Black Gold 1983

"I've been learning for over a year." Tian Sui'er placed the wrapped dumplings on the bamboo mat, arranging them neatly in a row. "Ren Ye taught me."

We had our New Year's Eve dinner at the mine. Ma Tiejun, Ma Maocai, Ma Dehou, Ma Dewang, and several other workers came. The eight-immortal table wasn't enough, so we pushed together another table. More than twenty people squeezed into the room, which was steamy and filled with the aroma of food and the smell of smoke. Tian Sui'er sat next to Ren Ye, raised her glass, and clinked it against Ma Tiejun's.

"Brother Tiejun, thank you for taking care of me for more than a year."

Ma Tiejun grinned and downed his drink in one gulp. "Sui'er, when will your book be printed?"

"March. I'll send you a copy when it's printed, and I'll sign it for you."

"Then I'll be waiting." Ma Tiejun poured another glass, turned around and clinked glasses with Ma Maocai. "Maocai, our mine has produced a writer too. We'll have face when people talk about it from now on."

Ma Maocai didn't speak, but picked up his wine glass and took a sip. His lips were curled up in a smile.

In March, the book was printed. The publisher sent a box of sample copies. Tian Sui'er opened the package, picked up the top one, and opened the title page. On it was printed the words: "Dedicated to all those who mine coal in the dark." She held the book for a long time, her fingertips gently stroking the edges of the pages, and then handed it to Ren Ye.

Renye took the book and opened it to the first page. The table of contents listed the names of Ma Tiejun, Ma Maocai, Ma Dehou, Ma Dewang, Ren Shouyi, and Li Yue'e. Everyone was there, each with their own chapter. He closed the book and looked at the title on the cover—"Eight Hundred Meters Down the Mine."

"Well written," he said.

Tian Sui'er took another book and walked out of the house. She walked to the well, where Ma Tiejun was directing the workers loading the truck. She handed him the book, and Ma Tiejun took it, wiped his hands on his trouser leg, and then opened it. He didn't recognize many words, but he saw his own name on the cover.

"Sui'er, you actually wrote me into it?"

"It's written. Each of your stories is in there."

Ma Tiejun grinned, a genuinely happy smile. He tucked the book into his coat and patted it. "Even when I'm illiterate, I'll keep this book for my son. So he'll know that his dad worked in the mines with Brother Ren back in the day."

Tian Sui'er took another book, went into the shed, and handed it to Ma Dehou. Ma Dehou was smoking a pipe when he took the book, opened the title page, and saw the words—"Dedicated to all those who mine coal in the darkness." He didn't speak, but his hands were trembling slightly, and the pipe was gently vibrating in his mouth. He closed the book, took the pipe out of his mouth, and tapped it on the sole of his shoe.

"Sui'er, what you wrote is good."

Ma Dewang walked over from the village, and Tian Sui'er handed him a book. Ma Dewang took it, flipped through it, saw his own name, and his lips twitched as if he wanted to laugh but didn't. However, something indescribable flickered in his cloudy old eyes. He closed the book, tucked it into his coat, put his pipe in his mouth, and turned to leave.

Renye stood beside the well, watching Tian Sui'er's retreating figure as she handed out books. She gave one to each worker; some could read, some couldn't. Those who couldn't read clutched the book to their chests, as if it were something very precious.

As dusk approached, Tian Sui'er returned to Ren Ye's side, carrying only one last book, intended for Ren Shouyi and Li Yue'e. "Let's go back and give it to your aunt and uncle," Ren Ye said, taking the book from her and taking her hand in his other hand. "Let's go back."

The two walked along the dirt road towards the family compound. The clouds on the horizon were dyed orange-red by the setting sun, layer upon layer, like a richly colored painting. Tian Sui'er walked very slowly, as if measuring this road she had walked countless times with her steps. Ren Ye walked beside her, neither urging her nor speaking. The two walked side by side, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun, cast on the gray ground like two parallel rivers.

When they arrived home, Li Yue'e was in the yard collecting laundry. Seeing them come in, she hung the clothes on the clothesline and wiped her hands on her apron. "You're back? Dinner will be ready soon."

