Chapter 110 "Take care of yourself."...
Shu Ran clutched the scarf, her heart clenching as she watched the cotton curtain swaying at the entrance of the yurt. The wind and snow howled, and his figure had long since vanished.
She calmed herself down and continued to stay by Ayman's side, repeating the physical cooling actions and occasionally feeding her some warm water.
Old Akhen and the Turdi family also stood quietly by, the only sounds in the yurt being the burning of the stove and Ayman's heavy breathing.
Time passed slowly, and every minute and second seemed exceptionally long.
Shu Ran's heart rose and fell with the howling wind and snow outside. More than once, she went to the door, lifted a corner of the leather curtain to peek out, and all she could see was the endless snow.
After an unknown amount of time, just when Shu Ran was almost in despair, the sound of horses' hooves and Chen Yuanjiang's voice finally came from outside again.
"The medicine is here!"
Chen Yuanjiang practically stumbled into the yurt. He was covered in thick snow, his eyebrows and eyelashes were frosted, his lips were trembling with cold, and his military overcoat was stiff. He clutched a cardboard box containing medicine in his hand.
He shoved the things into Shu Ran's hands, his voice trembling so much it was almost incoherent. Then, exhausted, he slumped against the door, panting heavily.
Shu Ran didn't have time to think much, nor did she care to ask about the hardships he had endured along the way; she immediately took the medicine bottle.
Fortunately, Xu Junjun had taught her the basics of intramuscular injection. She took a deep breath, steadyed her trembling hands, sterilized the syringe with boiling water from the stove, and then carefully drew out the powder and diluted it with saline solution.
Turdi's wife helped hold Ayman down. Shu Ran found the right spot, recalling Xu Junjun's appearance from her memory, and pushed the needle into the child's delicate buttock muscles.
Throughout the process, she was nervous, but she knew she couldn't show it.
After the injection was completed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and stared at Ayman.
Chen Yuanjiang leaned against the door, his eyes closed, his chest heaving violently, his face revealing undisguised exhaustion.
Shu Ran went over to help him up, but her hands were met with icy coldness. The snow on his body began to melt, and the water seeped into the carpet beneath him.
"Take off your wet clothes and dry them in the sun, they'll freeze," Shu Ran said softly.
Chen Yuanjiang opened his eyes, glanced at her, and shook his head. "No need."
He struggled to stand up, but swayed due to exhaustion.
Shu Ran instinctively reached out and held his arm. Even through the cold, damp military overcoat, she could still feel him trembling.
"Don't be stubborn." Shu Ran's tone was firm. She looked at Turdi, "Brother Turdi, could you find him a dry robe to change into?"
Turdi nodded quickly and went to find one of his old robes.
Chen Yuanjiang seemed to want to refuse, but Shu Ran had already started to unbutton his military overcoat without saying a word.
Chen Yuanjiang looked down at her determined expression and finally fell silent, letting her do as she pleased.
After taking off the heavy, wet military overcoat, the cotton military uniform underneath was also soaked.
Chen Yuanjiang turned his back, took off his wet shirt, and quickly changed into Turdi's old robe. The robe was a bit short and looked somewhat comical on him, but it at least kept him warm from the damp cold.
Shu Ran took the wet clothes to the stove to dry them, and then poured a bowl of hot water and handed it to him.
Chen Yuanjiang took the bowl, lowered his head, and took a sip.
Neither of them spoke for a moment. The only sounds in the yurt were Ayman's gradually calming breathing, the crackling of the stove, and the low prayers of the Turdi family.
The medicine began to take effect. In the latter half of the night, Ayman's high fever finally subsided. Although she was still very weak, she was able to open her eyes and softly call for her mother.
The Tuerdi family wept with joy. Old Aken looked at Shu Ran and Chen Yuanjiang, his eyes filled with gratitude, and said, "Thank you, teacher, thank you, Secretary Chen..."
With the crisis over, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. Shu Ran leaned against the wall of the yurt, almost falling asleep.
Chen Yuanjiang looked at the dark circles under her eyes, stood up, and said to Turdi, "The snowstorm has subsided; we should go back."
Shu Ran forced herself to stay alert and looked outside. The sky was beginning to lighten, and the wind and snow had indeed subsided considerably.
The Turdi family was extremely grateful and insisted on giving them some dried meat.
On the way back, the wind and snow had lessened considerably, but the snow was still deep, and the horses moved very slowly. The two rode together, with Chen Yuanjiang still controlling the horse and Shu Ran sitting in front.
After a night of thrills and terror, this moment of tranquility feels all the more precious.
Shu Ran leaned against Chen Yuanjiang's chest, a sense of relief and a feeling of intimacy washing over her.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice drowned out by the sound of horses' hooves clattering in the snow, but she knew he could hear her.
Chen Yuanjiang did not respond, but simply tightened his grip on her arm.
*
It was already morning when they returned to the company. After dropping Shu Ran off near the school, Chen Yuanjiang went straight to the company headquarters. He needed to report on the events of the previous night, especially the use of scarce medicines, which required clear records and explanations.
