Black Gold 1983

The dough had risen. He had kneaded a ball of dough yesterday, covered it with a damp cloth, and placed it on the work surface; it had risen fluffy and fluffy this morning. He tied on his apron, rolled the dough into a thin sheet, cut it into thin strips, and set them aside. He shredded the cabbage, minced the pork, and seasoned it with scallions, ginger, and soy sauce. The water in the pot boiled, and he added the noodles, stirred them with chopsticks, and covered the pot. When the noodles were almost cooked, he added the shredded cabbage, blanched them, and arranged them at the bottom of a bowl. Then he scooped up the noodles, placed them on top, poured over the meat broth, and sprinkled some chopped scallions. Two steaming bowls of noodle soup were placed on the table, their aroma filling the entire house.

Tian Sui'er woke up, poking her head out from under the covers, her hair a mess. "Smells so good."

"Get up and eat noodles, the first meal of the new year."

Tian Sui'er put on her cotton-padded jacket, slipped on her slippers, walked to the table, sat down, picked up her bowl, slurped up a mouthful of noodles, chewed twice, swallowed, and then picked up another mouthful. "When did you learn to roll out noodles?"

"I learned it from my mom when I went back last time. She said that eating soup noodles in winter is good for warming up, so she told me to learn how to make it. I'll make you a bowl too."

Tian Sui'er didn't answer, lowering her head to continue eating her noodles. The noodles were chewy and smooth, the broth rich and fragrant; after finishing a bowl, she felt warm all over. She put down the bowl, leaned back in her chair, placed her hand on her slightly protruding belly, and let out a satisfied sigh. "I'm stuffed."

"There's more, eat slowly." Renye took away the bowl in front of her and ladled out another bowl of soup for her.

The snow was still falling outside the window, silently covering the whole world. The periwinkles on the windowsill bloomed quietly beside the radiator, their pink and white petals appearing especially tender in the winter light. The pansies also seemed vibrant, their purple petals slightly curled at the edges, as if disturbed by the scent of snow.

During the first month of the lunar calendar, Renye took Tian Sui'er back to the Hongxing Mine. Li Yue'e had prepared the New Year's Eve dinner early, filling the eight-immortal table to the brim. Tian Mancang and Sui'er's mother also came, and the two families sat down to eat together. Uncle Mancang's back was still not very good, but he was much more energetic than last year and talked more. He raised his wine glass and clinked it with Ren Shouyi's, and the two of them downed their drinks in one gulp, laughing out loud, which was rare for them.

Sui'er's mother secretly sized up Renye at the dinner table, looking at him several times. Finally, during a break while adding soup, she whispered to Li Yue'e, "Yue'e, the dumpling filling at your house is even more fragrant than last year." Li Yue'e smiled and nudged her, "It's Sui'er who made the filling, it has nothing to do with me." Sui'er's mother's lips curled up, and the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes gathered together.

Renye sat down next to Tian Suier and put a piece of food on her plate. Tian Mancang saw this but didn't say anything. He picked up his wine glass and took another sip, but the wrinkle at the corner of his eye was deeper and softer than when Renye last saw him.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Renye took Tian Suier to the West Second Wellhead. The winch was still running, the workers were taking turns to rest, and production continued uninterrupted. Ma Tiejun was on duty, and when he saw them coming, he came out of the shed to greet them with a wide smile.

"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. "Everything's fine. Production at the new mine is stable, and things are good here at West No. 2 too. The coal washing plant is operating at full capacity, and truckloads of clean coal are being hauled out. We're having a good New Year." He glanced into the distance, where Tian Sui'er was standing in front of a coal pile, touching the shiny black coal chunks with her hand. She turned around and smiled at Ren Ye, the sunlight illuminating her face and giving her smile a pale golden hue.

Renye stood beside the mine shaft, watching the winch turn, the steel cable creak and groan, and a cartload of coal rise from the mine. Ma Tiejun stood beside him, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Brother Ren, what are your plans for this year?" Ma Tiejun asked.

Renye thought for a moment and took the cigarette from his mouth. "Let's increase the output of West Second Mine and the new mine again, and expand the sales channels. This year, we plan to explore a few more places to get a clear understanding of the coal underground, so we can make better plans for the future."

Ma Tiejun nodded. "Okay. You tell me what to do, and I'll do it."

