"Have you thought about it?" Song Minghua asked seriously.

"Well, please trouble Sister Ming."

Song Minghua had no choice but to reselect the information. "Okay, I respect your opinion. When living in the forest area, you just need to be careful about animals, and you don't have to worry too much about people. Now that the community is gradually improving, no one will specifically commit crimes in the deserted forest." Song Minghua said as he took out a piece of paper.

"And don't worry, our forest area information is completely confidential. Apart from official personnel, the average person wouldn't know which forest areas have been patrolled. The cost of committing crimes is too high these days, so designated forest areas fall under key jurisdiction and are relatively safe. In recent years, aside from a few minor animal attacks we've heard of, we haven't heard of any other problems among the few scattered residents in the forest area."

Ningxia felt relieved. Isn't this what she wanted?

"I have a suitable place here. Let me tell you first. I'll show you the coordinates once you're sure." Song Minghua was very serious. Seeing Ningxia nodded seriously, he proceeded to the next step.

"It's a good spot, nestled between mountains and water. It's a three-day walk from the trading post at most. When the road opens in a while, you can buy a means of transportation and get there in less than a day. It's about twenty kilometers from the sentry post, and there are people on duty year-round, except in the scorching sun and freezing cold months. There are three patrols each year, and soldiers are stationed there for about a week. The forest area isn't as convenient as the city, so you can only come to the trading post these three times a year to exchange supplies. Before the road is opened, I don't think you'd be able to find a way out even if you wanted to."

"Is the terrain so complicated?"

"Well, the state government designed it specifically to reduce crime. If you go there eight or ten times, you'll be almost independent."

Ningxia was very happy. She liked places like this, but she didn't know whether the two children could accept it.

"Then how do we get in?"

"Don't worry. The people who chose the forest area were brought in by the coalition forces. And I see there are still quite a few intact old houses at the marked points. Judging from the description, they can be renovated and settled in without any problems."

Ningxia knew that the other party had put in a lot of effort to help them arrange accommodation, and her gratitude was overflowing with words. "Thank you, Sister Ming. Meeting you is truly our greatest luck on this journey."

Song Minghua smiled and said, "I'm not giving you any backdoors. The population of the urban area has gradually increased in the past two years, and it's inevitable that people will move into the forest area. In order to stabilize the people's hearts, the organization has improved the policy of dispersed settlement in the forest area as much as possible. If you live in the urban area, I can give you a map and that's it."

Ningxia blinked, and said jokingly, "Isn't it considered a backdoor if I've been given a place with a house?"

Song Minghua choked, "You girl!"

The place of residence was thus decided. Song Minghua suggested that Ningxia stay at the trading point for two more days to buy everything before leaving. By the way, the coalition forces stationed at the outpost of Lieyangyue were also about to set off, so it was a good opportunity to take them in. The next time they came out would be after Lieyangyue.

Ningxia thanked Sister Ming gratefully, and then took the two children back to the dormitory at the stop under the moonlight.

When she learned they were going to live in the forest area, Sangsang shook her little feet that were resting on her knees. "Brother, Sister Xia Xia is here. That's great. I don't like strangers."

Ningxia was thinking about other things and did not respond.

Lin Yi's worries grew even heavier. In the darkness, he managed to raise the corners of his lips and spoke to Sangsang, "Then you don't like Uncle Jun either?"

Sangsang was speechless. After a long pause, he stammered, "Uncle Jun is a good man, just like Xia Xia."

No one responded. That night, everyone had different thoughts.

The next day, at dawn, when Ningxia woke up, Lin Jun and the others were still packing their luggage. She went out to find Lin Jun and asked, "Brother Jun, are you leaving so early?"

"Yes, we should go early and come back early. The weather will be too hot in a while and the horses can't bear it." Lin Jun said as he took a small bag from the car he was riding in.

"You're up so I don't have to call you. There are still a lot of steamed buns left from yesterday. You don't have much food with two children, so this is not much, only about twenty. You can hold on for the next two days. The most important thing is to find a place to live."

Ningxia waved her hands repeatedly. She had already paid back the favor, so how could she ask for more? "Brother Jun, it's not necessary. It's not convenient for you to cook on the road. You can bring your own food. The accommodation is already taken care of. Just wait to follow the soldiers the day after tomorrow. It's very convenient!"

Lin Jun smiled and handed the bag to Ningxia regardless of her refusal. "Take it. You were still a child when you were my age. I really like those two little ones too. It's not easy for you to take care of them alone. Please help if you can. It's just a piece of cake for me. Don't be polite."

Ningxia had no choice but to take it, "Brother Jun, I really don't know how to thank you."

Lin Jun patted her shoulder and said, "Keep your kind heart. You're helping me." After saying that, he looked at the two children from the dormitory who came out hand in hand, looking dazed. He couldn't help but smile, "Not all children are as lucky as them."

Realizing this was a heavy topic, Lin Jun quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Ms. Song sent someone over yesterday after you came back. I didn't wake you up because you were all asleep. She asked you to go get a household registration certificate and said she had something to discuss with you. You still have two days before you leave, right? I've already told the people at the port to extend your room for two days. The money has already been paid. You can take them with you and go ahead and arrange your affairs."

Seeing Ningxia was about to thank him again, Lin Jun interrupted her with a smile, "Don't thank me. We have a government certificate, plus Ms. Song's guarantee. We only received a symbolic amount of food, which is not even worth the bag of steamed buns in your hand."

The three of them watched Lin Jun's convoy go away. Ningxia blessed him again and again in her heart. After this separation, they might never see each other again in this life. She hoped that Jun Ge would be safe and sound, and that Jun Ge's son would be alive and well, so they could be reunited soon.

Ningxia returned to the dormitory, pulled the kettle from the well, and used a small stove to heat the soy milk. She then divided it into two bowls and broke up Sangsang's leftover steamed bun from yesterday and put it in the bowls before handing it to the hungry Sangsang. The steamed bun, soaked with soy milk, was soft and dense. Sangsang immediately fell in love with it.

Knowing that Ningxia had no appetite in the morning, Lin Yi didn't argue with her. They ate a large bowl of soy milk and steamed buns. When they were both full, Ningxia was about to take them out when someone showed up.

"Ningxia sister, you got up so early. The little brat is so hardworking." Song Minghua smiled and reached out to pinch Sangsang's face.

Sangsang pouted, her displeasure written all over her face. She turned her head away from Song Minghua's hand, but Song Minghua didn't care.

Ningxia responded with a smile. The other party had come to the house twice, so something must have happened. He left the two children in the yard and said, "Shall we go inside and talk?"

Song Minghua nodded, and the two of them entered the house one after the other.