Since we are all reborn, let’s arrest the senior!

With the successful completion of Yunling Primary School, the volunteer association's public welfare work reached a new height. However, Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze were not content with their achievements. They knew that countless people across the vast land of China still needed help. By chance, they learned from a traveler that in the desolate northwest frontier, there was a village called Crescent Lake, where water was extremely scarce, the villagers lived in misery, and the children were unable to attend school due to lack of water. This news stirred the volunteers' hearts like a stone thrown into a calm lake, and they resolutely decided to embark on a public welfare journey to Crescent Lake Village.

Before setting off, the volunteer team made meticulous preparations. They contacted water conservancy experts, geologists, and engineers skilled in desert environments, forming a professional and diverse team. Among them was a young water conservancy engineer named Jiang Chuan, a graduate of a top university with extensive experience in water conservancy engineering design, but this was his first time participating in a public welfare water conservancy project. Wearing black-rimmed glasses, Jiang Chuan's eyes shone with a dedication to knowledge and a passion for public service. He said, "Being able to use my knowledge to bring hope to water-scarce villages has always been my dream."

After a long and arduous trek, the volunteer team finally arrived at Crescent Lake Village. The scene before them shocked everyone: the village was surrounded by endless yellow sand, a few withered trees swayed in the fierce wind, the villagers' houses were dilapidated, and the murky water cellars contained only a shallow layer of water. The village children had chapped lips, their eyes filled with longing for water. Seeing the volunteers, the villagers were both surprised and overjoyed. An elderly man with gray hair tightly grasped Jiang Zimei's hand, his voice trembling as he said, "You've finally come! We haven't seen any outsiders in so long, and the water is almost gone; life has been so hard!"

The volunteers, without taking a break, immediately threw themselves into their work. Jiang Chuan led his team to survey the surrounding geology and water sources. Carrying heavy instruments, they trudged through the scorching sand. With each step, they sank into the soft sand, their clothes quickly soaked with sweat, but they didn't complain. After several days of effort, they discovered that there might be water deep underground near the village, but drilling a well would not be easy. The geological structure was complex, and they faced many challenges, including quicksand.

Just when everyone was at their wits' end, a mysterious man riding a camel arrived at the village. His name was Hamur, a renowned "desert expert" in the area, familiar with every inch of the desert's terrain and water sources. Hamur was tall and robust, his bronze skin etched with the marks of time, his eyes deep and resolute. He spoke in broken Chinese, "I heard you've come to help us find water. I can take you to some places where there might be water, but water is hard to find in the desert." Hamur's arrival gave the volunteers new hope.

Under Hamur's leadership, Jiangchuan's team replanned their exploration route. They ventured deep into the desert, enduring sandstorms and nearly losing their way. But with unwavering perseverance and professional knowledge, they finally found a clue to an underground water source. However, drilling the well remained fraught with difficulties. Flowing sand continuously poured into the well, causing the well walls to collapse and repeatedly hindering the project's progress. At this critical moment, a female engineer named Lin Xiaowei stepped forward. Lin Xiaowei had short, neat hair and a determined look in her eyes. She proposed using a special wall-protection technique, employing high-strength materials and advanced construction methods to prevent the sand from collapsing. Under her guidance, the volunteers and villagers worked together, and after countless days and nights of hard work, they finally succeeded in drilling their first well.

When clear well water gushed from the wellhead, the entire village erupted in celebration. Villagers cheered and jumped for joy; some knelt on the ground to thank heaven, while others cupped the well water and wept with happiness. Children played excitedly by the water's edge, their faces beaming with joy. To ensure a long-term, stable water supply for the villagers, volunteers also helped them build a reservoir and water pipelines, bringing water to every household.

After solving the water problem, the volunteers turned their attention to education in the village. They discovered that due to long-term water shortages and poverty, the children in the village had almost no formal education, and many children couldn't even write their own names. Jiang Zimei decided to build a school in the village to provide the children with learning opportunities. After the news spread, many kind-hearted people responded enthusiastically, donating a large amount of teaching materials and funds.

