Chapter 54 Rebuilding the Dam

“Huh? Banxia, who are you making these clothes for?” Sister-in-law Hu looked at the children’s clothes in Tang Banxia’s hands with curiosity.

Tang Banxia shook out the garment and snipped off a loose thread. “For Xiaobai’s nephew.”

Sister-in-law Sun watched for a while and said, “Xiao Tang, you’re really skillful with your hands.”

The finished clothes were neat and attractive. Tang Banxia had taken inspiration from modern children’s clothing, simplified the style, and made a long, thin cotton coat. There was a hood hanging at the back, and the rim of the hood was edged with a thick border of pure white rabbit fur. The coat itself was black, with all the stitching hidden on the inside, not a single loose thread in sight. She also sewed two pockets on either side with the white rabbit fur, and on the pockets, she embroidered two little red rabbits with wool yarn.

Her sense of aesthetics was impeccable. With these touches, an ordinary black cotton coat suddenly looked luxurious.

When it was finished, Aunt Hu couldn’t put it down as she held it. “Xiao Tang, I really wonder how you come up with these ideas.”

Hu Chunhua took it and examined it. “Comrade Tang, could you teach me how to make this coat? I’d like to make one too.”

Tang Banxia nodded at her request. “Of course.”

She explained the process in detail, and Hu Chunhua listened attentively. Sister-in-law Sun and Aunt Hu listened as well.

But after hearing the instructions, both women immediately dismissed the idea of making such a coat for their own children. After all, their boys were troublemakers—this kind of delicate coat would just be wasted!

After spending the afternoon at Aunt Hu’s house and accomplishing her goal, Tang Banxia walked home with a lighter step. As soon as she left the Hu family courtyard, she saw Wen Mubai waiting outside and felt even happier.

“I told you there’s no need to come pick me up. It’s so cold outside~”

Wen Mubai took her sewing basket from her hands. “I’m not cold.”

Tang Banxia glanced at him with mock annoyance, and the two walked home together, hand in hand.

“I’ve finished the cotton coat for Haoren. If you have time, go to the county and buy some yarn for me.” Tang Banxia said.

“Alright.” Wen Mubai agreed readily, asking no questions.

A few days later, Aunt Hu and Sister-in-law Sun came to Tang Banxia for some sewing work and brought news. “The date for building the dam has been set.”

“We leave in a week,” Aunt Hu said as she worked on a shoe sole. “I heard from my father that you’re going too, Banxia?” she asked.

Tang Banxia was knitting a sweater, head lowered. Hearing this, she replied, “Yes.”

Sister-in-law Sun was worried. “Building the dam is grueling work. The food is barely edible, and you sleep in makeshift shelters. Xiao Tang, are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”

Every year, those who returned from building the dam came back gaunt and exhausted. How could a young woman like Xiao Tang handle it?

Aunt Hu had also come to persuade her. “Banxia, even strong, able-bodied men can barely endure the hardships of dam construction.”

Tang Banxia knew they meant well. “I’m going as the doctor, not to do heavy labor. It’ll be fine.”

She had to go—only then would the team leader have a valid reason to open doors for her.

Seeing her resolve, the two women didn’t press further and changed the subject. “Is this sweater also for Wen Comrade’s nephew?”

Tang Banxia smiled. “No, this one’s for my own nephew.”

She had intended to make a cotton coat for Tang Jingran as well, but later decided on a set of knitted sweater and pants instead.

She worked hard and managed to finish the set before leaving for dam construction.

She packed some mushrooms and chestnuts, the sweater and pants for Jingran, and wrote a letter, asking Wen Mubai to send it to her elder brother at the commune.

After some thought, she also sent some things and a letter to Jiangcheng, mentioning her future visit so they could be prepared.

The day before departure, Tang Banxia went to see Aunt Hu. She wanted to trade for several tanned hides from her family, any kind would do as long as they were warm.

Aunt Hu agreed without hesitation. “When do you need them?”

“After I return from building the dam,” Tang Banxia replied.

“Alright, I’ll ask my family for you.”

“Thank you, Aunt Hu.”

With that settled, she went home.

This dam project would last a month, with communal meals and lodging—it wouldn’t be convenient to cook privately. She decided to prepare some easy, inconspicuous food for herself.

She stir-fried a large pot of chestnuts with sugar and packed them in kraft paper bags. She also toasted flour with white flour, malted milk, and sugar, adding walnuts, chestnut bits, pine nuts, crushed peanuts, and sesame seeds—just add hot water and it would be ready to eat.

She steamed two large pots of black flour steamed buns, secretly adding brown sugar and milk powder. She made a variety of stuffed vegetable buns: cabbage and meat, pickled cabbage and meat, dried beans and meat, lamb, and so on—anything she could think of.

She also made corn and wheat flour mixed buns, some rice balls, and filled glass jars with spicy pickled cabbage, sour long beans, and pickled radish.

From leftover beef, she simmered a large jar of beef sauce. The sauce was rich and oily, with visible chunks of beef—truly appetizing.

Lastly, she made noodles. She had a clever idea: stuffed noodles, white flour inside, coated with black flour outside. She left the noodles to dry overnight and, on the morning of departure, packed them into kraft paper bags.

While she prepared all these things, Wen Mubai assisted her.

Seeing all these supplies laid out in her basket, she began to look forward to the coming month on the dam.

The next day, before dawn, the assembly whistle sounded.

Everyone gathered at the drying yard.

This time, the group was led by the record keeper Shi Jian, and Hu Dajun’s second son, Hu Jiajun.

Tang Banxia served as both the team doctor and the cook’s assistant—one of only two women in the group. The other was Hu Zhaodi, who smiled at Tang Banxia and stood to one side.

After a short wait, when most people had arrived, Captain Hu began taking attendance.

During this pause, Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming slipped over, each loaded with luggage and holding bowls and utensils. Seeing how much Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai were carrying, they immediately offered to help.

Liu Liyun stood with the other educated youths, watching Tang Banxia in the team with a beaming smile, gazing at her as if she’d struck gold.

She was positively delighted inside. What was there for Tang Banxia to be proud of? Married to a useless man, and now she had to suffer like the rest. When Banxia returned, Liu Liyun would be sure to pay her a visit.

Unlike her pretended concern, Xu Guiming was much more direct. He loudly lamented the consequences of marrying the wrong man, never missing an opportunity to mention Wen Mubai by name.

Tang Banxia was completely unaware of what the others at the educated youth spot were thinking, but even if she had known, she wouldn’t have cared.

Soon, everyone had arrived. Captain Hu said a few brief words to encourage the group, and they set out in the morning mist.

It took a whole day to travel from Guyue Village to the dam. The group started before dawn and didn’t arrive until dusk.

In the past, Wen Mubai would have quit long before, but today he didn’t complain once, just quietly followed behind Tang Banxia.

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming walked beside him, catching whiffs of the sweet scent coming from their “Brother Bai” and swallowing their saliva in envy.

Wen Mubai noticed and handed each of them a White Rabbit milk candy, signaling them to keep quiet.

The two grinned, popping the candies into their mouths. The creamy sweetness melted on their tongues, instantly lifting their spirits.

No wonder Brother Bai was so energetic!

Now, they had some, too!