Chapter 19: Doubling the Yield per Acre, Front-Page News
The spring breeze carried the scent of earth, and the bean trellises in the vegetable garden rustled softly. Su Yao carried a bucket, watering the roots of the seedlings with the spring water. The moment her fingertips touched the water’s surface, she sensed something different—the water mixed with the new fertilizer was exceptionally clear. Soon after watering, the wilted cucumber seedlings straightened up, their tender yellow tips heavy with dew, looking vibrant and lively.
“Mom, look at these tomatoes!” Lu Yuxuan ran over, holding a bright red fruit, juice dripping through his fingers. “They’re much sweeter than the last ones we picked!”
Su Yao wiped the red juice from his mouth and bit into one herself. The fresh sweetness burst on her tongue, even fresher than canned goods from the city’s supply store. She knew well that the spring water mixed with the new fertilizer was working better than expected.
Recently, the cooperative’s vegetable fields seemed enchanted. The eggplants had grown larger than fists, green peppers bent the branches with their weight, and even the most delicate lettuce was lush and green, dripping with moisture at a pinch. Erzhu squatted in the furrow, counting cucumbers, and laughed aloud, “Comrade Su, this harvest alone can match the output of three previous ones!”
Su Yao remained silent, her mind calculating. The ten tons of fertilizer they had received last time were nearly gone, and the spring water had to be rationed. If they could stabilize this yield, every household could afford a new cotton-padded jacket by year’s end.
Just then, Secretary Li arrived on his bicycle, a canvas bag hanging from the handlebars, shouting from afar, “Comrade Su, good news! Reporters from the county newspaper are here for an interview!”
Su Yao stepped forward, and a bespectacled young man emerged from the bag, clutching a notepad. Seeing her, he smiled, “Comrade Su Yao, right? I’m Xiao Lin from the county newspaper. I heard your cooperative’s vegetable yield has tripled per mu, so I came to see for myself.”
Xiao Lin followed Su Yao into the garden; his glasses quickly fogged up. Crouching by the tomato trellis, he measured the fruit with a ruler, parted leaves to count the clusters, and clicked his tongue in amazement. “It’s truly a miracle! When I came last year, this land barely provided for your own needs.”
“All thanks to the hard work of our members,” Su Yao said with a smile, directing Lu Xingchen to pack the freshly picked vegetables into baskets. “Here, these were picked this morning—still fresh.”
Xiao Lin took out his camera, snapping photos of the baskets full of vegetables, then asked Su Yao to pose in front of the bean trellis. She wore a blue cloth jacket, holding a large eggplant, smiling shyly as sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a dazzling glow.
The interview lasted all afternoon. Xiao Lin asked detailed questions, from sowing times to fertilization methods, nearly letting slip about the spring water. Su Yao laughed it off, merely saying they had improved their planting techniques and used new fertilizer.
As he left, Xiao Lin shook Su Yao’s hand, saying, “You’ll definitely be on the front page in tomorrow’s paper!”
Early the next morning, Lu Xingchen burst into the garden, clutching the newspaper, its corner crumpled. “Mom! Look! It’s you!”
Su Yao took the paper. The front page headline in bold black characters read: “Educated Youth Su Yao Leads Red Flag Brigade to Create a Miracle.” Below was a photo of her holding an eggplant, her smile radiant. The article detailed her journey from going to the countryside to founding the cooperative, even mentioning Lu Yuxuan’s invention of a shelling tool.
The members gathered, passing the paper around quickly until its edges curled. Widow Wang touched Su Yao’s photo, grinning widely. “Our village’s famous person!”
Su Yao folded the paper, wanting to send it to Lu Zhanye but feeling shy. While hesitating, Secretary Li returned with more copies. “The commune distributed several copies to each brigade. Comrade Su, you’ve really made the Red Flag Brigade proud!”
Su Yao took an extra copy, carefully folded it into an envelope, and wrote a letter explaining the yield details. She mentioned the reporter’s visit, how Lu Xingchen and Lu Yuxuan helped pass tools, while Lu Shihan, shy, hid behind the bean trellis watching.
The next day, a group of unfamiliar faces arrived in the garden—cadres from nearby communes visiting with Secretary Li. Su Yao set up a simple platform in the field to share planting experiences. During her talk, she noticed a familiar figure in the audience—Widow Li, diligently taking notes, her hair neatly combed, no longer wearing a worried expression.
A few days later, Su Yao received a package from the military. Expecting a letter from Lu Zhanye, she opened it to find a hand-knitted navy blue sweater. The stitching was a little uneven, clearly handmade.
Just then, Widow Li blushed and walked over. “Comrade Su, I knitted that for you. I saw you working hard in the fields and worried you’d catch cold.”
Su Yao felt warmth in her heart, holding the sweater up—it fit perfectly. Taking Widow Li’s hand, she said, “Thank you. Just in time for the cold weather.”
Widow Li smiled shyly. “The paper calls you a hero, but I have little to repay you…”
Su Yao said nothing more, but inside she felt filled with something. Being cared for by others was such a comforting thing.
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While Su Yao busied herself in the autumn harvest wearing the new sweater, Lu Zhanye crawled across the training ground with his comrades. Barbed wire tore the sleeve of his uniform; his elbow scraped and bled, but he moved swiftly as if he felt nothing.
“Lu Zhanye, fall out!” The company commander’s voice echoed.
Lu Zhanye stood, saluted, sweat dripping from his brow onto the ground, kicking up dust.
The commander handed him an envelope. “Your letter just arrived from the correspondent.”
