A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

The mutual aid society's first formal activity was an advanced mathematics tutoring class.

Reheman made more than a dozen copies of his freshman year notes and would lecture on them for three hours at a time in an empty classroom on weekends.

"Senior, you explain it even more clearly than our teacher!"

The boy with glasses said excitedly after class.

Reheman wiped the whiteboard, "Because I know where you might not understand, I've been there too."

The second activity was making hometown dishes.

Reheman rented a guesthouse with a kitchen and taught everyone how to make pilaf and mixed noodles.

Although it wasn't made to be authentic, several girls teared up when the aroma wafted out.

"It tastes like my mom's cooking..." Gulnazar whispered.

Reheman's nose also felt a little sore: "When I miss home in the future, I'll come here to cook and eat. This is our home in Dalian."

The third activity was the Chinese Corner.

Reheman invited Chen Hao and several local students from Dalian to participate.

At first, the Xinjiang students were very reserved and hesitant to speak.

Chen Hao took the initiative to greet him in the Uyghur language he had just learned: "Yaksimses (Hello)!"

The atmosphere immediately relaxed.

"Your pronunciation is incorrect; it should be like this..."

Chen Hao said, "Then you teach me Uyghur, and I'll teach you Northeastern dialect. Let's switch."

By the end of the Chinese Corner, everyone had become very close.

Chen Hao said to Reheman, "This mutual aid association is really great. Can I join it too? I also want to learn Uyghur and understand Xinjiang culture."

Reheman smiled and said, "Of course you're welcome. We can learn from each other."

The influence of the mutual aid society gradually expanded.

Xinjiang students at various universities in Dalian learned about this organization, and more and more people joined.

Reheman is even busier now, as he has to balance his studies, organize activities, and answer all sorts of questions in the group chat.

"Senior, I've caught a cold, and the medicine from the school clinic isn't working. What should I do?"

"Reheman, I had a fight with my roommate, can I talk to you?"

"Senior brother, something happened at home, and I'm in a bad mood..."

Reheman is online almost 24 hours a day.

Sometimes he would still be replying to messages at two or three in the morning, comforting female students who missed home, and recommending hospitals to sick male students.

Her roommate couldn't stand it anymore: "Reheman, don't overwork yourself. You're a student, not a babysitter."

Reheman rubbed his red eyes: "I know, but they only have me to rely on here."

I almost couldn't make it back then, but a senior from Xinjiang helped me.

Now it's my turn to help others.

One late November night, Reheman had just finished his homework and was about to go to sleep when his phone rang.

It was Gulnazar calling, her voice trembling with tears: "Senior, my dad is in the hospital. I want to go home, but I can't buy a plane ticket, and I don't have enough money..."

Reheman immediately snapped out of it: "Don't worry, where are you now? I'll come find you."

Half an hour later, Reheman met Gulnazar, who was crying her eyes out, at the school gate.

He took her to a 24-hour convenience store, bought her a hot drink, and listened to her recount the situation in fits and starts.

Reheman opened his phone, "I'll check flight tickets for you now, as for the money..."

Our mutual aid association can initiate fundraising.

If everyone contributes a little, it should be enough.

"How can this be..." Gulnazar shook her head.

"Why not?"

Reheman looked at her earnestly, "Didn't we agree? Here, we are family."

"Of course I should help my family when they're in trouble."

Reheman posted a statement in the "Xinjiang Students in Dalian" group.

In less than two hours, I received more than 30 transfers, some for 50, some for 100, and some for 200.

Even Chen Hao transferred 500 yuan: "A small token of my appreciation, wishing you a speedy recovery, Uncle."

As Gulnazar looked at the payment notifications popping up on her phone screen, tears welled up in her eyes again. "Thank you... thank you everyone..."

"Look, this is the power of mutual aid societies."

Reheman booked her plane ticket, saying, "Go home and take good care of your father. We'll talk about your studies when you get back."

After seeing Gulnazar off, Reheman walked back to her dormitory. Although she was tired, she felt at ease.

He recalled the "Liaoning-Xinjiang Cultural Co-construction" activity he participated in during high school, and he thought of Abudu, Chen Hao, and others.

That spirit of mutual help and understanding between people from different places continues in his mutual aid society.

Before the winter break, the mutual aid association organized a large dinner party.

More than fifty people came and rented a banquet hall in a restaurant.

Everyone brought local specialties from their hometowns: raisins, walnuts, dates, and some even sent dried meat from home.

Reheman stood in front, looking at the group of familiar yet unfamiliar faces.

Three months ago, they were confused freshmen; now, although they are still a bit green, there is already a light in their eyes.

Reheman said, "This semester is almost over, and I want to ask everyone how they are feeling right now?"

Are you still homesick? Are you keeping up with your studies?

A boy stood up: "Senior, I got 85 on my advanced math exam! All thanks to your tutoring!"

One girl said, "I dare to speak in class now. Although I'm still nervous, it's much better than when I first came."

Gulnazar is back. She stood up and bowed deeply: "Thank you everyone for helping me during my most difficult time."

My father's surgery was successful and he has been discharged from the hospital.

Thank you to the mutual aid association; it has given me a family here.

Reheman continued, "I want to tell everyone that I plan to take the postgraduate entrance exam in the future, which may make me even busier. Therefore, we need more people to participate in the management of the mutual aid association."

I propose that each grade level select one person in charge, and each school select two liaisons.

We formalized this organization so that it could exist for a long time.

Everyone agrees.

A new leadership team was elected through a vote.

Reheman remains the overall person in charge, but he now has a team to share the workload.

After the dinner, Chen Hao approached Reheman and said, "Your mutual aid association is really great."

I was thinking, shouldn't we Dalian students also organize something to help out-of-town students who come to Dalian?

"That's a good idea. We can cooperate and support each other."

"Oh, right," Chen Hao remembered something, "Abudu might come to Dalian for an internship next year, so let him participate in your activities then."

"Very good!"

Reheman was very happy. "Abudu is my role model. He often helped his classmates when we were in high school."

The train carrying students home for the winter break is heading to distant places.

Reheman did not go home immediately; he stayed at school to organize the mutual aid association's materials and develop an activity plan for the next semester.

Late at night, he sent a message to Abudu: "I'm continuing the spirit of mutual help we had in high school."

Abudu quickly replied: "I'm proud of you. This spirit will continue to be passed on."