Chapter 84 Wufeng Mountain
April 10, 1977, cloudy turning overcast.
After resting, the group, introduced by Dalai, officially embarked on their expedition route.
The destination of this field investigation was not just one place, but five locations arranged in a curve.
Yes, this is almost the area involved the most, except for the northwest line.
And now this tough nut has fallen into their hands.
The group of dozens of people each carried a large backpack containing waterproof sleeping bags, quick-drying clothes, first-aid kits, compressed biscuits, and special water bottles.
Everyone was wearing matching black windbreakers, high-top hiking boots, gloves, and multi-tools.
When this set was handed out, almost everyone looked at Xia Ming in shock.
Xia Ming waved his hand, "Everyone, take good care of this! Don't lose it, it's very valuable!"
"Mr. Xia, you've struck it rich! How much would one set for each person cost?"
"Just this outfit looks expensive." Someone touched the specially made outer garment.
Xia Ming patted his chest tenderly, "You wouldn't want to know, I'm afraid you'd be too heartbroken to sleep."
He laughed again after he finished speaking, "But we're lucky. These were all sponsored by the 73rd Navy of Guangdong Province, as a thank you for our generous contribution." Of course, a large part of the reason was because of Luo Yin.
Those pearls reportedly changed hands several times before successfully making it to the auction.
The funds they received were enough for Director Fang Peng to happily send over these things. Yan Ming also hoped that they would come on business trips more often in the future, and they would definitely do their best to accommodate him.
Before Xia Ming arrived, he had already submitted the completed "Report Summary on the Salvage and Sea Expedition of Ship No. 1" through various channels.
One very important point is about Comrade Loin's personal performance.
He showered her with praise and commendation, and strongly recommended her as an outstanding individual. The letter of commendation from the military region was attached.
The Commander-in-Chief of the 73rd Naval Region, upon hearing the reports from his capable subordinates Qin Zhao and Chen Peng...
When he learned that this voyage not only helped transport back the most advanced detectors, but also brought back a considerable amount of foreign exchange in US dollars, he was so happy that he couldn't sleep for several days.
Every time I close my eyes, he wakes me up with his own laughter.
The commander-in-chief of the United States wished he could come back more often; such a simple and profitable way to make money is perfect for them!
"That young comrade is called Luo Yin, right? Why didn't you keep her? What are you doing with your brains? Keeping her to join the navy? I'll personally handle the procedures for her."
"Commander-in-Chief, we've tried to persuade him many times, but he's not interested in this."
Qin Zhao agreed, "Yes!"
"Alright then. We've taken advantage of them in this matter. When we report back to her later, we'll make a point of mentioning it and call to thank her as well."
Hearing that he had personally praised her, Qin Tuan felt a little relieved. This could be considered the last thing he did for her.
"Damn it, if we had known those pearls in the sea were valuable, we would have gone into the water to collect them during all those previous training exercises and patrols." How much money would we have lost? With such tight budgets every year, military equipment and facilities are always used until they are beyond repair.
Even the broken ones can't be thrown away; the Bank of Communications has to repair them, and if they still can't be fixed, they can be sent back for rework.
He had never had so much money since he joined the Navy.
"Commander-in-Chief, is it really feasible for us to stop handing over half of them?"
One of his trusted confidants cautiously offered a reminder, fearing that the commander might become arrogant if he made a mistake.
"What are you afraid of? I've reported everything and followed all the procedures. Besides, even with tolls and taxes, giving them 20% is already quite a lot. I don't even have enough left over. Just continue to ask for the equipment according to the procedures from the past few years. Tell them we want to replace a batch of new diving equipment."
He has finally realized that while people need to be trained, advanced equipment and weapons cannot be abandoned.
"yes!"
"Knock knock~"
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, there is a phone call for you."
"Hello, this is the 73rd Naval Headquarters."
The sky was already somewhat dim when we woke up in the early morning. As the group walked along the bluestone path and looked outwards, rain and mist slowly began to fall from the sky.
The drizzle was fine and continuous, like fine needles, like water mist, like specks of falling starlight.
