Chapter 54 Gifts from the Division

The children were the most eager to enter the new classroom, crowding around the doorway, their little heads peeking out, all wanting to be the first to step into this new world.

The door to the new classroom was wide open, and the children, upon hearing Shu Ran's words, couldn't contain themselves and rushed inside, followed by the adults.

The entrance was crowded for a moment, filled with laughter, exclamations, and greetings.

Shu Ran also entered the classroom.

The room was filled with the fresh scent of fresh earth and hay, which was not unpleasant but rather made people feel at ease.

Sunlight streamed through the small glass windows, casting dappled patterns on the uneven, muddy ground. The walls were a rough, earthy yellow, with stubble of straw still visible, but the walls were neatly and solidly constructed. The roof was high, revealing the exposed rafters.

The classroom was empty, without desks or chairs, and without a blackboard. In the corner, there was only a square block made of adobe bricks, which connected to a low wall also made of adobe bricks leading to the outside. The wall was hollow inside, which was reserved for a stove and fireplace in preparation for the coming winter.

The children ran around excitedly in the empty house, touching the mud walls, standing on tiptoe to look out through the glass, or circling around the mound and the low wall, guessing their purpose.

The children touched the earthen walls with their hands, stood on tiptoe to try to reach the window frames, or deliberately made thumping footsteps to test the solidity of the ground.

Stone pointed to a handprint mark in the corner of the wall and said loudly, "Look! This is a handprint I accidentally made when I was building the bricks!" This attracted several friends to gather around and look.

Turdi and Yerbol examined the mortise and tenon structure of the doors and windows, exchanging ideas with Master Qian and nodding occasionally.

Sister Wang and the other women touched the wall and exclaimed, "This wall is so thick, it will definitely be warm in winter!" "The fireplace is well-placed; when it's lit, the whole house will be warm!"

Secretary Liu and Company Commander Ma paced back and forth in the classroom, their hands behind their backs, their faces beaming with satisfaction.

Shu Ran stood in the center of the classroom, looking around at everything, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

Everything here embodies the hard work and dedication of everyone present.

Once the initial excitement subsided, everyone naturally turned to look at her. Secretary Liu smiled and gestured, "Teacher Shu, come on, say a few words to everyone! Let's talk in this new home!"

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted, and all eyes turned to her.

Shu Ran took a deep breath and walked to the podium to face everyone. She looked at the faces that were filled with accomplishment and joy: there were employees' families, herdsmen, students, and sisters like Sister Wang, Li Xiulan, and Xu Junjun who had always supported her.

"Fellow villagers, comrades, children." Her voice trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

"We are now standing in the classroom that we built ourselves."

“Just now, I saw Shi Tou find the little handprints he left when he was building the wall; I saw Brother Tuerdi and Master Qian examining the sturdiness of the doors and windows; I saw Sister Wang and her sisters-in-law checking the smoothness of the wall surface…”

As she spoke, her gaze swept over each of the people she mentioned, and everyone laughed, their eyes sparkling.

"I think it's the best classroom in the world. It's still empty now, without desks or chairs, and not even a blackboard for writing."

She frankly pointed out the shortcomings before her, her tone devoid of regret but instead filled with anticipation, "But look, everyone—" Shu Ran pointed around, "We have the solidest foundation, the thickest walls, and bright, clear windows!"

Her finger finally landed on the reserved stool and fireplace in the corner. "We even prepared a stove and fireplace for the children in advance! What does that mean?"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone, and answered her own question: "This shows that we've already completed the most important and difficult part with our own hands! As for the rest, tables, chairs, blackboards, and chalk, we'll take it one step at a time and get everything we need!"

Everyone nodded in agreement with her words, agreeing that it made perfect sense.

Shu Ran raised her voice: "Although this classroom cannot speak, each of us can see our own reflection and feel our own sweat in it. It remembers who dug the foundation, who made the adobe bricks, who mixed the mud, who handed over the water, who cooked the meals, who built the walls, and who erected the beams. It remembers the contributions each of us made to it."

She recounted each contribution, and her gaze warmed the hearts of those who saw her.

"So it's not an ordinary classroom. It's a home that our livestock team and the villagers in the pastoral areas built for our own children with their own hands and hearts."

She looked at the children, her eyes filled with hope: "From now on, everything here will accompany you as you grow up. In winter, we'll study around the fireplace; in summer, we'll learn to read with the doors and windows open. I hope that here, you can learn knowledge, and also learn the patience, unity, and the principle that hard work will not be in vain, just like when this classroom was built."

Finally, she looked at all the adults again and bowed deeply: "Thank you everyone! This classroom was built by all of you together. In the future, we will need to work together to protect it and safeguard our hope for the future!"

