Chapter 82 Background
Moonlight streamed through the thin curtains, casting a halo of light on the concrete floor. Zhou, the clerk in her room, was already snoring evenly. Shu Ran's mind replayed the aggressive faces of Li and Zhang during the group discussions earlier that day, and how she had retorted each point.
Looking back now, calmly, she still feels a bit scared, but mostly a sense of exhilaration and exhaustion. The blister on her foot throbs, a stark reminder of the reality of her journey.
She turned over, facing the wall, took a deep breath, and forced herself to clear her mind again. She didn't know how much time had passed before she finally drifted off to sleep.
The next day, she was woken up by Officer Zhou. "Xiao Shu, get up! It's the summary meeting today, we can't be late!"
Shu Ran sat up with a start; it was already bright outside. She quickly washed up and hurried to the auditorium with Secretary Zhou.
The atmosphere at the concluding meeting was more solemn than in the previous days. The leaders seated on the platform looked serious. When Deputy Political Commissar Zhang began his concluding remarks, the audience was completely silent. His speech fully affirmed the achievements of the meeting and emphasized the importance of education in consolidating the border region and developing production.
Shu Ran listened attentively, pondering how to bring the spirit of the meeting back to her company. Just as she thought the speech was about to end, Deputy Political Commissar Zhang suddenly changed the subject: "...At this meeting, we heard valuable experiences from various divisions, regiments, and fronts. Particularly noteworthy is that some comrades at the grassroots level, based on their realities and courageous in exploration, have created excellent working methods. For example, some units closely integrated literacy and cultural learning with the production and daily lives of the masses, teaching them to recognize work points, understand ration coupons, and read pesticide instructions, allowing them to immediately experience the benefits of learning, thereby stimulating their intrinsic motivation to learn..."
Shu Ran subconsciously straightened her back. She felt many eyes around her were fixed on her. Although the leader hadn't named anyone, the implication was clear.
Deputy Political Commissar Zhang continued, "...This down-to-earth approach may seem rustic, but it's effective and welcomed by the masses! This fully demonstrates that our work must adhere to the principle of 'coming from the masses and going back to the masses,' and we cannot detach ourselves from reality, engage in empty formalities, or simply label people without addressing practical problems!..."
Shu Ran noticed that the staff members Li and Zhang, who were sitting in the front row, looked somewhat stiff from behind.
"...We must acknowledge and support comrades and units that are courageous in exploring and pragmatic! After deliberation, the headquarters has decided to designate the literacy teaching point of the Livestock Company of the X Division as one of the key grassroots education demonstration points in the entire Corps, and to provide it with key support and guidance! We hope that this point can summarize its experience, continuously improve, and provide useful reference for the grassroots education work of the entire Corps!"
After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the audience, followed by enthusiastic applause.
Many grassroots representatives clapped and looked over at Shu Ran, their eyes filled with admiration and encouragement.
Shu Ran's face flushed slightly, but she tried her best to remain calm. She knew that this was not only an affirmation of her personally, but also a recognition of all the efforts of the Livestock Company and a vindication of her perseverance.
Zhou, the clerk, nudged her from the side, lowering his voice, unable to hide his excitement: "Did you hear that, Xiao Shu? Roll call! Demonstration point! Your company is going to be famous now!"
After the meeting, Shu Ran was immediately surrounded by several representatives from different divisions. Some congratulated her, some wanted to exchange contact information with her in the hope of staying in touch and learning from her experience, and some even asked her questions about specific operational issues on the spot.
"Comrade Shu Ran, what kind of sand is best for practicing calligraphy on that sandy ground?"
"Teacher Shu, how should we schedule the women's literacy classes so as not to affect production?"
"Comrade Xiao Shu, would you be happy to come to your company for training next time?"
Shu Ran responded quickly, her face beaming. She patiently answered questions and shared her insights, her attitude remaining humble and pragmatic. She knew that at this moment, she represented not only herself, but also the livestock company, and Division X. She had to maintain this balance.
Deputy Director Wang walked over with a smile, and only spoke after the crowd around her had thinned out a bit: "Xiao Shu, your responsibilities are even heavier now. After you get back, write a detailed construction plan and needs report for the demonstration site as soon as possible and submit it. The headquarters will do its best to coordinate and support you."
"Thank you, Director Wang! I will finish it as soon as possible!" Shu Ran solemnly agreed.
"Okay, be careful on your way back. As for the specifics, we'll let Director Sun handle it when you get back." Deputy Director Wang offered a few words of encouragement before leaving.
Shu Ran returned to her room at the guesthouse and began packing her luggage. The meeting summary and several study materials in her handbag seemed especially precious.
Officer Zhou helped her check if she had left anything behind, while nagging, "Go back and work hard! Make your comrades at the grassroots level proud! If you need any information, just write to me anytime!"
"Thank you so much, Officer Zhou. I'm so grateful for your care during this time," Shu Ran said sincerely.
Shu Ran carried her luggage to the gate of the compound, where Director Sun and Chen Yuanjiang were already waiting beside a jeep. There was also a young driver.
"Xiao Shu, get in the car, we'll go back to the division headquarters first," Director Sun said with a smile, clearly aware of the news from the conference.
Chen Yuanjiang remained silent, naturally taking Shu Ran's luggage and placing it in the trunk. As he reached out to take it, Shu Ran quickly and softly said, "Thank you." She was thanking him for his indirect reminder yesterday, and also bidding farewell to their time working together.
