Chapter 25 "Teacher Shu, please tell Secretary Chen..."

Seeing the children's reactions, Shu Ran felt gratified. She then returned to the main topic: "Once we have all improved and performed well, we will have all the students and teachers vote fairly to elect the first batch of the most outstanding students..."

"I want to be a Young Pioneer!" Shi Tou shouted first, his little fists clenched tightly.

"Me too!" Tiger said, not to be outdone.

"I...I also want to wear a red scarf!" Chuncao said softly but firmly.

Even the three new children were infected by the enthusiasm, their little faces full of eagerness.

Shu Ran's gaze swept over Adil.

The boy lowered his head and rubbed the clods of dirt on the ground with his toes, but Shu Ran keenly caught his quick glance at the red flag before looking down again.

His lips were pressed tightly together, as if he were thinking about something.

"Alright!" Shu Ran clapped her hands. "Then, starting today, let's work together! So that we can wear our red scarves and salute the glorious Young Pioneers as soon as possible! Now, let's go back to the classroom and get ready for class!"

*

After class, as Shu Ran watched the children run out of the classroom, her desire to establish a Young Pioneers organization grew stronger.

This is not just an honor, but also an important tool for uniting people and guiding children to be virtuous and kind.

She needs the organization's support.

Shu Ran walked to the pencil basket and tidied up the lime blocks inside. She picked up a small paper packet containing the pencil stubs that Accountant Shi had brought.

She selected a few relatively long pencils, sharpened them with a knife, and thought to herself: "Next time in the literacy class, I can let the children take turns trying to write their names on scrap paper with pencils. This is closer to real writing than using lime blocks."

After doing all this, she locked the door and walked toward the company commander's office.

"Reporting to the company commander!" Shu Ran stood at the door.

When Company Commander Ma saw that it was Shu Ran, he put down his work and asked, "Shu Ran? What brings you here? Are you having any difficulties at work?"

Shu Ran walked in and gave a brief report on the morning flag-raising ceremony, emphasizing the children's aspirations to be Young Pioneers and their red scarves, as well as her request to formally establish a Young Pioneers organization at Qiming Primary School.

"Young Pioneers?" Ma Zhanshan picked up the porcelain mug and pondered, "That organization the kids are involved in... Young Pioneers? This is ideological and cultural work, under the jurisdiction of the company branch... You'll have to find Secretary Liu."

"Secretary Liu?" Shu Ran was taken aback. She seemed to have never seen this secretary since she came to the company.

"Hey!" Ma Zhanshan waved his hand. "Old Liu has gone to study at the Party School of the Autonomous Region! He's been gone for almost three months! His return date is uncertain! The work of the company branch will be temporarily... temporarily taken over by the branch committee members."

He clearly didn't want to take on this "superficial" job, and his eyes swept around the office before finally landing on Chen Yuanjiang, who had just walked in.

"Officer Chen!" Ma Zhanshan exclaimed, his voice rising several notches as if he had grasped at a lifeline. "You've come at the perfect time! You're a veteran Party member, from the division headquarters, you know the policies! Teacher Shu is thinking of setting up something for the kids... the Young Pioneers? You're an expert on these ideological matters! Take a look, give me some pointers! I have a ton of production tasks to finish up on my plate!"

After saying that, without waiting for Chen Yuanjiang's response, he immediately turned to the map on the wall, as if the map was about to fly away at any moment, "Teacher Shu, you tell Officer Chen! Whatever Officer Chen says, we'll do!"

As soon as Chen Yuanjiang stepped across the threshold, Ma Zhanshan abruptly threw a task at him.

He stopped in his tracks, his gaze calmly sweeping over Company Commander Ma, who had a pleading look on his face, before finally settling on Shu Ran's face.

Shu Ran looked at him, her eyes filled with expectation and a hint of trepidation.

Chen Yuanjiang didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly to Ma Zhanshan, which was considered as accepting the commission.

He turned to Shu Ran, his tone as steady as ever: "Comrade Shu Ran, let's talk in my office."

*

Chen Yuanjiang's temporary office was still simple, but it was tidier than before, and there was even a glass vase full of wildflowers on the desk.

He gestured for Shu Ran to sit down, then went behind his desk and took out a notebook and a pen from the drawer.

"Tell me your specific thoughts and the basis for them." He got straight to the point, scrutinizing Shu Ran.

Shu Ran looked at the scene and realized that it didn't seem like "casual guidance" at all, but rather like a formal investigation and evaluation.

Shu Ran composed herself and began to speak eloquently from her prepared remarks: "Qiming Elementary School currently has twelve school-age children, which provides the foundation for establishing a Young Pioneers team. My idea is..."

She explained clearly and logically, even mentioning the names of several key policy documents, which she pieced together from her memory and the original owner's vague impressions, but were enough to impress people in this era.

Chen Yuanjiang listened very attentively, quickly jotting down key points in his notebook with his pen, occasionally glancing up to confirm.

After Shu Ran finished speaking, the office fell into a brief silence, with only the scratching sound of pens scribbling across paper.

Chen Yuanjiang put down his pen and closed his notebook. Instead of immediately commenting on Shu Ran's plan, he asked a crucial question: "Where did the red scarf come from?"

Shu Ran was taken aback; this was indeed a real problem. She answered truthfully, "This... hasn't been resolved yet. I considered using red cloth, but that requires cloth ration coupons, and the color and texture have to meet the requirements..."

She remembered Chen Yuanjiang sewing yellow cloth strips with five stars, but those were military supplies, and she dared not hope for them.

Chen Yuanjiang pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table, a habitual gesture he made when thinking.

"The red scarf is a corner of the red flag, and it is of great significance. It should not be treated casually."

He raised his eyes, his gaze deep. "This matter requires formal reporting. I will review the relevant documents to clarify the procedures, approval authority, and regulations for the establishment of primary schools in grassroots units within the military.

He stood up and said formally, "The induction ceremony will not be held until the higher authorities have given clear approval and distributed the supplies. But..."

He changed the subject and looked at Shu Ran, "You can start preparing the preliminary work you proposed. We'll proceed with the ideological education, behavioral guidance, and democratic evaluation criteria as you just mentioned. The selection process must be fair, open, and transparent. This is a testament to the organization's trust and our responsibility to the children."

He concluded by adding, "The relevant progress and evaluation results will be documented in writing. I will follow up."

Shu Ran immediately understood his meaning: he wouldn't fool anyone, he would supervise the whole process, and he would act according to the rules.

Looking at Chen Yuanjiang's serious expression, Shu Ran felt a sense of reassurance welling up inside her.

Although the process was more complicated than she had imagined, and the red scarves were still undecided, Chen Yuanjiang's attitude made her understand that this matter would be taken seriously and the children's efforts would not be in vain.

Shu Ran stood up and solemnly agreed.

Chen Yuanjiang nodded slightly, said nothing more, sat back down at the table, and opened another document.

A note from the author:

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