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Renye and Tian Sui'er returned to the provincial capital. It was already dark when the bus arrived. The two walked down the alleyway, carrying canvas bags, their shadows stretched long by the streetlights. The stove in their rented room was lit, making it warm and cozy. Tian Sui'er put down her bags, walked to the windowsill, and looked at the two potted plants. The periwinkles were still blooming, and the pansies were vibrant. She reached out and touched a petal, then turned to look at Renye.

"Nino, there's something I want to do this year."

Renno was adding coal to the stove when he looked up at her. "What is it?"

"I want to live at the West Second Mine for a while." Tian Sui'er's tone was very serious. "My thesis is about mining literature. I want to really live there, like those miners, going down and coming up from the mine every day, working in the dark every day, and then coming back to the surface."

Renye looked at her but didn't answer immediately. He knew she was serious. When she was writing, she would sit by the window for hours on end, sometimes stopping to stare blankly at the sycamore trees outside, unable to write a single sentence. At that time, she needed to observe, to feel, to immerse herself in that world.

"How long will it take?" Renye asked.

"One summer vacation. Two months," Tian Sui'er said. "I've already made arrangements, and my advisor has agreed."

Renye thought for a moment, then stood up and dusted off his hands. "Okay. I'll go down with you and be your guide."

Tian Sui'er looked at him. The periwinkles on the windowsill swayed gently in the breeze, their pink and white petals shimmering softly in the lamplight. She walked up to him, reached out, and took his hand. Her hand was cool, but her eyes were warm.

In March, spring arrived in the provincial capital. The plane trees lining the alleys sprouted new buds, tender green, swaying gently in the breeze. Sunflowers under the windowsills also sprouted new shoots, peeking out from beside last year's withered stems, tiny and delicate, like a group of curious children. Periwinkles were still blooming, their pinkish-white petals appearing especially soft in the spring sunshine. Pansies were also vibrant, their purple petals slightly curled at the edges, as if stretching.

With fewer classes, Tian Sui'er began preparing for her summer vacation stay in the mining area. She made a detailed list of what to bring and what preparations to make. Ren Ye looked at her list and added a few more items for her—waterproof rubber boots, sturdy work clothes, and a good miner's lamp.

"I'll prepare these things, don't worry about it." Renye folded the list and put it in his pocket. "You just need to go there when the time comes."

In April, Renye returned to Hongxing Mine. He told Ma Tiejun about Tian Sui'er's plans to stay there during the summer vacation and asked him to help prepare a room. Ma Tiejun readily agreed: "There's an empty room in the village; we can tidy it up and she can move in. It's close to the mine entrance, only a five-minute walk." He added, "Everyone will definitely be happy if Sui'er comes to stay."

Ma Tiejun worked efficiently, and finished cleaning the house in less than three days. The walls were repainted, making them clean and bright; a new pane of glass was installed in the window, letting in sunlight; the bed frame was also replaced, and clean bedding was laid on it. A desk was placed in the corner by the window, which Ma Dewang had moved from his own home.

Renye stood in the doorway of the room and looked around. Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the entire room. He nodded. "Okay, that's settled."

In May, Tian Sui'er finished the first draft of her thesis. Her supervisor read it and was very satisfied, saying that the thesis could be submitted directly to a core journal. When Tian Sui'er told Ren Ye the news, she had a smile on her face, a smile that she only had when she had accomplished something, a smile of satisfaction and pride.

"Did your summer vacation stay in the mining area affect your thesis writing?" Renye asked.

"No," Tian Sui'er shook her head. "When I was writing my thesis, all I could think about were the images of those miners. I felt that only by actually living in the mining area could I write about those images more clearly."

At the end of June, Tian Sui'er's summer vacation began. The two packed their things and took the shuttle bus back to Hongxing Mine. By the time they arrived at the mine, it was almost dark. Ma Tiejun was waiting at the mine entrance. Seeing them approach, he quickly went to greet them and took the canvas bag from Ren Ye's hand. "The house is all set up, and everything is ready. Sui'er, see if there's anything you need, and let me know."

Tian Sui'er followed Ma Tiejun to the room. It wasn't big, but it was very clean, with a bed, a desk, and a chair by the window. On the windowsill was a potted plant, which Ma Tiejun had moved from his own yard. It was pink, and she didn't know its name, but it was in full bloom.

"Brother Tiejun, these flowers are so beautiful." Tian Sui'er reached out and touched the petals.