A moment of silence fell, followed by even more enthusiastic applause. Many people had tears in their eyes, especially the women and herders who had done so much work; they felt that their hard work had been seen and appreciated.

"Teacher Shu is right! This is our own classroom!"

"From now on, the children will no longer be afraid of wind and rain!"

"You're all great!"

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar.

Everyone looked out the doors and windows and saw Chen Yuanjiang riding in on horseback, with a long, narrow object wrapped in dark green military cloth hanging beside the saddle.

He reined in his horse and dismounted, his left arm seemingly unharmed in the process. He untied the bundle, walked to the classroom door, looked around the brand-new classroom, and went inside.

The scene fell silent as everyone stared curiously at him and the heavy package in his hand.

“Teacher Shu,” Chen Yuanjiang began, “the completion of the new classrooms at Qiming Primary School is a major event for the company. The division headquarters entrusted me to deliver a gift to express our congratulations and also to express our hope that the children will study hard and better contribute to building and defending the border in the future.”

A gift? From the division headquarters? Everyone pricked up their ears, even Secretary Liu and Company Commander Ma showed some curiosity.

Chen Yuanjiang said no more. In front of everyone, he carefully untied the ropes on the military cloth, opening it layer by layer.

Inside, a neatly folded national flag and a smooth, straight flagpole with a metal tip were visible.

The crowd gasped in surprise, "These gifts are now symbolic! Who will dare to make a fuss about Shu Ran's ingredients after this?"

Chen Yuanjiang solemnly handed the flagpole and national flag to Shu Ran: "According to regulations, the school should fly a formal national flag. Please keep it safe and raise and lower it on time."

Shu Ran took the flagpole and national flag with both hands, feeling their heavy weight. She raised her head, met Chen Yuanjiang's gaze, and solemnly promised, "Please rest assured, organization! All teachers and students of Qiming Primary School will cherish the national flag, observe etiquette, and ensure that the national flag flies high every day!"

"Okay." Chen Yuanjiang nodded, as if his mission was accomplished, and took a step back.

The next moment, someone started clapping, and applause rang out again. The children's eyes sparkled as they stared at the red flag.

This gift from the division headquarters elevates the significance of the new classroom's completion to a new level.

Shu Ran hugged the national flag, her heart filled with emotion. She understood that it was highly likely that Chen Yuanjiang had applied for it in his own way, or even that he had prepared it himself.

"Raise the flag! Raise the flag!" the children shouted excitedly.

Shu Ran smiled and replied loudly, "Okay! Once we've erected the flagpole, we'll hold a flag-raising ceremony in front of our new classroom first thing tomorrow morning!"

In the classroom, people gathered around the national flag, discussing Monday's flag-raising ceremony.

Just then, a clear voice came from the doorway: "Wow! It's so lively! Looks like even though I rushed here, I almost missed the best part!"

Everyone turned around and saw Xu Junjun carrying her medicine box, her forehead covered in fine sweat, standing smiling at the classroom door, curiously looking around the room.

"Medic Xu!" the children called out affectionately.

"Jun Jun, you're back from your rounds?" Shu Ran asked with delight. Xu Jun Jun had gone to a remote pastoral area a few days ago to conduct mobile medical services.

"I just got back and heard that our big classroom is finished and there's great news, so I rushed over!" Xu Junjun walked in, her eyes immediately drawn to the national flag in Shu Ran's arms. "Wow! This is... the national flag? It's so bright!"

"It was just delivered by Officer Chen, a gift from the division headquarters for our new classroom!" Shu Ran said with pride.

Xu Junjun's eyes lit up as she looked at Chen Yuanjiang, her tone slightly teasing: "Officer Chen, this is truly a timely help... no, it's the icing on the cake! Our classroom is really missing such a treasure!" Her playful words lightened the slightly formal atmosphere from before.

Chen Yuanjiang's face remained expressionless; he simply nodded slightly and said, "Of course."

Xu Junjun didn't mind his coldness and instead began to tour the new classroom with great interest.

She walked to the corner where the stove and fire wall were set up, bent down to look at the size of the ventilation opening, and nodded: "Hmm, the ventilation is well done. We won't have to worry about the children being choked by smoke when we light a fire."

She then felt the thickness of the wall with her hand and tapped it. "The wall is thick and has good insulation, which will save a lot of firewood in winter. It's just the floor..."

She stomped her foot, raising a little dust: "It's still dirt. It'll be easy to stir up dust when we sweep, which is bad for the children's respiratory system. We need to find a way to harden the ground with some lime or cement slurry, even if it's just a thin layer."

Master Qian listened from the side and nodded in agreement: "Medical Officer Xu is right! I'll remember this and figure out a way after this busy period."

