Chapter 47 lingering fear

The next day, everything seemed normal. But something was off in the atmosphere of the company; the number of militia patrols had increased significantly, and the sentry posts had been strengthened. Zhou Wenbin's dugout remained quiet, as if nothing had happened.

It wasn't until the afternoon of the third day that news spread among the company officers and a few relevant personnel: during a routine border patrol exercise with joint border defense forces, the division's security department successfully intercepted a person attempting to cross the border in a highly concealed depression on our side of the border. He was carrying the last batch of dangerous materials he was trying to transfer, as well as some classified documents. The interception reportedly involved a brief standoff, but no fighting occurred, and the person attempting to cross the border was subdued with almost no resistance. Simultaneously, near the designated rendezvous point, another group apprehended a foreign individual, suspected of being a liaison disguised as a herdsman.

The news was strictly blocked, and most people in the company only knew that Technician Zhou had been urgently transferred by the division headquarters to participate in an important project.

Only Shu Ran knew what kind of covert battle had taken place beneath that calm surface, and the role she had unintentionally played.

The storm may seem to have subsided, but the aftershocks have only just begun.

The pace of life in the company quickly overshadowed this interlude. Reclaiming wasteland, digging ditches, studying... the pressure of survival and development was the most real, leaving no room for lingering fear.

Li Xiulan threw herself into her work even more diligently. In addition to her regular duties, she meticulously prepared for her role as a junior sanitation worker and studied reading and writing with increasing effort.

Sometimes she would stare blankly at the Gobi Desert, her eyes revealing a calmness and vigilance she hadn't shown before. Once, she confided in Shu Ran, "Teacher Shu, I used to think... that educated people were all good-hearted and reasonable. Now I realize... that being corrupted by books is more terrifying than being illiterate."

Shu Ran simply patted her hand, conveying her comfort and support. Li Xiulan was not frightened; instead, she became even more resilient.

Xu Junjun became somewhat cynical, and especially wary of intellectuals.

"Pah! A technician, indeed! He's wasted his education! I even thought it was a shame to see him like that! I was so blind!" She muttered as she sterilized the equipment.

When she examined the employees of the company, she asked more detailed questions, especially those involving exposure to chemicals or unexplained discomfort.

Shu Ran's own feelings were even more complicated. Zhou Wenbin's ending was a tragedy.

This made her realize more deeply another meaning of education—not only to impart knowledge, but also to shape character, guide direction, and make knowledge a power.

Looking into the bewildered eyes of the children in the classroom, especially those from different backgrounds, she felt an even greater weight on her shoulders.

In class, she still teaches "cotton", "wheat" and "medicine", but when explaining the word "medicine", she emphasizes that "medicine can save people or harm them, depending on where it is used and what one's intentions are."

She would tell stories of how scientists went through hardships to benefit the people, and she would also mention, anonymously, how some people, due to a momentary lapse in judgment, allowed their wisdom to be clouded and fell into the abyss.

Children may not fully understand, but that awareness of responsibility and choice will subtly influence their growth.

A few days later, in the evening, Shu Ran tried transplanting a few drought-resistant jujube seedlings on a small patch of clear land next to the classroom.

A tall figure stopped not far away. It was Chen Yuanjiang. He seemed to be passing by on a routine patrol, his gaze fixed on the saplings.

“Teacher Shu,” he said.

"Special Envoy Chen." Shu Ran straightened up and patted the dirt off her hands.

There was a brief silence between the two.

“The matter is settled.” Chen Yuanjiang said succinctly, as if giving a work report, “He was caught red-handed. He confessed to using his professional knowledge to attempt to prepare dangerous substances and planned to cross the border after creating chaos. The motive… is pretty much what you guessed.”

His tone was flat and straightforward, without any embellishment, yet it carried a heavy feeling.

"Then... what will happen to him?" Shu Ran couldn't help but ask.

“The law will judge him,” Chen Yuanjiang replied with a sense of principle. “But his expertise, in certain specific areas, might be able to atone for his sins in another way.” He didn’t elaborate, but this hinted at a possibility—perhaps conducting certain research under strict surveillance.

Shu Ran fell silent. Perhaps this was the last shred of mercy shown to that twisted soul.

Chen Yuanjiang's gaze swept over the jujube seedlings again: "These things are hard to grow."

“Yes,” Shu Ran nodded, “but if it survives, it can hold some of the sand in place, and in the fall it can bear a few fruits, which are very sweet.”

Chen Yuanjiang nodded, as if acknowledging her words, or perhaps implying something else entirely.

“The border is mostly sandstorms. If you bury a footprint today, a new pit will appear tomorrow. But as long as the tree has deep enough roots, it can always stand firm.”

He seemed to be talking about the trees, or perhaps about the people who silently persevere on this land. After speaking, he nodded, turned and left, his steps still steady, disappearing into the deepening twilight.

Shu Ran stood there, pondering his words. Yes, the sandstorms will always be there, and the undercurrents will never completely cease. Zhou Wenbin wasn't the first, and he might not be the last. This vast and desolate land devours ideals, yet forges faith; it breeds despair, yet also nurtures resilience.

She looked down at the newly planted jujube seedlings at her feet; their leaves, though small, exuded a tenacious green. She picked up a water ladle and carefully watered them.

The water seeped into the dry sand and quickly disappeared without a trace. But she knew that as long as she kept watering it, the roots would eventually grow deeper and deeper.