No one paid any attention, and they pulled up their hats to cover their heads and faces and continued on their way.
At this point, they needed to walk around the perimeter of Xiong Guan Town, completely measuring the location and direction on foot. The guide, Da Lai, couldn't understand why they were wasting their time.
But the reward offered was generous, and he had already given it to his wife.
Since they were all cultured people and government officials, I had no choice but to do whatever they said.
And he actually led them over mountains and across rivers, building bridges over streams.
As mentioned before, Xiong Guan Town not only occupies the junction of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces, but also backs onto the direction of several mountain ranges and is the source of three main water systems.
This place is not only rich in flora and fauna, but also boasts beautiful historical and cultural treasures. Its unique humanistic environment reflects the lives of countless residents throughout history.
As they walked, they could hear Professor Zhuang's almost obsessive exclamations and admiration.
At these times, they would subconsciously follow his gaze and discover the simple beauty hidden in nature.
For example, there are naturally weathered stone forests embedded together, a large altar built for sacrificial rites and prayers, and the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) array road that amazes people no matter how many times they walk through it.
Many of these are hidden in these small southwestern towns.
Its mystery and legend have continued slowly, perhaps to be discovered and recorded by people, or perhaps to be buried at some point.
"I didn't realize there was so much hidden culture around here. I hadn't paid much attention to it until Teacher Zhuang mentioned it."
"Me too. Teacher Zhuang is much more experienced. I can only see some different carving marks, but the exterior is too badly damaged to see clearly."
Xu Hongze nodded, his pen moving swiftly as he squatted down to the side and made rubbings of the intricate patterns on the paper.
They were currently parked beside a rock in the east of the town. The stone forest was nearby, and a dirt road stretched out from there, leading up the mountain.
"Everyone, check the surrounding area to see if there are any more sightings. If not, we'll continue on our way."
"yes!"
"We haven't found it here."
"There aren't any here either."
Old Xia nodded, watching as Old Zhuang led the team to put away the rubbings of the materials. Then he continued to talk with Dalai and discuss the next steps of the journey.
This time, they need to start from the east of the town, go clockwise to Wufeng Mountain in the south of the town to inspect the sinkholes, and then go down the Laxi River to the natural karst cave group in the west of the town. There are important geological and geomorphological relics there, which will play a very important role in their final journey across the Yunling Village basin in the north of the town and into the forest in the hinterland.
Even though the event revolved around the town, Xia Ming still set a time limit for everyone.
Ten days is simply not enough time to circle the town, so you can imagine how slow the daily travel speed was.
Everyone quickly set off again, following Dalai along a main road, which he said was much more convenient than the small path that cut through the forest to the foot of the town.
At first, no one paid much attention, but when the guide suddenly led them to a lush meadow with a stone path surrounded by a lake, everyone was stunned.
The scene before them was unlike anything they had ever seen in their lives.
Luo Yin assured that it was the first time she had ever seen such a perfect combination of water and sky.
A straight stone path cuts into the soft, green meadow, shrouded in a thin morning mist, with damp raindrops threatening to fall.
A gentle breeze blew by, lifting the green gauze curtains and casting dappled shadows.
Wow~
What is this?
"It looks so soft, I really want to rush up and stomp on it a few times."
Some sensitive souls were tempted to go up, but were quickly interrupted by the guide.
"Hey, hey, hey, this place is dangerous, you can't move around."
Dalai spoke seriously, quickly spreading his arms to stop everyone, "Really, I'm not lying to you. This place looks nice, but it's very dangerous. You can only take the middle path."
Xia Ming and the others were stunned for a moment before they realized what was happening.
The scenery was so captivating that it made people subconsciously lower their guard.
Even Captain Huo and Captain Jiang, who were standing behind him, glanced at him out of the corner of their eyes several times.
"Danger? Is there some kind of snake?"
Dalai nodded and then shook his head. "It's not just that. The bushes you see are not ordinary bushes. Underneath them are nearby wetland traps. Once someone steps in, it's very difficult to pull them out."
