Chapter 21: The Waters of Jiangnan Warm, Silkworms Unravel Within Their Cocoons (Vote Please)

The wool, Qing salt, and dried fish brought back from Qinghai quickly replenished the factory’s reserves. The wool was handed over to the labor protection workshop, the Qing salt was stored in the canteen warehouse, and the dried fish became a rare treat added to the workers’ meals.

Director Zhang from the logistics department specially invited He Yuzhu for a meal at the canteen’s private kitchen, during which he handed over a new task order.

“Yuzhu, this task is a bit of a ‘prestige project,’” Director Zhang said, pointing to the order. “Mid-year, we have to attend the Light Industry Exchange Conference in Shanghai. The factory leadership needs to present a good image. The mission: procure a batch of genuine silk fabric to make two decent Zhongshan suits for the leaders, and prepare some gifts as well.”

“Genuine silk?” He Yuzhu put down his chopsticks. “That stuff is precious. Usually, it’s not available within our factory’s plan.”

“That’s exactly why we’re sending you!” Director Zhang lowered his voice. “The introduction letter is ready. Try your luck in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Remember, keep it low-profile, don’t be flashy, and keep the price within a reasonable range.” He gestured subtly, implying that the factory’s petty cash could be used.

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The green train clattered across the Yangtze River Bridge. Outside the window, a network of waterways stretched across lush green rice paddies, dotted with villages of white walls and black tiles, a stark contrast to the vastness of the North.

Ma Hua leaned out the window, eyes fixed intently.

“Boss, the south of the Yangtze looks prosperous. Getting some silk fabric shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

“Prosperous?” He Yuzhu looked at the crowded platform and the workers in gray-blue uniforms. “It depends on the place and the connections.”

Instead of heading straight to the state-owned silk factory, they first went to a sericulture commune called Shuangxi on the outskirts of Hangzhou, as He Yuzhu had suggested.

It was the season when the spring silkworms were spinning their cocoons, the air heavy with the fresh scent of mulberry leaves and a faint, peculiar smell of the silkworm rooms.

The commune’s veteran Party secretary, surnamed Shen, wore old-fashioned glasses. After hearing He Yuzhu’s purpose, he sighed deeply.

“Comrade, it’s not that we don’t want to help. Good cocoons and fine silk are all earmarked for completing the upper-level tasks and earning foreign exchange through exports. Anything outside the plan is difficult! Even the defective products have already been snapped up by connected parties.”

“Defective products?” He Yuzhu caught the key word. “Secretary Shen, we don’t need export-grade quality. Just some scraps, or slightly uneven colors, as long as it’s enough to make a suit. The leaders attending the conference represent the face of the working class.”

Secretary Shen pushed up his glasses and scrutinized He Yuzhu carefully. His faded work uniform and straightforward manner didn’t seem at all like someone seeking personal gain under false pretenses. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “There are indeed some scraps. These are ‘mixed threads’ and ‘knotty threads’ sorted out by the silk reeling factory. They can’t be woven into large pieces but are fine for small items. You want them?”

“Yes!” He Yuzhu replied decisively. “At scrap prices, cash payment. We won’t trouble you.”

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Secretary Shen nodded. “Alright. But it won’t be much—just a few dozen pounds of loose silk, and the colors are mixed. You’ll have to find a way to turn it into usable fabric yourselves.”

“No problem. Thank you, Secretary Shen!” He Yuzhu immediately sent Ma Hua to the warehouse to pick up the goods while he stayed behind to chat about the spring silkworm harvest.

“This year’s mulberry leaves are good, and the silkworms are strong! But we’re short on hands—picking leaves, feeding silkworms, and managing the spinning season all overlap. Everyone from young to old is working hard, yet it’s still not enough,” Secretary Shen said, pointing to the bent figures laboring in the mulberry fields.

Suddenly, the commune’s loudspeaker blared an urgent notice: “Attention all members! The meteorological station has issued an emergency warning! Tonight there will be severe convective weather, possibly hail! All production teams must immediately organize to harvest mature silkworms! Repeat…”

A commotion broke out in the mulberry fields. Mature silkworms struck by hail mean heavy losses.

