Chapter 53 "It's my duty. If it were someone else,..."
Turdi tensed up, jumped out of the car, grabbed a handful of sand and threw it around, watching the direction the sand was falling, his voice strained: "The wind has changed! It's moving fast! A black wind is coming!"
Shu Ran had heard people in the company say that "black wind" refers to a strong sandstorm.
Almost simultaneously, the gray-blue horizon on the horizon quickly spread into a murky yellowish-black color.
The wind picked up, its howling becoming sharper and piercing, whipping up higher grains of sand that stung people's faces.
"Quickly drive the car behind that big rock!" Yerbol, experienced as he was, shouted, pointing to a huge wind-eroded rock not far away.
Turdi whipped the horses desperately, and the carriage lurched and crashed toward the leeward side of the rocks.
As soon as we came to a stop, a strong wind carrying dense sand and gravel lashed down on us, the sky quickly darkened, visibility plummeted, and we could not see a person more than a few steps away.
The world seemed to consist only of the howling wind and the crackling of sand and gravel hitting rocks and cart wheels.
The horses were startled, neighing and leaping restlessly. Turdi and Yerboli pulled on the reins and tried to calm them down.
"Hold down the tarpaulins!" Shu Ran shouted, and together with the other two, they used their bodies to hold down the two large rolls of tarpaulins on the vehicle, afraid that they would be blown away by the wind. The rafters were also tied with ropes, but they were also shaking violently in the gale.
The storm was growing fiercer, showing no signs of abating. The temperature was also dropping rapidly. Shu Ran felt as if her exposed skin was being cut by knives, and her breath carried the choking smell of sand.
Almost at the same time the weather suddenly changed, Chen Yuanjiang was patrolling on horseback with two soldiers on another line near the old wind gap.
He looked up at the yellow-black swarm rolling in from the horizon, and his expression changed.
"Oh no! It's a strong sandstorm!" He reined in his horse. "Quickly tighten the reins and find cover!"
A young soldier panicked: "Officer Chen, this black wind is too strong!"
Chen Yuanjiang looked in the direction the wind was coming from, as if he suddenly remembered something, "Did the livestock company send a horse-drawn carriage to the regimental headquarters today?"
Another soldier thought for a moment and said, "It seems so. Teacher Shu took some people to pick up building materials!"
That road is the only way to the regimental headquarters.
Chen Yuanjiang's eyes narrowed: "They're likely on their way back at this time! Old Wind Pass is a must-pass! They're probably trapped! Let's go!"
With that, he jerked the reins and charged off into the sandstorm, heading straight for the old wind gap. "Watch out for tire tracks on the ground and the leeward side of the rocks! Keep your distance and look out for each other!"
The two soldiers were startled and immediately spurred their horses to follow. The three horses struggled forward against the fierce wind that could overturn a person.
Chen Yuanjiang crouched down, his eyes narrowed to slits, staring intently at the blurry road ahead, constantly dodging the gravel and dead branches swirling in the wind.
On this side, Shuran, Tuerdi, and Yeerboli hid behind rocks, using their bodies and anything else they could find to reinforce the supplies on the wagon. But the wind was too strong; the edge of a piece of tarpaulin was torn by the gale and was about to be swept away.
"Grab it!" Shu Ran rushed over and hugged the roll of tarpaulin. Tuerdi also quickly came to help.
Shu Ran was almost pulled off the ground by the tarpaulin carried by the wind. She braced her feet against the ground, leaned back, and used her full weight to fight against the gale.
Turdi wanted to rush over to help, but a more violent whirlwind carrying sand and stones came crashing down, forcing him to open his eyes and stagger backward, almost being swept away by the wind.
Just then, the straw rope binding the roll of tarpaulin suddenly snapped due to excessive force, and Shu Ran felt her hand loosen, the huge inertia causing her to fall backward.
The strong wind whipped up the scattered tarpaulin, and Shu Ran felt as if she were about to be lifted up by the wind, her body feeling light and airy.
The sand and gravel stung her eyes, making it hard to breathe, and her lungs burned. But only one thought occupied her mind: she couldn't let go! This was something she had worked so hard to get!
