Chapter 141 New Neighbor
The jeep drove along the bumpy road, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from the farmland of the reclamation area around the division headquarters to the more desolate and vast Gobi Desert. It seemed that only this vehicle was moving forward in the world.
Shu Ran leaned back in her chair, watching the scenery rushing past the window, her emotions a jumble. The farther she got from X University, the clearer the emptiness in her heart became.
She didn't regret her choice, but she felt a little resentful.
The driver was still the same taciturn Old Zhang, barely speaking except for necessary exchanges. The long journey was filled only with the roar of the engine and the sound of the wind.
Around noon, the vehicle stopped at a makeshift military post by the roadside to refuel, get water, and let everyone rest. The post was bustling with people, including officers also on their way and soldiers on missions, and it was filled with all sorts of news.
Shu Ran got out of the car and stretched her stiff legs. She walked to the large iron kettle at the outpost that provided hot water and filled it with water from the military water bottle Chen Yuanjiang had given her. Two middle-aged men in four-pocket officer uniforms were standing nearby, smoking and chatting.
"Have you heard? That old leader who came from Beijing this time is making quite a stir," said a slightly overweight cadre.
“How could I not know? They specifically requested to transfer a few people back, saying it's to strengthen some kind of force.” Another tall, thin man exhaled a smoke ring. “Especially that one… surnamed Chen, who used to work for the old commander, but later insisted on staying here in our security department. I heard the old commander said he must be brought back to Beijing and given an important position.”
Shu Ran's hand, which was holding the water, suddenly stopped, and some hot water splashed out, scalding her so much that she gasped for breath.
The portly cadre clicked his tongue: "Tsk, that's a great place. Back in Beijing, he'll be a favorite of the old leader, with a bright future ahead. Much better than living in this miserable frontier."
The tall, thin man shook his head: "That's not necessarily true. I think that young Chen is very stubborn. He asked to come back in the first place. He might not be willing to leave this time."
"Refuse? Is it up to him?" The fat cadre said dismissively. "The old leader personally spoke up, that's a huge amount of face for him. Can an individual really go against the organization's decisions on a transfer?"
The two then started talking about other topics.
Shu Ran stood there holding the water bottle, feeling her hands and feet grow cold. Although she had suspected it before, hearing it confirmed with her own ears was still a different kind of shock. The old commander was urging him to return to the capital and to be given an important position, which meant that Chen Yuanjiang might not return to the X Division, or even to the Northwest frontier.
"Comrade Shu, is the water ready? We need to hurry and get going," Old Zhang called out from a short distance away.
Shu Ran snapped back to her senses, suppressed the turmoil in her heart, and replied, "Okay, I'm coming."
She carried the water back to the car, and the jeep started up again, driving into the boundless Gobi Desert.
Shu Ran remained silent throughout the journey. She looked out the window, the conversation between the two people echoing repeatedly in her mind.
The long journey lasted two days amidst bumps and silence. When the jeep finally entered a place much larger than the division headquarters and with a distinctly urban feel, Shu Ran knew they had arrived at their destination.
This is V City, the location of the highest leadership body in the northwestern frontier region.
The car stopped in front of a row of larger Soviet-style office buildings.
Old Zhang helped her with her luggage: "Comrade Shu, the Education Bureau is in this building. Go and report for duty yourself. My mission is complete."
"Thank you, Mr. Zhang, you must be tired from your journey." Shu Ran thanked him, picked up her simple luggage, and looked up at the unfamiliar office building. It was taller than the division headquarters building, and the walls were more intact, exuding an air of authority.
She straightened her hair and collar, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.
After being checked and guided by the staff at the entrance, she found the floor where the Education Bureau was located and the director's office.
Before knocking, she took another deep breath, suppressing all her chaotic thoughts deep within her heart.
"Please come in." A deep, steady male voice came from inside.
Shu Ran pushed open the door and went in. The office was much more spacious and brighter than Director Sun's. Behind a large desk sat a man who looked to be around fifty years old and wore glasses. He was looking at documents, and there was a kind of authority between his brows.
"Reporting to the Director, I am Shu Ran from the Education Section of X Teachers College. I have been transferred here to report for duty," Shu Ran said, standing still.
