Chapter 78 "So what?" Director Sun pointed...

For the next few days, Shu Ran seemed no different from usual. She went to the editorial team's office early in the morning as usual and buried herself in a table full of documents and manuscripts.

When others were discussing, she listened more carefully and asked more specific questions. At lunchtime, she would often carry an enamel mug, munching on cornbread while asking people at different tables about the strange and unusual problems they encountered in literacy campaigns in various regiments and companies, jotting down notes in a small notebook from time to time.

When it was time to leave work, the light in the small room of the guesthouse would always stay on very late. She would lie on the wooden table, spread out the old notebook she had brought from the livestock company, and then arrange the new scraps of paper and notes she had collected at the division headquarters over the past few days.

The pot of mint on the windowsill exudes a refreshing fragrance.

She pondered intently, her pen moving swiftly across the paper, meticulously recounting how Qiming Primary School was established from scratch, how the women's literacy class navigated difficulties step by step, what challenges they encountered, and how they were overcome using simple, unconventional methods—every single detail was carefully analyzed.

She also tried to draw up several tables, trying to make it clear how the students would improve, how many words the women knew and how they could be used.

Finally, she picked up a few more sheets of paper and wrote down the thoughts that had been churning in her mind for days—if she didn't stop at the livestock company, what else could she do? She called this her "preliminary idea," writing and stopping, erasing and revising, and carefully copying it over after she finished.

She had neatly organized the thick stack of materials, and roughly sewed a few stitches along the edges to prevent them from becoming scattered. Holding the notebook, she didn't go directly to Director Sun, but instead went to the publicity department first.

When Yang Zhenhua was found, he was gesturing at the propaganda posters on the wall.

Shu Ran waited a while before approaching, her voice soft and gentle: "Officer Yang, are you busy right now? There's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Yang Zhenhua turned around, adjusted his glasses, and smiled, "Comrade Shu Ran, what's the matter? Tell me."

Shu Ran handed over the stack of handwritten materials, looking a little embarrassed: "I've hastily compiled some of my experiences working in the livestock company, along with a few immature ideas. You're in propaganda, experienced and knowledgeable, and a good writer, could you take a look? I'm mainly worried that the ideas might be unclear, or that I might have made some fundamental mistakes, which would be bad. Just consider it a check on the document format and a review."

Yang Zhenhua took the materials, said "Okay, let me take a look," and sat down at the table to look through them.

At first, he was just browsing casually, but as he looked at it, he became more focused, turning back a few pages from time to time and tapping on certain lines of text with his finger.

When he saw the last part of the plan, his eyes lit up, and his tone was filled with undisguised surprise: "Comrade Shu Ran! This is not just a simple work summary! This is clearly... clearly a very valuable blueprint for grassroots education practice! Look here, 'using key points to drive overall development,' 'focusing on supporting grassroots teaching points,' 'teacher guidance and grassroots innovation working together as one'! The ideas are so clear, and the methods are practical. I think it will work!"

Shu Ran gave a wry smile and waved her hand: "Officer Yang, please don't flatter me. It's nothing like a blueprint. It's just some makeshift solutions forced upon us by the actual difficulties of the livestock company. It's nothing special. To be honest..."

Her voice lowered, revealing a hint of difficulty, "Director Sun thinks highly of me and wants me to stay at the division headquarters. But I... I really can't let go of the company that's just starting to take shape. Those children, those older women, they've just begun to realize that literacy is somewhat useful, their eyes have just begun to light up. If I were to abandon them now, I... I can't bring myself to do that. But the organization's arrangements, I..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yang Zhenhua immediately understood her situation and purpose.

He paused for a moment, tapped the document lightly with his finger, and his tone became serious: "I understand. Director Sun values ​​talent and wants to transfer you up, that's true, and the division headquarters does need someone like you who has come up from the bottom and has real experience. But it's normal for you to have such concerns! The sparks that have just been ignited at the grassroots level are most afraid of being blown out by a gust of wind."

He paused, then offered his suggestion, "Look, your report is quite good. Let me check the wording and format for you. Then you can take it directly to Director Sun and report boldly, just as you've come up with! I'll also find a suitable opportunity to subtly reflect on how difficult it is to cultivate a model grassroots figure. If this is done well, its influence will be far greater than simply promoting someone. What we need most right now isn't to move the core personnel, but to provide support for such individuals!"

