Chapter 122 Fingertip Temperature

The news that the Capital Pictorial was coming to interview them caused a huge stir at the Y Division headquarters. The division leaders attached great importance to it, held a meeting overnight to determine the interview process, arrange the sites to be visited, and even gave repeated instructions on Shu Ran's attire and demeanor.

Shu Ran was suddenly thrust into the spotlight and became the focus of everyone's attention.

Faced with this sudden honor and pressure, Shu Ran was excited, but more than that, she felt cautious.

She knew this was not only her personal honor, but also an affirmation of the efforts of all educators in the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, especially those who had dedicated themselves to grassroots work year after year. She absolutely could not mess it up; she had to present the most authentic picture.

For the next two days, Shu Ran was exceptionally busy. She declined the rehearsals and script memorization arranged by the division, insisting on presenting her most natural self.

She, along with Lao Han, a senior text reporter, and Xiao Liu, a photographer sent by the Capital Pictorial, retraced the route taken by the foreign guests.

In the permanent school building, she didn't have the children recite in unison like a performance. Instead, she showed the reporter how the children practiced the new words they had just learned on old door panels with lime blocks, and showed them their smiles, as well as the drafty windows and their chapped little hands.

Inside the herder's yurt, she showed the reporter how the educated youth teacher helped the old woman spin yarn while teaching her to recognize everyday words like "wool," "milk," and "thank you" using both the local language and Mandarin.

The old woman's smile, which blossomed as she was finally able to write "Great Unity" in her crooked handwriting, was keenly captured by photojournalist Xiao Liu.

In the fields, pointing to the workers, she said to reporter Lao Han, "Look, they're not putting on a show; this is their daily life. Knowledge isn't detached from production; it's integrated into their lives, a tool to help them work and live better. We do education not for show, but for practical use."

Old Han, the reporter, was a knowledgeable middle-aged man. He rarely interrupted, but listened quietly, observed carefully, and occasionally jotted notes in his notebook. His questions were often incisive.

"Comrade Shu Ran, your model places extremely high demands on the comprehensive abilities of teachers. Where will the teachers come from? How will you guarantee the quality?"

"Given the high mobility in pastoral areas, how can we ensure the continuity of teaching?"

"How do you deal with herder parents who don't understand, or brigade leaders who think education is hindering production?"

Shu Ran did not shy away from any issues. Drawing on her experience in the livestock company and her observations during her rounds of guidance, she frankly analyzed the difficulties and clearly articulated her solutions. She knew that at this time, she couldn't just talk empty words or platitudes, only present facts, methods, and results, so she also spoke frankly about the current limitations and future plans.

Her confidence is not based on empty slogans, but stems from her understanding of the situation at the grassroots level and her heartfelt reflection on the cause of education.

Her wisdom and pragmatism deeply impressed the two reporters. Old Han privately remarked to photojournalist Xiao Liu, "This team leader, Xiao Shu, is no ordinary person. She's intelligent and resilient. This report, based on facts and evidence, is bound to have an impact."

During a break in the interview, Shu Ran was so exhausted that she almost collapsed.

The continuous high-intensity work and mental strain left her voice hoarse and her eyes slightly dark. But she couldn't show her fatigue in front of others, so she always maintained a composed and dignified demeanor.

That evening, the interview came to a temporary end. After seeing the reporter off, Shu Ran returned alone to the small room that had been temporarily arranged for her at the division's guesthouse. She slumped into a chair, barely having the strength to even pour herself some water.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Shu Ran forced herself to stay awake: "Please come in."

The door opened, and Chen Yuanjiang walked in carrying a small enamel mug.

"Still not resting?" He walked to the table, put down the enamel mug, which contained steaming liquid that smelled of herbs.

"Deputy Director Chen? What brings you here..." Shu Ran was somewhat surprised. He had also been busy with security coordination these past few days, and although the two were in the same division headquarters, they rarely met.

"It's a traditional remedy made by the cooks to soothe your throat and clear away internal heat, with licorice root, malva nut, and the like." Chen Yuanjiang's tone was as if he were talking about something completely ordinary. "I heard your voice isn't good, which will affect tomorrow's interview."

Shu Ran felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at the pot of steaming medicinal tea.

"Thank you." She picked up the jar, carefully took a sip, and the slightly bitter liquid slid down her throat, bringing a sense of relief.

