Collect more firewood on sunny days, and don't wet your shoes on rainy days.

- Tujia proverb

There are various graduation assignment plans circulating in the class. The news about Niu Mulin is that he stayed at the university: first, he worked in the organization department of the university, and second, he stayed in the moral education teaching and research department of the Department of Chinese to teach.

In this regard, Niu Mulin scoffed: first, there was no head teacher to talk to him, and second, these two jobs were not what he liked. He didn't like the institutions that followed the rules and rigid dogmas, and he didn't like to teach his students about morality. He still wants to be a journalist.

One day, Niu Mulin heard that the Northwest Reporter Station of the China News Service was going to select a reporter among the graduates of the Chinese Department, so he immediately asked his roommate Ji Sifeng to go to the expert building of Lanzhou University, where the stationmaster of the reporter station lived.

The expert building is tucked away in a green grove to the east of the new liberal arts building. Niu Mulin didn't know that there was such a 2-story building on campus. They searched along the orange tiled corridor and found the pale yellow specialist building at the end of the corridor.

He was shocked by the situation: several of the students in the class were already there, standing in the courtyard and talking enthusiastically with the stationmaster.

Niu Mulin asked the stationmaster about the conditions and requirements for recruiting reporters.

The stationmaster is a middle-aged man in his 40s, wearing a pair of black-framed short-sighted glasses, with a kind expression and gentle speech, but he has a strong sense of authority. After briefly introducing the situation of the reporter's station, he asked, "What is your name, this classmate?" ”

Niu Mulin replied, "My name is Niu Mulin. ”

The stationmaster immediately said, "Oh, I have an impression of you. I've seen your file. Your academic performance is very good, and you are also a member of the party, which meets our conditions. The only thing that is not suitable is...... You are Hui. There will be some problems with this. Because when you are a journalist, you have to travel and cover various places. It is very inconvenient for the Hui people to eat, which is a big problem. So ......"

Niu Mulin and Ji Sifeng left the pale yellow expert building in frustration and silently walked along the orange corridor towards the new liberal arts building.

"Niu Mulin, what are you thinking?"

Niu Mulin raised his head when he heard the sound, and saw Xie Dianbo, the secretary of the student party branch and a graduate student who was about to graduate, standing in front of him and greeting him.

Niu Mulin replied: "I'm thinking about where to work after graduation." ”

Xie Dianbo asked, "What kind of work do you want to do yourself?" ”

Niu Mulin replied: "News and propaganda." ”

Xie Dianbo said: "I also think you are suitable for journalism and propaganda. Your personality is not suitable for working in party and government organs. Well, I have a friend named Li Na who works at a TV station in Xinjiang. I wrote her a letter of recommendation. You can go straight to her when you get back. ”

"Really?" Niu Mulin was so happy that he almost jumped.

The reason why Xie Dianbo was so enthusiastic to help Niu Mulin was because Niu Mulin's actions not long ago left a deep impact on Xie Dianbo.

Xie Dianbo's master's thesis defense needs to invite university professors from other places. It may have been a problem in communication and coordination, which led to discord and conflict between Xie Dianbo's thesis supervisor and a leader of the Chinese department.

Seeing that the time for thesis defense is approaching, the matter has not been properly resolved. The young and vigorous Xie Dianbo couldn't wait, and immediately went to the office to find the head of the department to reason.

The head of the department happened to be out on an errand, not to mention that he didn't feel the need to debate with a student. So, he didn't say a word to Xie Dianbo, picked up his leather bag, and raised his feet to go out.

Xie Dianbo's emotions were quite excited for a while, so he immediately rushed over and blocked the door with his body, intending to continue to ask the department leader for a clear result.

The department leader saw that a student actually dared to stop him, and pushed Xie Dianbo hard.

Xie Dianbo rushed over again, pushing the department leader into the door, still using his body to block the door. In this way, the two people pushed each other, and as a result, the two buttons on the leader's shirt were torn off during the tearing.

The other professors saw that the situation was not good, and hurriedly ran over and pulled them away.

Soon, the conflict between teachers and students turned into a huge storm of students beating up teachers, and the level of concern rose to the national education department, which was characterized by the relevant departments as a national worst incident second only to the killing of a teacher by Feng Daxing, a college student at a certain school.

The higher-level department set up a special investigation team and made a special trip from Beijing to Lanzhou to investigate and deal with the case.

What's right and who's wrong? On one side is the head of the department who decides his future fate, and on the other side is the graduate student who is about to be expelled.

Niu Mulin chose the latter without hesitation. He firmly believed that Xie Dianbo was usually upright, adhered to principles, and was civilized and polite. Only pushing and shoving can occur between him and the department leader. He would never beat up the head of his department.

Niu Mulin did not suffer for his own future, but united with several student party members to jointly write a document to express his grievances on behalf of Xie Dianbo and call for a fair treatment, and handed it to the special investigation team sent by his superiors.

Xie Dianbo, who was in trouble and embattled, was deeply moved by the bold actions of Niu Mulin and others. He decided to help the student who was brave enough to fight for himself.