"Mom, Sui'er has something for you." Renye took the book out of his pocket and handed it to Li Yue'e. Li Yue'e took it, looked at the title on the cover—"Eight Hundred Meters Down the Mine," and then opened the title page, seeing the words—"Dedicated to all those who mine coal in the darkness." Her hand paused for a moment, then turned to the back and saw the densely packed table of contents and those familiar names.

"What kind of book is this?" Li Yue'e's voice was a little dry.

"Mom, Sui'er wrote this. It's about our mining area, about the miners." Li Yue'e didn't speak, turning the pages one by one. She stopped on one page and saw Ren Shouyi's name, and also her own. She looked at it for a while, her fingers tracing the name, her fingertips gently rubbing it twice.

"Why write about me? I'm just a cook, what's there to write about?" Her voice was a little hoarse.

"It's written down. It includes everything about you cooking in the canteen every day and serving meals to the workers." Tian Sui'er stood beside her, her voice low. "The food you cooked fed the entire mine."

Li Yue'e didn't speak. She closed the book, hugged it to her chest, and turned to go into the house. Ren Ye followed her in and saw her place the book on the octagonal table in the main room, smooth the cover with her hand, then go into the kitchen, lift the pot lid, and add a ladle of water. Her figure appeared shorter than usual under the kitchen light, and her shoulders shrugged slightly, as if she were enduring something. Ren Ye stood at the door for a while, watching, but didn't go in.

Ren Shouyi came out of the bedroom, wearing an old cotton-padded jacket and his hair neatly combed. He walked to the eight-immortal table, saw the book, picked it up and flipped through it. He turned to the title page and saw the line of text. He turned to the back and saw his own name, Li Yue'e's name, and the names of all the people he had known his whole life. He closed the book, placed it on the table, sat down, and took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

"Sui'er," he said, his voice not loud, but steady.

"Uncle, please speak." Tian Sui'er stood by the table, clutching the hem of her clothes with both hands.

"Is what you wrote true?"

"It's all true. Every single word is true."

Ren Shouyi didn't speak. He finished his cigarette, stubbed it out in the ashtray, stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside. Dusk had fallen, and the lights in the residential compound were coming on one by one, casting warm yellow light through the windows and making the courtyard appear shadowy. He stood there for a while, then turned around and looked at Tian Sui'er.

"Okay." Just one word.

Dinner was quieter than usual. Four dishes and a soup were eaten in small talk, but every dish was completely devoured. Tian Sui'er helped Li Yue'e clear the table, washing and putting away the dishes. Li Yue'e wiped her hands on her apron, glancing at her several times. "Sui'er, when will you get that book?"

"I've got it; Jinye brought it back."

Li Yue'e nodded, asked no further questions, and turned to go into the kitchen.

By the time Renye escorted Tian Sui'er back to her room at the mine, it was already dark. The streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow on the road, and the two shadows lengthened and shortened under the lamplight. Tian Sui'er walked slowly, as if she had something to say but didn't say it. When they reached the door of the room, Renye stopped, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.

"Are we going down the well again tomorrow?" Renye asked.

Tian Sui'er shook her head. "I won't take a break tomorrow. I want to read the book from beginning to end again."

Renye nodded, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He watched her push open the door, go inside, then turn back to look at him. Light streaming through the crack in the door illuminated her profile, softening her features. "Rinye."

"Um."

"Thank you," she said, then closed the door very quietly.

Renye stood at the door, finished his cigarette, and stubbed it out on the sole of his shoe. In the distance, the winch at the West Second Wellhead was still turning, the steel cable creaking and groaning, the sound carrying far and wide in the night wind. He stood there, looking at the closed door, for a while, then turned and walked towards the family compound.

In mid-March, the publisher called to say that the first print run of 5,000 copies of the book had been distributed to bookstores and the response had been good; they were considering a reprint. Tian Sui'er hung up the phone, stood in the room for a while, then walked to the window and looked into the distance. Spring had arrived in the mining area, and the poplar trees beside the mine shaft were sprouting new buds, tender green, swaying gently in the wind.

She picked up the sample book on the table, turned to the title page, and looked at the words—"Dedicated to all those who mine coal in the darkness." Then she put the book down, walked to the door, pushed it open, and sunlight flooded in, falling on her and warming her entire body. In the distance, the winch at the West No. 2 mine shaft was still turning, and workers were going down the mine, each wearing a safety helmet and a miner's lamp, walking in the sunlight, and then disappearing one by one from the mine shaft.

