Chapter 152 Travel Notes

Shu Ran sat on the lower bunk by the window. Her bunk was the lower bunk of a four-person compartment. The lower bunk opposite hers was occupied by Xiao Zhao, a young cadre from the provincial department who had come to accompany her to Beijing. The two people on the upper bunks were Deputy Director Xie, who had gray hair and didn't talk much. He started reading documents as soon as he boarded the train. The other man was surnamed Wu, who was stocky and was already snoring softly.

The door to the private room was open, and people were coming and going in the aisle.

"Comrade Shuran, have some water." Xiao Zhao handed over an enamel mug with the words "Advanced Worker" printed in red. It contained tea leaves, and the water was lukewarm, having been collected from the boiler room at the station.

"It will take six days and six nights to get used to this journey. Everyone is like this at the beginning, unable to sleep or eat."

"Thank you, Officer Zhao." Shu Ran took the mug, but didn't drink from it. She placed it on the small folding table in front of her. She sized up Xiao Zhao; he looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

"Just call me Xiao Zhao." Xiao Zhao smiled, picked up his mug and took a sip. "The leaders specifically instructed us to take good care of you on the road. This is a glorious mission representing our frontier education front."

"The organization trusts me, and the pressure is immense," Shu Ran said calmly, turning her gaze to the window.

The scenery of the Gobi Desert is receding rapidly. First, there are vast stretches of white sandy wasteland, interspersed with rows of low mud-brick houses and poplar groves—these are the production and construction corps or commune villages. Gradually, even these become scarce, leaving only the endless Gobi Desert, evoking a sense of boundless desolation.

“Pressure is motivation,” Xiao Zhao replied smoothly. “I have studied all your materials. They are very well written and solid. I heard that Team Leader Liao gave them a very high evaluation.”

He mentioned Liao Cheng in a natural tone, but Shu Ran caught the probing look in his eyes. People in the provincial department are always well-informed; perhaps they knew she and Liao Cheng had a past relationship, or perhaps they were simply interested in a promising young division chief in the ministry.

She lowered her eyes, picked up the jar, and said, "It was developed through the practice of our comrades at the grassroots level. I just summarized and organized it. Team Leader Liao has a very accurate eye for problems, and his suggestions are spot on."

“That’s right, the leaders in the ministry have a different vision and level.” Xiao Zhao said with emotion, and then added, “Comrade Shu Ran, this trip to Beijing, in addition to meetings, may include some exchange activities, meeting with representatives from other regions, and there may even be interviews by reporters. You should be mentally prepared. I think the new perspective that Secretary Zhou mentioned is very inspiring.”

Shu Ran sighed softly to herself. From the moment she was chosen to speak, people around her tried to adjust her perspective, either hoping she would emphasize the hardships of the frontier and her personal sacrifices, or hoping she would attribute all her achievements to spiritual strength. But what she really wanted to talk about were the specific methods, the difficulties encountered, and the logic behind how ordinary people accomplish things under limited conditions.

"Director Han has already reviewed the speech," Shu Ran looked up at Xiao Zhao, her tone gentle. "The core is to report on our exploration of literacy education. The focus is on the methods, processes, and effectiveness. Hardship is an objective background, but I think what the ministry leaders and colleagues across the country want to hear more about is probably not how much we suffered. Isn't that right, Officer Zhao?"

Xiao Zhao paused for a moment, then quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, that makes sense. Comrade Shu Ran has a broader perspective and a better understanding. I was just mentioning it casually, and it wasn't very well said."

"You mean well, I understand." Shu Ran gave him a way out, then turned to look out the window. The conversation temporarily came to an end.

Old Xie, who was on the upper bunk, suddenly coughed, put down his documents, took out an aluminum flask from his bag, unscrewed the lid, and took a sip. The aroma of alcohol spread.

He spoke slowly: "Little Zhao, it's enough for Comrade Shu Ran to explain things clearly when she goes to the capital this time."

Old Xie's tone carried the wisdom of someone who had long held a high position. Little Zhao immediately became respectful: "Yes, Director Xie is right."

Representative Wu rolled over amidst his snoring, mumbled something indistinctly, and then fell silent again.

The train continued its journey. The scenery outside the window began to change, revealing more greenery—planted protective forest belts.

