An Moxue glanced at the troops behind her. She hadn't expected things to go so smoothly after returning. She had successfully entered the National Security Bureau, her identity was now more confidential, and her security level had improved significantly. It wouldn't be as easy for those people to find her as before.

Thinking back on what her boss had told her, she felt a surge of excitement. For the foreseeable future, she would focus on the mission in Osiri, while also taking on missions in Mongolia. She figured she would be traveling between the three countries most of the time, and would have even less time to return to Anle Village. It seemed she needed to learn more foreign languages, as she didn't know when she would need them. "You only realize how little you know when you need it."

She looked at the rising sun ahead, its fiery red color mirroring her current mood. Gazing at it, she smiled.

Just then, a bus heading into the city arrived. An Moxue boarded the bus and looked out the window at the rising sun. She believed that her future would be just like it.

When the bus arrived in Jinlong City, An Moxue first went to the department store to buy some cigarettes, alcohol and pastries. She used most of the money she had just received to buy a lot of things, and then boarded the train back to Anping County.

When An Moxue left, the outside of the train was still covered in snow. Now the snow has melted and it's much warmer. She wondered when she would be able to come back next time.

The noisy chatter and various smells in the carriage felt so familiar and comforting to her. She thought, "It's only been a few days! It feels like so long!"

Time drifted by amidst her jumbled thoughts. Looking at the clothes of these people, few of them were without patches. Then, thinking about the clothing of the Oseri people, An Moxue felt that there were so many things she could do, and so many things waiting for her to do. Why did time feel so tight?

The train slowly came to a stop, and people began to disembark in a crowd. An Moxue also picked up her backpack and followed the crowd off the train.

An Moxue calculated the time and realized that today was the day Old Ma was supposed to drive. She glanced at her watch and saw that she still had time, so she hurried towards where Old Ma had parked his car.

When An Moxue arrived at the destination, she saw Old Ma and several old friends gathered together, chatting about something, with a few fellow villagers sitting on the mule cart.

An Moxue walked over and called out in a clear voice, "Uncle Ma!" Old Ma looked up at her with surprise and said, "You're back!"

"Hello, Uncle Li, Uncle Shao, Uncle Hong."

"Good, it's good that you're back," the old men replied.

Old Ma said to the group, "That's enough for now, we'll talk again next time." Then he led An Moxue back to the mule cart.

An Moxue greeted each of the people in the car one by one.

Then An Moxue sat down next to Old Ma, and the two of them spoke in hushed tones.

Old Ma asked, "How many days can you stay?"

An Moxue didn't say anything, but held up three fingers.

Old Ma asked again, "Are you alright?"

An Moxue shook her head and smiled at Old Ma, saying, "Uncle Ma, don't worry! I'm fine! I miss Auntie's cooking so much."

Old Ma smiled at her and said, "What do you want to eat? When we get home, ask your aunt to cook for you. She'll be so happy to see you back!"

An Moxue nodded like a chick, "Mmm."

When the time came, Old Ma set off with his mule cart.

The two people didn't say anything more. An Moxue listened quietly to the people in the car chatting, occasionally answering their questions. However, none of these people were familiar with An Moxue, so An Moxue just kept quiet and made casual conversation.

Back in the village, An Moxue figured that most of the things in the bag were for Old Ma and his wife, so she didn't go home and went straight to Old Ma's house with the bag on her back.

When Aunt Ma was preparing to cook, she was overjoyed to see An Moxue return.

"Mo Xue, wait here, Auntie will make you something to eat." She said, picking up a basin to scoop out flour.

"Auntie, I'm not hungry yet, no rush. Come on, let's pack our things first." An Moxue said, opening her backpack and starting to take things out.

Aunt Ma watched as she took out cigarettes and alcohol, then a bunch of pastries, until the bag was empty except for a bottle of wine and a bag of pastries.

"Why are you taking all this out? Why don't you keep some for yourself?" Aunt Ma said disapprovingly, reaching for the backpack to pack things inside.

An Moxue quickly snatched the bag and said, "Auntie, these are for you and Uncle Ma. I can only stay at home for three days before I have to leave. What would I do with them!"

"Huh? Why was it so short this time?" Aunt Ma exclaimed in surprise.

"I don't know when I'll be back next time. I just squeezed in some time to come back and see you and Uncle Ma. If I don't hear from you for a long time, don't worry. I'll come back to see you after I finish my mission."

"Do you have an approximate time?" Aunt Ma asked, looking at her.

An Moxue shook her head and said, "I'm not sure, but don't worry, I'll be safe."

"That's good. Will you be able to write letters to let us know you're safe and sound for a long time?"

An Moxue moved closer to her, whispered in her ear, "No, I'm going abroad, I can't contact you."

"Oh? Is it the same this time?" Aunt Ma asked in a low voice.

An Moxue replied softly, "Mmm. It's a secret, you can't tell."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Auntie, how is my friend Chu Dongmei doing here after I left?"

When An Moxue asked about this, Aunt Ma looked troubled and said, "Moxue, you didn't see it. The day after you left, a male educated youth at the settlement started targeting Miss Chu. I don't know where he got the information, but knowing you were gone, he pursued Miss Chu relentlessly. Later, Miss Chu beat him up, and he even tried to extort money from her. Miss Chu reported him to the police, and only then did he realize his mistake. It was too late. Now he's been sent to a farm and is undergoing labor reform. Miss Chu left on the fifth day of the new year. Sigh!"

"She wasn't bullied, was she?"

"No. It's just that I've really angered your Uncle Guo. I don't know if his award for outstanding worker this year will be revoked because of this."

"I'll have to bring Uncle Guo a bottle of wine to calm him down later; I've troubled him again. Auntie, which educated youth were you?"

"You remember Wang Yu from that arrogant five-man group?"

"He doesn't talk much in public, but you can tell he's not a kind person at all."

"Yes, that's him."

"This man just wants to take advantage of Miss Chu because she's a good catch, and he's not going to do anything right."

"This has caused you, Uncle Ma, and Uncle Guo to worry again."

"That's nothing, it's just that your childhood friend, you should write a letter to ask him about it, this whole thing is getting out of hand."

"Hmm, it's nothing. I'll send her a letter before I leave. It's nothing, don't worry about it. How are things between you and Uncle Ma?"

"We're fine, you don't need to worry."

"That's fine then." As she spoke, An Moxue took out a stack of receipts from her pocket and handed them to Aunt Guo, saying, "Auntie, these are all for you. I won't need them when I go out."

Aunt Guo took it and looked at it, then asked, "Why are there so many receipts?"

"It's been several months, they were sent out together, and there won't be any more after that."

"Do you get paid for carrying out these missions?"

"It wasn't available before, but it will be in the future. Don't worry, I have plenty of money."

"Does this mean you've been given a permanent position?" Aunt Ma asked in surprise.

An Moxue smiled and replied, "Mm."