Chapter 22: The Heroine Receives an Exceptional Promotion

The May breeze carried the scent of wheat, swaying the wild grass along the field ridges. Su Yao crouched in the cabbage rows, pinching a yellow leaf riddled with wormholes, and said to the surrounding commune members, "This is caused by cabbage caterpillars. Just spray it with a mixture of wood ash and lime water; it kills the pests without harming the vegetables."

Erzhu, squatting nearby, took notes, his pencil scratching audibly against the paper: "Educated Youth Su, is this method really better than pesticides?"

"You'll know once you try," Su Yao replied, standing up with a ring of damp mud on her pant cuffs. "Aunt Wang's family used it on their eggplants last month, and the wormholes were reduced by half."

Widow Wang nodded from within the crowd: "That’s right! The eggplants grew so smooth that even the folks at the supply and marketing cooperative praised them."

Su Yao waved her hand with a smile and pulled a diagram of a pest-control net from her bamboo basket: "This is the blueprint. You make a frame out of bamboo strips and cover it with mesh to block most of the insects. Can the commune’s bamboo weaver make these?"

Widow Li leaned forward, her eyes bright: "My old man used to weave bamboo baskets; I'll tell him to give it a try!"

Suddenly, the ringing of a bicycle bell echoed from afar. Secretary Li came charging over, his bike swaying as the canvas bag on the back seat bounced high: "Educated Youth Su! Great news!"

Su Yao stood straight, wiping her hands on her trousers. Secretary Li hit the brakes and stopped at the ridge, gasping for air as he pulled out a kraft paper envelope. The red seal was strikingly vivid under the sunlight: "The city approved it! You’ve been promoted—Deputy Director of Scientific Research for the commune!"

The commune members erupted in excitement. Erzhu dropped his pencil, Widow Wang covered her mouth to hide her smile, and Widow Li grabbed Su Yao’s arm and shook it: "Educated Youth Su—no, Director Su! You’re truly amazing!"

Su Yao’s fingers trembled as she held the envelope. She tore it open to find the appointment letter with clear, bold characters: "Appointing Comrade Su Yao as Deputy Director of Scientific Research for the Red Flag Commune (Extraordinary Promotion)." The red stamps of the Municipal Agricultural Bureau and the Commune Party Committee at the bottom were still slightly damp.

"This..." Su Yao opened her mouth, her mind in a whirl. When she first wrote the "Ecological Planting Model" report, she only wanted to help the members reduce pest damage; she never imagined it would catch the city's eye, let alone lead to an official position.

"Why are you just standing there?" Secretary Li leaned his bike against the ridge, his eyes crinkling with a smile. "The youngest female cadre in the whole county! Our Red Flag Brigade finally has someone special!"

The members gathered to offer their congratulations, some talking about slaughtering a pig for wine, others suggesting they hire a theater troupe. Su Yao’s ears burned, and she quickly waved them off: "Don't go to any trouble. I’m still the same Su Yao; I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing."

"It’s not the same," Secretary Li patted her shoulder. "You’re a cadre now; you’ll need to wear the cadre’s uniform and cap."

The remark set everyone laughing. Lu Xingchen squeezed through the crowd, holding up a freshly picked tomato to shove into Su Yao’s hand: "Mom, eat this, it’s sweet."

Su Yao held the warm tomato, a sudden sting of emotion in her nose. From the days when she couldn't even grip a hoe properly after arriving in the countryside to now being exceptionally promoted by the city—the journey felt like an unreal dream.

Just as she was lost in thought, the sound of a motorcycle roared from the distance. A military-green figure emerged from the small path between the wheat fields, a trail of dust rising like a yellow tail behind the bike.

"It’s Comrade Lu!" someone shouted.

The motorcycle screeched to a halt at the ridge, the tires leaving deep furrows in the mud. Lu Zhanye hopped off, sweat beaded on his forehead beneath his military cap. He held up a red booklet and smiled at Su Yao through the crowd: "I’m back."

