Chapter 299 Search
Gansu Province has a high altitude and is rich in loess.
The distance from Da County, Sichuan Province to Ding County, Gansu Province is nearly seven or eight hundred kilometers.
The Daxian County Government sent a double-row Jiefang brand truck with four comrades on board to go to Gansu Province to participate in an experience exchange activity on planting technology.
The rear compartment was pulled with a military green tarpaulin, which contained some crop seeds and improvement tools, all of which were needed for communication.
When passing through two other counties, two more groups of people got on, bringing in some more things. Everyone greeted each other happily, and the people who got on later sat in the back of the car, and bursts of singing could often be heard during the journey.
Although the road was bumpy, it was crowded and lively, so we stopped and walked as we pleased and were not in a hurry to get on with our journey.
The truck drove slowly until noon on the third day when it finally arrived at Ding County, Gansu Province.
Su Tong swayed in the car and almost fell asleep all the way.
Ding County and Huining County are adjacent to each other, only a few dozen kilometers apart.
The truck will carry the comrades participating in the exchange and the seeds and tools to the designated location for gathering.
When passing by the bus station, Su Tong said goodbye to them, got off the bus with his luggage, and thanked them for their care along the way.
The person in charge of Da County enthusiastically invited Su Tong to go to the venue with them, and he could help her find out if there was a ride to Huining. Su Tong politely declined.
Most of the journey has been completed, so there is no need to trouble others anymore.
After waiting at the bus station for half an hour, she boarded a long-distance bus to Huining County.
The bus is very crowded, mainly because the driver won't leave until it is full.
Fortunately, Su Tong got on the bus early and found a seat in the corner. Along the way, there were chickens, ducks and geese calling, children crying, and women scolding each other. It was very lively.
Su Tong didn't seem to be disturbed, just quietly looking at the vast yellow sky outside the car window.
It was almost dark when the car wobbled into the Huining County Bus Station, let out a long breath, and stopped.
Su Tong found the Huining County Government Guesthouse and stayed there.
Her letter of introduction was issued by the Da County Public Security Bureau, and the staff were very polite when they read it.
These days, basically only government guesthouses are equipped with telephones.
Su Tong called the Da County Public Security Bureau and asked the police comrades to help pass the message to Lin Li - "You have arrived safely in Huining County."
This is the "most basic requirement" Lin Li put forward to her.
He had to know her situation at all times, otherwise he would not be able to face the "storm" from the boss when he came back.
The next morning, Su Tong took a bus to Hengshan Town, and then took a donkey cart from Hengshan Town to Shuanggouzi Village, the hometown of Old Lady Wu.
What meets the eye is yellow earth everywhere and rows of cave dwellings of different heights.
Su Tong was holding a bag of biscuits and fruit candies bought in the county town. She grabbed a handful of fruit candies and walked forward to try to get close to the children playing at the entrance of the village. She easily won the trust of the group of children.
When she asked if anyone's grandparents were at home and wanted to ask for a drink of water, a boy named Gangzi immediately raised his hand and shouted:
"Let's go to my house! My house is the closest! My grandma is at home!"
As she said this, she and her sister Taozi "struck first" and took Su Tong's hands, one on the left and one on the right, and pulled her to the door of their cave dwelling amid the envious eyes of the crowd.
Su Tong did not go in. She waited until Gangzi called out his grandmother before she went up to say hello.
When Gangzi’s grandmother saw Su Tong, she was stunned.
Huining County is a well-known poor county, and Hengshan Town is the most inconspicuous town in Huining County. Few outsiders come to Shuanggouzi Village throughout the year.
Su Tong's outstanding temperament and appearance here made her particularly eye-catching.
"Hello, Auntie! I came to the village to do something. I passed by your house and wanted to ask for a drink of water. Do you think it's convenient?"
Grandma Gangzi seemed a little reserved. She wiped her hands on her apron and hurriedly invited Su Tong into the house.
"Oh! What's so inconvenient about this? Come on, come inside."
Su Tong followed Gangzi's grandmother into the cave and saw a brazier burning next to the window at the entrance.
After Su Tong sat down next to the brazier, Gangzi's grandmother took a large bowl and wiped it again and again, then took down the kettle hanging on the brazier and poured a large bowl of water for Su Tong.
Su Tong thanked him before taking the big bowl and drinking from it in small sips.
Gangzi and Taozi grabbed Su Tong's arms and were reluctant to let go. Su Tong gave each of them another box of snacks.
When Gangzi's grandmother saw that the packaging of this snack was not cheap, she said:
"Oh my! These are valuable things, don't let these cowards ruin them!"
As she said this, she tried to snatch it from the two children. Gangzi was afraid that his grandmother would take it back, so he ran out.
When Taozi saw this, she also ducked and crawled out from under her grandmother's arms.
Gangzi's grandmother slapped her thigh and said, "Oh no! There's no way to catch up with him now!"
"It's okay, Auntie! I bought it for the children! They are very sensible and polite, I like them very much!"
Gangzi's grandmother felt a little embarrassed. People just came to drink some water, so there was no need to put these things on them.
Grandma Gangzi then took the initiative to ask: "Girl! It's so cold, what are you doing here alone?"
Su Tong said, "Auntie, I want to go to the commune, but I don't know the way. Please point it out to me later."
"Let's go to the commune! It's still a long way! There's still more than ten miles to go, you should take a rest first! It's almost noon now, let's have a bowl of steamed buns at Auntie's house! There's nothing good in our country, just don't be disgusted!"
"Oh! Thank you, Auntie! I just want to eat some authentic steamed buns!"
When Gangzi's grandmother saw Su Tong's cheerful personality, she was immediately delighted.
He stood up and walked to the stove, "I'll do it right away!"
Su Tong also stood up and said, "Auntie, I'll help you light the fire."
"Oh!" The more Grandma Gangzi looked at Su Tong, the more she liked him.
Wait until the fire in the kang is lit.
Su Tong then began to ask: "Auntie, I heard that there is a big fairy temple in our village, which is very effective in giving birth, is that right?"
Grandma Gangzi paused for a moment before she said, "Girl, you know about the Great Immortal Temple at your age?"
Then he shook his head and said, "It's gone! It was demolished a long time ago! When the 'Four Olds' were destroyed in the early years, they pushed and smashed it, even the bricks were broken into pieces and the ground was leveled. Now the younger people don't even remember this temple! It was so prosperous in the early years!"
"Oh! It's gone!"
Su Tong was not too disappointed. Twenty years had passed, and there was no clue left as to whether the Great Immortal Temple still existed.
"Auntie, were there many cases of lost children here in the past few years?" Su Tong said casually.
Grandma Gangzi paused again, then suddenly put down the spatula and said, "Girl, you're going to the commune to inquire about the missing child, right?"
Su Tong didn't expect Gangzi's grandmother to ask this, so he continued:
"Why? Auntie, can't I ask? Or is there something taboo?"
Grandma Gangzi sighed and said, "It's not a taboo! It's just that some years ago, someone came to look for the child here! He came several times! It was a big deal! Almost everyone in the village knew about it!"
Su Tong put down the fire tongs, his expression gradually becoming serious, "You mean, someone came to the village to look for the child? His child was lost in this village?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
