Chapter 107 A Bitter Feeling
Shu Ran followed Director Sun's secretary, walking along the quiet corridor of the division headquarters office building.
Her heart was pounding, but she remained calm. The joy of reporting her success hadn't completely faded, and now she was on edge again. The fact that Director Sun was calling her at this time spoke volumes about the purpose of their conversation.
The secretary stopped in front of a door with a sign that read "Director's Office" and knocked on it.
"Come in," came Director Sun's voice from inside.
The secretary pushed open the door, stepped aside to let Shu Ran in, and then gently closed the door.
Director Sun's office wasn't large. He sat behind his desk, a pen in his hand, writing something on a document.
Deputy Political Commissar Lin was not present.
"Director Sun," Shu Ran greeted respectfully.
"Comrade Shu Ran is here, please have a seat." Director Sun raised his head, pointed to the chair opposite his desk, and smiled with a slightly serious expression.
Shu Ran sat down as instructed, keeping her back straight and placing her hands on her knees.
Director Sun put down his pen, clasped his hands on the table, looked at Shu Ran, and got straight to the point: "Your report was very successful. Deputy Political Commissar Lin and several other leaders highly praised your work."
"Thank you, Director, thank you for your recognition. I just did what I was supposed to do," Shu Ran replied cautiously.
"Hmm," Director Sun nodded, but paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, "How well have you and Comrade Lin Xuezhou cooperated in your work at the livestock company during this time?"
Here we go again. Shu Ran thought to herself, "I can't avoid this topic."
She carefully chose her words and said objectively, "Teacher Lin has a solid theoretical foundation and is very conscientious in his work. We have some different views on teaching methods, but our goal is the same: to teach the children well. Recently, we have divided the work and he is in charge of the systematic teaching for the advanced group, and the results are quite good."
She neither belittled Lin Xuezhou nor was she overly modest; she simply stated the facts.
Director Sun looked at her thoughtfully: "Comrade Lin Xuezhou is a key young cadre being cultivated by the division. He is highly educated and enthusiastic. Deputy Political Commissar Lin has high hopes for him. This demonstration site construction is a very good training platform."
Shu Ran's heart sank. Director Sun's words almost confirmed Yang Zhenhua's guess.
She remained silent, waiting for Director Sun to continue.
Looking at her calm face, Director Sun seemed to be carefully considering his words. After a while, he continued, "The organization is considering that the work of the Qiming Primary School demonstration site needs to be further strengthened in terms of leadership and overall planning. Comrade Lin Xuezhou has his advantages in this regard. Of course, the experience you have gained at the grassroots level is very valuable and indispensable."
He paused, observing Shu Ran's reaction. Seeing that she remained calm, he then stated the core arrangement: "I've discussed it with several leaders. Comrade Lin Xuezhou will primarily be responsible for the overall planning of the demonstration site and its upward coordination. You, on the other hand, will focus on the specific implementation of teaching, literacy classes, and liaison with pastoral areas. The two of you must work closely together to ensure the successful construction of the demonstration site. What are your thoughts?"
There was a moment of silence in the office.
Shu Ran lowered her eyelids. This arrangement sounded reasonable, with a clear division of labor. But the distinction between "primarily responsible for overall planning" and "focusing on specific implementation" was obvious. She had been cleverly placed in the position of executor. Lin Xuezhou, on the other hand, naturally took over the more authoritative role.
A bitter feeling welled up inside her, but she quickly suppressed it. This was reality. In this era that valued background and seniority, being able to earn the "indispensable" label and remain in the business she had created was already a good result. There was no point in stubbornly resisting.
She raised her eyes, her face expressionless, and asked in a calm tone, "Director Sun, is this an official decision from the organization?"
Director Sun pushed up his glasses: "This is a preliminary intention, and we still need to go through the procedures. I'd like to hear your personal thoughts first."
Personal opinion? Shu Ran smiled bitterly to herself. Did her opinion matter? But she knew that her attitude at this moment was very important.
She looked up at Director Sun and said, "Director Sun, I will obey the organization's arrangements. No matter what position I am in, I will do my best to do my job. Qiming Primary School is like my child, and I only hope that it will get better and better. Teacher Lin has his strengths, and with our complementary cooperation, I believe we can build the demonstration site even better."
She didn't complain or express dissatisfaction; in fact, she proactively expressed her willingness to cooperate. This understanding and consideration for the bigger picture drew admiration from Director Sun. He had initially worried that Shu Ran might not understand and might become emotional.
"Good, very good." Director Sun's tone was noticeably more relaxed. "Comrade Shu Ran, I'm very pleased that you think this way. The organization has seen your abilities and contributions. This division of labor is also based on the overall situation, in order to better integrate resources and promote the work. The practical experience you have accumulated is the most valuable asset of the demonstration site, and you must make good use of it."