Old Xie sat down on Xiao Zhao's lower bunk, gazing out the window as if talking to himself, "Back then, we were on the same train, a whole train full of young people, singing songs as we headed to Xinjiang. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye."

Shu Ran's heart skipped a beat. When she transmigrated, she was in a stuffy freight car, but now she was sitting in a relatively comfortable hard sleeper compartment, her identity completely different. Her soul from another world had been woven into the historical narrative.

Lunchtime arrived. Xiao Zhao took out a net bag containing several naan breads, a lunchbox of stir-fried pickled vegetables with shredded pork, and a few boiled eggs. "Comrade Shu Ran, please make do with this. The dining car on the train didn't have much good food because it arrived late."

Old Xie and Representative Wu also sat on Xiao Zhao's lower bunk, each taking out their own rations. Old Xie had a flatbread with pickled vegetables, while Representative Wu had several braised chicken feet and sesame seed cakes wrapped in oil paper. The small folding table was quickly filled to the brim.

"Eat together, eat together!" Representative Wu woke up, his voice booming. Without another word, he pushed the chicken feet towards Shu Ran and Xiao Zhao. "Try them, my wife made them. They'll taste good on the road!"

Shu Ran thanked them, took a naan bread, filled it with some pickled vegetables, and ate it while listening to Representative Wu and Lao Xie chat about work-related matters. The conversation was filled with technical jargon, and she only half understood what they were saying. Xiao Zhao occasionally chimed in, asking about details related to policy implementation.

In the afternoon, Shu Ran felt the air in the carriage was too stuffy and stale. She stood up and said to Xiao Zhao, "Zhao, I feel a little dizzy right now. I want to go out for some fresh air and stand in the aisle for a while."

"I'll stay with you." Xiao Zhao immediately stood up.

"No need, it's just by the door, it's fine." Shu Ran waved her hand, picked up her water bottle, and walked out of the private room.

The aisle was equally crowded, with many people sitting on their own small stools or simply on their luggage. Shu Ran found a corner near the connecting area between the carriages, where there were fewer people and it was windier. She leaned against the carriage wall and took a few deep breaths of the flowing air.

The connecting section swayed violently, making the other carriage even more crowded. In the hard-seat carriage, people were packed shoulder to shoulder, even the aisle was full. Some people were squatting on the ground eating dry rations, some children were crying, and some men had taken off their shoes, the faint smell of foot odor wafting through the air.

Shu Ran looked away. Being given a sleeper berth was already a special privilege.

She unscrewed the kettle and took a few sips of water. Gazing at the desolate landscape rushing past the window, she thought of Chen Yuanjiang.

The last time I corresponded with him was two months ago.

"Excuse me, comrade." A woman carrying a child squeezed past her. Shu Ran stepped aside, her gaze sweeping over the child. She thought of the children from Qiming Elementary School's early days: Shitou, Shuanzhu, Xiaoya, Ayiman…

Her initial motivations for everything she did may have been self-preservation, survival, and a sense of responsibility as a teacher from another era. But now, it seems that everything has changed a lot.

"Comrade Shuran, are you feeling better?" Xiao Zhao came over, holding a palm-leaf fan. "It was too stuffy in there, so I found you a fan. Director Xie said it will be cooler at night."

"Much better, thank you." Shu Ran took the fan and gently waved it. "Is Officer Zhao very familiar with this road?"

"I've made a few trips." Xiao Zhao leaned against the carriage, looking out the window. "Every time it feels different. The country is developing so fast. Look outside, there are many places where roads are being built and houses are being constructed. It's just that people are too tired, and there are shortages in all aspects."

“Education is also lacking,” Shu Ran interjected. “We lack teachers, we lack teaching materials, and we lack the conditions that allow teachers and teaching materials to play their role.”

Xiao Zhao turned to look at her, seemingly wanting to say something, but then swallowed it back, finally just nodding: "Yes, it's a long-term plan. So your trip is of great significance."

As dusk settled, the western sky was painted with the colors of sunset. The dim lights in the carriage illuminated the scene. The loudspeaker began playing rousing songs, followed by news summaries.

Shu Ran returned to the private room. Old Xie was eating a pancake, and Representative Wu was asleep again. Xiao Zhao was organizing some documents. She lay down on her bunk, fully clothed.

the next day.

