"Cheers!" Du Jianshan dipped the last bit of pancake in the soup and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it with a crunching sound.

"The company commander has given the order, so we have to set a good example!"

"Tomorrow morning, after the work whistle blows, don't rush to the fields. Meet under that old poplar tree behind the company headquarters! Anyone who's been to college and knows a bit about geology and hydrology, come!"

"Alright!" everyone responded, each with their own thoughts on their minds, and then dispersed.

Aygul helped clear the dishes quickly and efficiently.

Du Jianshan scraped the remaining broth from the pot into a bowl and handed it to her: "Here, take this back and let your uncle have a taste."

Aygul blushed, but didn't refuse. She said softly, "Comrade Du, are you looking for water...? Can I help? I... I recognize some drought-resistant grass roots from the Gobi Desert. Sometimes the soil underneath them is damp..."

"That's fantastic!" Du Jianshan's eyes lit up. "You come tomorrow too! Your skills are worth half a college student!"

Aygul smiled, her eyes sparkling, and quickly walked away with her basket.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the whistle for starting work pierced the silence of the Gobi Desert in the early morning.

A flurry of noise erupted as the educated youth at the settlement started getting up.

Du Jianshan and Wang Tieniu were the quickest to act; they quickly washed their faces and headed straight for the crooked old poplar tree behind the company headquarters.

One by one, people began to gather in this direction.

Some of them carried canvas backpacks and wore glasses; they were clearly well-educated.

Some of them look clever.

Aygul stood quietly a little distance away, carrying her small basket.

Du Jianshan leaned against the rough tree trunk and glanced around.

Almost everyone had arrived. He cleared his throat and said, "Is everyone here? The company commander has assigned us the task of finding water. This is a big deal! We depend on it for drinking water and irrigating the fields!"

His gaze lingered on several bespectacled faces: "Those who have been to university and know a little about geography, geology, and water conservancy, step forward!"

Only seven or eight people stood up, some of them a little embarrassed.

"Alright, it'll be the few of you, plus Comrade Ayiguli." Du Jianshan nodded to Ayiguli: "She's familiar with the local flora and fauna, and she's part of our group too!"

The people whose names were called looked at Ayiguli with a hint of curiosity in their eyes, but not with any disdain.

This girl is hardworking and a good person; everyone can see that.

Most importantly, none of them are locals, so it's only right that they find a local to guide them.

"Hey! Du Jianshan! Why aren't we included?"

A sharp scream, like a knife, shattered the otherwise harmonious atmosphere.

Ma Chunmei, with a long face and dragging her feet, was followed by Ma Jinbao, whose face was also gloomy. The two of them pushed through the crowd.

Ma Chunmei, hands on her hips, glared at Du Jianshan with her triangular eyes: "What? You think you're the only ones capable of finding water to do something worthwhile? Why are you leaving us siblings out?"

"I knew you were targeting us! So many people are going, what's wrong with including us?"

"We've been here for over a year, and we're still unfamiliar with the terrain!"

Du Jianshan didn't even bother to lift his eyelids: "Finding water is a technical job; it requires expertise. What do you know?"

"I..." Ma Chunmei stammered, her neck stiffening, "I...I'm strong! I can dig holes!"

“That’s right!” Ma Jinbao chimed in, pointing to the selected educated youth.

"What do they know? They just had a few more years of schooling? All talk and no action! What good is that? Digging a well still requires strength!"

"Besides, finding a place is something that can be done just by having some knowledge, right?"

Du Jianshan scoffed, his gaze sweeping over her like shards of ice: "And you? Ma Jinbao, did you go to university?"

Ma Jinbao's face flushed red: "No...no!"

"So you know geology? Hydrology? How to read contour lines?" Du Jianshan asked one question after another, without any politeness.

"I...I..." Ma Jinbao was too choked up to speak.

"Are you willing to endure hardship?"

Ma Jinbao's face turned green at the question.

"I don't understand, and I'm not a college student. I can't even handle hardship." Du Jianshan shrugged. "Then what are you going to do? What can you possibly do? Just cause trouble?"

"Pfft!" Wang Tieniu was the first to burst out laughing.

A suppressed chuckle rose from the surrounding area.

Ma Chunmei was losing face. Not daring to directly confront Du Jianshan, she turned her attention to Wang Tieniu: "What about him! Wang Tieniu! He's not a college student! What does he know? Why should he be allowed to go?"

"You just let him go because he's with you?"

"If Wang Tieniu can go, why can't my brother and I go?"

Wang Tieniu chuckled and rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.

Du Jianshan stopped him, raised an eyebrow, and said in an even more aggressive tone, "I'm happy to! I'm in charge, if I say it's okay, it's okay! You have a problem with that?"

He took a step forward, staring at Ma Chunmei's face, which was contorted with rage: "You're not satisfied? Fine, the same old rule, sue me!"

"Go complain to the company commander! Go complain to the regimental headquarters! Let's see if the company commander believes you or me!"

"I'm here to pick people, I can choose whoever I want, but I'm not choosing either of you, so what?"

"You...you!" Ma Chunmei trembled with rage, pointing her finger at Du Jianshan: "Du Jianshan! You bully others by abusing your power! You run your own show! This is...this is..."

"What is it, Sister Ma?" Wang Tieniu suddenly chuckled, leaned close to Du Jianshan's ear, covered his mouth with his hand, and quickly whispered something.

Upon hearing this, Du Jianshan's lips twitched slightly, then he slowly broke into a meaningful smile, a smile that sent chills down the spines of Ma Chunmei and her brother.

Since you want to come and do hard labor, then of course we'd love to!