Riding the wind of rebirth

“But don’t let your studies suffer.” Zhou Zhi continued to instruct, “If you’re too busy, give me a call and I’ll make arrangements.”

After driving to the telecommunications market, Zhou Zhi bought a mobile phone and got a SIM card. He then handed it to Zhang Xinyi, saying, "If there's anything else, we can contact each other on QQ."

"Remember to send us the photos." Ye Xin was more concerned about this.

"How about I find you a project to practice on?" Zhou Zhi said. "I see you're quite idle as a senior."

"No, no." Ye Xin waved her hands repeatedly: "I need to prepare courseware this year, you know PPT? Now that we have computer labs, we need to give open classes during the selection process, and using PPT will give me extra points."

“Then I suggest you learn Flash and Java,” Zhou Zhi said. “One is for animation, and the other is for graphical programming. When you get to school, you can help the school make promotional websites, animated demonstrations, and online courseware. The school will definitely treasure you.”

"Really? Is it difficult?"

“I don’t think it’s difficult at all,” Zhou Zhi said with a smile. “I’ll send you the tutorial and software when I get back. Anyway, like I said, if you don’t understand anything, just call me or ask on the forum. There are a lot of experts on the Clover Forum who are teachers there.”

"I wish you could stay a few more days. Are you going back soon? Are you going back to Chengdu or Liangshan?"

“It’s time to go back to Liangshan. It’s time to hand over the reins here,” Zhou Zhi said with a smile. “And celebrate the New Year while we’re at it.”

"New Year? Isn't it still a long way off?" Ye Xin asked.

"It's getting late," Mai Xiaomiao said. "It's the Yi New Year, and Sister Liang Hong and Brother Yang are going too."

"Tomorrow we will go to the capital to visit Elder Wang and Elder Qi, and then take a plane back." There is currently no air route from Liangshan to Shanghai, so we would have to go back to the capital to catch a flight anyway.

After giving some further instructions, Zhou Zhi escorted the two back to school and then rushed to Beijing overnight.

The next morning, Zhou Zhi took Mai Xiaomiao to visit Wang Lao and told him in detail about the discovery of the shell window in Zhang Hall, as well as the protection plan for the ancient city of Pingyao and the World Heritage application plan that he had discussed with Professor Ruan.

Mr. Qi offered a suggestion: that experts could be invited from Kyoto, an island nation, to share their experience. Kyoto was added to the World Heritage List in 1994, so the relevant experience and materials are still fresh and can be learned from.

This reminded Zhou Zhi that he still had some connections in the island nation's cultural circles. Those people were the main force behind promoting Kyoto as a World Heritage Site, and some of them are now experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites, as well as judges or nominators for the World Heritage Foundation. These connections could be fully utilized.

So they quickly called the island nation and contacted Sony's cultural affairs department, Goro Ban, and Tetsuo Ono of the Seikado Bunko Art Museum in Kyoto. They soon got in touch with Dr. Tanaka, an expert from the International Council on Monuments and Sites and a professor at Kyoto University.

Dr. Tanaka was very enthusiastic about China's plan to nominate Pingyao as a World Heritage Site. He believed that it would be unreasonable for China, as a major cultural power, not to have a few World Heritage Sites. However, he did not expect that it would be Pingyao instead of the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. After hearing the introduction, he was very interested and asked that the information be sent over as soon as possible so that he could arrange a time to come and inspect it.

This involves foreign affairs activities, which need to be reported to the Ministry of Culture. So Lao Wang took Zhou Zhi to the Ministry to report.

The ministry took the matter very seriously after hearing it, believing that choosing Pingyao as the application site was a good consideration. If they had pushed for the Forbidden City or the Great Wall right away, the impact on public opinion would have been enormous if it failed.

If the project to promote Pingyao succeeds, it will be a huge surprise; if it fails, it won't have much of an impact, since 90% of the Chinese people don't really know where Pingyao is these days.