The director looked up, his gaze falling on her. He put down his documents, a somewhat gentle smile appearing on his face: "Oh, Comrade Shu Ran, you've arrived? You must be tired from your journey. Please have a seat." He gestured to the chair opposite his desk.
"Thank you, Director." Shu Ran sat down as instructed.
"I've reviewed your situation, your transfer order, and your previous reports," the director said bluntly. "The integration of production and learning, and the mobile teaching points, are innovative ideas that are also very practical. The literacy campaign they've been carrying out at X Division has been particularly effective."
"You flatter me, Director. I only did some specific work, mainly relying on the efforts of my colleagues at the grassroots level and the support of the organization," Shu Ran replied, neither humble nor arrogant.
The director nodded, seemingly satisfied with the attitude: "Hmm, not arrogant or impatient, very good. The reason for transferring you here is that we hope you can summarize and promote these good experiences. The roving guidance team is a key task for the bureau this year, and the responsibility is not light. You should be mentally prepared."
"I understand, Director. I will definitely study hard, adapt to my new position as soon as possible, and complete the tasks assigned by the organization," Shu Ran stated.
"Okay." The director picked up a document and handed it to her. "This is the preliminary work plan and member list for the group in the near future. Take a look at it first. Your personnel file has been transferred to the bureau, and your dormitory has been arranged in the cadre temporary housing at the back. Here is the note. Go to the administrative department to process it. There is a meeting for the group tomorrow morning. Be sure to attend on time."
"Yes, Director." Shu Ran took the document and stood up.
"Go, settle down, and do a good job."
"yes!"
Shu Ran walked out of the director's office and gently closed the door.
Standing in the corridor, she carefully put away the dormitory assignment slip in her hand. Holding the documents in one hand and carrying her luggage in the other, she walked towards the administration office.
The education bureau's staff dormitory was a three-story building with mottled exterior walls, bearing the marks of time, but for a frontier region at that time, it was considered quite good living conditions. The corridors were relatively clean, with a faint smell of coal smoke mixed with the aroma of food floating in the air.
Following the room number on the slip of paper, Shu Ran found her assigned room—the one at the far end of the second floor. She unlocked the wooden door with her key, and a faint smell of dust wafted out.
The room was small, about ten square meters, with a cement floor and light green wainscoting on the lower half of the walls and white lime plaster on the upper half. By the window was a wooden single bed, a desk with peeling paint, a chair, a wooden washbasin stand with a mirror, and a coal stove and fireplace in the corner.
The window faces south, so it gets plenty of natural light.
She put down her luggage and tidied things up quickly. She hadn't brought much; a few clothes hung on a line stretched out beside the bed, books and a thick stack of manuscripts sat on the corner of the desk, and the binoculars and water bottle Chen Yuanjiang had given her were carefully placed beside them. Looking at the water bottle, her eyes dimmed, then she shook her head and began cleaning.
As I was wiping the table, I heard footsteps and a soft knock at the door.
Shu Ran straightened up and said, "Please come in."
The door was pushed open, and a woman in her early thirties stood in the doorway. She had short, shoulder-length hair, wore black-rimmed glasses, and a Lenin suit; she exuded an air of scholarly refinement and competence. In her hand, she held an enamel tray with two steaming white steamed buns on it.
"Hello, are you the new Comrade Shu Ran?" The woman smiled gently. "I live across from you. My surname is Zhang, Zhang Yaqin. I work in the bureau's archives. I heard a new comrade is coming today. I guess you haven't eaten yet? The canteen is past its opening time. Here are two steamed buns for you to have."
Shu Ran quickly put down the rag and stepped forward, "Sister Yaqin, thank you so much! I was just worried about this. Please come in." She stepped aside to let her in.
Zhang Yaqin walked in, placed the plate on the table, and quickly scanned the small room before finally looking at Shu Ran: "Don't be shy, we'll be neighbors from now on. Everyone in this building is from the bureau, so it's only right that we look out for each other."
She glanced at the stack of manuscripts on the table, and the words "Standardization Manual for Grassroots Education in Frontier Areas" on the cover caught her eye for a moment, but she quickly looked away politely. "Did you just get transferred up from a division down there?"
