A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

When pressed, Chen Shilong had no choice but to tell the truth: "Brother Zhou talked to me. He said that the work in Xinjiang was particularly hard and that there was no one to take care of my two children. I thought about it and did have some concerns, so I withdrew."

In a fit of anger, Han Changfu confronted Zhou Mingyu again, "Zhou Mingyu, what exactly are you trying to do? I was wondering why you were the only one who signed up on the registration form. Turns out you were the one trying to persuade everyone else. You're deliberately interfering with the organization's procedures!"

"Director, I'm not lying. The hardships of supporting Xinjiang are not just talk. Chen Shilong's family situation is what it is. If he really goes, he won't be able to do his job well, and he won't be able to take care of his family. Wouldn't that be a waste of time and energy? If everyone signs up blindly without understanding the actual situation, they won't be able to adapt to Xinjiang, and in the end, they won't be able to do their job, and the organization will have to worry about them. That would be truly irresponsible."

"But you can't just turn everyone away!" Han Changfu said anxiously.

"Then I'll go. After all, I've been there once, I know what to do, and I won't let the organization down. The key is that I still have unfinished work there."

Unable to resist Zhou Mingyu's persistent pleading, and after much deliberation, Han Changfu finally agreed to Zhou Mingyu's idea.

The news quickly reached the ears of the young people, who gathered together, growing increasingly indignant: "I knew he had ulterior motives. He deliberately made the aid-to-Xinjiang program sound so scary, and even persuaded Chen Shilong to back out, all so he could get a second chance and claim credit!"

"That's right. He got promoted when he came back from his last assignment in Xinjiang. If he goes again this time, he might get promoted again when he comes back. We've all become his stepping stones."

"If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have listened to what he said and would have just signed up. He wouldn't have had a chance!"

Zhou Mingyu overheard everyone's discussion, but he just sighed softly and didn't offer any explanation.

The next day at work, Zhou Mingyu formally submitted his application to assist Xinjiang.

With Zhou Mingyu's work ability and previous experience in assisting Xinjiang, he believed that as long as the application for assistance to Xinjiang was submitted, the official notification would come naturally.

Right now, his top priority is to figure out how to get his wife's support for his work.

When Zhou Mingyu got off work, he made a special detour to the vegetable market and picked out the freshest live shrimp.

Song Linglong's favorite dish is braised prawns, but he's always busy and hasn't made it for her in a long time.

Pushing open the door, I saw my wife wearing an apron, busy in the kitchen. There were chopped vegetables on the cutting board and soup simmering in a pot.

"You're back?"

Zhou Mingyu put the shrimp into the pool, rolled up his sleeves, and walked over to her: "Take a break, I'll cook today and show you my skills."

He took the kitchen knife from her hand, saying, "I bought fresh braised prawns, which you like."

Song Linglong was stunned for a moment. Watching her husband skillfully clean the prawns and trim their whiskers, his movements even more efficient than her own, her anger subsided somewhat. However, she still didn't say anything and turned to season the soup.

As the aroma of oil wafted from the kitchen, Zhou Mingyu poured the prepared sauce into the pot and stir-fried the bright red prawns, instantly filling the air with fragrance.

Xingchen ran in and tugged at his clothes: "Daddy, it smells so good! Xingchen wants some too."

"It'll be ready in a moment."

Zhou Mingyu patted his son's head, scooped out a few large shrimp, placed them on a plate, and handed it to his wife.

At dinner, the family sat down around the table. Zhou Mingyu remembered his wife's red eyes that morning and felt guilty.

He peeled the shrimp shells and put the shrimp meat into Song Linglong's bowl: "Try it and see how it tastes. Is it the same as before?"

Looking at the shrimp meat in the bowl, and then at her husband's expectant eyes, Song Linglong remembered that when they first got married, he was the same way. Every time he made braised shrimp, he would give her the peeled shrimp meat first.

"Linglong, there's something I want to tell you. Our unit has assigned me to work in Xinjiang, and the leader wants me to..."

"Supporting Xinjiang?"

