Chapter 254: Butterfly Wings
The next morning, when Ning Xiyue went to the team dorm to chat with the aunties, she saw the team leader carrying a bag and riding his bicycle toward the commune.
By noon, when Ning Xiyue returned to cook lunch, she saw the team leader again, cycling back while humming a tune, a smile plastered across his face.
From a distance, Ning Xiyue could clearly see that the smile never left him; she had never seen him so happy.
She touched her chin, walking thoughtfully while nodding. This must be the recruitment news Mayor Huang had mentioned — the exact details would probably come out that afternoon.
As Ning Xiyue predicted, after lunch, the team leader summoned all the team members to a meeting at the main brigade. He emphasized that it was an important matter, and every single member had to attend on time; otherwise, they would face the consequences themselves.
On the way there, Chen Ye Chu was puzzled. Even though her previous life was long ago and she had forgotten many small events, she couldn’t remember if this meeting had happened before.
But in her memory, she had never seen the team leader care this much. It was common for some members to skip meetings, and she had never seen the team leader emphasize attendance so strongly.
Many things in this life were different from the last. She didn’t know what would happen next, or what this meeting would be about, but she was very curious.
“Xiyue, what do you think it is? The team leader seems so serious — it’s unusual,” Wu Guifang guessed.
“Maybe it’s about spring plowing. The ice is starting to melt; perhaps the leader is arranging the work in advance,” Wu suggested.
“Very likely. That must mean our days of resting are about to end,” Liu Yao agreed, suddenly groaning: “Ah, no! I haven’t rested enough! Why does the winter break have to end already? It’s too painful!”
“Ah, really? This news is too sudden, I can’t accept it,” Wang Mengmeng whined along, like a student suddenly finding out class was about to start.
“Don’t scare yourselves,” Ning Xiyue said, lifting her chin toward the office not far ahead. “It will be at least ten more days until the ice fully melts, and that only if the sun keeps shining. Calm down — we’ll soon know what the team leader wants to say.”
Ning Xiyue teased them. When the girls in the dorm got familiar with each other, they could get a bit noisy. Walking together, they were louder than a flock of sparrows, one comment after another, unstoppable.
Chen Ye Chu picked up her little stool and hurried forward: “Xiyue’s right. We’ll know soon. Let’s hurry and grab a good spot.”
“Okay,” the others agreed.
Immediately, the five girls started competing in speed, each trying to walk faster than the others. In the end, they were practically running, a bunch of crazily excited youths racing to the meeting area at the main brigade, grabbing seats in the front rows.
Gradually, the rest of the team members arrived, and the area quickly filled up. Once everyone was present, the team leader took a megaphone and began speaking, smiling and visibly excited.
“Everyone, quiet! Listen up. I have great news to announce.”
The crowd immediately quieted down, all ears on the team leader, eager to hear the good news.
Seeing everyone settle, the leader continued with satisfaction:
“Our team has discovered a coal mine in the back of Daqishan. The higher authorities are preparing to start mining. The commune leadership has issued a notice: they will recruit a large number of workers. The positions are many, well-paid, with meals included, excellent benefits — everyone has a chance. Work can continue until the mining is complete. I will post the official documents and recruitment notice on the bulletin board; after the meeting, remember to go check them out.”
As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted. When had recruitment ever been described as “so many” before?
The team leader raised his hand to calm everyone: “Quiet! I know you’re excited, but hold on. Wait until I finish speaking before discussing.”
“Leader, hurry and tell us! We won’t get excited!” shouted someone bold.
“This recruitment will be through the commune, with the commune selecting candidates. Registration starts tomorrow and closes in ten days. Anyone interested can apply.
“Since spring plowing will begin soon, each family can only send a maximum of two people during the plowing season. Families can rotate, but must leave enough labor to ensure plowing goes smoothly. Fieldwork cannot be affected under any circumstances.”
The promise of two positions greatly motivated the villagers. Every face showed a mix of expectation and excitement, impatient to check the notice and register in town.
Farming all year barely earned any money, but working in the mine would not only bring income home, it would also cover meals for two people, saving a lot of grain. The mine was close to home — truly a perfect opportunity.
Chen Ye Chu was shocked. Her pupils flickered with a strange light.
What was going on? In her previous life, there had been no such event. When she was a sent-down youth, mining coal didn’t exist. As for whether it happened later, she hadn’t paid attention, but it certainly wasn’t like this.
The changes in this life were huge. Were her butterfly wings really that powerful? Had she influenced so much?
It seemed this life was completely different from the last. She could no longer view it through her old perspective.
Everything was constantly changing. She had to see the future with a developmental perspective, not by comparing it to the past.
Chen Ye Chu let out a relieved smile. Many people and events had changed. Perhaps this world was no longer the same — maybe a parallel reality. She shouldn’t dwell on it. Living well every day was what truly mattered.
Observant Ning Xiyue, sitting next to her, was about to laugh at Chen Ye Chu’s constantly changing expressions.
Every few moments, her face changed. With every update from the team leader, she displayed five or six new expressions. It was obvious she was truly shocked — the differences stirred much confusion within her.
As one of the discoverers of the coal mine, Ning Xiyue felt a little apologetic for surprising Chen Ye Chu.
But she was also very happy. Mining would not only promote national development, but also create many jobs. People would earn money and improve their living standards, boosting the national economy — truly excellent news.
Ning Xiyue felt proud; she had contributed a small part to the country’s development.
“Everyone, quiet down again. There’s just one last thing. After this, the meeting will end. The old canteen has been requisitioned; later Qiujv will take a few people to clean it out. It will be the dining hall for the mining team. The main brigade will also be temporarily requisitioned; this area will be the workers’ quarters. Don’t wander here unnecessarily in the future.
“That’s all for now. Meeting dismissed.”
