Black Gold 1983

"Live well." He turned around, dragged his feet back to the bedroom, and closed the door very quietly.

The sound of firecrackers outside the window reached its peak at exactly midnight, echoing throughout the entire mining area, crackling and popping as if trying to shatter the old year. Tian Sui'er stood by the window, watching the fireworks dance in the sky—red, green, and yellow—one after another, illuminating the night sky brightly. Ren Ye stood beside her, the two of them looking out the window side by side.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Renye and Tian Sui'er went to the West Second Wellhead. Red lanterns were hanging at the wellhead, Spring Festival couplets were pasted on the door, and a banner with the words "Safety in Production" was also posted at the entrance of the workers' shed. Ma Tiejun was on duty. When he saw them coming, he quickly came out of the shed with a grin.

"Ren, Sui'er, Happy New Year!"

Renye pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed it to him. "Happy New Year. How's the New Year celebration at the mine?"

Ma Tiejun took the cigarette, lit it, and took a puff. "It's going well. The workers are taking turns resting, but production hasn't stopped. The coal washing plant is also open, and truckloads of clean coal are being hauled out. This year has started well; production is 20% higher than at this time last year." He glanced into the distance, where Tian Sui'er was standing in front of the coal pile, reaching out to touch the shiny black coal chunks, as if greeting an old friend.

"Brother Ren, do you have any big plans for this year?" Ma Tiejun asked in a low voice.

Renye lit the cigarette he was holding and took a drag. "Yes. We'll open another new mine this year."

Ma Tiejun's eyes lit up. "A new mine? Where?"

Renye didn't speak, but took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to him. Ma Tiejun took it and unfolded it. It was a hand-drawn map of the mining area, with a circle drawn in red on it. The circle was located on a hillside north of the West Second Mining Area.

"There's coal under that mountain. I had someone explore it last year, and they found it in shallow layers. The coal seams aren't thick, but they're stable, suitable for small-scale mining." Renye took the cigarette from his mouth. "Let's explore it first, and if the conditions are right, we'll start construction this year."

Ma Tiejun squatted down, spread the map on his lap, and studied it for a while. "I've been to the mountain ridge to the north. Once you cross it, you'll reach Phoenix Mountain. If there really is coal down there, then our territory will be even bigger." He folded the map, handed it back to Ren Ye, stood up, and dusted off his pants. "Brother Ren, whatever you say, I'll do."

Renye put the map back in his pocket and glanced into the distance. Tian Sui'er was still standing in front of the coal pile, the wind blowing her hair. She raised her hand to tuck it behind her ear, turned to look at him, and smiled. The sunlight shone on her face, making her smile brighter than the reflection from the coal pile. He stubbed out his cigarette and walked towards her.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Renye took Tian Suier to the mountain ridge to the north. The path was difficult to walk on; the snow hadn't completely melted, and each step left a deep crater. Renye walked ahead, making sure the snow was firmly set before letting Tian Suier step on it. It took the two of them nearly an hour to climb to the top of the ridge.

Looking down from above, the winch at the West No. 2 mine shaft appeared tiny, like a soybean. The coal washing plant's buildings also shrank to the size of a matchbox. In the distance, the Hongxing mining area was indistinct in the morning mist, its chimneys belching white smoke, and the red flags on the mine shafts fluttering in the wind. Tian Sui'er stood beside Ren Ye, following his gaze downwards.

"Is there really coal here?"

Renye crouched down, brushing aside the snow and withered grass to reveal the dark gray rock beneath. He picked up a stone, weighed it in his hand, and scratched it with his fingernail, revealing the dark cross-section inside. "Yes. There is some in the shallow layer. The coal seam isn't thick, but it's stable. It's suitable for small-scale mining. You don't need to dig a deep well; you can get in by digging an inclined shaft."

Tian Sui'er squatted down beside him, looking at the stone in his hand. "How did you figure that out?"

Renye handed her the stone. She took it and examined it closely for a long time, but couldn't figure it out, so she handed it back to him. "Color, texture, layering. You'll see it after you've dried it a bit more." Renye put the stone down, patted the mud off his hands, and said, "My dad taught me."

The two of them squatted on the ridge, looking into the distance. The wind blew down from the ridge, making Tian Sui'er's hair flutter in the air. She reached out and smoothed it down, but didn't get up. She just squatted there, looking at the hazy sky in the distance and the familiar mining area at the foot of the mountain.

"Rinno, will you keep mining from now on?"