Su Yao’s heart skipped a beat. The cuffs of his military uniform were frayed, and his pant legs were covered in grass seeds, but the light in his eyes was stunningly bright.

Lu Zhanye pushed through the crowd to stand before her and pressed the red booklet into her hand. The cover was embossed with gold letters: "Merit Citation." Opening it, the words "Comrade Lu Zhanye has been awarded a Third-Class Merit" were particularly eye-catching.

"I just picked it up at the county office," he said, his voice slightly breathless, his palm still retaining the heat from the motorcycle engine. "I heard that you..."

"Look at this." Su Yao handed over the appointment letter. Her fingertips accidentally brushed the back of his hand, and she pulled back as if burned.

Lu Zhanye unfolded the letter, his gaze lingering on the words "Extraordinary Promotion." He looked up, his smile deepening: "Congratulations, Director Su."

"Don't tease me." Su Yao felt her face grow warm and stepped aside, watching as her three children chased butterflies through the wheat waves. Lu Shihan’s floral-print shirt flashed amidst the golden ears of wheat like a small fluttering butterfly; Lu Yuxuan held a glass bottle, tripped and landed on his bottom, then scrambled up to continue the chase; Lu Xingchen held onto his younger siblings, afraid they might wander off.

"Look at them." Su Yao pointed at the children, the corners of her mouth lifting.

Lu Zhanye followed her gaze. The wheat waves rose and fell in the wind, making the three tiny figures look incredibly vibrant. He reached out and gently brushed a stray piece of wheat chaff from her hair.

"Once I finish this stint, I’ll apply for a transfer," he said in a voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. "After that, we'll be together."

Su Yao’s heart missed a beat. Just as she was about to speak, Secretary Li ran over with a camera: "Come, Director Su, Comrade Lu, let’s take a photo! A double celebration!"

Lu Zhanye stood naturally by her side, his shoulder nearly touching her arm. Su Yao wore a patched blue cloth jacket, clutching her appointment letter; he stood in his crisp military uniform, the red booklet gleaming in the sun. Behind them, the wheat billowed, and the three children ran past chasing butterflies. With a "click" of the shutter, the moment was etched onto the film.

Back in the village at noon, the appointment letter was posted on the wall of the brigade headquarters, the red seal standing out sharply against the yellowed newspaper wallpaper. The commune members crowded the doorway to catch a glimpse, and people from neighboring communes even rode over on their bikes, pointing at the name and clicking their tongues in wonder.

"Did you hear? Director Su was just an educated youth, and she got promoted after only two years."

"She’s got real talent! Even the city leaders praised her ecological planting model!"

Su Yao hid in the inner room, listening to the chatter, her fingers tracing the gold lettering on Lu Zhanye’s merit citation. Widow Li brought in a bowl of steamed egg custard, steam rising from the rim: "Director Su, eat this to build up your strength. You look exhausted; you’ve got dark circles under your eyes."

"Just call me Su Yao," Su Yao said, taking the bowl, the aroma filling her nostrils. "Don't go through all this trouble; it’s too expensive."

"It’s not a waste," Widow Li said, sitting on the edge of the *kang* to stitch a shoe sole. "If it weren't for you, I don't know where I'd be suffering. What’s a few eggs? Once my old man weaves the pest net, yours will be the first family to use it on your vegetable patch."

As Su Yao ate, a warmth spread through her. Outside the window, the children’s laughter drifted in; Lu Shihan was likely pestering Lu Zhanye for a story, her milky voice floating through the paper-covered window.

In the afternoon, she went to the commune to report for duty, where Old Zhang from the office found her a cadre’s uniform. It was dark blue khaki with a red button at the collar, and it felt stiff and unfamiliar. Lu Zhanye helped her adjust the collar, and when his fingertips brushed her neck, she stiffened slightly.

