Chapter 81 Attack and Counterattack
The excitement of the group discussion hadn't died down yet. Shu Ran was walking and chatting with several grassroots representatives, agreeing to discuss the sand writing instruction in more detail that evening, when a voice suddenly interrupted from the side, carrying a hint of sarcasm.
"Comrade Shu Ran, please wait."
Shu Ran turned around and saw that it was the fair-skinned cadre who had been speechless by her in the afternoon, accompanied by a middle-aged female cadre with a critical eye.
Shu Ran remembered her; she seemed to be from the propaganda department of a certain division, and her surname was Li. She had a stern face the whole morning when she listened to her speech.
"Is there something you need, boss?" Shu Ran stopped in her tracks, still wearing a polite smile.
Seeing this, several grassroots representatives nearby also stopped, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
Officer Li looked Shu Ran up and down, his gaze lingering on the collar of her faded Lenin suit, before saying, "Comrade Shu Ran, your speech this afternoon was very lively. I have a question I'd like to ask you."
"Please speak."
"You keep emphasizing 'usefulness' and 'practical benefits,' and you've elevated the rationing system and work points to such a high level. Can I interpret this as you believing that ideological awareness and political study are less important than a few feet of cloth or a few pounds of grain?" This question is extremely tricky, and the trap is obvious.
The cadre next to him quickly chimed in, "Yes, Comrade Shu Ran, we must be wary of a tendency to lead the masses astray into economism and pragmatism. This is a matter of principle!"
Several grassroots representatives looked indignant, but for a moment they didn't know how to refute such exaggerated remarks.
Shu Ran sneered inwardly, but appeared even more sincere: "Leaders, I can't accept such a statement. We teach the masses to recognize tickets and record work points precisely so that they can personally experience that under the system, labor can yield tangible results, and that the higher authorities are genuinely working for the people's welfare. Isn't this the most vivid and concrete form of political education? Is it really a sign of high political awareness to leave the masses confused and unable to even understand the fruits of their labor?"
She once again invoked the highest directive, returning the hat to the other party exactly as it was.
Officer Li's face darkened: "You're just a smooth talker! Let me ask you, your father was a Shanghai capitalist, wasn't he? Your overemphasis on practical benefits makes it hard not to suspect that you've been influenced by remnants of bourgeois ideology! Did you come to the Corps to genuinely accept this responsibility, or to spread your profit-driven views?"
These were quite harsh words, directly attacking his family background and motives. The surrounding area fell silent instantly; everyone held their breath.
Shu Ran's heart sank; she knew the weight of such accusations at that moment.
Several grassroots representatives around her couldn't help but want to speak up, but Shu Ran subtly stopped them with a look. She knew that at this moment, if others chimed in, it would only escalate the situation and turn it into a "siege of the leader." She had to break the deadlock herself.
Instead of showing anger, Shu Ran revealed a look of sudden realization, and even a slightly embarrassed smile: "Oh dear, leaders, so that's what you're worried about! It's my fault, it's my fault. This afternoon I was so focused on explaining the specifics of how to operate that I didn't explain the most fundamental principles clearly."
Upon hearing this, both Li and Zhang were taken aback, not understanding what she was up to.
Before they could react, Shu Ran's tone became sincere, yet also carried a hint of preaching: "The two leaders are absolutely right! In education, politics is definitely paramount. Why is our livestock company conducting literacy campaigns? The fundamental purpose is to help everyone better study the literature, understand the policies, and raise their awareness!"
She changed the subject, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the other person: "But think about it, leaders, if you give an employee who can't even write his own name or understand his work points book a book of quotations, how is he supposed to learn? He doesn't even know the characters, how is he supposed to understand the meaning? Where does his enlightenment come from? Isn't that just building castles in the air?"
Before the other party could refute her, she raised her voice to ensure that the growing crowd could hear her clearly: "Our method is to first remove the stumbling block of illiteracy from the masses! Let them understand notes, read notices, and learn to do accounting, so that they can personally experience the tangible benefits that literacy can bring to their production and lives! Once they taste the benefits, they will genuinely believe that learning is useful and will actively want to learn more principles! It's not that we don't value politics; we just pay more attention to methods, ensuring that political education truly enters their minds and hearts, rather than remaining merely on paper!"
As she spoke, she observed the other person's expression. Seeing that Officer Li wanted to interject, she immediately offered a concrete example: "Take Sister Wang Guilan from our company, for instance. She's a martyr's family member! Isn't her awareness high? She used to be illiterate and even needed someone to read her receipt for her pension. Now that we've taught her to read, she can not only read the receipt herself but also read quotations and works to the children. Leaders, tell me, has this reduced the political aspect or enhanced it?"
