Black Gold 1983

Chapter 82

In mid-October, Renye received a letter from the provincial capital. The envelope was white, with the words "XX University" printed in red in the upper left corner. The handwriting was delicate, clearly from Tian Sui'er. He squatted by the well and opened the letter. Inside was only one sheet of paper, two pages filled with dense writing. Tian Sui'er said she had visited the university in the provincial capital; the campus was large, the library beautiful, much better than she had imagined. She had applied to the Chinese Literature Department and was preparing her review materials, studying late every day until her eyesight was starting to deteriorate. The letter ended with—"You said you would come to the provincial capital with me, don't forget."

Renye folded the letter, put it in his inner pocket, and kept it close to his body. Ma Tiejun climbed up from the well, his face covered in coal dust. Seeing the expression on Renye's face, he asked, "Who sent the letter?" Renye did not answer, picked up a pickaxe, and went down into the well.

On October 25th, the West Second Mining Area held its fourth monthly shareholders' meeting. The main room of Ma Dewang's house was packed with people; even Ma Maocai was there, sitting in the front row with his back ramrod straight. Ren Ye stood beside the eight-immortal table, distributing the month's dividends one by one. When it came to Ma Maocai, he handed over the money, which Ma Maocai took, clutched in his hand, looked at, and then put in his pocket.

"Brother Maocai, we need to increase production again next month. Could your shift produce more coal?"

Ma Maocai stood up, his voice not loud, but steady. "Yes."

""

Renye looked at him and nodded. "Okay, it's up to you."

After the meeting, Ma Dewang kept Renye behind. The two sat in the main room, and Ma Dewang poured him a cup of tea. The tea was freshly brewed, dark in color, and steam rose gently. "Renye, is your father's leg any better?" Renye picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Much better. He can walk several hundred meters now without crutches."

Ma Dewang nodded, put the pipe back in his mouth, and took a puff. "That's good. Your father was a very strong-willed man his whole life. Making him use a cane would be worse than killing him."

,

Renye smiled, put down his teacup, and stood up. "Uncle Dewang, I'm going back. I have to go down the mine tomorrow."

Ma Dewang waved his hand, not seeing him off.

In the mining area in November, winter comes exceptionally early. The northwest wind blows down from the mountain ridges, stinging like knives on the face. The workers at the mine entrance wear cotton-padded coats and hats, their breath forming puffs of white vapor as they work.

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. Ma Tiejun followed, took off his safety helmet, and wiped the sweat from his face. "Brother Ren, this month's output can reach six thousand tons."

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

"The transport team comes to pick up the goods on time and doesn't owe us any money. Several factories in the county have also come to talk to us, wanting to sign long-term contracts."

Renye thought for a moment. "First, we need to retain our existing customers. We can't lower the quality, and we can gradually increase production. You can't get fat in one bite."

Ma Tiejun nodded, turned around and left.

By mid-November, Ren Shouyi was able to walk steadily. Although he still couldn't run or do heavy work, he was no longer sick while walking.

Every morning, he would take a walk around the mine building and chat with his old colleagues. In the afternoon, he would go to the West No. 2 mine shaft and sometimes sit in the shed for an entire afternoon, watching the workers work and watching the coal piles grow bigger day by day.

On November 20th, Renye received a letter from the Provincial Coal Industry Bureau. It was a notice of the year-end commendation meeting, to be held on December 15th in the provincial capital. Representatives from outstanding units were required to speak, with a time limit of fifteen minutes. Renye glanced at the notice and put it in his pocket.

December 15th, provincial capital. Renye stood in the auditorium of the Coal Industry Bureau, looking at the dense crowd below. The audience consisted of representatives from various small coal mines across the province, young and old, fat and thin, some in suits, others in work clothes. They looked at the young man on the stage, some whispering among themselves.

Renye adjusted the microphone to a suitable height and looked at the people below the stage. "Distinguished leaders and colleagues, I am Renye from the West Second Mining Area Small Coal Mine. Today, I would like to share our mine's experience with you."

""

He talked about safe production, how to manage support systems, ventilation, drainage, and worker training. He also talked about quality control, how to ensure stable coal quality, and how to build long-term trust with customers. Finally, he discussed profit-sharing mechanisms, how to encourage villagers to invest.

How to distribute dividends according to shares, and how to ensure that everyone can enjoy the fruits of development. He spoke for fifteen minutes without referring to a script; every number was in his mind, and every piece of experience was etched in his heart.