Shu Ran barely slept. The swaying of the train, coupled with her worries, caused her to wake up just as dawn was breaking. The compartment was dimly lit. Xiao Zhao in the opposite bunk also seemed to have slept poorly, tossing and turning several times. Old Xie and Representative Wu in the upper bunk were still snoring.

She tiptoed down from her bunk, grabbed a towel and toothbrush cup, and headed to the washroom at the end of the carriage. A small queue had already formed, people waiting sleepily. The water from the tap was weak; Shu Ran quickly wiped her face, the icy water instantly waking her. While brushing her teeth, she frowned, noticing the faint dark circles under her eyes in the mirror. This wouldn't do. She needed to be in better shape.

Back in the compartment, Xiao Zhao was also up and making the bed. "Comrade Shu Ran, you're up really early. Didn't you sleep well last night? That's how it is in a hard sleeper, you'll get used to it."

"It's alright." Shu Ran smiled, took out her water bottle and the half-eaten naan bread from last night, and slowly ate it. She remembered that when she was in the livestock company, sometimes when she was busy, she would also make do with a meal like this.

The train stopped at a medium-sized station. The platform immediately became lively, with many vendors carrying baskets filled with boiled corn, tea eggs, sesame seed cakes, and sunflower seeds and peanuts wrapped in newspaper. After consulting with Lao Xie and Representative Wu, Xiao Zhao got off the train and bought some tea eggs and sesame seed cakes.

"Change your diet, my stomach can't handle eating cold dry food all the time."

The warm sesame flatbread filled with pickled vegetables was much easier to eat than the cold, hard naan bread, and the tea egg was also very flavorful. Old Xie ate an egg, half a sesame flatbread, and took a sip of wine, then sighed contentedly, "It's always better when it's hot. Little Zhao knows how to get things done."

Representative Wu then commented on the sesame seeds on the sesame seed cakes, saying that back in his hometown, the sesame seeds were sprinkled much more generously. The atmosphere was more lively than when he first boarded the bus yesterday.

"We're almost in Lanzhou," Old Xie said, looking out the window.

Lanzhou. Shu Ran recognized the name; it was an important transportation hub and industrial city in Northwest China. Her knowledge from before her transmigration told her that Lanzhou noodles were famous there.

"Is this Comrade Shu Ran's first time traveling this far?" Representative Wu leaned against his bunk and lit a cigarette. Shu Ran wasn't used to the smell of smoke, but she didn't say anything.

“Yes, it’s my first time visiting the capital,” Shu Ran replied.

“Beijing is great, so grand!” Representative Wu exhaled a puff of smoke. “However, Comrade Shu Ran, I see that the things you wrote in your materials were all done at the grassroots level. When you get there, when you meet the top leaders and experts from all walks of life, you still have to stick to what you should stick to. Those of us who do specific work know that some things are one thing in theory and another in practice.”

These words were spoken bluntly, but Shu Ran sensed the support and understanding from her peers.

"Thank you, Representative Wu. I understand," Shu Ran said sincerely.

Old Xie listened silently.

In the afternoon, the train had a long stop at the station. Xiao Zhao suggested getting off the train to walk around, get some fresh air, and stretch their legs. Shu Ran also felt stuffy in the carriage, so she agreed. Lao Xie and Representative Wu said they would stay on the train to watch the luggage.

The platform was teeming with people, with a constant stream of travelers coming and going.

Shu Ran and Xiao Zhao walked slowly along the platform. Xiao Zhao pointed to the faintly visible mountain shadows in the distance and said, "The terrain there is very special, and the industry is developing very rapidly."

Shu Ran nodded, but her gaze was drawn to the other side of the platform. There, a long freight train was parked, its open carriages piled high with machine parts, bound together with thick hemp ropes and canvas. Some workers were inspecting the ropes around the carriages.

“Those are machine tool parts, probably being sent to the frontier.” Xiao Zhao followed her gaze. “Right now, the whole country is supporting the development of the frontier. Machines, technology, and personnel are all going west.”

Shu Ran nodded, recalling the old tractors in the livestock company.

