Xu Xinghe couldn't help but laugh after hearing this.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Qiang's fear of death actually helped them.
Dinner was brown rice mixed with pickled vegetables.
Normally, Xu Xinghe would only eat half a bowl before losing her appetite, but today, after hearing Jiang Linchuan's reasons for persuading Zhang Qiang, she felt completely relieved, and even the rice in her bowl seemed much more delicious.
But recalling how frightened she was yesterday, she couldn't help but feel a bit resentful towards Jiang Linchuan.
"Why didn't you say before that you would find a chance to take Chen Yifan to the hospital?" Xu Xinghe put down her chopsticks, her tone slightly reproachful. "I was worried about how he would eat and drink while he was still unconscious. I was so anxious all day yesterday that I forgot to ask you."
Jiang Linchuan couldn't help but laugh at her pouty face, and reached out to brush a stray hair from her forehead. "I was just preparing for the worst. I didn't want to tell you before it was done, afraid you'd worry even more. If the plan went wrong, telling you would only make you anxious. But you can rest assured now. I've asked the contact person for help, and they'll make arrangements for Chen Yifan. At least until we complete our mission and leave the forest, he won't be coming back."
Xu Xinghe's dissatisfaction vanished instantly.
She picked up her chopsticks and took another bite of rice. "If I had known you had plans, I wouldn't have stayed up so late yesterday that my eyes were all red."
As she spoke, she picked up another piece of pickled vegetables with her chopsticks and finished off the rice in her bowl in a few bites.
This was the first time she had eaten so much since she came to the forest farm.
"Alright, go back to your dorm and rest now that you've eaten. You haven't been sleeping well these past few days. Leave the rest to me, don't worry about it anymore."
Xu Xinghe nodded, cleaned up the dishes, said goodbye to Jiang Linchuan, and happily returned to the female educated youth dormitory.
That night, she didn't toss and turn anymore; she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and slept exceptionally soundly.
In an inconspicuous house in town.
Chen Yifan slowly opened his eyes.
He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling and the simple tables and chairs around him, his mind a complete blank.
He tried to sit up, but found that his body was still a little weak and his arms and legs had little strength.
"Is anyone there?" Chen Yifan called out tentatively, his voice still a little hoarse.
Soon, the door was pushed open, and a man in plain clothes walked in.
Chen Yifan quickly asked, "Where am I? Who are you? Why did you bring me here?"
The man said expressionlessly, "You don't need to know where you are. Just stay here quietly. Three meals a day will be delivered to you. Don't ask any other questions."
"No! You have to tell me why you're doing this to me!" Chen Yifan cried out, struggling to get out of bed. "Did I do something wrong? Or have you arrested the wrong person?"
But the man didn't answer his question at all, turned around and left, closing the door behind him.
Chen Yifan quickly climbed off the bed, staggered to the door, and pulled on it, only to find it locked tight.
He went to the window and pushed it hard, but the window was locked, and he could only look out through the glass.
There were two people standing guard in the courtyard outside, their expressions serious and their eyes wary.
Chen Yifan panicked instantly, pounding on the door, shouting, "Open the door! Open the door now! I need to get out!"
After a short while, the same man came back in, frowning as he asked, "What are you trying to do?"
"You have to tell me why you're doing this to me!" Chen Yifan's voice was trembling with tears. "I'm just an ordinary educated youth, I haven't done anything wrong, have you arrested the wrong person?"
The man was silent for a moment before finally speaking, "This needs to be kept secret, I can't tell you. But don't worry, you can leave in a week at most. Until then, stay put and don't make any more noise."
After saying that, he turned and left again, closing the door behind him.
Chen Yifan sat on the bed, looking at the tightly closed doors and windows, and the panic in his heart gradually subsided.
He thought of the guards outside, pondered the man's words, and suddenly realized what was going on.
This looks like a soldier from the military; he might be involved in something unusual.
Thinking about it this way, he wasn't so afraid anymore. After all, the military and the people are one family. It was just a little strange.
Why was I brought here in the first place?
The next five days were exceptionally peaceful at the forest farm.
Xu Xinghe and Jiang Linchuan tacitly avoided meeting alone, each working with the educated youth team.
They did everything with exceptional care, turning the soil, weeding, and moving timber, as if they were just two ordinary educated youths.
The final stage allows no room for error, and they dare not relax in the slightest.
Xu Xinghe remained inseparable from Zhao Xiaoyan and Wang Lili, listening to them chat about everyday things during meals, complaining about the weather with them while working, and occasionally helping the female educated youth solve small problems, completely immersing herself in the identity of Li Juan.
Jiang Linchuan was more silent, mostly working quietly, occasionally chatting with the male educated youth about wrestling matches, but never touching on anything else.
He would keep an eye on the entrance to the forest farm every day, waiting for the day when the main force would suddenly rush in.
On the morning of the fifth day, the sun shone exceptionally brightly.
Xu Xinghe and Zhao Xiaoyan were weeding in the field, chatting and laughing.
Wang Lili chimed in, "There will be another bus to town soon, shall we go together?"
Zhao Xiaoyan nodded repeatedly, "Great! I only feel alive when I go to town. Here, there are nothing but trees..."
Just then, a series of orderly footsteps suddenly came from afar.
Xu Xinghe's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly looked up.
A group of people in military uniforms were walking briskly toward the forest farm. Their steps were neat and their manner was impressive. They quickly took control of all the exits of the forest farm.
"What...what's going on?" Zhao Xiaoyan's smile froze on her face instantly. She was a little scared and subconsciously grabbed Xu Xinghe's arm.
Before anyone could react, the soldiers had already entered the work area.
Several of them ran straight towards Zhang Qiang's location at great speed. After showing their identification, they quickly subdued Zhang Qiang, who was still directing the villagers to work, and put him in handcuffs.
"What are you doing! Let me go! I'm the head of the forest farm!" Zhang Qiang struggled and shouted, his face as pale as paper.
"Father! Let go of my father!" Zhang Qianqian rushed out from the crowd, trying to rush over, but was stopped by the soldiers next to her and held down in place.
She looked at her father, who was being held captive, with a panicked expression, completely unaware of what was happening.
The educated youth were also stunned by this sudden scene. They didn't even notice that the hoes and sickles in their hands had fallen to the ground. They all stopped what they were doing and stood there watching, not daring to breathe.
The soldiers simply watched the crowd warily and did nothing else. "Don't panic, stay where you are, and cooperate with our work."
Zhao Xiaoyan covered her mouth in surprise, leaned close to Xu Xinghe's ear, and whispered, "My God, so many soldiers... Could Zhang Qiang have committed some serious crime?"
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