"I understand, thank you, Director." Shu Ran nodded.
"Okay, then you should go back and rest. Specific work arrangements will be communicated to you and Comrade Lin Xuezhou once the official documents are issued." Director Sun gestured to end the conversation.
"Okay, Director Sun, I'll be going now." Shu Ran stood up and politely took her leave.
As Shu Ran stepped out of Director Sun's office and closed the door, the calm on her face vanished instantly, replaced by weariness and relief. She let out a soft sigh.
Although I was somewhat prepared, hearing this arrangement with my own ears still left me feeling uneasy. It was like watching a seedling I had carefully nurtured, about to blossom and bear fruit, only to have most of its fruit plucked away by someone else.
But she quickly adjusted her mindset. At least she hadn't been transferred; she could still protect her school. As long as she remained in this position, she still had room for growth and opportunities. If Lin Xuezhou wanted to make an "overall plan," then let him do it; the real foundation was still in her hands.
Back at the guesthouse, Shu Ran found Lin Xuezhou waiting outside her room. He seemed somewhat uneasy, pacing back and forth.
Upon seeing Shu Ran return, he immediately stopped, his face bearing an expression that was a mixture of embarrassment and apology.
"Comrade Shu Ran, you're back."
"Teacher Lin, is there something you need?" Shu Ran took out her key to open the door, her tone indifferent.
The two entered the room. Lin Xuezhou rubbed his hands together, seemingly finding it difficult to speak.
"Um... Director Sun... talked to you?" he finally asked.
"Mm." Shu Ran poured herself a glass of water and poured one for him as well, placing them on the table.
Lin Xuezhou took the water glass but didn't drink it, keeping her head down: "I...I know this arrangement might not be fair to you. Qiming Elementary School was founded by you, and you laid the foundation for everything. I..."
He looked up, his eyes filled with concern: "My uncle does hope that I can gain more experience in this position, but I never intended to... steal your achievements. I just... just felt that maybe we could do this better together."
Shu Ran looked at the young man in front of her. He had the aloofness and idealism of an intellectual, but he was not entirely ignorant of human relationships. At least at this moment, he showed his guilt and honesty.
She suddenly realized that working with someone like Lin Xuezhou might not be as bad as she had imagined. At least, he was better than those who said one thing to someone's face and another behind their back.
“Teacher Lin,” Shu Ran said, her voice much gentler, “you don’t need to feel sorry. We just have to obey the organization’s arrangements. Director Sun also said that we each have our strengths, and the division of labor and cooperation is to do the job better.”
She paused, looked into his eyes, and her tone became serious: "I only have one requirement: no matter how we plan, it cannot deviate from the reality of the livestock company, nor from the real needs of the children and staff. Those fancy, superficial things won't work here."
Lin Xuezhou nodded quickly: "I understand! Your report has really touched me. I admit that some of my previous ideas were indeed too idealistic and detached from reality. In the future, when making plans, I will definitely fully respect your opinions, especially regarding grassroots practice."
His attitude was very sincere. Shu Ran nodded: "That's good. I will take care of the specific teaching work, the literacy classes, and the liaison with the pastoral areas. You can contact me anytime if you need any materials or information."
This can be considered as an initial agreement on work.
Lin Xuezhou visibly breathed a sigh of relief, her expression much more relaxed: "Thank you, Comrade Shu Ran. Well... I won't disturb your rest any longer."
He put down the unfinished water glass, stood up, and said goodbye.
As he reached the door, he hesitated for a moment, then turned back and said, "Special Envoy Chen has already returned to his unit."
Shu Ran paused for a moment, then hummed in agreement.
After Lin Xuezhou left, the room fell silent. Shu Ran walked to the window and looked outside. Chen Yuanjiang had gone back, surprisingly without saying goodbye. But that was in line with his style.
She touched the military water bottle he had left on the table, and the cool touch gradually calmed her chaotic emotions.
Having basically completed her mission at the division headquarters, she was eager to return home.
Two days later, Shu Ran received a notice to return to the livestock company. The division headquarters had not yet issued the official document regarding the demonstration site, but she could go back first to maintain the normal operation of the school.
The mode of transport back was still an open-top truck used to deliver supplies to various companies. Shu Ran, carrying her simple luggage, climbed onto the truck and found a seat on the side.
The truck bumped and jolted as it drove out of the division headquarters, and the familiar Gobi Desert came into view once again. Unlike when she arrived, Shu Ran felt less apprehensive and more determined.
The wind ruffled her hair. She squinted, gazing at the vast line where the sky and earth met in the distance, her mind racing with plans for what she would do upon returning to her unit: the children's learning progress, the literacy situation of the women in the literacy classes, the advancement of the teaching points in the pastoral areas, and... that person.
Thinking of Chen Yuanjiang, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up. That man who was taciturn, yet expressed everything through his actions.
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