Ma Tiejun scratched his head, looking unusually embarrassed. "I don't know what it's called, I just thought it looked nice, so I moved one over for you."

Renye placed the canvas bag beside the bed, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and handed it to him. "Brother Tiejun, you've worked hard."

Ma Tiejun took the cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and waved his hand. "It's no trouble at all. It's an honor for our mine for Sui'er to come and stay."

The next morning, Tian Sui'er went down the mine with Ren Ye. She changed into work clothes, put on rubber boots, a safety helmet, and a miner's lamp. Standing beside the mine entrance and looking down, she gripped the rope tightly.

"Are you scared?" Jinye asked.

"I'm not afraid." Tian Sui'er took a deep breath, gripped the rope, and slid down the shaft section by section, pushing off the wall with her feet. Her movements were clumsy, but steady. Ren Ye followed behind, watching her move down step by step, the beam of his miner's lamp sweeping across the shaft wall, illuminating her silhouette clearly.

When she reached the bottom of the well, the water was above her ankles. Tian Sui'er steadied herself, looked around, and saw the beam of her miner's lamp sweeping across the well walls. She reached out and touched the wet stones and wooden stakes, then bent down and crawled into the tunnel.

The alley was low, requiring one to stoop to walk. Tian Sui'er walked slowly, but she walked very carefully, each step firm and grounded, her hands touching the wooden stakes on either side of the wall as if she were touching something precious. Ren Ye followed behind, saying nothing, letting her experience it for herself.

When she reached the working face, she stopped and looked at the shiny black coal face. She reached out and touched it; the coal was cool, hard, and rough. She raised her headlamp and carefully examined the patterns on the coal face, the marks made by the pickaxe, and the loose pieces of coal scattered at her feet.

"This is where they work every day." Tian Sui'er's voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of disturbing something.

Renye stood beside her. "Yes. This is where they work every day. They come down in the morning and go up again at night, spending eight or nine hours a day here."

Tian Sui'er didn't speak. She squatted down, picked up a piece of coal from the ground, and held it in her hand. The coal was shiny black, shimmering under the beam of her miner's lamp. She held it for a long time, then stood up and put the coal in her pocket.

When she came up from the mine, the sun was already high in the sky. Tian Sui'er stood beside the mine entrance, took off her safety helmet, and clutched it in her hand. Her face was covered in coal dust, and her hair was soaked with sweat, sticking to her forehead, with a few stray strands clinging to her cheeks. She stood in front of the coal pile, staring at the shiny black coal chunks for a long time, until the wind dried the sweat from her face.

"Jinye," she called out.

"Um."

"I want to stay underground for a few more days. I want to go down the mine with them every day, come up with them, and eat with them." Renye looked at her. "Okay. I'll go with you."

From that day on, Tian Sui'er went down into the mine with the workers every day. She wasn't very good at the work; she wasn't strong enough to dig much coal, but she didn't sit idle. She helped by handing over tools, clearing away rubble, and tidying up wooden stakes. When she got tired, she would squat in a corner to rest for a while and take out her notebook to jot down some notes.

The workers were initially a bit reserved, unsure how to interact with her. But they gradually opened up after discovering that she wasn't afraid of getting dirty or tired and worked quite diligently. Ma Maocai would sometimes teach her how to use a pickaxe, Ma Tiejun would tell her stories about what had happened underground over the years, and even Hu Xianfeng started rubbing against her trouser legs, squatting at her feet and refusing to leave.

In mid-July, Tian Sui'er had been underground for nearly half a month. Her notebook was more than half full, densely filled with writing and drawings of tunnels, working faces, and supporting wooden stakes. One afternoon, she came up from the mine, sat on a stone beside the wellhead, opened her notebook, and looked at the pages filled with writing. Ren Ye squatted beside her, a cigarette dangling from his lips, but he didn't light it.

"How is it?"

Tian Sui'er closed her notebook and looked at the distant mountain ridges. "I understand now. Before, when I wrote about mining areas, I was always looking at things from a distance. Now that I'm down here, I know what kind of people those miners are. They aren't symbols of bitterness and resentment; they are just ordinary people, with laughter and tears, joy and sorrow. Every day they go down the mine, not for some lofty ideal, but simply so their families can have enough to eat. Yet it is these ordinary people who uphold the light of this country."

Renye didn't speak, gazing at the profile of her face. She had lost some weight, but her eyes were brighter than before. It was a light emanating from her heart, brighter than the reflection on a coal pile.