Just as she felt her strength was about to run out and her fingers were slipping away, a figure lunged at the part of the tarpaulin that was billowing in the wind, using its own weight and momentum to forcefully press it back to the ground. At the same time, a sturdy rope quickly wrapped around and tightened the tarpaulin.
It's Chen Yuanjiang!
He didn't even glance at Shu Ran, using his knee and other arm to press down on the tarpaulin, and with his teeth working in conjunction with his right hand, he quickly tied a secure knot.
"Get inside the rocks! Hold on to something!" he yelled at Turdi and the others.
Immediately afterwards, Chen Yuanjiang practically dragged and carried Shu Ran to the back of a slope. The shelter from the wind was much worse there, but it provided temporary stability.
Shu Ran, still shaken, grabbed onto a protruding rock.
Two soldiers also arrived and helped Turdi and Yerbol to stabilize the frightened horses and carriage.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Chen Yuanjiang roared in her ear.
Shu Ran tried to explain, but when she opened her mouth, she swallowed a mouthful of sand, choking and coughing.
Suddenly, a cracking sound came from above, and a piece of tree trunk that had been broken off by the wind crashed down.
"Watch out!" Chen Yuanjiang reacted quickly, shoving Shu Ran aside while dodging himself. But the withered branch came too fast, and its tip still grazed his left shoulder and arm.
Chen Yuanjiang swayed and his face turned pale.
"Officer Chen!" Shu Ran exclaimed.
"It's nothing." Chen Yuanjiang's voice remained steady, but his left arm was noticeably stiff.
He quickly assessed the situation. "It's not safe here, the rocks are too small! Follow me, crawl forward, and get to that depression over there!"
He pointed in a direction where there was a shallow depression eroded by the wind, which could relatively avoid the wind and falling objects.
Chen Yuanjiang was the first to crawl out in a low posture, using his right arm to exert force, while his left arm seemed unable to exert any strength.
Shu Ran immediately followed suit, imitating him. The two soldiers and Turdi and the others also saw this and began to struggle to lead the horses and protect the supplies as they moved towards the low-lying area.
The sandstorm stung her eyes and made it hard to breathe. Shu Ran felt her strength rapidly draining away.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist. It was Chen Yuanjiang's hand, his palm rough, pulling her forward with strength.
Finally, everyone safely moved to the deeper wind-eroded gully. The wind was indeed much calmer here. Although the howling wind could still be heard outside, at least people could stand firmly, and there was much less sand and gravel.
Everyone collapsed to the ground, covered in sand and dirt, looking utterly disheveled.
Chen Yuanjiang sat leaning against the edge of the depression, his right hand covering his left shoulder.
"You're injured!" Shu Ran crawled over to check his injuries.
"It's just a minor injury." Chen Yuanjiang avoided her hand, moved his left arm, and frowned, clearly not as easy as he made it sound. "The bone should be fine, it's probably just a flesh wound."
Shu Ran remembered the first-aid kit Xu Junjun had given her, hurriedly rummaged through it, and took out bandages and a small bottle of mercurochrome. "Let me bandage you up!"
Chen Yuanjiang glanced at her but did not refuse.
He first confirmed that the structure of the ravine was relatively stable, and quickly ordered the two soldiers: "Xiao Zhao, go to the mouth of the ravine to observe the wind direction. Lao Li, you and Turdi check the horses and supplies being tied up, make sure they are absolutely secure. Teacher Shu and I will treat your wounds here."
Chen Yuanjiang and Shu Ran were temporarily in a relatively recessed corner of the ravine. This recessed area formed a relatively independent space.
The soldiers and Turdi immediately responded, leading the horses and wagons to the other side of the ravine to reinforce and inspect the area.
Shu Ran quickly said, "Officer Chen, let me help you secure it."
Chen Yuanjiang glanced at her, then at his left arm, and nodded. He used his teeth and right hand to tear open the shirt on his left shoulder, revealing a red, swollen, bruised, and even slightly broken wound.
Shu Ran was shocked by what she saw. She didn't care about anything else and knelt down beside him, using bandages to help fix and support his injury.
Her fingers inevitably touched his skin and she could feel his taut muscles. She smelled a faint scent of soap.
During the bandaging process, some physical contact was inevitable. To distract herself, Shu Ran whispered, "That was really close. Thank you, Officer Chen."
