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Before the spring breeze of 1993 reached Yuquanying, a sandstorm swept across the land.

Teacher Bai held Mai Miao's hand tightly, afraid that if she let go, the girl who had just turned eighteen would be swept away by the strong wind.

The bus struggled to move forward across the Gobi Desert, the windows rattling with sand grains like countless tiny bullets.

"Master, how much further?" Teacher Bai asked loudly.

The driver didn't even turn his head: "It's still early! This godforsaken place is easy to get in but hard to get out!"

Mai Miao pressed her face against the cold glass, trying hard to look outside.

“Look at the wheat seedlings!” Teacher Bai suddenly pointed into the distance.

Through the sand, several rows of low brick houses can be vaguely seen, with a mottled wooden sign in front of them that reads "Yuquanying Economic Development Zone Reception Office".

Next to the sign, a familiar figure was struggling to hold up a tarpaulin that had been blown over by the wind.

“Brother Defu!” Mai Miao blurted out.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, she grabbed her luggage and rushed out.

The strong wind immediately filled her mouth with sand, making her cough.

"Maimiao? Teacher Bai?" Ma Defu ran over in surprise and grabbed Mai Miao's arm. "Quick, come inside! A sandstorm is coming!"

The reception area was a makeshift building made of prefabricated panels, with more than a dozen people crammed inside, and the air was extremely stuffy.

Ma Defu poured a cup of hot water for Teacher Bai and Mai Miao, and a layer of fine sand quickly floated on the surface of the water.

"Defu, you've gotten darker and stronger." Teacher Bai looked at his former student.

I was pleased to find that the once frail agricultural school student now had dark skin and rough hands, but his eyes remained as clear as ever.

Ma Defu rubbed his hands sheepishly: "I'm always running around on construction sites, it's so hot from the sun."

He turned to the wheat seedlings, "What brings you here?"

“The county transferred my father to be the principal,” Mai Miao said softly, her eyes constantly glancing towards the door. “Is Debao… alright?”

Ma Defu laughed: "I'm doing great! I was working at the brick kiln when I heard you were coming, and I was so excited last night that I couldn't sleep."

Just then, a commotion arose outside.

Ma Defu's expression changed, and he grabbed the loudspeaker hanging on the wall and rushed out.

Teacher Bai and Mai Miao went outside to take a look, and were immediately stunned...

A long line of more than a dozen donkey carts and handcarts, laden with their belongings, stretched out as the newly arrived immigrants struggled to make their way through the fierce wind.

"Fellow villagers! Form a circle around the vehicles! People stay in the middle!" Ma Defu shouted hoarsely as he rushed into the sandstorm to help pull the vehicles.

Mai Miao tried to follow, but Teacher Bai grabbed her arm, saying, "Don't cause trouble! Go help the women and children!"

The next half hour was like a nightmare.

The sand cut their faces like knives, and people shouted slogans as they linked their carts together to form a temporary shelter.

Ma Defu's coat billowed like a sail in the wind, so he took it off and wrapped it around a crying baby.

The sandstorm reached its peak when the last vehicle was in place.

In the darkness, Mai Miao saw Ma Defu kneeling on the ground, protecting several elderly people with his body.

His white shirt fluttered in the strong wind, like an unyielding flag.

After the sandstorm passed, everyone was covered in dirt.

Ma Defu shook off the yellow sand covering his head and, while counting the number of people, discovered that five households were missing.

“We can’t get them back.” He said to Teacher Bai with a wry smile, “Every time after a sandstorm, people run back to their hometowns. They would rather go back and starve than eat sand here.”

Teacher Bai watched the departing figures and sighed, "They're so attached to their homeland..."

The remaining immigrants followed Ma Defu toward Jintan Village.

On the way, Mai Miao quietly asked, "Brother Defu, can things really get better here?"

Ma Defu pointed to a few tenacious saplings in the distance: "Look, those were planted last year. As long as they live for three years, they will take root."

He paused, then added, "People are the same."

As the sun began to set, they finally saw Jintan Village...

Dozens of brick and tile houses were scattered regularly in the desert, which suddenly gave these new immigrants a sense of security.

At the village entrance, several young people were eagerly waiting.

"Wheat seedlings!" A tall, thin figure came running.

Mai Miao's heart skipped a beat.

Three years later, Ma Debao had grown much taller, his shoulders were broader, and his face still had the rosy glow typical of brick kilns.

He clutched a package of oiled paper tightly in his hand and handed it over like a precious treasure: "Here, I bought it in the county."

Inside the oil paper package were two fried pancakes, which were already a bit cold, but Mai Miao took a bite and found them to be more delicious than anything else.

She noticed that Debao's fingers were covered in calluses and scars, and her nose suddenly stung with tears.

“What are you standing there for? Let’s go home!” Ma Debao naturally took her luggage, and the two walked side by side toward the village.

