Chapter 28: Meeting by chance Is this the person who made your roller skates? ...

Qi Fang hadn't seen Yan Xue for more than two months since they parted on the train, and he never thought he would meet her here.

The young girl is still so beautiful. Even when she is not smiling, her eyes are bright with smiles. After taking off her heavy cotton coat, she looks even more delicate and pretty.

Staring at him, he blushed before he could even begin. "The forestry department said they found wild boar hoof prints nearby. They're worried wild boars might come in and cause damage during the agricultural team's spring planting in a couple of days, so they asked us to dig some traps on the mountain."

Wild boars are large in size. Like black bears, boars can weigh up to four or five hundred kilograms. They can also wear armor, so it is difficult to kill them even with a wooden cage, and it is even more troublesome to use a trap.

You can either set a trap and tie a large enough stone behind the trap, letting the wild boar drag the stone while running until it is exhausted and slowly dragged to death; or you can dig a pit and fix a sharpened wooden stick in the pit, making sure the pit is deep enough. It is definitely a big project.

We were just digging traps nearby, but how did we end up at Jinchuan Forest Farm?

Yan Xue didn't see any companions beside him. "Did you get separated from them?"

"Not really," Qi Fang hesitated, "The other two people in our team have something to do and can't come, so I'm going up the mountain by myself."

How could two people have problems together? Yan Xue suspected that he was being bullied because he was an honest man.

Looking at his hesitant look, he might be clear about something in his mind, but he just doesn't know how to be sneaky and cunning like others.

Since he was someone she knew, Yan Xue explained to him again, "We don't know how to get to Xiaojinchuan from here, and it's already quite far from here. Even if we knew the way, it wouldn't necessarily be faster than taking the railway."

Qi Fang naturally agreed, then said embarrassedly, "I'm sorry to trouble you again."

"What's the big deal? Didn't you make me a pair of roller skates?" Yan Xue had almost rested and was about to pack up her backpack and go back.

At this time, Qi Fang, who had been standing silently beside him, spoke up, "Is this the man who made your roller skates?"

The last time I received the shoes on the train, he didn't ask a single question. Why did he ask now?

Yan Xue glanced at him and nodded, "Yes, it's this comrade."

Qi Fang just remembered that there were actually two people here, and his face turned awkward.

But before he could say anything, the man turned and looked at him for a moment, "Thank you."

He was a little unresponsive, "Huh?"

Yan Xue hurriedly introduced him, "This is my lover. He wants to say thank you for making roller skates for me."

"Oh," Qi Fang understood this time, and the embarrassment on his face became increasingly difficult to conceal. He subconsciously extended his hand, "Hello, comrade."

This made Qi Fang stare at him for a while longer, until he started to feel uncomfortable, then he stretched out his hand calmly, "Hello."

"He's not a talkative person, don't mind him." Yan Xue explained helpfully. Fearing that the other party would feel uncomfortable, she brought up a topic that the other party was familiar with. "By the way, last time you said you wanted to send some fungus to your aunt, did you manage to do so?"

As long as she didn't have to face her strangely deep-looking lover, Qi Fang felt much more at ease. "No, I went there again two days ago, and she hasn't come back yet." Yan Xue was a little surprised. "She hasn't come back yet?" she asked as she put on the backpack and prepared to go down the mountain.

Qi Fang nodded and was about to speak when he saw Qi Fang helping Yan Xue lift the backpack. After Yan Xue put it on his back, he picked up his own.

He paused for a moment. "Yes, I haven't come back yet. I don't have the address of my uncle's hometown, and I didn't ask. I plan to find time to go there after I finish the forest."

Communication was really underdeveloped in those days. If you went somewhere and there was no address, it was as if you had disappeared from the face of the earth.

But since we were all traveling together and were returning to our hometown, nothing should have happened. Yan Xue smiled and reminded him, "It's a little steep here."

Just as Qi Fang was about to respond, Qi Fang took two strides forward, relying on his long legs, and reached back to grab Yan Xue.

He forgot what he was about to say. After Yan Xue went down, Qi Fang wanted to come to pick him up, so he waved his hand and said, "I can go down by myself."

Qi Fang lowered his peach blossom eyes and said nothing. The three of them went down the mountain together and took the small railway track back to Jinchuan Forest Farm.

The train track was a bit narrow, which would have been fine in the past, but today, with three people on board, if Yan Xue and Qi Fang walked together, they would have left the other person behind. Walking side by side with each other wasn't the right approach. If all three of them separated, the distance would increase, leaving Yan Xue with only the occasional chat with Qi Fang behind them.

