Chapter 11: The Research Station Appointment Letter: A Monthly Salary of 58 Yuan

The corn stalks from the autumn harvest were piled into small mounds in the drying yard, and Su Yao was helping the villagers peel the corn husks with her children. Secretary Li hurried over, his pants legs muddy from stepping in the dew. “Comrade Su, people from the county research station have arrived! They’re recruiting technicians at the brigade office!”

“Technicians?” Su Yao wiped the corn silk from her palm. “What for?”

“To improve farming tools, make planting easier,” Secretary Li pulled her toward the brigade office. “Anyone with a good proposal will be hired immediately, with a monthly salary of 58 yuan, plus paid training!”

Fifty-eight yuan? The surrounding villagers stopped working in surprise. At a time when factory workers only earned thirty to forty yuan a month, this offer was like a windfall from the heavens.

Lu Xingchen clutched Su Yao’s clothes. “Mom, will you go?”

“I’ll go take a look,” she said, patting his head, though she felt uncertain. Despite her modern knowledge, she was unfamiliar with improving farming tools in the 1970s and could only rely on vague impressions to try.

The brigade office was crowded. Three officials wearing glasses sat behind a long table. The lead, an elderly professor, adjusted his glasses when Su Yao entered. “You must be Su Yao? I heard your improved vegetable seedlings are quite good.”

“Just tinkering,” Su Yao said as she sat down. The test was laid out before her: design a farming tool improvement plan that could increase efficiency.

Around her, people began drawing—some sketched sickles, others redesigned hoes. Su Yao stared at the paper, suddenly recalling Widow Wang saying the hoe was imprecise—sometimes digging too deep, sometimes too shallow, wasting effort.

A scale! She grabbed her pencil and began to draw quickly. She marked centimeter scales on the hoe handle to adjust depth, added a small shovel on the back to loosen soil. She also sketched a labor-saving rice transplanter, with sliding tracks at the base to control plant spacing and spring-loaded handles to reduce effort.

“What’s that?” Er Zhuzi peered over. “A hoe with markings?”

“To keep digging depth consistent,” Su Yao said, focusing on refining her drawing.

When it was time to submit, the old professor first frowned, then relaxed. A young assistant leaned in, “Professor Zhang, the idea is fresh, but we don’t know if it works yet.”

“Try it and see,” Professor Zhang pounded the table. “Su Yao, come with us to the warehouse to make a prototype.”

The villagers followed, curious. The warehouse was piled with scrap iron and wood. Professor Zhang had someone fetch a chainsaw and hammer. Su Yao rolled up her sleeves, measured dimensions, and directed two villagers to cut wood. “Leave a ten-centimeter groove to fix the hoe.”

Er Zhuzi scoffed, squatting by the wall. “A woman messing about—how could it be better than the ancestors’ tools?”

Widow Wang retorted, “Su Yao’s clothes are sturdier than city-made ones. Why can’t she improve a hoe?”

Su Yao ignored him, concentrating on marking the handle. When the pencil lines blurred, she used a nail to etch them, not noticing the blood welling on her fingertip.

Two hours later, the hoe with scales and the transplanter were finished. Professor Zhang struck the ground several times with the hoe, his eyes lighting up. “Hey, it really works! Depth stays steady, and the small shovel saves effort!”

The assistant tested the transplanter in the mud; the spacing was even, and the seedlings planted firmly without bending over.

“Excellent!” Professor Zhang set down the hoe. “Su Yao, you’re hired! Fifty-eight yuan a month. Report to the county office next Monday for a month of paid training!”

Cheers erupted around them. Widow Wang grabbed Su Yao’s hand, shaking it excitedly. “I told you, you could do it!”

Su Yao looked at the hoe, the blood on her palm smudging the wood like a small red flower. Her nose prickled with emotion; all the hardships suddenly seemed worthwhile.

The news spread throughout the village. Some envied her; others were jealous. Er Zhuzi squatted by the wall, smoking. “A girl dabbling in science? It’s nonsense. She’ll be kicked out soon enough.”

When Su Yao heard this, she was making shoes for her children. Lu Shihan lay beside her, watching. “Mom, why are they talking about you?”

“They’ve never seen what I make,” Su Yao said, holding up the shoe sole. “Once I make better farming tools, they won’t say anything.”

Lu Xingchen rested his chin on his knees. “Mom, will you come back from the county town?”

“Of course,” Su Yao hugged him. “I’m going to learn, then come back to teach everyone, so farming is easier.”

That night Su Yao couldn’t sleep. She activated the system panel: [Agricultural tool improvement completed. Rewards: Metalworking manual, Simple measuring instrument.] The manual detailed metal properties and processing methods; the measuring instrument could measure length and angles more easily than a ruler. Holding the device, her heart felt steadier.