In April, the mining area warmed up completely. The poplar trees beside the mine shaft were full of leaves, lush and green, rustling in the wind. Tian Sui'er hadn't left; she was still living in the mining area, writing her manuscripts every day. The publishing house sent her second payment, which she divided into several portions and used to buy a new pair of rubber shoes for every worker in the mine. When Ma Tiejun received the shoes, he grinned for a long time, saying that these shoes were more durable than any he had ever worn.

Tian Sui'er read the book again, from beginning to end, as if she were getting to know all the people she had written about all over again. When she closed the book, she sat by the window, watching the winch at the West Second Mine in the distance. The winch was turning, the steel cable creaking and groaning, and workers were going in and out of the mine. She put the book down, stood up, walked to the door, pushed it open, and went out, following the dirt road all the way to the mine.

Ma Tiejun was directing the loading of the truck beside the wellhead when he saw her approaching and put down his notebook. "Sui'er, aren't you going down the well today?"

Tian Sui'er shook her head. "Brother Tie Jun, I want to discuss something with you."

"What is it?"

"I want to put up a sign next to the well."

Ma Tiejun paused for a moment. "What brand?"

Tian Sui'er took a piece of paper out of her pocket and unfolded it to show him. The paper depicted a wooden sign with the words "800 meters underground" written on it. Below that was a smaller line of text: "Dedicated to all those who mine coal in the darkness."

Ma Tiejun glanced at the sign, then at Tian Sui'er, and stubbed out his cigarette. "Okay. I'll have someone make it."

Three days later, the sign was finished. It was over a meter tall and half a meter wide, made of wood, painted a dark brown, with gold lettering that shimmered in the sunlight. Ma Tiejun and several workers erected it in the most conspicuous spot next to the wellhead. After it was erected, everyone gathered around to look at it. Ma Xiaojun, holding Hu Xianfeng, looked up at it for a long time. "Sister Sui'er, these words are really beautiful."

Tian Sui'er stood in front of the sign, looking at the golden characters. A breeze blew, making her hair flutter gently. Some workers were squatting, some were standing, and some were leaning against the coal pile, all looking at her, then at the sign. No one spoke, but each of their expressions carried an indescribable quality—the kind of expression one only shows when someone is seen.

Renye stood at the back of the crowd, watching her back as she stood in front of the sign.

Tian Sui'er turned to look at everyone. "This book wasn't written by me alone. It was written by each and every one of you. The days you spent mining coal underground, the sweat, the laughter, the words—all of these are the contents of this book."

Ma Tiejun was the first to clap. Then Ma Maocai, then Ma Xiaojun, and then many more people. The applause rang out at the wellhead, crackling like firecrackers during the New Year. Tian Sui'er stood in the middle of the applause, smiling, but her eyes were a little red.

From then on, every driver hauling coal from Xier could see that sign. Some would look at it and ask what it meant, while others would just sit there silently, a cigarette dangling from their lips, staring at it for a while before getting on their trucks. One man specifically stopped his truck, walked to the sign, and stood there for a long time. Before leaving, he stuck a cigarette into the dirt beneath the sign before getting on his truck and driving away. No one knew his name or where he came from. But when Ma Tiejun saw that cigarette, he didn't remove it; he just let it burn out there.

In early May, Tian Sui'er received an invitation from the provincial writers' association to attend a literary symposium and discuss her creative experiences. She showed the invitation to Ren Ye, who read it over and over again. "Go. This is a good opportunity."

Tian Sui'er carefully put away the invitation and sat down by the window. "What should I say when I get there?"

"What should I say? Tell me what you saw down in the well, the people you met, and the process of writing this book."

In mid-May, Tian Sui'er went to the provincial capital. During her speech at the symposium, she told a short story she had heard from Ma Dehou while he was working in a mine. Once, when Ma Dehou was young, a rock suddenly fell from the roof, landing less than half a step away from him. Before going down the mine that day, his wife had told him, "Come back for lunch; I've made you some pork rib soup." He said that when he heard the roof collapse that day, his mind wasn't filled with fear, but with the image of that bowl of pork rib soup. He thought to himself, "I have to get back alive, otherwise that bowl of pork rib soup will have been wasted."