"It fits well," he said, stepping back to look at her, his amusement unconcealed. "You look like the real deal."

Su Yao looked in the mirror. Her hair was cut to ear-length, and though she wore no makeup, she looked more spirited than usual. She turned around to see Lu Zhanye holding a military-green satchel: "For you, to carry your documents."

The satchel was printed with the words "Serve the People," and the edges were a bit worn, as if he had used it himself. Su Yao took it and slung it over her shoulder; the length was perfect.

The poplar trees in the commune courtyard were taller than those in the village, and the cicadas chirped incessantly. Su Yao’s office was on the second floor, with windows facing the playground. Just as she finished wiping down the filing cabinet, Secretary Li led in a young man in glasses: "Director Su, this is Xiao Zhang from the County Agricultural Bureau, here to assist you with the ecological planting pilot."

Xiao Zhang shook Su Yao’s hand, his glasses sliding to the tip of his nose: "Director Su, I’ve long heard of your name. Everyone in our bureau has a copy of your ecological planting report!"

Su Yao felt bashful at the praise and hurried to pour hot water: "Don't call me Director, just call me Su Yao. I’m just feeling my way across the river; I’ll need your guidance in the future."

The sound of a motorcycle came from outside the window. Su Yao leaned out to see Lu Zhanye riding toward the gate, his military-green figure striking in the sunlight. He seemed to sense her gaze and looked up; from far away, she thought she saw him smile.

In the days that followed, Su Yao was incredibly busy. By day, she processed documents at the commune and went to various brigades with Xiao Zhang to inspect the land; at night, she returned to the village to teach the members how to set up the pest nets in the cooperative’s vegetable garden.

Lu Zhanye hadn't returned to his unit yet and was helping the brigade's bamboo weaver improve the design of the nets. His hands were rough, and he constantly cut them on the bamboo strips. When Su Yao applied medicine for him at night, she felt a tightness in her chest at the sight of the wounds on his palms.

"Be careful," she said, her movements gentle as she dipped a cotton swab in iodine. "Don't be so reckless."

Lu Zhanye watched her lowered eyelashes and suddenly said, "Once the pilot succeeds, I’ll apply for a transfer and come back to help you."

Su Yao’s hand paused, a drop of iodine falling onto his wound, but he didn't pull away. She looked up and met his deep gaze, reflecting the light of the kerosene lamp like two dancing flames.

"You don't have to..."

"I want to," he interrupted, his voice low and firm. "I want to be with you and make this place better."

The glow of the lamp flickered on the wall, and Su Yao’s heart drummed in her chest. She lowered her head to continue bandaging, her fingertips trembling.

Half a month later, the first batch of pest nets was installed. The bamboo strips were bent into arches and covered with fine mesh, looking like transparent tents for the vegetable patches. Su Yao stood on the ridge, watching the members carefully transplant the seedlings, her smile unable to be contained.

Xiao Zhang snapped photos with his camera, muttering, "If this is promoted throughout the county, think of how much money we'll save on pesticides! Su Yao, you’ve rendered a great service!"

Just as Su Yao was about to respond, she saw Lu Zhanye arrive on his motorcycle, a large box tied to the back seat. He stopped at the ridge, unloaded it, and opened it to reveal brand-new sprayers.

"From the county agricultural machinery station, in support of the ecological planting pilot," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I just went to pick them up."

The members crowded around, beaming as they touched the sprayers. Erzhu hoisted one onto his back, humming a tune as he headed toward his garden: "This makes things so much easier! No more carrying heavy barrels all over the fields!"

By sunset, Lu Shihan came running over clutching a stalk of wheat, the grains so plump they looked ready to burst. She held it up to Su Yao, her little face smudged with chaff: "Mom, look! We can grind so much flour from this!"

Su Yao took the wheat, rubbing it gently. The plump grains fell into her palm, carrying the warmth of the sun. Just as she was about to speak, the sound of gongs and drums echoed from afar.

