Chapter 123 "Okay, Mom Chen."...

The interview officially ended. After seeing the two reporters off, Shu Ran let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if she had fought a tough battle.

Back in her guesthouse room, she was so exhausted she barely wanted to move. Just as she was about to lie down and rest for a while, there was another knock on the door.

She thought it was a colleague from the guidance group and said weakly, "Come in."

The door opened, and it was Chen Yuanjiang again. He was carrying a lunchbox when he walked in.

"Have something to eat." He placed the lunchbox on the table, opened it, and inside was steaming hot noodles with a poached egg on top.

"The cooks made this especially for you, saying you haven't been eating properly these past few days."

Shu Ran felt a sudden pang of sadness. She sat down at the table, picked up her chopsticks, and whispered, "Why do you always pop up out of nowhere... like a fairy godmother?"

Chen Yuanjiang sat down opposite her, watching her eat her noodles with her head down, his eyes softening, "Eat your noodles."

Shu Ran was starving, so she ate quietly with her head down. The noodles were cooked to the perfect firmness, the broth was light yet delicious, and the poached egg was fried to perfection.

She ate with great relish.

Chen Yuanjiang sat there silently watching her eat. The room was quiet.

Shu Ran finished the last bite of noodles, even drinking the soup, and put down her chopsticks contentedly. Looking up, she found Chen Yuanjiang staring intently at her.

"What are you looking at?" Shu Ran touched her face. "Is there something on my face?"

Chen Yuanjiang shook his head, then suddenly reached out and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with his fingertip, where a little oil remained. His movement was very light and quick, a fleeting touch.

Shu Ran's cheeks flushed. She lowered her head somewhat flusteredly, trying to hide her embarrassment as she packed up her lunchbox.

“After your farewell party ends in a while,” Chen Yuanjiang stood up, his voice regaining its usual composure, “I’ll take you home.”

"Mm." Shu Ran nodded.

Chen Yuanjiang didn't say anything more, picked up the empty lunchbox, turned around and left.

Soon it was time for Shu Ran to leave Y Division, and the division headquarters held a farewell party for the roving guidance group. During the party, division leaders and heads of various departments took turns toasting Shu Ran, their words sincere and heartfelt.

Shu Ran responded calmly with tea instead of wine, displaying a leader-like demeanor that was a stark contrast to her cautious and tentative approach when she first arrived a few months ago.

The farewell party ended when the moon was high in the sky. Shu Ran declined the division's offer of a car, wanting to walk back to the guesthouse alone, feel the night breeze, and sort out her thoughts.

The nights at Y Division were even quieter than those at X Division. She had just reached the edge of the poplar forest near the guesthouse when she saw a familiar figure leaning against a poplar tree.

It was Chen Yuanjiang. He seemed to be waiting for her.

Shu Ran paused for a moment, then quickened her pace and walked over.

"What are you doing here? Didn't you go to the farewell party?"

"I left early. I don't like commotion." His gaze swept across her face. "Is it over?"

"Yes, it's over." Shu Ran walked up to him, looked up at him, the night breeze blowing through her hair, carrying a slight chill. "I can go back tomorrow."

"Okay." Chen Yuanjiang responded, took a small paper packet out of his uniform pocket, and handed it to her. "Here you go."

Shu Ran took it; it was still slightly warm to the touch. She opened it and saw several pieces of naan bread, roasted to a golden brown and emitting a milky aroma, still steaming slightly.

"I didn't see you eat much tonight. The cooks grilled some food for you to tide you over."

In that social situation, Shu Ran didn't really eat much; she was too busy talking and responding to others.

She broke off a small piece of naan and put it in her mouth. "Delicious." Her eyes curved into crescents. "Thank you for feeding me, Deputy Director Chen."

Hearing this teasing nickname, a hint of helplessness flashed in Chen Yuanjiang's eyes, but he didn't correct it. "Go back and get some rest. We'll leave early tomorrow morning."

"Okay." Shu Ran said, glancing at him as she ate. "What about you? Have you finished the final security work?"

"That's about it." Chen Yuanjiang looked at her, his expression gentle.

After eating a small piece of naan, Shu Ran carefully wrapped the rest up and put it in her pocket.

The two stood in silence for a moment, side by side, by the poplar forest under the moonlight. The night wind rustled softly through the trees.

"Thank you for your hard work this time," Chen Yuanjiang suddenly said.

