Chapter Summaries

Li Long persuaded his family that buying a Small Four-Wheel Tractor was necessary to build his house quickly and keep earning money, then traveled to the County Seat to buy one. At the tractor factory, he asked to start and drive a new tractor himself, leaving the purchase poised for its first test.

• Li Long explained that a tractor would speed up hauling and let him finish his house before planting and Taibazi work began, and his family agreed to the purchase.
• Li Long told Li Anguo, Chen Xingbang, and Li Junshan that he was seeking them work, then went to the County Seat with Tao Daqiang, Yang Yongqiang, and Li Junshan.
• Li Long and the others reached the Stone City Tractor Factory and chose the twelve-horsepower Small Four-Wheel Tractor priced at four thousand five hundred yuan.
• Li Long asked to test-drive a new tractor himself, and the saleswoman brought one over after the middle-aged salesman got permission.

Li Long bought a twelve-horsepower tractor in Stone City, proved he could start and drive it, and brought it home to the Li Family amid a crowd of excited villagers. The new tractor caused a far greater sensation than his Color Television, and the family began cleaning and admiring it.

• Li Long started the Small Four-Wheel Tractor by himself and drove it around the factory to prove his ability.
• Li Long paid 4,500 yuan for the tractor, completed the paperwork, and collected its accessories.
• Li Long and his companions ate at the State-Run Canteen, where a paper mill representative offered him hauling work that he declined.
• Li Long bought diesel, filled the tractor, and drove it from Stone City through Ma County and Hongqi Township to the Li Family home.
• Villagers rushed to see Li Long's tractor, and Wang the Miser remarked that it was underpowered while envying the new machine.
• Li Jianguo and Li Qiang sat on the tractor as Liang Yuemei and Chen Lirong wiped mud from it.

Li Long used his tractor to improve the family yard and build a new house, hiring villagers and organizing friends and relatives to help. After the house was completed, he left the outbuilding and other yard work for later and prepared the vegetable plot with manure.

• Li Long hauled river sand and stones with his tractor, and his family covered the yard with sand to keep mud from sticking to their shoes.
• Wang the Miser cleared the homestead with the tractor, while Li Long arranged the foundations and hired villagers to make mud bricks.
• Li Junshan and the villagers built the house walls, roof, and courtyard walls, then Li Long demonstrated that his tractor could plow and level the vegetable plot.
• Li Long drove Tao Daqiang and Yang Yongqiang to Harimu’s place to collect sheep manure, and Harimu asked him to check on his mother and children at the Pastoral Team.
• Li Long spread manure over the vegetable plot, and his family finished the house’s doors, windows, brick floors, and drainage so the new home was essentially ready.

Li Long finished work on his new courtyard while considering land contracts and ways to earn money in the coming year. Yang Yongqiang crashed the tractor into the house, and Li Long told him to repair the hole.

• Li Long considered the village’s upcoming land bidding and weighed whether to contract more fields or wait to see how his watermelons grew.
• Li Long let Yang Yongqiang practice driving the tractor while he discussed Li Junshan’s interest in working at a coal mine and warned him about the dangers underground.
• Li Long considered spring and summer income options, including weaving, gathering Fritillaria, and developing a tractor-mounted wheat harvester.
• Yang Yongqiang drove the tractor back into Li Long’s courtyard, revved the engine by mistake, and crashed into the East Room wall.
• Li Long stayed calm and told Yang Yongqiang to patch the hole, while Yang Yongqiang admitted he might have stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake.

Li Long finished preparing his yard and helped Li Jianguo and Lu Yingming consider earning money by drilling hand-pump wells. A call from Li Xiangqian brought construction jobs in Kuytun for Li Long’s relatives, and Li Anguo and Li Junshan agreed to go while Chen Xingbang and Tao Daqiang declined; Yang Yongqiang was still deciding.

• Yang Yongqiang spread the story of crashing Li Long’s tractor into the wall, while Li Long ignored the gossip and completed the yard, hand pump, and tractor shelter.
• Li Jianguo and Lu Yingming drilled a deep well for Li Long, and Li Long suggested they charge households to drill more hand-pump wells.
• Xu Chengjun’s household called Li Long to speak with Li Xiangqian, who offered temporary construction jobs in Kuytun that could lead to permanent positions.
• Li Anguo and Li Junshan accepted the jobs, while Chen Xingbang decided to remain and pursue more flexible work; Li Long advised the two men on preparing and maintaining contact with Ma Aihong.
• Tao Daqiang refused the opportunity, and Yang Yongqiang hesitated after Li Long told him about the work.