Secretary Li led the way with a red flag, followed by a procession playing music, carrying a banner that read: "Celebrating the Success of the Red Flag Brigade’s Ecological Planting Pilot." The members followed behind, holding freshly picked vegetables, their faces radiant.

"Director Su, the city leaders are coming to inspect tomorrow!" Secretary Li panted, breathless. "Get ready, and be prepared to tell the leaders about your experience!"

Su Yao felt a surge of nerves and pulled Lu Zhanye over to help: "Where did I put that report? I need to look it over again."

Lu Zhanye smiled and took her hand: "Don't panic, I’ve already organized it for you; it's in your desk drawer."

Back at the commune office, Su Yao retrieved the report from the drawer. It was marked with red ink highlighting the key points in strong, firm handwriting—Lu Zhanye’s script. A warm feeling flooded her heart, and she turned and bumped into his arms, where his hands held her waist steady.

"Thank you," Su Yao whispered, her voice like a mosquito’s hum.

Lu Zhanye didn't speak, but patted her back gently. Moonlight spilled in through the window, illuminating the report where the words "Ecological Planting Model" were clearly visible.

Early the next morning, the city leaders arrived. A car stopped at the brigade headquarters, and several officials in Zhongshan suits stepped out. They held Su Yao’s report, reading it carefully.

Su Yao led them to the vegetable patch, where the vegetables under the nets were lush and green, without a single wormhole. The leaders crouched in the dirt, plucked a leaf to chew on, and nodded repeatedly: "Excellent! To grow such fine vegetables without pesticides is truly worth promoting!"

The accompanying reporter snapped photos. In the lens, Su Yao stood in her cadre uniform explaining the process, the sunlight casting a glow on her that made it impossible to look away.

As the inspection concluded, the city leader shook Su Yao’s hand: "Comrade Su, keep up the good work! I’ll nominate you for the year-end model worker award!"

Su Yao smiled and nodded, watching the car pull away. Lu Zhanye walked over and handed her a handkerchief: "Wipe your sweat."

Su Yao took the handkerchief; it smelled faintly of soap. As she wiped her face, she saw the three children rolling in the wheat waves. Lu Shihan’s floral shirt was dusted with gold, like a blooming sunflower.

"Lu Zhanye," Su Yao said suddenly, her voice trembling slightly. "Do you think we can really make this place better?"

Lu Zhanye looked at her, the light in his eyes brighter than the sun: "We definitely can."

He pulled the red booklet from his pocket and handed it to her. Su Yao took it; it was his application for transfer, signed with his name and a clear red thumbprint.

"I’ve already submitted it," he said, his voice soft but filled with unquestionable resolve. "From now on, I’ll work alongside you."

Tears suddenly fell from Su Yao’s eyes, splashing onto the red booklet and blurring the ink. She quickly wiped them away, but couldn't stop herself from laughing.

The wheat waves billowed in the wind like a golden ocean. The vegetables under the nets were a brilliant green, and the laughter of the commune members drifted far on the breeze. Su Yao looked at Lu Zhanye beside her and at the children playing in the distance, suddenly feeling that this was exactly the life she wanted.

The sunset painted the sky red, stretching their shadows long across the ridge. Su Yao leaned on Lu Zhanye’s shoulder, clutching his transfer application, her heart as steady as if she were holding a warm stone.

"What do you want to eat tonight?" she asked, looking up, her eyes brimming with a sweetness like melted honey.

"Anything you make," Lu Zhanye said, holding her hand, the warmth of his palm seeping through her skin. "As long as it's something you made."

In the distance, cooking smoke rose, mingling with the scent of wheat and dinner, drifting over the village. Su Yao knew the road ahead would be long and perhaps filled with storms and setbacks, but with this man beside her, with these lovely commune members, and with her three sensible children, she feared nothing.

Behind her stood the entire Red Flag Brigade, this land filled with hope, and a home that was becoming warmer every day.