Qi Fang responded, but his eyes couldn't help but fall on the backs of the pair in front of him.

I heard that she was married a long time ago, but I didn't know that her lover was so handsome and that he looked so good together with her.

She just seems a little difficult to get along with, and I don't know if she will be bullied at home...

Just as he thought of this, the man in front of him seemed to realize something and turned to look at him.

There was nothing wrong with that look, but Qi Fang subconsciously retracted his gaze, pretending he was just looking at the road. Yan Xue also noticed it and asked the man beside her, "What's wrong?"

"There's something over there. I wonder if you've seen it." Qi Fang pointed lightly at a tree not far away.

It was almost evening and the afterglow of the setting sun was a bit dazzling. Yan Xue walked towards the sunlight. She turned back and squinted for a while before she could see clearly what he was pointing at - an oval cocoon.

Afraid that she had made a mistake, she walked over and picked it up, and found that it was indeed a silk cocoon.

The silkworms in Northeast China are different from those in the interior. Most of the silkworms in the interior are mulberry silkworms, which are small in size and the silk they produce is mainly used for textiles. The silkworms in Northeast China are all oak silkworms, which are as big as a thumb. The silk they produce is used in industries such as industry, electricity, and national defense industry. The key is that they taste good and have high nutritional value.

However, the main production area of ​​this oak silkworm is the neighboring province. Because the climate here is relatively cold, no one breeds it, and there are not many in the wild.

Yan Xue threw the silkworm pupae directly into the backpack, and then carefully searched the area to see if she could find them.

"Interested?" Qi Fang came over to help her look for it.

Yan Xue said honestly: "This is delicious. It tastes good when stir-fried or deep-fried. It also has a special sweetness when boiled."

This thing is very expensive. Later it cost at least forty or fifty yuan per pound, and it is said that the nutritional value of a cocoon pupa is comparable to that of two eggs.

When Qi Fang heard this, he hurried over to help look for them. Even with the three of them, they only found a dozen or so in this oak forest.

But later he found something to do. Whenever there was an oak tree nearby, he would take a look. After walking like this for more than an hour, he didn't feel it was too slow.

Seeing that the Jinchuan Forest Farm was almost there, Yan Xue in front suddenly stopped, then quickened her pace and walked towards the woods beside the road.

Qi Fang was startled. He looked in the direction she was walking and saw a young couple. The woman was being dragged rudely by the man. "Come with me. You must explain this to me clearly."

The woman was dragged so hard that she stumbled. She couldn't break free or shake him off, so she could only pry him away with her hands. "Let go! Can't you just say what you want to say nicely?"

"Will you listen if I tell you nicely? You've even pissed off my mother!" The man growled and pulled hard with his hand again.

The woman nearly fell down, and only managed to hold on to the tree trunk nearby. The man didn't care, and swung her arm away, pointing at her, "Are you a fucking slut? You've only been divorced for a few days, and you can't hold it in anymore, you're craving a man! Your cunt is itchy when no one fucks you for a day, right?"

The scolding was so harsh that Yan Xue's face darkened when she heard a little from afar. What's more, the person being scolded was Lang Yue'e, who had a good relationship with her.

Lang Yue'e was obviously also angry, her face turning pale. "You also know that I divorced you. I'm divorced, and I can't find a place to live?"

"Did I tell you to find a place?" The man slapped her in the face. "Every bitch I've slept with must rot in my house. How dare you cuckold me!"

He grabbed Lang Yue'e and started to beat her up.

"Stop it!" Yan Xue shouted, but the other party ignored her as if he didn't hear her.

There was still some distance between the two sides, and no matter how fast Yan Xue ran, she could not catch up. In desperation, she had to find something nearby to throw away.

Qi Fang was faster than her. He had already picked up a stone and hit the other person accurately on the back of the head.

The man felt pain and subconsciously loosened his grip. He covered his head and turned back to glare, "Who the hell dares to hit me!"

To be honest, he wasn't bad looking, and his facial features could even be considered handsome, but because his eyes were bloodshot and his expression was angry, he exuded a somewhat terrifying hideousness.

Lang Yue'e took the opportunity to break free from his grasp and subconsciously asked in surprise, "Xiao Yan?"

The man only saw Qi Fang beside Yan Xue, and rushed over with red eyes, "You are just a wild man introduced to her by someone else, and you dare to pick up my old slut!"

