February 19th, New Year’s Eve.
When Xia Xiao Lan woke up in the morning, she discovered it was snowing again.
Light snowflakes drifted down while the house’s stove kept everything warm. She had just finished washing her face when village women arrived to help.
Liu Yong had said he would take 10 people to work outside the village, starting at 10 yuan per day with potential increases. This pay was better than formal positions in Shangdu. For these 10 spots, the women helping with the New Year’s Eve dinner would wear down Xia Xiao Lan’s doorstep.
Mrs. Chen also came early to help.
Though unsuccessful as a matchmaker, she hadn’t wanted to come to Xia Xiao Lan’s house. But when Liu Yong mentioned taking workers, Mrs. Chen wanted her husband included. Earlier, Xia Xiao Lan had done them a favor by giving the oil cracklings business to the Chen family. Chen Wang Da hadn’t given it to his eldest son’s family, wanting him to become village chief later. With several siblings in the Chen family, the eldest couldn’t have all the advantages.
Mrs. Chen hadn’t realized it at the time, but the family that got the oil crackling business had earned thousands of yuan over the year.
Mrs. Chen was envious!
Among the sisters-in-law, she had been the proudest, but now others had surpassed her, making her uncomfortable.
Her son Chen Qing wouldn’t even come home for winter break, studying so hard. Mrs. Chen didn’t want to hold her son back – he would need money to settle in the city after graduation. Fresh graduates wouldn’t earn much, so Mrs. Chen needed to save money for him. She figured since her father-in-law Chen Wang Da looked capable of being village chief for several more years, her husband could work outside to save money during this time – managing both opportunities.
It was a nice thought. Since she hadn’t introduced Liu Fen to a scoundrel like Third Tiger Tian, she kept her grievances to herself, and Xia Xiao Lan still welcomed her.
Today’s helping women were all behaving, having favors to ask. None dared probe about Liu Fen’s marriage prospects, instead cursing Third Tiger Tian as a toad lusting after a swan.
“He should take a look at himself!”
“Being born to Third Tiger Tian’s family is such bad luck… oh, my loose mouth, let’s not mention this.”
It was pitiful indeed. Soft-hearted Liu Fen felt uncomfortable hearing about it.
But Grandmother Yu had been clear – if Liu Fen sympathized with Tian Xiao Yan’s siblings, that leech Third Tiger Tian would never let go. Then who would care for Xiao Lan?
Liu Fen’s life centered on her daughter Xia Xiao Lan. They could bully her, but not Xiao Lan or cause her daughter trouble!
“It’s fate. Whether they live well depends on whether Tian Xiao Yan and her brother make something of themselves,” Liu Fen said while kneading dough.
Speaking of bad luck, even Xiao Lan being born to her wasn’t particularly fortunate. Today’s good life came from Xiao Lan’s struggles. While her heart ached for her daughter’s hardships, she couldn’t take responsibility for every suffering child.
Through the window, Xia Xiao Lan heard her mother’s words and felt pleased.
Her mother had finally learned not to accept mistreatment and to speak her mind – such a big change!
“Mom, why aren’t you and the aunties turning on the lights?”
Fourth Sister-in-law Chen called out loudly, “What lights? Your kitchen is bright and clean enough!”
The kitchen had a stove setup with two large iron works and two honeycomb coal burners. While one side burned, the other’s residual heat warmed water. The washing basin had two taps – hot and cold. Xia Xiao Lan’s house pumped water from a well into storage, with pipes throughout, making it the first in Qijing Village to have “running water.”
While villagers hadn’t experienced other conveniences, the women working in the kitchen envied its cleanliness and brightness. Whoever said Xia Xiao Lan’s house was built strangely would understand its benefits if they lived there!
When Xia Xiao Lan tried to help in the kitchen, there was no room for her. She couldn’t even get near the vegetable cutting, washing, or seasoning preparations.
Liu Yong, responsible for entertaining the village men, called Xia Xiao Lan to join their conversation.
These men felt awkward, but Xia Xiao Lan’s bright personality, calling some “Uncle” and others “Brother,” put them at ease. They discovered the university student hadn’t changed at all – still, the same Xiao Lan who could chat about anything. Their main concern remained working with Liu Yong outside the village.
“Surplus rural labor moving to cities can earn money for families while supporting urban development – it’s a good thing.”
Talk of migrant workers being cheap labor would come later.
In ’85, working outside earned more than formal workers in Shangdu.
While medical and other benefits couldn’t match formal employees, one couldn’t be picky when trying to make money. Among the first wave of migrant workers in the 1980s, some would have different fates – some might even become bosses.
The outside world was vast and full of opportunities.
Staying in the backward countryside meant farming for life.
Xia Xiao Lan knew her Uncle Liu Yong was a conscientious boss. These villagers working for him wouldn’t be cheated. Getting paid after a year of hard work was the most important guarantee migrant workers needed!
Her university student status made Xia Xiao Lan’s words convincing, stirring excitement among the men.
Liu Yong only needed ten people this year. Two men, feeling not close enough to be chosen, didn’t want to trouble him and just asked if they could go along:
“We’ll find our work, we’re just nervous about traveling far.”
If they didn’t mind hard work, Pengcheng had plenty of opportunities. Liu Yong didn’t mind taking two more – he was happy to help anyone reasonable.
“From Shangdu you can only take the train to Yangcheng. To enter the Special Zone, everyone needs border passes from the police station. I’ll try my best to help with that!”
This brought cheers, all praising Liu Yong’s kindness.
Li Feng Mei came out to check if everyone had arrived, saying they could start eating. Grandmother Yu asked the time – only noon.
“What’s the rush? Let them finish discussing important matters. If they get drunk first, they’ll just argue without reaching an agreement. Let the kitchen helpers eat something first.”
Grandmother Yu was today’s “executive chef,” directing all seafood preparation and personally tasting everything.
Li Feng Mei agreed with Grandmother Yu – whatever she said seemed credible. Her experience commanded respect from both Li Feng Mei and Liu Fen.
But Xia Xiao Lan wasn’t fooled by Grandmother Yu, finding her strange since yesterday.
“Why won’t you let us start eating?”
Grandmother Yu glared at her. “Why are you rushing? What if we have guests who haven’t arrived? Fen, how’s that lamb soup from last night?”
Everyone lived in the same village, just minutes away when called for meals. This reasoning didn’t convince Xia Xiao Lan. As she was about to question Grandmother Yu further, someone shouted:
“Why is Tian Xiao Yan kneeling at the door again?”
Xia Xiao Lan’s anger flared – the Tian family was relentless, deliberately ruining their New Year!
…
After several days of snow, the ground remained covered. Fortunately, the large Jeep had high clearance – ordinary cars couldn’t handle these snowy roads.
“Sir, we’re just a few li from Qijing Village.”
On such snowy roads, they dared not drive fast, creeping along. Even the off-road king barely outpaced a turtle.
The leader in the back seat checked his watch. “No hurry, drive carefully.”
The meal wasn’t important – he felt he should appear for this occasion.