Chapter 145 (Revised) Rising to Fame
After sending out the manuscript, Shu Ran resumed her usual routine. She continued to go to work and leave work on time every day, handling the affairs of the guidance group, and simultaneously carrying out the second revision of the manual. But she remained on edge, waiting for the publication of that issue of the newspaper.
During this time, she received a letter from the livestock company. It was sent by Sister Wang and Li Xiulan. The letter mentioned what was happening in the company and school, how much the children missed Teacher Shu, and specifically mentioned that Adil was now a full-time assistant to Technician Liu. At the end of the letter, they asked her: "Shu Ran, are you doing well out there? We heard you're doing exceptionally well, and we're all so happy for you!"
She wrote back, inquiring about everyone's recent situation, encouraging Adil to continue his studies, and sending back a small package of school supplies that could be bought in V City.
She also wrote to Xu Junjun, inquiring about her recent situation and mentioning her upcoming article, sharing her joy.
In the afternoon, Shu Ran went to the printing room.
In the office, the printing press creaked and groaned. Shu Ran removed the last proof from the machine and carefully checked the print in the workbook to ensure it was clear.
Wang Juan brought over a cup of hot water and gently placed it on the corner of Shu Ran's desk. "Teacher Shu, take a break. You've been busy all morning."
"It'll be ready soon." Shu Ran didn't even look up, running her slightly ink-stained finger across the paper. "After these revisions, they need to be distributed to all the regiments this afternoon for feedback. There can't be any mistakes or omissions."
Team leader Li Weiguo strolled in from outside, carrying an enamel mug. His gaze swept over Shu Ran and the stack of mimeographed materials, and a smile appeared on his face. "Little Shu, it's good that you're so energetic, but don't overwork yourself. You deserve the most credit for getting this first draft of the manual out so quickly."
Shu Ran then looked up and smiled. "You flatter me, team leader. It's the result of everyone's joint efforts." Her tone was calm, revealing little emotion.
Li Weiguo sat down in the chair next to her and put the jar on the table. "I just went to the director to report on our work, and he specifically asked about the progress of the manual. He was very concerned. It seems that our guidance group has made a good start."
He changed the subject casually, asking, "Didn't Editor-in-Chief Hu of the Frontier Education Daily also write to you? You can also try to get some support from him."
Shu Ran understood. She put down the proofreading, picked up the glass of water Wang Juan had given her, and warmed her slightly cold fingers. "Yes, Editor-in-Chief Hu is very interested in some of our grassroots literacy practices."
"Oh? That's great!" Li Weiguo's eyes lit up. "If your article can really be published there, it will bring honor to our entire V City Education Bureau and our guidance group. You'd better write it well, and the group will fully support you with whatever materials you need."
"Thank you, team leader." Shu Ran nodded. "I thought we shouldn't just talk about the achievements, but also reflect on the difficulties in a realistic way."
Li Weiguo's smile faded slightly. "Difficulties are certainly something to mention, but we need to be careful with the wording. The main focus should be on highlighting our achievements and showcasing our fighting spirit under difficult conditions. After all, these days everyone is concerned with the prevailing winds." He gave Shu Ran a meaningful look.
"I understand." Shu Ran lowered her eyelashes, watching the steam rising from the cup. "I'll handle it well."
Just then, a cheerful voice came from the doorway, "Oh, everyone's here? Team Leader Li, Teacher Shu!"
It was Liu Hui from the teaching and research office. She rushed in, holding a newspaper, her face beaming with excitement. "Look! Our teacher Shu's masterpiece is in the newspaper! On the front page!"
The office fell silent instantly. Li Weiguo was the first to react, grabbing the newspaper. "Let me see!"
Shu Ran's heart skipped a beat. Although she had expected it, she was still quite excited to see her name printed in a prominent position on the front page, with a short editor's note below the headline affirming her valuable experience and insightful thinking from the grassroots level.
Wang Juan leaned closer to look and let out a soft exclamation, "It really is the front page! Teacher Shu, you're amazing!"
Li Weiguo quickly scanned the article, his expression complex. He looked up at Shu Ran, his tone even warmer than before, "Little Shu, you've really made a splash! A front-page article, plus an editor's note—that's no small feat! The director will definitely be pleased!"
Liu Hui patted Shu Ran on the shoulder with pride, "I knew Teacher Shu was really talented! This article is so practical, every sentence hits the nail on the head, unlike some people who just talk big."
She glanced meaningfully at Li Weiguo. Li Weiguo pretended not to notice and chuckled, "Yeah, Xiao Shu really brought honor to our team and our bureau this time. We have to celebrate! My treat tonight, let's go to the cafeteria and have a couple of simple dishes!"
"The team leader has gone to great lengths." Shu Ran's face showed just the right amount of shyness and joy. "The publication of this article is inseparable from the organization's cultivation and the help of my comrades."
She knew in her heart that the publication of this article meant she was no longer just an experienced grassroots worker, but had gained a voice in a higher-level public sphere. This would bring opportunities, but also inevitably more attention, and even risks.