He was indeed a little drunk at the moment, having drunk some wine before coming. When he saw Qi Fang, he immediately thought of the 1.80-meter-tall and very good-looking man his mother had described.

Qi Fang didn't know how he became a wild man, but when the other party rushed over, he still dodged to the side.

The man's punch missed, and he almost stumbled and fell. He became even angrier and rushed forward without saying a word, "Don't hide if you dare!"

This time Yan Xue was closer, and she swung the shovel she brought with her to dig Gastrodia elata and hit him on the head.

There was a crisp "pop" sound.

Not to mention Kang Peisheng, even Qi Fang, who was a step slower, felt pain for him.

Of course, Yan Xue wasn't prepared to rely on her small body to fight the opponent head-on. She took a step back and pointed at the opponent, "Beat him!"

Qi Fang rushed forward without thinking, faster than Qi Fang. Although he was a little clumsy, Kang Peisheng was completely pinned to the ground by the two of them in a short while.

He was still talking dirty, so he asked Qi Fang to clasp his hands behind his back and clasp them downwards, and then he chewed a mouthful of mud, and finally he quieted down for a while.

Qi Fang's nose was pointed, and he couldn't help but frowned, "Drinking."

"If he hadn't drunk, he wouldn't have dared come to the forest farm and start a fight." Lang Yue'e, holding her torn clothes and a bright red slap mark on her face, came over to thank them, "Thank you."

He usually never shows up and only asks his mother to help him. But when he is drunk, he dares to come and beat people.

Yan Xue handed Lang Yue'e a handkerchief and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Lang Yue'e took it subconsciously. When she saw what was in her hand clearly, she found tears on her face.

She picked it up and wiped it, "Thank you." She couldn't help but cry.

Even after getting divorced, she still couldn't get rid of the other person. She must have been very desperate at the moment when the other person's fist was about to fall.

Yan Xue hugged her and patted her shoulders. After she calmed down a bit, she asked, "What are you going to do about this?"

Lang Yue'e obviously hadn't made up her mind yet. She turned to look at the man on the ground with hesitation on her face.

"You don't want to just let it go, do you?" Yan Xue lowered her voice. "You've already divorced him, and he still dares to come to you. If you let it go this time, what about the future?"

"No, I just don't want to trouble my family." Lang Yue'e shook her head.

Yan Xue understood what he said. After all, in this life, she was just like Lang Yue'e. She followed her mother to remarry and lived with her stepfather's family.

Many women are afraid to divorce when faced with an unhappy marriage. Financial conditions are one reason, but the fear that their parents’ family will not accept them and that they have nowhere to go is also a very important reason, especially in this day and age.

In traditional concepts, once a woman gets married, she belongs to someone else's family. Even if she comes back, she is still a guest. How can a guest live in a home for a long time?

Even if my parents agreed, would my brother and sister-in-law agree? Besides, divorce would definitely lead to gossip.

Lang Yue'e is lucky. Secretary Lang and several brothers in the family support her divorce, but if she has a choice, she definitely doesn't want to cause trouble for her family.

Yan Xue didn't try to persuade her, but just pointed at her face and asked, "Do you think you can keep it a secret if you go back like this?"

Lang Yue'e was stunned. She touched her visibly swollen left cheek and smiled bitterly, "I guess I can't hide it."

Since she couldn't hide it, she didn't worry about it anymore. She took a deep breath and said, "Then please help me take him back. I'll tell my family."

If Lang Yue'e was the kind of soft-hearted person who always tolerated others, Yan Xue would have cared about her this time and would never meddle in her affairs again next time.

Yan Xue had seen this before in her previous life. The two of them got divorced, and the girl's family helped out, but the girl still went back, making her family the bad guys in vain.

Since Lang Yue'e was not prepared to let it go, she walked over and bent down to untie the belt around Kang Peisheng's waist.

Qi Fang's eyes widened, and Qi Fang even picked the man up and pulled him aside.

Yan Xue then realized that her actions were somewhat misleading, and explained: "Doesn't he like to beat people with a belt? Just use this to tie him up."

Qi Fang finally understood what was going on and his expression relaxed.

Then, just as he finished relaxing, he noticed that the man next to him was looking at him without saying anything.

He really didn't understand and blinked.

Qi Fang looked at him for a while, and seeing that he still didn't respond, he said, "You solve it."

Only then did he scream "Ah" and stepped forward to help Yan Xue take off Kang Peisheng's belt.