“This is bad!” Secretary Shen’s face changed dramatically. Without a word, he grabbed his straw hat and rushed out.

He Yuzhu didn’t hesitate, grabbing an empty basket by the wall and following him. “Secretary Shen, let me help!”

The mulberry fields bustled with activity. Men, women, and children were racing against time, transferring fat, white mature silkworms from bamboo trays into baskets, then moving them into the silkworm houses.

He Yuzhu, strong and efficient, carried heavy baskets of cocoons swiftly. Sweat soon soaked the back of his work uniform.

Ma Hua pulled a cart loaded with the loose silk to the roadside truck. Seeing the scene, he jumped down to help in the fields. The two northerners’ aid greatly accelerated the harvest.

As large raindrops began to fall, the last batch of mature silkworms was safely moved into the dry silkworm house. The hail rattled against the mulberry leaves, leaving the fields in disarray.

Secretary Shen wiped rain and sweat from his face, looking at the nearly drenched He Yuzhu and Ma Hua, deeply moved and speechless. “Comrades He and Ma, we owe you today! Otherwise…”

“It’s what we should do,” He Yuzhu waved him off. “Harvesting under emergency is like fighting a fire.”

Back at the commune office, Secretary Shen did not hesitate and carefully took out two bolts of rolled fabric from a cabinet.

The fabric, when unfolded, was a softly lustrous, natural white plain silk with only faint and barely noticeable water stains on the edges.

“These are two bolts of plain silk from last year, held in storage. They were originally for export stock, but were returned because of these slight marks. They have been kept unused until now,” Secretary Shen handed the fabric to He Yuzhu. “Take them! Don’t be picky! They’re enough to make clothes for the leaders. The stains are on the hems, so they won’t show.”

“Secretary Shen, this…” He Yuzhu knew this was a significant gift.

“If you refuse, it would be like disrespecting our commune!” Secretary Shen said sternly. “You’ve helped us a great deal! This fabric is priced as scrap silk.”

He Yuzhu no longer declined and thanked him solemnly. Two fine bolts of plain silk, along with the dozens of pounds of colorful loose threads, were securely loaded onto the truck.

As they left Shuangxi Commune, the rain cleared.

Secretary Shen and several commune members accompanied them to the stone bridge at the village entrance. Below the bridge, the stream babbled, reflecting the green mulberry fields on both sides.

“Boss, this trip was worth it!” Ma Hua started the truck. “We got the fabric, and even scored two bolts of fine silk for free!”

“Not for free,” He Yuzhu said, looking at the waving crowd in the rearview mirror. “It was earned with hard work. These days, hard work is the most genuine currency.”

The truck headed toward Hangzhou city, ready to find a tailor cooperative they knew to process the silk threads and plain silk into fabric.

He Yuzhu gazed out at the water-town scenery but his mind was already turning: those dozens of pounds of multicolored scraps might have other uses…

A few days later, in the steel rolling plant’s logistics warehouse, Director Zhang fondled the smooth, crisp plain silk fabric with great admiration.

“Excellent! Yuzhu, you did a great job! This fabric and workmanship are flawless! The leaders will definitely be pleased!” He looked toward a neatly sorted pile of colorful silk threads tied by color. “And these?”

“Scrap threads from the commune,” He Yuzhu explained. “I was thinking of handing them over to the factory’s trade union women’s committee. Many of the workers’ families are skillful and could weave small items like Mao badges, pen holders, or little tablecloths. It’d be a nice welfare addition for the factory, or small gifts for foreign affairs activities.”

“Great idea!” Director Zhang’s eyes lit up. “Recycling waste and showcasing our factory’s uniqueness! Yuzhu, your brain’s working well!” He waved his hand and granted He Yuzhu several scarce special vouchers for cigarettes and alcohol as a reward.

The mission was completed with flying colors. He Yuzhu left the logistics office, clutching the light yet weighty vouchers.

The silk of Jiangnan had been exchanged for special supplies from the North. This procurement path was only widening with each step.