Black Gold 1983

Renye's head lolled to the side as his mother grabbed him, the wound on the back of his head throbbing painfully. He winced and quickly grabbed Li Yue'e's hand, crying, "Mom, Mom! Be gentle! We didn't fight, we really didn't fight!"

"Then what's wrong with your head?" Li Yue'e asked incredulously, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Tian Sui'er stood beside him, her eyes fixed on him, with an expression that said, "You'd better explain yourself clearly."

Renye's mind was racing.

You can't exactly say, "I was knocked unconscious by a few mine rats and thrown into a 20-meter-deep shaft," can you?

If Li Yue'e said that, she would probably grab a weapon and storm into Shigou Village on the spot.

He chuckled, scratched the back of his head, and only after scratching did he remember that he was injured there. The pain made his mouth twitch, and he quickly put his hand down.

"Well, Sui'er's old bicycle is really too old, and the brakes are not working properly. When I was going downhill, a yellow dog suddenly darted out. I squeezed the brake, but I couldn't hold it in, and I and the bicycle went over into the ditch."

As he spoke, he patted the mud off his clothes and pointed to the bloodstains on his collar: "Look, this guy got smeared like this. It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious."

Li Yue'e looked at him with a skeptical expression: "Really?"

"Really, Mom! You still don't believe me? When have I ever lied to you?"

Li Yue'e thought about it. That old car had indeed jolted her a bit, but something felt off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. So she glared at him and said, "Go back and fix Sui'er's car. Don't leave it running around outside all the time!"

"Fix it, fix it, fix it tomorrow."

After dealing with his mother, Renye turned to look at Tian Suier.

The girl was still staring at him, but her gaze had changed from worry to a scrutinizing look that said, "Don't try to fool me."

The two grew up together, and Tian Sui'er knew him too well. Whenever he lied, he would unconsciously touch the back of his head, and she saw it clearly just now.

Renye knew he couldn't hide it from her, but now was not the time to explain.

He took a step closer and said with a grin, "Comrade Sui'er, I feel a little embarrassed that you're staring at me like that."

Tian Sui'er was speechless at his words and turned her face away: "Who's looking at you! I'm looking to see if you've fallen and died!"

"If I fall and get seriously injured, who will earn your dowry money?" Renye said with a grin, his voice not loud enough for her to hear.

Tian Sui'er's ears turned red instantly, and she bit her lip without saying a word.

Renye leaned forward again, his tone somewhat reassuring: "Alright, don't worry, I'm really fine."

Then, quickly changing the subject, he asked, "Where's your mom?"

Tian Sui'er glared at him, but didn't say anything to blame him. She just stood next to him, her shoulder almost touching his arm, and said, "Go cook, come over later."

Xu Dongsheng stood to the side, one hand in the pocket of his wool coat, taking in the whole scene.

But his eyes changed.

Those eyes landed on the less than fist-width distance between Hitono and Honoka, as if they had been stung by something.

He was still smiling, but the smile was stiff. He watched quietly for a while, then took his hand out of his pocket, straightened his collar, and walked over.

"Ah Ye." Xu Dongsheng's voice was always so gentle. If he hadn't been assigned to the transport team by his father, he would have looked more like a teacher.

"Your head injury is quite serious. Should we see a doctor? I know Dr. Wang from the surgery department at the mining hospital. I'll put in a good word for you."

Many people around were secretly glancing over. Now, who in the Red Star Mine didn't know that the engagement banquet a few days ago had ended badly, and both families had lost face?

But Xu Dongsheng acted as if he hadn't been embarrassed at all, taking the initiative to warmly strike up a conversation. Now the three of them stood together, and the atmosphere inexplicably became subtle and awkward.

Renye turned his head, looked at him, and smiled.

That smile was exactly like Xu Dongsheng's—gentle, proper, and flawless.

"No need, Dongsheng. It's just a superficial injury, nothing serious. You go about your business, I'll take care of Sui'er."

Xu Dongsheng's smile remained unchanged, but something flashed in his eyes.

He glanced at Renye for two seconds, nodded slightly, then changed the subject and looked at Tian Suier, saying, "Suier, I heard that the mine is going to cut one person from each of the third and fourth teams. Once the mechanized work teams are implemented, they won't need so many people."

He paused, then adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses: "My dad works in the labor and personnel department, so he can put in a lot of influence. I'll ask him to help me inquire and see if we can save Team Three."

Several workers from the No. 3 coal mining team in the corridor suddenly perked up their ears and stared eagerly in their direction.

Xu Dongsheng's father, Xu Hongbing, is the head of the Labor and Wages Section. Everyone present knew the significance of that position.

Let alone the fate of a single coal mining team, even the job transfers of hundreds of people in the entire Hongxing Mine are all within the reach of the head of the labor and personnel department.

"Dongsheng, you have to help us with this!" Several veteran miners from the third coal mining team immediately gathered around, their voices urgent: "Captain Mancang is still lying inside, our team can't fall!"

"Yes, Dongsheng, your dad has connections at the mine. Could he put in a good word for our team?"

Several workers surrounded Xu Dongsheng, each talking to himself.

Xu Dongsheng raised his hand and gently pressed down, signaling everyone to be quiet: "Don't worry, everyone. Now that I've spoken, I will do my best. My dad has been in the Labor and Personnel Department for so many years, he still has some influence. I'll talk to him later and try my best to save Team Three."

He said "try to save it as much as possible," but to the workers present, that was pretty much the gist of it.

If the son of the head of the labor and personnel department spoke up, how could it be false?

Just as the workers in the corridor were about to breathe a sigh of relief, Xu Dongsheng changed the subject and looked up at Tian Sui'er: "Besides, Sui'er and I will be family in the future. How can family members not help each other? Uncle Tian's business is my business."

Upon hearing this, the workers from Team Three in the corridor were stunned for a moment, their expressions instantly freezing. They looked at each other, their expressions somewhat subtle.

They all knew perfectly well that at Dongsheng and Sui'er's engagement banquet a few days ago, that brat Renye had actually slept in the bed of the fiancée. Such an absurd thing had spread throughout the entire Hongxing Mine. Which in-laws could swallow such a humiliation?

But Xu Dongsheng's words just now undoubtedly brought their relationship into the open in public.

Now everyone is wondering what the Xu family is up to, whether the marriage is finalized or not.

However, in everyone's eyes, Xu Dongsheng was well-dressed, came from a privileged family, and his father held real power in the labor and personnel department, standing firmly at a high position. He spoke politely and every move he made exuded a superior composure.

Looking at Renye next to him, he was wearing a faded old cotton-padded jacket and covered in mud that seemed to have come from nowhere. He looked like a poor man who toiled in the fields, with no background or connections. In other people's eyes, he was at most a reckless young man.

Comparing the two, a judgment is made.

In everyone's eyes, Xu Dongsheng was the perfect match for Tian Suier. He was powerful and influential, able to protect the Tian family and also safeguard the entire Third Team.

Renye, on the other hand, is reckless and uncouth, and has nothing to his name. He's not even good enough to support the Tian family; he'd be lucky if he didn't cause trouble.

Many people shook their heads inwardly, thinking that if Xu Dongsheng didn't care about what happened a few days ago, then Tian Sui'er would be truly foolish to still be entangled with Ren Ye.

Xu Dongsheng's seemingly casual remark subtly revealed the difference between the two, quietly putting Ren Ye at a disadvantage.