When he finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Director Chen, sitting in the front row, led the applause.

After the meeting, Director Chen found him and shook his hand.

"Young comrade, well said. I want all the small coal mines in the province to learn from your experience."

Renye came out of the Coal Industry Bureau, stood on the steps, and lit a cigarette. Winters in the provincial capital were warmer than in the mining area, and the wind wasn't as harsh. He finished the cigarette, stubbed it out on the trash can, and walked towards the long-distance bus station.

It was already dark when he returned to Hongxing Mine. He didn't go home; he went straight to the West Second Mine entrance. The winch was still turning, the steel cable creaking and groaning, as a cart of coal was being lifted up from underground. Ma Tiejun was standing beside the mine entrance. Seeing him approach, he put down his shovel. "You're back? How did it go?"

Renye squatted down, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it. "Not bad."

Ma Tiejun squatted down next to him, took the cigarette from his hand, took a puff, and then handed it back. "Brother Ren, our mine will only get bigger and bigger in the future, right?"

'

Renye looked at the dark mining area in the distance, and at the lights. "Yes."

In late December, the West Second Mining Area released its fifth monthly report. Production exceeded 6,000 tons, and revenue surpassed 300,000 yuan. Renye posted the report on the wall of Ma Dewang's main room. Villagers gathered around to look at 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 took the pipe out of his mouth and tapped it on the sole of his shoe.

"Nino, what are your plans for next year?"

Renye thought for a moment. "Expand production. Open another working face, hire more people, and produce more coal."

Ma Dewang nodded and put the pipe back in his mouth.

"Okay. You do it, the village supports you."

On New Year's Day, the West Second Mining Area did not have a holiday. The workers went down the mine as usual, and the winch spun from morning till night, hauling coal up cart after cart. Renye had lunch with the workers at the mine entrance. Li Yue'e made dumplings, filled with cabbage and pork, which were cooked in a large pot, and each person had a bowl. Ma Xiaojun squatted next to the coal pile with his bowl, eating a dumpling, glancing at the coal pile, and then getting another bowl after finishing one. Hu Xianfeng squatted at his feet, gnawing on a piece of steamed bun, his mouth full of crumbs.

Ren Shouyi also arrived, wearing a slightly worn cotton-padded coat and a cotton hat, walking slowly from the family compound. He walked slowly but steadily, without needing anyone's help. He sat down in the shed, took a bowl of dumplings from Ren Ye, ate one, chewed it a couple of times, and nodded.

"Delicious." Renye squatted down next to him, also holding a bowl of dumplings, and ate one. "Mom made them, with cabbage and pork filling."

Ren Shouyi ate another one, put down the bowl, and looked at the mine shaft and winch outside the shed. The winch was turning, the steel cable creaking and groaning, and a cart of coal was being raised from the mine. When the mine cart emerged from the shaft, Ma Tiejun reached out and grabbed the edge of the cart, pulling it over. The cart was loaded full of coal, piled high, gleaming black in the sunlight.

"Rinno, what are your plans for next year?" Ren Shouyi asked.

Renye swallowed the dumpling in his mouth and thought for a moment. "Expand production. Open another working face and hire more people. The province supports small coal mines; the policies are good. Let's take this opportunity to expand the scale."

Ren Shouyi didn't speak, but picked up his bowl and ate another dumpling. He chewed very slowly, as if savoring something very important. Only after he swallowed the dumpling did he speak. "As the business grows, security becomes even more crucial. The more people there are, the easier it is for things to go wrong."

Renye nodded. "I know. Uncle Dehou is getting old and can't keep an eye on things down the mine every day. I'm thinking of finding two more people with technical skills to help with safety."

Ren Shouyi finished his bowl of dumplings, put it down, stood up, walked to the edge of the mine shaft, and looked down. The dark shaft was bottomless; the beam of his miner's lamp shone down, revealing only the wet stones and wooden stakes on the shaft walls. He stared at the dark shaft opening for a while.

"I'll keep an eye on things for you." The voice wasn't loud, but it was steady.

Renye was taken aback. "Dad, your leg isn't fully healed yet."

"I told you, I'll keep an eye on things for you." Ren Shouyi interrupted him, turned around and looked at him, "I won't go down the well, I'll keep an eye on things from up here. Safety can't be left to Dehou alone."

,

Renye looked at his father's face, etched with the wrinkles of time, and felt a lump in his throat. Ren Shouyi was a man who could never stay idle; to make him stay at home and retire was worse than killing him.

