78: Bringing his wife and children to Harbin Institute of Technology

The exhibition ended. The crowd dispersed like the receding tide, leaving behind footprints and scraps of paper. Zhao Jianguo was gone at some point, and Factory Director Han and Director Wang were also nowhere to be seen. The motor factory's booth was empty, with the prototype sitting alone on the table like an unwanted piece of old merchandise.

Ye Bingwen put the motor back into the cardboard box, and Master Li and Liu Yongqiang helped him load it onto the truck. The person from the Provincial Military Region Equipment Department left in a hurry, without leaving his name, only a phone number. Ye Bingwen clutched the note in his hand; it was sweaty, and the handwriting was somewhat blurred.

Zheng Shuyun stood beside Ye Bingwen, holding An'an, who was already asleep, her little face buried in Zheng Shuyun's neck. Zheng Shuyun didn't wipe away the drool, but just looked at Ye Bingwen, her eyes red.

"You were amazing today."

"It's not that I'm amazing, it's that the motor is amazing." Ye Bingwen took An'an from him. "Let's go home."

The truck drove off, with Liu Yongqiang following in his Jeep. Back at the school-run factory, Master Li carried the motors into the workshop and tested them one by one. Liu Yongqiang helped him. "That soldier contacted you today; you'd better seize the opportunity. Military orders are large, expensive, and don't offer credit."

Ye Bingwen nodded. "I'll have a proper talk with him when his people arrive."

"Zhao Jianguo suffered a loss today, and he won't let it go easily. You need to be careful," Liu Yongqiang said in a low voice. "He's been working in the province for so many years; he has plenty of ways to get back at people. If he can't do it openly, he'll do it covertly."

Ye Bingwen locked the factory door and returned to his residence. Zheng Shuyun had already put An'an in her crib; the little girl was asleep, her tiny hands clutching the corner of the blanket. Zheng Shuyun sat at the table writing her acceptance speech, writing half a page and crossing it out, then writing again and crossing it out again.

"Can't write it down?" He sat down.

"I always feel like no matter how I write it, it's not right. I want to thank you, but it sounds like I'm flattering you. I want to thank my parents, but it sounds like I'm complaining."

"Then write down what's on your mind. Don't worry about what others think."

Zheng Shuyun picked up her pen and then put it down again. "Do you think I'd be too nervous to speak if I went on stage to accept an award?"

"No way. You dared to talk back to Section Chief Sun to his face, what's a few words on stage?"

Zheng Shuyun smiled, a very soft and genuine smile.

The snow began to melt, the icicles on the rooftops grew shorter day by day, and the snow on the roads turned into black mud. On campus, students took off their heavy cotton-padded coats and put on lighter jackets.

The new semester started. On registration day, Ye Bingwen ran into Chen Zhiyuan at the school gate. Chen Zhiyuan was carrying a large bag, and his face was much darker from the sun. "Happy New Year! I brought some dates from my hometown, here's a bag for you." He took a cloth bag out of his bag and handed it to him.

Thanks.

"The whole school knows about the exhibition, you're famous now." Chen Zhiyuan chuckled twice. "The motor factory is furious. Director Han slammed his fist on the table at the meeting and said your motors were copied from theirs."

"Who copied whom, they know perfectly well."

The opening ceremony was held in the gymnasium. Thousands of students sat on long benches, a sea of ​​black faces. Liu Deben stood on the stage, read a few sentences from his prepared speech, and then put it down.

"Today, let's skip the formalities and talk about a person: Ye Bingwen, a first-year student in the Mechanical Engineering Department."

The audience fell silent. Ye Bingwen sat in the crowd, and Chen Zhiyuan nudged him.

"He developed a brushless motor that's 30% more efficient than traditional motors. Experts from the Provincial Department of Science and Technology evaluated it, and it was exhibited at the Provincial Department of Industry's exhibition. People from the Provincial Military Region's Equipment Department saw it and said they wanted to discuss cooperation with him." Liu Deben's voice echoed in the gymnasium. "A university freshman has developed a leading technology in China. This is the pride of Harbin Institute of Technology!"

Applause erupted from the audience. Some people turned to look at Ye Bingwen, their eyes filled with admiration, curiosity, and even envy.

"But—" Liu Deben changed the subject, "someone wanted to steal his technology. The motor factory took their blueprints and claimed them as their own. The Provincial Department of Industry issued an award, but it was the motor factory that was commended, not Ye Bingwen."

Some people in the audience whispered among themselves. Ye Bingwen clenched his fists.

"I'm not saying this to criticize anyone. I want to tell you that Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) students are not to be bullied. Whoever bullies HIT students is bullying HIT itself." Liu Deben paused. "Ye Bingwen, stand up."

Ye Bingwen stood up. Thousands of eyes were on him, and his palms were sweaty.

