Chapter 113 Transfer Order

Time ticked by, and the cold and exhaustion continued to batter Shu Ran's will. She dared not sleep, and could only force herself to stay awake, occasionally whispering his name to make sure he was still alive.

Just as she felt she was about to reach her limit and her eyelids were so heavy that they were about to close, she faintly heard voices and the sound of footsteps on the snow coming from outside the crevice in the rocks, growing closer as they approached.

"…Platoon leader! Over here! There are traces here!"

It was the militia platoon; they came looking for us.

Shu Ran's spirits lifted suddenly, and she tried to shout, but found that her voice was so hoarse that she could barely make a sound.

She could only manage to raise her arm, grope for a loose rock nearby, and with her last bit of strength, throw it over the edge of the rock.

"Clatter".

"There's movement over there! Quick!"

The chaotic footsteps quickly approached the crevice in the rock.

The beam of the flashlight shone in, making Shu Ran instinctively close her eyes.

The light shone on the two people who were tightly embracing each other.

The militia platoon leader appeared at the cave entrance with two young men. Everyone was stunned by what they saw inside.

Shu Ran's face was pale from the cold, her cotton-padded coat was open, and she was holding the unconscious Chen Yuanjiang tightly in her arms. Chen Yuanjiang's outer military coat and cotton-padded coat were torn open, revealing his bare chest. His head was resting on Shu Ran's shoulder and neck, and his face was wrapped in her scarf.

The impact of this scene is truly overwhelming.

After a brief silence, the militia platoon leader was the first to react. A complex expression flashed across his face, but he immediately strode forward and knelt down: "Teacher Shu?! How is Special Envoy Chen?"

Shu Ran looked up at the platoon leader, her voice hoarse: "Quick...save them..."

After uttering those few broken words, the tension she had been holding back finally released, and her strength vanished instantly. Her vision went black, and she collapsed forward.

"Teacher Shu!"

Before she completely lost consciousness, she seemed to hear the militia platoon leader's anxious shouts, felt someone supporting her, and even felt a gaze on her face.

Is it just my imagination?

Before she could think further, she was plunged into darkness.

Shu Ran woke up in her bed in her small mud-brick house.

The moment consciousness returned, my whole body ached as if my bones had been disassembled and reassembled, my throat was parched, and my eyelids were so heavy I couldn't lift them.

She struggled to open her eyes, and through her blurry vision, she saw a ceiling covered with old newspapers and light filtering in through the cracks in the window.

"You're awake? Thank goodness!" a surprised voice rang out from the side.

Shu Ran turned her head and saw Xu Junjun sitting on a small stool on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding an enamel mug in her hand. Sister Wang and Li Xiulan immediately gathered around.

"How are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you?" Xu Junjun put down the jar and reached out to feel her forehead. "The fever has gone down, but you're still a little weak."

"water……"

Sister Wang quickly brought over some warm water, carefully helped her sit up, and fed her little by little. Shu Ran felt a bit better.

"How long... have I been asleep?" Her voice was still hoarse.

"It's been a whole day and night." Sister Wang's eyes were a little red. "We were terrified! You were so brave! You dared to run all the way to the old ice cliff by yourself!"

Shu Ran forced a smile, too weak to explain, and simply asked, "What about him? How is Special Envoy Chen...?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Xu Junjun took over the conversation, her tone heavy: "He's been saved. He suffered from severe hypothermia, and his left arm appears to be an open fracture. I've already performed a reduction and fixation, but medical resources are limited, so he needs to be sent to the regimental or divisional hospital as soon as possible. He also has multiple frostbite and abrasions. He's still unconscious and has a persistent fever."

Still not awake... has a fever...

Shu Ran's heart sank. Under these medical conditions, his risk of infection was extremely high.

"Where is he?" she asked.

“She’s lying in the room next to the infirmary.” Xu Junjun looked at her. “Secretary Liu and Company Commander Ma have both gone to see her. The division’s security department and the regiment headquarters have also been notified. They should be sending people to handle this soon.”

After Xu Junjun finished speaking, she remembered something and added, "Oh right, the roads to the company have been gradually cleared, and we can contact the higher-ups again."

Shu Ran nodded and struggled to sit up: "I'll go take a look."

"Oh dear, Teacher Shu!" Sister Wang grabbed her and pressed her down. "You yourself just went through the ordeal! Your fever has just subsided, and you still have frostbite. What are you going to see! There are people watching over there!"

“That’s right, Teacher Shu, you should take care of yourself first,” Li Xiulan also advised. “Special Envoy Chen is a lucky man, he’ll be alright.”

Shu Ran knew that going there in her current state would be of no help and would only cause more trouble. She lay back down, but the anxiety in her heart did not subside.

"How did I get back?" she asked, changing the subject.

