Chapter 79 Traveling together
In the days that followed, Shu Ran focused even more on her work. She noticed that although Chen Yuanjiang was at the division headquarters, he seemed exceptionally busy and was often nowhere to be seen. When they did occasionally meet, he was always in a hurry, at most giving a nod in greeting.
The month-long period passed quickly, and the textbook compilation work was nearing completion. Shu Ran's module was the first to be completed and received high praise from Director Sun.
The afternoon before Shu Ran left the division headquarters. The office was filled with a slightly relaxed atmosphere before the end of the workday, but at the same time, there was a hint of busyness.
Shu Ran, carrying several forms that needed to be stamped and a preliminary plan for the demonstration site construction that had been reviewed by Director Sun, found Officer Zhang Ming. The other officers were also busy organizing documents and binding materials.
"Officer Zhang, could you please help me with these procedures? I'm heading back to the livestock company first thing tomorrow morning." Shu Ran handed over the documents.
Zhang Ming took the materials and flipped through them while exclaiming, "Xiao Shu, are you really willing to give up the lights and telephones at the division headquarters and go back to the animal husbandry company to eat sand? Director Sun really values you. Not everyone has this special researcher status."
His words carried a hint of confusion, and also a subtle probing. A female cadre who was eating sunflower seeds next to him also looked up, curiously glancing at Shu Ran.
Shu Ran smiled, picked up a copy of "Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Education Newsletter" from the table and stuffed it into her canvas satchel with a brisk movement: "Officer Zhang, look at what you're saying. Director Sun has placed such great trust in me, asking me to turn the livestock company into a model unit. If I don't do a good job, how can I face you and the director? I'm not leaving the division headquarters, I'm just going to work for the division headquarters on a different battlefield."
Her words carried a lighthearted, teasing tone, but the meaning was clear: her work was still part of the division's work.
“That’s true.” Zhang Ming nodded, took out the official seal, breathed on it, and pressed it firmly on the letter of introduction. “Here, the paperwork is complete. Keep this special researcher’s certificate safe. You’ll need it to enter and exit the compound every month when you come back for meetings and to submit materials.”
He handed a small red book to Shu Ran, his tone becoming more formal, "The director instructed that the first Wednesday of each month is your day to return to the department to report on your work. The department will coordinate and resolve the transportation issue, so you must be there on time."
The female staff member next to her, who was eating sunflower seeds, chimed in, "You can come back every month? That's great! Xiao Shu, next time you come back, remember to tell us more about what's going on down there. It's much more interesting than reading reports. The director also said that when the textbook revision work starts in full swing next spring, we'll definitely have to bring you back for a period of concentrated work. You, as a grassroots expert, can't be absent!"
Her words, though spoken casually, revealed important information—Shu Ran not only had to return every month, but there were also important tasks planned that required her participation at the division headquarters.
Shu Ran felt more at ease, and her smile became more reassuring: "Definitely, definitely. I'll write down all the new problems and good solutions I encounter at the grassroots level when I get back, and I'll report them to all the leaders and teachers properly when I come back next time." She deliberately used the word "come back".
Zhang Ming smiled, his tone softening considerably, "Alright, I know you're ambitious and want to get things done. Go back and work hard, make our Education Section Chief proud! If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to write or call back. The Director has said that the difficulties at the demonstration site are the difficulties of our section."
He pointed to the old-fashioned hand-cranked telephone in the corner, "The telephone line is sometimes good and sometimes bad, but there's always a chance to get a connection."
"Oh! Thank you, Officer Zhang, and thank you everyone for taking care of me during this time!" Shu Ran said sincerely, carefully putting away the completed procedures and the plan.
As she left the office, the setting sun streamed through the corridor windows. Shu Ran heard faint sounds of conversation behind her:
"...This girl is capable..."
"The section chief has a keen eye. Letting him go down there to hone his skills will make him more capable of taking on important responsibilities when he returns..."
"...Just wait and see, the livestock company might actually be able to make a name for themselves..."
*
Just as Shu Ran was about to return to the livestock company the next day, an unexpected message arrived: the Corps Headquarters was going to hold a Corps-wide education work conference, and Director Sun decided to take Shu Ran with him to attend so that she could share her grassroots literacy experience.