"Yes." Renye took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a puff. "Coal is a gift from God. If it's buried underground and no one digs it up, it's a waste. If you dig it up, burn it, and it becomes light and heat, illuminating other people's houses and warming their beds."

Tian Sui'er didn't speak, resting her chin on her knees and gazing into the distance. The wind blew across her face, turning her cheeks red. Ren Ye finished his cigarette, stubbed it out in the snow, stood up, and extended his hand to her. Tian Sui'er took his hand, used it to stand up, and brushed the snow off her knees.

"Let's go back," Jinye said.

The two walked down the path they had come from. Going downhill was easier than going uphill; their feet crunched on the snow, each step leaving a clear footprint. When they reached the foot of the mountain, Renye looked back at the ridge; the sunlight shone on the snow, making it appear as a vast expanse of white, like a huge white cloth.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Renye went to see Ma Dewang. The main room of Ma Dewang's house was warm and cozy with a stove burning. Ma Dewang sat at the eight-immortal table, holding an enamel mug. Seeing Renye enter, he poured him a cup of hot tea. "Have you gone to see that mountain ridge to the north?"

Renye sat down opposite him, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "I've looked. There's coal down there, in the shallow layers, suitable for small-scale mining."

Ma Dewang didn't speak. He picked up his enamel mug, took a sip of water, put it down, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "That mountain ridge is part of Shigou Village's territory. The village has no objection to you starting a mine. But I have to ask you one question—are you confident?"

Renye put down his teacup and looked at Ma Dewang. "I'm confident. I had someone explore it; the shallow coal seam is stable. We don't need to dig a deep well; we can get in by digging an inclined shaft. The investment is small, and the results are quick."

Ma Dewang was silent for a moment, then put the pipe back in his mouth, lit it, and took a drag. Smoke slowly rose in front of him. "Good. You do it, the village supports you."

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Renye took a bus back to the provincial capital. Tian Suier still had a few days before school started, but she went back early, saying she needed to organize manuscripts at the editorial department. The two traveled together, and she slept on Renye's shoulder the whole way, only waking up when they arrived in the provincial capital. She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window.

"arrive?"

"arrive."

The two men got out of the car and carried their canvas bags towards the rented room. The snow in the alley had melted, the road was wet, and icicles still hung on the walls, sparkling in the sunlight like strings of crystal beads. Renye pushed open the door to the rented room; the stove was out, and the room was as cold as an icebox. He quickly relit the stove, and as the flames leaped up, the room slowly warmed up.

Tian Sui'er put down her canvas bag, walked to the windowsill, and looked at the periwinkle. The flowers were still blooming, small and pinkish-white, appearing especially delicate in the winter sunlight. She reached out and touched a petal, smiling. "Still alive."

"It can live until spring." Renye squatted next to the stove and added a piece of coal. "This kind of flower is easy to grow. As long as it doesn't freeze to death, it will keep blooming."

Tian Sui'er sat down by the windowsill, spread out the manuscript she had brought, and began to revise it. Ren Ye glanced at her profile, her head bowed, sunlight streaming in from the window, casting a warm glow on her face. He didn't disturb her, turning to go to the kitchen to start preparing lunch. Noodles were cooking in a pot, the broth leftover from last night's pork rib soup, with added vegetables and an egg. Once the noodles were cooked, he ladled two bowls and placed them on the table.

"Let's eat first, and then we'll make the changes."

Tian Sui'er put down her pen, walked over, picked up the bowl, took a mouthful of noodles, slurped them up, chewed a couple of times, and swallowed. "Delicious."

Renye sat down opposite her and picked up his bowl as well. The periwinkle on the windowsill swayed gently in the wind, its petals trembling slightly, as if eavesdropping on their conversation.

In February, Tian Sui'er started school. In the second semester of her junior year, she had fewer classes but was busier with work on the school newspaper. She began preparing her graduation thesis, choosing a topic about mining literature, researching works about mines and miners. Ren Ye didn't understand these things, but every time she showed him her finished drafts, he read them carefully and gave his opinions.

"This one is better than the last one." Renye handed the manuscript back to her. "The details of those miners eating underground are very touching."

Tian Sui'er took the manuscript and looked down at her own draft. "Which part do you think is good? I'm afraid I've written too much detail."

"It's not trivial. When others write about miners, they only write about the hardship and exhaustion. You write about their meals, about them squatting in the tunnels eating steamed buns with pickled vegetables, chatting and laughing as they eat. This is the real life."

Tian Sui'er looked up at him, something flashing in her eyes. "Ren Ye, you're even better at critiquing than the editors in the editorial department."