The setting sun cast long shadows of them, which eventually merged into one.

……

Inside the village branch office, Ma Hanshui and Li Dayou were arguing heatedly.

"There's not enough water in the irrigation ditch! My wheat is almost dying of drought!" Li Dayou slammed his fist on the table.

Ma Hanshui retorted, "So what if your family is in a hurry? There are fifty-nine households in the whole village, and every single one of them relies on that little bit of water to survive."

“Fifty-nine households…” Li Dayou suddenly sneered, “One household short of getting electricity, what are you doing as the acting director?”

This statement hit a nerve with Ma Haoshui.

Sixty households need to be connected to the power grid; that's an ironclad rule.

To make up the numbers, he even set up a separate household for his young son, Ga Wa, but he was still one household short.

"What's all the noise about!" Ma Defu pushed the door open and came in. "Teacher Bai is here!"

Ma Hanshui immediately put on a smiling face and went to greet him: "Principal Bai! We've been waiting for you! The school has been waiting for you to take charge!"

Teacher Bai looked around: "Where is the school?"

Ma Hanshui's smile froze on his face: "This... we'll temporarily borrow the village committee's house..."

"Since houses have already been built for the villagers, why not build a school?"

"Hmph! It's all because of Su Ning! He got promoted to deputy director of the poverty alleviation office, and then left Defulai to clean up his mess."

"This……"

That evening, Ma Defu squatted on a large rock at the entrance of the village, smoking one cigarette after another.

In the distance, Zhang Shucheng's bicycle wobbled towards them, the briefcase hanging on the handlebars looking unusually heavy.

"How is it?" Ma Defu jumped off the rock.

Zhang Shucheng shook his head: "Director Chen is absolutely adamant about not agreeing. Sixty households, not a single one less."

He pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. "But I left my work ID there as collateral. I promised to gather the sixtieth household within three days."

Ma Defu smiled wryly: "Where are we going to find the money? We can't just include the sheep in the household..."

Just as they were worrying, a woman's cries suddenly came from afar: "Help! My Xiuer is delirious from a high fever!"

The two rushed over and saw Xiuer's mother kneeling in the courtyard, holding her five-year-old daughter.

The child's face was flushed and his breathing was rapid.

Zhang Shucheng touched his forehead and shook his head repeatedly: "No, he has to be taken to the county hospital!"

"Where did this car come from so late at night?" someone asked.

Ma Defu gritted his teeth: "I'll go borrow it!"

After saying that, he was about to run outside.

"Wait!" Teacher Bai stopped him. "Let's try a simple, old-fashioned method first."

He turned to Xiuer's mother, "Do you have any wine?"

After a flurry of activity, the child's high fever subsided temporarily.

Teacher Bai used alcohol to wipe the child's body, while Ma Defu squatted in the yard, staring blankly at a puddle of water on the ground...

That was spilled while wiping; in this arid land, water is more precious than oil.

"Thank you." Zhang Shucheng patted him on the shoulder. "I'll go to the power supply station and ask Director Chen for help again."

"I will go with you."

Under the moonlight, two figures walked one after the other towards the town.

As Ma Defu passed by the brick kiln, he saw his younger brother and Mai Miao sitting on a mound of earth, heads together, counting stars.

The sound of youthful laughter drifted over, warming his heart.

“Director Zhang,” Ma Defu suddenly said, “if we can never gather enough households (sixty households), will our village never have electricity?”

Zhang Shucheng did not answer immediately.

In the distance, a diesel generator sputtered, serving as the development zone management committee's only source of electricity.

“Rules are rigid, but people are flexible.” After a long silence, Zhang Shucheng finally spoke, “If all else fails… I have another idea.”

……

Ma Defu has been sitting under the sycamore tree in front of the substation for three days.

On the first day, he was still able to maintain a respectable demeanor as a cadre, occasionally straightening his wrinkled Zhongshan suit.

The next day, his lips began to crack, and he used an enamel mug to collect rainwater to drink.

On the third day, the rain stopped, and the whites of his eyes were covered with blood vessels, like a dense red net.

"Officer Ma, go back." Old Zhao, the gatekeeper, couldn't stand it anymore. "Director Chen really went to a meeting in the county."

Ma Defu shook his head, took out half a dry bread from his pocket, and chewed it mechanically.

The crumbs of bread fell to the ground and were immediately snatched up by several sparrows.

On the morning of the fourth day, the iron gate of the substation finally opened a crack.

Director Chen came out in his pajamas and nudged Ma Defu, who was curled up in the corner: "Come in."

The wall clock in the office pointed to 3:20.

Director Chen poured a cup of hot water and pushed it towards him: "Are you a donkey? So stubborn!"