Shu Ran turned her head to look at him and said softly, "You too. In this last part at Y-Master, I owe you a lot."

Chen Yuanjiang didn't say anything more, but simply turned slightly to block the wind blowing from the side for her.

Shu Ran suddenly remembered something and asked with some curiosity, "Hey, how did you find out about all those people and things you wrote down in your notebook? Some of the information doesn't seem like something you could get through normal channels."

Chen Yuanjiang paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words. "In the past... I traveled to many places, had many different tasks, and came into contact with many people. If I paid attention, I would remember them."

"Oh..." Shu Ran drawled out, deliberately using a tone of admiration, "So Deputy Director Chen is not only good at catching bad guys and managing security, but also a know-it-all? My apologies for not recognizing you sooner."

Chen Yuanjiang was taken aback by her words, and looked down at her, only to meet her smiling eyes. They were full of teasing and intimacy. The slight unease he felt from being ridiculed dissipated, replaced by a helpless indulgence.

"You talk too much." He raised his hand as if to tap her forehead, but stopped in mid-air. In the end, he just brushed her bangs with his knuckles. "Even a naan can't shut you up."

Shuse shrank back slightly, but didn't flinch. Instead, she looked at him with a grin and said, "Deputy Director Chen, wouldn't you call this... retaliation?"

"Fine." Chen Yuanjiang withdrew his hand, his tone carrying a doting tone that he himself was unaware of. "If you keep nagging, you can walk back by yourself tomorrow."

"How dare you!" Shu Ran feigned anger, her eyes widening.

Chen Yuanjiang finally chuckled softly.

Shu Ran was somewhat stunned. His smile was truly rare.

"Alright, it's time to go back." Chen Yuanjiang's smile faded, and he regained his serious expression, but his eyes remained gentle. "We need to travel tomorrow."

"Mm." Shu Ran nodded, feeling a little reluctant to part with this rare moment of tranquility.

The two walked back to the guesthouse silently, one after the other, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far. When they reached Shu Ran's room, Chen Yuanjiang stopped.

"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, at the entrance of the guesthouse," he instructed.

"Okay, Mrs. Chen." Shu Ran couldn't help but be cheeky again, and quickly said it. Before he could react, she quickly took out her keys and opened the door.

Chen Yuanjiang watched her actions, and the word "Chen's mother" made his forehead twitch. In the end, he could only shake his head helplessly. "...Nonsense."

Shu Ran had already opened the door and slipped into the room. Before closing the door, she left behind the words, "Goodnight, Yuanjiang."

The door closed gently.

Chen Yuanjiang stood in the corridor listening to the sound of the door being locked from the inside. He stood there silently for a few seconds before turning around and leaving.

At eight o'clock the next morning, as dawn broke, the members of the patrol guidance team, along with Chen Yuanjiang, who was responsible for escorting them, and two soldiers from the security department, gathered on time at the entrance of the Y Division's guesthouse.

A military truck and a jeep carrying Chen Yuanjiang and others will take them back to the X Division.

The atmosphere of parting was overshadowed by the joy of returning home. The young people in the guidance group all wore relaxed smiles, joking with each other and discussing how to celebrate when they got back.

Shu Ran and Chen Yuanjiang maintained a working relationship, and apart from necessary schedule communication, they did not have much interaction.

The car drove out of the Y Division headquarters and soon entered the vast Gobi grassland.

In early autumn, the grasslands are bathed in clear skies and the grass begins to turn yellow, creating a unique and magnificent beauty.

The journey started smoothly. However, in the afternoon, while passing through an area with complex terrain and many forks in the road, the lead jeep suddenly made a strange noise, then abruptly stopped and stalled.

Driver Zhang jumped out of the car, lifted the hood to inspect the engine, and frowned deeply. "This is troublesome, Deputy Director Chen. It seems there's a problem with the fuel system, and another part looks worn out and needs to be replaced."

Chen Yuanjiang got out of the car, looked it over, and his expression was calm. "Can it be repaired? How long will it take?"

Old Zhang wiped his sweat: "I have the tools and spare parts, but this problem is a bit tricky. I estimate it will take an hour or two to fix. Besides, this place is in the middle of nowhere."

Shu Ran and the others got off the truck and looked at the broken-down jeep with some anxiety. It was getting late, and if it couldn't be repaired soon, traveling at night on the grassland would be very risky.

