Buds sprout from wasteland
My name is Wang Jianglin, and people in Jinxi Town, Southeast District, call me Lao San (Third Brother).
As far back as I can remember, the land beneath my feet was nothing but endless yellow sand and mud.
But my mother always sat in the drafty mud-brick house, twisting the straw rope in her hands while muttering to me.
"It wasn't like this before... Back then, we had vast tracts of fertile land, the rice stalks were so heavy they bent the backs of the trees, the houses on the streets were all painted white, and caravans from the north and south came and went in an endless stream; you could hear the sounds of carriages and horses even at night."
I never believed it, after all, all I saw were swollen crop stalks after years of floods, and people who starved to death on their way to escape famine.
One summer, there was a particularly heavy rain. Half of the river embankment at the west end of the village collapsed. My father was swept away by the flood while trying to plug the breach, and his body was never found.
From then on, Mother became even more silent, only occasionally sighing.
"Where can we go? People are worthless away from home, and the land outside isn't ours either. Going anywhere is a dead end."
I lived like this in a daze until I was fourteen. Every day I either followed the villagers to catch fish in the ditch or fought with other teenagers for cornbread in the dilapidated temple. Until that day, under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village, I met Young Master Jiang.
He was about my age, wearing a faded blue cotton long gown, and as thin as me, he swayed in the wind.
But he was exceptionally handsome, with bright eyes like stars that had been tempered in fire. Behind him stood a large man, presumably his servant.
I was squatting under a tree gnawing on a hard cornbread when he suddenly came over, his voice pleasant and gentle.
"Brother, my name is Jiang Manyan. I'd like to ask how you've maintained the river embankment in previous years?"
I was stunned for a moment, then gave him a disgruntled look: "What are you protecting? If it collapses, it collapses. It's good enough that you're alive."
Several old men sunbathing nearby laughed. One of them, a man with a gap-toothed man, stroked his beard and said, "Young man, are you from out of town? Don't worry about it. This river embankment has been repaired and then collapsed, repaired and then collapsed again. It's been going on for over ten years, and it's no use!"
Young Master Jiang didn't refute, but squatted down, rubbed some soil on the ground with his fingers, and asked again, "If we could rebuild the dam and reclaim the wasteland, would you be willing to do it?"
Even I found it funny when I said that. Chewing on my cornbread, I mumbled, "Give me a break! You? You're barely grown up, and you want to build a dam? You should worry about whether you can even eat first!"
People around them laughed along, and someone shouted, "Little kid, stop pretending to be a big shot here, hurry up and leave, don't keep us from sunbathing!"
It wasn't that the townspeople looked down on him; it was just that things were incredibly difficult! Respected elders from nearby towns had organized dam repairs, but what were the results...?
Jiang Manyan wasn't angry. She simply stood up, dusted herself off, and said earnestly, "I'm serious. In less than half a month, I'll show everyone my sincerity."
After saying that, he turned and left, his back straight, not at all like someone who was just boasting.
But we didn't take it seriously—we've seen too many people with such ambitions in this wasteland, and none of them have succeeded.
Unexpectedly, just ten days later, several sheds were set up at the entrance of the town. Several bags of rice were piled up outside the sheds, and a big guy was directing people to cook porridge, while a worker was shouting.
"Those who need to eat, work for Young Master Jiang! Whether you're a beggar or a townsman, as long as you're willing to come, you'll be well-fed!"
I and a few of my childhood friends went over to take a look, and we saw Young Master Jiang standing in front of the shed, talking quietly with a beggar who was so thin he was just skin and bones.
"What's your name? Are you willing to help me cultivate the wasteland? You'll work during the day, and at night I'll hire a tutor to teach you to read and write, and I'll even provide meals."
The beggar was stunned for a long time before whispering, "I...I'm called Little Stone. Do...you really provide meals?"
"real."
Young Master Jiang nodded and took a white steamed bun from the side and handed it over.
"Eat first, and when you're full, you can learn to till the soil this afternoon."
Little Stone took the steamed bun and wolfed it down, tears streaming down his face.
I looked at the bag of white rice, then at Young Master Jiang, and my heart wavered a little—I also wanted to eat hot steamed buns every day, and I also wanted to know what was written in the book.
That afternoon, I went to the shed.
When Young Master Jiang saw me, he smiled and said, "You've come? You haven't forgotten about our conversation last time, have you?"
I scratched my head, feeling a little embarrassed.
"I...I'd like to give it a try. But building a dam is no small feat; are you really capable?"
He handed me a hoe and said, "Whether it works or not, we'll only know after we try. You go with them to plow the land, and I'll go check on the riverbank."
After saying that, he shouldered a shovel and headed towards the river.
I followed the others to turn over the soil, but after a short while, I was panting heavily from exhaustion.
But when I looked up, I saw that Young Master Jiang was squatting by the river, holding paper and pen in his hand, drawing something. Every now and then he would stand up, walk a few steps along the riverbank, and stomp on the soil with his feet. He was more serious than us workers.