“So,” Xiao Zhao said with emotion, “you are laying the foundation for these constructions by engaging in education in the border regions. Without literate people, they can’t understand blueprints or learn operating procedures, and even the best machines are just scrap metal.”

That hit the nail on the head. Shu Ran glanced at Xiao Zhao, "Yes, it's a necessity for survival, and also a necessity for development."

“Survival education comes first.” Xiao Zhao mentioned the core phrase in Shu Ran’s report, his tone showing more agreement. “The more I think about it, the more practical it seems.”

Shu Ran didn't respond, but simply said, "It still depends on the actual situation."

The two walked silently for a while before returning to the private room. Old Xie was wearing reading glasses and reading a newspaper, while Representative Wu was writing something in his notebook.

The scenery outside the window gradually changed to the landscape of the Loess Plateau.

Old Xie put down his newspaper, looked out the window, and sighed, "This place is short of water, crops are hard to grow, and it's very difficult to develop."

“In some similar areas in our region,” Xiao Zhao interjected, “the literacy campaign is even more difficult to promote.”

"Therefore, we place special emphasis on cultivating local seed teachers," Shu Ran said. "It is difficult for outsiders to stay for a long time."

"Seed teachers..." Old Xie muttered the term, "What about the money? How will the compensation be handled? We can't just rely on their awareness, can we?"

“At first, it might be voluntary, or just to earn work points,” Shu Ran answered practically. “But we found that when these teachers actually started teaching, they gained respect and a sense of value. At the same time, the company or commune could provide some very practical rewards, some material subsidies, and even give them consideration in recruitment and military service. The key is to let them see that doing this is beneficial to themselves and their families. It’s hard to sustain just talking about dedication.”

Representative Wu put down his pen, looked up, and said, "That's right. Just shouting slogans isn't enough. We need incentives to make people who are doing the work feel like they have something to strive for."

Shu Ran nodded, "Education, in the end, is also a human endeavor. We must respect the reasonable demands of human nature."

Xiao Zhao listened attentively, occasionally jotting down notes in his notebook.

Dinner was still sesame seed cakes and tea eggs, plus a few cucumbers that Xiao Zhao bought after getting off the bus, so we had some vegetables.

During the meal, Representative Wu started a conversation, recounting his experiences studying in the old industrial base of Northeast China. He mentioned how, when foreign experts withdrew, the workers, with their rudimentary equipment and indomitable spirit, gradually explored, imitated, and improved the technology.

Shu Ran listened intently.

"It's not easy for anyone," Old Xie said after listening. "The country is so big, but the foundation is weak. We need to eat, we need to wear clothes, we need to manufacture machines, and we need to provide education... Which of these things wasn't saved up from every little bit of hard work? Which of these things wasn't achieved through people's hard work?"

A moment of silence fell over the private room. Shu Ran suddenly realized that this long journey might not just be a tiring trip, but also a rare opportunity to understand this era. She thought of 21st-century Shanghai. There, classrooms were spacious and bright, equipped with advanced teaching facilities; children had endless extracurricular books to read, but also endless exams and anxieties about the future. Truly two worlds, two different kinds of education.

Starting from the third day, my body gradually adapted to the fatigue and exhaustion.

The scenery outside the window continued to change. The Loess Plateau gradually transitioned into the relatively flat river valleys. The fields became more orderly, the villages more densely populated, and occasionally two- or three-story buildings could be seen.

Life in the private room also developed a fixed pattern. Besides reading documents, writing, and occasionally discussing work, Lao Xie and Representative Wu engaged in more leisure activities. Lao Xie had a chess set, and Representative Wu knew how to play, so the two would set up a game and play a few rounds. Xiao Zhao sometimes watched the games, and sometimes she would take out her book to read. Shu Ran, on the other hand, spent most of her time either looking out the window or closing her eyes to rest, repeatedly rehearsing the details of her speech in her mind, imagining the various questions she might be asked, and how she would answer them.

One noon, while eating the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) that Xiao Zhao had bought, Representative Wu suddenly asked Shu Ran, "Comrade Shu Ran, you seem so young, but you've been in the Production and Construction Corps for quite a few years now, haven't you? Does your family support you?"

The question was somewhat personal, but Representative Wu spoke casually, like an elder chatting. Xiao Zhao stopped chewing, and Lao Xie also looked up from the chessboard.