Li Long arranged for Li Anguo, Li Junshan, and the others to travel to Kuytun for construction work, while he prepared to drive them there on his tractor. He obtained the paperwork needed to register the tractor and learned that its licensing exam was open-book, then decided to bring his documented Small-Bore on the trip.

• Yang Yongqiang told Li Long he would travel with Second Uncle and the others to Kuytun, work there if he liked it, and return if he did not.
• Li Long told his parents that Li Anguo, Li Junshan, and the others would leave for construction work, and he discussed his upcoming wedding and the family's plans for the trip.
• Li Long promised to help Chen Lirong and her daughters while Li Anguo was away, then considered driving the group to Kuytun on his tractor.
• At a family gathering, Li Long agreed to look for fruit saplings and Kuitun Te Qu, and he planned to report back on the city.
• Li Long and Li Junshan went to the County Seat, where Li Long applied for a tractor driver's license and learned that the April 10 theory exam was open-book; he also filed for a license plate.
• Li Long decided to take the documented Small-Bore to Kuytun because it would be easier to explain than his other guns.

Li Long drove Li Anguo, Li Junshan, and Yang Yongqiang west by tractor toward the city where Li Anguo would work, stopping in Stone City and Shawan along the way. The group ate and rested, then continued toward Kuytun.

• Li Long left the village with Li Anguo, Li Junshan, and Yang Yongqiang, while the family watched them depart.
• Li Long stopped at Stone City to rest and buy food, and the group ate before continuing west.
• Li Long refilled the tractor’s radiator at an irrigation canal and told the others about Karamay’s oil industry as they passed tanker trucks.
• Li Long and the others stopped for noodles in Shawan, then resumed their journey.
• More than two hours later, Li Long drove toward Kuytun as its large sign came into view.

Li Long brought Li Anguo and Yang Yongqiang to KT City to seek work at the construction and installation company, where his gifts and social skills helped secure them places and accommodation. After settling into an inn, Yang Yongqiang lay awake wondering whether to become a worker or return to village life with Li Long.

• Li Long reached the construction and installation company and learned from a worker that Section Chief Ma Aihong had gone home for dinner.
• Li Long brought Li Anguo and Yang Yongqiang to Ma Aihong's home, where he presented a wolf pelt, dried wild boar meat, and salted fish from Section Chief Li Xiangqian.
• Ma Aihong offered Li Long temporary hauling work and promised to arrange dormitory accommodation for his companions, with a guesthouse room for Li Long.
• Li Long told Li Junshan that they could begin at the company the next morning, then took everyone to an inn and a nearby state-run canteen.
• After the group went to sleep, Yang Yongqiang wondered whether he should stay in the city as a worker or return to the village and keep his freedom.

Li Long began hauling materials for the Construction and Installation Company, earning a hundred yuan on his first day while Li Anguo, Li Junshan, and Yang Yongqiang settled into their new jobs. The chapter left Li Long considering the advantages of staying in town as he returned to the guesthouse after a brief evening walk and watching television.

• Li Long brought Li Anguo, Li Junshan, and Yang Yongqiang to the company dormitory, where Ma Aihong arranged their lodging and assigned Li Long a room at the guesthouse.
• Li Long hauled five loads of sand and gravel in the morning, while Li Junshan received skilled-worker wages and Li Anguo and Yang Yongqiang began as general laborers.
• Li Long encouraged Li Anguo to try for skilled work, and Yang Yongqiang said he hoped to adjust to the labor and eventually become a permanent worker.
• Ma Aihong told Li Long that his tractor had sped up construction and that hauling payments were settled daily; Li Long earned a hundred yuan after hauling ten loads.
• Li Long took an evening walk around town, returned before dark, and watched The Legend of the Condor Heroes in the guesthouse television room.

Li Long finished hauling construction materials in Kuytun and visited the Farm Machinery Factory to propose a tractor-mounted wheat cutter. Director Du Tongzhou agreed to develop it and promised to sell Li Long one at cost and pay royalties if his design was used; Li Long then headed for the Agricultural Science Institute.

• Li Long hauled bricks and cement for the construction project, while Li Anguo passed a skilled-worker test and Yang Yongqiang hoped to earn a skilled position.
• Li Long learned that the local Farm Machinery Factory made agricultural implements, then completed his hauling work and said goodbye to Ma Aihong, who praised his relatives’ work.
• Li Long met factory director Du Tongzhou and explained his idea for a tractor-mounted harvester that would cut wheat for workers to bundle by hand.
• Du Tongzhou agreed to build the harvester, offered Li Long one at cost, and promised patent royalties if the factory used his design.
• Li Long left his village telephone number, then drove west toward the Agricultural Science Institute.