Shu Ran returned to her small house, boiled some water, quickly washed up, and changed her clothes. Exhaustion made her almost fall asleep immediately, but her mind was unusually clear, repeatedly replaying the scene in the snowstorm last night, and the way Chen Yuanjiang tumbled in covered in frost and snow.
In the afternoon, she forced herself to go to the school. Lin Xuezhou was already there, leading several children in reciting their lessons in the classroom.
Lin Xuezhou saw her, stopped teaching, and walked over.
"Shu Ran, you're back? I heard you went to the pastoral area last night? Are you alright?" Lin Xuezhou's tone was full of concern. The company was small, and even the slightest sound could spread.
"It's nothing, Ayman had a high fever, but it's stabilized now," Shu Ran said casually.
"Oh, that's good." Lin Xuezhou pushed up his glasses, hesitated for a moment, and said, "The division headquarters just called about the demonstration site planning. There are some new guidelines to convey. Also... there might be an opportunity to attend a short-term training course at the division headquarters soon, mainly for grassroots education leaders to improve their theoretical level. I think... you might want to consider it."
Shu Ran's heart skipped a beat. Training? At this critical juncture? Was it simply a learning opportunity, or... a signal of an impending transfer? She asked calmly, "When? For how long?"
"The exact time hasn't been set yet, but it's estimated to be before spring, about a month from now. This is a good opportunity to systematically learn educational theories and methods."
Shu Ran smiled and said calmly, "Thank you for letting me know, Teacher Lin. I will consider it."
She neither immediately agreed nor refused. In her view, this might not be a bad path. If the leadership of the demonstration site was destined to be handed over to Lin Xuezhou, then going to the division headquarters for training would not only improve herself and expand her network, but also allow her to temporarily avoid the delicate power transition period in the company. It was a strategic retreat.
But she needs to know more.
Two days later, Adil rode his horse to the school and brought Shuran a piece of frozen mutton and a tanned lambskin. He told Shuran that Ayiman was able to walk again, and that Old Akhen and Turdi were very grateful, hoping that Teacher Shu and Special Commissioner Chen would visit the pastoral area again when they had time.
Shu Ran accepted the gift, feeling a warmth in her heart. This risky rescue not only brought her and Chen Yuanjiang closer but also won her the hearts of the people in the pastoral area—an intangible asset for her future work.
She noticed that Chen Yuanjiang seemed busier than before, and she often couldn't see him. Occasionally, when they bumped into each other at the company, he would only nod hurriedly in acknowledgment.
That evening, Shu Ran was grading homework in her room when she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, she saw Xiao Zhao, the communications officer from the company headquarters.
"Teacher Shu, Commissioner Chen asked me to give this to you." Xiao Zhao handed over a package.
Shu Ran took it, opened it, and found a thick scarf and a pair of wool gloves inside.
Shu Ran took the package, looking at the darkening sky outside the window, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She could sense his feelings, and she understood that what stood between them was not only the constraints of the times, but also the responsibilities they each bore and the uncertain future.
A few days later, one morning, the sound of a jeep could be heard outside the company headquarters. This was a rare sight in the remote livestock company. Soon, the news spread, and leaders from the division headquarters arrived, looking for Special Commissioner Chen.
Shu Ran was leading the children in morning reading in the classroom when she heard a commotion outside. She went to the window and saw a dark green jeep parked in front of the company headquarters. A man who looked like an official was talking to Chen Yuanjiang. Chen Yuanjiang listened with a serious expression.
After a while, the man patted Chen Yuanjiang on the shoulder, turned around, and got into the car. The jeep turned around, kicked up a cloud of dust, and drove away from the company.
Chen Yuanjiang stood there for a moment, then turned and strode quickly toward the stable.
Shu Ran's heart was racing. She had a premonition that Chen Yuanjiang might be leaving the company.
Sure enough, during lunchtime, word spread in the canteen that the division's security department had an urgent mission and was sending Special Commissioner Chen back, and that he might not return.
In the afternoon, Shu Ran went to the company headquarters to hand in materials for a literacy class and ran into Chen Yuanjiang, who was about to come out, at the door. He was obviously ready, with simple luggage hanging on his saddle.
The two met at the door and paused for a moment.
"Are you leaving?" Shu Ran spoke first.
"Hmm." Chen Yuanjiang looked at her, his eyes deep, filled with complex emotions, but in the end, it all boiled down to a simple sentence: "Go to the division headquarters. To carry out the mission."
"how long?"
"Uncertain. It might take... a while, or it might take a long time."
A silence fell between them. People kept coming and going from the entrance, their curious glances sweeping over them.
"Be careful." These were the only four words Shu Ran could say in the end. A thousand words were stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered at this time and place.
Chen Yuanjiang gave her a deep look, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded.
"You too," he said in a low voice. "Take care of yourself."
After saying that, he didn't hesitate any longer. He nimbly mounted his horse, glanced back at her, spurred the horse, and it galloped off, quickly disappearing at the end of the road leading to the company.
Shu Ran stood there, looking at the empty intersection, feeling a void in her heart. A cold wind blew in, carrying snow and a biting chill.
Shu Ran suddenly remembered something, took out the box of frostbite cream that she hadn't given away from her pocket, and smiled helplessly.
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