“The militia platoon carried you back,” Xu Junjun said. “When they found you, you did a great job! The platoon leader said that without you, they might not have been able to find the exact location so quickly, and Special Envoy Chen probably wouldn’t have been able to…”

She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood what she meant.

Sister Wang patted her chest, still shaken: "You, a woman, where did you get such skill and courage! Really... really..." She stammered "really" for a long time, unable to find the right words, and finally sighed, "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright!"

Li Xiulan looked at Shu Ran with admiration: "Teacher Shu, you are amazing! We've all heard that you found Special Commissioner Chen and even set his bone. You warmed... Even the young men in the militia platoon said you are brave and meticulous!"

Shu Ran forced a smile but didn't say anything.

“Oh, right,” Xu Junjun said, lowering her voice as if she remembered something, “when you were rescued… you looked a little… well, there were already some rumors going around in the company.”

Shu Ran's heart sank. She had indeed almost taken off Chen Yuanjiang's outer clothes to keep him warm, and she had been holding him tightly... In that era, especially in a relatively conservative time, this was absolutely shocking.

Sister Wang's expression also darkened, and she spat out, "Some people are just so gossipy! Don't they even know what's going on? Is saving lives more important than those empty reputations? Teacher Shu is trying to save lives!"

Li Xiulan chimed in, "Exactly! If it weren't for Teacher Shu, Special Envoy Chen might have..."

Shu Ran remained silent. She had anticipated the rumors, but she hadn't expected them to come so quickly. She didn't care what others said about her, but she worried it would affect Chen Yuanjiang. He was such a principled and principled person…

"What did the company leaders say?" she asked Xu Junjun.

“Secretary Liu and Company Commander Ma immediately expressed their opinions, saying that you risked your life to save people, which was a heroic act, and told the people below not to spread rumors.” Xu Junjun paused, her voice even lower, “But… in this kind of thing, the leaders can express their opinions, but you can’t control the people below from talking about it in secret.”

Shu Ran understood. At the leadership level, at least on the surface, they supported her. But among the masses, especially those who didn't think much of her or had opinions about her, they probably wouldn't let this opportunity pass.

"I understand," Shu Ran said calmly. "Let them say what they want."

She didn't have the energy to care about any of that right now. Chen Yuanjiang was still unconscious, and his injuries, and... the words he said before he lost consciousness, were etched into her mind like a brand.

"I can't bear to part with you..."

Was it just his delirious ramblings, or... the truth hidden deep in his heart? Why did he say he couldn't bear to part with it? Did something happen?

She shook her head, forcing herself not to think about it. Her immediate priority was to recover, and then see if there was anything she could do.

For the next two days, Shu Ran forced herself to eat, drink, and rest. She was in good health and recovered quickly. The frostbite areas, after being treated with ointment, gradually improved. Once she could walk again, the first thing she did was go to the room next to the clinic.

The room reeked of medicine. Chen Yuanjiang lay on a makeshift hospital bed against the wall, his face still pale, but much better than in the ice cave. His eyes were closed, his breathing more even, but a damp towel remained on his forehead, indicating that his fever hadn't completely subsided. His left arm was in a thick cast and bandages, secured to his chest.

Xu Junjun's roommate, Hongmei, is changing the towel on his forehead.

"Teacher Shu is here." Hongmei greeted Shu Ran as soon as she saw her. She was now the focus of attention in the entire company.

"How is he?" Shu Ran walked over and looked at Chen Yuanjiang's face. He was sleeping peacefully, and the coldness between his brows was gone.

"The fever has subsided a bit, but it keeps recurring. Junjun said that as long as we can get through the infection, it won't be a big problem... but we still haven't woken up."

Shu Ran smiled and nodded, then sat down on the stool beside the hospital bed. "Hongmei, you rest. I'll watch over him."

Hongmei hesitated for a moment, then nodded and went out, gently closing the door behind her.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Shu Ran looked at Chen Yuanjiang, at his dry, chapped lips, picked up a cotton swab from the small table next to her, dipped it in warm water, and applied it to his lips little by little.

She moved very gently, afraid of waking him.

"Chen Yuanjiang," she said softly, as if talking to herself, "you have to hold on. Get well soon, okay?"

She paused, her voice lower, carrying a hint of grievance and stubbornness she herself was unaware of: "What you said at Old Ice Cliff... you have to keep your word."

The person on the bed showed no reaction, only their chest rose and fell slightly.

Shu Ran stayed with Chen Yuanjiang from noon until the afternoon.

As darkness fell, Shu Ran got up to leave. Just as she turned around, she seemed to catch a glimpse of lips moving.

She stared intently at Chen Yuanjiang's face.

After waiting for a long time, there was still no further movement.

Is it just my imagination? Or...?

