Chapter 136 (Bug Fixing) "Go to that...!"

A few days later, Shu Ran was working at her desk when the office door was suddenly pushed open, and Director Sun walked in with a solemn expression, followed by Xiao Zhang, a pale-faced staff member.

"Shu Ran!" Director Sun's voice was urgent. "I just received an urgent notice! The literacy campaign statistics team sent from above has arrived ahead of schedule! They'll be here the day after tomorrow!"

"What?" Shu Ran suddenly stood up. "The day after tomorrow? Why so suddenly?"

"The document says it's to ensure the authenticity and speed of the data, and to prevent falsification from below." Director Sun slammed an urgent document on the table, his brows furrowed. "Our division is the first stop on the roll call! We need to conduct on-site verification, especially of the mobile teaching points and literacy classes you're in charge of!"

Shu Ran quickly picked up the document and scanned it at a glance. It was too much of a coincidence; Teacher Liu from Hongxingyan had just been taken away, and the statistics team had arrived ahead of time, their target clearly her work. This was no coincidence.

"The materials we prepared..." Xiao Zhang was almost in tears, "a lot of the data hasn't been finalized, and we haven't collected all the reports from the various companies..."

"What's the panic!" Shu Ran interrupted him, calming herself down and her mind racing.

"Xiao Zhang, you need to do three things immediately." Shu Ran spoke quickly and clearly. "First, call all the companies with fixed teaching points and ask the teachers in charge to compile all the recent attendance records, student workbooks, and even the simplest grade records. The statistics team may conduct spot checks."

"Secondly, contact the education officers of each regiment and have them fill out the simplified statistical forms we distributed earlier immediately. They must be delivered to the division headquarters by noon tomorrow at the latest!"

"Finally, go to the logistics department and collect all the pencils, notebooks, and chalk we applied for as spares. Divide them into several portions for future use."

"Yes, Officer Shu!" As if he had found his pillar of support, Xiao Zhang immediately ran out.

Director Sun looked at Shu Ran, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, but his worry was even greater: "Shu Ran, time is too tight, and what about Hongxingyan..."

“Director,” Shu Ran looked at him, “the statistics team is looking at results, how many illiterate people have been reduced. Teacher Liu’s matter is another matter. As long as we can produce solid results, no one can deny it.”

"You're right." Director Sun composed himself. "How can our department cooperate?"

"Please stay at the division headquarters and coordinate with the various regiments to ensure that the data is reported in a timely manner. At the same time," Shu Ran thought for a moment, "I would like to ask the director to send a formal letter to the statistics team on behalf of the division headquarters, expressing our warm welcome, and attaching our preliminary summary of the division's literacy work and data summary—use the draft we prepared for the last Corps meeting. The data is readily available, although it is not detailed enough, but it will give them an initial impression."

"Okay! I'll have someone take care of it right away!" Director Sun nodded. "And you?"

"Me?" Shu Ran grabbed her coat hanging on the back of the chair and put it on quickly. "I'm going to the teaching sites I'm personally in charge of right now. Doesn't the statistics team want to see the actual situation? I'll let them see the most authentic picture."

"Are you going alone? Should we send someone with you?"

"No need." Shu Ran fastened her buttons. "Too many people would just be conspicuous. I can move quickly on my own. Director, please arrange a ride for me to the X Group, the sooner the better."

Half an hour later, Shu Ran was already sitting in the cab of a rickety truck loaded with supplies. The driver was a taciturn veteran who only knew that he was ordered to take her to the vicinity of the Third Company of the X Regiment.

Shu Ran leaned against the car window, eyes closed, her mind racing through the various teaching sites she was in charge of. The Third Company of the X Regiment, the Livestock Company of the Y Regiment, and… Hongxingyan. Hongxingyan was now a sensitive area and she couldn't go there, but the surrounding pastoral teaching sites had to be kept under control.

She touched the canvas bag she carried with her, which contained her notebook, some blank forms, a few pens, and a small bag of compressed biscuits that Chen Yuanjiang had given her.

The truck dropped Shu Ran off at a fork in the road about five or six miles from the Third Company of the X Regiment. It was already dark, and the temperature difference between day and night on the Gobi Desert was extreme, with a cold wind already blowing.

