Zhang Qiang glanced around and continued, "Everyone doesn't need to work this afternoon. Go back and pack your things. The Naadam Festival lasts for five days. During the day there are wrestling, horse racing, and archery, and in the evening there's a bonfire party. Everyone can have a good time. But remember, don't bring too much stuff. The yurts on the grassland aren't very big, and you won't have room for too much. Just bring enough."

As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur arose in the courtyard.

Most of the villagers had been to the Naadam Festival before, but they still couldn't help but excitedly discuss whether to go to the horse races or the wrestling this year.

The educated youth were even more excited, especially those who had never been to the grasslands before; their eyes were filled with excitement.

The female educated youths around Xu Xinghe also huddled together and whispered among themselves.

A short-haired female educated youth said with a smile, "I didn't go last year, but I heard from people who went that the wrestlers at the Naadam Festival are all men from the grasslands. They wrestle shirtless, and their muscles are very strong. They look so powerful!"

Another female educated youth nodded in agreement, "Yes, the person who wins the wrestling match will receive a hada (a ceremonial scarf) and mare's milk wine. It's very prestigious. We must go and see it!"

The female educated youth chatted excitedly, one after another, and burst into laughter from time to time.

Xu Xinghe sat to the side, listening to their discussion, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

She didn't have any particular expectations for wrestling and horse racing, but she was curious about what the grand event on the grassland would be like. She thought it would be nice to go to the grassland to see the blue sky and white clouds and feel the cool breeze.

She didn't participate in the discussion; she just listened quietly.

Seeing the lively scene in the courtyard, Zhang Qiang didn't say much. He just waited until everyone had finished discussing it before shouting into the loudspeaker, "Alright, everyone disperse. Hurry up and pack your things. Don't be late tomorrow morning!"

Everyone responded, stood up, and walked back chatting and laughing.

Xu Xinghe followed the crowd back to the female educated youth dormitory.

As soon as she entered the room, Zhao Xiaoyan excitedly lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and rummaged through her trunks, holding up a floral shirt. "Li Juan, do you want to take this shirt with me? I heard the Naadam festival on the grassland is really lively. Maybe I can meet some handsome grassland men!"

Xu Xinghe took off her straw hat and fanned herself with it. She had just sat down when she heard these words and was taken aback. "Why are you thinking about these things?"

"Of course I'm looking for a partner!" Zhao Xiaoyan put down her shirt, moved closer to her, her eyes sparkling. "Let me tell you, if I can meet a suitable grassland man here, I'll marry him! Think about it, what good career prospects do we educated youth have after returning to the city? Someone like me with no background or connections, if I'm lucky, I can find a factory worker, but if I'm unlucky, I'll still have to marry into the countryside, which is no different from now."

She lowered her voice and added mysteriously, "But the grasslands are different! Every family here raises sheep, and we can drink fresh sheep milk every day, as well as milk tofu and milk skin. We eat more meat than vegetables. If I could really marry into this family, that would be a truly good life!"

Xu Xinghe looked at Zhao Xiaoyan's hopeful expression, but felt nothing. She just thought that Zhao Xiaoyan was making marriage and a good life too easy.

Life on the grasslands is never easy; the nomadic lifestyle of being exposed to the wind and sun might be too much for her to handle.

But she didn't say those words aloud. She just said calmly, "You're really thinking ahead. Aren't you afraid you'll regret marrying into this family?"

"What's there to regret? It's better than suffering back in the city." Zhao Xiaoyan went back to pack her luggage, humming an off-key song, clearly not taking this concern to heart.

Xu Xinghe didn't reply, leaning against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) thinking about finding Jiang Linchuan that night.

The afternoon sun was still scorching, and the dormitory was very stuffy.

Xu Xinghe simply lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and closed his eyes to rest until the sky outside the window gradually turned orange and the heat dissipated a bit. Only then did he quietly get up and walk out of the dormitory.

She didn't tell Zhao Xiaoyan where she was going, only that she was going out for some fresh air, and walked briskly towards the woods at the edge of the forest farm.

That was a place she and Jiang Linchuan often went to; it was quiet and secluded.

As soon as I reached the trees deep in the woods, I saw a familiar figure leaning against a tree trunk.

Hearing footsteps, Jiang Linchuan looked up and smiled instantly. He took something out of his pocket and handed it to him, saying, "Here you go, chocolates I brought from Heilongjiang Province. I haven't been able to bear eating them yet."

Xu Xinghe took it, opened it, and saw that the dark brown chocolate was wrapped in foil and emitted a faint sweet aroma.

She picked up a piece, carefully broke it in half, and handed the larger half back to Jiang Linchuan, saying, "You eat some too, I can't finish it all by myself."

Jiang Linchuan didn't take it, but just looked at her, "I saved this especially for you. I don't like sweets."

"No, you have to eat it." Xu Xinghe brought the chocolate to his lips, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his lips, and they both paused.

Since arriving at the forest farm, they've been surrounded by people, and they rarely have the chance to talk to each other alone, let alone have any intimate contact. At this moment, the only sound in the forest is the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the air suddenly feels a bit sticky and ambiguous.

Jiang Linchuan's gaze fell on the chocolate she offered, then slowly moved to her lips, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

He suddenly reached out, grabbed her waist, lifted her up, and made her lean against the tree trunk, then leaned over to get closer.

Before Xu Xinghe could react, warm lips covered hers, filled with the eagerness of a long-awaited touch. They gently bit her lower lip and then slowly deepened the kiss.

Xu Xinghe's mind went blank for a moment, and she almost dropped the chocolate in her hand. Her little hand instinctively grabbed his clothes, and her cheeks instantly turned bright red.

Jiang Linchuan only let go of her when she was almost out of breath, his forehead pressed against hers, his breathing a little rapid, "It's been so long since I've hugged you like this."

"You...you're not afraid of being seen?" Xu Xinghe turned her face away, her voice barely audible, her lips red and swollen from the kiss, making them particularly noticeable.

“I’ve already checked, there’s no one around.” Jiang Linchuan pinched her chin, making her look at him, his eyes deep. “I’m afraid the men on the grasslands are too strong and might steal your soul. Who would I turn to then?”

Xu Xinghe was amused by him and reached out to push his chest, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I?"

Jiang Linchuan took her hand and rubbed it in his palm. "Don't think too much. It would be best if we could find what we need at the Naadam festival. If we can't, it's okay. I'll always find a way."

Xu Xinghe nodded.

The two stayed a while longer, and as it was getting dark, they reluctantly parted ways, agreeing to meet at the end of the group when they set off the next day.

When Xu Xinghe returned to the dormitory, Zhao Xiaoyan was trying on clothes in front of the mirror. When she saw Xu Xinghe come in, she suddenly stared at Xu Xinghe's mouth and said, "Li Juan, why are your lips so red? They also look a little swollen. Did you get bitten by something?"

Xu Xinghe's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth, saying vaguely, "No...no, I just bit my lip while eating fruit."