“In our Huaihua Village, a commune member can earn sixty cents for a full day’s work—a figure that not only leads our commune but ranks among the nation’s highest. Why? Because our brigade’s leadership maintains high political consciousness! Despite Liang Xin’s clear regulation limiting each household to five chickens, she secretly raised six extra. Such a blatant capitalist tendency reflects my failure as a father in educating her, allowing capitalist ideology to resurface. Today, we must—”
“Dad!”
Two men and two women came running from the east—the sons and daughters-in-law whom Liang Tiezhu had earlier sent away under false pretenses to inquire about the brigade’s supply station at the commune’s distribution center.
Liang Tiezhu’s face darkened. “Why are you back already?”
“I’ve said it before: Second Brother and I will split from your household. That way, Liang Xin’s six extra chickens won’t exceed the limit per family.” The eldest Liang son picked up the severed chicken head from the ground and grabbed the lifeless body huddled in the corner. “Some commune members haven’t eaten meat in over six months. With grain already scarce, how could you waste a laying hen like this?”
“Exactly!” Second Sister-in-law called out to the crowd. “Since we’re all gathered to dredge the Dahe River today, the production team will provide the meal. Gou Dan, go fetch the large iron pot. It’s been ages since we’ve had chicken! Now that one’s been killed, let it bleed out, boil water to pluck the feathers, and get some radishes from our root cellar. Bring two heads of winter cabbage too. We’ll stew radish, cabbage, and chicken with vermicelli for lunch—a proper treat for everyone!”
“Nonsense!” Liang Tiezhu’s authority was being challenged, fueling his rage. “If you keep this up, I’ll send Liang Xin to the commune’s revolutionary committee!”
“Dad, as Elder Brother just said, we’re splitting from your household—Dad!”
Before Second Sister-in-law could finish, Liang Tiezhu stormed toward Liang Xin.
The two Liang brothers quickly shielded their sister.
The sixty-year-old Liang Tiezhu, no longer in his prime, trembled with fury. “You ungrateful whelps! Grown wings, have you? Drag them away!”
The militia squad approached, attempting gentle persuasion first. When that failed, they resorted to force.
As tensions escalated toward violence, a gaunt figure came sprinting from the west like a withered reed, shouting with raised hand: “Those chickens aren’t Liang Xin’s—I raised them!”
The advancing militia halted.
All eyes turned eastward.
Liang Xin could no longer remain seated in her lounge chair. She stood and pushed through the crowd, staring at the panting figure. “It wasn’t her—”
“I raised them!”
A girl in tattered blue patches thrust her frostbitten hands toward the brigade cadres. “Liang Xin is the brigade secretary’s daughter—she wants for nothing. Why would she risk raising extra chickens? They’re mine! I usually pole sand barges on the western Dahe River for the production team. I kept the chickens hidden in the reed beds mid-river, feeding them chopped earthworms and small fish I caught daily. If you want to criticize or arrest anyone, take me!”
Liang Tiezhu and the other cadres stood dumbfounded, exclaiming in unison: “Why is it always you?”
“Yes, it’s me. This isn’t the first time I’ve done this,” the girl rubbed her nose, chilled by the cold wind. “All these years, cutting willow branches, catching fish and shrimp, hauling night soil—only I would occasionally set my sights on public property.”
The brigade cadres were collectively dumbfounded.
It was precisely because they had always used Lu Wei as a scapegoat before that the commune found them perfunctory. This time, having caught Liang Xin feeding chickens, the party secretary had hardened his heart to target Liang Xin instead.
Now it was Lu Wei again. If they tried to pass Lu Wei off once more, the commune would surely remove the secretary from his position and appoint someone else.
Liang Xin pulled Lu Wei behind her. “I raised them. Is the criticism session over? Are we going to the commune or the county next?”
“Look at you fighting over candy like this, completely unrepentant! Today we must thoroughly curb this evil wind of capitalist thinking!” Liang Tiezhu waved at the militia platoon. “Take both of them to the commune revolutionary committee!”
Speak of the devil—the director of the commune revolutionary committee arrived just as the militia was getting serious.
At his appearance, Liang’s elder brother, his wife, and the commune members all changed expressions, knowing Liang Xin was in real trouble this time.
But unexpectedly, the moment the commune director reached the brigade department entrance, he threw his usually meticulously maintained bicycle to the ground and rushed toward Liang Xin with wild excitement:
“Liang Xin! The Jiangjing Military Region Political Department sent an external transfer letter for you! When did you find a marriage partner? Why didn’t you tell me in advance?”
