Chapter 29: The Reputation of Bravery (Part 1)

*Chapter 29: The Reputation of Bravery (Part 1)*

Stepping out of the mess hall, Hou Weidong felt a heavy lump in his chest. He carried his water bottle to the rockery in the backyard and sat down, silently sorting through his thoughts. The stars spun across the sky, mirroring the swirling doubts in his mind: “So, I’ve been exiled to the work team.”

“I came to Qinglin Town with a letter of introduction from the Personnel Bureau. I haven’t offended anyone. Why have I been sent to Shangqinglin?” Hou Weidong couldn’t make sense of it.

A sense of being mocked and abandoned began to take root in his heart. He sat there in silence for a while. The mountain mosquitoes were large and aggressive, buzzing through the night like heavy bombers.

“Was my initial choice wrong?”

He recalled his father’s frequent admonition: “A man must have the courage to take responsibility.” Hou Weidong tried to steel himself. “Perhaps this is a test. A man must have the courage to take responsibility.”

After sitting for a while longer, he gradually managed to untangle the knot of grievance in his heart.

A woman walked past in the backyard. She happened to glance at the flower bed and was startled to see Hou Weidong sitting there.

“Who’s there?” she asked.

Hou Weidong stood up. “I’m from the Qinglin Town township government. I just arrived on the mountain today.”

The woman let out a sigh of relief. “You must be Little Hou.”

“That’s me.”

The woman spoke gently. “We live on the same floor. We’ll be neighbors. Feel free to come over and sit sometime.”

“Wow, so you’re the owner of the garlic sprout stir-fried pork.” Hou Weidong had a particular fondness for the aroma of that dish. He replied politely, “I’ll definitely be troubling you often, Auntie.”

The woman had a bucket beside her. She rested her hands on her hips. “College students are indeed different; you speak so politely. I’m Gao Changjiang’s wife. My surname is Liu.”

Her voice was low and sounded weak, as if she lacked energy. Hou Weidong offered, “Auntie Liu, let me help you carry that bucket.”

“No need. I just washed some clothes and brought them back here to spin dry. It’s not heavy.”

“Come on, Auntie Liu. We’re neighbors now. Let Little Hou carry it.”

Without giving her a chance to refuse, Hou Weidong picked up his water bottle and the plastic bucket, following Auntie Yang up to the second floor. Auntie Yang was already panting by the time she reached the second floor. Hou Weidong felt puzzled. He had heard that township leaders enjoyed quite good benefits. Gao Changjiang had served as a township head and then as a deputy township head. How could he not even afford a washing machine?

He placed the bucket by Auntie Yang’s door. In the light from inside the room, Hou Weidong finally got a clear look at Auntie Liu’s appearance. Her face was lined, her skin sallow, and her hair was graying. She looked remarkably old. Yet, Gao Changjiang had not retired; he was under sixty. According to local customs in Yiyang, a man’s wife was usually a few years younger. She should be in her early fifties. Realizing this, Hou Weidong was startled. Auntie Liu was around the same age as his mother, Liu Guangfen, but his mother looked at least ten to fifteen years younger than Auntie Liu. It wasn’t that his mother was particularly young; it was that Auntie Yang looked far too old.

After exchanging a few polite words at the door, Hou Weidong returned to his dormitory. After a thorough cleaning, the one-bedroom apartment looked much more presentable. Hou Weidong took the newly bought Qinglin tea, brewed a cup of hot tea in a white porcelain cup, and stood on the corridor to admire the night view of Shangqinglin Mountain.

Objectively speaking, the small building of the Shangqinglin Mountain township government was quite well-built. Standing on the corridor, the view was extremely open. At the end of the line of sight was a mountain peak shaped like a concave curve. Several bright stars seemed to be cradled by the peak, hanging right on top of it. In front of the corridor was a concrete platform suitable for parking cars, and beyond that lay a pond covered with lotus leaves.

On a summer night, standing on the corridor, sipping the decent-tasting Qinglin tea, and listening to the chaotic chirping of various insects, a mountain breeze slid up from the valley. It rustled the leaves with a crisp sound and brought a wave of coolness.