"Yes, they were transferred from Division X." Shu Ran nodded.
"X Division? You're the one that was famous for your mobile teaching points and literacy campaigns a while ago, right?" Zhang Yaqin's tone was full of admiration. "The bureau even discussed your materials during a meeting. You're truly young and promising."
"Sister Yaqin, you flatter me. I've been figuring things out as I go," Shu Ran said modestly, but she had already formed a preliminary impression of Zhang Yaqin from the archives—well-informed and friendly.
"Knock knock knock." Another knocking sound rang out.
"The door isn't closed, please come in," Shu Ran replied.
A tall woman, around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a crisp and decisive air about her, strode in. She wore a blue khaki jacket with the sleeves rolled up to her forearms, giving her a swift and efficient appearance.
"Yaqin's here too." She greeted Zhang Yaqin first, then looked at Shu Ran and extended her hand, "You must be Shu Ran? I'm Liu Hui, I live next door and work in the bureau's teaching and research office. Welcome!"
Shu Ran quickly shook hands with her. Liu Hui's hand was strong, and her handshake was crisp and decisive. "Hello, Sister Liu Hui, I'm Shu Ran. I'm new here, please guide me in the future."
"It's not about giving instructions, it's about learning from each other." Liu Hui smiled. She also saw the manuscript on the table and asked directly, "Is this the... work manual you made? I heard it's very practical and combines production realities. Our teaching and research office has also been discussing this direction recently."
Shu Ran's heart stirred slightly. The teaching and research office—this was the department responsible for providing professional guidance. "It's only a first draft, and it's very immature. I was just thinking of finding an opportunity to ask the senior colleagues in the bureau for their corrections."
Liu Hui waved her hand: "What seniority? For those in education, a good method is one that solves problems. Your idea of integrating production and learning is excellent! It's much better than some people sitting in their offices all day talking about innovation!"
Zhang Yaqin smiled gently to the side, without replying, but said to Shu Ran, "Sister Liu Hui is a backbone member of the teaching and research office. She has rich theoretical knowledge and grassroots experience. You will definitely benefit from exchanging ideas with her."
Shu Ran immediately understood that Liu Hui seemed to be pragmatic and also appeared to have goodwill towards her. Zhang Yaqin, as a staff member in the archives, appeared more neutral and mild-mannered, but was clearly not oblivious to what was happening around her.
"I will definitely learn more from my two older sisters," Shu Ran said sincerely.
Liu Hui was very satisfied with Shu Ran's attitude, and then looked around the room: "Just tell me if you need anything. It's easy to borrow whatever furniture or gadgets anyone in this building has. By the way, are you ready for the group meeting tomorrow? I heard that some people aren't too happy with you being an outsider." She was straightforward and pointed it out directly.
Shu Ran nodded, her expression unchanged. "Thank you for the reminder, Sister Liu Hui. I will let my work speak for itself."
Liu Hui patted Shu Ran on the shoulder, "Then you go ahead and pack, we won't bother you any longer. Knock on the door if you need anything."
Zhang Yaqin smiled and nodded, then left with Liu Hui.
After seeing off her two new neighbors, Shu Ran closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief.
New environment, new colleagues, new challenges. Zhang Yaqin's gentleness and thoughtfulness, and Liu Hui's straightforwardness, both left a deep impression on her. They were clearly not ordinary people, and both seemed to understand her work and were supportive. This was good news.
But Liu Hui's mention of "unconvinced" attitudes and "parachuted" personnel confirmed Director Sun's and her premonition. In this higher-level unit, interpersonal relationships and ideological differences would only be more complex.
She walked to the window and looked at the figures moving around in the courtyard below. This was no longer the place where she could act with relative freedom as an X-master; every step required greater caution.
She turned around, her gaze falling on the manual on the desk.
There are people who admire her, and there are people who are waiting to see her fail. But she is never one to give up easily.
She kept the news of Chen Yuanjiang buried deep in her heart, which occasionally brought her hidden pain. But for now, she had to put it away temporarily.
Tomorrow's meeting will be her first confrontation.
She picked up the now-cold steamed bun and started eating it.
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