"Of course." Renye stood up, lit the cigarette he was holding, and said, "I've been a miner for so many years, I know more about miners than you do."

In early March, Renye returned to Hongxing Mine. This time, he finalized the exploration plan for the northern ridge. He hired a geological engineer from the provincial capital, who brought equipment to the West No. 2 wellhead, and together with Renye, went up the ridge. The engineer squatted on the ridge, measuring with his instruments for a long time, and took core samples from several locations.

"There is coal. It's shallow, with seams 1.2 to 1.5 meters thick and less than 50 meters deep. It's suitable for inclined shaft mining." The engineer stood up, dusted off his hands, and said, "The reserves aren't large, but enough to mine for five or six years."

Renye squatted down beside him and lit a cigarette. "That'll be enough for five or six years. After that, we'll look for other places."

The engineer nodded, packed up his equipment, and headed down the mountain.

In early April, the new mine commenced operations. The inclined shaft was located on the southern slope of the mountain ridge, avoiding the fractured rock zone, ensuring a stable roof and easy support. Ma Tiejun led his team to the site, setting up work sheds, installing winches, and digging the inclined shaft—the sounds of clanging and banging filled the air, creating a lively scene. Renye stood on the mountain ridge, watching the bustling construction site below, seeing the workers carrying equipment, slinging wooden piles, and chanting work songs. The sunlight was bright, illuminating everything on the construction site.

Ma Maocai climbed up from the mine, walked over to Ren Ye, and took off his safety helmet. "Brother Ren, the new mine has started operations. What about things back in the provincial capital?"

Renye held a cigarette in his mouth and looked into the distance. "Run back and forth. I'll keep an eye on things here once they're on track, then I'll hand it over to you guys."

Ma Maocai nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He stood next to Ren Ye, also looking at the construction site below. After a while, he said, "Brother Ren, what I said last year still stands."

Renye turned and glanced at him. Ma Maocai didn't look at him, staring at the construction site in the distance, a slight smile on his lips. "Just say the word, and I'll work for you." Renye didn't speak, but reached out and patted his shoulder. The two stood on the ridge, looking down at the bustling construction site below.

In mid-April, Renye returned to the provincial capital. Pushing open the door to his rented room, he saw Tian Sui'er writing something by the window. Hearing the door open, she looked up with a smile. "The new mine has started operations?"

"Let's get started." Renye put down his canvas bag, walked to the windowsill, and glanced at the periwinkle. The flowers were in full bloom, pink and white, one after another, crowded together. There was also a new pot of flowers on the windowsill, small and purple, I didn't know what it was called.

"What kind of flower is this?" Jinye asked.

Tian Sui'er put down her pen, stood up, walked to the windowsill, and pointed to the pot of purple flowers. "Pansies. I bought them at the flower market. I heard they can bloom in winter, keeping company with periwinkles."

Renye reached out and touched the purple petals; they were cool and soft. "Beautiful. What's their name?"

"Pansies. Their flower language is—" Tian Sui'er paused, glanced at him, "Please remember me."

Renye paused, his gaze falling on her face. Her earlobes were slightly red, but her eyes were bright. He didn't speak, but took a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth without lighting it, just holding it there, watching her for a long while. Two potted plants on the windowsill swayed gently in the wind, the pink and white periwinkles and the purple pansies sitting side by side, like two people sitting quietly, not speaking, but knowing everything.

In early May, the plane trees in the provincial capital were all green. The shade of the trees on both sides of the alley stretched out, and it was cool to walk under. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering on the ground like scattered gold. Renye returned from the market, carrying a fish and a bunch of vegetables. When he reached the alley entrance, he saw Tian Suier squatting at the door of her rented room, holding a small shovel, digging something in the open space below the window.

"What are you doing?" Renye walked over and squatted down next to her.

Tian Sui'er looked up at him, her face a little muddy, and when she smiled, she revealed a row of white teeth. "Planting flowers. I bought a bag of flower seeds at the flower market. They say they're sunflowers, easy to grow, and will bloom in large patches in the summer."

Renye looked at the small hole she had dug. It wasn't big, but it was quite deep, and a neat circle of small stones had been piled around it. "With so many plants, will they even grow?"

"Yes, it's possible. The old lady who sells flowers said that sunflowers can live as long as there's sunshine, they don't need much care." Tian Sui'er scattered the flower seeds into the hole, covered them with soil, gently patted it down, and then watered them a little. Her movements were very careful, as if she were taking care of something very important. Ren Ye stood up and looked at the small patch of freshly turned soil under the windowsill.