Chen Yuanjiang looked at the dim sky above the ditch wall and said in a low voice, "It's my duty." He paused, then added, as if explaining or stating a fact, "The sky in the old wind gap is like this. It looks fine, but it can be very dangerous if the weather changes."
Shu Ran tied the last knot of the bandage. "You really know this place well."
Chen Yuanjiang remained silent for a moment. Just when Shu Ran thought he wouldn't answer, he spoke, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about someone else: "I spent time in Xinjiang when I was a child. Later, when I was in the army, I traveled to places like that a lot."
Shu Ran suddenly realized and said softly, "That's why you know how to deal with it."
"You learn from your mistakes," Chen Yuanjiang said calmly, pressing his right hand against the wound on his left arm, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation. He listened to the wind outside. "The wind's died down a bit. Get ready, we need to get back to the company as soon as possible."
He struggled to stand up, trying to use his right hand to support himself, but his body swayed. Shu Ran reached out to help him with his right arm, but he stopped her with a look.
"No need." He steadied himself and stood ramrod straight. "I'm fine. Go check if the others are ready."
Shu Ran slowly withdrew her hand. Seeing his expression had returned to its usual cold hardness, she understood that the moment when he had almost revealed his true self was over. He had once again become the calm and aloof Special Envoy Chen.
"Okay." She replied and walked towards the other side of the ravine.
After an unknown amount of time, the wind finally subsided. Although it was still blowing sand, it was no longer destructive.
Most of the supplies were saved, with only minor losses. The horses were also safe. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Yuanjiang checked the personnel and supplies and ordered, "The wind has died down, but we can't let our guard down. Pack up and get back to the company immediately!"
The wind gradually subsided, but everything on the ground was shrouded in a layer of dust and fog, and visibility was low.
The return journey was still difficult. Several times, the carriage wheels got stuck in the sand that had been loosened by the wind, and it took everyone's combined effort to push them out.
By the time they reached the company, it was completely dark. Hearing the commotion, a number of people rushed out of the company entrance, including Company Commander Ma, Xu Junjun, Sister Wang, Li Xiulan, and many worried family members of the staff.
"They're back! They're back!" someone shouted.
As the carriage approached, everyone gathered around. Seeing that the people on the carriage, though covered in dust and looking as if they had just been dug out of the ground, seemed to be all intact and that most of the supplies were still there, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh my God! You're finally back! You were scared to death!" Sister Wang patted her chest, her voice booming. "With such a strong black wind, you guys are incredibly lucky to be alive!"
Company Commander Ma stepped forward, looking at the disheveled state of the vehicle, and then at Chen Yuanjiang, who was riding a horse and looked unwell. He frowned and asked, "Old Chen, are you... injured?"
"It's just a minor bump, nothing serious." Chen Yuanjiang dismounted, his left arm still a little stiff from the movement. "I'm fine, and the stuff is mostly safe."
Xu Junjun had already squeezed through the crowd with her medicine kit on her back, looking anxious: "Officer Chen, let me take a look! Where are you hurt?" Without waiting for a reply, she pulled him toward the clinic.
Chen Yuanjiang seemed to want to refuse, but after glancing at the concerned crowd around him, he finally nodded and said to Company Commander Ma, "Company Commander, I'll leave this to you. I'll go and handle things first." He then looked at the two soldiers who had gone with him to the rescue, "You two should go back and rest too. You've worked hard today."
"Yes!" The two soldiers led the horse away.
Chen Yuanjiang then followed Xu Junjun away.
Shu Ran stood there, while Sister Wang began to chatter around her: "Ran, you scared us to death! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Go back and wash up, you're covered in dirt!"
Turdi and Yerbol were reporting the situation to Company Commander Ma, describing the ferocity of the storm and how Chen Yuanjiang and his men arrived in time to provide rescue.
"...If it weren't for Officer Chen arriving quickly, those building materials would definitely have been lost, and Teacher Shu might have been swept away by the wind..." Turdi said with lingering fear.
Company Commander Ma listened with a grave expression, then patted Turdi on the shoulder, saying, "It's good that everyone is alright; the supplies are secondary. Thank you for your help this time!"
