Chapter 72: Neighbors Support Each Other, Getting Through the Crisis

Old Chen stepped back half a step, his heel hitting the edge of the well platform, almost tripping. He opened his mouth to explain, but seven or eight pairs of eyes stared at him, nobody speaking, and that pressure shoved his words back.

San Daye leaned on his cane and moved forward two steps, pulling out a small notebook from his pocket, its edges frayed. He flipped to a page and handed it to the front of the crowd: "I've recorded three years of night-shift attendance in this book. Look, how many times has Old Chen signed in for others? On the seventh, he signed for Er Lengzi, the handwriting all wobbly like a worm crawling. The evidence Jianguo has is genuine; I'm not speaking nonsense."

Aunt Li stepped over to take a look, then turned and spat: "No wonder last month I was on early shift and saw Old Chen sneaking back from the coal shed before dawn—I thought he was picking up coal scraps early! Turns out he was covering for someone."

"I didn't say he moved it all by himself." Zhao Jianguo stood still, voice low, "The line was cut for thirty-seven minutes; one sack of coal can't be moved completely. Whoever took advantage knows it in their heart."

The crowd buzzed and exploded.

"I said his stove's been blazing lately!" Wang Shen slapped her thigh, "Every few days he stews meat, the oily smell drifting all the way to my window sill!"

Sha Zhu hoisted the spatula onto his shoulder, smirking, "From now on, whoever helps Old Chen speak will get only half the usual oil and water in their cafeteria serving."

The crowd laughed uproariously; Old Chen's face went pale then green, his lips twitching twice, but he finally didn't dare shout again.

Zhao Jianguo turned to look toward the privy. That hut leans in the corner of the courtyard, its wall plaster peeling like a snake's shed, the door frame askew. These past few days of rain, water pooled at the doorway mixed with filth, and walking by your shoe soles could stick.

"In our courtyard, we can't let one person fall behind, nor let a dirty spot go unattended." He clapped his hands, "Old Chen made a mistake and must correct it. Punish him to sweep the privy alone, once a day morning and evening for a week. As for others, whoever volunteers to help with repairs earns one work point, recorded in the night-school attendance book."

"Work points?" Er Lengzi scratched his head, "Can this stuff even be accumulated?"

"Earn ten, and you can trade them for priority slot in a technical class." Zhao Jianguo said, "If you want to learn about water pumps, sign up first."

He Yushui immediately raised her hand: "I'm signing up! Jianguo taught the theory, I want to give it a try."

"Count me in too!" Aunt Li also shouted, "My husband's just idling anyway."

Wang Shen chimed in: "After fixing the privy, while we're at it let's check the pump at the well in the rear courtyard—when it gets cold, we don't want it frozen and no water coming out."

No sooner had the words fallen than San Daye walked over with his cane to Zhao Jianguo's side, striking the ground with it: "This old bone of mine can't move bricks, but I can still supervise work. Whoever slacks off, I'll be the first to yell at them."

Someone in the crowd laughed: "San Daye, don't just talk the talk—bring a brick to stand on so you can glare at people!"

"Stuff your head!" San Daye feigned anger, tapping the cane lightly toward them, and the crowd laughed even louder.

Early the next morning, Zhao Jianguo shouldering a sack of cement entered the courtyard—Sha Zhu already had a stove set up at the privy door, boiling ginger soup in the pot. Er Lengzi crouched at the wall base prying old bricks, Aunt Li and Wang Shen carrying water buckets to scrub the walls. He Yushui brought her tool kit and headed straight for the rear courtyard well.

"Jianguo, is the cement enough?" Er Lengzi asked, looking up.

"Enough." Zhao Jianguo set the sack down, "If not, I'll get more from the factory."

"Where did you get the requisition slip?" Aunt Li wondered.

"No slip." Zhao Jianguo grinned, "I traded two dry batteries with Old Zhang from the Materials Section for it."

"Aren't those batteries meant for the doorbell?"

"For emergencies first." He smiled, "The doorbell can wait two days; thieves will have to wait till the snow melts anyway."

Lunch was laid out by Sha Zhu—a big pot of stewed cabbage and vermicelli, plus two coarse‑flour steamed buns. Everyone gathered around the privy door to eat, steam rising straight up.

"Jianguo, should we white‑wash this wall?" Er Lengzi asked, holding a bun in his mouth, "Or we could write a slogan."

"What should it say?" Wang Shen chuckled, "'No urinating or defecating here'?"

"Too long." San Daye interjected, "Just two characters—'Clean'."