The next day, Hou Weidong woke up early. He took a walk around the old market town of Shangqinglin, observing every detail clearly. The morning town was much more charming than it had been at night. There were two breakfast shops: a tofu pudding shop on the east side and a porridge and steamed bun shop on the west side. Hou Weidong hesitated for a moment before sitting down in the tofu pudding shop. Tofu pudding set meal was a unique breakfast in Yiyang. It cost one yuan per portion, including a bowl of white tofu pudding, with unlimited rice. It was affordable and delicious, a favorite among students and working-class people.

The Shangqinglin tofu pudding shop had only four or five tables. A long table held a row of condiment bowls containing salt, soy sauce, Sichuan pepper powder, chopped scallions, minced garlic, red chili, green chili, peas, and vegetable oil boiled with Sichuan pepper. Customers could mix them according to their own taste. Hou Weidong personally mixed a small half-bowl of condiments, then scooped a bowl of rice. A lean middle-aged man brought over a bowl of tofu pudding.

The tofu pudding was dense and fine, tender yet firm. With the condiments mixed well, Hou Weidong heartily ate two large bowls of rice, until a ring of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Two men walked into the tofu pudding shop. The lean man greeted them enthusiastically. “Head Gao, you’re up on the mountain so early.” He shouted toward the inner room, “Wife, bring a basin of water for Head Gao and a new towel.”

Head Gao was a tall, thin, dark-skinned man with graying temples. He looked very energetic, especially his eyes, which were bright and piercing. When the basin was brought out, he didn’t hesitate. He washed his face by the side of the street and wiped away the sweat.

Head Gao sat down and said, “The usual. One bowl of tofu pudding each, two taels of liquor. Do you have any braised dishes or steamed dishes?” The lean man quickly served the tofu pudding and added, “I braised some pork intestines yesterday. They smell great. Shall I cut some?” Head Gao nodded. “Yes, cut half a jin.”

When the golden-brown braised pork intestines were placed on the table, Head Gao turned to the other man, who had a serious expression. “Director Qin, in Shangqinglin, Yao the Skinny’s well water is the best, and his tofu pudding is the most tender. When Secretary Zhao from the County Party Committee came to Shangqinglin, he insisted on coming here to eat these two things.”

Director Qin was the head of the Qinglin Town police station. He had been transferred from the First Division of the Yiyang County Public Security Bureau to the Qinglin Town police station at the end of last year. He was thirty-four years old and had served as the deputy head of the First Division for six years. However, since the head of the First Division was around his age and held the position, he had never been promoted. When the Qinglin Town police station was established, he was transferred from the bureau to Qinglin Town.

Director Qin naturally had a serious face and was usually taciturn. He didn’t say anything, picked up his chopsticks, and picked up a piece of braised pork intestine. He savored it for a while and said, “Not bad.”

Head Gao didn’t say much more. The two men focused intently on their meal.

Hou Weidong now knew that Head Gao was the leader of the work team and Auntie Yang’s husband. However, Auntie Yang’s appearance was so different from Head Gao’s that it was hard to reconcile the two images. He waved to the lean man. “Boss, let’s settle the bill.” Hou Weidong whispered to the lean man, “How much is Head Gao’s table? I’ll pay for it together.”

The lean man smiled honestly. “Ten yuan.” As Hou Weidong stood up, the lean man said, “Head Gao, the bill has been paid.”

Head Gao looked at Hou Weidong and a slight smile appeared on his face. “You must be Hou Weidong.” After receiving a confirmed answer, he waved his hand vigorously and said loudly, “You haven’t even received your salary yet. How can I let you pay? Yao the Skinny, don’t take his money. Do you hear me?”

Hou Weidong hurriedly said, “Head Gao, I’m leaving first.” With that, he slipped away quickly. Head Gao stood by the small shop, watching only Hou Weidong’s retreating back. He stomped his foot and said, “This kid, he runs fast.”