Everyone present froze.
Second Sister-in-law’s anxiety instantly transformed into ecstatic joy. “An external transfer letter?!”
“Military Region Political Department?” Liang Tiezhu stared dumbly at his second daughter-in-law, disbelief slowly dawning on his face. “For Liang Xin?”
“Yes!” The commune director couldn’t conceal his delight. “The Military Region Political Department! Is Liang Xin’s marriage partner working at the Military Region Headquarters? Then he must be at least a Battalion-level Staff Officer! So young and already transferred to the Military Region Headquarters as a battalion-level cadre—his future prospects are limitless!”
“Battalion-level cadre?” Liang Tiezhu grew even more bewildered. “How do you already know that?”
“I’m guessing!” The commune director beamed, about to speak to Liang Xin when he noticed chicken blood splattered everywhere on the ground and walls. “Why is there chicken blood all over? What are you all doing here?”
Liang Xin: “Criticizing and denouncing me.”
The brigade cadres who had been grinning widely: “………”
After a brief pause, the commune director immediately pointed at Liang Tiezhu and scolded: “The Gang of Four has been crushed! How can you still be holding criticism meetings here? Criticizing Liang Xin? This is pure nonsense!”
Liang Tiezhu: “………But didn’t you assign this criticism quota?”
“That was from ages ago! The commune production team’s wall slogans were replaced long ago with ‘Warmly Celebrate the Crushing of the Gang of Four.’ People’s Daily and Red Flag Magazine have been publishing editorials for over a month! Under the guidance of the Chairman’s revolutionary line, our Party has triumphed, the proletariat has triumphed, the people have triumphed! And you’re still holding criticism meetings here? How has your political awareness become so backward!”
After fiercely criticizing Liang Tiezhu, the commune director found it insufficient and continued berating: “I think you’re just power-hungry! Liang Xin is your daughter—her origins are pure and red. Trace her ancestry back three generations, they all contributed to fighting the Japanese invaders and eliminating the Japanese devils! She’s a people’s heroic cultural soldier! What right do you have to criticize her?”
Liang Xin’s father, Liang Tiezhu: “…She raised six extra chickens.”
The commune director glanced at the six hens—one dead and five alive—on the ground and glared: “Are you short of food or drink for Liang Xin? How could you drive the child to secretly raise chickens? Liang Tiezhu! You’re a Party member and cadre—you can’t take the lead in favoring sons over daughters and showing bias!”
Liang Tiezhu: “………”
The commune director was the highest official most brigade members had ever seen. His fury made the brigade Party secretary bow his head in shame, while other brigade cadres fell silent in fear. The militia platoon had already wisely distanced themselves from Liang Xin, not daring to approach further.
“Director, Liang Xin didn’t raise extra chickens. We plan to separate from Dad. After the split, when the population is averaged out, there’s one extra chicken—just enough to cook for the production team working on dredging the Dahe River.”
Second Sister-in-law quickly stepped forward: “Oh my, who would’ve thought the match we took Liang Xin to see just two days ago would get a response in only three days! Director, you don’t know how frightened we were that day. As soon as we entered the Military Compound, the guards directed us to the Family Area. I initially thought it was a regiment-level cadre—our Liang Xin would’ve enjoyed endless blessings! But they kept leading us deeper inside…”
The brigade members and cadres pricked up their ears, listening with great interest, when Second Sister-in-law suddenly stopped speaking, leaned close to the director, and whispered something.
The director’s face instantly changed dramatically, his hands trembling. “The chickens… let’s handle it as you said. Just do it that way. Liang Xin—no, Liang Tiezhu!”
Liang Tiezhu, who had also been straining to listen, jolted and looked at the commune director in panic.
The commune director: “I haven’t finished what I was saying earlier. There’s no quantitative standard for raising chickens. When brigade members do such things, as long as it’s not excessive, we should just conduct ideological work and give verbal education. Yet you made such a big fuss over this! This shows your brigade Party branch hasn’t fully grasped the Learn from Dazhai spirit, leading to such implementation! Starting tomorrow, all cadres in your brigade must report to the commune every morning to restudy the specific experiences of Learning from Dazhai in Agriculture and undergo ideological re-education!”
The brigade cadres were collectively dumbfounded again.
“Let me warn you one last time: Liang Xin comes from solid roots with no political history issues or disciplinary records, nor any economic problems or other violations of laws or discipline. Her political ideology, work, and personal conduct are all exemplary.”
