The streets of Dingyuan City possessed a ruggedness and vitality unique to the frontier. Shen Yuewei and Xiao Chengjing strolled through them, accompanied by Lu Zheng's personal guards.

"Chengjing, look at these flatbreads, they smell so good!" Shen Yuewei pointed to a steaming oven by the roadside, where the vendor was using tongs to turn the golden, crispy flatbreads sprinkled with sesame seeds.

"Want to try a couple?" Xiao Chengjing smiled and took out his money. "Yuwei, don't you think the people here have particularly bright eyes? They have a kind of tenacity about them."

“Yes,” Shen Yuewei took the warm sesame flatbread, broke off a piece, and smelled its aroma. “Although life is a bit tough and the sandstorms are fierce, seeing them busy making a living and guarding their homes makes me feel at ease. An’an is here… I’m sure she’s witnessed a resilience that’s not found in Jiangnan.” She took a bite of the flatbread; it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a wheaty fragrance. “It tastes so good! It’s no worse than the pastries in the capital!”

The two strolled through the bustling market, looking at the unique furs and medicinal herbs found in the border region. Shen Yuewei picked out several thick, warm sheepskins for An'an, and also bought a lot of high-quality licorice, astragalus, and other medicinal herbs unique to the northern frontier, thinking that her daughter might be able to use them.

"Yuewei, look over there." Xiao Chengjing pointed to the foot of the city wall, where a group of children dressed in tattered clothes but with bright eyes were surrounding an old soldier, listening to him tell stories of war with great enthusiasm. "An'an also loved listening to stories when she was little, and she would pester the old soldiers in the manor to tell her stories."

“Yes,” Shen Yuewei’s eyes softened, “She’s probably telling stories to the wounded soldiers now, comforting them, isn’t she?” The thought that her daughter might be in this city, or even somewhere in the city, made Shen Yuewei’s heart clench again. But looking at the vibrant border town before her, that clenching feeling was replaced by a strange sense of peace. Her daughter was doing something meaningful, in a place full of strength.

In the following days, Lu Zheng personally accompanied Xiao Chengjing and his wife on a tour of some of the Zhenbei Army's camps. Watching the soldiers' deafening shouts of battle during their drills, seeing the simple yet orderly environment of the wounded soldiers' camp, and observing the determination on those young or weathered faces, Xiao Chengjing's worries gradually subsided.

“Brother Lu is strict in managing his troops, the soldiers are in high spirits, and the military medical department looks very well organized.” Standing on a high slope, looking down at the continuous camps, Xiao Chengjing said to Lu Zheng with emotion, “Yuewei is right. Seeing this with my own eyes has really put my mind at ease. As long as An’an is careful here, she should be safe.”

Lu Zheng laughed heartily: "Brother Chengjing, don't worry! The men of my Zhenbei Army are all excellent! The brothers of the Military Medical Department are also very dedicated! If your daughter is really here, she will definitely be well taken care of!" He thought to himself that the order to strengthen screening had already been issued at all levels, just waiting for the fish to emerge.

On the morning of the day that Xiao Chengjing and his wife inspected the main camp of wounded soldiers, accompanied by Lu Zheng.

"Anping! Anping!" Wang Mazi's loud voice rang out outside the tent. "Quick! We just received news that several excellent 'Snow-Seeing Grass' plants have been found at Black Stone Cliff! This stuff has miraculous effects in stopping bleeding and promoting tissue regeneration, but the place where it grows is too dangerous! Physician Li said that only you dare to go, and he trusts you! Hurry up and pack your tools, bringing them back will be a great achievement!"

Inside the tent, Anping immediately put down the pestle in her hand, her eyes lighting up: "Black Stone Cliff? Snow-Seeing Grass? I'll go right now!" She quickly slung her specially made medicine basket over her shoulder, took a rope and a small hoe, said goodbye to Wang Mazi, and hurriedly left the military camp, her figure disappearing on the road leading to the northern mountains.

Less than an hour after she left, Lu Zheng led Xiao Chengjing and Shen Yuewei into the main camp of wounded soldiers.