"Officer Shu, are you sure you don't need me to take you all the way to the company headquarters?" Driver Lao Li asked, a little worried.

"No need, Mr. Li, thank you. I'll take a shortcut to the teaching point; it'll be faster." Shu Ran tightened her scarf, slung her canvas bag over her shoulder, and said firmly.

Old Li sighed and handed over a military water bottle and an old-fashioned flashlight: "The road is difficult to walk at night, take this. When you're done, come to the company headquarters guesthouse to rest. I've already spoken to the person on duty."

"Thank you." Shu Ran accepted the things without hesitation and turned to step onto the path leading to the pastoral area, worn smooth by the wheels of vehicles.

The beam of the flashlight was negligible in the darkness, illuminating only a small area in front of my feet. All around was darkness, with only the occasional rustling of an unknown animal.

Shu Ran walked with uneven steps, her heart pounding, partly from the cold and partly from the fear of walking alone in the wilderness.

The statistics team will arrive the day after tomorrow; time is of the essence. This pastoral teaching point in Sanlian is one of the earliest points she established, and the teacher in charge is a local young man named Jiang Yonghong who has received a few years of schooling and is working in the border region. She must get there as soon as possible, reassure him, and ensure that there are no mistakes when the statistics team arrives.

She didn't know how long she had walked; her feet were aching from the friction, and her calves felt like they were filled with lead. She stopped, unscrewed the water bottle, took a sip, and her mind cleared considerably.

After walking for a while longer, faint lights finally appeared in the distance. Shu Ran's spirits lifted, and she quickened her pace.

It was a small settlement surrounded by several low mud-brick houses. She walked straight to the house on the far right, where a kerosene lamp was lit, and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" came a wary female voice from inside.

"Is this Teacher Jiang Yonghong? I'm Shu Ran from the Education Section of the Teachers' Department."

There was a rustling sound inside, and the door creaked open a crack, revealing Jiang Yonghong's surprised face. "Officer Shu? You...you're here so late?"

"Let's go inside and talk." Shu Ran squeezed through the door and closed it behind her; the room wasn't much warmer than the outside.

"The provincial statistics team arrived early and will be at our division the day after tomorrow, focusing on checking mobile teaching sites," Shu Ran said bluntly.

Jiang Yonghong's face turned pale instantly. "The day after tomorrow? Officer Shu, I...we here..."

"Don't panic." Shu Ran interrupted him, her gaze sweeping over the simple room. Several notebooks and a well-worn dictionary were spread out on the kang table. "Show me all the names of your students, their most recent attendance records, and their completed assignments."

"Okay, okay!" Jiang Yonghong quickly turned around and started rummaging through an old wooden box, her hands trembling slightly.

By the dim light of a kerosene lamp, Shu Ran quickly flipped through the notebooks bound together with various types of paper. The handwriting was crooked and messy, mostly simple Chinese characters and numbers, but the writer's seriousness was evident. The attendance records were also scattered, some simply marked with tally marks.

“Yonghong, the statistics team is coming. They might ask a lot of questions and look at these notebooks.” Shu Ran looked up at Jiang Yonghong, who was sweating nervously. “Remember, just act as usual. Answer their questions truthfully. Tell them how many characters you know, how many you can write, and what you’ve done. Don’t exaggerate, and don’t be afraid.”

“But Officer Shu, Teacher Liu…” Jiang Yonghong hesitated.

"Teacher Liu is Teacher Liu, and you are you." Shu Ran's tone was resolute. "You taught the children to recognize characters, to write their own names, and to read work point tickets—these are all achievements. What the higher-ups are checking is the effectiveness of literacy campaigns. As long as someone here has indeed become literate through learning, you have made a contribution! No one can deny that!"

Her words calmed Jiang Yonghong's panicked heart a little.

"Then... what should I prepare?"

"Clean the room and organize these notebooks in order. Tomorrow during the day, notify all the students you can find and tell them that leaders may come to question them. Tell them not to be afraid and to tell you whatever they know." Shu Ran said, taking out several blank forms and a pen from her canvas bag. "Now, give me a list of all the students here: their names, ages, study time, and approximate current literacy level. Ask me if you can't write anything."

