When the busy work of sorting, weighing, and hauling finally came to an end, the sun was already high in the sky, and lunchtime quietly arrived.
Xu Feng warmly grabbed Chen Jun and Xiao Wang by the arm, a broad smile on his face as he said, "Group Leader Chen, Master Xiao Wang, you've both worked hard all morning and must be exhausted. Have lunch right here before you head out. We don't have much in our village, but we can offer you all you can eat!"
His gaze was sincere and eager, radiating the unpretentious hospitality of mountain folk.
Chen Jun still had some private matters to discuss with Xu Feng anyway, so he readily accepted the invitation with a hearty smile. "All right, Village Chief Xu, then we won't stand on ceremony and will gladly taste the local cooking."
In fact, he still had the matter regarding Xushu on his mind and figured this meal would be a great opportunity for a proper chat.
Driver Xiao Wang's eyes had been glued to the game on the ground ever since they arrived. In these material-scarce times, such meat was a rare delicacy. Hearing that he was invited to stay for lunch made him overjoyed; he nodded eagerly and expressed his thanks repeatedly. "Oh, thank you so much, Village Chief Xu! I've long heard how delicious the food is in your village, and today I finally get to treat my palate!"
Seeing that the guests were staying, Xu Feng turned back and shouted to the other villagers, "You've all been busy for half a day! Go on home, have a good midday meal, and rest up for the afternoon!"
The villagers chored their agreement, hoisted their tools, and walked home in twos and threes, leaving the village to gradually return to a quiet calm.
After a lavish farmhouse meal at Xu Feng's home, Chen Jun set down his bowl and chopsticks, put on a serious expression, and slowly began to speak.
"Village Chief, after interacting with everyone these past two times, I feel from the bottom of my heart that this kid Xushu is extraordinary—he's a true talent. When I got back to the factory, I brought him up in detail with the factory leadership. They're quite interested as well, and are willing to give Xushu a spot to join the factory. To be honest, this was one of the main reasons for my trip this time."
Upon hearing this, Xu Feng's eyes lit up instantly. He knew all too well that by farming and hunting in the village, working oneself to the bone year round, every household could barely scrape together ten or twenty yuan. But urban workers made dozens of yuan a month and received government grain rations—the gap between the two was simply vast. Furthermore, in his eyes, Xushu had the most potential among the village youth. If not for his impoverished family background, with that boy's intelligence, getting into a secondary specialized school or high school would have been a breeze. Who knows, he might even become the first university student from the village and forge a completely different path.
At this thought, Xu Feng hurriedly picked up his wine glass, respectfully offered a toast, and said sincerely, "Group Leader Chen, what you've just mentioned is nothing short of a godsend for Xushu's family. From the bottom of my heart, I raise both hands in support! However, this matter ultimately concerns Xushu's future, so he and his mother will have to give the final nod of approval."
Chen Jun nodded in agreement and replied, "Mm, what you say makes sense. Let's go find them for a chat after we finish lunch."
Xu Feng readily agreed, "No problem!"
Meanwhile, back at Xushu's home, he and his mother Li Xiurong had just finished lunch, and he was rolling up his sleeves to wash the bowls and dishes in the kitchen.
At that moment, Xu Feng's voice came from the courtyard. "Xiurong, Xushu, are you home?"
Hearing the call, Li Xiurong hurriedly put down what she was doing and walked out quickly to greet them with a rustic, warm smile. "Oh, Village Chief, what brings you here? Come on inside and sit!"
Xu Feng and Chen Jun walked into the house, and Xushu also stepped out from the kitchen to offer a polite greeting.
Xu Feng had a straightforward personality and didn't beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. "Xiurong, Xushu, Group Leader Chen and I came over to discuss a wonderful opportunity with you."
A look of curiosity filled Li Xiurong's eyes, and she couldn't help asking, "Village Chief, what kind of good news?"
Chen Jun stepped forward, looking at Xushu with a gentle gaze, and said, "Xushu, I know you're a capable kid, and staying cooped up in the countryside is simply wasting your talents. I took the liberty—without discussing it with you beforehand—to ask our Section Chief for a position in the Procurement Section, and I want to bring you back to work at the rolling mill. I wonder if you're willing?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell instantly silent. Both Xushu and Li Xiurong froze, as if struck dumb by this sudden stroke of good fortune.
