Chapter 111 Heavy Snowfall

After Chen Yuanjiang left, the livestock company seemed to become much emptier.

The daily production and life in the company continued as usual, and people fought against the harsh winter step by step. But Shu Ran always felt that something was missing.

The weather is getting colder and colder; the true depths of winter have arrived. The wind on the Gobi Desert is becoming increasingly fierce, whipping against people's faces with a harshness that locals call "white-haired wind." Snow falls one after another, accumulating to a depth that almost buries the dugouts.

Even with the classrooms at Qiming Elementary School stuffed full of dry straw and the gaps sealed shut, the bitter cold was still unbearable. The children, sitting inside and wearing cotton-padded coats, had runny noses from the cold, and their hands, gripping their pens, were stiff and unresponsive. Shu Ran felt sorry for them and, after discussing it with Lin Xuezhou, decided to shorten the classes on the coldest mornings and give the afternoons off so the children could stay home and keep warm.

Lin Xuezhou had no objection to this, and he devoted most of his energy to the school's development plan, occasionally discussing some details with Shu Ran. He seemed to realize that without the popular support Shu Ran had built, his plan would be nothing but a castle in the air.

Shu Ran was happy to have some free time. After finishing her classes in the morning, she had time to visit the literacy class in the afternoon, or stay in her room to read.

Xu Junjun would sometimes come over for a visit, bringing her little trinkets or sharing gossip from the company.

"Have you heard? Chen Yuanjiang's trip to the division headquarters this time seems to be more than just a mission from the security department." Xu Junjun lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "Some people guess it might be related to some deployments along the border next spring."

Shu Ran's heart tightened, but she remained calm on the surface: "Let's not pry into border matters."

“That’s true.” Xu Junjun nodded, then sighed, “This awful weather, I wonder how he is at the division headquarters, whether he has a warm bed to sleep on.”

Shu Ran didn't reply, but subconsciously glanced at the military water bottle on the table. She kept it clean every day and filled it with boiled water.

Days passed in the cold and in waiting. Occasionally, Shu Ran would receive things that Chen Yuanjiang had sent back through others. Sometimes it was a small package of food that could only be bought at the division's supply and marketing cooperative, and sometimes it was a few books. There weren't many things, and he never added a note, but every time she received them, it would put her at ease for several days.

She knew that he was telling her in this way that he was doing well and that he was thinking of her here.

However, beneath this calm, undercurrents were still surging. Rumors that Shu Ran might be transferred back to Shanghai had begun to circulate quietly in the company again, with detailed accounts and even mention that "the transfer order is already on its way."

Sister Wang and Li Xiulan, having heard rumors, both came to Shu Ran with great concern to confirm.

"Teacher Shu, you can't leave! Our literacy class can't do without you, and the children can't do without you either!" Sister Wang held her hand, her eyes reddening.

“That’s right, Teacher Shu, what are we going to do now that you’re gone?” Li Xiulan asked anxiously.

Shu Ran felt a mix of emotions. She was grateful for their attempts to persuade her to stay, but also felt a sense of unease about the unfounded rumors.

She knew that someone was definitely behind this, possibly someone from Deputy Political Commissar Lin's side, or someone who disliked her.

"Sister Wang, Xiulan, don't listen to the rumors outside," Shu Ran reassured them. "I haven't received any official notification. As long as the organization doesn't ask me to leave, I will continue teaching here."

Her words reassured the two of them somewhat, but Shu Ran herself still felt uneasy. She recalled the training opportunity Lin Xuezhou had mentioned earlier, and the meaningful look in Director Sun's eyes during their conversation.

She knew that her decision to stay or leave was not entirely up to her own will.

A few days later, the area experienced a rare heavy snowfall. The snow continued for a week, accumulating to thigh-deep and blocking all roads.

People's activity range also shrank. Apart from necessary patrols and clearing snow from rooftops to prevent collapse, almost everyone stayed in their dugouts or mud houses, tending to the fireplaces and heated walls to combat the bitter cold. Even the most mischievous children were strictly forbidden from playing outdoors for extended periods.

