for you.”