Chen Yuanjiang didn't leave, but sat down on the edge of the bed opposite her. The room wasn't big, and the two were very close. He quietly looked at her, his gaze falling on her face, which couldn't hide her exhaustion.

"Did the interview go smoothly?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

"Hmm." Shu Ran nodded and took another sip of herbal tea. "Reporter Lao Han is very professional; his questions are all on point. It's just... a little tiring."

In his presence, she relaxed, revealing a hint of vulnerability.

Chen Yuanjiang frowned slightly. "There's no need to do everything personally. Let the subordinates take over when necessary."

“I know.” Shu Ran put down the jar and rubbed her temples. “But this time is different. The Capital Pictorial has too much influence, and I can’t afford to make any mistakes. It’s related to the image of our entire Corps’ education, and it’s also related to…whether the efforts of many people can be seen.”

She looked up at him, a hint of slyness in her eyes, "Besides, hasn't Deputy Director Chen been personally ensuring that security is foolproof? We're all the same, doing our jobs and fulfilling our responsibilities."

Her words explained her own convictions and also brought him to the same side, carrying a hint of mutual encouragement.

Chen Yuanjiang looked into her weary eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly stood up.

Shu Ran thought he was leaving, and a sense of loss swept through her heart.

But then he walked up behind her and placed his hands on her temples.

Shu Ran froze.

His movements were somewhat clumsy, but the force was just right. His calloused fingertips pressed lightly on her temples and other acupoints on her head, relieving the throbbing pain.

He didn't speak; the only sound in the room was the faint sound of the wind outside the window.

This sudden intimacy made Shu Ran's heart skip a beat, but then a sense of security enveloped her.

She closed her eyes, relaxed her body, and let him relieve her fatigue.

"Don't push yourself too hard." His voice rang out above him, very close. "If your body collapses, everything else is meaningless."

"Mmm," Shu Ran responded softly, feeling that the fatigue of the past few days seemed to have dissipated considerably. Suddenly remembering something, she asked softly, "Is everything going smoothly on your end?"

"Yes. Everything is normal."

After a brief silence, Shu Ran couldn't help but chuckle: "Deputy Director Chen, where did you learn your massage skills? Don't tell me it's the kind you use to interrogate criminals?"

She felt his fingers, which were pressing on her temple, pause for a moment.

“…Just enjoy it.” His tone was tinged with helplessness, but his grip remained steady.

Shu Ran's lips curved into a deeper smile. She loved seeing him so flustered by her teasing, yet unwilling to let her go.

After a while, he let go of her hand: "Alright, get some rest. Finish your herbal tea."

As the touch on her head left, Shu Ran felt a pang of reluctance. She opened her eyes and watched him walk back to her, the lamplight casting soft shadows on his face.

"Tomorrow is the last day," Chen Yuanjiang said, looking at her with a deep gaze. "After it's over, I'll take you back to X Division."

The tour was over, and they could finally go back together. Shu Ran was filled with anticipation.

"good."

Chen Yuanjiang's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just raised his hand and gently brushed the hair by her ear, the movement so quick that it seemed like it was just her imagination.

"I'm leaving." He turned and strode away.

Even after the door closed, Shu Ran could still feel his presence in the room.

She touched her earlobe, looked at the jar of medicinal tea, then picked up the jar and drank the rest of the tea in one gulp.

Then she unfolded her interview notes again, making final preparations for tomorrow's interview.

The interview had to end perfectly, and then I'd go home with him.

On the last day of the People's Pictorial interview, the focus was on Shu Ran herself and the tour guidance team she led.

The meeting was held in a relatively quiet, temporarily set-up conference room at the Y Division headquarters. Reporter Lao Han was preparing for an in-depth interview, while photographer Xiao Liu was responsible for capturing close-ups of Shu Ran at work.

Shu Ran changed into a clean, old military uniform. Although she couldn't hide her fatigue, she exuded a calm and composed demeanor. Chen Yuanjiang had arranged for security personnel to stand guard around the perimeter early in the morning to ensure the interview would not be disturbed.

He himself did not show up, but Shu Ran knew that he must be watching from somewhere.

As the interview began, Lao Han's questions became more in-depth and personal.

"Comrade Shu Ran, we understand that you initially founded Qiming Primary School in the animal husbandry company. The conditions were extremely difficult at the time. How did you persevere? What sustained you?"

Shu Ran did not answer immediately. She pondered for a moment, her gaze seemingly traveling through time and space back to that drafty tool shed.