After a long moment, Xushu was the first to snap out of it. Frowning slightly, he pondered and asked, "Brother Chen, what does this Procurement Section you mentioned actually do on a daily basis? And how much is the salary?"
Chen Jun explained patiently, "The Procurement Section, as the name suggests, is mainly responsible for procuring materials for the rolling mill. Right now, food supplies are the major focus—things like cornmeal, flour, pork, and pheasants all fall under our procurement scope. As for the salary, the starting pay follows the 28-grade administrative scale, which is the standard for a Grade 10 clerk: twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents a month. But as you know, in procurement, your income isn't limited to just that fixed wage."
Xushu nodded thoughtfully, gaining a preliminary understanding of the job. He paused and raised another question. "Mm, Brother Chen, I understand. But I'm a stranger in Sijiu City with no place to live, and it's so far away that I wouldn't be able to commute back and forth."
Chen Jun waved his hand with a smile and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Section Chief Wang has already arranged it. Once you join, the factory will immediately assign you a house. By then, you'll be able to bring your mother to the city with you, and the whole family can be reunited."
Hearing that she could move to the city with her son, Li Xiurong's face instantly blossomed into a smile, her eyes filled with joy. She had always believed firmly in her son's abilities. Yet, Xushu was only sixteen after all—still a child—and she would always have some worries if he were left alone in the city. Now that she could go along with him, most of those concerns vanished in an instant.
Xushu looked at his mother's expression, thought for a moment, and immediately nodded in agreement. "Brother Chen, I'll take the job! But when can I start working at the factory?"
Chen Jun said, "It's January now, and in just over a month it'll be the New Year. You might as well come in and start your job after the New Year so you have plenty of time."
Xushu readily agreed, "No problem! Thank you so much, Brother Chen!"
Chen Jun took a letter of introduction out of his pocket, handed it to Xushu, and instructed, "I'll leave this letter of introduction with you. After the New Year, bring it to the Red Star Rolling Mill and look for me."
Xushu took it with both hands, carefully tucked it away, and said, "Got it, I'll remember."
Seeing that everything had been settled, Chen Jun stood up and said, "Since the business is all done, I need to head back to the factory to report."
Xushu quickly said, "All right, Brother Chen, I'll walk you out."
Then, Xu Feng and Xushu accompanied Chen Jun out to the edge of the village.
On the return trip, the cold wind cut like a knife. Xu Feng and Xushu walked side by side, kicking up a bit of dust from the dirt path.
Xu Feng turned his head slightly, looking at Xushu with a gaze full of expectation, and spoke earnestly, "Xiaoshu, your uncle knows well that you're a boy with genuine ability. Over the years, everyone in the village has benefited plenty from your help. Now that this great opportunity to work in the city is right in front of you, you must grab it tight. Go to the city and work down-to-earth; don't let down Group Leader Chen's kind intentions."
His voice was slightly hoarse in the bitter wind, yet it was filled with deep concern.
Xushu raised his head, his gaze resolute, and nodded hard. "Mm, Uncle Xu, I know what I'm doing. I won't let you all down. Once I start working at the rolling mill, if the village ever has any material needs in the future, or wants to sell some things, maybe I can help out and provide an extra way to make money."
His words radiated the youthful spirit and sense of responsibility of a young man.
Hearing this, Xu Feng smiled with relief, reached out to gently pat Xushu's shoulder, and said, "Ah, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. It's freezing cold out here, let's head back early so we don't catch a chill."
Xushu replied, "All right, Uncle Xu, see you."
With that, the two quickened their pace and walked toward the village.
Back home, Li Xiurong was sitting on the kang, her face beaming with unstoppable joy. Just thinking about her son going to the city soon and having a better future filled her heart as if sweetened with honey. Seeing Xushu return, she hurriedly stood up and greeted him, her eyes full of tenderness and care.
