Li Ergou was crouched by the school gate, chewing on a cold steamed bun with his withdrawal application tucked in his pocket. When he looked up, he saw the beautiful new village official surrounded by villagers demanding relief grain. He was about to slip away and watch the spectacle when he heard her sneer, “No grain. If you want my life, take it. Instead of wasting your time, why not grow out-of-season vegetables with me?” The whole village burst out laughing. Only Ergou sprang to his feet. “I’m in!”
Three years later, when Ergou drove a Mercedes back to the village with the young people he’d brought home to expand investment, he found a bronze statue of himself standing at the village entrance.
At the base was a line of large characters:
Comrade Li Ergou, leader in the drive to prosperity!
…
I was moved by their tenacious fighting spirit