Niu Mulin took the letter of recommendation written by Xie Dianbo to Li Na, and immediately went to the head teacher, asking him to fight for a place in Xinjiang. He has already made up his mind to return to Xinjiang and become a TV news reporter who travels all over the world.

The head teacher was very supportive of Niu Mulin's idea, and soon contacted the school's student department and won a place to work in Xinjiang.

Although disasters do not go alone, good things can also come in pairs.

At this time, Niu Mulin got two more job opportunities. One was a face-to-face invitation from the staff of Xinjiang Daily, and the other was a welcome letter from the Personnel Bureau of the Xinjiang Construction Corps.

Niu Mulin thought about it for a while and decided to work at the TV station. Because the most influential and popular media in society at the moment is television. I must stand at the forefront of the times and engage in the most dazzling great cause.

On the eve of graduation, the school specially arranged a dinner party for 9 Hui students among the more than 1,000 graduates. Ma Zhijie, who is of Hui nationality, saw off the nine ethnic minority graduates on behalf of the school leaders.

The Dean of Student Affairs is a man of both intelligence and enthusiasm. At that time, he organized and led the ethnic minority students of the whole school to Tulugou for a spring outing. His lover, Mr. Gao, is the administrator of the Chinese Department's reference room. Through his wife, he met Niu Mulin, who was excellent in character and learning, very early.

Soon after the dinner began, Director An walked up to Niu Mulin and whispered to him, "Director Ma is very unhappy about your graduation choice. If you go over and give him a glass of wine, he will be happy. ”

Niu Mulin hesitated, picked up a glass of wine, came to Ma Zhijie's side, and said apologetically: "Director Ma, I will toast you a glass of wine and thank you for your care for me." ”

A smile instantly appeared on Ma Zhijie's dark face.

He stood up, drank all the wine in the cup, and then called Niu Mulin to the side and whispered, "If you want to go back to Xinjiang, go back." Two places in Xinjiang have now been contacted. One is the Autonomous Region Science and Technology Bureau, and the other is the Urumqi Municipal Personnel Bureau. Both of these places will be re-allocated after going back. I suggest you choose the Urumqi Municipal Personnel Bureau. This will at least ensure that you stay in the provincial capital. ”

Niu Mulin listened to Ma Zhijie's advice, nodded seriously, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Director Ma looks like a black-faced man, but he didn't expect that his heart is quite good. It's a pity that I don't usually understand the world, and I have never asked him for advice, and unlike some classmates, I also send some hometown souvenirs to teachers and leaders.

Niu Mulin said with concern: "Ji Sifeng of our class is willing to go to Linxia to work. The only condition is to be able to solve his girlfriend's job. ”

Ma Zhijie replied: "Don't worry, I will arrange it." ”

Niu Mulin asked with concern, "How is Xie Dianbo's matter?" ”

Ma Zhijie's face quickly darkened. He glanced at the others who were toasting, and replied worriedly, "The result won't be bad, but I'm afraid it won't be too good." Graduate students can only be regarded as dropping out of school, and they must also accept party discipline and administrative sanctions. The main thing is to spread the matter. If you don't make an example, the teachers of colleges and universities across the country will resolutely not agree. ”

Niu Mulin sighed gloomily and didn't say anything more.

The classmates who have been getting along for 4 years are about to separate, go to all corners of the country, and prepare to make great progress; Jincheng Lanzhou, which has been getting along day and night for 4 years, has never been as beautiful in the eyes of Niu Mulin and his classmates as it is today. They took photos in groups on campus, in Dongfanghong Square, and in Yantan Park, and also left bursts of joyful singing and laughter.

When bidding farewell to Lanzhou University, Niu Mulin published a lyrical essay "Golden Altay" with gorgeous language and full of passion in the monthly magazine "Prose" of Tianjin Baihuan Literature and Art Publishing House.

This article is not only an answer sheet for Niu Mulin's 4 years of university study, but also a precious farewell gift from him to Lanzhou University.

Niu Mulin and Luan Xinjiang each received 45 yuan of severance pay from the school. For the first time, they had so much money in their hands. They decided to live a luxurious life, bought a train sleeper ticket with all their severance pay, and slept for the first time in the sleeper they had been dreaming about for 4 years.

Compared to riding on hard seats and sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a sleeper is simply an endless blessing in paradise.

The train crossed the steep Wusheling Mountains and sped along the long Hexi Corridor.

Niu Mulin opened the monthly magazine "Prose", and while greedily smelling the fragrance of ink emanating from the paper, he read his article excitedly.

"Golden Altay"

I love the majestic and majestic Mount Tai, I look forward to the beautiful mountains and rivers, the vast smoke and waves of Taihu Lake, and I also yearn for the Jianghan Plain where rice flowers are fragrant and cotton is like clouds. They are rich, they are beautiful, and they enjoy the nickname "Paradise on Earth". However, what I love and miss the most is you - golden Altay, my hometown!

When Xinjiang is mentioned, many people think of the sky is vast, the wilderness is vast, and the Gobi Desert is a desolate scene. For many years, people have been holding this prejudice, repeating the ancient topics of "the spring breeze does not pass the Yumen Pass" and "there is no reason for the west out of Yangguan".

