Official title: Refused to stay at the university, started his career in a rural town.

On the day Wu Aiguo arrived in Qingping, the mountain breeze at the end of April still carried a chill.

He shook hands with Wu Xiang, nodded to Yang Fan, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the conference room.

A row of enamel mugs was placed in the meeting room. Wu Xiang spread the cooperative's materials on the table, but without looking at the materials, he picked up a mug and blew on the tea leaves.

"The county has been keeping a close eye on the cooperative's affairs." He put down the jar. "Whether it's that article in the Jingzhou Daily or the speeches by some provincial leaders, the county has studied them carefully, but studying doesn't mean we don't work."

Wu Xiang leaned forward slightly.

"I'm here today to make things clear to everyone in person," Wu Aiguo said, glancing around the room.

"The county has never said it would stop the cooperative project, and there are no official documents from higher authorities requiring it to be stopped. There have only been some public opinions, some reminders, and some opinions that we need to take seriously—but opinions are not orders, and reminders are not denials."

Yang Fan tapped his knee with his finger.

"Our Anyang County has been poor for so many years, and Qingping is even worse."

"You blazed this trail, and you made apples, mountain delicacies, tea, Hengtong—which one of them wasn't achieved by you?" Wu Aiguo stood up.

"I, Wu Aiguo, have worked in Anyang for almost my entire life, and I'll be leaving the city the year after next. Before I go, I just want to see you all make this cooperative a success."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds. Wu Xiang's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Secretary Wu..."

"I know you've been wronged lately," Wu Aiguo interrupted him, raising his hand. "You've been running around, revising the materials again and again, receiving letter after letter of complaint, and being criticized in the newspapers. The county has seen all this."

"I'm here today to tell you one thing—if you do the work, it won't be in vain; at least I, Wu Aiguo, will see it!"

This statement was very encouraging. Yes, it doesn't matter if they fail to accomplish this task; at least the county party secretary has seen their efforts.

"Whether a cooperative can be established or not is not determined by an article or any leader, but by the people." He turned around.

"Many of you here are young people. You are the main force now. Settle down, work hard and diligently, and Anyang County will be your stage in the future."

After the meeting, Wu Aiguo took a walk around the village, visiting Yangjiagou and Nangezhuang. He shook hands with Wang Defa and stood for a while at the entrance of Lao Geng's tea garden. Before leaving, he called Wu Xiang and Yang Fan aside.

"The next few days are going to be very tough." Wu Aiguo looked at the distant mountains. "The cooperative hasn't been officially shut down, but nobody dares to say they'll continue."

He looked at Wu Xiang.

"But the work still needs to be done, just in a different way. Don't make a fuss, don't do any publicity about it being a county-wide pilot project or a provincial model, just do this thing well in a down-to-earth manner."

"We can help villagers even without using the cooperative's name! For example, by supporting the village's collective economy or establishing an industrial development fund. If we get things done and collect the data, once the data is there, who will dare say this is turning back the clock!"

Wu Xiang's Adam's apple bobbed. "I understand."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Meanwhile, in Kyungju, at Handong University.

The aroma of tea filled the principal's office. Wang Jianmin sat in a mahogany chair, while Vice Principal Su Huaishan sat on the sofa opposite him, and Professor Zhou Shiping of the Department of Economics sat in the chair next to him.

"Old Zhou, have you been keeping an eye on Yang Fan's cooperative?" Wang Jianmin blew away the tea dust.

Zhou Shiping nodded and said, "I've been paying attention, but there have been many twists and turns, and now there are even more twists and turns."

"I've read that article in the Jingzhou Daily. The cited data is solid, but the logic of the argument is flawed—it conflates collectivization with cooperatives, a fallacy of equivocation. The speeches from the provincial government also went off track, causing some promising talents to wither."

"So, do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing?"

Zhou Shiping was silent for a few seconds. "It's a bad thing for the cooperative. It's not necessarily a good thing for Yang Fan."

Su Huaishan adjusted his glasses. "Principal, aren't you going to make a move? Aren't you afraid your beloved student's little wings will be clipped?"

Wang Jianmin laughed heartily.

"Broken? If such a small storm can break his wings, then it only means he's useless."

"True strength lies in inner strength. Once you've identified the right path, you have the courage to go against the wind—this is the quality our school should cultivate."

"Some comrades already think that Handong University is made of clay!"

"So, do you think the wind is strong enough right now?"

Su Huaishan asked with a chuckle.

Wang Jianmin picked up his water glass and took a slow sip. "Hmm, that's about it. It's not easy to withstand the personal intervention of a provincial standing committee member, even if it was just a casual strike. And in Ningzhou, has any negative news surfaced about Yang Fan?"

Su Huaishan shook his head. "Not a single one. I've looked into it indirectly. He's been in Qingping for two years, his social circle is clean, and his finances are clean. Zhao Ruilong tried to use drunk driving as a pretext but couldn't get him—that kid is very vigilant."

"That shows that his political acumen and interpersonal skills are both up to par," Wang Jianmin said, leaning back in his chair.

"Too much rigidity leads to breakage; even the best material can't be worn down indefinitely. Old Zhou, the rest is up to you."

Zhou Shiping looked up. "You mean—"

"Whether the cooperative model is right or wrong, history has already provided the answer, but this cooperative is not the same as that cooperative." Wang Jianmin put down the jar. "Since he passed this small test, let's give him some recognition. You write an article to vindicate him from a theoretical perspective."

"Where should it be published? In economic newspapers or academic journals?" Zhou Shiping asked.

Wang Jianmin pondered for a moment. "Send it to the Handong Daily."

Su Huaishan frowned. "Principal, isn't this a bit... too conspicuous?"

He adjusted his glasses. "The province just labeled him, and we're already clearing his name in the provincial newspaper—isn't that putting Yang Fan and the school in the spotlight?"

Wang Jianmin looked at him and chuckled. "Huaishan, you're a good person in every way, except you're too modest. So what if a professor at Handong University publishes a theoretical article? Exploring rural economic development models—isn't that exactly what scholars are supposed to be doing?"

Su Huaishan opened his mouth, but didn't reply.

"If anyone has a problem, let them come and talk to me!" Wang Jianmin said calmly. "As for Yang Fan—although he emerged a bit early, as long as he stays true to himself, these are not problems."

Su Huaishan was silent for a moment. "Fine, what can I say, you're the principal!"

Zhou Shiping closed his notebook. "I'll start writing this afternoon and submit it to the provincial daily newspaper. It will definitely be on the front page tomorrow."

Wang Jianmin picked up his enamel mug. "Have you thought of a title yet?"

"How about we call it—'Contemporary Practices and Innovations of Rural Economic Collectivization Models'?"

Wang Jianmin nodded and added, "Add a subtitle: 'Taking Qingping Township, Anyang County, Ningzhou City as an example.'"

Zhou Shiping paused for a moment, then laughed. "Principal, are you planning to launch a targeted attack on them?"