"Okay. You stay in the shed and keep an eye on things for me."

Ren Shouyi nodded, turned around, and walked back to the shed step by step. Ma Dehou was squatting inside, smoking a pipe. Seeing Ren Shouyi come in, he took the pipe out of his mouth and tapped it on the sole of his shoe. "Shouyi, is your leg better?"

"Alright." Ren Shouyi sat down next to him, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.

Ma Dehou glanced at him. "That's good. Don't worry about things down in the mine, I'll take care of it."

""

Ren Shouyi took a drag of his cigarette but didn't say anything.

On January 10th, the West No. 2 Mining Area held its first shareholders' meeting of the new year. The main room of Ma Dewang's house was packed with people, even more than the last time. Several new shareholders were villagers from neighboring villages who had heard that the dividends in West No. 2 were asking someone to speak to Ma Dewang on their behalf, hoping to also become shareholders.

Renye stood beside the eight-immortal table and summarized last year's accounts: production volume, sales volume, revenue, profit, dividends, etc.

Safety was clearly stated in every detail. The villagers listened with smiles on their faces.

"Last year, our mine produced over 30,000 tons of coal, generating nearly two million yuan in revenue. The highest shareholder dividend was over three thousand yuan." He paused, "This year, we're going to expand production. We'll open another working face, double the output, and everyone's income will double too."

The main room erupted in chaos. Ma Xiaojun was the first to jump up, startling Hu Xianfeng, who darted out of his arms and darted erratically through the crowd. Ma Tiejun grinned, his eyes narrowing into slits. Ma Dehou squatted on the threshold, pipe in hand, watching the crowd with a faint, genuine smile. Ma Maocai, sitting in the front row, also smiled, a hearty smile.

Ma Dewang stood up, waved his hand to quell the commotion. "Stop arguing. Renye, what do you say we do?"

Renye explained the plan for the new working face. Location, reserves, construction period, equipment, personnel, investment, everything was clearly stated.

After listening, Ma Dewang remained silent for a moment. "How much investment is needed?"

"One hundred thousand. Equipment, materials, and labor all cost money."

A moment of silence fell over the main room. One hundred thousand yuan was no small sum; it represented the entire mine's profit last year. Some began to whisper among themselves, some looked troubled, and some looked at Renye, waiting for him to continue.

Renye took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a puff. "This money doesn't need to be pooled together. The mine will set aside a portion of its profits, and we'll borrow some more from the bank. That'll be enough. Everyone will get their share of the profits, not a penny less."

Ma Dewang looked at him, his gaze deep. "Renye, are you confident?"

'

Renye nodded. "Yes."

Ma Dewang didn't ask any more questions. He put the pipe back in his mouth and took a puff. "Okay. You do it. The village supports you."

After the meeting, Renye left Ma Dewang's house; it was already completely dark. He stood under the big locust tree and lit the cigarette he was smoking. The moon was bright, shining on the village lanes and making the road surface appear gleaming white. He heard footsteps behind him, but didn't turn around. The footsteps stopped behind him.

"Brother Ren." It was Ma Maocai's voice. Ren Ye turned around, and Ma Maocai stood behind him. The moonlight shone on his face, making his expression very clear.

"Brother Maocai, is something the matter?"

Ma Maocai took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag. He looked down at his toes. "Brother Ren, I want to talk to you about something."

,"you say."

"I was wrong about what happened last year. Thank you for giving me another chance."

Renye looked at him. Ma Maocai had lost a lot of weight, his bones were protruding, and his eyes were sunken, but his gaze had changed. It was no longer the shrewdness and calculation of before, but rather a sense of composure and steadiness.

"Brother Maocai, let's not dwell on the past. Let's work hard from now on."

Ma Maocai nodded, finished the cigarette, stubbed it out on the sole of his shoe, turned around, and left.

On January 15th, Ren Shouyi officially settled into a shed next to the wellhead. Ma Tiejun moved a chair for him and laid out a cotton cushion to make him more comfortable. A stove was lit in the shed, burning coking coal produced by Xier itself. The flames were strong, making the shed warm and cozy.

Every morning, Ren Shouyi walks from the family compound, sits in the shed all day, watching the workers go down and up the mine, watching the winch turn, watching the coal pile grow taller day by day. In the evening, he walks back step by step.

Ma Dehou spent less time underground and mostly stayed in the shed with Ren Shouyi, drinking tea, smoking, and chatting. The two old miners would sit together and talk about the old days, sometimes for an entire afternoon.