Ma Defu held the cup in both hands, warmth spreading from his fingertips to his heart. He smiled, his chapped lips parting slightly: "Uncle Chen, just one more household is needed..."

"I know!" Director Chen paced back and forth irritably. "But rules are rules! If I make an exception for you today, other villages will come and cause trouble tomorrow. How am I supposed to do this job?"

Ma Defu pulled out a stack of crumpled papers from his pocket: "This is a joint letter from fifty-nine households, with their fingerprints on it."

The bottom sheet of paper was covered with names, some of which were written crookedly, clearly written by the villagers themselves.

Director Chen glanced at it, then suddenly stopped...

Director Chen wiped his face, picked up the phone: "Hello, Lao Liu? It's me... I'll sign off on the Jintan Village matter! I'll take responsibility!"

After hanging up the phone, he glared at Ma Defu with red eyes: "Satisfied? Get out!"

Ma Defu wanted to thank him, but Director Chen pushed him out the door.

The east was already turning a pale white, and the morning breeze carried the unique chill of the Gobi Desert.

He took a deep breath, then suddenly everything went black, and he collapsed on the steps.

In his dazed state, he heard Director Chen shouting angrily, "Infirmary! Quickly!"

When Ma Defu woke up again, he found himself lying on a wooden bed in the village clinic.

A cacophony of voices drifted in from outside the window, occasionally punctuated by cheers.

He tried to sit up, but was pushed back down by a pair of rough, large hands.

"Lie down!" Ma Hanshui said with a dark face. "Have you had enough of showing off?"

Ma Defu then noticed the dark circles under his father's eyes: "Dad, you've been here the whole time?"

“It’s been three days.” Ma Hanshui poured a bowl of herbal soup. “While you were unconscious for these three days, Director Chen brought people to install a transformer.”

He paused, then said, "The power is on."

Ma Defu suddenly sat up and rushed to the window despite feeling dizzy.

In the sunset over Jintan Village, the utility poles look like a row of newly planted poplars, stretching straight into the distance.

Several electricians were debugging a transformer, and villagers gathered around, their faces beaming with rare smiles.

“Li Dayou’s TV can now receive three channels.” Ma Hanshui stood behind his son, his tone complicated. “Last night, the whole village crowded into his house to watch ‘Aspiration’.”

Ma Defu grinned, but the movement caused his chapped lips to bleed.

Ma Hanshui sighed and took out a letter from his pocket: "This was sent by Director Zhang from the county."

The letter was written by Director Lin, who approved the temporary electricity application for Jintan Village, but requested that "the standard of sixty households be met as soon as possible."

Enclosed is a list...

The county is about to organize labor export, with the first batch of 20 places allocated to Jintan Village.

"Labor export?" Ma Defu frowned.

“Going to work in Fujian,” Ma Hanshui explained. “Director Zhang got it done, saying it was part of the Fujian-Ningxia cooperation program.”

Ma Defu seemed to be deep in thought.

He thought of his younger brother, Debao, and the idle young people in the village.

Perhaps, this is a new path?
……

An argument is taking place at the water supply station.

Li Dayou was seen grabbing the plumber by the collar and yelling, "Yesterday it was 50 cents a cubic meter, and today it's 80 cents? Are you sucking people's blood?!"

The water manager retorted, "Yellow River water is rationed! Take it or leave it!"

Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Ma Hanshui rushed forward and separated the two: "What are you doing! On such a good day for electrification, do you have to see blood?"

"Director Ma!" Li Dayou said, his eyes red. "You be the judge! The wheat seedlings have just sprouted ears and the price has already gone up. Isn't this suicidal?"

Seeing his father's dilemma, Ma Defu suddenly made a decision.

He quietly went to the water supply station office, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed the number he hadn't contacted in a long time.

"Hello, is this the poverty alleviation office? I'm looking for Su Ning."

Half an hour later, a jeep drove into Jintan Village, kicking up dust.

The car door opened, and first stepped out a pair of shiny leather shoes, followed by crisp dress trousers.

The villagers gradually quieted down, looking at this young man who seemed out of place on the yellow earth.

"Suning?" Ma Defu called out uncertainly.

Three years have passed, and Suning has undergone astonishing changes.

He took off his sunglasses, revealing a familiar smile: "Defu, long time no see."

The moment the two shook hands, Ma Defu felt the calluses on the other's palm...

This well-dressed deputy director of the poverty alleviation office did not live a life of luxury.

"I heard you're short of water and electricity?" Suning went straight to the point.

"The electricity problem has been solved! But the water station is unwilling to supply water."

"Shuihua Catering can provide a sum of money to settle your outstanding debts from previous years."

These words were like a bomb, causing a huge uproar among the crowd.

Li Dayou was the first to jump out: "What are your conditions?"

Su Ning smiled and said, "It's a way of giving back to my hometown."

