Shao Chen stepped forward, placed a wooden plank on his back, and Zhang Guodong sat on it, looking up at the busy people on the flat sand.
This is the land of slogans, the land that will belong to us for the next twenty years. It took two desert off-road vehicles more than a day to get here.
They arrived at dusk, so everyone ate something, drank some water, and rested for the night. The next morning, Section Chief Liu and the bureau's senior experts, with the assistance of others, began their work at the Gobi Desert boundary.
Although the desert area is large, with the help of the Beidou positioning system, the location and area of this place are basically consistent with those marked on the map, with an error of only a few meters. For such a manually demarcated area, the accuracy is already very high.
Especially around that area, there are several sand dunes. Now, flags are planted on those dunes, with green squares marking the slogans.
The flat, sandy area of 3 square kilometers in the center will be Zhang Guodong's planting experiment site for the next twenty years. Of course, this area is quite large, and to facilitate the experiments over the next twenty years, houses and storage rooms will need to be built here.
Looking down, Zhang Guodong suddenly became interested and took down the dust-repelling magic artifact, storing it in his storage bag.
A cool, desert breeze, characteristic of the desert, blew against my skin, slightly warm. It carried a few grains of sand, but overall, the gentle breeze felt refreshing.
Dry! Hot!
water!
The only feeling I had was a strong craving for water. Breathing the somewhat dry air for a while, I started to feel uncomfortable.
"Water is so precious in the desert, and now I truly understand its value!"
Whether it's humans or animals, or plants, which one can live without water? And thinking about the next twenty years, having to grow plants in this arid desert with its huge temperature fluctuations, it's a real challenge to do it with a normal mindset and ordinary methods.
Just last night, the daytime high temperatures, which were close to 30 degrees Celsius, dropped rapidly into the evening. By late at night, everyone felt that wearing thicker clothes would be more suitable. The temperature difference was quite significant.
Furthermore, we didn't see any large animals along the way in the desert. In fact, at this time of year, we didn't even see a single sand scorpion.
Only on the leeward side of some sand dunes can you occasionally find a sea buckthorn or a cactus, demonstrating their tenacious vitality.
However, these plants that have survived naturally and tenaciously are few in number, serving only to adorn the desert and bring greenery.
"Wouldn't Lu Ruo go insane if he survived for six months, a year, or even longer in an environment completely devoid of greenery and life?"
I wiped my forehead; beads of sweat dampened my palms. I was actually sweating!
Zhang Guodong, however, didn't seem to care, even breaking out in a sweat. For him, it was a kind of enjoyment. So he simply took off his extra thick clothes, leaving only thin clothes. He patted his storage bag, and a flask of "Second-Grade Spirit Wine" appeared in his hand.
This small, duck-spouted wine jug, holding no more than three ounces of wine, is something Zhang Guodong usually keeps hundreds of in reserve, just for savoring, not for guzzling. The appreciation lies in the atmosphere and sentiment, in experiencing the flavor deep within one's bones—that's true delight!
"Guodong, Guodong!" The fat man waved and shouted from below, immediately breaking Zhang Xiandong's reverie.
"Sigh!" Zhang Guodong got up helplessly, sat on the wooden plank, and slid down quickly.
This is a very effective exercise.
If an ordinary person were to walk down this path, they would stumble and fall, making progress extremely difficult. But with this plank, as long as one holds on firmly, one can avoid the suffering of sinking and reach the bottom much faster, several times more quickly.
This was taught to me by locals who frequently go into the desert to haul sand.
The section chief and the others below were sweating profusely, but the fat man, who seemed embarrassed and smug, didn't break a sweat at all.
"What is it?" Zhang Guodong asked as he went over.
At this moment, Zhang Guodong did not use his spiritual power to cover the surroundings, enjoying the rare tranquility of being a mortal.
With each experience and insight, Zhang Guodong felt he benefited immensely, which could be seen as a way of tempering his resolve for cultivation. This accumulation was an invaluable, invisible asset, not immediately apparent, but likely to subtly facilitate his future cultivation, making it easier.
"We received a forecast from the Municipal Meteorological Bureau saying that there might be a sandstorm in the Ningyun Desert area around 9:30 a.m. We've been marking off the area for over an hour, that's about it. Should we leave now, or set up camp here?" the fat man said seriously.