In the evening, a teacher actually came to the shed and set up several tables.
Young Master Jiang also sat down and listened to the lesson with us. The teacher taught us to write our own names. I held the pen, my hand was shaking, and I couldn't write a single decent character for a long time.
When Young Master Jiang saw this, he came over, stood beside me, took my hand, and taught me stroke by stroke: "The horizontal lines must be flat, the vertical lines must be straight, take your time, don't rush."
His hands were beautiful; though slender, they were strong and warm. His handwriting was even more beautiful, with each stroke exuding strength.
I looked at his serious profile, the streetlight shining on his face, making even his eyebrows clearly visible. I couldn't help but look into his honey-brown eyes, and suddenly felt my heart racing.
It felt like something had been smashed into my heart... He had a kind of magic that made me believe he could succeed at anything he set his mind to.
In the days that followed, I worked alongside Young Master Jiang every day.
During the day, we either turned over the soil or carried soil to the riverbank. He was never idle. He carried wood and moved stones with us. When he got blisters on his hands, he would just wrap them with cloth and keep working.
Once, I was carrying logs with him. After walking only a few steps, my shoulder started to hurt terribly, and I couldn't help but groan. He heard me, immediately stopped, and said, "Take a break, don't push yourself."
I said, panting, "It's okay, you haven't rested at all."
Yes, Young Master Jiang didn't rest at all. Despite his slender build, he served as a role model, inspiring all the participants.
He smiled and said, "I'm the leader. What will everyone think if I take a break first? But don't overwork yourself; your health is the most important thing."
When he studied at night, he was always the most diligent student, and he could always answer the teacher's questions.
Once, the Master asked him, "Young Master Jiang, why do you insist on struggling in this barren land? Wouldn't it be easier to find a way to make a living in a resource-rich city?"
He put down his book, his eyes shining: "The city is certainly better, but what about the people here? They've lived here for generations."
“If even I leave, they will really have no hope. I want them to have enough to eat, to be able to send their children to school, and to turn this land back to the way I heard people describe it when I was a child.”
I sat down next to him, and suddenly felt a warm feeling in my heart.
At that moment, I envied Big Guy. Young Master Jiang was very close to Big Guy, which was different from the rest of us. I also wanted to have that kind of difference.
That night, I met up with a few of my childhood friends, including Erzhu and Gou Dan.
I told them, "Let's stop wasting our lives and work with Young Master Jiang. I think he can make it, and we might actually be able to live a good life."
Erzhu scratched his head and said, "Really? How old is he?"
"He's young, but he's more hardworking than anyone else! And he's smart!" I said urgently. "Look at him, he works with us every day and even studies at night. What does he want? Isn't it just to make our lives a little better? Even if we take a gamble, it's better than just loafing around and waiting to die!"
Dog Egg thought for a moment and said, "Okay, Third Brother, I trust you. Anyway, there's not much work to be done right now. If I work with him, at least I can have enough to eat."
Erzhu nodded: "Then I'll go too."
And so, several of us joined Young Master Jiang's team, and even recruited more people our age.
A few days later, Young Master Jiang noticed it. He talked to me and said with a smile, "Wang Jianglin, I didn't expect you could bring in so many people. Not bad."
I said with a bit of pride, "They are all my childhood friends. I told them about your ideas, and they want to work with you too."
“From now on, you’ll help me manage these people,” he said. “During the day, you’ll arrange their work, and at night, you’ll come with me to consult with the Master. I’ll teach you to read and to read blueprints. We’ll need your help when we build the dam.”
I was stunned for a long time before I realized, "I...can I do it? I can't even read all the words."
“Who can do it all at once?” He patted my shoulder. “Take your time, I believe in you.”
From then on, Young Master Jiang really began to focus on cultivating me. He found me many books, taught me to read at night, taught me to read the dam blueprints he drew, and told me how to build a strong river embankment.
I studied very hard and worked with more energy during the day because I knew that I was no longer the lazy, good-for-nothing third brother. I had something to do, I had hope, and I could help Young Master Jiang make this land better.
More and more people saw our efforts, the rice bags in the sheds, and the wasteland we reclaimed, and they all voluntarily joined the team.
Those old men who used to mock Young Master Jiang have started offering suggestions, sharing their past experiences repairing river embankments. Young Master Jiang has even visited renowned experts multiple times; his sincerity, eagerness to learn, and perseverance have touched countless people...
One evening, I was taking a walk with Jiang Manyan on the riverbank. Looking at the candlelight in the shed in the distance and hearing the sound of reading, I couldn't help but say, "Young Master Jiang, look, there are more and more people now. Our dam will definitely be repaired."
Looking into the distance, Young Master Jiang smiled and said, "It's not 'we,' it's 'us.' Wang Jianglin, the hope of this land is upheld by everyone together. From now on, don't call me Young Master Jiang anymore, just call me Man Yan."