The crowd approved. After the meal someone produced half a bucket of lime; Er Lengzi dipped it in water and wrote, the characters crooked but still noticeable.

At three in the afternoon, the last tile on the privy roof was replaced. Zhao Jianguo stepped down the ladder, his trousers speckled with mud. He was about to sit and catch his breath when He Yushui ran over from the rear courtyard, clutching a wrench.

"The pump's jammed! The impeller's rusted solid—we have to take it apart!"

"Take it apart now?"

"While there's still light." He Yushui wiped sweat, "I brought the blueprint; Jianguo, you help me watch."

The two squatted at the well mouth, unscrewing bolts and removing the housing. Sha Zhu brought over a kettle of hot tea; Er Lengzi carried a new leather gasket. Aunt Li took apart her own cotton jacket, wrapping it around the external pipe to keep it from freezing.

As dusk fell, the pump body was reassembled. He Yushui closed the switch; the machine hummed, then a jet of clear water shot up the well mouth, splashing her in the face.

"It's open!" Er Lengzi jumped up, "Water's coming out!"

"Shut it quick!" Aunt Li shouted, "Don't splash your shoes!"

But nobody dodged. Everyone stood by the well, watching the clear water gush into the bucket, silent, just listening to the sound.

Zhao Jianguo tightened the valve, lifted his gaze to the sky. Stars were just peeking out, the wind on his face no longer so harsh.

Early the next morning, San Daye gathered everyone in the open space of the courtyard. He planted his cane in the ground and cleared his throat.

"Old Chen swept the privy for two days without slacking; yesterday he even volunteered to scrub the urine trough. People make mistakes—if they correct them, that's fine. Our courtyard isn't a court; we don't drive people out."

The crowd fell silent.

"But things can't just be left as they are." San Daye continued, "The privy's fixed, the well's flowing—who will take charge of these matters from now on? Jianguo contributed the most, but we can't rely on him alone."

Aunt Li raised her hand: "I propose Jianguo as Coordinator Group Leader! For big or small matters, we'll discuss together and he'll organize."

"I second that!" Wang Shen shouted.

"Count me in too!" Er Lengzi declared loudly.

Sha Zhu flung the spatula into the air: "Who opposes? Those who oppose won't get to serve food today!"

No one objected.

San Daye nodded, turning to Zhao Jianguo: "Everyone, raise your hands—let me see."

Zhao Jianguo looked around. Hands went up one after another—old and young, men and women. Aunt Li's hand still had lime on it; Er Lengzi raised his so high he almost strained his shoulder.

He said nothing, just nodded.

"Then it's settled." San Daye retrieved his cane, planted it firmly, "Zhao Jianguo, Coordinator Group Leader of the courtyard, effective today, you're in charge of public affairs."

That afternoon, Old Chen finished sweeping the privy for the third day and handed the broom to Zhao Jianguo.

"I… I can still go to night school, right?"

Zhao Jianguo took the broom and handed him a sheet: "This is the sign‑up sheet for the water‑pump repair class. It starts next week—don't be late."

Old Chen lowered his head to take it, his fingers trembling slightly.

That evening, Zhao Jianguo sat in the electrician's room organizing tools. He Yushui pushed the door open, holding a modified radio.

"Can we still play recordings?"

"Yes." Zhao Jianguo nodded, "But don't play it."

"What if there are still people later…"

"There will be." Zhao Jianguo tightened a screw, "But this time we won, not by relying on the recording, but by relying on everyone stepping up."

He Yushui fell silent for a moment, put down the radio, and said: "Then should we keep this as a memorial?"

"Let's dismantle it as scrap metal." Zhao Jianguo laughed, "That way no one will use it to scare people again someday."

He stood up, brushed off the dust on his pants, and said: "Let's go check the well platform. Tonight the temperature will drop; we need to check the pump again."

As the two went out, Sha Zhu was walking toward the well carrying a bucket.

"Drawing water this late?"

"I'm bringing some hot water to San Daye." Sha Zhu grinned, "He's been standing all day; his legs can't take it."

Zhao Jianguo took the bucket and said, "I'll help you carry it."

The three went to the well opening; Zhao Jianguo opened the anti‑freeze cover, reached his hand in, and felt the pipe temperature.

He Yushui suddenly said: "Jianguo, you say… in the future, how much more can we still fix?"

"I don't know." Zhao Jianguo stood up straight, "But as long as everyone is willing to work, there's nothing we can't fix."

As his words fell, the well pump gave a slight shudder, and then the sound of water flowed steadily.