Li Long returned from Kuytun with fruit saplings and planned to plant them at the family courtyards before marrying Gu Xiaoxia. Back in Ma County, Chen Xingbang decided to sell meat in Stone City, and Li Long agreed to help him obtain sheep.

• Li Long bought fruit tree saplings in Kuytun, stopped in Stone City, and spent the night at the Big Courtyard before returning to Ma County the next day.
• Li Long told Gu Xiaoxia that they could set up their new home that weekend, then register their marriage and hold the wedding, and she agreed to return with him.
• Li Long planted saplings at the courtyards, while Du Chunfang offered to watch over the new courtyard and its plants.
• Chen Xingbang told Li Long he planned to sell meat on Old Street in Stone City, and Li Long offered to take him into the mountains to buy sheep.
• Li Jianguo asked Li Long to update the family members who did not know how Li Anguo and the others were doing.

Li Long hurried to arrange his wedding with Li Qingxia for the following week, coordinating preparations with Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei before collecting furniture and invitations. As neighbors helped furnish the new courtyard and prepare for the celebration, Li Long also discussed future work with Tao Daqiang.

• Li Long told Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei that he planned to marry Li Qingxia the following week because planting and mountain work would soon keep everyone busy.
• Li Jianguo agreed to handle the invitations, cooking arrangements, and courtyard preparations, while Liang Yuemei listed household and wedding supplies for Li Long to buy.
• Li Long drove to the township carpentry workshop with Tao Daqiang, collected furniture, and bought a hundred wedding invitations from Old Zhang at the General Store.
• Li Long discussed mountain work, fritillaria gathering, fishing, and weaving Taibazi with Tao Daqiang, who decided to stay on the team and catch fish for now.
• Li Long returned with the furniture, and neighbors helped unload and carry it into the new courtyard as Li Jianguo announced the wedding and assigned preparations.

Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia prepared their new courtyard and organized supplies, helpers, and meals for their upcoming wedding. They delivered wedding favors to their colleagues and bureau leaders, who congratulated them and urged Li Long to treat Gu Xiaoxia well.

• Li Long bought household goods and wedding supplies in the County Seat, then told Gu Xiaoxia the wedding would be held the following Sunday.
• Li Long, his family, and local helpers furnished the courtyard, improved the road, built stoves, and planned the wedding feast.
• The Liang brothers agreed to catch common carp for the feast, while Li Long arranged to buy meat and chickens closer to the wedding.
• Gu Xiaoxia returned to the courtyard, and she and Li Long hung wedding decorations before shopping for clothes and household items.
• Li Long bought Gu Xiaoxia a gold ring, necklace, and bracelet despite her objections, and they prepared wedding favor packets for their colleagues.
• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia delivered favor packets at the Education Bureau, where Deputy Director Wang congratulated them and warned Li Long not to mistreat her.

As his wedding day arrived, Li Long finished the preparations, married Gu Xiaoxia, and brought her back to the Big Courtyard for the celebration. The feast was about to begin when Li Xiangqian, Chen Hongjun, and Zhong Guoqiang arrived by car, surprising the villagers.

• Li Long persuaded Gu Xiaoxia to take five days off and went with her to have wedding photographs taken.
• Li Long and his family completed the wedding preparations, and Li Long spent the night in the bridal room before waking from a dream about losing his new life.
• Li Long dressed in a blue suit and led the young men by tractor to Gu Xiaoxia's home, where he completed the wedding rites and brought her away.
• Gu Boyuan sent Gu Xiaoxia off without sadness and began celebrating with the guests at his home.
• Li Long drove the decorated tractor around the village with Gu Xiaoxia before returning to the Big Courtyard, where the wedding feast was ready.
• Li Xiangqian arrived at the Big Courtyard with Chen Hongjun and Zhong Guoqiang, drawing the villagers' attention.

Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia celebrated their wedding with a large feast, heartfelt toasts, and a few interruptions that the guests quickly contained. After the banquet, their friends began playful bridal-chamber games, while Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei reflected on Li Long’s childhood and wished the newlyweds well.

• Li Xiangqian, Chen Hongjun, and Zhong Guoqiang arrived and each gave Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia a generous twenty-yuan wedding gift.
• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia toasted their guests, and Gu Xiaoxia thanked Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei for raising Li Long.
• Tao Daqiang and Liang Second Son stopped Hou Simmao from bringing up Gu Ermao during the feast, and the couple continued greeting guests.
• After the guests finished eating, Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia joined the young men for bridal-chamber games, sharing a linked-arm toast and quickly eating a hanging apple.
• Liang Yuemei and Li Jianguo rested at home and talked about Li Long growing up, marrying Gu Xiaoxia, and possibly having children.