Everyone looked at Zhang Guodong.
Originally, Section Chief Liu received a call from the bureau and reported it to Fatty, but unexpectedly, Secretary Wang went to seek Zhang Guodong's opinion.
"9:30? That's another half hour, isn't it?" Zhang Guodong checked the time. It was already close to 9:00 AM, and he couldn't help but ask in surprise.
"If the phone time is correct, that should be the case!" the fat man said with a wry smile.
"Can we get out of this sandstorm area in half an hour?"
"It probably won't work. Half an hour is a very limited distance to travel here. The bureau said that this sandstorm is affecting a wide area, and Ningyun County will also be affected," said Section Chief Liu.
"Then let's set up camp. You know the area better than I do!" Zhang Guodong said, waving his hand.
Nobody likes sandstorms. The air is thick with sand, making it difficult to breathe.
Zhang Guodong gave the final decision, and everyone quickly put down their work and set up camp. One by one, sturdy tents were unloaded from the truck and then quickly erected on the flat sand like flowers.
"This tent is a specialized desert tent. Don't let its rough appearance fool you; it's incredibly sturdy, and even a typical storm couldn't tear it apart! Four legs are connected to four thick ropes that hold the ballast material deep in the sand, and that material is quite heavy!"
Zhang Guodong and the fat man don't need to lift a finger, Section Chief Liu...
At this point, Section Chief Liu also set aside his airs and joined the guides and local police officers, quickly setting up the tents. The three tents were arranged in a circle, providing mutual support.
“There are still four seats in the car. Secretary Wang, Young Master Zhang, would you mind sharing one? Old Wang will grant you one!” Section Chief Liu hesitated for a moment when he saw the two desert off-road vehicles before speaking.
Old Wang, affectionately known as "Instructor Wang," is the oldest among them, so it's not surprising that he lives in the vehicle. Little Xu, on the other hand, is the only young woman in the group. A policewoman, she's come to the desert with everyone, and she's never complained about the hardships.
Zhang Guodong and the fat man didn't refuse and nodded. Instructor Wang seemed indifferent and was about to get in the car. But Xiao Xu hesitated and said, "Section Chief Liu, you go ahead. I'll stay in the tent!"
Are there differences between men and women? Xiao Xu's expression became slightly unnatural.
Who was Section Chief Liu? He immediately understood. But now he was in a dilemma. Was he really going to let a policewoman stay in a tent? Normally, Section Chief Liu wouldn't be so modest, but with Secretary Wang and Young Master Zhang present, he had to act more humble, right?
So he couldn't help but look at Zhang Guodong and the fat man. This matter still needed to be resolved by the people involved.
"Xiao Xu, come to our car. It's not crowded with three people. This sandstorm will pass soon!" the fat man said.
Zhang Guodong rolled his eyes and got into the car.
Everyone else is mindful of the differences between men and women, but the fat guy is having three people squeezed into one car.
Little did he know, the fat man was thinking to himself, "Guodong, you've got a good deal this time. Show some of your masculine charm! That young lady has been looking at you quite a few times along the way. She can't stay with an old man. She should stay with a young person instead; it'll be safer that way."
My family is used to this dirty coal hauling method, but they didn't realize they should say, "I'll stay in a tent too, so you two can keep the truck!"
The light bulb shone brightly!
This sandstorm came incredibly fast. In just over ten minutes, everyone had set up their tents. The once blue sky and white clouds were instantly covered by a layer of gray clouds, which spread rapidly.
The weather forecast said it would be 9:30, but at 9:10, the wind picked up and gradually picked up, and the sand stung the exposed skin.
Inside the SUV, there was enough room for two people to lie down, but with three, it was impossible to lie flat. There was also a shy young girl, well, she was probably twenty-one or twenty-two. Zhang Guodong and the fat man couldn't just say anything casually or say anything inappropriate.
The little girl, Xu Ning, was in the front seat; both seats were quite spacious and she could lie down comfortably.
But the fat guy was restless; he started flirting with the young girl. Zhang Guodong leaned back, quickly closing his eyes and letting his mind wander.
"Little Xu, um, that's not a good way to address you. Actually, we're not that far apart in age. I'll just call you Xu Ning," the fat man said. "This guy next to me is Zhang Guodong. He'll be here often, so I'll have to ask Xu Ning to take care of him. It's always good to have someone you know in this area!"