Shu Ran was escorted back by Sister Wang and Li Xiulan. Li Xiulan whispered, "Teacher Shu, I've already boiled some hot water for you and it's warm. Why don't you wash up in the room so late at night?"
Back in the dugout, Shu Ran scooped up some hot water and carefully washed the sand and dust off her face and the stickiness off her body.
She changed into clean clothes, stepped out of the dugout, and subconsciously glanced in the direction of the clinic. The light was still on there.
Sister Wang brought over a steaming bowl of ginger soup: "Quick, drink this to warm yourself up. Medic Xu is watching over Officer Chen, so don't worry."
Shu Ran took the bowl and said with some lingering fear, "Big sister, we owe a lot to Secretary Chen today."
"That's right!" Sister Wang lowered her voice. "Don't let his cold demeanor fool you, he's a real go-getter when it counts! I heard his left shoulder was badly injured, and medic Xu was cleaning the sand out of his wound. It must have been excruciatingly painful, but he didn't utter a single sound."
Shu Ran silently drank the ginger soup, the spicy flavor warming her from her throat all the way to her stomach.
The next day, Shu Ran went to class as usual. The tool shed classroom had also been visited by yesterday's sandstorm, and was filled with a layer of fine sand. The children helped clean up, chattering excitedly about their experience with yesterday's storm.
During the break, Shu Ran saw Chen Yuanjiang come out of the company headquarters, his left arm in a sling across his chest, talking to Company Commander Ma, his expression as stern as ever.
He seemed to sense her gaze and glanced towards the classroom. Shu Ran instinctively wanted to look down, but it was too late; she could only meet his gaze and nod in acknowledgment.
Chen Yuanjiang's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then he nodded and continued talking to Company Commander Ma.
After school in the afternoon, Shu Ran hesitated for a moment, but still went to the infirmary. Xu Junjun was organizing medicines.
"Jun Jun, how is Officer Chen's injury?"
Xu Junjun looked up and saw it was her, then sighed, "He has a torn muscle in his shoulder blade and some bruising, but thankfully the bone is fine. The sand has been cleaned off, but it's inflamed and he has a slight fever. I just gave him some medicine and told him to go home and rest, but instead, he went back to his office! He's as stubborn as a mule!"
Shu Ran's heart tightened: "You have a fever? Is it serious?"
"It's under control for now, but he needs to rest well, otherwise he'll recover slowly," Xu Junjun said helplessly. "He won't listen to me at all. Ranran, could you help me talk to him?"
Shu Ran was stunned: "Me? Why would he listen to me..."
"Oh dear, you two have been through thick and thin together!" Xu Junjun winked at her. "Anyway, I'm out of options. Could you take this anti-inflammatory medicine to him for me? Just say it's from me and remind him to take it on time."
Shu Ran was half-pushed and half-forced by Xu Junjun to put a small packet of pills in her hand and walk to the door of Chen Yuanjiang's office. The light was on inside, and she knocked on the door.
"Come in," came Chen Yuanjiang's voice from inside.
Shu Ran pushed open the door and went in. Chen Yuanjiang was sitting at the table, flipping through documents with one hand.
Seeing that it was her, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Teacher Shu? Is something the matter?"
Shu Ran placed the pills on the table: "Medical Officer Xu asked me to bring these over, reminding you to take them on time and get plenty of rest." She paused, then added, "You're injured, you should rest more."
Chen Yuanjiang glanced at the pill, grunted, and said, "Okay. Thank you." Then he looked down at the documents again, giving the impression that he could leave.
The atmosphere in the office was somewhat tense. Shu Ran stood still.
“Officer Chen,” she cleared her throat and said formally, “I’m really grateful to you yesterday. If it weren’t for your timely arrival…”
Chen Yuanjiang looked up, interrupting her, his tone flat: "It's my duty. I would have done the same if it were someone else." His gaze swept over her, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only said, "Have the supplies been inventoried? Report the losses to Accountant Shi for record-keeping."
"It's already been reported," Shu Ran replied, and he had indeed returned to the clearly defined role of Special Envoy Chen.
"That's good." He lowered his head and continued reading the documents, clearly not intending to talk any further.
Shu Ran knew it was time to leave. "Then remember to take your medicine and get plenty of rest," she said before leaving the office.