Today, I'm going to take them to see you and see our Altay.

Beautiful Altay, you are like a bright pearl, inlaid in the northwestern part of the motherland. The Altai Mountains are like an armored warrior guarding you against the rolling cold of Siberia; The clear and bright Irtysh River is like a colorful ribbon, lingering on your chest, rippling with sweet dreams.

Altay, a beautiful and rich place, you are so beautiful, the mountains are so beautiful, the water is so beautiful, the grasslands are so beautiful, and the people are so beautiful.

Although people gave gorgeous words to Mount Tai and dedicated their enthusiasm to Yellow Mountain, you, the ancient and young mountain range affectionately called "Golden Mountain" by the Altay people, have a heart as wide as the sea, and stand solemnly on the land of the northwest.

From afar, you are beautiful and colorful, and countless peaks high in the sky seem to be Kazakh girls dancing; Up close, your cohesive mountain looks like a colorful dragon and a herd of galloping horses.

Your huge body contains minerals such as coal, mica, gold, copper, and non-ferrous metals, which are not only large in storage, but also of high quality. The gold mined here accounts for almost half of the total production of Xinjiang every year. Because your gold is famous for its high quality and color, it has not only won the reputation of "Golden Mountain" (Altai: Mongolian means golden mountain), but also put on a golden laurel crown for the entire Altay region.

The Altai Mountains, your primeval forests are lush and boundless. The mountains are crowded with tall and burly white pines, red pines, and spruce. The valley is surrounded by vibrant red willows. The mountains are splashing with green, and the valleys are rolling with green waves. Green reigns supreme and is full of the scent of spring. A fragrant mountain breeze blew, and thunderous pine waves rattled. Nature is so beautiful, so mysterious, so rich. Seeing the green sea of forests, our hearts are green. We don't have to pick a few bunches of sweet and sour wild strawberries or a handful of tempting pine seeds, let alone hunt a few hares or a basket of delicious mushrooms, because we are really drunk.

In the Altai Mountains, if you go down a small stream, you will go out of the mountains and into a wide plain, and the stream will also turn from a small river into a mighty river. If you cast a net, you can catch a lot of carp, pike, white fish, black fish, catfish, and five black fish.

You know? This is the Irtysh, the only river in our country that flows into the Arctic Ocean. The Kazakhs say that the Ehe River is a golden necklace on your land, the patron saint of the Kazakhs. The two banks of the Ehe River are sometimes the primeval forests of the warblers singing and dancing, sometimes the grassland pastures with herds of cattle and sheep, and sometimes the endless farms, which are surprisingly beautiful and moving. The Ehe River clings to the embrace of Mother Earth, watering the pastures on both sides with milky water, fattening the shepherds' cattle and sheep, irrigating thousands of acres of fertile land, and bringing joy to thousands of households. The Ganges River is the holy river of the Indian people, the Nile River is a beautiful symbol of Egypt, and the Irtysh River is the pride and happiness of the Altay people.

The land of Altay is dotted with beautiful and vast grasslands. On the grassland, horses galloped by, like red, black, and white lightning; The cows lowered their heads and ate the grass peacefully, quietly listened to the bees playing the piano and singing, and sometimes couldn't help but "moo" for a long time, and the sound spread far and wide, and the grassland became even more wide; The snow-white sheep move slowly by the lake, like a large field of white peonies in full bloom. If you want to know how many sheep are on the grassland, please listen to the song "How many stars are there in the Tianshan Mountains, how many sheep are there in our hometown", there is no more accurate and perfect answer.

Once, I met an old man shepherding sheep on the grassland. He was nearly seventy years old, with a snow-white beard and a brass-colored face, standing like an iron tower on the grassland. I was curious to ask him why he was still herding sheep at such an old age. While combing his white beard with his hands, he burst into laughter: "Little Balangzi (Kazakh, child), am I old?" If a jackal is not honest, then let it taste the power of my old man Hasmu! He triumphantly slapped the shotgun on his back, flicked the whip loudly, and drove the flock on. He seemed to be riding a white cloud, swimming in the green sky.

Altay, your mountains, waters, and grasslands are beautiful, and the hundreds of thousands of people of all nationalities who develop and build you are even more beautiful. Some of them are Kazakh, Mongolian, and Uygur people who have lived here for generations, and some are young intellectuals, demobilized soldiers, and people who have come to Xinjiang voluntarily.

Over the past 30 years, everything has changed in their hands: the weedy river beach has become a high-yield wheat field, the quicksand Gobi has become a rich grassland, a forest of factories and mines have been built at the foot of barren mountains, and towering aspen has grown in the inaccessible wilderness; The asphalt highway connects the city of Altay with the Haba River, Burqin, Fuhai and other places. There is no need to worry about the long journey, it only takes more than an hour for Yinyan to fly to Urumqi, the capital of the autonomous region.

Seeing all this, who is not moved by the heroes who built the frontier?

Altay, you have opened your selfless mind, not only to bring out gold and wood, but also to contribute a generation of famous Chinese people. You are the golden nest of the phoenix, with a large number of talents and talents.

Ah, beautiful Altay, golden Altay, I praise you deeply!