Chen Yuanjiang made a quick decision: "Old Zhang, take some men and hurry up and fix the truck. Xiao Wang, use the radio on the truck to try to contact the nearest outpost or herding area to see if you can find help or pinpoint our exact location."

Everyone immediately split up to take action. Since Shu Ran couldn't help with the technical aspects, she and another female colleague in the group took out water and dry food to distribute to everyone.

Time ticked by, and the repairs on Lao Zhang's end seemed to be encountering difficulties, with progress slow. The radio signal was intermittent, and there was still no good news from Xiao Wang.

As the sun began to set and the temperature started to drop, the wind on the grassland carried a chill, and everyone's mood gradually became heavy.

Just then, the faint sound of horses' hooves came from afar, growing louder as they approached.

"Someone's coming!" shouted the soldier on guard.

Everyone perked up and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw seven or eight fine horses galloping down the slope. The riders were dressed in brightly colored ethnic costumes and were local ethnic minority herders.

The herders slowed down and approached curiously when they saw the military vehicles and a group of people parked there.

The middle-aged herdsman at the head of the group reined in his horse and asked in heavily accented Mandarin, "What's wrong with you?"

Chen Yuanjiang stepped forward and briefly explained the vehicle malfunction.

After hearing this, the middle-aged herdsman laughed heartily and said, "So the car broke down! This place is really remote, and by the time it's fixed, it will be completely dark! How about this, our pasture isn't far ahead, and my nephew is getting married today! Come with us back to our yurt to warm up, and we'll leave once the car is fixed!"

This sudden and enthusiastic invitation surprised everyone. Shu Ran looked at Chen Yuanjiang, asking for his opinion with her eyes.

Chen Yuanjiang frowned slightly, clearly weighing his options. Staying in an unfamiliar pastoral area carried uncertain risks, but with the vehicle's breakdown difficult to resolve immediately and nightfall approaching, the herders' appearance and invitation seemed to be the most feasible option at the moment. Moreover, building good relations with the local herders was itself part of community outreach.

Just then, the middle-aged herdsman's gaze swept across the crowd and suddenly fixed on Shu Ran's face. He looked at her carefully, and a look of surprise appeared on his face: "You...you're that...that teacher who taught our children to read in the yurt? I saw your picture at my relatives' house over at Laofengkou! They said you're a very capable person!"

Shu Ran was surprised to be recognized here, but she still smiled and nodded: "Hello, I am Shu Ran."

"Oh! It really is Teacher Shu!" The middle-aged herdsman became even more enthusiastic, jumping off his horse and walking over. "What a coincidence! Teacher Shu, you absolutely have to come! Many people in our tribe have heard of you! Your presence at the wedding today would make our whole family so happy!"

Now, there was no way to refuse. Shu Ran looked at Chen Yuanjiang, her eyes conveying the message, "It seems I have no choice but to go."

Chen Yuanjiang looked at Shu Ran, who was surrounded by enthusiastic herdsmen, and then at the jeep that was still smoking but making slow progress. He finally nodded and said to the middle-aged herdsman, "Then we'll have to trouble you. But we're just staying here temporarily. We'll leave as soon as the car is fixed."

"Great! No problem!" The middle-aged herdsman beamed and immediately called to his companions to make room for a few horses. "Come on, comrade leader, Teacher Shu, get on the horse! Our pasture is just ahead!"

In the end, Chen Yuanjiang, Shu Ran, and two young comrades from the guidance group (one male and one female) rode with the herdsmen to the pasture, while Lao Zhang and a soldier stayed behind to continue repairing the vehicle, agreeing to stay in touch.

Shu Ran rode her horse across the grassland. Although it wasn't her first time riding a horse, galloping across such a vast expanse of land still broadened her horizons.

Chen Yuanjiang had excellent horsemanship skills and followed her at a steady pace.

About half an hour later, a lush pasture came into view, with dozens of white yurts scattered across the grassland. Outside the largest yurt in the middle, laughter and cheerful voices filled the air, creating a festive atmosphere.

The wedding ceremony became even more lively when the middle-aged herdsman returned with several unfamiliar faces in military and cadre uniforms, especially a young and pretty woman among them.

The groom's parents warmly greeted him, and upon learning of Shu Ran's identity, they were even more excited, repeatedly calling her a "distinguished guest."