Shu Ran, clutching the roughly sewn report, stood outside Director Sun's office and knocked on the wooden door.

"Please come in," came Director Sun's steady voice from inside.

Pushing open the door, Director Sun, wearing reading glasses, was hunched over his desk reviewing documents. Hearing the noise, he looked up, saw it was her, and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Comrade Shu Ran, please sit down. Is there something you need?"

"Director, you asked me to do more research and think more last time," Shu Ran sat down, placed the thick report on the table with both hands, and gently pushed it over. "These past few days, I have combined what I learned at the division headquarters with what I did at the animal husbandry company, and compiled a summary. Also... I have some immature ideas that I would like to ask for your criticism and correction."

Director Sun said "Oh," put down his pen, and picked up the report. The cover was made by Shu Ran herself using slightly stiff paper, with the title neatly written on it. He opened the cover, and inside were well-organized texts and hand-drawn tables, the handwriting meticulous, showing the writer's seriousness.

The room was quiet, with only the rustling of Director Sun turning the pages and the occasional roar of a tractor from afar outside the window.

Shu Ran sat upright with her hands on her knees, occasionally glancing furtively at Director Sun's expression, trying to glean some clues from behind his reading glasses.

Time seemed to pass particularly slowly. Director Sun examined the document very carefully, sometimes pausing for a moment on a particular line, sometimes tapping the table unconsciously with his finger. When he reached the preliminary concept at the end, he suddenly clicked his tongue softly, his brows furrowing slightly.

Shu Ran's heart jumped into her throat.

Director Sun picked up a red pencil from the table and drew a line across the blank page. Shu Ran's heart jumped, wondering if she had said something wrong. But then she saw him turn back to the previous page, compare the two pages, pick up the teacup beside him, take a sip, and continue reading, his brow gradually relaxing.

Finally, he closed the report, took off his reading glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and looked at Shu Ran, his expression unreadable: "Comrade Shu Ran, do you mean... you don't want to work at the division headquarters?"

Shu Ran straightened her back, her palms sweating again, but she spoke clearly: "Director, I am very grateful for the organization's trust. During my time at the division headquarters, I have learned a lot and have a better understanding of the significance of our Corps' education work. Because of this, I feel that... personal development is a small matter; what is important is to consolidate and develop the experience that we have just begun to explore at the grassroots level."

She paused, her gaze earnest. "The Qiming Primary School and literacy classes in the animal husbandry company are like seedlings just breaking through the soil. They look weak, but they are full of hope. They were pilot projects forced out by real difficulties. If I were to uproot them and move them to another place now, the seedlings might wither, and this experience would be wasted halfway. I think that would be such a pity."

"So?" Director Sun pointed to the report. "What are your thoughts?"

Shu Ran felt her throat was a little dry, but she still said what she had thought about countless times: "Director, I would like to request the organization to allow me to return to the livestock company and do a good job at that site, and build it into a model grassroots education site?"

She spoke a little faster: "At the same time, I can also serve as a liaison officer or special researcher for the Education Section of the Division! This way, I can stay at the grassroots level, make the pilot projects effective, and bring up the situation and experience from below in a timely manner to assist the section in formulating more practical policies and teaching materials. I guarantee that I will be available whenever the Division has meetings or training sessions, without any delays. I think... this might allow me to play a better role."

After she finished speaking, she held her breath and looked at Director Sun.

Director Sun didn't speak immediately. He picked up the report again, flipped to the conceptual section, and pointed to a few lines. After a while, he suddenly smiled, looked up at her, and said with a hint of scrutiny and understanding in his eyes: "Regularly organize grassroots teachers to come to the division headquarters for exchanges and promote pilot experiences... Comrade Shu Ran, your mind isn't just on guarding the small plot of land of the livestock company. You want to start from the livestock company, leverage more resources, and do bigger things?"

Shu Ran felt a little relieved, knowing that Director Sun understood her intentions. Her face flushed slightly, and she honestly admitted, "Director, I just felt that if a good method works, more places should benefit from it. But I have to go back first and make sure it's implemented well. I need time and the opportunity to stay there."