Upon hearing of her story, a young painter named Su Shih-han voluntarily came to Crescent Lake Village. Su Shih-han has delicate features and a gentle demeanor; she excels at depicting the beauty of life with her paintbrush. She not only created exquisite murals for the school classrooms but also taught the children to paint. In her classes, the children used colorful paintbrushes to depict their dreams and aspirations for the future. Some children painted a green forest, some painted a beautiful house, and others painted scenes of laughter with their families by the water.

Meanwhile, the volunteer association also invited Li Jianguo, a senior teacher with over thirty years of teaching experience. He is kind and approachable, and deeply loved by the children. Based on the children's individual needs, Li Jianguo developed a unique teaching plan. He not only taught the children basic subjects like Chinese and mathematics, but also emphasized cultivating their character and life skills. Under his guidance, the children gradually became more confident, and their academic performance improved significantly.

During the school's construction, a young architect named Chen Mo played a crucial role. Chen Mo is a calm and collected individual with a unique architectural design philosophy. He designed a school that was both environmentally friendly and practical, taking into account the desert climate and the villagers' lifestyle. The school's buildings utilized local sand and solar panels, reducing costs and achieving sustainable energy use. Chen Mo frequently worked alongside the laborers on the construction site, personally overseeing every stage of construction to ensure the school's quality and safety.

With the construction of the school and the smooth operation of teaching, Crescent Lake Village gradually came to life. However, the volunteers did not stop there. They discovered that the village's economy was very backward, and the villagers relied solely on limited animal husbandry for their livelihood. In order to help the villagers escape poverty and become prosperous, the volunteer association decided to develop distinctive industries.

At this time, an agricultural expert named Zhou Ting arrived in the village. Wearing a sun hat, her skin was tanned dark, but her eyes shone with wisdom and energy. Through research, she discovered that the unique climate and soil conditions of Crescent Lake Village were suitable for planting sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn not only has strong drought resistance but also high economic value, and can be used to make juice, health products, and more. Zhou Ting taught the villagers sea buckthorn planting techniques and helped them establish a sea buckthorn planting cooperative. Under her guidance, the villagers began planting sea buckthorn on a large scale, and after a period of hard work, the sea buckthorn orchard began to take shape.

To open up the market for sea buckthorn products, the volunteers contacted several businesses and merchants. A young marketing expert named Zhao Yang volunteered to join the project. Zhao Yang was quick-witted and had extensive marketing experience. He designed unique packaging and promotional plans for the sea buckthorn products, promoting them nationwide through online live streaming and participation in agricultural product fairs. Soon, the sea buckthorn products became popular with consumers, orders poured in, and the villagers' incomes significantly increased. With the volunteers' help, Yueyaquan Village underwent a dramatic transformation. New houses were built, roads became wide and smooth, children studied in bright classrooms, and the villagers' faces beamed with happiness. To thank the volunteers for their help, the villagers spontaneously organized a grand celebration. They sang and danced, and warmly welcomed the volunteers with local delicacies.

However, the volunteer association's charitable work in Crescent Lake Village was just the beginning. They realized that in the vast desert region, many similar villages faced problems such as water shortages, poverty, and underdeveloped education. Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze decided to extend the successful experience of Crescent Lake Village to more places. They began to cooperate with local governments and other charitable organizations to jointly develop long-term development plans.

During this process, the volunteer association welcomed a special volunteer—a Uyghur girl named Ailiya. Ailiya is a talented singer and dancer, warm and cheerful, and familiar with the culture and customs of the desert region. Ailiya used her strengths to help the volunteers better communicate with the local villagers, promoting unity and integration between ethnic groups. She also organized the villagers to form a cultural performance troupe, using song and dance performances to preserve and promote the culture of the desert region.

As the volunteer association's public welfare work in desert areas continues to develop, more and more people are moved by their spirit and are joining this big family. There are young college students who bring youthful energy and new knowledge and ideas; there are retired cadres who use their rich experience to advise on the implementation of projects; and there are professionals from all walks of life who contribute their skills to public welfare.

