Chapter 50: The Return of the Support Team

“Lately, haven’t a lot of factories sent documents to the commune, asking for help selecting temporary workers? If you wanted to go, who would have a chance ahead of you? Why don’t you give it a try?” Xiao Weiguo asked in confusion.

After all, he was the son of the brigade leader; if such an opportunity arose and Xiao Weidong wanted it, he would surely be the first choice.

“I’ll think about it. I’ve already sent a telegram to my father, and he said to wait until he’s back before making any decisions,” replied Xiao Weidong.

“That’s right, Uncle Gonglin will be back soon. I wonder how they’ve been these days, working at the coal mine—must be tiring,” Xiao Weiguo said.

As they spoke, someone shouted, “They’re entering the village! They’re here!”

Xiao Weiguo and his companions went forward to greet them.

The support team trudged into the village, their steps heavy. Each of them was covered in a layer of coal dust that wouldn’t wash off; faces and hands were dark, and their clothes were tattered, all uniformly black. Some people’s shoes were worn down to just the heel, their feet looking as if they’d just been pulled from a mud pit.

The draft animals they’d taken with them were all skin and bones, teetering as if they might collapse at any moment. A closer look revealed that there were fewer animals than when they’d left; they had taken a significant portion of the brigade’s livestock when they departed.

At the head of the group walked Secretary Xiao Gonglin, who looked emaciated, his cheeks sunken, as if only skin remained stretched over bone.

Xiao Weiguo’s father, Xiao Pingle, was somewhere in the middle of the group, still with that wooden, blank expression, his body just as frail.

Only the second uncle at the rear seemed any different. Apart from being grimy and a little dark, his body still looked sturdy—he hadn’t managed to lose any weight.

Xiao Weidong, standing to the side, saw his father’s state and immediately felt his eyes fill with tears. He lowered his voice and called out, “Dad!”

He started toward the group, intending to embrace Xiao Gonglin, but after a few steps, Xiao Gonglin stopped him with a stern look, forcing him to retreat and remain beside Xiao Weiguo, his breathing heavy with emotion.

At that moment, Xiao Gonglin raised his right hand high. The team halted instantly.

He turned to face the support team and announced loudly, “Everyone, you’ve worked hard these past days. Our support mission is now successfully completed.

In a while, except for those caring for the animals, all others are dismissed here and now—go home and rest.

At six this evening, in front of the brigade committee office, we’ll hold a feast to reward everyone. All support team members and their families are welcome. Dahai, please see to the arrangements.”

“Now, I declare: Dismissed!”

The team immediately broke up, everyone hurrying to find their families.

At this moment, Deputy Secretary Zhang Dahai walked up to Xiao Gonglin, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, evidently troubled by the arrangements for the evening feast.

Xiao Weiguo saw his father walking home alone and quickly said farewell to those around him and Xiao Weidong, then hurried after his father.

“Dad, how come you’re back so soon? Didn’t they say the minimum was three months?” Xiao Weiguo asked.

“I don’t really know. Seems they didn’t need that many people after all.

Every commune and brigade sent people to the mine, and the place was packed. Food supplies were extremely tight; all the grain we brought was quickly used up.

There was nothing for the animals to eat, either—a lot of them died from exhaustion.

Later on, we were all working with empty stomachs.

Recently, there’s been less work, and the autumn harvest is near. That’s probably why so many teams were sent back,” Xiao Pingle explained, glancing at his son. Then he continued, “Where did you get those clothes? And did you cut your hair? You look much more spirited.”

“I went into the capital and became a worker at a textile factory. This is my uniform…” Xiao Weiguo explained.

In truth, Xiao Weiguo didn’t resent his father much; he was just angry at his lack of backbone, always suppressed by his stepmother. Xiao Pingle was decent at heart and wanted the best for his children.

Hearing the news, Xiao Pingle’s coal-black face flushed with joy, and his eyes lit up as he exclaimed, “Wonderful, wonderful! Weiguo’s actually become a worker—our ancestors must be blessing us! I must tell your grandfather right away.”

“Dad, go home and clean up first. I already told Grandpa at lunch,” said Xiao Weiguo.

“All right, I’ll tidy up first, then go to your grandpa’s. You can explain everything in detail then.”

“Excellent, excellent!” Xiao Pingle muttered to himself as he walked home, still repeating the word “excellent.”

“What? You’re saying Xiao Weiguo has become a worker in the city?” The second uncle, Xiao Pingxi, was deeply shocked when his wife told him about Xiao Weiguo after coming home.

“Look, they celebrated at the old man’s house at noon, and even brought us a bowl of braised pork. I don’t know why they gave it to those four useless girls as well—what a waste of meat!” Second Aunt said self-righteously.

Hearing her mother’s words, Xiao Zhaodi bit her lip, indignant but resigned to silence, knowing from experience that saying nothing was safest.

Xiao Pingxi picked up a piece of meat and chewed, marveling, “Delicious! I’ll go to the old folks’ house later—who knows what other good things they have. No point letting them keep it; better give it to us.”

“That brat Weiguo is really lucky. It’s all about having a son—if we had a son and sent him to the city to be a worker, we’d be worker’s parents too and receive plenty of respect.

What use are these daughters? Sooner or later, they belong to someone else’s family.” As he spoke, he smacked one of the twin sisters, Yingdi, on the backside.

Yingdi burst into tears, and her twin Laidi shrank back instinctively.

When Xiao Zhaodi heard her father planning to raid her grandfather’s house, she nervously signaled to Pandie, who nodded slightly, slipped out of the yard, and hurried off to warn their grandfather.

Back home, Xiao Pingle told Xiao Weiguo’s stepmother about his new job.

Stepmother Wang Tiehua was so agitated she exclaimed, “What? That brat Xiao Weiguo became a worker?

I don’t agree with this! He should give the position to your son. He’s just a kid—what’s the point of him being a worker? He’s not strong enough to do the job.”

She set down Xiao Weiguo’s younger brother, Xiao Qigong, and was about to rush out to tell Weiguo her wild idea.

Xiao Pingle quickly grabbed her arm and said, “It’s not up to us who gets to be a worker. I heard at the coal mine that lately, all the ones recruited into the city are young, single people with no burdens. They don’t want anyone with a family.

Don’t cause trouble for Weiguo—they’ve already agreed he’ll live separately.”

“Live separately? Not a chance! His household registration is still with our family. If he won’t give the job to your son, then he should give it to my nephew—he’s young and single too, isn’t he?

Or, from now on, he has to hand over all his wages to me. As his mother, I should manage the money.

Otherwise, I’ll go to the brigade, go to the city, go to his factory—I’ll mess up his job for him!”