The Journey to Find Relatives: A Bond Connecting the Frontier
The next morning, Li Baolong and Wang Yumei got up hurriedly like two startled birds and left the small inn. They looked a little disheveled, but also resolute. After buying two naan breads and a few baked buns from a roadside naan shop, they ate as they continued on their way.
They took a taxi to the bus station, where minibuses to Tiemenguan Township ran every half hour. The two boarded and found adjacent seats before settling down to eat. The journey was over 50 kilometers, costing five yuan per person. After a 20-minute wait, the minibus slowly started moving. A bumpy ride followed, and an hour later, the minibus stopped in the small square in front of the Tiemenguan Township government building. Passengers disembarked, and the two of them followed. After a brief discussion, they decided to go to the police station next to the township government building to inquire.
At the police station, the officer on duty received them. Wang Yumei handed over the envelope, and after checking the address and postmark, the officer informed her that the location was correct, but the letter was written many years ago. To find out where the person was now, they would need to check the household registration information and consult their superiors. Their superiors were in a meeting at the government office and wouldn't return for an hour, so the two waited patiently in the lobby.
A little over an hour later, two police officers entered. The officer on duty explained the situation to Chief Zhang, and Wang Yumei quickly stepped forward to explain why she had come to Xinjiang to find her father. Chief Zhang frowned and said, "The amount of information needed to find this person is too large; there are quite a few people with the surname Wang in the village." At this moment, Li Baolong stepped forward: "Chief Zhang, her father is Wang Aiguo, originally from Jianzhou, Sichuan. He attended a vocational school, is educated, is fifty years old, Han Chinese, and 170 cm tall. This should narrow down the search." Chief Zhang nodded: "Let Officer Li help you check the household registration information." Li Baolong and Wang Yumei were filled with gratitude.
Throughout this arduous search for her family, Li Baolong held Wang Yumei's hand tightly, his gaze firm and warm, as if silently telling her: no matter what, he would always be there for her. Wang Yumei looked at Li Baolong, tears welling in her eyes. This man who had always been by her side was her strongest support on this difficult journey. A delicate affection was quietly growing between them, like a flower in the desert, striving to bloom in this harsh environment.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