He turned to Ma Defu, “But there is a condition – the village must organize a labor team to work at our food factory in Yinchuan.”

Before Ma Defu could answer, Ma Hanshui sneered, "Hmph! A weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken. When did you, Young Master Su, become so kind?"

“Dad!” Ma Defu tugged at his father’s sleeve.

Su Ning was not offended: "Uncle Shui, do you still remember the great drought of 1979? The whole village took turns guarding a well, and each family was only given half a bucket of water a day."

Ma Hanshui was stunned.

The drought that lasted for eight months was a shared pain for the people of Yongquan Village.

“I remember you gave my father a thorough dressing-down, saying his brick kiln was wasting water,” Su Ning continued. “But you don’t know, that well was dug with the money he made from selling bricks.”

Ma Hanshui's expression changed.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, and turned to walk towards the outer edge of the crowd.

At the village meeting that evening, Suning used a projector to showcase Shuihua Catering's poverty alleviation plan: deep well project, photovoltaic power station, labor export...

Each item comes with detailed drawings and data.

The villagers were stunned. They had never imagined that the problems that had plagued them for years could be solved one by one in this way.

"The food factory provides room and board, with a monthly salary of 120 yuan, and skilled workers can earn up to 200 yuan." Su Ning's words caused a stir. "Those who are willing to go, please register at the village committee tomorrow."

After the meeting, Ma Defu escorted Su Ning to the village entrance.

The moonlight was like water as the two former rivals walked side by side, their shadows stretching long on the ground.

"Why are you helping us?" Ma Defu finally asked the question that had been bothering him.

Suning stopped in his tracks: "I am also a member of Yongquan Village."

Ma Defu was taken aback.

My mind involuntarily drifts back to the summer of 1989, when a dozen or so passionate young people swore an oath under the national flag during graduation season: "To take root in the countryside and serve the farmers..."

“Ma Defu, I also want to help Xihai Gu in its fight against poverty,” Su Ning said softly, “it’s just a different way of doing it.”

After the jeep drove away, Ma Defu sat on a large rock at the entrance of the village for a long time.

In the distance, electric lights shone for the first time in Jintan Village, like a spark suddenly blooming in the desert.

Meanwhile, in the school dormitory, Mai Miao was staring blankly at a brand-new desk lamp.

The lamp was bought by Ma Debao with her first month's salary, and it was illuminating the two documents in her hands—a recruitment letter from a garment factory in Fujian and a recruitment brochure from Shuihua Catering.

"Have you thought it through?" Teacher Bai pushed open the door and came in, carrying two bowls of noodles.

Mai Miao bit her lip: "Dad, I..."

“Whatever you choose, Dad will support you.” Teacher Bai put the noodles on the table. “It’s really great to get into Shuihua Food Factory, but the outside world… is also really exciting.”

The wheat seedlings looked out the window.

Under the moonlight, Ma Debao was practicing radio calisthenics on the playground...

That was his preparation for passing the medical examination at the food factory; his movements were clumsy yet earnest.

The next morning, Ma Defu was awakened by a commotion.

He rubbed his eyes as he walked out of the village committee and saw Li Dayou leading several villagers gathered in front of the bulletin board.

"What happened?" he asked, squeezing through the crowd.

Li Dayou pointed to the newly posted notice and stammered, "This, this..."

Two documents were posted on the bulletin board: one was a list of labor export workers from the county, with twenty young people, including Ma Debao, Shui Wang, and Ga Wa, prominently listed; the other was a recruitment notice from Shuihua Catering, specifically for women, with Mai Miao's name listed first.

Ma Defu was surprised when he heard familiar footsteps behind him.

He turned around and saw his father walking towards him with his luggage.

"Father? What's wrong with you...?"

"Debao really should go out and see the world."

Ma Defu felt a lump in his throat.

My father is fifty-three this year, and his back is still bad, so naturally he can't bear to let Debao go out to work...

"Why are you crying?" Ma Hanshui patted his son's shoulder. "It's a great thing that your brother can go out and see the world."

As the sun fully rose, Jintan Village ushered in a historic moment—they finally got electricity.

As the power was switched on, the lights in the village committee office came on, followed by the lights in the school, the clinic, and every household...

Ma Defu stood beside the transformer, watching the cheering crowd, when suddenly everything went black.

The fatigue that had accumulated over the days surged up like a tide, and he slowly slid down to the ground, leaning against a cement pole, still clutching the unfinished "Three-Year Development Plan for Jintan Village" in his hand.

In the last moments before he fell into a deep sleep, he seemed to see rows of saplings sprouting and growing on the distant mountain ridge.

Further away, a train is setting off, carrying younger brother Debao and the young people of the village, heading towards an unknown future.

In 1993, the winds of Yuquanying still carried sand, but some people had already begun to plant seeds of hope.

...(End of chapter)