"To be honest, at first it was probably more of a... unwillingness to admit defeat, or rather, an instinct to find a foothold for myself."

Her candor was surprising: "My family background was bad, and when I first arrived at the company, everything was difficult. Teaching was the only thing I was good at and that might change my situation. But later, when I saw the thirst for knowledge in the children's eyes, when I taught them to write their own names and understand work point tickets, the genuine light on their faces... that sense of accomplishment was indescribable. What supported me gradually changed from 'for myself' to 'for myself and them at the same time'."

She didn't try to elevate herself; her genuine journey was far more convincing.

Old Han nodded, quickly jotting down notes in his notebook. "So, from a company-level primary school to now being responsible for itinerant guidance across the entire corps, that's a huge leap. What do you think is the key to your success?"

Shu Ran smiled. "I don't think it's because I succeeded, but because the path we figured out just happened to meet the needs of the grassroots. There are several key points: First, be realistic and avoid superficiality. We teach what the grassroots need, and we do what's most effective. Second, leverage external resources. Education is not isolated; it needs to be actively integrated into production and unite various forces, such as relying on the organization and coordinating with departments like security, logistics, and sanitation. Third, trust and rely on the masses. Whether they are company employees or herders, they are all intelligent. We need to mobilize their enthusiasm and make them participants and beneficiaries of education, rather than passive recipients."

She paused, then added, "Of course, it also owes much to the organization's cultivation and trust, as well as the support of many comrades like Chen... and many others who work quietly behind the scenes."

She stopped herself from mentioning the name in time, but the perceptive Lao Han seemed to have caught something, and paused slightly as he wrote.

“We’ve noticed that in your guidance work, you’ve paid particular attention to literacy and education for female educated youth and women from ethnic minorities,” Lao Han changed the subject. “Was that for any particular reason?”

“Because women hold up half the sky,” Shu Ran said half-jokingly, then added seriously, “When women are literate and understand principles, they can not only participate better in production, but also raise the next generation scientifically, manage family affairs, and even influence the atmosphere of the entire family and community. Whether a mother is literate or not has a huge impact on a child’s development. As for ethnic minority women, enabling them to learn Mandarin and their culture is an important way to promote ethnic unity and help them better integrate into the country’s development. This is not only an educational issue, but also a social issue.”

Her answer was both insightful and down-to-earth, demonstrating both policy expertise and humanistic concern. Old Han's eyes gleamed with growing admiration.

The interview lasted nearly three hours, during which Shu Ran remained quick-witted and answered questions fluently. She not only introduced the achievements but also frankly addressed the difficulties and shortcomings, such as the systematic nature of teacher training and the challenges of consolidating teaching points in pastoral areas, offering her own thoughts and suggestions. Her confidence, professionalism, and pragmatism left a deep impression on the two reporters.

Finally, photojournalist Xiao Liu suggested taking some photos of Shu Ran working in a natural state.

They arrived at the division headquarters compound, and Xiao Liu told Shu Ran to wander around freely, or look at documents, capturing the most natural moments.

Shu Ran carried a stack of documents, flipping through them as she walked. Sunlight shone on her, outlining her profile. Just then, a gust of wind blew, scattering the pages of paper in her hands, which drifted to the ground.

Shu Ran subconsciously bent down to pick them up. Almost at the same time, a tall figure strode over from the side and deftly helped her pick up the scattered papers.

It was Chen Yuanjiang. He appeared out of nowhere, dressed in military uniform, his expression as if he had just happened to be passing by.

Shu Ran looked up and met his gaze. He handed the neatly arranged papers back to her.

"Thank you," Shu Ran said softly, her heart beating a little fast.

"Hmm." Chen Yuanjiang responded, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment to confirm she was alright. He then turned and nodded slightly to the photographers, Xiao Liu and Lao Han, who were not far away, as a greeting before leaving.

The whole process was natural and smooth, without any deviation from the rules.

But this scene was captured by photographer Xiao Liu. In the photo, Shu Ran, holding documents, is slightly bent over, while Chen Yuanjiang, standing tall and straight, is handing her the documents he has picked up. Their eyes meet, with the division headquarters buildings and the blue sky in the distance in the background.

The scene was filled with an indescribable tacit understanding and harmony.

Old Han watched Chen Yuanjiang's departing figure, then glanced at Shu Ran beside him, whose expression had returned to normal. A knowing smile flashed in his eyes, but he didn't ask anything.