I looked at his profile; the moonlight shone on his face, gentle yet resolute.
I suddenly realized that the good days my mother talked about might really be coming.
I clenched my fists and said in my heart: Mom, don't worry, I will definitely follow Man Yan to make our hometown better, so that everyone can have enough to eat and children can go to school.
The wind blowing from the riverbank carries the scent of earth and is no longer as cold as it used to be.
I know that new shoots have already quietly emerged on this barren land.
New shoots green the cracked field ridges, the wheat ears that sprouted in the height of summer bent the wind's path, the golden grains of autumn fell on the empty threshing ground, and the winter snow buried the old year's stubble.
This process repeated itself, and three years passed in the blink of an eye...
I squatted beside the haystack behind the mill, twirling the freshly ground wheat flour between my fingertips—it was snow-white, and when I squeezed it in my hand, it would drip down.
Three years ago, if someone had such a bundle, they could hide their doorstep.
But I wasn't in the mood to be happy; my eyes were glued to the newly opened "general store" in town.
The shop owner was a thin-faced man, but he wore a silk robe with cuffs worn shiny but he couldn't bear to replace it. He didn't look like a businessman at all.
What's even stranger is that he always liked to make a loud clicking sound with his abacus, and instead of staying at the shop, he would always go out for a stroll.
We wandered all the way to Young Master Jiang's residence. Yesterday, when I went to buy fabric, I overheard him whispering to a man wearing a veiled hat, "That kid's water channel blueprints are a real catch."
I clutched the flour bag tightly and ran quickly toward Young Master Jiang's house.
In the past three years, the town has been transformed from barren land into what it is today, all thanks to Young Master Jiang.
He led us in digging irrigation ditches, planting new wheat, and even paid out of his own pocket to hire a tutor to teach the children...
He had said a while ago that he wanted to build a sentry post at the west end of the town and a granary at the east end, so that even if bandits came, they could prepare in advance, and if there was a famine, no one would go hungry.
I never expected that just as these good days were beginning, wolves would come sniffing out the scent.
Just as I turned the corner of the alley, I saw Young Master Jiang standing at the gate of the courtyard, looking at the distant fields with a solemn expression. He was holding a piece of paper in his hand, and his knuckles were white.
"What's wrong, Young Master Jiang?"
I rushed over. He handed me the paper, and I could now recognize all the words on it.
Seeing the words "requisition" and "return" from the Qin family felt like needles pricking my eyes.
"Master Qin from the Qin family in the southeast said that the irrigation canal here is blocking his way and that it should be demolished and re-dug. He also said that the land of the granary is his family's ancestral property and should be returned to him."
Young Master Jiang's voice sounded tired, and the bloodshot eyes in his honey-brown eyes made my heart ache.
This isn't just blocking the road; they're clearly trying to rob me! I remembered the strangers I saw by the river a few days ago. They were measuring things with rulers, and I thought they were there to learn how to grow wheat.
Looking back now, I think I was just scouting the place!
"Young master, we can't let them demolish it! If this irrigation ditch is gone, our wheat will be ruined!" I stamped my feet anxiously.
Young Master Jiang sighed, "I know, but the Qin family is a powerful and influential family in the central district. We need to plan this carefully."
These words made me even more anxious.
I remember when I was a child, my father told me that it was because of the exploitation by the nobles that my grandparents brought my father here to escape.
Back then, they were starving and worked incredibly hard.
The nobles were idle and lived a life of luxury, dressed in fine silks and satins, and could even humiliate and trample on them at will.
We've finally got some good days, we absolutely can't let those jackals ruin them again!
"Young master, what should we do? We've worked so hard to build this home; we can't let it be taken away again."
My eyes were already filled with tears when I finished speaking.
"Third brother, don't be afraid. We are no longer refugees from a desolate land. We have Jinxi Town! We have the united people of the town."
The young master's honey-brown eyes shone with light, and his confident and resolute figure was firmly etched in my mind, calming my panic.
Just then, a commotion arose at the entrance of the alley; it was Grandpa Zhang and many villagers who had arrived.
"Young Master Jiang, we heard that the irrigation canal is going to be demolished, so we came here specifically to tell you that we absolutely disagree!"
Grandpa Zhang held a hoe in his hand and spoke in a loud voice.
"My old bones can still move. If anyone dares to dismantle the irrigation ditch, I'll fight them to the death!"
The villagers behind them echoed, their sickles and carrying poles gleaming in the sunlight.
Young Master Jiang looked at the townspeople before him, his eyes reddening.
He took a deep breath and straightened his back: "Alright! Let's protect the town together!"
Seeing Young Master Jiang's relaxed expression and the look of satisfaction on his face, I felt happy too.
I know the road ahead will be difficult, but as long as we stick together, we will definitely be able to drive the wolves away.
Let's protect our home and cherish these hard-won good days.
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