Chapter 97 Thin and Transparent Window Paper
Lin Xuezhou's explanation came to an end, and he began to guide everyone to observe and identify the constellations they had just learned. The children excitedly gathered together, pointing and discussing, while the adults also chatted in small groups.
Just then, Chen Yuanjiang subtly touched Shu Ran's arm.
Shu Ran understood, and taking advantage of everyone's attention being on the starry sky, she quietly followed him and left the lively area.
Chen Yuanjiang didn't go far; he simply led her around to the back of a slightly higher earthen slope beside the field. This place was still within the warning zone; they could hear faint voices from not far away, yet it was a quiet world of its own.
The slope blocked most of the light from that side, making the starry sky appear even more vast, with the Milky Way seemingly hanging overhead.
"It's definitely clearer here." Shu Ran looked up at the starry sky and exclaimed in admiration. A night breeze blew by, carrying the chill of an autumn night in the Gobi Desert, and she subconsciously pulled her collar tighter.
Chen Yuanjiang didn't say anything, but silently took off his military jacket and handed it over.
Shu Ran was stunned for a moment.
"No need, I'm not cold," she refused.
Chen Yuanjiang did not retract his hand, his tone insistent: "It's cold and windy."
Shu Ran hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted it. The coat still carried his body heat, and a faint scent of soap enveloped her, dispelling the chill around her.
"Thank you," she said softly, pulling her coat tighter around herself.
The two stood side by side on the earthen slope, silent for a moment, simply gazing up at the starry sky. In the distance, the faint cheers of children who had found the North Star echoed, further emphasizing the tranquility of the place.
After a long while, Chen Yuanjiang suddenly spoke up: "When I was a child, I often looked at the stars like this too."
Shu Ran looked at him but didn't say anything.
“But not here.” He paused, his gaze somewhat distant, as if recalling something. “It’s further west, at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, in the grasslands. The starry sky there feels even lower than here…”
His tone was calm, but Shu Ran sensed something unusual in it.
She recalled the words of the old sergeant at the supply depot: "Following behind the old commander on horseback, I can't even speak Mandarin fluently anymore."
"Is it...at home?" Shu Ran asked softly, her tone cautious.
Chen Yuanjiang remained silent for a moment, then turned his head to look at her.
"Hmm," he responded, acknowledging it.
He turned back to look at the starry sky, his voice lower and more subdued, “My parents were shepherds. Under a starry sky like this, they would tell me which star would guide me and which star would foretell wind and snow.”
Shu Ran held his breath. This was the first time he had brought up his background, his mysterious ethnic minority origins.
Chen Yuanjiang remained silent for a long time, so long that Shu Ran thought he wouldn't say anything more.
"Later... there was a huge blizzard, and the exploration team got lost... they went to look for them, but never came back." His voice was hoarse. "Among the exploration team was the old commander who later adopted me."
"And then?" Shu Ran asked softly.
"Later, I followed my old leader to Beijing to study, learn Chinese, and got a new name—Chen Yuanjiang."
He sighed softly, "But I always feel that half of my soul remains in that pasture, in the frontier."
Shu Ran finally understood the sigh of the old sergeant at the outpost, Chen Yuanjiang's feelings for this land, and why he gave up his life in Beijing and insisted on returning to this harsh frontier.
His past and his regrets that he can never make up for are buried here.
She didn't know what words of comfort to say, so she simply reached out and gently placed her hand on the back of his clenched fist.
Chen Yuanjiang's body stiffened abruptly, as if he wanted to pull his hand back, but in the end he didn't move. His clenched fist loosened little by little under her palm.
After a long while, Chen Yuanjiang spoke again, his voice no longer as steady as usual: "Beneath that grave without a tombstone lies my mother's favorite riding whip and my father's old leather hat. I visit it every year."
Shu Ran recalled the time he had stopped in front of that nameless stone grave on the way here. So that's how it was.
She gave a soft "hmm" to indicate that she understood.
Her hand remained on the back of his. He didn't push it away, and she didn't pull it back.
The stargazing activity came to a successful conclusion. The children, satisfied, followed the adults home, their little faces still beaming with excitement as they discussed the Big Dipper and Polaris. Sister Wang and Xu Junjun directed the cleanup, while Li Xiulan helped gather up the unfinished pancakes.
