A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

A boy sitting in the front row timidly raised his hand: "Brother Reheman, math... is too hard."

Reheman laughed: "I was bad at math at first too."

Later, Teacher Chang Peng taught me to learn math using our family's cotton field.

How many cotton plants are there per acre? How many bolls does each plant produce? How many grams does each boll weigh?... Once you start calculating, math doesn't seem so difficult anymore.

He then looked at a girl with braids: "Do you find English particularly difficult?"

The girl nodded vigorously.

"My English teacher taught me to learn English using our cotton. 'cotton' means cotton, 'plant' means to grow, and 'harvest' means to harvest..."

These are all things we're very familiar with. Connecting English to daily life will make it less daunting.

Whispers gradually filled the classroom.

"Before I leave, I want to say three things to you."

Reheman raised his voice, "First, don't be afraid of starting from a low point; the only thing to be afraid of is not moving forward."

Second, knowledge is not about leaving home, but about returning to a better place. Third…

He turned around and forcefully wrote four large characters on the blackboard: "We can do it."

After the sharing session, a thin boy tugged at Reheman's sleeve: "Brother, I...I also want to go to university. But..."

My dad said we don't have any money at home.

Reheman squatted down and looked the boy in the eye: "My family doesn't have any money either."

But there are grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities. As long as you pass the exam, there's always a way.

He took out his phone and wrote down the boy's name: "I'll send you study materials when I get to university."

Let's keep in touch, okay?

That afternoon, Reheman went to the school's studio.

Abudu was sorting through a batch of new orders when he looked up, saw him, and smiled: "I heard you became a teacher today?"

"I just chatted with the children."

Reheman scratched his head. "Brother Abudu, I...I'm a little panicked."

"What's the panic?"

"Dalian is so far away, and there are so many people at the university, I..."

Rehman lowered his voice, "I'm afraid of bringing shame to our Xinjiang children."

Abudu put down what he was doing, pulled over two chairs, and said, "Come, sit down and let's talk."

"Do you know what I was most afraid of when I first started in the cultural and creative industry?"

Abudu asked, "I'm afraid city people will laugh at me, saying that your Xinjiang specialties don't deserve to be called design?"

Reheman looked up at him.

"But Teacher Gu told me that our things have our own warmth and our own stories."

This is something no one else has.

Abudu said, "It'll be the same if you go to university."

You have experience in cotton fields, practical experience in helping farmers, and a history of striving to go from being at the bottom of the class to a key university.

These are your most precious assets.

Reheman seemed to be deep in thought.

"Don't think about not being ashamed, think about making a name for yourself. Let the students from the mainland see that our children from Xinjiang can not only sing and dance, but also study and pursue knowledge."

Just then, Teacher Guzalinur pushed open the door and came in. She was carrying a thick notebook.

"You've come at the perfect time."

Teacher Gu handed the notebook to Reheman, "These are teaching cases I've compiled over the past few years, especially the application of the cultural heritage + skills practice model."

"Take it to the university; it might provide some materials for your school's rural revitalization research."

Reheman opened his notebook, which was filled with photos, student assignments, project records... all of which were the most authentic materials from the front lines of rural vocational education.

"Teacher, this is so precious..."

"So you should use it well."

Teacher Gu looked at him earnestly and said, "Reheman, you are someone who came from this land."

Remember, going out isn't about leaving forever, it's about returning with greater strength.

Reheman nodded vigorously: "I understand."

"Also," Teacher Gu took out a document from her bag, "this is a draft cooperation agreement between the school and an e-commerce company in Liaoning."

They want to develop an online section for Xinjiang agricultural products and need talent who understand both agriculture and e-commerce.

Teacher Gu said, "I mentioned you to the other party."

They were very interested.

If you can do well in e-commerce and logistics courses in university, you can participate in this project during your vacations, and perhaps collaborate directly after graduation.

Abudu interjected: "Our studio also plans to expand online sales."

Reheman, you can help us research the mainland market and understand consumer preferences while you're at university.

This is how we use e-commerce to sell our hometown's cotton and cultural and creative products nationwide.

That evening, he returned to the village and made a special trip to the old headmaster's house.

"Principal, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Reheman said, "After I went to university, I sent a batch of books and materials to the school every month."

Could you organize a reading corner so that children have more extracurricular books to read?

The old headmaster's hand holding the pipe trembled again: "Good boy, good boy... the village didn't raise you in vain."

"Also, I'd like to pair up with and help a few children from particularly impoverished families who still want to go to school."

Reheman took out an envelope. "This is some money I saved from design work during the summer vacation. It's not much, but I'll use it to pay the tuition for the three children first."

"I'll increase it again when I get a scholarship in college."

The night before he left, Reheman's house was filled with people again.

Most of those who came this time were elders from the village.

"Reheman, study hard when you get there."

Eighty-year-old Grandpa Kurban, leaning on his cane, said, "In our village, spanning generations, you are the only one who has become a college student at a prestigious university."

You are our eyes; go and see what the outside world is like.

Reheman's father brought over milk tea and solemnly said, "Dear elders and fellow villagers."

My son is leaving tomorrow. Before he goes, he has something to say to everyone.

All eyes turned to Reheman.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt."

I'm going to school tomorrow, but I promise you I'll study hard—I'll learn e-commerce, I'll learn technology, and I'll learn how to sell our cotton further and better.

"When I come back from my vacation, I'll set up an online store for everyone and put our cotton, red dates, and walnuts up there to sell."

"After I graduate, I want to come back and use the knowledge I've gained to help our village and township find a new path."