Bai Fumei in the 70’s

The four engineers who were in charge of this project were taken to the police station at the same time for interrogation on the same day.

Sun Xiang, as the chief engineer, is fully responsible for this major safety accident and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The other three engineers also had their own fate. Wang Yang advocated the blasting and was also responsible for the accident. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. Hu Xianzhi and Wu Yong were released.

Hu Xianzhi was responsible for other matters in this project, and he played an active role before the accident, which greatly saved the lives and property of more than ten workers. Although he was at fault, the crime would not lead him to jail. After he was released, he "lives" in the cowshed like his teacher and was hated by the villagers.

Wu Yong was also in charge of other matters, and he presided over another project, and did not join Sun Xiang's project at all. After repeated interrogation, the police learned that Wu Yong was strongly opposed to the use of blasting to clear the ditch. Because of differences in opinions, he started a new project. Because the techniques and methods used were completely different from those of Sun Xiang, the hill he was in charge of not only had no accidents, on the contrary, the project was completed smoothly beyond expectations. In this major accident, he is the only person who was cleared from blame.2

A week later, Hu Xianzhi was released. His long unattended beard has turned into a mad grass and he is almost indistinguishable from a homeless man.

In the past few days, he was repeatedly tortured in the bureau, not only was he physically hit, but his spirit is also weak.

Hu Xianzhi carried his broken possessions and came to the bullpen.

Fortunately, the old landlord's family was lavish, and the bullpen was large and bright. It has five adult and healthy cows and a small calf, which could provide a place for two men to settle down.

Gu Huaijin didn't want to take care of this ungrateful student, but Hu Xianzhi knelt down when he came to the bullpen. His complicated face contained shame, and the eight-foot-tall man was lying on the ground crying and weeping.3

He said, "I know it's wrong."

Gu Huaijin didn't say anything, lying on his soft "straw mat", and fell asleep.

He won't take a second look even when he kneels to death.

...

The day the Niujiao mountain collapsed, He Songbai family came back from the mountain, and they all had a sense of fear for the rest of their lives.

There are two officials in the village who can be the masters. One is the brigade captain whose life and death is unclear, and the Branch Secretary Li whose granddaughter is also seriously injured. The whole family went to the hospital in a mess, and the village also became a mess.

The director of the Women's Federation came forward at this time. She and a few members of the federation brought a chicken over.

She said, "Now there is a pile of mess in the village, everyone is uncomfortable. The commendation meeting is also a bit silent."

"On behalf of all members of the 1st and 2nd brigade, I will commend you 'heroes'. Please wait a few days for someone to write an advanced deed and send it to the county town."

The director of the Women's Federation made these remarks to Zhao Lanxiang.

Before the landslide accident, she ran and yelled to ask for evacuation. If she has not made this efforts, the village would not know how many people would be killed or injured this time.

When Zhao Lanxiang heard the words, she made a pause gesture and wanted to correct the words of the director of the Women's Federation, and telling her that Teacher Gu and He Songbai also have credits.

They are the heroes.

But He Songbai, who stood beside Zhao Lanxiang, grabbed her sleeve vigorously, pinched her hand across the sleeve, shook his head slightly. His calm face revealed a seriousness.

Zhao Lanxiang gritted her teeth and said, "He Songbai and Teacher Gu also went to the mountain to stop the blasting. If they were not there, Niujiao mountain will collapse at twelve o'clock."

"Where will the workers have time to retreat."

The expressions on the faces of the director of the Women's Federation and the captain of the first brigade, He Laifu, were stagnant, and the director of the Women's Federation handed the chicken in her hand to Zhao Lanxiang.

"This chicken is the commendation that everyone decides to give you after a lot of discussion."

"As for the other two heroes..." He Laifu, the captain of the first team, paused and scratched his head. "It can't be behind."

So he went to the chicken shed in the brigade to catch two chickens, handed one to Teacher Gu, and the other to He Songbai.

"Take care of your body!"

"I thank you on behalf of the party and the people!"

People who have read books are educated, and they make people feel comfortable when they speak. At least, he could let the other two heroes who were "selectively" ignored feel more comfortable.

The other members also carried three chickens in their hands. He Laifu said, "We are going to visit Dali, so we won't grind our mouths here, we will leave."

Sister He thanked the two officers of the village.

The old hen that Teacher Gu got, clucked up and down. As soon as her feet touched the ground, a bubble of fresh yellow-green chicken dung was placed into his haystack.

He stared at the chicken with embarrassment and said, "It seems useless for me to raise this chicken..."

He paused and said, "But it's been a while since I've eaten chicken."

The arrival of these three chickens lightened their tense mood a little. For Sister He, the two more chickens that suddenly came out were no doubt a surprise that fell from the sky, and it was hard to imagine. How did she know that her brother who "escaped by chance" actually did a heroic deed?

For Teacher Gu, it is a very delicious dish. The lively chicken looks just like meat in his mouth.

He wondered whether it would be better to kill, or to raise it for an egg a day. From a nutritional point of view, the latter seems better. But he hasn't eaten a bite of chicken for a long, long time. However, after eating this meal, it meant that the next meal is gone. He stared at the hen with bitterness and worry.

Zhao Lanxiang picked up the chicken and said in a final word: "It is not easy for everyone today. I will make a delicious meal to treat you and to suppress the fear."

Today, her heart seemed to sit in a roller coaster, it has jumped several times.

She was fortunate that she had decided to give Gu Huaijin a meal. Maybe if today she lazily left Gu Huaijin's food in the shed, or was lazy and cook a little bit later, not only her man, but many people she knew or did not know would be killed on the mountain.1

The gear of destiny always bites according to the rules. He Songbai in her previous life still lived healthily to his sixties, so he escaped this disaster.