“A few years ago, a cow ran here to graze. It kept grazing and got deeper and deeper until it was trapped underneath. When the owner came the next day, he found that it had become an empty skeleton.”
"Hmm, this place is really eerie, we still need to be careful."
"Is it that dangerous?" everyone exclaimed in surprise.
Looking at this beautiful scenery now, one can't help but feel a sense of scrutiny and wariness.
"That's right, that's right, comrades, you must be careful." "And we locals don't come here casually, because there are man-eating things underground. If you accidentally fall in, they can eat your flesh and bones."
"Comrades, please be careful when you pass by later, and step carefully on the stone slabs."
"Eating human flesh and bones?" How can that be?
"Yes, things have been alright these past few years. But about seven or eight years ago, I heard that a few drunk young men somehow ended up here and fell down while they were playing around. When the people around them tried to pull them out, they found that the young man was screaming in pain, saying that his legs and body hurt and that something had bitten him. They finally managed to get him out and take him to the town for treatment. The doctor was shocked when he saw him and asked what happened because two of the young man's toes were so bad that you could only see the bone."
They looked at each other, and their eyes revealed doubt and shock.
The more outrageous this explanation became, the more it piqued everyone's curiosity, and many researchers were immediately drawn to it.
Some people wondered if they were exaggerating and deliberately trying to scare people.
But some experienced people began to recall what kind of plants and animals could give people this feeling, and it wouldn't be surprising if they had mutated and hidden in this wetland.
However, before everyone could think about it for long, Elder Xia, Elder Zhuang, Elder Shi, and Team Leaders Huo and Jiang unanimously decided that they should not stop and try to pass through in one go.
They were capable of inspecting the area to see what was hidden within the wetlands.
However, the Chinese people's principle is to avoid trouble and maintain a moderate balance.
Since the environment has nurtured this land, and according to Dalai, they are only taking a shortcut through this area, they should not make too much of a fuss and just pass through safely.
To this end, the team was deliberately split up so that each group of people could have a protector by their side.
Luo Yin and her friends were seated in the middle, with her familiar friend, Brother Liu, standing behind them.
Luo Yin followed the footsteps ahead, glancing to both sides from time to time, and found that it was not as simple as the guide had said.
As soon as she stepped onto the stone path, she smelled a very familiar scent.
She looked up and saw the familiar yet striking meadow stretching far and near. Compared to the vast and untamed grassland, this meadow was covered with fine, moist mud and sand. She could see the river water rising faintly on both sides of her feet when she looked down.
Our guide from Dalai explained that the river flowing through this area is called the Yudong River.
It is said that a long time ago this place was not a wetland or swamp, but the main stream of the Yudong River, covered by the rapid and turbulent river water. It is unknown when it gradually became like this.
Is it Yudong River?
Could it be that, as its name suggests, there are many fish holes of all sizes underground? And what about beneath this wetland, are there also many cavities?
Luo Yin vaguely felt something flash through her mind, but she didn't realize it.
Her subconscious intuition made her want to figure that thing out, but Brother Liu behind her was quietly urging her to come back to her senses.
Luo Yin nodded her thanks, and remained deep in thought the whole way, pondering with her head down, but always falling short.
What exactly is it?
Have I experienced this before or encountered this before?
That's not right. Looking back on my life, it's been pretty much the same few things: life on the grasslands and at sea. Could the sea be that guano island, filled with the smell of fermentation and decay?
Yes, the taste!
The stone-paved path stretched for a long time, and it took us more than forty minutes to walk from one end to the other.
As they neared the finish line, everyone was even more anxious and dared not relax for a moment.
After realizing it was a scent, Luo Yin kept sniffing it for the rest of the time, especially pausing a few times, which made her contemplative expression even more pronounced.
"Something's not right, this is really strange!"
"Wow, we finally made it out safely."
"That's right, I almost forgot how to walk. I really don't dare to take big steps when I walk."
"That's right. When I first stepped on it, I didn't see the moss on the side and almost slipped and fell."
Everyone was filled with awe and wonder. When they finally stood in a row and looked at the beautiful scene, their feelings were no longer the same as before.