His words were well-reasoned and supported by evidence, progressing step by step, and he even cited the example of the families of martyrs at the end, making them quite substantial. Some people in the surrounding crowd couldn't help but quietly applaud.
Officer Li's face turned ashen, and he still tried to argue: "This is sophistry! It's essentially downplaying politics..."
"Officer Li!" Shu Ran suddenly interrupted her, her voice clear and bright, her smile still on her face, but her eyes sharpening. "You keep emphasizing political aspects. Well then, I'd like to ask you a practical question: If an employee, because he/she is illiterate and can't understand the pesticide instructions, poisons the seedlings and causes losses to the collective, would you first criticize him/her for insufficient political study, or would you first try to teach him/her to read and write to prevent him/her from making the same mistake again? Which would cause less damage to the collective's production? Which would be more helpful in raising his/her awareness of protecting collective property?"
Her question was extremely tricky and realistic, putting the other person in a corner. Either answer would be a slap in the face.
Seeing this, Officer Zhang quickly tried to steer the conversation back to her background: "Comrade Shu Ran, please don't change the subject! We're discussing your work methods and the potential problems your family background might bring..."
“My family background has already been determined by the organization! I came to the frontier in response to the call to undergo training!” Shu Ran suddenly raised her voice, her gaze meeting Zhang’s without flinching. “All my work has been carried out under the leadership of the company’s Party branch! Whether my work methods are good or not should be tested by practice and judged by the staff and masses of our livestock company! Not by two leaders questioning my motives out of thin air just because of my background!”
She looked around and then at the grassroots representatives: "Leaders and comrades are all here! Whether what I, Shu Ran, did was right or wrong, whether it was truly beneficial to the people, and whether it was truly conducive to consolidating the border and developing production, everyone has their own judgment! I believe in the organization, and I believe that the eyes of the masses are discerning!"
This statement was made in a dignified manner, both outlining organizational principles and mobilizing the masses, placing the speaker in a position of being wronged but still firmly believing in the organization.
"Well said!"
"Comrade Shu Ran did the right thing!"
"This is exactly the kind of pragmatic approach we need!"
The grassroots representatives had been holding back their anger for a long time, and now they were all speaking out in support, their voices growing louder and louder.
Li and Zhang were completely stunned by this display, their faces turning deathly pale. They hadn't expected this seemingly gentle young woman to be so sharp-tongued, so logically sound, and so adept at leveraging the power of the masses.
Just then, Deputy Director Wang, who was in charge of the group discussion, arrived after hearing the commotion. Upon seeing the scene, he frowned and asked, "What's going on? What are you all arguing about here?"
Shu Ran immediately spoke before Li and Zhang could, her tone aggrieved but restrained: "Director Wang, it's nothing. It's just that Officer Li and Officer Zhang have different opinions on some of my work methods, and we are... having in-depth discussions. Perhaps my level is limited, and my explanation was not clear enough, causing the two leaders to misunderstand."
She used a strategy of retreat to advance, describing the "siege" as "exchange" and taking responsibility for her "limited abilities."
Director Wang glanced at Li and Zhang, whose faces were grim, and then at the grassroots representatives who were indignant. He knew exactly what was going on.
He frowned and said to Li and Zhang, "Different opinions are welcome, but we must be mindful of the manner and approach! We must not let this affect unity! The headquarters leadership affirms Comrade Shu Ran's work! We must allow grassroots exploration!"
These words essentially sealed the deal. Li and Zhang left dejectedly.
Director Wang reassured Shu Ran and the others for a few more words, and then dismissed them.
The storm subsided, and Shu Ran stood alone in place, secretly relieved, though a fine layer of sweat had broken out on her back.
She looked up, her gaze inadvertently sweeping across the corner of the auditorium not far away, and she seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar blue Zhongshan suit.
Shu Ran was slightly taken aback, then felt relieved. Whether he was there or not, whether he saw her or not, it no longer mattered at this moment.
Shu Ran returned to her room at the guesthouse, facing the stares of everyone who had come from the front.
Zhou, the clerk in her room, was an old hand from the propaganda section of the headquarters and hadn't returned yet. Shu Ran bolted the door, leaned her back against it, and let out a long breath.
The strength she had been putting on in the yard just now completely dissipated. She walked to the bedside and sat down, feeling her calves go weak. Her verbal sparring with Officer Li and Officer Zhang, though seemingly advantageous, was actually fraught with danger. With every response, she was on edge, terrified of giving them any ammunition they might have.
She took off her shoes and discovered a small blister on the sole of her foot. She hadn't noticed it during the day, but now she felt a dull ache.