With the Yu-Tang Foundation guaranteeing the initial funding needs, the Ministry's attitude was very clear: to seize this opportunity and make a concerted effort to create China's first World Heritage site and successfully apply for it.

With this assurance from the ministry, Zhou Zhi felt relieved. With this instruction and the funds in place, he believed that the renovation of the core area of ​​the ancient city would be implemented soon.

After the report, Zhou Zhicai and Mai Xiaomiao went to the airport to catch an afternoon flight back to Liangshan. Liangshan was bustling with activity as the entire region prepared for the festival. The city markets were filled with Yi people from surrounding counties and townships, and the streets were lined with people in blue and black ethnic costumes, as well as natural wool felt cloaks called "Chaerwa".

"I really didn't know there were so many Yi people before," Mai Xiaomiao said curiously.

On the main street of Meigu County, the car moved slowly forward, surrounded by a bustling crowd, with people outside curiously looking into the car.

"It seems even more lively than the Torch Festival, huh?" Zhou Zhi said. "The main reason is that we went directly to the beauty pageant on the day of the Torch Festival, so we didn't know how lively it was in the county town before."

"Shall we get off the bus and buy some gifts? We didn't have time to bring any back from this trip."

Zhou Zhi glanced at the crowded scene outside the car and said, "Forget it, it's too crowded. Let's get back to Lianhe Township as soon as possible. It's just once in a while that we didn't bring a gift, so no one will mind."

“Well, at worst we can turn back and bring the villagers into town to shop,” Mai Xiaomiao said. “Discussing with Uncle Tu what kind of welfare we should buy for the festival is what the villagers need most.”

"Xiao Miao, you've made great progress," Zhou Zhi said with a smile. "You're starting to show some awareness of being a cadre sent down to the grassroots level."

After walking for a while, Zhou Zhi suddenly remembered something: "Oh no, Xiao Miao, we have to stay in Meigu tonight."

"Why?" Mai Xiaomiao didn't understand.

"Because new cadres have come to Lianhe Township, we can't arrive at night, otherwise we'll get terribly drunk."

"Huh?" Mai Xiaomiao realized that such a situation could indeed occur: "Then aren't you afraid of staying overnight?"

"We can stay one night and arrive tomorrow at noon. We can then make an excuse that we have to discuss work in the afternoon and avoid a meal."

“But you can’t avoid that dinner tonight either,” Mai Xiaomiao said.

"Half a day should be enough to explain things clearly, and I can rest assured even if I'm drunk."

"Okay then." Mai Xiaomiao had no sense of responsibility to save her boyfriend from his predicament. "If he gets drunk, I'll take care of you."

What does that mean? You want me to get drunk without worry? Zhou Zhi was once again stunned by Mai Xiaomiao's naivety.

Meigu County is still very poor, and so are its guesthouses.

The guard vehicle from Zhouzhi has come several times already, and the staff here recognize the vehicle. They know that the owner is often personally arranged by the secretary of the county party committee or county government. Even without a letter of introduction, check-in is very easy, and as always, the best suite is arranged for them.

However, the conditions were what they were, and even the best arrangements weren't much better. The entire guesthouse was a wooden building with two floors, but the floorboards were very thick, so walking on them didn't make a lot of "thumping" noises. However, there were no toilets or washrooms in the rooms, and the light switches were still pull cords.

Fortunately, the hygiene was good, and there was a canteen inside the guesthouse. It wasn't crowded, so Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao could eat quietly.

After dinner, the two borrowed a small table and chairs from the waiter, lay down in the courtyard, smelled the fragrance of osmanthus, and looked at the moon in the sky.

“The moon is still the most beautiful here,” Mai Xiaomiao said. It was already late autumn, and the weather was quite chilly: “In Shanghai, you still have to wear short sleeves and skirts, but here you have to wear a thick coat.” (End of Chapter)