Chen Yuanjiang paused for a moment, then resumed his normal actions, grunted "Mm," and closed the trunk.
As the car drove out of the headquarters compound, Shu Ran watched the scenery rushing past the window, a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, including nostalgia and reflection) washing over her. This compound had brought her pressure, but also opportunities and recognition. Here, she had experienced skepticism, but also earned respect. She was no longer the apprehensive, newly arrived educated youth; she was leaving with a mission.
The jeep bumped along the Gobi Desert highway, kicking up a trail of yellow dust. Director Sun was dozing in the passenger seat. Shu Ran and Chen Yuanjiang sat side by side in the back seat, separated by a canvas bag containing documents.
Outside the window, all is an endless expanse of gray and yellow. Occasionally, a few tenacious clumps of red willows flash by.
The vehicle stopped at a supply depot at a fork in the road to refill its water supply. The depot was very rudimentary, its mud-brick walls weathered and worn by wind and sand. An old sergeant, his face deeply wrinkled, came out to greet them, carrying a thermos of hot water.
"Officer Chen! Director Sun!" The old squad leader's voice boomed, revealing teeth stained yellow from smoking. "Come in and rest, the steamed buns are just ready!"
The group entered the cool, earthen house and sat down around a small wooden table. The old squad leader served them steaming cornbread and pickled vegetables, and poured each of them a bowl of strong brick tea.
"Your tea is still the best," Director Sun said to the old squad leader with a smile, breaking open a steamed bun.
“It’s a poor place, there’s nothing good here.” The old squad leader waved his hand, his gaze falling on Chen Yuanjiang. As if remembering something, his tone became somewhat distant. “Officer Chen has made something of himself now… This is the first time I’ve seen you, you’re only this tall.” He gestured with his hand next to the table leg. “Following behind the old commander, you couldn’t even speak Mandarin properly, all you knew was to stare at people with your eyes wide open.”
Chen Yuanjiang was just picking up his teacup when he heard this. Without pausing, he simply lowered his eyes and blew on the tea foam. The rising steam from the rim of the bowl blurred half of his face.
Director Sun chimed in, "The old leader treated him like his own son."
"That's right!" the old squad leader sighed. "Sending them to Beijing to study, what a bright future they had. Who would have thought..." He shook his head, didn't finish his sentence, and turned to add firewood.
The table fell silent. Shu Ran took small bites of her steamed bun, the salty pickled vegetables making her frown. She glanced quickly at Chen Yuanjiang. He continued to drink his tea in silence, his knuckles white as he held the teacup.
The driver, Xiao Li, was a clueless young man who didn't notice the atmosphere. He mumbled through his steamed bun, "Officer Chen, why did you have to come back and suffer like this? It would have been so much better to stay in Beijing!"
Chen Yuanjiang put down his teacup. He didn't look at Xiao Li, but instead gazed at the sunlight outside the door. "I miss the water here."
Xiao Li didn't understand and blinked. Director Sun coughed softly. The old squad leader returned after adding firewood, and upon hearing this, paused, said nothing more, but silently pushed a plate of freshly steamed buns to the center of the table.
After resting, the car continued on its way. The second half of the journey was even more silent. Shu Ran leaned against the car window, looking at the unchanging scenery outside.
She noticed that Chen Yuanjiang's gaze lingered for a long time on a patch of green grassland faintly visible at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in the distance, where several white yurts were scattered like mushrooms.
As we approached the division headquarters, dusk was falling. A cool breeze from the Gobi Desert blew through the car window.
Chen Yuanjiang suddenly spoke to the driver: "Stop at the intersection ahead."
The car stopped. He got out and walked to a small grave made of stones by the roadside. The grave had no tombstone, only a white stone on top.
He stood there, his back straight. A few minutes later, he bent down and gently placed something from his pocket on the white stone.
He then turned and got into the car, the sound of the car door closing waking Director Sun from his sleep.
"Have we arrived?" Director Sun asked groggily.
"Soon," Chen Yuanjiang replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
As Shu Ran watched the scenery rushing past the window, she thought of her previous suspicions and wariness towards Chen Yuanjiang. His sense of control might not stem from scheming, but rather from the responsible and cautious character shaped by his complex experiences. His taciturn nature might be because he harbored too many stories within his heart.
By the time the jeep entered the division headquarters compound, it was completely dark. A few dim electric lights illuminated the compound, much brighter than those at the livestock company, but the atmosphere still felt cold and desolate.
Director Sun got out of the car, stretched his stiff muscles, and said to Shu Ran and Chen Yuanjiang, "You're both tired today, so settle down and rest first. Shu, come to the Education Section tomorrow morning to talk to me about the demonstration site in detail. Yuanjiang, you go and do your work too."
"Yes, Director," Shu Ran replied.
Chen Yuanjiang nodded, helped Shu Ran with her luggage, and then turned and walked towards the row of bungalows where the security office was located. His figure quickly disappeared into the night.
Shu Ran carried her luggage back to the familiar guesthouse cabin. Her roommate hadn't returned yet. She put her things down, and the first thing she did was pick up the thermos and shake it, only to find it empty.
She had no choice but to carry her water bottle to the hot water room at the end of the corridor to get some water. The sound of hot water flowing into the kettle spout was particularly clear in the quiet corridor.
After a quick wash, she collapsed onto the bed. Waves of exhaustion washed over her. The events of the past few days at headquarters flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern. She forced herself not to think about it, turned over, smelled the sun-dried scent of the blankets, and gradually drifted off to sleep.
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