By the afternoon, the news had spread. People kept coming to the guidance group's office, ostensibly to talk to Li Weiguo about work, but their eyes couldn't help but glance at Shu Ran, offering words of congratulations and admiration. Shu Ran responded politely to each one, her attitude neither pretentious nor overly enthusiastic, handling the situation flawlessly.
Just before the end of the workday, Zhang Yaqin from the archives quietly came over and handed Shu Ran a small packet of dried apricots wrapped in oil paper. "Try it, these dried apricots are very sweet. Teacher Shu, I read the article carefully, it's really well written, especially the part about prioritizing survival education. When we in the archives are compiling reports from various places, this is the deepest feeling we have. If we can't even fill our stomachs, how can we have the energy to study culture? You've hit the nail on the head."
Shu Ran took the dried apricots and thanked her softly, "Sister Zhang, you flatter me. I was just writing down what I saw."
Zhang Yaqin lowered her voice, "However, you also have to be careful. Your article is essentially saying that some literacy work is out of touch with reality. Some people praise you to your face, but who knows what they're thinking behind your back."
Shu Ran understood and nodded, "Thank you for reminding me, Sister Zhang. I understand."
After work, Shu Ran didn't leave immediately. She cleaned the office carefully and organized the documents that needed to be processed tomorrow.
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and the lights of V City lit up one after another. It couldn't compare to big cities, but it had a unique tranquility characteristic of the frontier.
She walked alone back to her dormitory. The excitement of the published article had settled into a sobering realization. From this moment on, she stood in a more prominent, and perhaps more controversial, position.
Stepping into the hallway, a wave of warmth washed over her. Liu Hui was cooking by the stove when she saw her return and called out, "Perfect timing! Time to eat! We'll have to treat you to something special today to celebrate!"
Zhang Yaqin also came out from the inner room, smiling as she set out the bowls and chopsticks.
Looking at the steaming food in front of her and the smiling faces of her two neighbors, Shu Ran felt a warmth in her heart. In this place far from her hometown and familiar faces, these small acts of kindness were especially precious.
After dinner, she sat at her desk, spread out some stationery, and prepared to write a letter to Chen Yuanjiang. The pen hesitated on the paper for a moment, then finally wrote only a few words:
"Yuanjiang: Greetings. I am doing well and my work is progressing. Recently, a short article about education in the border regions was published in the newspaper, which can be considered a summary of this stage. I know you are on duty, so please don't worry. I hope everything goes well for you and take care. Shuran."
She folded the letter and put it in an envelope.
She is no longer the transmigrator who was new to the place and needed to grab onto a piece of driftwood.
*
The effects of the article continued to unfold over the next few days.
At the bureau's work meeting, the director praised Shu Ran, saying that she "rooted herself in the grassroots, thought deeply, and won honor for the entire bureau." This made Shu Ran's position in the bureau somewhat delicate. Li Weiguo was outwardly more polite to her, and even took the initiative to ask for her opinion on some matters, but Shu Ran could sense that beneath that politeness lay a layer of distance and scrutiny.
That afternoon, Shu Ran was summoned to the director's office.
The bureau chief, surnamed Han, was currently looking down and reviewing the report that Shu Ran had submitted earlier.
Seeing her enter, Director Han closed the report, looked up, and his face remained expressionless. "Comrade Shu Ran," he began, his voice steady, "your report is very detailed and you dare to write it."
Shu Ran's heart tightened slightly, but she remained calm on the surface. "Director, I've just summarized the actual situation and the practical methods we've figured out at the grassroots level."
"A makeshift method?" Director Han raised an eyebrow slightly, picked up the "Frontier Education Daily" on the table, and pointed to Shu Ran's article. "Your makeshift method made the front page. The idea of prioritizing survival education, followed by cultural education, and guided by ideal education is very insightful. It's not something you could come up with behind closed doors."
He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "However, Comrade Shu Ran, you should also be aware that some comrades may think that the difficulties you mentioned in your report, such as the weak teaching staff, the textbooks being out of touch with reality, and especially the problems exposed at the Hongxingyan teaching point, are tarnishing our border education work."
Shu Ran met his gaze without flinching: "Director, I believe that discovering and solving problems is the true way to be responsible for our work. Covering up problems and letting small issues fester into major problems is the greatest dereliction of duty. The problems at Hongxingyan precisely illustrate that our working methods need improvement and need to be more practical. In my report, I also put forward specific suggestions for improvement regarding these issues."
Director Han remained silent for a moment.
"You're right." He finally spoke again, a hint of approval in his tone. "Deceiving yourself is unacceptable. I will forward this report truthfully. I think your methods are very valuable to promote."
He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "The Xinjiang-wide education work exchange meeting next month is a very high-level event, and I heard that people from the Ministry will also be attending. I've decided to send you to our bureau's quota."
Shu Ran was somewhat surprised, as she wasn't ranked highly in terms of seniority. However, she still said humbly and confidently, "Thank you for your trust, Director. I will prepare diligently and will definitely not let the bureau down."
“It’s not enough to just go and not lose face,” Director Han waved his hand, his expression becoming serious. “You’re going to make our Corps’ grassroots education voice heard. Your speech should revolve around your article and report. You should talk about your achievements, but also realistically talk about the difficulties, and explain how you set up literacy classes and teaching points under those conditions. Most importantly, you should talk about the special and complex nature of our border education work.”