Unable to refuse their hospitality, Shu Ran, Chen Yuanjiang, and the others were invited into the main yurt and seated in the guest seats.

Milk tea, mare's milk wine, hand-pulled mutton, various dairy products... a sumptuous feast was immediately laid out. The herders are naturally generous and hospitable, especially towards Teacher Shu and the People's Liberation Army comrades whom they have a good impression of. They urged them to drink and eat, their enthusiasm was so overwhelming that it was hard to resist.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively. Outside in the open space, cheerful folk music filled the air, and young men and women began dancing around the bonfire, performing traditional grassland dances.

At this moment, the wedding emcee stood in the center of the venue and announced something in the Kazakh language. As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers and whistles. Many strong Kazakh young men were eager to try their luck. Some spirited young women, laughing, nudged their chosen young men onto the stage.

Having spent so long at the grassroots level, Shu Ran could understand some of the simple everyday language, but she could only half understand this long passage with its heavy accent and traditional vocabulary, managing to catch a few key words like "wrestling," "young people," and "steeds."

She subconsciously turned her head slightly to look at Chen Yuanjiang beside her.

Chen Yuanjiang immediately noticed her gaze. He turned slightly to the side and translated the old man's words into Chinese for Shu Ran: "The host said that according to the old rules, unmarried young men who wrestle and win will win the horse."

Shu Ran understood perfectly. She could have easily guessed the gist of it from what she understood, but... choosing to have him translate was, in Shu Ran's view, a little unspoken fun between lovers.

She gave a soft "hmm" to indicate that she understood, then turned her gaze back to the noisy area, a smile playing on her lips. It felt wonderful, as if they shared a private little world that no one else could intrude upon.

"This wrestling doesn't seem to be just about strength, does it?" Shu Ran leaned closer to Chen Yuanjiang and asked in a low voice. She had already sensed the ambiguous yet passionate atmosphere between the young men and women around them.

Chen Yuanjiang nodded slightly and explained, "Yes, often it's also a way for young men and women to show their affection and display their bravery. The one who wins, especially the young man who wins the horse, often wins the favor of the girls."

Sure enough, as the match began, the atmosphere on the field became even more intense. It was not just a clash of strength, but also an exchange of glances, a display of courage and charisma.

The winning young man would often glance in the direction of the girl he admired, which would elicit laughter and a shy yet bold response from the girl.

The young male staff member who came with the guidance group was also infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere. At the urging of several young herders, he blushed and went down to try it. Unfortunately, he was thrown to the ground by a strong young man after only a few moves, which made everyone laugh. He scratched his head and laughed embarrassedly.

Just then, the white-bearded old man's gaze swept across the guests' seats and suddenly landed on Chen Yuanjiang. He laughed and spoke loudly in the local dialect.

All eyes were on Chen Yuanjiang. Many young herdsmen looked at him with curiosity and a hint of defiance.

The grasslands revere the strong, and they were eager to witness the strength of this officer who had the face of their own people but spoke Han Chinese.

Although Shu Ran didn't fully understand, she could guess about 70-80% of it from the old man's gestures and the reactions of the people around him.

She turned her head, a sly smile playing on her lips, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Deputy Director Chen, the public's demand is very high. Comrade translator, how about we go and show off the bravery of these warriors?"

She deliberately mentioned "translator" with a touch of affectionate teasing.

Chen Yuanjiang glanced at her sideways, meeting her mischievous eyes, which held no worry, only pure teasing and a hint of... expectation?

Chen Yuanjiang frowned slightly. He was a calm and collected person and disliked such ostentatious activities. Moreover, given his sensitive position, it seemed somewhat inappropriate for him to wrestle in this setting.

However, Shu Ran's expectant gaze made it difficult for him to refuse directly.

Just as he was pondering, a tall, beautiful, and elegant ethnic minority girl, carrying a bowl of mare's milk wine, strode up to Chen Yuanjiang.

She looked at Chen Yuanjiang with undisguised frankness and admiration, and said in fluent Chinese, "Brother PLA, I am Lidezi. We all want to see your skills! How about we have a contest after you drink this bowl of wine? If you win, the best horse is yours!"

The girl's boldness and directness instantly brought the atmosphere to a climax.

Everyone started to cheer.

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Author's Note: [Let me see] I only realized after finishing writing... did I write a bit too much romance? I've been so obsessed with romance lately (scratching my hair)