At this moment, everyone finally understood why Dalai's affection was so unwavering.
So this wasn't paradise on earth, it was a trap!
"Alright everyone, check if there are any problems. We're about to set off again."
At Elder Xia's signal, Young Master Xia took the initiative to ask them if they had any questions.
Everyone smiled and waved, saying that everything was normal and fine.
Team Leader Huo and Team Leader Jiang also shared the latest situation with their subordinates, and breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that everything was in a safe atmosphere.
At this moment, Luo Yin's performance naturally attracted their attention.
Xia Mingjiang looked around and saw that they had almost finished their inspections, but Xiao Luo was still standing at the very edge of the wetland meadow, her eyes seemingly fixed on that spot.
"Hey Xiao Luo, what happened? Did you lose something?"
Seeing that she was staring into the distance, Xia Mingjiang asked her a question.
"No, I just wanted to take a closer look."
Xia followed the line of sight but didn't see anything. However, a few gusts of wind blew by, making his eyes a little blurry.
He quickly closed his eyes to catch his breath, and only looked again after realizing there was no double image.
"What are you looking at? This meadow isn't as nice as your grasslands. Are you homesick?" Xia Ge teased with a smile, thinking she was missing her hometown.
Luo Yin also closed her eyes tightly to relieve eye strain. To him, this gesture was a sign of disdain for himself.
"Xiao Luo, you dislike me!"
"I didn't," Luo Yin said helplessly, forcing out a few words.
Her tense demeanor was broken by his few words, but when she saw the traces hidden under the green, Luo Yin's pupils trembled and she turned around instantly.
"I just miss home, so what? I'm still young, and I just miss home!"
She didn't lower her voice when she spoke, and coincidentally, the group behind her overheard the conversation and looked at them curiously.
As she finished speaking, it was as if the wetland had a natural megaphone, instantly amplifying her voice several times higher.
"Cough cough~"
"Missing home means having a good family atmosphere."
"Yeah yeah!"
Luo Yin turned her head and saw a scene that left her speechless and embarrassed. She simply didn't know what expression to make.
Looking at the curious yet teasing gazes and hearing their comments, Luo Yin was too ashamed to face anyone.
"Aa ...
Seeing this, Xia Mingjiang, who was two steps behind, burst into laughter, "Hahahaha!"
The loud, clear laughter echoed in her mind.
Xia Mingjiang, I swear I will never forgive you! From now on, don't even think about eating my family's special barbecue-flavored jerky. You only deserve the original flavor!
"Alright, alright, we're all comrades who have worked hard together, colleagues who have struggled together, let's stop fooling around and keep going!"
With the team leader, Old Xia, speaking, the atmosphere finally became serious.
The team restarted and soon began its long, winding journey.
Luo Yin, feigning embarrassment, lagged behind the group. She glanced back several times, seemingly looking at them out of the corner of her eye, before quickly moving on.
The group of people who were initially suspicious and afraid simply assumed that she was young and homesick.
This temporarily allowed them to evade the pursuit and attention of those people, greatly reducing the trouble for their subsequent work.
But things are preordained, and no matter what, you're bound to run into them.
Huo Sen was moved to the back of the group this time, while Jiang was in charge of leading the team. After noticing her unusual behavior several times, Huo Sen looked over and found that she was still paying attention to what was behind her.
The tall man was silent for a moment, then took out a few candies from his backpack.
He gently tapped her shoulder and handed her the things.
"For me?"
He kept his hands outstretched in front of her, without saying a word.
Hossen nodded, "Yes!"
"No need, I have enough for you, you can have it yourself." Luo Yin refused, feeling she shouldn't take it.
She didn't say she wanted to eat it, so why would she give it to her?
However, Captain Huo simply pulled her hand over, put the candy inside, and then walked away.
"Huh?" What does that mean?
"Everyone stay close together, don't get lost!"
Suddenly, Captain Huo shouted from ahead. Luo Yin didn't even bother to put the other candies in her pocket and chased after him in a few steps.
It was already afternoon when everyone finally arrived at Wufeng Mountain.
