Before the sky had even begun to brighten, Meng Wenzhou quietly slipped out of the small courtyard.
He carefully made his way to the foot of the mountain to meet Meng Yang.
“Wenzhou, you were great last night. A real hero.”
The fire-fighting scene from the previous night seemed to still be fresh in their minds, and Meng Yang couldn’t help but tease him a bit when he saw him.
“Eh, don’t mention it. If you keep talking like that, I’m really going to blush.”
He waved his hand at Meng Yang, shared a lighthearted remark, and the two walked quietly into the woods, heading deeper into the mountains.
“Are we still meeting Zhang Sheng at the same place as last time?” Meng Wenzhou asked, tilting his head.
“No, we changed the location. Dazhu’s leg was just injured, so it’s better to be cautious.”
Zhang Sheng was their middleman for the black market. Meng Wenzhou and Meng Yang understood the principle that the tallest shoot in the field is the first to be cut down; they didn’t want to risk their own well-being just to earn a few extra coins.
The prepared meat was hidden in a pit, covered with plenty of branches and leaves. At a glance, no one would ever guess that meat was stashed there.
Meng Wenzhou and Meng Yang waited in the vicinity, pretending to pick fruit and wild goods, just waiting for the middleman to arrive.
At this time, the sun hadn’t risen yet, but there was a faint light, and the sky was a pale blue.
Chirp… chirp…
The sound of barn swallows appeared in the deep mountain forest, and Meng Yang nodded at Meng Wenzhou.
Chirp, chirp, chirp…
Another sound, like scattered rice, echoed rapidly through the woods.
“Hey, hey, I must say, you two younger brothers are really cautious. Usually, it’s others saying old Zhang is too careful about changing locations, but you two—you’re so eager you want to change locations and passwords every single time.”
A round-faced man covered in patches appeared before them. He had sun-scorched, high-altitude red cheeks and half-shaved stubble on his chin, looking both festive and eccentric.
“Isn’t this all for your sake too?” Meng Wenzhou smiled and retorted, looking at Zhang Sheng, whose eyes were squinted into thin lines.
Heh, with this humble, rural appearance, who would guess that he was a bold black market middleman?
“Yes, yes. Shall we take a look at the goods, you two?”
Meng Wenzhou and Meng Yang uncovered the pit nearby. When Zhang Sheng saw the sorted carcass of the pig, his hunched body straightened with excitement.
He rubbed his hands together and said excitedly, “Now this is some good stuff.”
He took a scale out of his backpack with his thick, short hands. Meng Wenzhou and Meng Yang also helped pull the meat out of the pit.
After weighing and calculating, there was a full 150 catties of meat, with the offal to be calculated separately.
“Let’s stick to the old rule: 70 cents per catty for the meat,” Zhang Sheng said, smiling at the two of them. His narrow, squinted eyes made it impossible to tell if he was calculating or just being honest.
The rationed meat at the supply and marketing cooperative was 80 cents a catty and required coupons. Black market prices were only higher, not lower. However, since Zhang Sheng was the middleman bearing the risk, Meng Wenzhou and his companions naturally had to make a concession. The price was fair.
“Fine. We don’t want money for the offal; trade it for coupons.”
Zhang Sheng moved the meat himself, while Meng Wenzhou and the others just watched from nearby. Once the pit was empty, they had no further connection with him.
The money and coupons were split evenly. Meng Dazhu’s share was collected by Meng Yang; since their families lived close by, Meng Wenzhou didn’t get involved.
By the time they descended the mountain, the sun was gradually beginning to rise.
Meng Wenzhou, covered in cold dew, pushed open the door to the small courtyard. Xia Xianxian was still in bed with her eyes closed, muttering in her sleep.
He put down his backpack and stood in the main room for a long while. Once the chill had faded from his body, he tiptoed into the bedroom. Xia Xianxian had occupied most of the bed, turning over with a mutter. As she moved, her shoulder was exposed, but she remained unaware, sleeping soundly.
Meng Wenzhou leaned forward to tuck the quilt around her. His movements were gentle, but Xia Xianxian still frowned and unconsciously shriveled into the quilt.
Before long, her breathing became steady and deep again, and she looked very docile and cute. Meng Wenzhou stood by the bed watching her for a while, reached out to touch her hair, and then quietly got up and closed the bedroom door.
Coincidentally, not long after Xia Xianxian got up, they had guests.
Knock, knock, knock!
The usually quiet courtyard was startled by the knocking. The birds in the yard flapped their wings and flew elsewhere.
Led by a village cadre from Xiahe Village, three men from outside the village stood at the door. Leading them was the Hekou Village Party Secretary, who had said he would come to commend Meng Wenzhou the night before. Behind him followed their bespectacled village accountant and a young man carrying items.
“Meng Wenzhou’s home is right here. His family was too large and crowded, so after he got married, the village approved this plot of land, and he built a house here,” the Xiahe Village cadre said helpfully, observing the Hekou Village members looking around the courtyard.
“Wenzhou! Wenzhou! Are you home?”
A loud voice rang out at the foot of the mountain. Auntie Li from next door was poking her head out of her own courtyard to take a look.
“Eh, coming, coming!”
Meng Wenzhou wiped his hands in the kitchen, hid things that weren’t meant for outsiders in the cabinet, tidied up the main room, and then hurried to the front yard to open the door.
“Secretary Li, Brother Dashan, this is…”
Meng Wenzhou knew perfectly well what was going on, but he had to play the part of the honest, simple country man.
“Good news!”
Secretary Li from Hekou Village smiled and patted Meng Wenzhou on the shoulder. The accountant behind him, with great foresight, handed over a piece of red paper.
The words “Hero of Fire-fighting” were written in bold, powerful strokes. This was the certificate of merit issued to Meng Wenzhou by Hekou Village.
Meng Dashan stood to the side without saying a word; this was Hekou Village’s stage. He had brought them here, and just standing by to watch and support them was enough.
“There’s still cleanup to do in the village. We’ll invite you to the village in a few days to attend the award ceremony. Remember to bring your certificate and a speech to our village then.”
“This, this—I just gave a helping hand. The credit belongs to everyone. How can I deserve this?”
Meng Wenzhou had fair skin; he would blush easily if he held his breath, and in the eyes of Secretary Li from Hekou Village, this was simply a shy, selfless, and public-spirited young man!
“Don’t be modest! If you hadn’t reacted in time and led everyone to fight the fire yesterday, what would have happened if someone had been hurt?”
Since they didn’t have tea leaves at home, Xia Xianxian followed local custom and poured sweetened water for everyone.
Seeing the pure and innocent expression on Meng Wenzhou’s face, she almost laughed out loud. She had to lower her head and hide by the door, pretending she was going to the kitchen for water.
“Secretary Li, I really shouldn’t take…”
Secretary Li from Hekou Village interrupted Meng Wenzhou in a loud voice, his tone firm and unyielding.
“You must take these!”
The young man from Hekou Village laid out the items from the urea bag one by one: a thermos, an enamel mug, and enough army-green fabric to make a new set of clothes.
However, the fountain pen they were looking for was not among them.
Standing by the doorway, Xia Xianxian watched the scene inside the room, feeling a sense of urgency.