Lin Xuezhou watched the crowd disperse and breathed a sigh of relief. This event had given him a real sense of accomplishment in spreading knowledge, and he seemed to understand Shu Ran's actions better now.
He saw Shu Ran and Chen Yuanjiang emerge from behind the earthen slope together, with Shu Ran wearing Chen Yuanjiang's military uniform jacket.
Lin Xuezhou adjusted his glasses, and the slight sense of comparison that had arisen in his heart because of his uncle's arrival completely dissipated at this moment. He understood that some boundaries had long been clearly defined.
Chen Yuanjiang and Shu Ran didn't exchange many words. He naturally took the coat that Shu Ran handed back and put it on. He said in a low voice, "I'll go patrol again," and then turned and left.
As Shu Ran watched his figure disappear into the night, her heart was filled with mixed emotions. There was heartache for his past, and also admiration for him.
Back at the women's dormitory, Xu Junjun immediately came over, winking and asking, "How was it? Did you go to inspect the terrain alone with Special Envoy Chen? I saw he even put his coat on you!"
Shu Ran's face flushed slightly, and she playfully slapped her: "Don't talk nonsense! We just talked for a while."
"Speak? What did he say? He seems different from usual." Sister Wang also smiled and came over. Now that she had a broader perspective, she was happy to see these things happen.
Shu Ran shook her head. Chen Yuanjiang's background was his secret, and she wouldn't tell anyone. She simply smiled, her tone light: "Nothing special. I just think... the stars in the Gobi Desert are really beautiful."
Xu Junjun and Sister Wang exchanged a glance, both seeing a knowing smile in each other's eyes.
*
After the stargazing activity, almost everyone in the company threw themselves into the harvest.
The school also adjusted the curriculum accordingly. In the morning, the children would concentrate on teaching, and in the afternoon, the older children who were able to do some work would go to the fields with their families to help pick up wheat ears and husk corn, while the younger children would be taken care of by Shu Ran and do some simple games and study in the classroom or under the shade of trees.
On the threshing floor, the sounds of flails rising and falling, the sound of stone rollers crushing wheat ears, and people shouting echoed from morning till night.
Shu Ran was not idle either. In her spare time, she helped the younger children who stayed at the school with chores in the cafeteria and with Sister Wang and the others, such as picking out vegetable leaves, starting fires, and looking after the younger children.
That afternoon, she was squatting by the ditch in the backyard of the canteen, vigorously scrubbing a large basket of mud-covered radishes, preparing to give them as an extra meal for the workers who were rushing to harvest them that evening.
The autumn sun was still quite strong, making her forehead sweat and her stray hairs stick to her cheeks.
A military water bottle was suddenly handed to her.
Shu Ran looked up, backlit, and saw Chen Yuanjiang standing beside her. He must have just come back from the fields; his trousers were splattered with mud, and his forehead was sweaty.
"Take a break and have some water." Chen Yuanjiang suddenly remembered something and added, "This is a clean, new kettle."
Shu Ran didn't stand on ceremony. She took the kettle, unscrewed the lid, and took a few sips. The water was warm, with a faint licorice flavor, and it was very thirst-quenching.
"Thank you." She handed the water bottle back and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
Chen Yuanjiang took the kettle, but didn't leave immediately. His gaze lingered on her fingers, which had turned slightly white from soaking, and the basket of radishes waiting to be washed.
“These tasks can be handled by the logistics staff,” he said, his tone devoid of emotion.
Shu Ran smiled and picked up a radish to wash it: "Everyone's busy, so I'll do what I can. Besides, if this radish is clean, everyone can have a little more to eat tonight."
Chen Yuanjiang didn't say anything more. He turned around, walked to the upper reaches of the canal, bent down, and washed his face with the flowing water.
Then he walked back, rolled up his sleeves without saying a word, squatted down on the open ground next to Shu Ran, picked up a big radish covered in mud, and, imitating her, vigorously scrubbed it in the water.
He didn't seem to do this kind of work often, but he had a lot of strength in his hands, making the radish peel rustle as he rubbed it.
