Fang Ye continued, "After completing her advanced studies, Xu Xiujuan went to work at the Yancheng National Nature Reserve.
Getting ready to head to the red-crowned cranes' migratory wintering ground, the still-under-construction Yancheng National Nature Reserve, Xu Xiujuan didn't bring much with her, just three red-crowned crane eggs to start her journey.
For her, these were gifts for the Yancheng Reserve, and the three crane eggs were as dear to her as three little cranes.
Throughout the five-thousand-mile journey, Xu Xiujuan cared for the three crane eggs with a synthetic leather bag, a hot water bottle, half a jin of skimmed cotton, and a thermometer.
It's quite difficult to artificially hatch red-crowned crane eggs; even a slight temperature change could result in failure.
When there was no hot water on the train, she would tuck the crane eggs inside her clothes, warming them with her body heat.