A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

The night before departing for Tacheng, Ding Xuemin locked herself in the prefab house and read the emergency plan that Zhou Mingyu had given her more than a dozen times.

Each time I looked at it, I added a few notes in the blank space next to it: how long should the crab seedlings be fasted before loading them onto the truck, how many degrees the temperature difference should not exceed when adding water during the journey, and where the nearest help point is if the truck breaks down...

It wasn't that he didn't trust Tian Shun Logistics, which Zhou Mingyu had contacted; he simply couldn't believe anything that should be alright.

The lesson learned last time was too profound.

As he had predicted, the trip to Tacheng was indeed a tough battle.

Old Chen from that base had an eccentric temper, but his standards for quality were even stricter than Ding Xuemin's.

The two would squat by the seedling pond for most of the day, arguing for half an hour over minor details such as a crab seedling's slightly darker body color or insufficiently dense bristles on its swimming legs.

"Section Chief Ding, you have a really sharp eye."

These seedlings are highly sought after by everyone else!

Old Chen sometimes gets so angry that he glares at you.

Ding Xuemin didn't say anything, but silently picked out the "defective product" and threw it into the basket next to her.

The basket was already piled high with discarded seedlings.

"I'm not buying seedlings that everyone's scrambling to get; I'm buying seedlings that can survive all the way to Shihezi and take root and grow big there."

Even the slightest imperfection will not do.

Old Chen finally sighed and waved his hand, "Fine, fine, we'll do it your way! I give up!"

On the day of loading, Ding Xuemin practically lay by the sink, watching the workers pack each box by hand.

He personally tested the temperature control and oxygen supply systems of the water transport vehicle three times, until the driver became a little impatient.

"Master, you must be tired from the journey."

As we agreed, the data should be reported every two hours.

"The lives of the crab seedlings, and the hopes of this group, are all in your hands."

On the way back, Ding Xuemin drove ahead to lead the way, glancing at the white transport truck in the rearview mirror from time to time.

Every two hours, the driver's information was sent to his phone on time: "Water temperature 8.5℃, dissolved oxygen 7.2mg/L, crab larvae are in stable condition."

Meanwhile, the reservoir area was also busy.

Ding Xuemin hadn't even returned yet, but instructions had already been sent to the project team one by one.

"Xiao Zhang, the aerator must be on from 12 PM to 3 PM, not a second can be wasted!"

"Old Li, prepare the water in the transition pool in advance. Set the salinity and temperature according to the table I gave you, and measure it every hour."

Double-check the dilution ratio of the disinfectant, and thoroughly clean and disinfect all containers!

Talking isn't enough.

The day before the crab seedling truck arrived, Ding Xuemin rushed back to the reservoir, and without even taking a sip of water, he gathered everyone by the water.

"exercise!"

"An exercise? The seedlings haven't arrived yet?"

Some people don't understand.

"They only have to act because the seedlings haven't arrived yet!"

Ding Xuemin raised her voice: "Everyone, pay attention! Assuming the transport truck arrives in five minutes, where should you stand? What should you be doing?"

"Xiao Zhang, your oxygenation equipment is here."

As soon as the vehicle arrived, we immediately connected the hose and tested the oxygen level.

"Old Li, you're in charge of the transition pool."

Now let's simulate the water temperature measurement and adjustment.

"The disinfection area is here. Now, recite the operating procedures and emergency dosage!"

There were no crab seedlings, only a group of nervous people and a bunch of equipment.

But Ding Xuemin demanded that every action be performed correctly and every command be clear.

They went through the process three times, until everyone knew exactly where to go and what to do with their eyes closed.

Some of the younger team members muttered among themselves, "Section Chief Ding is being way too nervous..."

Zhou Mingyu happened to overhear these words while passing by.

He happened to be at the reservoir today to check on the progress of the windbreak and sand-fixing forest project. He saw the drill being conducted from afar and stopped to watch.

Hearing the team members muttering, he walked over and said, "This isn't just excessive tension."

This is a war simulation exercise before a battle.

Sweating more will reduce bleeding.

Your Section Chief Ding is using a clumsy method to try and ensure absolute certainty.

The young man blushed and dared not speak again.

The real test came on the afternoon of the second day.

In the distance, a brand-new white professional water transport vehicle drove smoothly along the Gobi Desert highway, its body gleaming in the sunlight.

The car came to a steady stop on the cleared ground beside the reservoir.

Everyone, including some herders who had come to see what was going on, focused their attention on the carriage door.

Ding Xuemin stepped forward, his voice steady: "Everyone to your positions."

No unnecessary words. The process, which had been rehearsed countless times, started instantly.

Xiao Zhang and his team quickly connected the auxiliary oxygen supply pipe, Lao Li directed the measurement of the transition pool water temperature, and Ayiguli had already prepared the first batch of disinfectant. Everything was quiet, swift, and orderly.

Zhou Mingyu also arrived, but he didn't approach. He simply stood on a nearby earthen slope and watched silently.

He saw Ding Xuemin personally open the carriage door to check the condition of the crab seedlings; he saw him and the technicians gently placing bags of crab seedlings into the transition pool to "acclimate" as if they were fragile treasures; he saw them strictly time the process and carry out disinfection baths.

Bags of crab seedlings, having undergone a long journey and rigorous processing, were opened, and clear reservoir water rushed in. The tiny, vibrant creatures slid slowly into the vast reservoir with the current.

Ding Xuemin stood still, gazing in the direction where the crab seedlings had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

He took two steps forward, his gaze fixed on the shimmering water, his voice low but clear enough to reach everyone's ears:

"The seedlings have gone down."

But that's not success; at best, it's just... getting a ticket to the game.

From this moment on, we are all bound together with these little creatures.

Whether the water is good or not, whether the feeding is effective or not, whether the heavens are on our side... every day is a hurdle.

He raised his hand, pointing to the vast expanse of water that had swallowed all the crab larvae:

"Their survival is the foundation of our project. If something were to happen to them..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his resolute determination, like burning one's boats, sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"So, don't be too quick to be happy."

He spoke almost deliberately, as if addressing everyone, but also as if speaking to himself, saying, "The real battle is just beginning. We cannot afford to make a single mistake."