Chapter 6 Chapter Six

Soon, after the working group completed its task and withdrew, the sideline business in the countryside and the sideline business of farmers’ households started secretly again, and the barking of dogs was vaguely heard again in the nearby villages.However, old man Xing's dog will not be resurrected, and old man Xing himself is getting older day by day. After a few months, he even lost the ability to manage his own life, relying entirely on neighbors to give him some food. On the coldest day of this winter, when the neighbors wondered that he hadn't opened the door until noon and pried open his lonely mud room, they found that he had already died straight on the kang.Some people said he had heart disease, some said he was dying of old age, and some said it was "cancer". Only the old man Wei complained sadly:

"If you don't get involved in politics, criticize Confucius! If you can't get on in production, beat dogs! It's not enough to punish people, but you have to punish animals! If old man Xing's dog is still there, let him bark a few times, and let us know sooner..." The End of the Story of Old Man Xing and the Dog Three and a half years later, Xiao Yang, the township postman of this commune, received a letter from northern Shaanxi addressed to the "Fifth Production Team, received by Old Man Xing".Without thinking too much, Xiao Yang posted a note saying "The person is dead, return to the original place" and typed it back.Later, during the rest of the commune's three-cadre meeting, a group of people chatted together, and Xiao Yang took it as news.Wei Tiangui, who is now the secretary of the brigade, heard this, and punched Xiao Yang fiercely on the back, cursing: "You bastard! Why don't you open the letter and have a look. This must be sent by the beggar woman." She came here. I don’t know how she is doing now; old man Xing still left two boxes, which are still in the warehouse of the fifth team.”

October 1979 at Nanliang Farm