The company mobilized all available manpower to clear the snow from the main passageways and rooftops day and night to prevent the roofs from collapsing. Schools were also closed.

"Teacher Shu! Is Teacher Shu home?" came Sister Wang's voice from outside the door, accompanied by the sound of knocking on the door.

Shu Ran quickly got up and struggled to open the door, which was half blocked by snow. A blast of cold air rushed in as Sister Wang, bundled up like a ball, squeezed in, bringing with her a cloud of snow.

"What's wrong, Sister Wang?" Shu Ran quickly closed the door.

Sister Wang brushed the snow off her clothes. "Something terrible has happened, Teacher Shu! I was just called to an emergency meeting at the company headquarters! I heard the phone line to the regimental headquarters is down! Completely down!"

Shu Ran was startled. The telephone line was broken? This meant that the company had lost contact with the outside world.

When did this happen?

"I don't know! Company Commander Ma just realized he couldn't contact the regimental headquarters and sent people to investigate. They found that several utility poles had fallen, and the wires were buried in the snow! In this awful weather, there's no way to fix them!"

“The company must have an emergency plan. Company Commander Ma and the others will handle it,” she reassured them, but her heart was equally heavy. The communication blackout meant she couldn’t get any news from the outside world, including possible transfer orders regarding her whereabouts, or Chen Yuanjiang’s safety.

This state of complete ignorance is more agonizing than confirmed bad news.

The blizzard showed no signs of abating.

The company's coal and firewood reserves were dwindling. Company Commander Ma organized a group of people to risk their lives to smuggle the last batch of firewood from the woodshed on the hill behind the company, but some of them suffered frostbite on the way back.

The atmosphere became tense. People huddled together, each mentally calculating how long their dwindling fuel reserves would last.

Shu Ran tried to conserve coal, not letting the fire in the stove burn too brightly. She wore more clothes during the day to keep warm, and went to bed early at night to endure the cold, relying on the warmth from the stove.

Lin Xuezhou came to see her once, bringing with him the company's decision: in view of the extreme weather and shortage of supplies, all non-essential activities were suspended, and schools were closed indefinitely until the weather improved and the roads were cleared.

"Comrade Shu Ran, this is the current situation; we can only overcome it." Lin Xuezhou rubbed his hands, his tone somewhat helpless, yet tinged with concern. "Can you hold on here?"

"It's alright." Shu Ran nodded, her face a little pale, but her eyes remained calm. "Everyone's the same."

Lin Xuezhou hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just sighed and said, "Take care. If you have any difficulties, you can report them to the company."

Shu Ran knew that at this time, any so-called response would probably be in vain.

After seeing Lin Xuezhou off, Shu Ran looked out the window at the world, her worry for Chen Yuanjiang growing stronger. Where was he in this terrible weather? Was he safe? Did he know the situation at the company? Was the mission going smoothly? Various speculations tormented her.

A little anxious, Shu Ran threw herself into the snow-clearing work with everyone else. The biting cold wind quickly overwhelmed her; even with thick cotton gloves, her fingers soon went numb with cold. Her breath instantly frosted off her eyebrows and eyelashes.

During a break from clearing the snow, she gazed towards the division headquarters. As far as the eye could see, there was only endless white, and all she could hear was the howling of the wind and snow.

"Don't look anymore, Teacher Shu. In this weather, even birds can't fly over," sighed an elderly worker clearing snow nearby.

Shu Ran didn't say anything, but simply wrapped the scarf around her neck tighter.

On the afternoon of the fourth day of the blizzard, the wind finally subsided slightly, but the snow continued. The men sent out by the company returned to report that the main road leading to the regimental headquarters was completely blocked and could not be cleared in the short term.

Just as everyone was frowning in worry, a militiaman who was patrolling near the edge of the company came running back breathlessly, his face showing surprise and uncertainty.

"Company Commander Ma! Secretary Liu! Something terrible has happened!"

"What's the panic! Speak slowly!" Company Commander Ma, who was shoveling snow, shouted in a deep voice.

