The children even complained about the loss of income due to their wives' kowtowing, how could the team leader not be angry. He said again: "That day, your wife also went there with her son. Do we have to give them work points too?" Shan replied: "He probably forgot. My son urinated in the soil for mixing mud when building the bridge that day, saving water and contributing his effort. Unlike him who didn't contribute a single work point or spit into the mud." The two were arguing, getting more exaggerated as they spoke.
The secretary couldn't bear to watch from the side, fearing that the two would start a big fight. He said: "Both of you should talk less. Arguing like this won't solve any problems. I see Shan's point; the reservoir is so large and there are many people but few resources. It's not my place to say, but what have you been doing all this time? That bridge has long been neglected until now you're jealous of Shan repairing it. Fortunately, the large canal built by the county is about to be filled with water, and we will start construction on the channels on the mountain. Within two or three years, most of the land in the whole village will become irrigated fields. Let's let the team led by Shan take this advantage these past two years."
After the secretary said this, the two stopped arguing with Shan and asked: "When will the work start?" The secretary replied: "We'll start after spring." He added: "Shan, let's make it clear, irrigation mustn't delay everyone else's irrigation. Those vegetable fields are everyone's lifeline. If you really delay watering the vegetable fields, everyone will fight you. Wait until the vegetable fields are watered before using the remaining water."
Shan happily left. That year, Shan's team rose from the bottom to first place. All thanks to those sweet potatoes, over ten acres were planted hastily, producing an extra 200-300 catties per acre. The team produced an additional five or six thousand catties of grain. Selling vermicelli brought in money, and each work point was worth over 60 cents. Hu's family had three strong male laborers—his grandfather, sisters contributed half-labor, grandmother and mother earned many work points splitting sweet potatoes. At the end of the year, the family received a dividend of over 900 yuan. Hu, Bao, and Meifeng sat on the kang happily counting the money. Everyone said the three of them couldn't count clearly in one night.
One might think having money makes finding a wife easier. But your family’s status is too high; you’re still considered a household expelled during the land reform. Seeing her brother's happiness, the four adults weren’t happy at all. The matter of exchanging brides between Meifeng and Hu was once again raised to the daily agenda.
Shan’s efforts turned a backward team into a famous one, receiving praise at the commune meeting. A certificate of merit was awarded and posted in the team's work-point recording room. Not only was Shan happy, but the members of the team and people from other teams also spoke more confidently. Soon, the brigade promoted her to the militia captain while she continued to serve as the team leader.
Shan brought Erbao and Dabao to my cousin's house for matchmaking. Upon entering, she called out: "Sister-in-law, we've arrived!" Her husband came out and greeted them at the door, saying: "With such a dark road, I thought they'd take longer to arrive. Quickly come inside and warm up."
Erbao and the others entered the room, and the back kang was already occupied. We sat on the edge of the front kang. This was deliberately arranged by the family. The kerosene lamp hung on the wall near the head of the back kang, shining on the faces of those sitting on the front kang. People inside and outside coming to see the prospective son-in-law could see clearly. Shan chatted casually with the family. One by one, neighbors came in to check out the potential son-in-law. Most were women, speaking quite directly. One woman shouted from the yard: "Let me see what my fifth daughter's son-in-law looks like!" The girl's name was Wuniu. Someone who just finished viewing commented: "He doesn't look like a human." Another woman came in and asked: "Which one is my Wuniu's son-in-law?" I guessed she was probably Wuniu's aunt, and Shan didn't know her either, so she pointed to Erbao and said: "This is the only one, the other is his brother, making them a pair of younger brothers." A woman remarked: "Is he not as handsome as my brother?" Shan responded: "He's stronger than your brother, which is exactly what my sister likes about Erbao." An opera-loving woman compared: "The brothers, one resembles Zhang Fei, the other Zhao Yun." This made the brothers blush furiously, and Shan joked: "They're all heroes!"
More women and girls came. After estimating, since this was a mountain village with dozens of households, almost every family sent representatives to see. In the courtyard, clusters of people discussed Erbao. A few women cooked noodles and egg sauce in the kitchen and served it in the room. Each of Shan, Dabao, and Erbao was given a bowl. Dabao and Erbao declined, claiming they had just eaten at home. Only then did things calm down, and the neighbors returned home. Shan told the brothers: "Eat! Such good noodles, not eating would make us fools." As I lifted a bowl and ate, I said: "Not eating is a waste, eating makes you want more."
At this moment, Wuniu finally appeared, like in an opera where the main character enters last. Her stunning entrance caused Erbao, Dabao, and even Shan, who hadn't seen her for two years, to gape in amazement.
April 10, 2010 Relevant theme articles: Winning a great deal of wealth and reputation, "I'm confident I can do a good job," without leaving empty spaces.