Xu Junjun walked to the window again and checked the window frame's airtightness: "Hmm, the gap isn't big. In winter, pasting paper on the windows should stop the draft." She turned back to Shu Ran and Sister Wang and smiled: "When it gets colder, I still have a lot of old newspapers. We can organize the children to paste paper on the windows together. It'll keep us warm and it'll be lively!"

Her suggestions were specific and practical, and immediately sparked a discussion among everyone.

"Sister Junjun is so thoughtful!"

"Yes, the ground needs to be fixed, otherwise we'll be eating dirt every day."

"Kids will love pasting paper on windows!"

Shu Ran looked at Xu Junjun with gratitude.

After Xu Junjun finished her inspection, she walked over to Shu Ran, lowered her voice, and winked, "Not bad, Ranran, this classroom is really well built! And the timing of Chen's flag presentation was perfect, let's see who dares to gossip now!" As she spoke, she gently nudged Shu Ran with her elbow, her eyes full of teasing joy for her friend.

Shu Ran glared at her: "Don't talk nonsense! It was a gift from the division headquarters."

The two were chatting and laughing in hushed tones when Sister Wang called out, "Alright, alright, we've checked the classrooms and received the national flags! Don't just stand there! I've got a big pot of mung bean soup cooking up over there! Come on over and have a bowl, relax and celebrate!"

The crowd echoed this sentiment and began to walk out in twos and threes.

Xu Junjun took Shu Ran's arm: "Come on, Ranran, let's go have some mung bean soup!" She glanced at Chen Yuanjiang, who was standing at the door talking quietly with Secretary Liu, and whispered to Shu Ran: "Hey, look at Chen's arm, it seems to be all better? I told him to rest more before I left, but he definitely didn't listen!"

Shu Ran followed her gaze, and Chen Yuanjiang seemed to notice, looking up at her. Xu Junjun waved and smiled at him generously, and Chen Yuanjiang nodded slightly before continuing his conversation with Secretary Liu.

"It seems she's alright," Shu Ran said softly.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the crowd around the stove gradually dispersed. Sister Wang deftly washed the large pot, while Li Xiulan helped clear away the dishes and spoons. Shu Ran and Xu Junjun also stayed to help.

Sister Wang straightened up, wiped her hands with her apron, looked at the new classroom, and exclaimed, "My goodness, I never dared to imagine that we women could be wielding shovels and mixing mud to build such a big room!"

Li Xiulan chimed in softly, a hint of pride on her face: "Teacher Shu is right, we women can hold up half the sky too." She had recently heard this from Shu Ran and Xu Junjun, and found it particularly inspiring.

Xu Junjun was stacking the washed dishes when she heard this and laughed, "Xiulan is right! We really can hold up half the sky! Look, without us mixing mud, fetching water, cooking, and recording work points, how could this house have been built so quickly by the men alone?"

Sister Wang laughed heartily: "That makes sense! It's just that in the past, we always thought that building houses and repairing canals were men's big jobs, and we were just there to lend a hand. But after going through all this with Teacher Shu, I feel like I can stand up straighter a lot more!"

Shu Ran put the broom against the wall and walked over, saying, "Big sister, Xiulan, Junjun, we women are no less capable than men. Men are strong, we are patient; men can dig ditches, we can do accounting; men can fight, we can save lives. Just like building this classroom, it wouldn't work without either side."

She paused, then added, "Besides, we have some skills of our own, we can earn work points, we can solve problems, so we can speak with confidence wherever we are. We don't have to rely on men for everything and have to be mindful of other people's feelings."

These words really struck a chord with Sister Wang. As a martyr's family member, she received preferential treatment, but she didn't want to always be pitied. "Ran's words are so true! Being able to stand on your own two feet is more important than anything else! Like you, you're educated and can teach children, don't the leaders in the company have to look up to you? And Junjun, you're the only proper sanitation worker for miles around, don't people have to rely on you when they have a headache or fever?"

Xu Junjun laughed heartily: "That's right! That's why my mom insisted I study medicine back then!"

Li Xiulan listened intently. She used to think that Teacher Shu and Medical Staff Xu were exceptionally capable, unlike herself. Now, she was slowly starting to feel that she could become capable too. "Teacher Shu, Medical Staff Xu, I...can I be as capable as you two someday?"

"Why not?" Shu Ran put her arm around her shoulder. "You're good at making tofu, and you're getting better and better at keeping accounts. That's real skill! From now on, we should help each other out even more. If anyone has a problem, lend a hand; if anyone is wronged, we'll work together to find a solution; if there are any good opportunities, we'll share them with each other. Like this time building the classroom, didn't we get it done this way?"