Days passed one by one in eager anticipation. Because of the good news that Xushu was soon to work in the city, the entire Xu Village was immersed in a New Year atmosphere far richer than ever before. When the villagers gathered to chat and mentioned Xushu, though their eyes held a hint of envy, they were also full of understanding. They knew very well that the intelligence and capability Xushu displayed in his daily life were beyond comparison for ordinary people. Moreover, everyone understood the logic that "connections make things easy." Once Xushu gained a firm foothold at the rolling mill, whether the village needed to sell goods or procure daily and production supplies in the future, things would surely become much more convenient. Furthermore, Xushu was honest and loyal by nature. Everyone believed that the acquisition prices he offered would definitely be fairer than those Chen Jun and his men brought.
Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, it was February 21, 1958.
Just as day was breaking, Xushu got up early. After a simple breakfast, he began packing his belongings. He found an old piece of cloth, carefully wrapped up some dry rations, a cotton quilt, and a few changes of clothes, and tied them into a bundle to sling over his shoulder. Then, together with Xu Feng, he bid farewell to his family and set off from Xu Village, embarking on the road to Sijiu City.
Xu Village was located in a remote area; bicycles were unheard of, let along any decent roads. Along the way, whenever they came across a cart going their way, they would quickly hitch a ride. They rode in donkey carts and ox carts, and though the bumps were hardly pleasant, their hearts were so filled with longing for the future that they didn't feel it as hardship. When no carts were available, they had to rely entirely on their own two legs, measuring the earth beneath them step by step.
After several hours of travel, they finally arrived outside the gates of the Red Star Rolling Mill right around lunchtime. Looking at the tall factory buildings before him, Xushu knew that everyone inside the mill must be eating lunch at this hour. He figured that going in now would not only disturb people's meals but also make handling the entry procedures rather inconvenient. Therefore, he pulled Xu Feng over to a large tree opposite the rolling mill gates.
The two of them sat right on the ground, took out the dry rations they had brought that morning, and ate a simple meal with the cold water from their canteen.
After finishing lunch, the two strolled around the neighborhood for a bit to get familiar with the surrounding environment before heading back to the rolling mill gates.
Just as Xushu and Xu Feng reached the front gates, a security guard stepped briskly out of the guardhouse and blocked their path with an outstretched arm.
"Hold it! Who are you two? What business do you have here?"
The guard looked stern, his eyes full of vigilance.
Xushu quickly stopped, walked up politely to the guard, and said, "Hello, I'm here to join the rolling mill today. This is the letter of introduction given to me by Group Leader Chen from your Procurement Section."
With that, he carefully drew the letter of introduction from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.
The guard took the letter, examined it closely, scanning the text several times over. After a moment, he raised his head, handed the letter back to Xushu, and his attitude softened considerably.
"All right, the letter is in order. The Procurement Section is in that three-story office building on the right side of the main gate."
Xushu thanked him hurriedly, "Okay, thank you."
The guard pointed at Xu Feng and asked, "Then who is he?"
Xushu explained, "This is the village chief of our Xu Village, who specifically came along to send me off."
The guard shook his head and said, "Oh, but he can't go in. The rolling mill is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are strictly prohibited from entering."
With no other choice, Xushu pulled Xu Feng aside and said, "Uncle Xu, since it's like this, you should head back early. At this rate, you should be able to get home before dark."
Xu Feng asked with a worried expression, "Will you be all right here by yourself?"
Xushu patted his chest and said with full confidence, "Uncle Xu, don't you know my capabilities? Put your mind at ease, I can definitely take care of myself. Once I officially start work, I'll find time to come back and visit everyone."
Xu Feng nodded, fished a cloth pouch out of his pocket, shoved it into Xushu's hands, and said, "All right, then I'll be off. Keep your wits about you in the city. This is just a little something from your uncle. Expenses are high in the city, and I don't know how much money you brought—take this just in case you need it for an emergency."
Looking at the cloth pouch in his hand, a warm surge swept through Xushu's heart. He knew Xu Feng had his best interests at heart. Hesitating for a moment, he accepted it, resolving to repay it tenfold if he ever got the chance.
"All right, Uncle Xu, I understand."
With that, Xu Feng turned around and set off on the road back to Xu Village.