Looking at the towering, winding mountain ranges, everyone instinctively hesitated to move forward, yet their steps remained firm and steady.
All eyes turned to the profile of the guide, Dalai, since he was experienced and there.
The locals are obviously more experienced than the outsiders.
Dalai wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face pale.
Seeing this, Old Xia, who was walking alongside him, hurriedly asked him what was wrong and if he was feeling unwell.
Only then did everyone realize that Dalai, who was standing directly in front of them, was sweating profusely and his lips had turned pale.
"Is this heatstroke or poisoning?"
Someone exclaimed in surprise, then realized that they had all set off together.
Doctor Yu and Ganda Gyatso quickly stepped forward and examined him one by one. After that, Master Ganda shook his head.
"No poisoning!"
"It's not heatstroke either." Dr. Yu had a strange expression on his face, clearly not finished speaking.
Master Ganda didn't have that concern. "It's probably because I'm hungry. Western medicine says it's low blood sugar!"
"right."
"Dar, didn't you eat breakfast before you left?"
Teacher Zhuang asked him in astonishment.
Dalai shook his head, and Dr. Yu and Ganda quickly found a place for him to rest, then took out some prepared biscuits for him.
The guide, feeling very guilty, quickly waved his hand and refused, "No, I'm sorry, I've delayed your progress. I don't want these."
"Hey, take these and eat them. Your health is the foundation of everything."
"You need to eat three meals a day. I don't think your family is that poor, you just occasionally..."
Xia was interrupted by Old Xia before she could finish speaking.
Looking at the layers of mountains, Old Xia said, "Let's rest here for half an hour and have something to eat to replenish our energy."
"clear."
People started to disperse into small groups, but they were not far apart.
It's almost within an encirclement, just a few steps away, yet it still maintains a certain boundary.
During the break, apart from the researchers, everyone else kept busy.
While busy arranging matters, Old Xia also had to find time to check on Dalai's condition, especially asking carefully if he had any health problems.
Dalai was afraid that he might cancel the event because of his poor performance, so he quickly explained that today's event was an accident.
He had prepared plenty of food, but before leaving, he not only gave away his own dry rations, but also his morning rations.
"Comrade Xia, I can be of great help. I have walked through all the places in this town. I know where there are water sources and wild fruits. I can survive without these dry rations by just finding wild fruits."
When Dalai spoke, his eyes were full of pleading and pleas, as he tried his best to hide his fear of being rejected.
Xia Ming looked at his comrade, who was even younger than his son, and pleaded in such a humble tone.
He quickly grasped the man's hands, saying sincerely and warmly, "No need, no need. This food is for you. Since we chose you as our guide, that's for sure. You can relax. However, we have a tight schedule and a heavy task ahead, so you need to protect yourself so you can lead the way for us."
He forcefully covered Dalai's rough hands.
It was as if he were wrapped in a large wad of paper in a raging storm, which protected him from the wind and frost.
"I understand, thank you, Comrade Xia."
"You're welcome. I'll have to trouble Comrade Dalai again."
"By the way, Comrade Xia, if we are going to enter Wufeng Mountain today, it would be best to reach Dianqian Temple halfway up the mountain before dark."
Xia Ming became much more serious when he started talking about serious matters.
He then inquired about the reason!
"It's strange, really. Wufeng Mountain isn't very high, with the highest peak less than 3,000 meters. But the mountain gets the most rainfall in April and May, and there's fog at night that usually doesn't clear until dawn. So it's better to go up the mountain than stay at the foot of it. But if we do go up there, we might have to watch out for snakes."
Hearing this, everyone who had been perking up one ear nodded hurriedly, ready to go up the mountain.
Lao Zhuang looked around, his eyes scanning the surroundings with curiosity.
Old Shi glanced at his friend, then looked back at Old Chen, who was resting with his eyes closed.
Yes, Blind Chen still came along, but this time he didn't participate at all and hasn't said a word so far.
Luo Yin approached him several times, but saw that he really didn't want to talk.
She looked rather haggard. Considering the old man's age, she didn't dare to provoke him too much. What if she made him sick from anger?