"Now?" Jiang Yonghong looked at the pitch-black night outside the window.

"Yes, now. I'm waiting for you."

Under the kerosene lamp, Jiang Yonghong held her pen and began to fill out the form. Shu Ran sat opposite her, watching her write and quietly asking questions and correcting her.

It wasn't until late at night that the list was finally finished. Shu Ran carefully checked it over, folded it neatly, and put it in her bag.

"I'm leaving, going to the next location." Shu Ran stood up, her legs feeling numb from sitting for so long.

"Officer Shu, where are you going in the middle of the night? Why don't you just stay here for the night?" Jiang Yonghong hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay.

"No, time is tight." Shu Ran shook her head and rewrap her scarf. "Teacher Jiang, remember my words, stay calm and continue teaching as usual. This is the time for us to truly prove ourselves."

She pushed open the door and stepped back into the night. The flashlight beam was dimmer than before. She had to reach the next teaching location before dawn.

*

On the afternoon of the third day, the literacy campaign effectiveness statistics team arrived as scheduled.

The team leader was a leader from the headquarters surnamed Zheng, around fifty years old, with a serious face. Accompanying him were several directors and a number of staff members.

Deputy Political Commissar Lin, along with Director Sun and all the staff of the Education Section, greeted them in front of the office building. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Team Leader Zheng cut straight to the point: "Political Commissar Lin, Director Sun, let's skip the formalities. We're short on time and have a heavy workload, so we hope to see the most authentic situation. I heard your division has set up a mobile teaching point, which is quite unique? Let's start by looking at these places."

Deputy Political Commissar Lin looked at Director Sun, signaling him to make the arrangements.

"No problem, Team Leader Zheng." Director Sun smiled broadly, his eyes unconsciously searching for Shu Ran. Shu Ran had only rushed back this morning.

"Team Leader Zheng, distinguished leaders," Shu Ran stepped forward, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, "I am Shu Ran, an officer from the Education Section of the Division Headquarters, mainly responsible for the specific work at the mobile teaching sites. If you would like to know more about the situation, I can lead the way and give a brief report."

Team Leader Zheng glanced at her, seemingly surprised by her youth. "Comrade Shu Ran? Alright, then please make the arrangements."

"Leaders, you must be tired from your journey. Perhaps you could take a rest first..." Director Sun tried to ease the tension.

"No need," Team Leader Zheng waved his hand. "Just go and order it."

Shu Ran understood immediately; this was an attempt to catch her off guard. Her expression remained unchanged: "Okay. Please follow me, leaders. Our first stop is the pastoral teaching point near the Third Company of the X Regiment; the drive takes about an hour and a half."

The convoy set off again. Shu Ran and Director Sun sat in the back of the first car. Director Sun lowered his voice: "How's it going? Are you confident?"

Shu Ran looked out the window at the rapidly receding Gobi Desert scenery and softly hummed in agreement. "I've already given instructions to Jiang Yonghong. There shouldn't be any major problems."

"I heard you ran around all night?" Director Sun looked at the dark circles under her eyes.

"It's alright." Shu Ran didn't want to say more. She had indeed barely slept, running around to the two most remote teaching sites, stabilizing morale, and gathering firsthand information. The rest could only be left to the facts.

More than an hour later, the convoy came to a stop, bumping along. Before them lay a few sparse mud-brick houses, looking even more desolate than the night before. Jiang Yonghong was already there with seven or eight herders and children, their expressions restrained and uneasy.

Team Leader Zheng got out of the car and looked around. The environment was even harsher than he had imagined.

Shu Ran led everyone towards the mud-brick house that served as a classroom. It was warmer inside than outside. A wooden board painted black with ink hung on the wall, and several rows of low stools were made of mud bricks below it. The conditions were so simple that they were almost primitive.

"Team Leader Zheng, this is one of our mobile teaching points in the pastoral area," Shu Ran said, her voice steady. "The teacher in charge is Comrade Jiang Yonghong, a local with a junior high school education. Currently, there are twelve regular students, mainly local herders and their children."

Team Leader Zheng didn't say anything. He walked to the blackboard, where several crooked Chinese characters were written in lime: "Heaven", "Earth", "Man", and "Sheep".

