The autumn harvest of the year ’71 was a year of joyful news for all the members of Liu family village, a year when they were exhausted but filled with happiness.
The intercropped fields of corn and soybeans had pods growing densely and healthily. The corn, planted in two rows after every six or seven, also benefited from good ventilation, with large cobs and plump kernels. The yield of soybeans could reach around 420 pounds per acre, while corn even surpassed the previous 600-700 pounds, reaching over 800 pounds.
The early corn and potato intercrops were also plentiful. After harvesting the potatoes and corn, the replanted cabbage had started to form hearts, signaling a promising year of triple cropping.
Of course, most delightful were the golden, rolling waves of rice.
The tall rice stalks were bent by the weight of the heavy grains, with a faint aroma of rice wafting in the air.
The once barren and unproductive marshy lands turned into high-yielding rice fields. The entire field of golden rice silently narrated the persistence and success of Liu Shouren, the head of the Liu family village production brigade.
This significant success not only drew leaders from nearby villages, towns, counties, and cities to witness and partake in the harvest but also attracted an interview from the provincial newspaper. A feature article titled "A Great Success of Bold Reform, A Miraculous Process of Turning Waste into Treasure," accompanied by images of the abundant rice fields and joyful members, was featured in the top position in the main section.
It not only made Liu Shouren and the Liu family village production brigade renowned across the province but also sparked a trend of converting marshy lands into rice fields.
Thanks to Liu Shouren’s objective and fair reports, several resettled individuals who played crucial roles in successfully converting dry fields to rice fields in Liu family village production brigade were all rewarded accordingly. The most outstanding among them, Wei Lai, Wu Hao, and another, Feng Anhuai, who initially went to work with the pigs, were directly seconded as technical professionals and became esteemed figures courted by village and township leaders.
Originally, for these past years, they had not suffered any undue hardship or discrimination, and even lived in finished buildings, becoming instructors. They were already secretly grateful for their good fortune.
However, after the autumn harvest, with the dry-to-rice conversion achieving a yield of 800 pounds per acre, life showed them it could be even better.
Clutching the vouchers for cloth, grain, soap, and prizes like thermos bottles, the ten old and young men all had tears in their eyes and, with choked voices, sincerely bowed and thanked Liu Shouren.
Liu Shouren quickly stepped forward, supporting his own father-in-law, leading the ten people: "Everyone, please don’t do this, I only did my duty, I’m not worthy of such thanks. After all, the extraordinary contributions several uncles and brothers made in the river projects and dry-to-rice conversion are evident to all. The credit is truly yours. If there’s anyone to thank, maybe it should be my little sister and brother-in-law. After all, had it not been for these experts, I wouldn’t have dared to take on such a massive project!
However, if this project hadn’t started, we all would’ve had talents with nowhere to apply them, right?
It was them who pointed out the clear path when we were brainstorming for ideas!
As for me, at most, I’ve told the truth and not claimed any of your credit as my own. These are reasonable actions, don’t embarrass me with your thanks."
"The expert suggestions from the Liu and Lian experts should be thanked, and more so should our captain for implementing them. Otherwise, with our status, it wouldn’t be easy to contribute even if we wanted to!" Feng Anhuai said solemnly after a long sigh, "It’s because of the Liu and Lian experts’ suggestions, and your daring reforms, fairness, and selflessness, that I could transform from a resettled laborer to a respected technician. This immense kindness, I, Old Feng, will forever remember.
Though with your status and capabilities, you may not have much use for old Feng, in my eyes, the three of you are benefactors for life. In the future, if there’s anything not against national law or morality that needs your three’s help, old Feng will surely go through fire and water without a word."
"Ah, I’ve been thinking about words for so long and still couldn’t speak faster than Old Feng. But his words are my feelings too. Shouren, if you and Lianshan ever need anything, just let Wu Hao know!"
"Yes, yes, and me, Wei Lai!"
From people who used to write confessions at scheduled times and amounts as ’criminals’ to contributors to socialist construction, enjoying the same treatment as ordinary members, no longer being caught up by their social class ’tails’ was like moving from hell to heaven.
This kind of rebirth kindness, how could they not feel it deeply?
The ten of them were all excited, except for Wu Liguo, the father-in-law, who didn’t say anything about going through fire and water. The remaining nine were filled with profound admiration and gratitude for Liu Shouren, who was kind-hearted, capable, not greedy for others’ credit, and able to see things as they truly were, without prejudice. If they had spent the rest of their lives in such destitution, it would be understandable, but when opportunities rise allowing these dragons trapped in shallow waters to soar into the sky once more, remembering this kindness over the years, they will spontaneously and voluntarily become the solid backing for Liu Shouren and Lianshan. Supporting them wholeheartedly in times of need.
Those equally excited included the three young intellectuals, among them Du Xuanxuan.
Liu Shouren’s comments on their positive engagement in the dry-to-rice conversion project, working hard and standing steadfastly at the forefront, making outstanding contributions to the project. As a result, the three young intellectuals easily achieved their ultimate dream – being recommended for Worker Peasant Soldier University.
With this, they would have the opportunity to choose to return to the city for employment after graduation, no longer having to spend their youth in the countryside, facing the soil every day.
After securing the recommendation and knowing they could attend Beijing University, with a two-year course and job assignments post-graduation by the state, not to mention Du Xuanxuan, even the two male young intellectuals were so overwhelmed they hugged and wept in excitement, right?
Knowing that the enormous benefit they received despite not contributing significantly was due to Liu Shouren’s kindness, righteousness, and fairness, the two male young intellectuals thanked him over and over, so warmly that they were eager to make him their sworn brother.
Even Du Xuanxuan, who before had everywhere watched him like a wolf, fearing he would snatch away her confidante, and then nitpicked, thinking he wasn’t worthy of her friend, had a complete change. She specially found an opportunity to sincerely thank him.
With indifference, Liu Shouren waved his hand and, full of teasing, said, "You’re welcome. Actually, going by your performance during the dry-to-rice conversion, you wouldn’t have been chosen to attend university. But our Yinghong said you’re her age and she already has a son while you’re still single, which makes people feel a bit pitying. So we simply gave you the spot, at least at university, there are more boys, maybe by chance, a blind cat can find a dead rat!"