After their wedding, Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia settled into married life, held a feast to thank their wedding helpers, and traveled to Gu Boyuan’s home for their third-day return visit. Li Long asked Gu Boyuan whether twins ran in the family, and Gu Boyuan’s changed expression suggested there was a story behind it.

• After the wedding guests left, Li Long made noodles, woke Gu Xiaoxia, and the newlyweds shared a meal before going to bed together.
• The next day, Gu Xiaoxia offered to take charge of household chores as she and Li Long began building their life together.
• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia helped with the host appreciation feast, while Tao Daqiang returned the borrowed tables, chairs, and other items.
• After the feast, Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia tidied their courtyard and spent the evening together.
• On their third-day return visit, Li Long brought Gu Xiaoxia to Gu Boyuan’s home and asked whether twins ran in the Gu family.
• Gu Boyuan’s expression changed when Li Long asked about twins, hinting that the question touched on a family story.

Gu Boyuan told Li Long about his political troubles, his missing wife, and Xiaoxia’s missing twin sister, then grew closer to the newlyweds over a family meal. After Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia returned to the county and resumed work, Li Long came back to the team to prepare for planting watermelons.

• Li Long asked Gu Boyuan about his past, and Gu Boyuan explained how his political complaints and association with a spy led to an investigation, his exile, and his wife’s disappearance.
• Gu Boyuan told Li Long that Gu Xiaoxia had a younger twin sister who had gone missing, and that he had never learned what happened to her wife or the child.
• Li Long and Gu Boyuan discussed hoping for twins, then shared a meal and drinks with Gu Xiaoxia while talking about their work, household plans, and future family.
• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia returned to the county seat, informed their colleagues and friends of their marriage, and Li Long eventually drove the tractor back to the team.
• Li Long helped Du Chunfang plant chive roots and prepared to soak watermelon seeds, while he learned that Li Qingxia had gone to sell fish in the county seat.

Li Long arranged his next priorities, rented a courtyard in Stone City for Chen Xingbang to raise sheep, and prepared to help him establish himself. He then led his family in planting the seed watermelons, beginning the Li family's planned cash-crop venture.

• Li Long wrote down plans to plant seed watermelons, visit Harimu and Jade Mountain River in the mountains, help Chen Xingbang start raising sheep, and discuss taibazi with Li Xiangqian.
• Li Long visited the neighborhood office in Stone City and rented an empty courtyard for six months at twenty yuan per month.
• Li Long showed Chen Xingbang the courtyard, and Chen Xingbang decided to stay and clean it before joining Li Long on a trip to buy sheep.
• Li Long and Li Qingxia sold their fish, ate at the Big Meat Canteen, and bought vegetable seedlings before returning home.
• Li Long took his family to the field, demonstrated how to use the precision seeder, and began sowing the watermelon seeds with Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei.

Li Long finished sowing seed watermelons with his family, then drove to the County Seat and visited Jade Mountain River’s and Harimu’s families at the Pastoral Team, bringing supplies and school gifts for their children. He returned to the compound after dark, where Gu Xiaoxia greeted him at the door.

• Li Long and his family finished planting the seed watermelons, sharing dry steamed bread before returning home for lunch.
• After lunch, Li Long prepared the tractor and drove to the County Seat, buying grain and school supplies for the pastoral families.
• Li Long visited Jade Mountain River’s family and gave Ye'erjiang and Jianagulì schoolbags and household necessities.
• Li Long went to Harimu’s home, gave Nasen a schoolbag and brought the family supplies, while the other children watched enviously.
• Li Long bought food in the County Seat and drove to the compound, where Gu Xiaoxia opened the door and smiled at him.

Li Long bought grain, supplies, and medicine in the County Seat, then drove Chen Xingbang to Harimu's Winter Camp to deliver them and arrange a sheep purchase. He left with deer antlers, jade, two fawns, a young roe deer, and ten sheep for Chen Xingbang, while promising to bring more grain soon.

• Li Long told Gu Xiaoxia he would head into the mountains and promised to be careful while hunting.
• Li Long bought rice, flour, and cornmeal, collected Chen Xingbang, and purchased provisions and medicine for the mountain households.
• Li Long and Chen Xingbang reached Harimu's Winter Camp, where Harimu and the others unloaded the supplies and asked Li Long to bring more grain.
• Li Long labeled the medicines with Harimu and Jade Mountain River, then asked Harimu to sell Chen Xingbang ten sheep.
• Harimu arranged the sheep and grass for Chen Xingbang and gave Li Long two fawns and a young roe deer to take back.