The door closed gently. Chen Yuanjiang lifted his gaze from the documents and landed on the packet of pills on the corner of the table. He looked at it for a long time before picking up the water glass next to him with his right hand and swallowing two pills with the water in the glass.
He pressed his still burning and stinging left shoulder, then turned his gaze back to the document, taking a long time to turn the page.
Outside the window, the fiery sunset was in full bloom. In the distance, the sounds of workers finishing their shifts and children playing could be heard.
Shu Ran quickened her pace as she walked back to her dugout, thinking about how to mobilize manpower again tomorrow and catch up on the construction progress while the weather was good.
*
After the storm, the company seemed to be infused with a new sense of cohesion.
Everyone witnessed that shared ordeal, especially Chen Yuanjiang's rescue despite his injuries and Shu Ran's perseverance. Those who had previously been hesitant or even skeptical about building the classrooms have changed their attitudes.
The next morning, before Shu Ran even reached the construction site, she heard that it was already bustling with activity. In addition to the original few old employees and Tuerdi and □□, there were seven or eight new faces, including strong laborers from the company and two young herders who had come after hearing the news. They had all heard about what happened yesterday and had come to help on their own initiative.
Sister Wang, along with a group of women, had already set up a larger stove and were cooking a pot of steaming porridge. Next to them, baskets were piled high with coarse grain cakes and cornbread collected from various households.
"Teacher Shu is here!" someone shouted.
Everyone looked over, their eyes filled with warmth.
"Teacher Shu, are you alright? You were so scared yesterday!"
"How is Officer Chen? Is he seriously injured?"
Everyone asked questions all at once.
Shu Ran felt a warmth in her heart and replied with a smile, "I'm fine, but Officer Chen needs to rest for a few days. Thank you everyone for your help! Let's work harder today and make more bricks!"
Accountant Shi strolled over with his hands behind his back, adjusting his glasses: "Teacher Shu, the company commander has instructed that the work points for those who came to help be officially recorded starting today! As for the certificates of merit, once the classroom is completed, the branch meeting will definitely address that!"
These words undoubtedly reassured everyone and boosted their morale even more.
The construction site was bustling with activity. Digging soil, carrying water, mixing mud, chopping straw, making bricks, turning bricks... the process was complicated, but under Master Qian's direction and with everyone's cooperation, it proceeded in an orderly manner.
The involvement of herders brought different experiences.
□□ has a unique method for judging the moisture content of the mud; he can tell whether it's suitable just by squeezing it with his hand. Turdi, on the other hand, leads a few young herders to handle the heavy physical labor, digging and carrying soil quickly and steadily.
The women were not idle either; they mixed mud, passed water, took care of children, and prepared meals.
Li Xiulan continued to be in charge of registration, and Zhang Jianjun often came to help. One of them read out the names and work hours, while the other carefully recorded them. Their cooperation became more and more tacit.
Shu Ran moved among them, going wherever she was needed. She learned from Master Qian how to judge the quality of adobe bricks, from the women how to mix mud, and sometimes helped Li Xiulan with registration.
She discovered that the candy and soap she had brought from Shanghai were now putting to good use as a small reward for her excellent work and a token of her affection.
A piece of candy given to a tired, sweaty teenager, a small bar of soap given to a woman with mud-covered hands, in return for a more sincere attitude and more diligent efforts.
When Chen Yuanjiang appeared at the edge of the construction site with his arm in a sling, the lively scene quieted down slightly.
"Officer Chen, what brings you here? Medical Officer Xu told you to rest more!" Shu Ran quickly ran over.
"Check the progress." Chen Yuanjiang's gaze swept over the already well-established brickyard and the busy crowd, finally landing on Shu Ran's face. "Looks like there are no problems."
Company Commander Ma stood by and laughed, "Don't worry, Officer Chen! Everyone's in high spirits right now! Don't get too close to the dust since your injury hasn't fully healed."
Chen Yuanjiang didn't say anything, but carefully examined the depth of the dug foundation. He then walked to the adobe yard, picked up a few dried adobe bricks, tapped them with his fingers, and weighed them.
“The adobe bricks are hard enough,” he told Master Qian. “When the beam is being installed, the mortise and tenon joints must be tightly fastened, and reinforced mortar should be used.”