"The meeting will last for a week, and you can return to the livestock company after it ends," Director Sun said. "This is a great opportunity to promote your experience throughout the entire Corps."
Shu Ran calculated the time; this meant she would be staying at the division headquarters for more than a month. She was concerned about the work in the livestock company, but she couldn't very well refuse this important task.
To her surprise, Chen Yuanjiang was also going to attend that meeting as a representative of the security department.
On the eve of her departure, Shu Ran was organizing her report materials in her room when there was a knock on the door. She opened the door and saw Chen Yuanjiang.
"Officer Chen? Please come in." Shu Ran was somewhat surprised.
Chen Yuanjiang didn't go inside, but simply handed her a small cloth bag: "You'll need it on the road tomorrow."
Shu Ran opened it and saw a brand new pair of cloth shoes, much thicker than ordinary cloth shoes, obviously specially prepared for long-distance walking.
"This..." Shu Ran didn't know what to say for a moment.
“The Corps Headquarters is a long way off, so we don’t want to slow down the troops.” Chen Yuanjiang’s tone was a little stiff. “Get some rest, we’ll set off early tomorrow morning.”
Shu Ran hesitated before taking it, then noticed that the size was exactly right. A chill ran down her spine, and she looked up at him. Chen Yuanjiang had already turned his face away, his ears slightly red.
Shu Ran quickly rummaged through her bag for money and handed it to him: "Thank you for your concern, Officer Chen. Consider these shoes my payment."
Chen Yuanjiang waved his hand, turned and left, leaving behind the words: "Don't feel pressured, this is the organization taking care of the female comrades."
After Chen Yuanjiang left, Shu Ran tried on the cloth shoes, and they fit perfectly.
She placed the new shoes by her bedside and picked up the final draft of the textbook to review.
Outside the window, the moonlight was like water. Shu Ran thought about the new journey that would begin tomorrow, and her heart was filled with anticipation. She was determined to learn from the experience of this meeting and bring it back to the livestock company.
Before dawn, the roar of engines echoed through the division headquarters compound. An old-fashioned military green Liberation truck awaited, with the driver and Section Chief Sun sitting in the cab. The truck bed was already piled with supplies and luggage for several people.
Shu Ran arrived carrying a satchel and a small wooden box containing report materials, only to find Chen Yuanjiang already there. He was whispering something to the driver, dressed in a military uniform, standing ramrod straight, with worn-out suede shoes on his feet.
Upon seeing Shu Ran, he nodded slightly, his gaze lingering for a moment on the new cloth shoes on her feet, before naturally taking the wooden box from her hands.
"The road conditions are complicated, so make sure the box is secure," he explained, deftly tying the box to the most stable position in the carriage.
Another veteran staff member from the Education Section was also traveling with them. The four of them squeezed into the driver's seat, with Director Sun in the passenger seat, and Shu Ran, Chen Yuanjiang, and the veteran staff member squeezed into the back.
The space was cramped, and bumps and knocks were inevitable when the car was bumpy. Shu Ran tried to shrink herself down, while Chen Yuanjiang braced himself against the top of the car window, trying to give her as much space as possible.
The truck drove out of the division headquarters and quickly entered the vast Gobi Desert. At first, there were simple roads, but later they were mostly tracks made by tire ruts. The truck bed was filled with the smell of gasoline and dust. The ride was extremely bumpy, and people were thrown up and down repeatedly.
The older cadre quickly became carsick and turned pale. Director Sun, being older, also looked tired.
Chen Yuanjiang took out a small paper packet from his bag and handed it over: "Ginger slices, sucking on them will help." He had these kinds of small items on hand, which made him seem experienced.
He seemed to have gotten used to it, his gaze constantly scanning the undulating wilderness outside the window with vigilance.
They stopped at a military outpost for a rest and refueling. Chen Yuanjiang took out a new military water bottle and handed it to Shu Ran: "Drink some water to hydrate yourself. It'll get even drier later." He then said to Director Sun, "Director, get off and stretch your legs. There's still more than half the journey ahead."
Chen Yuanjiang had a brief conversation with the staff at the outpost. The staff member's attitude was familiar yet respectful: "Officer Chen, are you running this route again? The road ahead has been a bit rough lately, be careful."