"Master Chen, what do you think of this place?"
Someone asked!
Within the small team, someone noticed the big shots were having some gossip, and a few quick-witted individuals immediately perked up their ears to listen.
Everyone was speculating about how Old Master Chen would respond.
Everyone waited with curiosity and tension, even the guide's gaze was fixed on the other side.
The air was silent for a few seconds, a dozen seconds, or a little over a minute.
Everyone remained silent throughout. The leaves rustled, and as they looked up, they saw dark clouds covering the area, which looked like they were about to press down.
It's going to rain.
Suddenly, the old man got up from his seat, grabbed his small stick, and ran up the mountain.
He appears to be faster than anyone else.
"ah!"
"no."
"What are you looking at? The weather is about to change, let's get going."
Seeing that they were all standing there dumbfounded, Jiang Cong shouted to bring them back to their senses.
The resting group quickly assembled, and everyone eagerly began climbing the steps, making their way up the steep mountain.
They pressed on with their energy, but their strength waned with each attempt. They held on for a long time, and when they were all sore and sweating profusely, they didn't even realize it. All they felt was that the dark cloud above them was following them so fast.
The surrounding moisture seemed to be getting thicker and thicker; it must be raining soon.
Therefore, they still had time to adjust their team and everyone's equipment, making sure that the waterproof equipment was fully utilized.
With waterproof backpacks, waterproof jackets, and school shoes, the group showed no tension about what lay ahead, only excitement for the impending downpour.
Hey, I'm all ready, come on over!
"Boom!"
"Rumble rumble rumble~~" "Snap~"
A bolt of lightning struck, accompanied by a loud bang.
The excited and expectant crowd hunched their shoulders and peered up at the gaps in the dense bushes.
"Quickly find an open area, don't all hide under the trees."
"Quickly, Captain Jiang, protect the people in front, I'll protect the people in the back!" Huo Sen immediately shouted to the team.
"No problem, the team in front, follow me."
“Start with little Loin in the middle, the rest of you follow me.”
The two small teams quickly started running, pulled along by their leaders.
On Wufeng Mountain, the moisture accumulated in the clouds could not withstand its force and poured down all at once, falling into this lush area.
"Splash splash splash splash~"
The rain poured down instantly, pelting everyone's heads.
Thunderclaps followed one after another, and the group was quickly scattered. Everyone had no sense of direction and could only run with the people around them.
The people around them ran alongside the one in front, until they stopped in a gap in the path.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"
"Yang Ming, immediately count the number of people. Du Chen, quickly look for any shelter nearby to avoid the rain." Captain Huo assigned tasks, while the others were responsible for protection and vigilance.
Several more people followed, wiping the water from their faces and looking at each other's disheveled appearance.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"I wonder if Elder Xia and the others got wet in the rain."
"I'm curious if Professor Zhuang is also in such a sorry state?" one of the comrades asked with a gossipy look.
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood his intention, and Sister Xiaofang even added, "That won't do. I bet Professor Zhuang will just pull out a handkerchief from his pocket and wipe his face gently. Unlike us, who are so careless."
"Haha, that's actually quite possible."
"If it were Mr. Shi, I think he would first protect his own schoolbag, then point at the heavy rain and say, 'All you ever do is rain! I hate rainy days!'"
"Haha, I'm the most qualified to speak on this. Old Shi really doesn't like rain. He said that when he was young, he was always soaking in the rain, which not only delayed his drawings but also caused him to develop rheumatism in his legs."
"Oh, why did he come along? It's so rainy in the southwest this time of year." Yes, but he still came, without hesitation or complaint.
"Ptooey, a bug flew into my mouth."
Luo Yin laughed non-stop beside her. She found that everyone in this team was very interesting. Whether they were researchers or senior experts, they all had their own humor and personality.
They are so vibrant, seemingly tireless, and so warm and lovely!
Even if they're trying to avoid a trap one moment, they can be entertaining themselves the next.
Even past wounds are not weapons pointed at you, but rather armor that allows you to move forward steadfastly.