Master Qian nodded repeatedly: "I know, I know, Officer Chen, don't worry, I understand the rules!"
Chen Yuanjiang whispered a few more words to Company Commander Ma, seemingly about the reinforcement and alkali-proofing of the timber. Company Commander Ma nodded, indicating that he would make the arrangements.
After giving his instructions, Chen Yuanjiang turned and left, but his presence was itself a form of support and oversight.
As the days went by, the piles of adobe bricks on the quarry grew higher and higher, the foundation was compacted, and simple reinforcements were made with stones.
The chosen day for raising the roof beams finally arrived. This was a major event, and even Secretary Liu rushed back from a meeting at the regimental headquarters.
A thick, straight main beam was carried over by a dozen men, who were working up a heave. Red paper was pasted on it, and colorful ropes and yarn given to them by Old Akhen for good luck were hung on it.
Under Master Qian's direction, the main beam was lifted with ropes and aligned with the tenon and mortise joints on the foundation.
"Slow down, slow down! A little higher on the left! Okay! Land!" Master Qian's voice was loud and clear.
The main beam was placed steadily and fit perfectly. A cheer erupted from the crowd.
Sister Wang quickly brought out a bowl of freshly steamed red date buns and shared them with everyone, symbolizing a prosperous and happy life.
The children ran around excitedly, with Adil and Bayan following behind, their little faces full of excitement and pride.
Next came the bricklaying.
One adobe brick after another was passed up and piled up with mud mixed with wheat straw and wool. The walls grew higher inch by inch, and the outline of the classroom gradually became clear.
The windows and door frames were made from old timber salvaged from the regimental headquarters and installed by the carpenters of the company. Although old, they were very sturdy.
Glass was so rare that only a few small panes of glass could be installed in the upper part of the window, while the lower part was still made of old wooden planks, but Shu Ran and the children were already incredibly excited.
Finally, some tar paper was laid on the roof, and the edges were sealed with mud and stones to ensure that no matter how strong the wind and rain, they could not get in.
When the last piece of tarpaulin was laid, Master Qian came down from the roof, wiped his sweat, and announced loudly, "All done!"
In an instant, cheers erupted on the construction site. Everyone laughed, patted each other on the shoulder, and their faces were filled with pride and joy.
Shu Ran stood in front of the newly built classroom, looking up at it.
It remains simple, with rough, earthen-yellow walls, small windows, and old doors so worn you can see the wood grain. But it stands upright on the Gobi Desert.
Her eyes welled up with tears, and her heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment. This was not her achievement alone; it was built by the entire company and everyone in the pastoral area.
For her, this is a symbol of her place here.
Sister Wang nudged her with her elbow, her voice tinged with laughter: "How's it going, Ran? The new classroom looks pretty good, doesn't it?"
Shu Ran nodded emphatically: "I think it's absolutely wonderful!"
Secretary Liu and Company Commander Ma stood at the classroom door, their faces beaming. Secretary Liu cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Comrades! Folks! Today, our Qiming Primary School in the Livestock Company has its own new classroom! This is the result of the unity and cooperation between our company and the pastoral area! It is also a manifestation of our emphasis on education and the development of the border region! I hereby announce that the names of everyone who contributed greatly to building the classroom will be recorded on the honor roll! They will be given priority consideration when evaluating advanced individuals at the end of the year!"
The crowd cheered again.
Shu Ran quietly stepped back a few paces, her gaze passing over the cheering crowd. She saw a figure on horseback on the distant slope, looking in their direction. It was Chen Yuanjiang. His left arm seemed to have healed; it was no longer in a sling.
He felt her gaze and glanced in her direction. They were far apart, so Shu Ran couldn't see his expression, but she felt he seemed to nod in acknowledgment.
He then turned his horse around and disappeared down the slope as if he had never been there.
Shu Ran looked away. The new classroom was erected, but her task had only just begun. There was still a long way to go in making this classroom a place where children could truly learn about culture and a bridge connecting different ethnic groups.
She turned and walked toward the group of children who were still excitedly touching the new walls and peering through the glass.
"Come on, everyone, line up! Let's go see our new classroom!"
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