Lu Zhanye took it, feeling a strange tightening in his chest when he saw it was from the Red Flag Brigade. Opening it, a newspaper slipped out—the front page’s headline and photo dazzled his eyes.
The photo showed Su Yao standing in the garden, her eyes curved in a bright smile, holding a large eggplant. She looked a bit plumper and healthier than when they last met. His fingers traced the photo gently, as if touching the sunlight on her face.
“What are you looking at? Your face is red.” The commander patted his shoulder, peeking at the paper. “Oh, that’s the educated youth you mentioned? She’s on the newspaper—impressive!”
Lu Zhanye carefully folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket, feeling the edges press against his chest but not hurting. He whispered, “She’s always been capable.”
After training, Lu Zhanye hid in the barracks reading the paper three times before setting it down. He recalled Su Yao’s letter saying the children were well, Widow Li could support herself, and the cooperative’s vegetables piled high like mountains.
He touched the paper in his pocket, suddenly eager for leave. He wondered if she had received the photos he sent, if the children liked them, and if Su Yao’s hands would freeze again when winter came.
Just then, his comrade Lao Ma leaned in, “Zhanye, next month’s home leave—won’t you go home?”
Lu Zhanye shook his head. “No, I’m going to the Red Flag Brigade.”
Lao Ma grinned knowingly, “Saw the paper, huh? Planning to visit that Comrade Su?”
Lu Zhanye didn’t answer, but his ears reddened. From under his pillow, he pulled out a tin box filled with a few pieces of candy he saved from duty. He had meant to send them to the children but now wanted to give them in person.
“What should I bring as gifts?” Lu Zhanye asked Lao Ma.
Lao Ma thought a moment. “Bring some city snacks for the kids, and for the lady, a piece of patterned cloth is always a safe bet.”
Lu Zhanye nodded, put the tin away, and began planning. The cloth should be in a color Su Yao liked—she always wore blue jackets; would red suit her? He needed to buy more snacks—Lu Shihan liked milk candy, Lu Yuxuan preferred biscuits, and Lu Xingchen was sensible; maybe a pen for him.
As he planned, night fell. Lying in bed, clutching the newspaper to his chest, listening to the night watch whistle, time had never felt so slow.
He recalled that snowy night when he gave Su Yao the army coat, how her eyes shone brighter than stars. He remembered Lu Shihan pulling his hand to dance, Lu Yuxuan showing him the sheller, and Lu Xingchen secretly slipping him a roasted sweet potato.
These images played like a film in his mind. Lu Zhanye couldn’t help but smile; in the dark, his eyes shone brightly.
A few days later, Su Yao received Lu Zhanye’s reply. His handwriting was still strong but the words simple: “Received the paper, very good. Will arrive on time next month.”
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Su Yao held those few words, feeling her heart race like a little rabbit. She handed the letter to Lu Shihan, who couldn’t read, and the girl ran to Widow Li waving the paper. “Aunt Li, look! It’s Uncle Lu’s letter!”
Widow Li smiled as she read it aloud, then said, “Your Uncle Lu is coming back. Aren’t you happy?”
“Happy!” The children cheered, running out into the garden, chasing and laughing, their joy echoing far.
Su Yao watched them and glanced at the newspaper again. Suddenly, all the hard work over the past half-year felt worthwhile. From her initial clumsy arrival to now leading the entire village to prosperity, she felt she had truly taken root in this land.
The autumn wind flipped the corner of the paper, revealing her smiling face. Su Yao touched her cheek, feeling a flush. She wondered what expression Lu Zhanye would have seeing this photo.
Turning to head home, she planned to make new clothes for the children and tidy the house. When Lu Zhanye returned, she wanted him to see how well the Red Flag Brigade was doing, how warm their home now was.
Passing the cooperative’s warehouse, she saw Widow Li sewing burlap sacks, the sewing machine humming quickly as she hummed a tune. Nearby, freshly picked vegetables piled green and lively.
“Aunt Li, busy?” Su Yao greeted with a smile.
“Comrade Su,” Widow Li looked up, smiling. “With the vegetable harvest so plentiful, gotta sew sacks to pack them.”
Su Yao walked over, examining a sack. The stitches were fine and tight, better than store-bought. “Your skills keep improving.”
Widow Li blushed. “All thanks to your teaching. By the way, I saved enough to buy a sewing machine. When Comrade Lu comes back, I’ll make him a new shirt.”
“That’s wonderful,” Su Yao said. “His sleeves are all worn through.”
As they talked, the sun slowly set, stretching long shadows across the garden. Su Yao gazed over the lush crops, her heart full of hope.
She knew better days lay ahead. When Lu Zhanye returned, they would expand the cooperative even more, making the Red Flag Brigade’s name known far beyond the county newspaper’s headlines.
That night, Su Yao sat by the lamp writing back to Lu Zhanye. She mentioned the children’s new clothes nearing completion, the cooperative receiving another batch of fertilizer, and Widow Li’s sewing machine purchase.
At the end, after much hesitation, she wrote: “We’re all waiting for you.”
Setting down her pen, Su Yao looked out at the moon, which seemed especially gentle tonight. She imagined Lu Zhanye reading her letter, touching the photo in the newspaper, and smiling softly.
Late into the night, she sealed the letter, affixed the stamp, and left it on the table for mailing first thing in the morning, eager for him to receive it soon.
Lying in bed, she pictured the day Lu Zhanye would return—perhaps bringing many treats for the children, wearing the new shirt Widow Li made, standing at the door with a smile, saying, “I’m home.”
No matter what, he was coming back. That thought warmed Su Yao’s heart, and even the wind outside seemed to soften into a tender melody.