"Captain, there are footprints of their movement three miles ahead. They should be heading up the mountain."
"The team leader and all the members are here, a total of 18 people."
Hosen looked around and found that there were only eight researchers in the group. "Everyone, look around and see if anyone is missing?"
“He’s right next to me, there are quite a few.”
"I have quite a lot too."
"Captain Huo, there are only a few of us behind us. Let's hurry up and catch up with them."
"That's right, before it gets dark."
After repeatedly questioning Yang Peng and Du Chen, who were watching over the surroundings, and confirming that no one was around, Huo Sen led the team to chase after them.
Heavy rain poured down all the way, and everyone kept their heads down and hurried along, walking with their feet sinking into the deep water.
The rain was heavy, making the mountain path drizzle and leaving footprints when you stepped on it.
They soon discovered familiar footprints, and judging from the location, they had come from this place. So they continued walking and analyzed the footprints as they went.
We can speculate on where they are and estimate how long it will take them to reach the temple.
As night fell, the sweltering heat suddenly turned slightly cool.
The rain hitting the face no longer felt refreshing; the damp chill permeated the entire body, causing everyone who moved to unconsciously sink into the mud.
Another one lost their footing and fell face-first to the ground.
Fortunately, someone next to him grabbed his arm and managed to pull him back.
My heart was pounding, and all I could say was thank you.
But he was quickly grabbed by someone on the other side and chased after them, saying, "Alright, let's go."
"Everyone be careful, the path up here is getting more and more difficult to walk on, especially the side where it is easy to slip and fall. Everyone hold on together and walk together."
"Du Chen, Yang Peng, Xu Wen, and Zhang Tian, the rest of you stay behind with me!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Understood, Captain."
As night fell, everyone's enthusiasm seemed to have waned considerably; they weren't as energetic as before. "Everyone, keep up! This rain isn't going to stop anytime soon, and it's getting dark. We need to find a place to rest before the fog rolls in."
That's why there have been a series of slogans and explanations.
Hossen even had his men carry those who walked slowly or unsteadily in the group, practically lifting them up.
"Thank you, comrade soldier!"
"You're welcome. You can take a break and rest for a while."
"No need, I was just walking too fast and couldn't keep up. I'll be fine once I catch my breath."
The comrade who was told to take a break was wearing glasses. Standing next to soldiers of similar height, he looked like he hadn't rested well; his overall demeanor was completely different.
"Need not."
Their addition significantly boosted the team's speed.
They walked for who knows how long, until the footprints on the ground disappeared.
Captain Huo took out a flashlight, pointed in a direction, and everyone quickly followed the light.
By the time they finally saw another beam of light shining through the thorns and brambles, the surrounding fog and night had completely enveloped them.
Exhausted and dazed, I felt nothing at all.
Everyone had only one thought left: we must keep up, keep up!
"You've finally arrived. Come in and get out of the rain. How is everyone else? Are you alright?"
Brother Liu, who had been called out by Captain Jiang to look for someone, waved excitedly at them.
"It's alright, everyone's here. How about your side?"
"Hey, it's alright. There were a few minor injuries, but they've already been treated. We've brought them inside and started a fire."
They stepped through the dilapidated wooden door and passed along the crumbling walls, finally finding them.
Old Xia was very excited. He went to check on each of them and found that they were all alright before he was relieved.
Seeing that they were soaking wet, with water dripping from their faces, hair and clothes, I quickly told them to clean up first, and even left a corner for the girls to clean up by themselves.
Luo Yin followed her sisters inside. Someone had propped up a wooden stick in front of them, and they used it to hang the clothes they were trying on, quickly creating a screen.
Afterwards, the group changed their clothes inside and came out looking great again.
Rainy day, dark night, mountains and forests, dilapidated temple—all these elements were gathered together, and the beginnings of several horror stories were floating in Luo Yin's mind.
Suddenly, I saw Old Man Chen lying on the ground not far away, with a bandage wrapped around his forehead.
"Where is Old Chen injured?"
She then remembered what Brother Liu had mentioned about being injured, and sure enough, a quick glance revealed that besides him, several other comrades were also injured.