Shu Ran swallowed the food in her mouth and calmly replied, "My family... has a somewhat special situation. My parents are in Shanghai, they are old and their health is not very good. When we came to support the border regions, it was partly due to the times and partly due to our family background." She omitted most of the details, "It wasn't so much support as worry and helplessness. In the last year or two, we've had more communication."

“Shanghai, what a great place.” Representative Wu nodded, not pressing for details about his family background—a tacit politeness in those days. “Coming from a big city, it’s not easy to survive in such a tough place and even achieve success. Have you ever thought about transferring back?”

Old Xie also looked at her. Little Zhao perked up his ears even more.

Shu Ran smiled. "It would be a lie to say I hadn't thought about it. Especially at the beginning, when it was particularly tough. But later, as I did things one by one, I realized... there's meaning to everything there. Going back means returning to a familiar life; staying means participating in creating a new possibility. Maybe I'm still a bit restless at heart." Her tone was a little self-deprecating, but also a little candid.

“It’s good to be restless,” Old Xie suddenly said, rubbing a chess piece in his hand. “Young man, being too content is a waste of potential. National development needs restless people like this to explore, experiment, and break some old rules. Of course,” he changed the subject, glancing at Shu Ran, “you have to know your limits and stay within the organizational framework. Your so-called 'Spark' model is very good; it has new ideas but isn’t out of touch with reality or just making a fuss.”

This is a very high compliment.

"Thank you, Director Xie. I always remember a former leader who taught me that we must be realistic and pragmatic in our work. That's fundamental."

"Seeking truth from facts..." Representative Wu repeated, sighing, "These four words are easy to say but hard to do. So many things go wrong because of not seeking truth from facts."

The conversation then veered off into examples of "lack of objectivity" they had encountered in their work. As they talked, Lao Xie and Representative Wu became somewhat agitated, their voices rising, attracting the attention of someone peeking into the next room. Xiao Zhao, a little nervous, tried to steer the conversation back on track. Shu Ran, however, simply listened, occasionally nodding, and rarely offering her opinion.

When the train passes through a major station, the stop is longer. The platform is larger, and the goods are more abundant; you can even see fruit vendors. Xiao Zhao would get off the train to explore, sometimes bringing back local newspapers to keep everyone informed of the latest news. Shu Ran would then observe the various people on the platform through the train window.

On the morning of the sixth day, Shu Ran woke up early. As soon as the announcement of the arrival station came over the loudspeaker, the carriage instantly stirred, and everyone sprang into action. The aisle was packed with people, all peering towards the train doors.

Shu Ran quickly packed her things as well. The old canvas shoulder bag, containing her speech and notebook, now seemed heavy.

She changed into the neatly ironed blue Lenin-style overcoat that she always kept on her bed, and carefully combed her hair. The person in the mirror looked tired, but her expression was resolute.

Old Xie and Representative Wu were already standing at the door of the private room with their luggage. Old Xie nodded to Shu Ran, while Representative Wu waved with a smile. Xiao Zhao nervously checked their tickets and letters of introduction.

The train slowly pulled into the platform, finally came to a stop, and the doors opened.

"Comrade Shu Ran, let's get off the bus." Xiao Zhao picked up his own luggage and reached out to help Shu Ran with her handbag.

"I can do it myself." Shu tightened the strap of her handbag over her shoulder.

She followed behind Xiao Zhao and walked off the train with the flow of people. When her feet touched the ground again, she felt a moment of disorientation.

On the platform, the flow of people was in different directions. She saw the crowds who had come to pick up their loved ones; some were holding signs, and others were calling out loudly. Old Xie and Representative Wu were quickly picked up by their respective colleagues, and they nodded to her again before leaving.

Xiao Zhao stood on tiptoe and peered around for a while, then excitedly pointed in one direction: "Look! Over there! There are comrades holding up signs for the 'National Education Work Symposium'!"

Shu Ran looked in the direction he pointed. Sure enough, near the exit, someone was holding up a wooden sign.

Shu Ran said to Xiao Zhao, "Zhao, let's go over there."

"Okay!" Xiao Zhao perked up and led the way.

Shu Ran followed behind him and stepped into the crowd.

The six-day, six-night journey has come to an end, and a new journey is about to begin.