The past month had been incredibly fulfilling.
When they arrived, they had come with bags in hand, and now, as they prepared to leave, they had even more. The luggage seemed to have doubled.
“Brother, make sure to come to our wedding!”
Song Jing nodded, then suddenly pulled Song Wei aside.
“We’ve found out where Uncle is.”
Song Wei immediately grew serious.
“He’s in the Northwest…”
Song Jing leaned in and whispered an address to her.
It turned out that discovering Uncle’s whereabouts was partly thanks to Song Wei.
At the banquet, Song Jing had encountered an old acquaintance of their uncle. Although neither had said much at the time, they had secretly exchanged contact information. It was through this acquaintance that they learned where their uncle was.
Song Wei sighed. That’s even farther away than I am.
The harsh environment of the Northwest also worried her. She couldn’t help but wonder what state her uncle was in now.
Taking a deep breath, she asked, “What should we do now?”
Neither of them could go to the Northwest anytime soon.
“I’ll think of something,” Song Jing said, pursing his lips.
Song Wei frowned. “I’ll think about it too. If possible, I’ll ask the brigade leader for a letter of introduction and make the trip.”
“Don’t take unnecessary risks,” Song Jing cautioned.
“I know,” Song Wei reassured him.
The truck was ready to leave.
Song Wei sat in the back, watching Song Jing wave to them from a distance until he was no longer in sight. Her nose stung with emotion.
However, the sadness of parting faded after a few hours.
Her thoughts turned once again to her uncle.
In her memories, her only uncle had been very kind to her. No matter what, she had to find a way to locate him.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Zhen asked, patting her on the head.
“I found out where my uncle is,” Song Wei replied, looking up at him. “Do you think I could still ask the brigade leader for a letter of introduction to visit the Northwest?”
“Your uncle’s in the Northwest?”
Lin Zhen knew some details about the Song family, as Song Wei had shared parts of her story with him. It had also come up during background checks on her.
He wasn’t aware, however, of where her uncle had been sent.
Her uncle’s situation was a result of malicious reporting by jealous individuals. Unfortunately, he had indeed spent some time abroad in his youth, which only added fuel to the accusations.
“Do you remember where I used to serve in the military? Do you have a specific location for your uncle?”
Song Wei’s eyes lit up as she repeated the address Song Jing had given her.
Lin Zhen smiled. “What a coincidence. I happen to know someone over there. When we get back, I’ll write to him and ask for help finding your uncle.”
Song Wei nodded eagerly. “Will it be too much trouble? Maybe we should send something as a thank-you.”
“Sure.”
During a rest stop in a nearby city, Lin Zhen took the opportunity to visit the local black market with his goods.
He was extremely cautious, wearing a fake beard that completely obscured his face.
If anyone tried to follow him, he could quickly lose them with practiced ease.
With limited time, Lin Zhen worked efficiently, selling his items and returning to the truck in no time. By the time anyone thought to look for him again, he was already on the road heading north.
Though tired, there was a spark of satisfaction in his eyes.
As the truck rolled onward, Lin Zhen dozed off to rest.
Seeing his exhaustion, Song Wei felt a pang of sympathy. Whenever they stopped in a town, she made a point to buy meat dishes or large steamed buns from the local state-run restaurants for him to eat.
When they passed through Hongjiawan, the truck driver was visibly tense, but luckily they didn’t encounter any bandits.
“I heard the gang at Hongjiawan picked the wrong target a month ago and got a real beating. A bunch of them got taken down, so they’ve been quiet since.”
“Those bastards had it coming. Glad someone finally dealt with them.”
Hearing the driver’s conversation, Song Wei and Lin Zhen exchanged amused glances and smiled.
Finally, they were back.
Song Wei felt a surprising rush of excitement.
It seemed she had truly come to see this place as her home.
The two of them, with their numerous bags, were quite a sight. Even the two wolf pups were carrying little bundles on their backs. Hei Dan walked with his head held high, exuding pride.
He’s a well-traveled pup now, far superior to the others.
“I’m so tired. It’s getting late; let’s head back for now,” Song Wei said, wrapped in a thick cotton coat that made her look rounder than usual.
The northern weather was noticeably colder, and she huddled into her coat for warmth.
Lin Zhen nodded. He still had plenty of goods—watches, radios, and pens—all valuable items.
Their small town likely couldn’t handle such high-value goods, so he’d have to take them to the city later. But that could wait.
“Are we really walking all the way back?” Song Wei teased.
Lin Zhen chuckled and led her to the agricultural station.
“Before we left, a comrade of mine told me that in about a month, our town would receive a second-hand tractor. I asked him to hold onto it for us. Let’s check it out.”
Song Wei gave him an impressed look. “Not bad, Mr. Planner. You’re really covering all the bases now.”
Lin Zhen replied, “I noticed how much the brigade members wanted a tractor, so I kept an eye on it.”
It was fortunate he had connections. Otherwise, securing the tractor would have been nearly impossible.
At the agricultural station, the tractor was still there.
“Brother Lin, you’re finally back! If you’d taken any longer, I wouldn’t have been able to hold out. So many brigades have been asking about this tractor every day.”
The young man with a buzz cut breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Lin Zhen.
“Thanks for your help,” Lin Zhen said, handing over a small item.
The young man’s eyes widened when he saw it. “This… this pen is really expensive!”
“Take it. Consider it a thank-you gift. I picked it up in the south, where goods are more plentiful and affordable.”
The young man didn’t hesitate, wiping his hands before accepting the pen with a grin. “Thanks, Brother Lin. My brother-in-law will love this!”
His brother-in-law, the agricultural station’s director, had been instrumental in securing the tractor.
Before leaving, Song Wei gave the young man some dried fish and candies, as well as a camera for Lin Zhen to take a photo.
The young man stood proudly in front of the tractor, straightening his clothes and flashing a bright, cheerful smile.
Lin Zhen drove the tractor home.
The trailer was a bit old and dusty, but they laid down a layer of hay and loaded their luggage. It had plenty of space, and Lin Zhen found it easy to drive, despite the bumpy ride.
Song Wei, holding the two fluffy wolf pups and Hei Dan, felt warm and cozy.
As the tractor chugged along, they finally returned to Ping’an Brigade.
Unlike previous winters, which were quiet and uneventful, the brigade was bustling with activity this year.
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