Qin Yalan is from Jilin Province. The two met when Chen Tiejun was serving in the army in Jilin Province.

Because of the distance, it was especially difficult for Qin Yalan to go back to her parents' home. Before the family was separated, going back to her parents' home was not only inconvenient due to transportation, but also required her to be mindful of her in-laws' attitudes.

Qin Yalan took a few extra days off to visit her daughter in Heilongjiang Province this time, thinking she would stop by Jilin Province on her way back and visit her parents there.

So when Chen Shuning finished packing, she realized that she had been overthinking things. It turned out that most of the things her mother brought were for her maternal grandparents. Only the raisins and dates that her sister brought were hers, and even then, not all of them, only a part of them.

Just as the two finished packing their things, Chen Jiandang, who was shoveling snow outside, rushed back in a hurry.

"Sister, sister, the older brothers and sisters in the courtyard are going to the mountain to chop firewood. Can you tell them to take me with them?"

According to the former educated youth, it's not the coldest time of the year yet, so as long as it doesn't snow, everyone will still go up the mountain to chop firewood.

After all, not everyone bought coal; for most people, the primary way to keep warm in winter was still by burning firewood.

Since the incident of encountering wild boars in the mountains, the educated youths have been hesitant to venture into the mountains to gather firewood, preferring to stay near the foot of the mountain.

There was no danger, so Chen Shuning smiled and agreed. As she went out, she ran into Gu Xinyi and her group, who were about to gather in the front yard.

Chen Shuning then told Gu Xinyi about Chen Jiandang's trip to the mountains and asked her to look after him.

Gu Xinyi readily agreed, saying it was just a matter of helping out along the way.

Then Chen Shuning went back into the house and found the tattered cotton-padded coat he had worn on the mountain and gave it to Chen Jiandang.

Although it was a bit small, it was still wearable. On the condition that Chen Shuning promised to make him a new one later, Chen Jiandang reluctantly put on his sister's blue cotton-padded jacket, and followed the others up the mountain with the dry food and water that Chen Shuning had prepared for him.

After seeing Chen Jiandang off and packing their things, the mother and daughter visited the homes of the brigade leader and Old Yang, who usually took good care of Chen Shuning. Then they went home to prepare dinner.

Chen Shuning had an ordinary day, but He Chaoyang, back at the army base, had a rather thrilling one.

He Chaoyang was fast on his feet, and the journey that usually takes more than two hours was completed in just over an hour.

I rushed back to the unit around 6:00 AM, just as it was getting light, and found myself caught in an emergency assembly. I learned that the nearby Peace Brigade had been attacked by wolves in the mountains the previous night.

The Peace Brigade was originally called Lianshanwazi. As you can tell from the name, the brigade was built in a valley. So, every few years, when there was heavy snow or a bad harvest, they would be attacked by wild animals in the mountains.

This year, the snow in the mountains was probably too heavy, and the small animals all hid in their dens, so the wild wolves in the deep mountains couldn't find food and started coming down the mountain to attack the villages.

I heard that in this wolf attack, there were about 300 wolves that came down from the mountain to attack the villagers, which is almost a whole pack.

This resulted in the deaths of three villagers and injuries to many others, prompting He Chaoyang to go directly to the regimental headquarters.

Regimental Commander Zhang Qingshan originally intended to lead his team to hunt down the wolves, but upon seeing He Chaoyang return in time, he immediately changed his mind.

He hurriedly ushered the man into his office, and as soon as they sat down, he said impatiently, "Xiao He, you've come at the right time. The Heping Brigade was attacked by wolves last night. According to the villagers who came for help, there were about three hundred wolves. So far, three people have died and many others have been injured. The brigade's cattle and sheep have suffered serious losses."

Their captain risked coming out to warn the wolves before they retreated into the mountains at dawn. To prevent the wolves from attacking the villagers again, Comrade He Chaoyang, the troops are now assembling. I order you to set off immediately, leading your company to the Heping Brigade to encircle and exterminate the wolves.”

Upon hearing the order, He Chaoyang immediately saluted and replied, "Understood. Lead the team to the Peace Brigade immediately to wipe out the wolf pack."

"Be careful. When you come back, I'll have the cooks slaughter a pig to welcome you back."

"Yes, thank you, Commander. Let's keep the pigs until the New Year to slaughter them. When I come back, I'll bring you a few wolves so the cooks can stew wolf meat."

He Chaoyang had also heard about the deeds of the old commander of the 358th Regiment.

The 358th Regiment was an elite independent regiment during the War of Resistance against Japan, playing a crucial role in several key battles.

Once, when the 358th Regiment was conducting guerrilla warfare in this area.

Surrounded by the enemy and without any supplies, the old regimental commander, who was then a platoon leader, survived by leading his men to hunt in the mountains.

He Chaoyang's words instantly reminded Zhang Qingshan of his youth when he fought as a guerrilla in the Daqing Mountains.

Zhang Qingshan had eaten plenty of wolf meat back in the day, so when he heard He Chaoyang's words, he laughed heartily: "Alright, keep the pig for the New Year, I'll wait for you to bring me back wolf meat."

Zhang Qingshan and the deputy regimental commander were both veterans who had participated in the War of Resistance against Japan, just like the deputy regimental commander who had retired to the second line due to illness.

Regiment Commander Zhang Qingshan is not young anymore. Coupled with the injuries he suffered when he was young, he is in his fifties but his body is like that of a sixty or seventy-year-old. He should have been retired to the second line long ago.

However, because he had been in the army since he was a teenager and had a deep affection for the 358th Regiment, he refused several requests from his superiors to promote him to officer and even declared that he would stay in the 358th Regiment until the day he could no longer move.

But time waits for no man. With his old arms and legs, he's still good at making decisions from the rear, but personally taking up arms and going into battle is a bit of a hindrance.

Especially these veterans who came from the battlefield, they all have some kind of aftereffects of their injuries.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!