Shu Ran was stunned for a moment. "Special Envoy Chen, you..." She subconsciously wanted to stop him.
"Just a quick thing." Chen Yuanjiang interrupted her without looking up, as if he were completing a surprise mission.
Seeing his awkward yet persistent expression, Shu Ran swallowed back the words she was about to say. She didn't speak again, but silently quickened her pace.
The two of them squatted side by side by the ditch, silently washing radishes.
Occasionally, passing employees would catch a glimpse of this scene and couldn't help but take a second look, their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity. Special Envoy Chen was actually helping Teacher Shu wash radishes? This was truly a novelty!
Chen Yuanjiang ignored the stares and continued working. Shu Ran, on the other hand, was much more relaxed, occasionally glancing up to smile at passersby as a greeting.
The basket of radishes was quickly emptied. Chen Yuanjiang stood up, shaking the water droplets off his hands. He didn't look at Shu Ran, only saying, "I'll go check on the field again," before striding away.
Shu Ran watched his retreating figure, then looked down at the basket of clean radishes, and finally couldn't help but smile.
This man's way of expressing concern is truly unique.
"Hey, did you see that? This afternoon, Special Envoy Chen was helping Teacher Shu wash radishes!" The news quietly spread between the cafeteria and the dormitory around dinner time.
"Really? Special Envoy Chen, that cold-faced guy, can actually do this?"
“I saw it with my own eyes! The two of them were squatting by the ditch, neither of them saying a word, but the way they looked…”
"Teacher Shu is really capable! She even managed to get Special Envoy Chen to come!"
Xu Junjun, holding her rice bowl, moved closer to Shu Ran, nudged her with her elbow, and whispered, "Wow, Ranran! You're making fast progress! You've been working together!"
Shu Ran's face flushed slightly. She picked up a piece of stir-fried shredded radish with her chopsticks and pretended to be calm: "Don't talk nonsense. Special Envoy Chen was just passing by and helped out."
"Just doing it?" Sister Wang smiled and joined in. "I've never seen him do it so readily to anyone else. Teacher Shu, Special Envoy Chen may seem cold, but he's warm-hearted! He's a reliable person!"
Even Li Xiulan chimed in, "Teacher Shu, Special Envoy Chen is a very nice person."
Shu Ran was overwhelmed by their teasing and could only bury her head in her food.
Lin Xuezhou sat not far away, quietly eating her meal, listening to the discussions around her, and even pushed up her glasses and smiled.
The continuous, high-intensity harvesting, coupled with the large temperature difference between day and night, eventually took its toll on Shu Ran. She developed a low-grade fever and her voice became hoarse. But she didn't make a fuss. After finishing her classes in the morning as usual, she endured the dizziness in the afternoon and tried to go help.
"Go back and lie down!" Sister Wang stopped her at the cafeteria entrance, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You look so pale, why are you still trying to tough it out? Teacher Lin is keeping an eye on things at school, and the children are sensible; you don't need to worry about them!"
Xu Junjun took her temperature and gave her some pills: "Low-grade fever, you're just exhausted. Go back to sleep and drink plenty of water! Otherwise, I'll report to the supervisor and force you to rest!"
Shu Ran knew that she couldn't help in her current state and might even cause trouble, so she had no choice but to obediently return to the female workers' dormitory.
The dugout was a bit cool, and she was wrapped in a quilt and drifted off to sleep. In her half-awake state, she felt her mouth was dry and her whole body ached.
She didn't know how much time had passed when she vaguely heard a noise at the door. She struggled to open her eyes; the room was dimly lit, and it was already evening.
No one else in the dormitory had returned yet. She saw an enamel mug on the ground by the door, steam still rising from its rim.
Somewhat puzzled, she forced herself to get up, walked over, and picked up the jar. It was warm to the touch, just the right temperature to drink. Lifting the lid, a sweet aroma with the scent of sesame oil wafted out.
The jar contained egg tea with flocculent floating pieces, and some partially dissolved rock sugar crystals could be seen in the soup, with a few drops of sesame oil floating on the surface.
Egg tea! In an era of scarce medical resources, this was an excellent remedy for soothing and nourishing the throat, especially for those with sore throats. Eggs were precious, and rock sugar and sesame oil were even rarer.