Early the next morning, Su Yao went to the sewing cooperative to assign work, asking Widow Wang to manage orders temporarily. The women were happy for her. Zhang Grandma’s daughter-in-law handed her a cloth bag. “Freshly baked pancakes for the road.”

After leaving the sewing cooperative, Su Yao planned to greet Secretary Zhao at the commune office. At the crossroads, she saw Lu Zhanye standing beneath the old locust tree, holding a book.

“Commander Lu,” Su Yao approached. “Thank you for the pen yesterday.”

“You’re welcome.” He handed her Principles of Agricultural Machinery, its cover worn. “I heard you were hired. This book might help.”

Su Yao flipped it open. The front page bore the inscription “Practice is the sole criterion of truth,” the handwriting strong and resolute, like him.

“It’s too precious…”

“It’s a gift.” Lu Zhanye noticed the cloth bag in her hand. “Are you reporting to the county?”

“Yes, next Monday.”

“I’ll be in the county for a meeting that day. I’ll pick you up. Bring the children if they want.”

Watching his departing figure, the book in her hands warmed. Looking down at the inscription, her heart was gently struck.

---

Monday morning, Su Yao woke her children. Lu Shihan wore a red cotton jacket like a little lantern; Lu Xingchen carried a cloth bundle with pancakes.

As the gate opened, Lu Zhanye’s jeep was parked by the roadside. Dressed in military uniform, he smoked beside the vehicle, the morning light outlining his upright figure.

“Uncle Lu!” Lu Shihan ran over, pointing at the tire. “So big!”

Lu Zhanye stubbed out his cigarette and opened the door. “Get in. The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll be back.”

Inside, the car was clean with a faint smell of diesel. The children, riding in a car for the first time, pressed against the window, watching trees blur past. Su Yao sat in the passenger seat, clutching Principles of Agricultural Machinery.

“Nervous?” Lu Zhanye asked.

“A little. Afraid I won’t learn well,” Su Yao smiled.

“You can draw.” He kept his eyes on the road. “Your hoe design was professional.”

Su Yao’s cheeks flushed. “Just guessing.”

“Practice is the sole criterion of truth,” he repeated the book’s motto. “Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Don’t try to be tough.”

The car entered the county town, where pedestrians strolled the streets. Bicycle bells jingled and vendors shouted for soy milk, sounds drifting through the open windows. The children leaned out, pointing at tall buildings in awe.

The research station was on the outskirts, a two-story red brick building. A sign read “County Agricultural Science Research Institute.” Several people in white lab coats entered.

Lu Zhanye parked. “I’ll pick you up at three.”

“No need…”

“Done,” he cut her off and helped the children out.

Professor Zhang waited at the door, greeting her warmly. “Su Yao, welcome! Let me introduce you to the team.”

As Su Yao entered, she glanced back to see Lu Zhanye still by the car, nodding at her. Her heart warmed; she felt less anxious.

The training room held a dozen people, mostly men, who looked surprised to see a woman. Someone muttered in the back, “There’s a girl here?”

Su Yao pretended not to hear and sat down. On the desk lay notebooks and pens issued by the research station. Touching the pen reminded her of the one Lu Zhanye had given her, making her feel grounded.

The first day covered the history of agricultural machinery development. Professor Zhang spoke vividly, and Su Yao filled her notebook. At noon in the cafeteria, she bought three meat buns for the children and ate the pancake she’d brought.

“Why no vegetables?” Professor Zhang brought her a tray. “The cafeteria subsidizes meals. Don’t skimp.”

“Not hungry,” Su Yao mumbled, stuffing more pancake into her mouth, hoping he wouldn’t notice she hadn’t bought any vegetables.

He pushed half the stir-fried greens toward her. “Eat more. This afternoon we’ll practice in the workshop. It’s physical work.”

That afternoon, examining farming tools, a male technician deliberately pushed heavy parts toward her. “Comrade Su, help move this?”

Su Yao reached out, but someone else said, “I’ll do it.”

A young woman with glasses easily lifted the parts onto the workbench. “I’m Lin Mei, in charge of tool drawings.”

“Thank you. I’m Su Yao.”

“Professor Zhang praised your hoe design yesterday. He said it was innovative.” Lin Mei leaned closer. “Ignore them—they’re just jealous you’re valued.”

Su Yao felt warmth. Not everyone was like Er Zhuzi.

During practice, Lin Mei taught her to identify parts and explained mechanical principles. Su Yao learned quickly, surprising Lin Mei.