"Secretary Wang, you flatter me. I'm just a trainee police officer, how could I possibly be of any help?" Xu Ning said awkwardly.
The young girl, Xu Ning, knew that a section chief from the city had arrived. His rank was the same as their bureau chief; both were at the level of section chief.
Then, as Section Chief Liu spoke with great deference to the older, chubby "Secretary Wang," he was surprised to hear him address him so respectfully. What kind of secretary was this? So young?
But it must be a leader much higher in rank than himself. He hadn't seen a section chief of the same rank as the bureau chief so respectful; he'd only ever seen the bureau chief and the county party secretary with such deference.
County Party Secretary, what a high-ranking official that is.
You don't know how powerful a county party secretary is until you go to the local level. It can't be measured by administrative rank alone.
The fat man laughed and said, "Why are you still calling me Secretary Wang? That's too formal! I'm a few years older than you. I only graduated from university a few years ago, so just call me Brother Wang, that's Brother Zhang!"
Zhang Guodong couldn't listen anymore.
"Damn it, I never knew this fat guy had a talent for pimping!"
"Fatty, I'm getting out and sleeping in the tent. You guys stay here." Zhang Guodong opened the car door, and a gust of sand flew in.
"Damn, no way?" The fat man's face fell immediately upon seeing this. He also got off the bus. "It's just about building a good relationship with local officials. Why are they being so sensitive? Now look what's happened, if we stay any longer we'll really be alone together!"
Xu Ning was stunned for a moment.
Did the two leaders get out of the car and move into a tent? Is the tent more comfortable than the car?
Chapter 1 La Media
Everyone was prepared and waited for the sandstorm to pass.
So we ate and drank whatever we wanted in the car and tent. This time, we mainly brought convenience foods and ready-to-eat meals that don't keep for long. Enough for four days if we were frugal.
However, we couldn't bring much water; in fact, no matter how much we brought, it wouldn't be enough.
The water cooler was full; they had brought sixteen. But in just over a day, they had used nine. Even so, everyone still felt very uncomfortable.
Wearing thick clothes makes you sweat easily in the desert, especially when you're working or moving around. But this sweat gets trapped inside your clothes, making you feel very uncomfortable.
Also, even if you wet your face with water, your skin will feel dry again after a while, and your mouth and nose will feel uncomfortable from dryness.
"Hey, why did Secretary Wang and Young Master Zhang get out of the car? Are they going to stay in a tent?" In another car, Section Chief Liu was in the back seat, sipping water and eating some cured meat, glancing out the window out of boredom.
Suddenly, he saw two people get out of another car. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Fatty and Zhang Guodong.
"What's wrong with Xiao Xu? Did he anger Secretary Wang and Young Master Zhang?" Section Chief Liu asked, frowning.
"Little Liu, really? Little Xu is a decent guy," Old Wang said casually.
“Old Wang, you’re wrong about that. Why is it that Secretary Rui and Young Master Zhang are different? Look at Wenlu Bu. Do Secretary Wang and Young Master Di suffer the same hardships as us? If it were an ordinary young master, would they be so easy to talk to?” Section Chief Liu said sternly.
Old Wang was taken aback, then nodded.
That's really true!
Overall, both of them had an air of arrogance. But they didn't make things difficult for each other along the way; on the contrary, they were very nice to each other.
"I'll go down and see what's going on!" Section Chief Liu glanced outside and listened to the sound of sand hitting the window. He wrapped his head and face up, put on a pair of glasses, and then got out of the car.
But in her heart, she muttered to herself, "Serving these young masters is really not easy."
However, Section Chief Liu is ambitious. Most people want to build connections with higher-ups, but lack the connections. It's very difficult. He'll have to please this Secretary Wang well, leave a good impression, and maybe he'll have a chance to hitch a ride later. Yes, a hitch a ride!
The thought of Party Secretary Wang, who would later become the provincial governor, filled Section Chief Liu with a sense of urgency. If he weren't short-sighted, he would definitely introduce his sister to Secretary Wang!
There were four people in the General Affairs Section Chief position, and he remained in that position through two successive bureau chiefs. Mainly because his rank was too low; he didn't meet the standards of the bureau chiefs and others.