Song Linglong's smile vanished instantly, the spoon in her hand fell into the bowl, and soup splashed onto Xingchen's clothes. Xingchen was startled and almost burst into tears.

"Keep your voice down, don't scare the child."

Zhou Mingyu quickly tried to comfort Xingchen, but Song Ailing's eyes were already red. She hugged Xingchen tightly and stared at Zhou Mingyu: "Zhou Mingyu, are you kidding me? In the first two years after we got married, you said you wanted to focus on your career, and I supported you; last time you went to Xinjiang to help, you said it was to gain experience, and I didn't stop you."

But now? Mom just got out of the hospital, Xingchen just started recognizing people, and you're leaving again? You peel a shrimp, and you think I'll forget all the years I've endured alone?

"Last time you went to Xinjiang for work, I went to my prenatal checkup alone while I was heavily pregnant. You didn't even show your face when Xingchen was born. Now that he can just call you 'Dad,' you're leaving again? Zhou Mingyu, do you think this family is the same whether you're here or not?"

"No, I..."

Zhou Mingyu tried to explain, but Song Linglong interrupted him.

She got up and hugged Xingchen, her voice trembling with tears, and began to recount what had happened: "Mom was hospitalized last week, and you were working overtime at your workplace. I stayed by your side for three days and three nights."

Xingchen had a fever in the middle of the night, and I carried him to the emergency room by myself. I fell on the way, and my knee is still bruised. And now you're telling me you're going to Xinjiang for an aid mission? If you leave, who will support this family?

Hearing this, Zhou Mingyu felt increasingly uneasy. He stood up and tried to touch her hand, but Song Linglong dodged him: "Don't touch me. I'm telling you, I don't agree. If you dare to sign up, we'll get a divorce."

After saying that, she carried Xingchen into the bedroom.

Zhou Mingyu slept in the living room all night. At dawn, he cooked some porridge, brought it to the bedroom door, and gently knocked. "Linglong, have something to eat. Xingchen must be hungry too."

The door opened, and Xingchen rubbed her eyes, asking, "Daddy, where are you going? Mommy said you don't want Xingchen anymore."

Zhou Mingyu squatted down and hugged his son: "Daddy won't abandon Xingchen. Daddy wants to help children far away so that they can grow up healthy like Xingchen."

He looked up at Song Linglong and said, "Linglong, I know I've let you down, but this time is different. The medical point in Tacheng isn't finished yet, and the herders are waiting to see a doctor. I'm familiar with the situation there, and I can get things done as quickly as possible."

Song Linglong turned her face away and didn't say anything.

Zhou Mingyu opened a photo on his phone. "This grandma is seriously ill, and there's no medicine in the village. I rode my motorcycle for over 40 miles to bring the medicine back. She always says that if it weren't for me, she wouldn't have seen her grandson. Linglong, there are many people like this over there; they need help."

Song Linglong finally spoke: "They need help, but what about us? If you leave, who will accompany Mom to her monthly check-up? What will happen to Xingchen if she gets sick? What will happen to this family if I collapse from exhaustion?"

Zhou Mingyu quickly replied, "I've arranged everything. I've discussed it with my sister, and she'll come from our hometown next week to accompany Mom to her follow-up appointment. Haven't you always wanted to take the CPA exam? I've signed you up for an online course. You can attend the classes after Xingchen goes to sleep tonight, so it won't interfere with your plans."

He opened another video on his phone. It was a video he had taken at a medical point when he organized the doctors who were assisting Xinjiang. The doctor was listening to the heart and lungs of a Kazakh child, and the child's mother said "thank you" in broken Chinese. The herders were gathered around the newly arrived medicine, their eyes full of anticipation.

"Look at these people, their lives are getting better because of what I've done. When Xingchen grows up, he'll understand that his father is doing something meaningful and valuable."

Song Linglong looked at the scene in the video, then at her husband, and took the porridge from Zhou Mingyu's hand: "Promise me that you will video chat with Xingchen every day, and... take good care of yourself, don't get cold or hungry."

"I promise you! I will be fine. Once the medical station is built, I will come back to be with you."