The commune director’s expression turned very serious: “If any further incidents occur due to your brigade cadres’ own actions before she gets married, the commune Party organization will consider dismissing the entire leadership of your Huaihua Brigade!”
Liang Tiezhu’s spine shuddered. At his age, dismissal was what he feared most.
But thinking of his daughter’s marriage prospects and observing the commune director’s attitude, his fright faded as delight surged from the depths of his heart.
After all, Liang Xin was his daughter!
“Director, rest assured, our brigade will definitely not have such incidents happen again!”
The mass meeting disbanded, and the production team joined the collective task of dredging the Dahe River.
Gou Dan carried over the large iron pot, set it up, and cheerfully added firewood, boiled water, and plucked chicken feathers.
Liang Xin and Lu Wei, who had earlier been arguing over whose chicken it was, now quarreled about whose chicken it wasn’t after the crisis was resolved.
In the end, Lu Wei took five chickens, ignoring the repeated meaningful glances from the family, and dashed off toward the commune supply and marketing cooperative’s purchasing station.
“I told you there was a chance! The family of the senior officer has taken a liking to you!”
Second Sister-in-law, linking arms with Liang Xin, entered the house even more excitedly. “A general’s residence, a military district senior officer—our Liang Xin has truly turned her luck around. She’s set for a life of comfort!”
Liang Tiezhu, draped in a dark gray “people’s suit” faded to a pale gray, followed them inside. “Xiao Yan, tell me more about the situation over there.”
Liang Xin carried a white enamel basin to the well platform. The well water drawn in early winter was lukewarm. She moved a short four-legged stool, sat down, took off her shoes and socks, and directly placed her feet into the basin.
The family gathered together, their faces glowing with excitement, completely carried away.
Eldest Sister-in-law quietly brought a bamboo-cased thermos from the kitchen, walked to the well platform, removed the stopper, and added hot water to the foot-washing basin.
When Liang Xin had spoken her fill, Eldest Sister-in-law crouched down, reached into the basin, and grasped the fair, delicate feet.
“I can do it myself.”
“I’ve been washing your feet since you were three. It’s not because you’re about to become the daughter-in-law of a military district senior officer that I’m helping you now.”
Liang Xin watched as Eldest Sister-in-law’s thumb precisely landed on the spot splashed with chicken blood. “We’ve been eating more meat lately, and even my feet have gotten plumper. No wonder you all want to marry me off.”
Eldest Sister-in-law turned her head, looking up at Liang Xin from below. “Liang Xin, you’re heartless.”
Liang Xin was amused. “Eldest Sister-in-law, do you know what a military district senior officer is?”
“A high-ranking official, of course.” Eldest Sister-in-law was illiterate. Apart from fleeing famine and begging her way from her hometown to Linhuai years ago, she hadn’t left the commune in over two decades. “Ever since Xiao Yan returned a couple of days ago, she’s been happy one moment, sighing the next—unable to settle down. Her temper has turned irritable too, often taking off her shoe to hit Hu Zi. She’s seen the world; for her to act like this, it must be a very powerful high-ranking official, at least much more influential than our father.”
“Liang Xin, come over here quickly. Huh? Why are you washing your feet at this hour?”
Liang Xin shot a sidelong glance at her smug father. “Chicken blood splashed on my shoes.”
“……I’ll give you money and coupons later. Go to the commune supply and marketing cooperative and buy a new pair!”
Liang Tiezhu picked up his tobacco pouch from the windowsill, stuffed tobacco into the pipe, lit it, and puffed away contentedly:
“I never thought I’d become in-laws with a military district senior officer! Liang Xin, you’ve brought me even more honor than your third brother!”
“I’m not getting married.”
“Cough, cough, cough, cough…”
Liang Tiezhu, who had just taken several rapid puffs of smoke, was choked by Liang Xin’s words, his insides nearly exploding.
The siblings-in-law were equally stunned by Liang Xin’s statement.
The joy in the Liang family courtyard instantly evaporated.
Only the sound of violent coughing remained.
“Nonsense!” Liang Tiezhu, having recovered, sprang to his feet. “The military district political department has already sent an external investigation letter to the commune! Do you know what that means? If you don’t understand, I’ll explain it to you: an external investigation letter means they’re reviewing your files for political vetting. This shows the other side has already submitted a marriage report to the military leadership! There’s no room for your foolishness!”
“You’re the one who’s not being foolish.” Liang Xin took the foot towel handed by Eldest Sister-in-law from the clothesline, wiping her feet leisurely. “Then tell me: his age, appearance, height, personality, family background, salary and rank, grain ration, health condition?”