Chen Yuanjiang nodded: "I know, it's just routine."
Shu Ran listened silently, her doubts somewhat dispelled. It turned out that his familiarity with the route and his meticulous preparation stemmed from his frequent travels and handling of turbulent affairs, which seemed to be his normal work routine.
Shu Ran took a sip; it was a light licorice water, slightly sweet, which effectively relieved her dryness.
When they set off again, Chen Yuanjiang said something to the driver, and then said to the veteran cadre, "Old Li, you sit in the front and get some fresh air, I'll switch to the back."
So Chen Yuanjiang and Shu Ran climbed into the back of the train, where the ride was even more bumpy, and sat down against the pile of luggage. The view was more open here, but the sandstorm was also stronger.
Chen Yuanjiang handed her a military towel: "Cover your mouth and nose."
The loud wind and engine noise made conversation difficult, but the occasional eye contact brought a sense of tranquility. He would occasionally point into the distance, telling her what mountain it was, which valley it was, and what had happened there, his tone as flat as if he were reading a report.
As Shu Ran listened, she gleaned information from his words: his understanding of this land far surpassed that of ordinary cadres, possessing an almost instinctive insight accumulated over the years.
Shu Ran noticed that when he talked about this land, his cold, hard profile would soften slightly.
As dusk fell, the temperature dropped sharply. They rested at a relatively large military post. The post was rudimentary, with shared earthen beds and separate rooms for men and women. Dinner consisted of hot noodle soup and baked flatbread.
Shu Ran noticed that Chen Yuanjiang barely ate anything, instead talking quietly with the people at the military station and then going out to check the vehicles. When he returned, he had a small cloth bag in his hand, which he handed to Shu Ran: "This was given to me by the medic at the military station. The women are afraid of getting cold, so use this as a cushion." Inside were some old cotton wadding.
Shu Ran accepted the thank you note, wondering if this was genuine concern from the organization, or just another form of special attention.
At night, she did hear whispers and footsteps outside, as if Chen Yuanjiang was talking to the guards. She was a little dazed, as if what had happened before wasn't his special attention, but rather his identity as a security officer, perhaps just a routine security patrol, and she just happened to be within the patrol area.
As expected, Shu Ran couldn't sleep well at night because of the cold air from the earthen bed. She only felt better after putting on a cotton quilt. She could vaguely hear some movement and whispers outside, as if Chen Yuanjiang and the guards at the military post were patrolling at night.
The next morning, they continued their journey.
In the afternoon, the weather suddenly changed; strong winds whipped up sand and gravel that pelted the car windows, reducing visibility to extremely low levels. The driver struggled to slow down.
Suddenly, the car lurched and came to a stop. The driver got out to check and returned looking grim: "This is bad, the right rear wheel is stuck in a sand pit and has blown out."
On the Gobi Desert, in the middle of nowhere, Director Sun and the retired cadre looked worried.
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Yuanjiang took off his coat to cover his head and face, and jumped out of the car: "Old Zhang, get the jack and the spare tire. Shu Ran, get out and help me hold the car steady with the flashlight. Director, you guys wait in the car, don't get out and eat sand."
The sandstorm lashed at her, stinging her skin. Shu Ran gripped her flashlight tightly, its beam flickering in the wind. Chen Yuanjiang knelt in the sand, his movements swift and steady, each command clear and concise: "Light, a little to the left." "Wrench."
The replacement process didn't go smoothly; the screws were rusted, and sand kept burying the tools. Looking at his focused profile and the bulging veins on his hands, Shu Ran suddenly felt her heart race. She tried to steady the flashlight, offering him as little help as possible.
After finally changing the spare tire, both of them were covered in sand. Back in the car, the first thing Chen Yuanjiang did was pick up a water bottle and hand it to Shu Ran, whose face was covered in sand: "Rinse your mouth."
Shu Ran didn't take it immediately. Instead, she glanced at his hand, which was cut by sand and gravel, before taking the water bottle and saying in a low voice, "Take care of it yourself too."
Chen Yuanjiang paused noticeably before giving a soft "hmm," and avoided her gaze as he took the kettle.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com