Chapter 6

“Hey! You kid, been gone two years and you’re still the same—stick a tail on you and you’re smarter than a monkey. Alright, I’ll take the liquor. Come with me to the police station to register your household; they’ll handle your documents, food ration book, and supplementary food book for now. Once I get you settled in a job, we’ll come back and collect them.”

“That’s wonderful, Uncle Liu, thank you for your hard work!”

“Stop dilly-dallying, let’s go.”

Saying this, he took Li Xuewu to the main office to copy his documents and filed a report, then led Li Xuewu, pushing his bicycle, toward the police station.

Not far away, they entered the courtyard of the nearby police station. Director Liu took Li Xuewu to the household registration office. The officer glanced at the papers and said they’d wait for notification.

Director Liu asked whether Li Xuewu wanted to establish a separate household or return to his original one. Remembering Li Shun’s words, Li Xuewu replied, “Separate household.” Director Liu smiled and went into the chief’s office. Soon after, he came out beaming and led Li Xuewu toward Dongzhimen.

Because Li Xuewu had no vehicle.

Li Xuewu rode the bicycle with Director Liu on the back, his long legs pedaling furiously.

Following Director Liu’s directions, they arrived at the gate of the Third Rolling Mill. Director Liu jumped off, patted his buttocks, and cursed Li Xuewu: “You should’ve been assigned to pull a rickshaw—you ride that bicycle like a motorcycle!”

Director Liu showed his work ID to the gatekeeper and led Li Xuewu inside, heading left toward the office building courtyard, then straight into the three-story building facing the gate. They climbed three flights of stairs to the furthest office on the left.

Director Liu told Li Xuewu to wait outside, knocked on the door, and walked in.

Li Xuewu watched Director Liu’s routine and found it familiar—no different from the future.

Less than five minutes later, Director Liu opened the door and waved Li Xuewu in. Only then did Li Xuewu see the factory leadership—a man in a gray Zhongshan suit, sitting with commanding presence.

He had met this man before—a standard official and man of action.

Director Liu smiled and introduced: “This is Comrade Yang, factory director of the Third Rolling Mill. This is Li Xuewu, a demobilized soldier assigned by our street.”

Director Yang stood up, shook Li Xuewu’s hand, and said: “Good, good, sit down, sit down, don’t stand.”

Seeing Director Liu sit on the sofa in front of Director Yang’s desk, Li Xuewu hurried to the cabinet, picked up the thermos, filled water into both their cups, placed the thermos back, then sat on the sofa opposite Director Yang.

Director Yang watched Li Xuewu pour water with a smile; Director Liu remained silent after the introduction.

Li Xuewu knew his interview had begun.

Li Xuewu took from his satchel his academic credentials, letter of introduction, award certificates, and injury report.

Watching Director Yang carefully examine the documents, Li Xuewu said: “Director, I graduated high school in 1962, enlisted, was promoted on the battlefield in 1963. When injured, I was a platoon leader. Head injury caused only amnesia, no other damage. Due to unsuitability for continued service, I chose demobilization. I received two First-Class Merits and one Second-Class Merit. I am willing to accept any assignment from the street or factory. Please review my materials.”

Li Xuewu spoke concisely and directly. Director Yang nodded.

“Alright. As a military cadre, you’ll be handled under the demobilization regulations. We’re obligated to accept you. And since you’ve earned battlefield honors, that’s commendable. Given your injury, your demonstrated abilities, and the street’s documentation, your qualifications meet our standards. Your character and competence need no further mention—your papers speak for themselves, and the street’s evaluation is excellent. Our factory needs people like you. Young man, you’ve got spirit. Keep it up, contribute on your post. Report next Monday.”

“Thank you, Director. I’m honored to join the Rolling Mill family.”

At this, Director Liu, who had been sipping tea, stood up, bid farewell to Director Yang, and led Li Xuewu out. He said nothing along the way.

Watching the cigarette in his hand smoke straight up, he’d barely drawn a few puffs before the wind snuffed it out. To curse aloud and swallow more wind wasn’t worth it.

At the police station, he told Li Xuewu to wait outside. Soon, he emerged with Li Xuewu’s household registration certificate and made him return to the street office.

Sitting in the office, he sipped tea, then handed Li Xuewu his food ration book, supplementary food book, household registration certificate, and a handwritten report notice from Director Yang.

“Report for work in three days. Tell your father when he comes back—two bottles of Fenjiu aren’t enough. Your ass nearly got worn out from all that riding. Your family’s tiger bone wine? At least five bottles.”

“Got it! No problem, thanks a lot! Hey, Uncle Liu, my dad’s got tiger penis wine too—want some?”

Li Xuewu added this as he walked to the door.

“Get lost! Your Uncle Liu’s still strong. Save that wine for your dad to give you a little brother.”

Saying this, he shooed Li Xuewu out and sat back at his desk.

Li Xuewu stepped out with a stack of documents, walked to the alley entrance, pulled out his report notice, and read it: Capital Third Rolling Mill. A list of official designations. Final position: cadre, role: Security Officer, Security Section.

Not only had everything been settled so quickly after running all those places, but landing a cadre position right off the bat? That was no small thing.

Any cadre position meant easier promotion later—far simpler than climbing up from worker rank.

Good heavens, no wonder Director Liu said two bottles of Fenjiu weren’t enough. He demanded tiger bone medicinal wine outright. Even if he didn’t know its value, the fact that Director Liu asked for five bottles—and so insistently—meant his father was going to bleed.

He just didn’t know how much a Security Officer earned—would it cover his living expenses after going independent?

He tucked the report notice back into his bag, tightened his cotton overcoat, and headed home.

Entering the alley, he felt the old district was even more dilapidated—gray and dull, and with snow from a few days ago still melting, the path was muddy and hard to walk.

As he trudged to the courtyard gate, he saw a woman in a floral cotton-padded jacket stepping out. She was short, with bobbed hair and a silver hairpin. She stared at him closely as he entered.

“Who are you? How did you get into the courtyard?”

Li Xuewu immediately realized: when he left, Lou Xiaoe hadn’t married in yet—she wouldn’t know him. He introduced himself.

“I’m a resident here. I came in to go home.”

“Whose son are you?”

“The Li family’s.”

“You’re Doctor Li’s second son? I heard you were in the army.”

“Yes, just demobilized and back. And you are?”

“I’m Xu Damao’s wife. My name is Lou Xiaoe.”

Li Xuewu knew exactly who she was—the rich girl, with that soft, milky voice, later ran off to Hong Kong, and before leaving, had a quick fling with the fool in the courtyard, He Yuzhu.