This was simply an insult. Kang Peisheng never expected that Yan Xue, a petite and pretty girl, could be so vicious.

Unfortunately, he couldn't do anything as Qi Fang tied him up neatly and strangled him so hard that he groaned in pain.

Yan Xue pointed at his mouth again, "It stinks. Didn't we bring some paper with us when we went out to sit? Roll it up and stuff it in his mouth."

Qi Fang had a cold face and stood there without moving.

"You can't be so reluctant as to even give up a piece of paper, right?" Yan Xue looked at him in surprise. He then went to the basket on his back to find it and blocked Kang Peisheng's mouth with it.

Whether beating people, tying people up, or stuffing people's mouths, she did it smoothly and naturally, and Qi Fang couldn't close his mouth since then.

He felt that he might be overthinking it. She... this personality, it didn't seem like she could stand being bullied...

Just as I thought of this, Yan Xue turned around with a smile, and she was the sweet girl with crescent eyes again, "Thank you, comrade, for letting you follow us through all this trouble."

"It's okay." Qi Fang waved his hand quickly, and saw that the Jinchuan Forest Farm station was just ahead. "Since you have something to do, I'll leave first."

There was indeed a fork in the road not far ahead, and they did have some matters to attend to, so Yan Xue didn't hold anyone back. "See that fork in the road over there? Follow it and you'll reach Xiaojinchuan."

"I know. I took the train there." Qi Fang said goodbye to them, took a few steps, and looked back at Yan Xue. "Thank you."

"What's there to thank me for?" Yan Xue wanted to say something else, but Qi Fang had already picked up Kang Peisheng and said, "Let's go."

After walking for a while, Lang Yue'e stopped by the roadside and picked up a basket with half-split dandelions and a knife for digging vegetables. "I came out to dig some dandelions to make tofu, but I didn't expect to run into him."

Dandelion is a common wild vegetable found in the mountains and fields. Because of its bitter taste, it is particularly suitable for relieving internal heat. The rhizomes can also be fried and made into tea.

Xiaodoufu is a specialty food in Northeast China. Beans are ground into a pulp and then cooked with blanched wild vegetables. It can be eaten as a side dish or as a filling. These vegetables can be dandelions, carrot tops, or even wheelbarrows—whatever is convenient can be used.

It is only starting to get warmer now, and among the wild vegetables, only dandelions and broccoli have sprouted. If you want to eat other things, you have to wait until next month.

Originally, this thing was also available in the family's vegetable garden, but since there were many people in the Lang family, Lang Yue'e went up the mountain and dug quite a bit, but unfortunately, she met Kang Peisheng.

Not to mention they were carrying a living person, the slap mark on her face would have been enough to attract attention all the way back. Yan Xue wanted to find something to cover her up, but she smiled bitterly, "It's okay, everyone has seen me in worse condition than this."

"You can't just go back like this. If you want to see someone make a fool of themselves, it's him." Yan Xue simply let down her neck-length hair that she had tucked behind her ears and helped her comb it.

There were indeed many people asking questions on the way. When they were almost at the Lang family's area, they ran into Yu Cuiyun who had just come out from her mother's home with her child.

In the past, Yu Cuiyun would have taken the opportunity to criticize Lang Yue'e, but she had just been discharged from the hospital and was still in a splint, so she couldn't say anything.

And speaking of that encounter with Hei Xia Zi, everyone said Yan Xue remained calm, and Qi Fang's woodcang technique was incredibly accurate. She'd brought this upon herself. It was Qi Fang who had saved her brother's life, so even if she wanted to say something, she couldn't hold her head high.

In the end, Yu Cuiyun simply turned her head and pretended not to see anything. At this time, the Lang family also came out to look for Lang Yue'e. They saw several people at a glance and asked, "What's going on? Did we run into Kang Peisheng?"

After entering the house and finding out the whole story, Lang Yue'e's brother kicked Kang Peisheng twice.

Kang Peisheng whimpered in pain, and with his mouth stuffed with paper, he couldn't say anything and could only stand there staring blankly.

The result was naturally that he was kicked twice again, and this time there was also his elder brother Lang Yue'e who had just heard the noise and rushed over from his home.

Lang Yue'e's mother thanked Yan Xue and Qi Fang profusely and gave them two large pieces of freshly baked steamed cakes. "Don't go back home to cook so late. I have some steamed pickled lumps for you to enjoy."