She had her suspicions, but she didn't say anything and quietly left the house.

As expected, the rumors spread throughout the company.

When Shu Ran went to the cafeteria to get food, she could feel the strange looks and whispers coming from those around her.

"It's her... She's really bold, daring to go find a man all by herself..."

"I heard that when they were found, the two were hugging each other tightly, their clothes were all..."

"Tsk tsk, capitalists' daughters are so open-minded..."

"You can't say that, they went to rescue people!"

"Save people? Who knows if they were already... taking advantage of the opportunity..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Secretary Liu has spoken, we can't talk nonsense!"

Shu Ran finished getting her food without changing her expression, found a corner to sit down, and ate quietly. Sister Wang and Li Xiulan came over with their bowls of rice, flanking her on either side and glaring at the prying eyes that were directed at her.

"Don't pay any attention to those gossipy women!" Sister Wang said angrily. "They're all just bored out of their minds!"

Li Xiulan also whispered comfortingly, "The innocent are innocent, Teacher Shu, we have a clear conscience!"

Shu Ran smiled and said, "I know, it's okay."

She didn't really care. More than the rumors, she was concerned about Chen Yuanjiang's injuries and how the division or regimental headquarters would handle the matter. Chen Yuanjiang was a special envoy from the division's security department; his injury was no small matter.

On the afternoon of the third day, Shu Ran was stretching her arms and legs in her room, preparing to go to school the next day, when Xu Junjun walked in with a serious expression and closed the door behind her.

"What's wrong?" Shu Ran asked, noticing her pale face.

Xu Junjun took out a slightly crumpled piece of paper from the pocket of her white coat and handed it to her: "People from the division headquarters came just now, one was an officer from the security department and the other was from the cadre department. They came to see Chen Yuanjiang, and then... this was found in the inner pocket of Chen Yuanjiang's military overcoat."

Shu Ran took the paper and unfolded it.

It was a transfer order.

The document was printed and stamped with a red official seal. The content was clear and concise:

transfer order

Comrade Shu Ran, a young man from the Livestock Company of the Xth Regiment of the Xth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps who was supporting the border region, has been transferred back to his hometown of Shanghai due to family reasons and his own actual situation. He will be assigned to another job.

Upon receiving the transfer order, please complete the relevant procedures within ten days and report to the xxx Street Office in xxx District, Shanghai.

The document was stamped with the official seal of the division's cadre office and dated. The date was exactly when Chen Yuanjiang returned to his company.

Shu Ran held the piece of paper, her thoughts in turmoil.

So that's what he brought back. So that's what he meant by "reluctant to part with it."

Being transferred back to Shanghai was an opportunity that countless young people sent to work in border regions dreamed of but never got. Returning to the city, leaving behind this harsh environment…

Was it because he didn't have time? Or... did he simply not want to give it to her?

Recalling his words "I can't bear to part with you" before he fell into a coma, Shu Ran felt as if her heart had been struck by something, feeling both bitter and bewildered.

"Ranran, what... what are your plans?" Xu Junjun asked cautiously, looking at her ever-changing expression.

Shu Ran looked up. "Who else knows about this transfer order?"

"It should be just me and that cadre from the personnel department. He found it and handed it directly to me, asking me to pass it on to you. The cadre from the security department was also there at the time, but he was checking on Chen Yuanjiang's injuries and probably didn't notice."

Xu Junjun paused, then added, "The officer in charge of the cadre department also said that you should make a decision as soon as possible, as the transfer order has a limited validity period. If you decide to go back, the company will issue you a certificate, and the division headquarters will handle the formalities."

Shu Ran folded the transfer order again and put it in her pocket.

Should we go back?

Back in Shanghai, back to a relatively comfortable environment, away from the sandstorms, hardships, gossip, and the tangled emotional entanglements.

She can continue being a teacher, and may even have better opportunities.

But……

The eyes of the children at Qiming Elementary School flashed before her eyes, as did the faces of Sister Wang and Li Xiulan...

And there's that man who's currently unconscious.

What will happen to the school? What will happen to the literacy classes? What will happen to the children in the pastoral areas?

When did Shu Ran become so indecisive and swayed by emotions?

Seeing her struggling expression, Xu Junjun sighed, "Ranran, I know you can't let go of this place, you can't let go of the school, and you can't let go of...him. But this opportunity is too rare. Besides, these rumors in the company right now...aren't good for you. Go back to Shanghai, and everything can start over."

Shu Ran remained silent for a long time, so long that Xu Junjun thought she had already made a decision.

"I'll keep this transfer order for now," Shu Ran said. "Whether I go back or when I go back is my own decision, not because of rumors or because of any one person."

She stood up and stretched her shoulders. "There are some people and some things that I have to see with my own eyes and understand for myself."