Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Competition Becomes an Awards Ceremony

Page 1 of 3

Lin Jingshu, Jiang Xiucheng, and several others were also called up by the brigade captain. Leaders from the commune’s Educated Youth Office and several public security officers carrying silk banners came to the front of the stage as well, and the competition venue instantly turned into an awards ceremony.

From the leaders of the commune’s Educated Youth Office down to Brigade Captain Xie, everyone gave a speech and shared their thoughts on the happy occasion. Each of them also felt obliged to praise Yunshu and the others, calling them models among the educated youth and exemplary representatives of the younger generation. The few youngsters standing onstage could only smile stiffly, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

At that point, selecting a mere announcer no longer seemed so important. After all, some matters took precedence over others.

By the time the lengthy round of commendations and awards finally ended, half an hour had passed. But Yunshu and the others’ work as mascots was not yet over. They were arranged to stand between the commune and Educated Youth Office leaders and the two public security officers, obediently standing at attention.

The three male educated youths held paper certificates in their hands. The two girls stood in the middle, each holding a certificate while also raising a silk banner together with the leaders. Below the stage, someone held up a camera and kept shifting left and right, searching for the right angle. After several sharp clicks, he finally announced that the photographs had been taken.

The photographs were for the police station’s publicity campaign. They would eventually be displayed on the bulletin board as an account of their exemplary deeds.

Yunshu and the others were promised that they could go to the county town in a few days to collect a photograph as a keepsake. When the commune and Educated Youth Office leaders heard this, they hurriedly consulted with the people from the police station, saying that they wanted two copies as well—both as souvenirs and for publicity purposes.

There was no need to be coy about such a good thing. Everyone readily agreed, and one photograph was clearly destined to be printed dozens of times.

There was nothing they could do about it. This was reputation. This was political achievement.

Who would not want it? Who would not like it?

Brigade Captain Xie and the other members of the village production-team leadership saw the various officials off. Before leaving, the officials—who had evidently already investigated Yunshu and the others’ family backgrounds in private—went out of their way to offer them some especially “ 친切” encouragement.

Avoiding the limelight was one thing, but aside from Lin Jingshu, who had no one backing her, the families of the others had not yet fallen.

Anyone quick-witted enough to observe the commune leaders’ attitudes could tell that Yunshu and the others must have powerful connections beyond their reach. After mulling this over, they became even more courteous toward the group.

At last, after the leaders had driven away in their little cars or ridden off on their bicycles, attention could finally return to the main event of the day.

Although everyone’s enthusiasm had been captured by the two silk banners, the day’s proceedings could not simply end with an anticlimax.

Brigade Captain Xie kept both banners at the brigade headquarters, half by force and half by pleading. He certainly intended to use them to bolster the headquarters’ prestige and show them off. Fortunately, Yunshu and the others still had a paper certificate naming them “Progressive Youth,” so they did not quibble too much.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

…

It seemed that Yunshu’s decision to attach herself to a powerful ally had paid off. Her best friend’s protagonist aura had thoroughly enveloped her, and at such a crucial moment, she had even received a bonus from the heavens.

Originally, aside from the three girls who had failed to perform well and Cuicui, who had joined in a two-person folk routine, the announcer’s position could have gone either to Yunshu or the little girl who had performed first.

But Yunshu had seized upon the loophole that there had been no rehearsal and no prior submission of the programs. She had temporarily altered the details of her performance, and she had also received commendations from both the commune and the county police station. The result was therefore obvious.

The three girls received only a scattering of votes. Cuicui did slightly better, receiving around twenty. The remaining votes were divided between Yunshu and Xie Minmin, who had performed first. Yunshu received more than twice as many votes as Xie Minmin.

The position of announcer had successfully gone to Xie Yunshu.

—

With the major matter settled, Yunshu was radiant with joy.

She hugged her best friend and jumped up and down happily, while the three male educated youths grinned with unabashed delight. What could they do? They were young and spirited, after all. They were steady in their conduct, but not so solemn that they could never let themselves get excited.

None of them noticed the many older women below the stage watching them with shining eyes. But when one thought about it, it made perfect sense. Educated youths marrying people from the places where they had been assigned was perfectly ordinary, and Yunshu and the others were all in the prime of youth.

The atmosphere in Fengsheng Brigade was good, and there was none of the coercion or scheming found elsewhere. That did not stop the older women from taking a liking to Yunshu and the others, however, and hoping to turn these fine young people into their own good daughters-in-law and sons-in-law.

Naturally, they could not resort to underhanded methods. Not only was the brigade captain watching, but after what had happened today, Yunshu and the others were certain to have made an impression on both the Educated Youth Office and the commune.

If anyone dared to harbor malicious intentions, the brigade captain and the commune would make sure they had no opportunity to act on them.

…

After Yunshu and the others finished celebrating, the people at the educated-youth settlement suggested holding a communal meal.

But to be honest, these gatherings were becoming too frequent. They were rather like the sort of social meals held among later generations, with each friend taking a turn at organizing one. Before long, they became a burden.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

Yunshu did not particularly want to eat with such a large group again. It was not that there was any conflict; it was simply that large gatherings inevitably created a sense of constraint.

Lin Jingshu and the others felt much the same. Chen Ming was quick on his feet. He immediately put an arm around Chen Hua’s shoulder and kept saying, “Next time, next time. The autumn harvest starts tomorrow, so everyone should get some rest. Once the busy season is over, we’ll have a proper feast!”

Who could afford to eat like this all the time? Even a landlord’s household had no surplus grain.

These meals were nominally celebrations, but in reality, each time Yunshu and the others had to contribute their own canned goods and meat to supplement the dishes. Once or twice was no problem, but after too many times, they began to feel the pinch.

After all, their revolutionary comradeship had not reached that depth. The five of them could eat together and help one another without feeling this way.

…

After Chen Ming turned him down, Chen Hua also began to see the situation more clearly. Indeed, because of the arrival of the new educated youths, they had been able to add an extra dish or eat something good almost every day. They had gradually grown accustomed to it—and even started taking it for granted.

The newcomers might not actually want them to help celebrate. After all, Lin, too, was learning to cook. Wouldn’t it be better for the five of them to eat together than for more than a dozen people to crowd around the same table?

Without realizing it, Chen Hua had already begun to exclude Yang Yue from the ranks of the new educated youths.

Some things did not need to be stated outright; leaving them unsaid allowed everyone to preserve their dignity. After hearing Chen Ming’s words, the older educated youths fell silent for a moment, but they soon returned to normal and began joking with Chen Ming, saying that once the autumn harvest was over, they would certainly have a proper feast.

Thanks to Chen Ming’s social skill, the atmosphere quickly returned to normal.

Yang Yue, pushed to one side, watched everyone’s reactions with cold eyes. When she caught sight of several older educated youths looking indignant as they whispered together with their backs turned toward Yunshu and the others, an unusual light began to flicker in her eyes.

Page 3 of 3