"This student came from the countryside, bringing his wife and children to university. He lived in a rented room, ate the cheapest food, and wore the oldest clothes. But the technology he developed is among the best in the country." Liu Deben looked at him. "Ye Bingwen, you're a good man."

The applause rang out again, louder than before. Ye Bingwen stood there, his eyes welling up with tears. He remembered the mud-brick houses in Daxing Village, the calluses on his father's hands, and his mother getting up in the middle of the night to mend clothes. He remembered Zheng Shuyun being scolded by Section Chief Sun in the propaganda department until she cried, and he remembered carrying An'an and running through the snow when she was sick.

He bent down and bowed deeply.

After the ceremony, Ye Bingwen was surrounded by a group of students. Some asked about electrical machinery, some about the exhibition, and some about the provincial military region. He answered them one by one, while Chen Zhiyuan stood beside him, helping to deflect the crowd.

The crowd dispersed, and Ma Kui pushed his way through, grabbing his arm. "Come with me."

"What's wrong?"

"Cai Xun and I got into an argument in the office. He wants you to transfer back to the Mechanical Engineering department and stop taking math classes."

Ye Bingwen was stunned. "Why?"

"He said you should focus your energy on mechanical engineering, and that math classes are a waste of time." Ma Kui snorted. "He's just jealous. You stole the show at the exhibition, and he feels proud of you, so he wants to take all the credit for the mechanical engineering department."

Upon arriving at the mathematics department office, Cai Xun was sitting in Ma Kui's chair, legs crossed, smoking. He stood up when he saw Ye Bingwen enter.

"Your brushless motor is a product of the mechanical engineering department. You don't need to take any more math classes. Your energy is limited; you should spend your time on what matters most."

Ma Kui slammed his fist on the table. "Ye Bingwen's double degree was specially approved by Principal Liu. What right do you have to revoke it?"

"I'm not canceling, I'm suggesting it. Old Ma, put your hand on your heart and tell me, what use are math courses to him working on electrical engineering? Functional analysis? Topology? What do they have to do with electrical engineering?"

"How can it be okay? Without a math background, how could he make such precise calculations?"

The two argued more and more fiercely until the door was pushed open and Liu Deben walked in.

"What's all the noise about?"

The two shut up. Liu Deben looked at them coldly. "Ye Bingwen's double degree was specially approved by me. Anyone who wants to change it, come find me. Aren't you two ashamed to argue in front of students?"

The two remained silent.

"Ye Bingwen is a student at Harbin Institute of Technology, not your personal man. He can make his own decisions. What you should do is support him, not compete for credit." Liu Deben stood up. "Did you hear me?"

"I heard you."

Liu Deben left. Cai Xun and Ma Kui exchanged a glance and both smiled. Cai Xun said, "Old Ma, I'm sorry, I was too impulsive just now." Ma Kui said, "It's okay, I was impulsive too." The two shook hands, as if nothing had happened.

Ye Bingwen stood to the side, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

After leaving the office, he went to the department's mailroom. There was a letter from Daxing Village, written by his father. Inside was a copy of the provincial newspaper, with a report on page three: "Daxing Village's First Year of Household Contract Responsibility System: Grain Output Doubles." His name was mentioned in the report. Tucked next to it was a note, his father's handwriting crooked: "Bingwen, you're in the newspaper. Everyone in the village saw it. The village chief said you're the pride of Daxing Village."

Ye Bingwen folded the newspaper and put it in the drawer. He recalled that snowy night in the winter of 1978 when Li Sanguang reported him and he was detained in the police station. He remembered Ma Kui and Cai Xun rescuing him, and Liu Deben slamming his fist on the table for him. Now that the household responsibility system had been affirmed, his actions were correct.

A few days later, Ye Bingwen received a letter from Wang Deming, a local official. The letter contained a red certificate awarding Ye Bingwen the title of "Advanced Individual in Rural Reform," and a remittance slip for two hundred yuan. Wang Deming wrote in the letter, "I hope you will continue your efforts and make even greater contributions to the country."

Ye Bingwen pasted the certificate on the wall. Zheng Shuyun said he should buy a frame to put it in. He said no need, just pasting it on the wall is enough, he can look at it every day and remind himself where he came from.

He sent 100 yuan to his parents out of the 200 yuan, and saved the rest.

That night, Ye Bingwen lay in bed looking at the certificates of merit on the wall. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the words on the certificates, making them shine. Zheng Shuyun was already asleep, and An'an nestled between them, her little hand resting on his chest. He closed his eyes, thinking about what was to come. The factory was about to start operations, people from the provincial military region were coming to discuss cooperation, and the motor factory wouldn't be quiet. One thing at a time; there was no rush.

But he knew in his heart that the biggest storm was yet to come. Zhao Jianguo had suffered such a huge loss; he wouldn't let it go so easily. He was definitely sharpening his knife in the shadows, waiting for the next move.

Outside the window, the snow hadn't completely melted, and the wind was still cold. But spring will always come.