She took out the needle Xu Junjun had given her from the small cloth bag by the bedside, lit a match to sterilize it, carefully popped the blister, squeezed out the fluid, and then applied some mercurochrome as a disinfectant.
After doing all that, she got up, picked up the thermos, shook it, and found it still contained about half a pot of warm water. She poured it into an enamel mug and drank it. The water was lukewarm, but it soothed her throat and nerves perfectly.
She could hear the sounds of other representatives washing up and greeting each other coming from outside the window. Shu Ran walked to the window and looked at the scattered lights in the courtyard outside, her heart gradually calming down.
She won this battle today, but it wasn't an easy victory. She recalled the dejected looks on Officer Li and Officer Zhang's faces at the end, and a sense of satisfaction swept through her heart, but it was quickly replaced by deeper thoughts.
This is just the beginning. Headquarters seems to approve of her approach, but the real test will come back when she returns. Now that she's been designated a demonstration site, how many eyes will be watching? Will the resources truly be in place? Will the people in her company find even more ways to make things difficult for her?
And Chen Yuanjiang… Was that fleeting glimpse of his clothes around the corner really him? If he saw it, what would he think? Shu Ran shook her head, dismissing the thought. Who cares? She, Shu Ran, didn't do things for anyone's benefit. Relying on others is futile; ultimately, she had to rely on herself.
She returned to her bedside, took out the report she needed to organize, and began to write under the lamplight. This time, her thoughts were clearer. She skillfully incorporated the arguments she had used to deal with the difficult questions during the day into the report, explaining the relationship between practicality and politics even more flawlessly.
With a creak, the door was pushed open, bringing with it a cool breeze and the smell of face cream. Zhou, the clerk, came in wrapped in a cotton-padded coat, his face flushed from the wind. He rubbed his hands together as soon as he entered, exclaiming, "Oh my, the weather's so cold! Xiao Shu, you're back pretty early!"
"Officer Zhou." Shu Ran turned around and greeted him with a smile.
Zhou, the clerk, deftly took off his coat and hung it up. He immediately noticed the shoes and enamel mug that Shu Ran had placed by the bed. Looking at her face, he leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of gossip and admiration, "You're something else, Shu! I heard about it in the cafeteria just now! You're really something! Those two are notorious for being argumentative, but you shut them up!"
Shu Ran smiled sheepishly: "Officer Zhou, please don't listen to rumors. I just... just explained the actual situation in our company."
"Come on!" Officer Zhou sat down on the edge of her bed. "I know them too well! All they do is label people! You really made us comrades from the grassroots look good today! Well done!" As she spoke, she took out her tea mug and poured some water from Shu Ran's thermos. "Let me tell you, that guy surnamed Li, just because he's an old man, he's always trying to escalate things; and that guy surnamed Zhang, he has no skills whatsoever, all he does is flatter and join in the commotion! Don't pay any attention to them!"
Listening to Zhou's rapid-fire remarks, Shu Ran thought that his personality was quite straightforward, unlike Sister Wang's simple concern, and had a touch of the sharpness and frankness of a seasoned bureaucrat.
She then asked, "Officer Zhou, you've been at headquarters for a long time and have a lot of experience. What is the higher-ups' attitude towards our grassroots, these rudimentary methods? I'm really afraid we're going astray."
Zhou, the clerk, took a sip of water and smacked his lips: "Don't worry! The leaders who are truly in charge know this perfectly well! What is politics? The greatest politics is being able to boost production and let the masses settle down in the border region with peace of mind! Your methods have really been effective, how could the leaders not be happy? What I fear most are those who only know how to shout slogans but don't produce any results! People like Li and Zhang, they can only make a few moves, they won't amount to anything."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice: "Let me tell you, Deputy Political Commissar Zhang, who's in charge of education and culture, hates anything flashy and impractical. He'll love what you said today! Go back and make sure your materials are solid, and you'll be fine!"
Although these words had a slightly gossipy tone, they reassured Shu Ran. She nodded gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Officer Zhou."
"Don't thank me! I think you're a girl with real talent!" Officer Zhou waved his hand and began to ramble on about the personnel relationships and precautions in the headquarters, which leaders were pragmatic and which departments were prone to bickering. Shu Ran listened with great interest and gained a better understanding of this unfamiliar environment.
The lights went out. The room went dark.
Shu Ran lay in bed, Zhou, the clerk, already snoring softly. But she couldn't sleep; her mind was replaying Zhou's words and thinking about tomorrow's meeting. She knew she couldn't completely trust Zhou's words, but they at least offered a perspective.
She turned over, trying to bring her thoughts back on track. Zhou's message and Chen Yuanjiang's attention were external factors. Ultimately, she had to rely on herself to get the demonstration site up and running and produce results that no one could fault.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to fall asleep.
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