At the Hua’an Agricultural Reclamation Group, mid-afternoon, Song Jiayao came to the regimental headquarters. "Reporting."
From inside came a voice, "Come in." The rightful source is NoveIＦire.net
Qiao Shaoguo was busy dealing with documents from the higher-ups. Hearing someone enter, he didn’t even look up. "What’s the matter?"
Song Jiayao, her face etched with exhaustion and tension, said, "Reporting to the Regimental Commander! I... I have something to report to you."
Qiao Shaoguo looked up. He recognized this young woman; he had seen her before, and she seemed to be rather close with his nephew’s group of friends. "Report what?"
Song Jiayao gritted her teeth. "Regimental Commander, Qiao Wenyu and Zheng Xuewen took Wei Zijia into the mountains, and they haven’t come back yet."
When Qiao Shaoguo heard this, he shot to his feet. "What did you say?"
Song Jiayao was thoroughly frightened, stuttering, "They... they went into the mountains."
Qiao Shaoguo’s eyes blazed with fury. "Didn’t they request leave to go to the county seat?"
Song Jiayao shook her head hurriedly. "No, they gave their parcel slips and identification to Huang Yaohui, asking him to help collect their packages. They were craving wild game and went into the mountains together."
Qiao Shaoguo was about to explode with anger at their outrageous audacity. "Why didn’t you report this sooner?" he fumed. "It’s already been a day and a night!"
The thought that they might have met with an accident in the mountains made Song Jiayao burst into tears. "They told me not to say anything. I waited all last night, and I was so scared that I finally had to come over."
Qiao Shaoguo had no time for anything else. He quickly grabbed his coat, which was draped over a chair, and headed outside, shouting as he walked, "Xiaoli, gather the men! We’re going up the mountain to find them!"
Although Xiaoli was a bit puzzled, he acted quickly and made a phone call. "Captain Song, the Regimental Commander says to assemble the men and go up the mountain to search for people."
After hanging up, he hurried out after his Regimental Commander.
When everyone learned that some people in the group had feigned compliance but secretly gone into the mountains under the guise of taking leave, they were all furious. There were wild beasts in those mountains; it was as if they were courting death!
The most infuriating part was that they had entered the mountains yesterday, and the person who knew only came forward to report it now.
With the sun already slanting west, and considering those individuals had been in the mountains for a whole day and night, everyone’s expression was grim. Honestly, most of them didn’t hold out much hope.
They knew all too well what spending such a long time in the mountains implied.
Right now, Qiao Shaoguo was truly angry, anxious, and worried. If something had really happened, he didn’t dare imagine what he would have to face. He couldn’t begin to think about explaining this to the Zheng Family back home and in the compound, nor could he dwell on the troubles that the Hua’an Farm Reclamation and he himself might face. Most importantly, three young lives were at stake.
He pushed all other thoughts aside, desperately hoping they would be fortunate and emerge safely.
No sooner had they departed than the Hua’an Farm Reclamation was in an uproar.
Yunyi had yet to send the mountain provisions to Beijing when he received a letter and a package from there.
When the postman arrived, everyone sitting at the village entrance and under the large Willow Tree where work was assigned saw him.
The postman was seen first visiting the brigade headquarters. Then, guided by the Branch Secretary, he arrived at the clinic. "Chu Zhiqing," the postman announced, "you have a letter and a package for you!"
Hearing the announcement and the voice of the Brigade Leader, Yunyi came out.
He saw the Branch Secretary accompanied by the postman, a middle-aged man pushing a dark green postal cart. The postman looked at Yunyi. "Are you Chuyunyi?"
Yunyi nodded. "Yes, I am Chuyunyi."
The man took a few letters and a small package from the bag on the back of his bicycle, then retrieved a booklet from the basket on the front. "Please check these and sign here."
Yunyi did as instructed, checked the items, and then signed. "Thank you."