Pickled mustard greens are pickled mustard greens. They are a dish that often appears on the table when there are no fresh vegetables. They are crispy when eaten raw and soft and sticky when steamed.

In fact, if you have animal oil, it will taste better if you stir-fry it with it, but in this day and age, who has so much animal oil to use at will?

The other party was full of sincerity and stuffed the things into Yan Xue's arms, so Yan Xue did not refuse. Seeing that the discussion was over, Secretary Lang asked Qi Fang, "I remember that it has been almost two years since you became a regular apprentice."

"Well, two years by June." Qi Fang answered concisely.

Secretary Lang walked out the door, away from the still-bound Kang Peisheng, and whispered to him, "Registrations for this year's training have started again. There are two spots for tractor operators and three for chainsaw operators. As for the chainsaw operators, Liu Daniu and Hu Changjiang have both recommended you. If you want to go, there's absolutely no problem."

Hu Changjiang is the sawyer that Qi Fang follows. Director Yu had asked him to recommend Yu Yongzhi before, but he was not so enthusiastic. Qi Fang and Yan Xue didn't even know about this.

Secretary Lang was obviously assuring them that as long as Qi Fang wanted to go, nothing would go wrong.

Secretary Lang gave them a tip, "The Bureau has approved four 50-ton logging tractors. They'll arrive soon. This winter's logging workload will definitely be even heavier."

Two tractors become four, no wonder so many training places were given this year.

Moreover, whether it is a chainsaw operator or a tractor operator, they are both crucial in logging. The heavy task also means high profits.

However, Qi Fang was silent for a while, but did not agree immediately, "I'll go back and think about it."

Secretary Lang was a little surprised, but then he thought of something, "Your wood warehouse skills are pretty good, so you can join the security department."

The security department doesn't pay that much, but the work is relatively easy and they have more time to do things properly.

But Qi Fang still didn't give a clear answer, "Can I consider it?"

Secretary Lang turned around and saw Yan Xue standing not far away. "Okay, you two should discuss this."

He had finished his words and was about to go back when Yan Xue came over and asked, "Secretary Lang, how do you plan to deal with this matter?"

Obviously he was asking about Kang Peisheng.

Secretary Lang had met this girl several times. She was not a ostentatious person and did not seem to like to pry into other people's family affairs.

He hesitated for a moment, "Do you have any ideas?"

"It's not that I have any thoughts," Yan Xue touched her nose, "I just feel that this person only cares about food and not about punishment. What should I do if he comes to find Sister Yue'e again?"

"I'm worried about that, too." Secretary Lang clearly cared deeply about his daughter. "Actually, it would be best to find a husband for Yue'e as soon as possible so he can give up on this idea. But Yue'e doesn't want to find one yet, and her family doesn't want to force her."

"Then can we find a way to get him away, farther away, so he can't run back to the forest farm?"

Secretary Lang obviously also thought, "His job is not in the forestry system." What he meant was that although he had connections, it was not that easy to manipulate them.

Yan Xue was obviously very disappointed with the result. She said angrily, "He came over like this, hitting and kicking Sister Yue'e. If it were me, I would have reported him for attempted rape long ago."

Before she finished speaking, Qi Fang's eyes had already fallen over, obviously understanding what she meant.

Secretary Lang's eyes also showed a smile, but he sighed, "Yeah, who knows what he is up to."

Even if they sue, they may not succeed, but there is indeed a precedent of sentencing for such things. When the Kang family heard that they were going to sue, they must be scared.

As long as the Kang family is afraid, they will find a way to get rid of Kang Peisheng in order to calm the situation.

The two of them smiled at each other, understanding each other. Before entering, Secretary Lang glanced at Yan Xue again and said, "Little Yan, right?"

It is obvious that he has kept this person in mind. Even if it cannot be seen now, it will only benefit Yan Xue in the future.

Yan Xue turned around and lifted the basket on her shoulder. The next second, a pair of hands reached out to help her carry it from behind.

This made Yan Xue feel a little funny. "You have all the things. Mine is not sinking."

Qi Fang didn't let go, and raised his chin to signal her to keep going forward, "It's okay, it's getting dark."

It means that no one else can see it anyway.

This felt quite novel. Because of the height difference, it even seemed like Qi Fang was carrying Yan Xue.

Thinking that it was indeed dark now, Yan Xue didn't say anything else. Just as she was about to turn into another road, she heard someone say in the darkness: "It's okay, no one will be out at this time."

Yan Xue raised her eyes and met Liu Weiguo's eyes as he came towards her.