“Have you studied this before?”

“I read some books,” Su Yao said, pointing to Principles of Agricultural Machinery. “This book helped a lot.”

Lin Mei flipped through a few pages. “That book’s rare. Where did you get it?”

“Someone gave it to me.” Su Yao thought of Lu Zhanye, smiling softly.

---

At exactly three, Su Yao left the research station with her children. Lu Zhanye’s car was waiting. The children ran like little birds. Lu Shihan held up a paper airplane. “Uncle, look!”

“Very good.” Lu Zhanye took it, adjusting the wings. “Fold the wings at a sharper angle; it’ll fly farther.”

He crouched to help, sunlight catching his hair, casting shadows from his eyelashes, his usually stern face softened.

Su Yao watched beside him, feeling as warm as a sun-dried quilt.

On the return trip, the children fell asleep in the backseat, smiling in their dreams. Lu Zhanye slowed the car. Su Yao whispered, “Thank you for today.”

“You’re welcome.” He handed her a bottle of water. “Training going well?”

“Pretty good. I made a new friend, Lin Mei. She said my design has potential.”

“You did have potential.” He kept his eyes forward. “Don’t mind what others say.”

Looking out at the fields, Su Yao suddenly felt the 1970s sky wasn’t so bleak. With children by her side, villagers’ support, and this silent, reliable man before her, no road was too hard to travel.

They arrived home after dark. Lu Zhanye carried the sleeping children inside. Su Yao urged him to eat, but he shook his head. “Got other things to do.”

Watching the jeep disappear into the night, Su Yao held Lu Shihan and touched the appointment letter in her pocket. The gold lettering gleamed in the moonlight.

---

The next morning, news of Su Yao’s training spread. Er Zhuzi lowered his head when he saw her. Secretary Li came to find her. “If you bring back these techniques, our village’s harvest will surely double!”

“I’ll do my best.” Su Yao put Principles of Agricultural Machinery into her cloth bag. “First, I want to improve the team’s seeder.”

Widow Wang leaned in. “Don’t worry about the sewing cooperative. Yesterday we got an order from the commune hospital for twenty white coats.”

“That’s wonderful,” Su Yao smiled. “When I come back, I’ll make new work clothes—both attractive and practical.”

The women laughed, and the courtyard felt warmer under the sun.

---

Su Yao traveled to the county for training every Monday, returning Fridays. She recorded what she learned in notebooks and shared the benefits of improved farming tools whenever she could. Lu Zhanye often went to the county and always gave her a ride, sometimes bringing agricultural books, sometimes city candies.

As training neared its end, Professor Zhang assigned her a task: design a small seeder suitable for mountainous areas. “If successful, it can be promoted throughout the county.”

Su Yao held the task sheet, nervous yet excited. This was a chance to prove herself.

At home, after putting the children to bed, she pulled out the system’s manual and measuring instrument, drawing diagrams under the lamp. Lu Xingchen rubbed his eyes and sat beside her. “Mom, aren’t you sleeping?”

“Mom’s drawing.” Su Yao held him on her lap. “Once it’s done, planting won’t be so hard.”

Lu Xingchen pointed at the gears on the paper. “Are these like on a bicycle?”

“Yes, inspired by bicycle mechanics.” Su Yao kissed his forehead. “You’re very smart.”

Moonlight shone on the paper as her pen scratched softly. She was sketching a beautiful future: children well-fed and warmly clothed, villagers no longer toiling, days brightening like sunflowers in the courtyard, growing more radiant with each passing day.

---

On the last day of training, Lu Zhanye came to pick her up. Su Yao carried a thick stack of design drawings, exhausted but exhilarated. “My seeder design passed preliminary review! Professor Zhang says it has promotion potential!”

Lu Zhanye flipped through the drawings, admiration in his eyes. “Well done.”

“Thanks to the book you gave me, and your rides back and forth.”

“No big deal.” He put the drawings back in her arms. “There’s a celebration at the commune tonight. Secretary Li asked me to bring you.”

“A celebration?”

“To celebrate your hiring and the bumper greenhouse vegetable harvest.” He opened the car door. “Where are the children?”

“Aunt Wang is watching them. She said to bring some candy back.”

The car drove along the country road as the sunset dyed the river and sky red. Su Yao gazed at the fields, her heart full of hope. Thinking back to her initial fears when coming to the countryside, the hardships from Su Wan, the villagers’ support, she suddenly felt the 1970s sky was not just less gloomy—it was filled with countless bright lights.

These lights were the children’s smiling faces, the villagers’ trust, the words on Lu Zhanye’s book’s front page, and the path she had taken step by step.