Chapter Twelve: True Gold Will Shine Sooner or Later

The next morning, Liu Weidong and his wife were once again woken by the loudspeaker of the production team.

With a resigned sigh, Liu Weidong got up to dress, and reminded Lou Yanru to take the newly bought Dacron fabric to the commune to make some new clothes.

He didn’t want his wife to return home wearing patched garments when meeting her parents.

Following the plan from the previous day, several team leaders each led their members to the fields.

Liu Weidong didn’t have time for breakfast; grabbing a large pancake, he hurried out of the house. Upon reaching the livestock shed, he saw Sun Wang harnessing the ox cart.

“Brother Sun, didn’t Uncle Jianguo say yesterday that we’d use tractors to plow the fields? Why are you harnessing the ox cart?”

“Don’t mention it. Someone damn well drained the diesel—probably that bastard Wang. Luckily, no one lit a fire near the big warehouse last night, or there would’ve been a disaster. I’m pretty sure it was that bastard Li Baotian causing trouble on purpose after taking a beating yesterday. The old secretary has already sent someone to the agricultural machinery station for help, so for now, we have to use the ox cart.”

After harnessing the ox cart, the two headed towards Mount Daqing. Sun Wang glanced at Liu Weidong with a curious look.

“It’s really strange, Weidong. You didn’t even finish middle school, yet you helped the oil factory innovate and even got a bonus. I heard the grain delivery guy call you Engineer Liu. Have you started working at the oil factory now? Isn’t that a secure job?”

“What secure job? The oil factory only hired me as a technical consultant. Xiao Zhao calls me that out of politeness. I don’t have any special skills—it’s all thanks to my father-in-law. Didn’t you forget Yanru’s father is an agricultural expert?”

Sun Wang finally understood and gave Liu Weidong a friendly pat.

“You’ve really got luck on your side. Lou Yanru was the beauty of Qianjin Commune—many men had their eyes on her. And yet, this fresh flower ended up with a piece of cow dung like you. Now you’re also borrowing your father-in-law’s prestige. Damn, some people really get on your nerves.”

Liu Weidong smiled but said nothing.

Being humble and diligent always pays off, no matter the time.

By the time the ox cart reached the foot of Mount Daqing, many members were already gathering the fallen corn stalks.

In 1978, the northern regions planted late-maturing corn varieties, and with insufficient fertilizer, by mid-June the corn was just forming ears. Many members wiped tears while working.

“Weidong, you’re here? I couldn’t sleep all night thinking about your idea of farmland renovation. Look at this corn in the field; if we had planted early-maturing varieties, our production team wouldn’t be starving. If we can’t select the right seeds next year, we should ask your father-in-law.”

Liu Weidong nodded and thought of Lou Nan.

In two months, Lou Nan would be politically rehabilitated and restored to his official post. After that, they should ask him to send people to the second team—scientific farming is true productivity.

Using oxen to plow, especially flooded fields, was exhausting for the old oxen, who even foamed at the mouth, and progress was slow. Soon, Liu Weidong was covered in mud.

“This won’t do, Uncle Jianguo. There’s such a large area; if we rely on oxen, when will we finish? Quickly send someone to get diesel, and also borrow test tubes, beakers, and litmus paper from the commune. I need to test the soil’s acidity and alkalinity.”

Wang Jianguo looked at Liu Weidong as if seeing a ghost but didn’t ask more. He quickly sent Sun Wang to the commune by bike.

While working with the ox cart, they saw a group of sent-down youths approaching from afar, carrying shovels and waving red flags. Leading them was the household head Jin Xu, accompanied by Lou Yanru and a group of students.

“Uncle Jianguo, we’re here. Assign us some work.”

Jin Xu wore a green military uniform with a belt, still full of revolutionary spirit. But the boys behind him were yawning and slouching, each more listless than the last.

“When do we eat, Uncle Jianguo? How can we work on empty stomachs?” one boy mumbled.

Wang Jianguo frowned. “Look at your spirit—where’s the vigor of young men? Not even as good as some hardworking women. Just go help gather corn stalks.”

The sent-down youths went to work while Lou Yanru had the students assist with chores. She approached the ox cart and offered Liu Weidong water from a military canteen.

“Didn’t I tell you to go to the commune to have clothes made? Why didn’t you go?”

Lou Yanru glanced around and whispered, “Don’t speak so loudly. The team is busy with disaster relief now. Would it be right for me not to work? There was enough trouble yesterday over a few boxes of snacks. I’ll make the clothes soon myself. Isn’t that just treating our own wounds?”

“It’s our own money for our own clothes. What’s it to anyone else? Let whoever wants to say whatever.”

Liu Weidong nearly shouted, glaring.

“Keep your voice down. We’ll talk at home.”

Lou Yanru wiped the mud off his face and led the students to gather corn stalks.

Liu Weidong estimated the field below the mountain to be about 150 to 160 acres. If they planted castor beans here, they could make quite a profit.

“Weidong, I called Director Ma this morning and mentioned expanding castor bean planting. He didn’t agree, but he told Yanru to take a letter of introduction to the commune’s education department to fill out forms. Looks like your sweet talk had some effect.”

“That’s just surface stuff. Director Ma mainly respects your father. After this is all over, I’ll properly thank you, Uncle Jianguo.”

Wang Jianguo shot Liu Weidong a glance and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Liu Weidong calculated the input and output, a faint smile appearing on his face.

By current prices, one acre of castor beans could earn five or six hundred yuan—much more profitable than growing grain. Plus, field management was easier, perfect for the school to run experimental plots.

In just over three months, they could make seventy to eighty thousand yuan. That was like a satellite launch for Qianjin Commune. With capital in hand, there was no worry about business.

The transfer contract hadn’t been signed yet; he only had a verbal agreement with Wang Jianguo. Liu Weidong planned to finalize the contract today.

Making money and buying grain for the village in the school’s name would also reflect well on Lou Yanru’s work, helping with her political review for university admission.

Once Liu Yanru became a private teacher, she would be the only candidate for principal of Qingshan Primary School.

By noon, the diesel arrived, and the agricultural machinery station sent two tractors to help plow.

Meanwhile, Liu Weidong carried soil testing equipment, collecting samples in the field. Not only Lou Yanru and Jin Xu followed him, but many students from Qingshan Primary School trailed behind.

In these times, rural children had never even seen such experimental tools.

While sampling, Liu Weidong explained to the children how to measure soil acidity and alkalinity, how to balance soil with fertilizer, and how to control pests and bacteria. The whole process left Jin Xu bewildered.

“Yanru, I don’t recognize Liu Weidong anymore. Yesterday I didn’t believe that technician when he said Liu had solved technical problems. But now, how does he even know scientific farming?”

Lou Yanru smiled, unsure how to explain.

She too felt Liu Weidong had transformed. A person’s character can change, but knowledge can’t be conjured out of thin air.

“Weidong’s uneducated but sharp-minded. Probably just learning and applying on the spot. I don’t know when he picked up all this.”

Liu Weidong and the children wandered through the fields, drawing the gaze of members and sent-down youths alike.

Their looks were filled with praise and astonishment, impossible to hide.

Wang Jianguo’s eyes narrowed into a slit as he smiled.

Truly a thunderclap—the Second Team has birthed a Liu Weidong.

How had he not seen it before? Such a nugget of gold hidden in this remote mountain corner.