"Is this all you're going to learn?" Team Leader Zheng picked up half a piece of lime and weighed it in his hand.

Jiang Yonghong's palms were sweating with nervousness, and she stammered, "Reporting to the leader, I also... I also taught them to recognize names, count, and look at... look at the work point tickets..."

Shu Ran picked up the conversation naturally: "Team Leader Zheng, the pastoral areas are scattered, and production activities are highly seasonal. Our teaching content and methods must be closely integrated with their actual needs. Literacy education should start with the most common things around them, and number teaching should be combined with herding counting and work point calculation. The goal is to let them immediately feel the usefulness of learning so that they can persevere."

Team Leader Zheng remained noncommittal, then turned to a boy of about seven or eight years old who was huddled behind his mother: "Little boy, what's your name? Do you recognize these words on the blackboard?"

The boy was so frightened that he burrowed into his mother's arms. His mother, a woman from an ethnic minority group, nervously rubbed her hands together and said in broken Chinese, "The leader... he's shy... he can write his name... he can write..."

Jiang Yonghong quickly took out a notebook, turned to a page, and saw the three characters "Yerken" written crookedly in pencil. "Leader, his name is Yerken. He learned to write his name himself."

Team Leader Zheng glanced at the childish handwriting, then casually flipped through other notebooks, which mostly contained copied simple Chinese characters and numerical calculations.

"How will the learning outcomes be assessed?" Team Leader Zheng asked.

“We don’t have a unified exam right now,” Shu Ran replied. “We mainly judge them through daily homework, classroom questions, and by observing how they apply their knowledge in real life. For example, if they can understand simple notices, write their own names and basic numbers, and calculate simple work points, we consider them to have reached the basic literacy standard.”

At this moment, a young staff member wearing glasses in the statistics team took out a list and began to call out names randomly, asking the people whose names were called to write their names or recognize a few simple words.

The scene was somewhat chaotic. Some herders were so nervous that their hands trembled, and their writing was crooked and messy; some stuttered when recognizing characters. But the vast majority of them could indeed write their own names and recognize common characters such as "male," "female," "work points," and "grain."

Team Leader Zheng watched silently, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

The inspection lasted for nearly an hour. The statistics team collected some notebooks and took some photos. Before leaving, Team Leader Zheng said to Jiang Yonghong, "Teacher Zhao, the conditions are very difficult, but you persist in teaching. You have worked very hard."

Jiang Yonghong blushed with excitement and nodded repeatedly, "Of course, of course, leader!"

Back in the car, Team Leader Zheng closed his eyes to rest, remaining silent the entire way. Director Sun and Shu Ran exchanged a glance, both feeling uncertain. They had barely passed the first hurdle, but clearly, Team Leader Zheng was not satisfied.

"To the next point." Team Leader Zheng opened his eyes and instructed the driver, "To that... teaching point near Hongxingyan."

The atmosphere inside the car froze instantly.

Director Sun's expression changed slightly: "Team Leader Zheng, what about Hongxingyan..."

"What's wrong? Is there something inconvenient?" Team Leader Zheng asked sharply.

Shu Ran's heart leaped into her throat, but she remained calm on the surface: "Team Leader Zheng, Teacher Liu, who is currently in charge of the Hongxingyan teaching point, is cooperating with the working group in an investigation due to some circumstances. That point is temporarily being taken care of by a teacher from a neighboring point, so it may... not be as well-organized as the previous point."

She chose to tell the truth; at a time like this, hiding it would only make things worse.

Team Leader Zheng stared at her for a few seconds, his eyes sharp. "Oh? Then we should definitely go and see. See if your teaching site really comes to a standstill without the person in charge."

The convoy turned and headed towards the more remote Red Star Rock.

Shu Ran's hands clenched quietly at her sides. She had deliberately avoided Hongxingyan, not wanting to step on this minefield. But now there was no escaping it. She could only pray that the substitute teacher hadn't panicked because of Teacher Liu's situation, and that her hasty instructions the night before would be effective.

The road across the Gobi Desert became increasingly rugged, and the car bounced violently, just like her anxious and uneasy heart.