Director Sun stood up, paced a couple of steps in his not-so-spacious office with his hands behind his back, walked to the map on the wall, looked at it for a while, then suddenly turned around and made a decisive statement: "Good! I think your approach is more valuable and useful than simply transferring someone up! We'll do it your way! The division headquarters will issue a formal document designating your primary school as a key grassroots education demonstration site, and all the necessary support will be considered! You just need to make it look good! At the same time, you'll also serve as a special researcher for the Education Section, reporting regularly! I will require the Livestock Company to fully cooperate with your work!"

He walked up to Shu Ran, his eyes filled with appreciation: "Shu Ran, this is no easy task, much harder than simply sitting in an office at the division headquarters! You need to put in the same effort you had back then and make this demonstration site a true model! If you need any support, just write a report and come directly to me!"

As time went by, Shu Ran became increasingly adept at her work at the division headquarters. The practical literacy module she was responsible for was already taking shape and had received unanimous praise from the writing team.

What pleased her even more was the good news coming from the units she had visited: the women in the family-run factories could now recognize all kinds of tickets and certificates; the workers in the machine repair company could read simple instruction manuals; and the herdsmen could identify the names of common veterinary drugs...

These findings, in turn, provided more examples and support for textbook compilation. Shu Ran ingeniously suggested that illustrations of life in the Production and Construction Corps, such as tractors, hoes, and sheepdogs, could be added to the textbooks to make them easier for students to understand.

"That's a great idea!" Director Sun praised. "I'll have the comrades in the publicity department cooperate with you and find someone who can draw to help."

To Shu Ran's surprise, Yang Zhenhua volunteered to help draw the illustrations. He was quite skilled at drawing and quickly produced some vivid illustrations based on Shu Ran's descriptions.

"Comrade Shu Ran, do you think this sheepdog looks like one?" Yang Zhenhua asked, holding up the newly drawn illustration.

Shu Ran gazed at the majestic sheepdog in the painting and suddenly remembered something: "Officer Yang, could you draw a herdsman with a sheepdog? It would be best if the sheepdog could depict the scene of the herdsman helping to protect the sheep."

Yang Zhenhua paused for a moment, then understood Shu Ran's intention: "Great idea! This way we can teach the word 'sheepdog' and also conduct patriotic education—protecting collective property!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, their cooperation becoming increasingly seamless.

One day after get off work, Yang Zhenhua came to find Shu Ran again: "Comrade Shu Ran, the propaganda department has received a new batch of film reels. They will be screened in the auditorium tonight. Shall we go and take a look?"

Just as Shu Ran was about to make an excuse to decline, a voice came from behind her: "Teacher Shu is probably busy. She promised to help me organize the research data on the pastoral area tonight."

Shu Ran turned around in surprise and saw Chen Yuanjiang standing not far away, looking travel-worn, as if he had just returned from a business trip.

Yang Zhenhua was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "When did Officer Chen get back? Why didn't he tell you beforehand?"

Chen Yuanjiang said calmly, "I just got back. There's an emergency meeting at the division headquarters."

His gaze shifted to Shu Ran, and his tone softened somewhat, "Teacher Shu, can the materials be organized tonight? Director Sun needs them tomorrow."

Shu Ran understood and quickly nodded: "Yes, I'll start tidying up right away."

Yang Zhenhua glanced at the two of them, then could only spread his hands and smile, "Then you two go about your business, let's watch the movie another day."

Once Yang Zhenhua was out of sight, Shu Ran breathed a sigh of relief: "Special Envoy Chen, thank you for getting me out of that predicament."

Chen Yuanjiang looked at her: "Are you settling in well at the division headquarters?"

"It's great, I've learned a lot," Shu Ran replied, then suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, thank you for the snow lotus ointment and peppermint, they're very effective."

Chen Yuanjiang nodded slightly: "The Gobi Desert is cold, take care of yourself." He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "I heard that Director Sun wants to keep you at the division headquarters?"

Shu Ran was surprised by his good information: "Yes, but I didn't agree."

Chen Yuanjiang paused for a moment, then said, "The division headquarters offers a large platform and many opportunities. But cadres who have grown up from the grassroots have a more solid foundation."

These words were spoken subtly, but Shu Ran understood what he meant.

“I know,” Shu Ran said softly. “The animal husbandry company is not a stepping stone for me, but I need to use my abilities on a better platform… In short, I’m not just doing this for myself.”

Chen Yuanjiang's eyes suddenly lit up, but he quickly regained his usual seriousness: "I have to go to a meeting, I'll be going now."