The Pioneering Years of Beidahuang

The farm’s veteran workers welcomed this group of “city kids” with the simplest kindness. Lao Zhou, in his fifties, taught them to identify wild vegetables and told them stories of the early days of land reclamation. His rough hands showed them how firmly to grip a hoe. Liu Fang, the women’s director, brought them brown sugar and ginger slices like a big sister, and patched their worn-out clothes on cold nights. Manager Wang watched them with a stern yet caring gaze, quietly planting the belief in hard work and perseverance in each of their hearts. Through labor, the young intellectuals shed their youthful awkwardness; through helping one another, they forged close bonds. The sweet taste of corn grits porridge, the warmth of pork stewed with vermicelli, and the songs around the bonfire became their most precious comforts in those difficult years.

As the snow and ice melted, the call to spring plowing rang across the black earth. Turning the soil, fertilizing, selecting seeds, and sowing: the young intellectuals learned farming techniques from the veteran workers. The agricultural books Zhao Wei had brought came in handy, and they tried incorporating scientific knowledge into traditional farming. Lin Jianjun became increasingly skilled at repairing farm tools, restoring old plows and harrows to working order. The baskets Li Juan and Zhang Lan wove from corn husks were filled with seeds, and with hopes for a bountiful harvest. The black earth responded to their efforts with unmatched generosity. In the summer fields, waves of wheat rolled in the wind and soybean pods ripened. Under the sun, the young intellectuals’ youth grew tall alongside the crops.