A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

Yang Zhitong quickly pressed the answer button, held the phone to his ear, and tried to make his voice sound steady: "Hello, wife."

"Where did you go? Why is there a signal on my phone?"

His wife's voice was filled with obvious anxiety, and a hint of weariness that she could hardly hide.

"We just encountered a sandstorm in the Gobi Desert, and our car got stuck. We haven't had any signal since."

Yang Zhitong gave a brief explanation, then quickly asked, "What happened? Did something happen at home?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by the wife's weak, tearful voice: "My follow-up test results weren't good."

Yang Zhitong's car shook.

"The doctor said... that I need to be hospitalized for further examinations, and surgery may be necessary."

The wife's voice was filled with helplessness, "I didn't want to tell you, afraid it would distract you on the way, but I just couldn't help it..."

Yang Zhitong instantly pictured his wife alone at the hospital, queuing, paying fees, and undergoing examinations.

His wife has always been in poor health and suffers from chronic illnesses, but he has been working in Xinjiang for many years, leaving her to shoulder all the responsibilities at home.

She always shared good news and never bad news, and even when she was feeling unwell, she never made him worry.

He hesitated for a long time before embarking on his second mission to Xinjiang. It was only after his wife smiled and told him not to worry and that she would take care of things at home that he was able to dispel his concerns.

But now, she is sick and needs someone to take care of her, but I am thousands of miles away and cannot even be by her side.

A strong sense of guilt and heartache welled up in Yang Zhitong's heart, and his throat choked up instantly, his eyes reddening as well.

He took a deep breath, forcing back his tears, and comforted her in as gentle a voice as possible, "Honey, don't be afraid, and don't worry. We'll do whatever the doctor says. Let's get the hospital admission paperwork done first, and I'll figure out the costs. As soon as I've finished things here, I'll come back to be with you."

His wife sighed softly, her voice filled with understanding, "I know you're busy, and the herders are waiting for you to come and take care of things. Don't worry too much about me, I can take care of myself. I just wanted to let you know so you're aware of the situation. Be careful on the road, and don't rush."

After hanging up the phone, Yang Zhitong remained silent for a long time, feeling as if something was blocking his heart.

He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, gently pressed the accelerator. He couldn't turn back, nor could he stop. He could only take care of the herdsmen's affairs first, and then go back to make up for what he owed his wife.

That afternoon, as the sun began to set, Yang Zhitong finally drove into the city of Urumqi.

Without even finding a place to rest or having a sip of hot water, he parked his car and, clutching the petition, hydrological data, and the project plan that had been revised countless times, plunged headlong into the building of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Department of Natural Resources.

As soon as he entered, he went straight to the service window.

"Comrade, I am Yang Zhitong, an aid worker from Qianquan Lake. I am looking for the leader in charge of project land approval. I have an emergency to report."

The clerk at the window looked up at him, and said somewhat awkwardly, "The manager isn't here. Do you have an appointment?"

"There was no appointment, but this is really urgent; it concerns the livelihoods of hundreds of herders!"

Yang Zhitong hurriedly explained, handing over the materials in his hand, "This is the herders' petition, and also the hydrological data of Qianquan Lake for more than ten years. We have revised the project plan and wanted to report it to the leaders in person."

The staff member hesitated for a moment, but still dialed the internal line.

After hanging up the phone, he pointed to the corridor next to him: "Go to the conference room on the third floor and wait. The leader will come to find you when he's done with his work."

Yang Zhitong thanked him repeatedly and hurried up to the third floor with the materials in his arms. But once he entered the conference room, he waited for almost an hour without seeing the leader.

He couldn't sit still any longer, so he got up and went to find the relevant departments, from the land use approval department to the ecological protection department. He went to each one and explained again and again.

"Section Chief Wang, this is the hydrological data of Qianquan Lake for more than ten years. Take a look. The lake water is the lifeblood of the herdsmen and must not be polluted."

He handed the hydrological data to a middle-aged cadre, saying, "Our plan has been revised. We have abandoned the original plan to occupy the irrigation canal and will build underground water pipelines instead. This will not only not affect the irrigation of herders, but we will also build high-standard environmental protection facilities to ensure zero discharge of industrial wastewater."

Section Chief Wang flipped through the materials. "We remember this project, but it involves ecological protection and the interests of herders, so it's not something that can be decided so easily."

"I know it's not easy, but the herders genuinely support the project; they just want to protect their livelihoods."

Yang Zhitong quickly added, pulling out the petition again, "Look, these are all the herders' fingerprints, which they voluntarily pressed. They don't oppose development; they just hope that development won't harm their interests."

He shuttled between departments, explaining the plan again and again, and demonstrating the revised plan time and time again. His voice became increasingly hoarse, and the cracks on his lips bled again from talking so much.

A staff member advised him, "Director Yang, why don't you go back and rest? We will submit the materials to the leadership and notify you when there is any news."

But Yang Zhitong shook his head. He knew in his heart that this matter could not be delayed. The herdsmen were still waiting for news, and his wife was still waiting for him in the hospital. He had no time to rest.

"Thank you, comrade. I'll wait here and report in person when the leader has time."

He sat on a bench in the corridor, holding the materials, not daring to stray too far, for fear of missing his superior.

When passing staff saw how tired he looked, some offered him a cup of hot water, while others urged him to eat something. He politely declined, simply pursing his chapped lips and continuing to wait.

As the sun began to set and it was nearing the end of the workday, a middle-aged man with glasses and a composed demeanor walked over, followed by Section Chief Wang.

"You must be Comrade Yang Zhitong?" the man asked.

Yang Zhitong immediately stood up, his spirits lifted, "It's me, leader! I am Yang Zhitong, the cadre from Qianquan Lake who is here to support Xinjiang."

"I am Li Guoqiang, and I am in charge of coordinating this project."

Li Guoqiang extended his hand and shook hands with him. "I've been in a project review meeting the whole time. Sorry to have kept you waiting."

Yang Zhitong quickly handed over his proposal, petition, and hydrological data, and reported again in a fast but clear manner: "Director Li, look, this is our revised proposal. The route of the underground water pipeline has avoided all pastures and irrigation canals, and the environmental protection facilities far exceed national standards. The herders support this proposal, and this is their petition..."

Li Guoqiang carefully reviewed the materials, pausing from time to time to ask a few questions, which Yang Zhitong answered in detail one by one.