He paused, then looked at Shu Ran meaningfully: "You need to be careful with your words. Present your achievements convincingly, your difficulties objectively, and your direction accurately. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand," Shu Ran nodded. Of course she understood that this was walking a tightrope, requiring her to demonstrate her abilities while avoiding crossing certain sensitive boundaries.
"Okay." Director Han smiled. "Go back and prepare well. If you need any materials, find Zhang Yaqin in the records room. If you encounter any difficulties, report them directly to me."
"yes."
Emerging from the director's office, the corridor was empty and quiet. Shu Ran walked back to the guidance group's office, and the moment she opened the door, Li Weiguo and Wang Juan's eyes simultaneously fell upon her.
Li Weiguo's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Xiao Shu is back? What did the director want to see you about? Has the list of participants for the exchange meeting been finalized?" His tone was enthusiastic, with a hint of probing.
Wang Juan also looked at her with concern.
Shu Ran walked to her desk and sat down. She picked up a rag and wiped the table before looking up. Her tone was flat: "The director asked me to improve the report. Also, the director decided that I should attend the Xinjiang-wide education work exchange meeting next month."
There was a moment of silence in the office.
Li Weiguo's smile froze for a moment, then became even warmer: "Oh, congratulations, Xiao Shu! This is great news! I knew it! The director would definitely want to give you special attention! You're the perfect fit, with rich grassroots experience and strong theoretical knowledge!"
Wang Juan smiled sincerely and said, "Teacher Shu, that's great! You can definitely do it!"
Shu Ran smiled at Wang Juan, then looked at Li Weiguo, her tone still calm: "Team leader, you flatter me. The director requires that speeches be based on the realities of the grassroots, so I'm under a lot of pressure. I'll need the team leader and Sister Juan to help me with the feedback."
"No problem! Absolutely no problem!" Li Weiguo patted his chest confidently. "Just tell me how the team needs to cooperate!"
Shu Ran nodded, said nothing more, and began to organize the documents on the table. Li Weiguo stood behind her for a while, making small talk by praising her for her diligent work, before returning to his seat.
After get off work, she waited until Li Weiguo and Wang Juan had left before locking the office door and going downstairs alone.
The evening air in V City was slightly cool, and the outline of the Tianshan Mountains in the distance was clearly visible.
Back in the dorm, Liu Hui was cooking on the small coal stove by the door. Seeing her return, she waved her spatula and said, "You're back? Perfect timing, let's have a meal together. By the way, I heard you're going to that exchange conference?"
The news spread really fast. Shu Ran wasn't surprised and nodded, "Yes, it was just decided."
"Great news!" Liu Hui deftly ladled the food onto a plate. "This is a chance to shine. But..." she lowered her voice and looked around. "I've heard that this exchange meeting isn't just for people from Xinjiang; there are representatives from other places too. Things are a bit murky. You'll have to be careful going alone."
Zhang Yaqin also came out of the house carrying the washed dishes and chopsticks, and chimed in, "Sister Liu is right. Teacher Shu, you are young, a woman, and have outstanding achievements, so you are easily targeted. You must carefully choose your words in your speech, say what you should say, and don't say anything you shouldn't."
Shu Ran felt a warmth in her heart. She took the bowl and chopsticks from Zhang Yaqin and set them out. "Thank you, Sister Liu and Sister Zhang. I'll remember that. That's what the director instructed too."
During the meal, Liu Hui and Zhang Yaqin chatted back and forth about the information they had gathered about the exchange meeting: which region's representatives were more pragmatic, which unit's representatives liked to make grand pronouncements, and what to be aware of, etc. Shu Ran listened attentively, silently taking notes.
In the days that followed, Shu Ran remained busy. During the day, she handled the daily affairs of the guidance group, dealing with Li Weiguo's seemingly enthusiastic cooperation and Wang Juan's help. Most of the time, she spent her time in the archives, consulting educational documents and policy papers from previous years with Zhang Yaqin's assistance, verifying every piece of data that might be needed.
She wrote her prepared remarks again and again, simulating possible questions. Director Han's instructions kept her on edge, as she had to highlight the unique characteristics of the border region, the hardships and achievements of the Production and Construction Corps, while also maintaining a delicate balance.
A few days later, Shu Ran received an unexpected letter. The envelope was signed "Jiang Yonghong, Hongxingyan Pastoral Team Teaching Point".
She opened the letter with some doubt. Jiang Yonghong was the head of the teaching site she had secretly visited during the crisis, a site that had finally stabilized. The letter was written in neat handwriting:
"Dear Teacher Shu: Hello! I am writing to you with great enthusiasm. We were all very excited to see your article in the Frontier Education Daily. What you described in your article is exactly what we experience every day. Thank you for not forgetting us in these remote teaching areas. We all support you! We hope you will have the opportunity to visit and provide guidance again. Sincerely, Jiang Yonghong"
Shu Ran held the letter in her hand for a long time without saying a word. Then she carefully folded the letter, put it in the drawer, and continued working.
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