Just like Qiming Primary School, just like the children she teaches, just like countless people like Sister Wang, Xu Junjun, Li Xiulan, and even Chen Yuanjiang, who have taken root in this land.

The impact of education is slow, like water dripping on a stone. But as long as the direction is right and as long as you persist, one day there will be a response.

She raised her head and looked towards the distant horizon where heaven and earth meet.

A week after Zhou Wenbin was taken away, the news finally seemed to reveal some substantial details. It was no longer the vague "transfer" but a statement closer to the truth: "He made a serious mistake and was taken away for investigation by higher authorities."

The news quietly spread among the company members, but was quickly suppressed by various speculations and silence.

After school, Shu Ran was repairing a well-worn copy of "The Barefoot Doctor's Manual" in the classroom. It was a copy that Xu Junjun had discarded and had asked for to teach the children to read and write. Suddenly, the curtain was flung open, and two people with flustered expressions entered.

It was Xu Junjun and Li Xiulan.

Xu Junjun's face was pale, her lips were tightly pressed together, and she closed the door behind her as soon as she entered. Li Xiulan followed behind her, her eyes red and swollen like peaches, her fingers tightly twisting the hem of her clothes, and her body was still trembling slightly.

"Shu Ran!" Xu Junjun's voice trembled, her tone filled with belated anger and fear. "Is what they said true? Zhou Wenbin... he really was arrested?"

Shu Ran put down her book and looked at them. What's meant to happen will happen.

She nodded, her voice calm: "Yes. I can't go into the details, but he did make a very serious mistake and was taken away by his superiors."

Despite being mentally prepared, Xu Junjun still gasped when she heard Shu Ran confirm it with her own ears. "Bastard! Scoundrel! I thought he was just a pretentious intellectual with some ulterior motives... I never expected him to dare to do something like this! He actually wanted to..." She was too angry to continue.

Li Xiulan's tears streamed down her face. "It really is... Teacher Shu, Sister Junjun... I... I almost... I thought he was a learned person... I..." She was incoherent, and the huge fear made her almost unable to stand. She staggered and held onto the wall for support.

Shu Ran quickly got up to help her and pressed her down to sit on a bench.

Xu Junjun also came over. Although she was still angry, seeing how frightened Li Xiulan was, her tone softened and became comforting: "Why are you crying? Are you scared now? I told you long ago that guy was no good. His eyes were darting around, he was obviously up to no good. Luckily you didn't believe his lies!"

Li Xiulan's tears fell even harder: "I'm not... I'm not crying for him... I'm just scared... Sister Junjun, Teacher Shu, you don't know... before... before several times, he asked me to do him a favor, to go to Laofengkou to deliver some hometown soil to an old friend... I said it was too far away, I didn't dare to go... He also persuaded me, saying it was okay, and told me how to take the shortcut... I... if I really went..." She covered her face, her shoulders trembling violently.

Shu Ran and Xu Junjun exchanged a glance. Zhou Wenbin had indeed considered having Li Xiulan act as an unsuspecting messenger.

"You were right not to go!" Xu Junjun raised her voice, both to affirm Li Xiulan and to calm herself down. "You can't do those sneaky things again, no matter who tells you to! Do you hear me?!"

Li Xiulan nodded frantically.

Shu Ran gently patted Li Xiulan's back. "Xiulan, don't be afraid. It's all in the past. You did a great job. You held your ground and didn't blindly believe him just because he's educated. That's the greatest clarity and courage. This incident has taught you and us a lesson. When judging people, you can't just look at the surface, or their titles or how many books they've read. You have to look at what they actually do and what their intentions are."

Xu Junjun snorted, "That's right! You've read a lot of books, but you've used them all to figure out how to harm people and betray the country! This kind of knowledge is worse than not having it at all! Bah!" She spat angrily, as if that could get rid of the disgust.

Li Xiulan slowly stopped crying, raised her head, her eyes were red and swollen, but the fear in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by an expression of understanding.

"Teacher Shu, Sister Junjun, I...I think I understand a little better now. I used to think that being literate and educated was the highest thing, that it could change one's destiny. Now...now I think that even if you can read and understand principles, if your heart is crooked, you might...you might fall even harder."

Her words were simple, yet they hit the nail on the head. Shu Ran nodded with satisfaction: "Yes, Xiulan, you've hit the nail on the head. Knowledge is a tool, it's power, but how that power is used depends on the heart of the person holding it. So we must study hard, not only to learn to read and do math, but also to learn principles, to learn how to be a person, so that the scales in our hearts are always level and upright."

The dugout fell silent.

Xu Junjun let out a long breath, as if trying to expel all the pent-up frustration from her chest. "Ugh! Just thinking about it makes me sick... I'll have to carry this grudge for a long time."

“Having a grudge isn’t a bad thing,” Shu Ran patted Xu Junjun’s shoulder. “It means we’re on high alert, and we know that there’s more to this Gobi Desert than just sandstorms and hardship; there are also unseen undercurrents. From now on, we need to remind and look after each other even more.”

“That’s right!” Xu Junjun immediately chimed in, putting her arm around Li Xiulan’s shoulder. “Xiulan, don’t be afraid. That Zhou guy won’t be able to cause trouble anymore! I’m here for you! Teacher Shu is here for you! Let’s work hard and learn skills, and no one will be able to fool us again!”

Looking at Xu Junjun's loyal face and then at Shu Ran's calm and gentle eyes, Li Xiulan nodded heavily, reached out, and tightly grasped Xu Junjun's hand.

A closer bond flowed between the three girls.