"Secretary Wang, Young Master Zhang, it's me, Liu Xi!" Section Chief Liu called out loudly as he approached the tent. He was afraid that if he shouted too softly, no one would hear him. The wind and sand were howling outside; it really wouldn't be clear unless he spoke loudly.
"Oh, Lao Liu, what's up?" The fat man's voice came from inside the tent. Lao Liu? Section Chief Liu's eyes lit up, and he became somewhat excited. Before, it was always "Section Chief Liu," but now it was Lao Liu, which indicated a closer relationship.
"Secretary Wang, why aren't you and Young Master Zhang in the car? Did Little Xu upset you two? I'll go to her right now!" Section Chief Liu said.
"Forget it, it has nothing to do with Xiao Xu. We just want to experience what it's like to live in a tent in the desert. Let's go down!" the fat man said.
"Why!"
Section Chief Liu paused for a moment before turning back.
But as we walked, I felt I still needed to give Xiao Xu a heads-up. This girl wasn't particularly beautiful, but being a recent graduate, her youthful energy and shyness were quite captivating.
"Knock knock knock!" Thinking this, Section Chief Liu knocked on the window of the SUV.
"Section Chief Liu, what can I do for you?" Xu Ning opened the car door, and Section Chief Liu climbed in, which frightened her. What if Section Chief Liu tried to touch her inappropriately?
His eyes were full of wariness!
However, Old Liu was preoccupied and didn't notice any of this. He said, "Little Xu, there's something I need to remind you of. Do you know who Secretary Wang and Young Master Zhang are?"
Xu Ning shook his head.
"Secretary Wang's rank is equivalent to your current executive deputy county head!"
Xu Ning was astonished. Such a high-ranking official?
Section Chief Liu was slightly smug. The little girl was just naive and had never seen the world. What was this?
"But that's not the most important thing. Secretary Wang is a very influential figure. Even our bureau chief has to treat him with great respect!"
"Besides, this young master Zhang has a very powerful background! If you can get close to either of them, you'll be set!" Section Chief Liu concluded.
After saying that, he drove off.
Xiao Xu Ning was stunned, her face flushed. Was Section Chief Liu suggesting I try to seduce Secretary Wang or Young Master Zhang?
I'd heard before that many women become mistresses of officials for career advancement. I even had a classmate of mine who became her boss's mistress. And now this has happened to me?
The young woman's mind was in turmoil. Could it be that Secretary Wang or Young Master Zhang had taken a liking to her? And were they sending Section Chief Liu to give her a hint?
"I said, such a good opportunity, and you actually gave it up? Damn it, this is so unfair!" Inside the tent, the fat man twisted and turned awkwardly, looking at Zhang Guodong with a resentful expression.
As soon as Zhang Guodong got out of the car, he felt embarrassed to stay any longer. It turned out he was feeling cramped. The small space was incredibly stuffy, and even with a dust-repelling artifact, the feeling of being crowded couldn't be eliminated; it was the psychological effect of the confinement.
Zhang Guodong ignored him and just frowned, saying, "Will this sandstorm end in an hour?"
"Tch, sandstorms are supposedly quite normal in the desert. They come and go quickly. But a real sandstorm can last a long time!" the fat man said.
"Unfortunately, you may have exaggerated!" Zhang Guodong said.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!" Countless grains of sand pelted the tent, the sound seemingly doubling in intensity. It was as if sand was falling from the sky, clump after clump landing on the tent.
"Woo"
The sound of the wind outside caused everyone's expression to change.
"It's only just begun!" the fat man said.
Indeed, the sandstorm had only been going on for about ten minutes. These weather changes are incredibly unpredictable. Zhang Guodong felt the sandstorm might not end anytime soon, but he wasn't entirely sure.
That's right, the sandstorm and wind are getting stronger right now.
The sandstorm came suddenly. Except for those on the outskirts who returned to the county town, those in the center didn't have much time. Like Zhang Guodong and the others, they pitched their tents against their vehicles and tied the ropes to the vehicles.
But this sandstorm lasted for over ten hours, far exceeding everyone's expectations. They cursed the meteorologists, saying their ancestors were ancient history, and that it would only last an hour or two. Now, not only had it intensified, but it had also lasted for so long. Before they knew it, it was evening.
Even at night, a thick sandstorm was still blowing outside. It caused the tents to toss and turn, making it impossible for anyone to...
Wearing.
Bi: That's all for today.
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