Sister Wang slapped her thigh: "That's right! That's how it should be! Before, everyone was looking out for themselves, which was really frustrating sometimes. From now on, we sisters should discuss things together. Ran, you're quick-witted, Junjun knows a lot of people, Xiulan is meticulous, and as for me, I've been in the company for a long time and have some influence! If we stick together, let's see who dares to look down on us women!"

Xu Junjun added, "It's not just us. There are many other women in the company and the pastoral area. In the future, we can organize things like literacy classes, teaching basic hygiene, or even setting up a sewing group! It will give everyone something to do, something to look forward to, and they can earn some pocket money. Wouldn't that be great!"

Shu Ran nodded: "Jun Jun's idea is good. Take it slow, things will get better."

"Alright, you've been busy all day, go back and rest!" Sister Wang said, picking up the cleaned pot.

The four chatted and laughed as they dispersed. Shu Ran glanced at the new classroom, her heart filled with anticipation for the future.

The first weekend after the new classroom was completed was unusually quiet in the company, as the work whistle was absent.

Shu Ran had a rare opportunity to sleep in, and when she woke up, she was all alone in the dugout. She sat up and stretched, feeling a bit sore all over.

After washing up and having a quick breakfast, she strolled to the front of the new classroom.

She walked around the classroom, touched the walls with her hand; they were dry and solid, and a sense of security welled up inside her.

From afar, they saw Chen Yuanjiang ride out of the company headquarters and head into the depths of the Gobi Desert, seemingly on patrol. His left arm appeared to be functioning normally again. Their eyes met across the distance, and he nodded to her before riding away. Shu Ran also looked away.

Shu Ran's interest in learning to ride a horse became more and more apparent.

She wandered over to the vicinity of the horse stable. She saw Uncle Yerbol, who often traveled between the company and the pastoral area, tying several burlap sacks onto his horse, seemingly preparing to return to the pastoral area.

"Uncle Yerboli!" Shu Ran jogged over, a smile plastered on her face, and pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket. "Are you going back now?"

Yerbol stopped what he was doing, took the cigarette and put it in his pocket, a smile appearing on his dark face: "Teacher Shu, is there something you need?"

“I’d like to learn how to ride a horse from you,” Shu Ran said, pointing to his rather steady-looking brown horse. “When I visit families in pastoral areas in the future, I can’t always rely on others to give me a ride or walk on my own.”

Yerbol looked her over: "Riding a horse is not like riding a carriage. It's very bumpy, and if you fall, it hurts a lot. Aren't you afraid?"

"Being afraid is what makes you want to learn," Shu Ran said honestly. "Just teach me the basics, enough so I can ride it!"

“Alright!” Yerbol readily agreed. “It’s not easy for you to teach the children. Come on, let me teach you how to deal with horses first.”

He guided Shu Ran closer, showing her how to let the horse smell his hand and how to stroke its mane. "It'll only be willing to let you ride if it's comfortable." Then he showed her how to hold the reins and how to put her feet in the stirrups. "Yes, like that, don't use your toes, put your feet firmly on the soles of your feet... Okay, get on!"

Yelbol helped her up, and Shuran hurriedly climbed onto the horse's back. Her vision suddenly rose, and she panicked, instinctively gripping the saddle tightly, her body stiffening.

"Relax! Relax!" Yerbol held the reins, letting the horse walk slowly. "Move your waist with it, yes, just like that... Don't look at your feet, look ahead!"

The feeling of being on horseback was more bumpy than she had imagined. Shu Ran felt like an unstable sack, as if she might be thrown off at any moment. But she insisted on not looking down, recalling Yelbol's words, and tried to relax her body to adapt to the horse's rhythm.

Yerbol led his horse around and around the open space. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and slowly he seemed to find his footing, no longer so afraid.

"Hey, Teacher Shu, are you going to be a female knight-errant?" Xu Junjun, carrying a medicine box, passed by and, seeing her like this, teased her with a smile.

Shu Ran blushed, wanting to retort but afraid of getting distracted and falling, so she glared at her. Ye Erboli also laughed heartily.

After practicing for almost an hour, Shu Ran was only able to control the horse to walk slowly for a short distance with Yerboli leading it.

Yerbol looked at the sky and said, "Teacher Shu, that's about enough, I have to go. I'll teach you how to make it trot next time I come. For a first time, it's quite good that it can ride so steadily!"

Shu Ran reluctantly dismounted, her legs buckling as her feet touched the ground, almost causing her to collapse. Ye Erbo nimbly mounted his horse, waved, gave a shout, and headed towards the pasture.

Shu Ran watched his retreating figure, rubbing her aching thighs, thinking to herself: Next time, next time I must learn how to make the horse run!

As Shu Ran watched his retreating figure, she pondered what kind of thank-you gift she should bring next time.