The militiaman, panting heavily, pointed westward: "I just saw what looked like human tracks at the mouth of the canyon! Hoofprints! And what looked like drag marks! Very suspicious! In this awful weather, who would go there besides our people? I suspect enemy agents might be trying to sneak in and cause trouble!"

The word "enemy agent" put everyone in the company headquarters on edge. In this border company, especially during the sensitive period when communications were cut off, any unidentified trace could be seen as a security threat.

"Did you see clearly? Was it a wild animal?" Company Commander Ma asked hurriedly.

“Absolutely true! Horse hoof prints! And drag marks like someone slipped and fell! It’s over there on the old ice cliff!” the militiaman said with certainty.

Below the old ice cliff lies the mouth of a canyon, a treacherous area rarely visited except by patrol teams. The appearance of unidentified traces during such a blizzard is indeed highly suspicious.

Company Commander Ma and Secretary Liu quickly exchanged a glance.

"Assemble the militia platoon immediately! Take your weapons! Go to Old Ice Cliff and check the situation! If they are enemy agents, capture them at all costs! If they are our people..."

Secretary Liu paused for a moment, then said in a heavy tone, "We must also ascertain their identities and intentions! Remember, safety comes first, and if necessary... we can take decisive measures!"

"Yes, sir!" The militia platoon leader accepted the order and immediately turned to gather his men.

The crowd that had gathered in the open space in front of the department immediately began to discuss the matter.

Shu Ran's heart skipped a beat when she heard the hoofprints and drag marks. Could it be that Chen Yuanjiang had gotten lost in the snowstorm on his way back from the division headquarters, or had encountered an accident and fallen off the old ice cliff?

She knew how treacherous the old ice cliff was, and she knew what it meant to fall in this kind of weather.

Almost instinctively, she wanted to ask to go together.

Sister Wang and Li Xiulan immediately realized her intention and exchanged a glance.

Immediately, Sister Wang grabbed Shu Ran's arm. "Teacher Shu! What are you doing?"

She deliberately made sure everyone around could hear her, saying, "That place is so dangerous! The leaders said they're suspicious individuals and sent the militia platoon to handle them! You're a woman, you don't know anything about these things, wouldn't you just be causing trouble if you went?"

Li Xiulan quickly came over, took Shu Ran's other arm, and lowered her voice: "Yes, Teacher Shu, look at this weather, we can't even see the road clearly. What if it really is a bad guy? Let's just wait for news at the company and not worry the leaders, okay?"

The two women, one on each side, were perfectly aware of the unspoken feelings between Shu Ran and Special Envoy Chen. At this time, they needed to help her maintain the relationship to avoid speculation and gossip.

Shu Ran struggled for a moment but couldn't break free, and instantly understood their intentions.

At this moment, Xu Junjun also arrived. Seeing Shu Ran being persuaded by Sister Wang and Li Xiulan, and hearing the surrounding discussions, she immediately understood the situation.

She strode up to Shu Ran and said sternly, "Shu Ran, calm down. The situation is unclear. If you rush in and encounter danger, you won't be able to help and will only distract the rescue efforts. You must trust the militia comrades."

Company Commander Ma and Secretary Liu breathed a sigh of relief. Secretary Liu even reassured her, "Teacher Shu, don't worry, the comrades in the militia platoon are experienced and will handle it well. You can stay in the company with peace of mind."

Just when everyone thought Shu Ran had been persuaded, she stopped struggling and instead took a small step back, following the force of Sister Wang and Li Xiulan. She lowered her head and said, "Sigh! I was just too worried about the safety of the company."

Sister Wang and Li Xiulan exchanged a glance, but Sister Wang still held onto Li Xiulan's hand tightly, as if afraid that Li Xiulan might rush out again if she wasn't careful.

Xu Junjun knew that Shu Ran wouldn't give up so easily. But that was all she could do at the moment.

The crowd gradually dispersed under the reassurance of the leader and continued their previous snow-clearing work. Shu Ran seemed to have truly been persuaded as well.

As Shu Ran watched the militia assembling and heading towards the canyon entrance, a bold idea rose in her mind.