"Hey, we were worried because you guys hadn't come along."
"When you all arrived, you were all safe and sound, while we old folks were the ones who held you back." Old Zhuang looked annoyed and somewhat embarrassed.
"It was all an accident!" Xia Ming paused for a few seconds, then added.
The guide, Dalai, nodded hurriedly, "It's because of the unusual weather and the difficult mountain roads that our comrades fell and got injured."
Luo Yin was completely confused. They couldn't seem to get to the point. What was going on?
Those who knew what was going on didn't dare watch the leaders make a fool of themselves and were already smiling with their heads down.
Those who don't know the situation are looking at each other.
Jiang, who was being given high hopes, also turned slightly to the side under Huo's gaze.
What's going on?
The person had already approached Old Man Chen.
After a close inspection, apart from the bandages, there were no other marks on his head.
She hurriedly asked the doctor what was wrong, and Ganda, who was standing next to her, said, "Nothing, he just hit his head on a tree."
"Pfft~"
"ah?"
Master Ganda nodded. "That's right."
"For no reason, can't he see the road?"
"Ahem, it's getting late, let's get some hot water to drink first, to warm ourselves up. Master Ganda, I remember you brought some herbs, right? Do you have any to prevent colds?"
Old Shi interrupted the two of them while they were talking.
Luo Yin frowned, sensing that something was off about him.
Master Ganda glanced at Old Man Chen, whose eyelids were twitching, and said, "I brought some, but I'll still make it myself."
"Okay, okay, then I'll trouble you."
Seeing that he had no chance to speak, Lao Shi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and felt that he had escaped a disaster.
Turning around, he found his student Xu Hongze looking at him with a half-smile. Old Shi was furious. "Quickly check if any of the documents in my bag are damaged. If they are, you need to replace them immediately."
"Yes, teacher, I'll check right away."
Meanwhile, in a government building in the capital, where spring is in full bloom.
A red sign with gold lettering that reads "Striving for the Welfare of Workers" stands in front of the hall, and today it shines brightly without a speck of dust.
As you walk through the lobby, you can see staff members coming and going, working busily and enthusiastically.
After passing through the bustling office area, we arrived at a conference room inside.
The corridors on both sides outside the door are covered with photos of awards presented by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. Every award recipient in the photos is full of enthusiasm and high morale.
Whether they were short-haired, capable women or elderly workers over fifty, everyone was proud to be on this stage.
"Comrade Chairman, I think this person named Luo Yin should have her individual advanced honor revoked. It doesn't meet our selection criteria at all. If this sets a precedent, things will probably get chaotic in the future."
“I agree with Vice Chairman Xu’s opinion. This comrade’s resume is very simple, and it doesn’t even meet our standards.”
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions selects outstanding comrades every five years to identify those who are dedicated to their work, enthusiastic, and wholeheartedly committed to development. However, Luo Yin has not even been working for a full year, let alone just six months.
"But this was personally delivered by the Archaeological Research Institute, and they insisted that we take a look at her resume before making any decisions."
“I know it was sent back from the research institute, but is it possible that we just gave her the title of National Outstanding Advanced Individual with just one sentence, ‘This comrade performed outstandingly in this mission and made great contributions to the country and the organization’?”
“That’s not a lie, and the document is real.”
“But that would be unfair to the other workers who are working hard on the front lines, and I will never set that precedent.”
The chairman was getting a headache from their argument and couldn't make up his mind despite his sharp eyes.
"Or, as a compromise, let's award her a provincial-level individual merit award!"
"Hey, this is a good idea. I think it's pretty good. The young comrades still have time to gain experience."
Many people present nodded in agreement, agreeing that the vice chairman was right.
After all, being recognized as an advanced individual at the provincial level is already quite good. If they weren't afraid of offending too many people, they would all prefer to be directly recognized as an advanced individual at the city or county level.
Soon after the award recipients were confirmed, a letter was mailed from the union building to each comrade, inviting them to the capital in July to jointly welcome the Ninth National Workers' Commendation Ceremony.
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