The volunteer association has also established a comprehensive training system, regularly organizing training sessions for volunteers to improve their professional skills and service capabilities. At the same time, they have strengthened exchanges and cooperation with domestic and international non-profit organizations, learning advanced philanthropic concepts and management experience, and continuously innovating philanthropic models.

In the days to come, the Volunteer Association will continue its arduous journey in public service, bringing hope to more people in need through love and action. They will ensure that the seeds of public service take root and blossom in every corner, making the world a better place because of their existence. They firmly believe that with perseverance, they will surely realize their beautiful vision of enabling everyone to live a happy life, letting the light of public service illuminate every dark corner and warm every yearning heart.

A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire: The Magnificent Expansion of the Public Welfare Landscape
Inspired by the success of Crescent Lake Village, the volunteer association extended its reach to the wider Northwest region. By chance, the association received a letter seeking help from a community worker in Dunhuang City. The letter mentioned an abandoned saline-alkali land on the outskirts of the city, where the surrounding villages were suffering from a large outflow of young people due to the poor soil, leaving behind elderly people and children living in poverty, with educational resources severely lacking. Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze immediately organized a team to investigate. This charitable undertaking was destined to embark on a new journey full of challenges and hope.

A new soil improvement expert named Cheng Yu joined the research team. Cheng Yu, in his early forties, always carried a canvas bag full of soil samples, his eyes behind his glasses revealing his dedication to scientific research. Upon arriving at the saline-alkali land, they were met with a vast expanse of white, barren land. The surrounding villages were dilapidated, the streets deserted, children in tattered clothes playing in the dusty open spaces, and elderly people sitting in their doorways, their faces etched with helplessness and hardship. Cheng Yu crouched down, picked up a handful of saline-alkali soil, and examined it closely, his brow furrowed: "The soil here is extremely saline-alkali; improving it will be no easy task, but we must try."

Just as the team was brainstorming solutions, a middle-aged woman riding a dilapidated electric scooter and wearing a straw hat arrived at the site. Her name was Li Xiulan, a villager from a nearby village and one of the few young people who had stayed behind. Li Xiulan was straightforward and quick-witted: "I know you're here to help. This land has been abandoned for so many years; we've been dreaming of planting crops on it again. Although I'm not very educated, I'm strong and familiar with the area. I'll show you around!" Under Li Xiulan's guidance, the team gained a deeper understanding of the surrounding villages' actual conditions and discovered that in addition to land issues, the children's education also urgently needed improvement.

The volunteer association quickly formulated the "Saline-Alkali Land Regeneration Plan" and the "Oasis Education and Assistance Plan." Cheng Yu led his team in research day and night, trying various soil improvement methods. They first used a combination of irrigation and drainage to flush away the saline-alkali soil, but the results were not ideal. At this time, a young agricultural technician named Wang Hao proposed a new idea: using salt-tolerant plants for biological improvement. Wang Hao, a graduate of an agricultural college, was full of innovative spirit. He said, "We can plant plants such as Suaeda salsa and Elaeagnus angustifolia. They can not only adapt to the saline-alkali environment, but also gradually improve the soil structure." So, the volunteers and villagers planted seedlings of hope on the saline-alkali land together.

Meanwhile, in terms of educational assistance, the association invited a young teacher named Lin Yue. Lin Yue, with her high ponytail, sweet smile, and approachable demeanor, arrived in the village and discovered that there were no proper classrooms; the children had to attend classes in a dilapidated ancestral hall. Instead of complaining, Lin Yue led the children in cleaning the ancestral hall, making teaching aids from discarded cardboard boxes, and creating whimsical murals on the walls with colored pens. She also designed a variety of enriching courses based on the children's interests and circumstances, adding crafts and music to the curriculum in addition to basic academic subjects, allowing the children to learn happily.

During the process of improving the saline-alkali land, a mysterious old man attracted everyone's attention. He often wandered around the fields, occasionally squatting down to examine the soil and seedlings. (End of Chapter)