Who could it be? Xu Junjun? Sister Wang? Li Xiulan? It can't be them; they would bring the egg tea directly into the dugout.
Shu Ran held the enamel mug, puzzled. She walked to the door and looked outside. The threshing ground in the distance was still bustling with activity, but there was no one in sight nearby.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the company headquarters, then towards the road Chen Yuanjiang usually patrolled, but it was deserted.
She carried the warm bowl of egg tea back to the bedside, already having a guess in her mind. Who else but him would be so thoughtful as to procure these rare items, caring for her in such a subtle way?
She took a careful sip. The egg drop soup was smooth and tender, the sugar syrup was sweet and refreshing, and the aroma of sesame oil slid down her dry and sore throat, instantly relieving the burning sensation.
After finishing her last sip, she washed the enamel mug clean. Just then, Sister Wang and Xu Junjun returned from work.
"Oh, you're awake? Feeling any better?" Sister Wang asked with concern as soon as she came in. "Wow, your face has some color back. Does your throat still hurt?"
Xu Junjun, with her sharp eyes, noticed the enamel mug on the table. She picked it up and examined it, then moved closer to Shu Ran, gently sniffing the faint scent of sesame oil and sweetness lingering on her. A mischievous smile appeared on her face: "Egg tea? With rock sugar and sesame oil? Who's so thoughtful? This is great for soothing a sore throat! This mug... it looks like the one that Special Envoy Chen often uses."
Shu Ran blushed and mumbled, "Maybe... it's because the company is taking care of the sick."
"The company?" Sister Wang laughed. "I didn't hear about this arrangement today. Rock sugar and sesame oil are so precious, patients usually can't enjoy them. This thoughtfulness... tsk tsk." She gave Shu Ran a meaningful look.
Xu Junjun and Sister Wang exchanged a knowing look and didn't press the matter further, their smiles only deepening.
"Alright, drink this magic water and then rest well." Sister Wang tucked the blanket around her. "This egg tea is better than any medicine!"
Shu Ran lay down, closed her eyes, but couldn't help but smile.
Shu Ran's illness came on quickly and went away quickly. After resting for one night, her fever subsided the next day, and although her throat was still a little hoarse, the pain was greatly relieved. She returned to school and her job.
The next time I saw Chen Yuanjiang was at the entrance of the company headquarters. He was talking to Secretary Liu, his expression serious. When he saw Shu Ran, his gaze lingered on her face for a moment, he nodded as a greeting, and then continued his conversation with Secretary Liu.
Shu Ran showed no unusual behavior. As usual, she smiled and responded to his gesture before heading to the school.
During lunch break, Shu Ran was organizing her lesson plans in the classroom when Chen Yuanjiang, who was on patrol, stopped outside the window.
"Are you better now?" he asked through the window.
"All done." Shu Ran looked up, smiled at him, and cleared her throat, which was now mostly sore. "Thank you for the egg tea, it really helped."
She bluntly pointed it out, wanting to see his reaction.
Chen Yuanjiang was clearly taken aback by her directness. He paused for a moment, then looked away somewhat awkwardly: "...The leftover eggs and rock sugar from the mess hall... were rations from the last mission."
His attempts to explain the origin of the item only made things more obvious.
Shu Ran found his hypocritical and excusable behavior both amusing and heartwarming, but she didn't expose him. Instead, she took out the clean enamel mug from the drawer, walked to the window, and handed it to him, saying, "Here's your mug back."
Chen Yuanjiang took the jar and almost immediately said, "I'm leaving." He turned and walked away, his pace much faster than usual.
Shu Ran watched his retreating figure and smiled softly.
Just then, the communications officer, Xiao Zhao, ran over with a smile: "Teacher Shu! Secretary Liu and Company Commander Ma want you to go to the company headquarters!"
Shu Ran asked, somewhat puzzled, "What is it?"
Xiao Zhao pointed in the direction of the newly built adobe houses in the company, "Didn't the company build a few more rammed earth houses? The allocation discussion is progressing!"
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Author's Note: Great news! Someone has finally opened up to Ranran! (Beating drums and gongs)
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