48: Chapter 48 The Returnee

Tom spent three months filming his documentary.

He carried his camera and walked through every corner of Xinfeng Town.

The abandoned coal mine, the renovated farm, the "Ear" sculpture in the church, and Friday nights at the bar.

He filmed the old folks singing, talking, laughing, and crying.

Once, he crouched at the church entrance to film Lin Feng's back as he crouched there.

Lin Feng looked back at him. "Why are you filming me?"

Tom said, "You are the protagonist."

Lin Feng shook his head. "I am not. They are."

Tom paused, stunned.

Lin Feng pointed at the people inside the church. "They are."

The day the documentary was finished, Tom called Lin Feng.

"Bro, can you come over? I want to show it to you."

Lin Feng was crouching at the restaurant entrance, chewing on a straw. "Send it over."

Tom said, "I want to show it to you in person."

Lin Feng was silent for a second, then said, "Alright."

That night, the church was packed with people.

Four hundred and thirty-two people, not a single one missing.

Tom stood at the front, with a projector beside him.

He took a deep breath and pressed the play button.

The screen lit up.

The first shot was the abandoned coal mine, the pit lying like a scar at the foot of the mountain.

Then came the empty main street, the dilapidated shops, and the church that was on the verge of collapse.

Someone whispered, "Is this our town?"

Another replied, "Yes. How it looked three years ago."

The footage continued.

Then the renovated farm, with Chris leading the old miners in growing mushrooms.

Then the "Ear" sculpture in the church, with George speaking to it.

Followed by Friday night at the bar, the old men singing, laughing, and crying.

The final shot was four hundred and thirty-two people standing together at the church entrance.

Sunlight shone on their faces.

A line of text appeared on the screen: [We Are Still Here]

The church was silent for three seconds.

Then someone started clapping.

Then a second, a third, and everyone followed.

George stood up, walked to Tom, and hugged him.

"Kid, well filmed."

Tom's eyes turned red.

After the documentary spread online, the name of Xinfeng Town appeared in the view of American audiences for the first time.

The comment section exploded: "This is America? How did I not know such a place existed?"

"That 'Ear' sculpture, I want to go and speak to it."

"Those old miners sing so beautifully, is there an album?"

"Where is this town? I want to go!"

A week later, someone drove over from Ohio.

Two weeks later, someone flew in from Florida.

Three weeks later, someone rented a house in town, saying they wanted to stay for a while.

Margaret was so busy every day she barely touched the ground, but she couldn't stop smiling.

She crouched at the restaurant entrance, watching the increasing number of unfamiliar faces on the street with Lin Feng.

"Lin Feng."

Lin Feng turned his head to look at her.

Margaret pointed at the tourists. "They have come."

Lin Feng nodded.

Margaret asked, "Did you know it would be like this?"

Lin Feng shook his head.

Margaret paused. "Then why did you do all this?"

Lin Feng thought for a moment and said earnestly, "Because you are still here."

The first young person to return was named Kevin.

Twenty-four years old, he had moved to Pittsburgh with his parents ten years ago.

He saw the documentary online and was stunned for a long time.

That dilapidated house was where he had lived as a child.

One of the old men singing was his grandfather.

He bought a ticket, took a six-hour bus ride, and returned to Xinfeng Town.

Standing at the edge of town, he froze.

The old, worn-out road sign had been repainted.

The line "Welcome to" that had been painted over was written back on again.

He walked inside.

The main street was still the same main street, but the sides were no longer empty.

Someone had opened a new Coffee Shop, someone had opened a craft store, and someone was setting up a stall by the roadside to sell mushrooms.

He walked to his grandfather's house.

The door was open, and his grandfather was sitting in the yard, sunbathing.

Kevin stood at the door, afraid to go in.

His grandfather turned and saw him, stunned for three seconds.

Then he smiled.

"You're back?"

Kevin nodded.

His grandfather stood up, walked to him, and looked him up and down.

"You've lost weight."

Kevin didn't speak, his eyes turning red.

His grandfather reached out and patted his shoulder. "It's good that you're back."

The second to return was named Maria—not the store manager Maria, but another Maria, twenty-seven years old, who studied design.

She had stayed in New York for five years, designing for big companies, working overtime until she felt like vomiting.

The night she saw the documentary, she cried.

Not because of sadness, but because she missed home.

When she was little, her grandfather also mined coal in this town.

Her grandfather had been dead for ten years, and she had never returned once.

After seeing the documentary, she immediately quit her job, gave up her apartment, and bought a one-way ticket.

The day she returned to town, she stood at the church entrance, looking at the huge "Ear" sculpture, stunned for a long time.

Jenny walked out and asked her, "Want to speak?"

Maria nodded.

She walked to the sculpture, faced the ear, and spoke. "My name is Maria. I'm twenty-seven. My grandfather was a miner. When he died, I didn't come back. I regret it very much."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "But I am back now."

After speaking, she walked to the cushion and sat down.

The old lady next to her handed her a tissue.

Maria took it and wiped her tears.

Then she smiled.

The third to return was named James—not the James who was the union president, but another James, twenty-two years old, just graduated from college.

He studied agriculture.

While in school, the teacher asked them: What do you think is the future of agriculture?

James said: Vertical farming.

The teacher laughed: That thing has too high a cost, it's not realistic.

James didn't speak.

But he saw the news about Xinfeng Town.

The abandoned coal mine had turned into an underground vertical farm.

He immediately packed his bags and bought a ticket.

The day he arrived in town, he went straight to the farm.

Chris was leading the old miners in growing mushrooms, saw him, and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

James said, "Looking for work."

Chris was stunned. "What can you do?"

James said, "I studied agriculture. The vertical farm kind."

Chris stared at him for three seconds.

Then he smiled. "Come, I'll take you down to take a look."

A month later, Xinfeng Town had seventeen more young people.

Some returned, some were newcomers.

Margaret set up a sign at the restaurant entrance: [Xinfeng Town Population: 449]

Lin Feng crouched beside the sign, looked at the number, and smiled.

Margaret walked over and crouched beside him.

"Lin Feng."

Lin Feng turned his head to look at her.

Margaret pointed at the sign. "Seventeen more."

Lin Feng nodded.

Margaret asked, "Do you know why they came?"

Lin Feng thought for a moment and said, "Because you are still here."

Margaret paused, stunned.

Lin Feng continued, "As long as you are here, they have a place to 'return' to."

Margaret stared at him for three seconds.

Then she smiled.

[Chapter 48 End]