Xu Ningyan knew that Jiang Zhiyuan was going to pick up that mysterious big shot, so she didn't ask any questions and nodded: "Then take care of yourself."
Jiang Zhiyuan nodded: "You guys can just wander around the military region these few days, don't go too far. I asked Xiao Hu, and he said that since you can stay a few more days this time, some of your father-in-law's old comrades-in-arms in the military region would like to invite you to their homes for a visit."
Xu Ningyan nodded, indicating that she understood.
Jiang Zhiyuan wanted to say a few more words, but Xu Ningyan glared at him and said, "I'm not a three-year-old. I know my limits! You go about your business! Don't worry about us."
They were almost annoyed by Jiang Zhiyuan's nagging.
Jiang Zhiyuan smiled wryly, touched his nose, and swallowed the rest of his words.
He didn't want to ramble on, but he was worried about leaving for a few days.
Over the next few days, Xu Ningyan and her child thrived in the military compound.
After all, her two little ones were absolutely adorable.
As soon as you enter the family quarters of the military compound, everyone who sees the two brothers along the way takes a peek.
The two boys weren't shy at all; they laughed and chuckled no matter who teased them, showing great respect.
Especially her smile, with a small dimple on each side, is so endearing.
Xu Yingxiong's old comrades-in-arms are now all in high positions of power, the lowest being regimental-level cadres, and the highest being deputy division-level or division-level cadres.
Seeing the two young boys, especially their dimples, even this strong Northwestern man couldn't help but tear up, hugging the boys tightly: "Those dimples are just like Old Xu back then! He used to have a pair of dimples when he smiled, making him look young and not mature at all. After being laughed at, he rarely smiled anymore, always wearing a serious face—"
Xu Ningyan then realized that the dimples of the Jiang brothers, Jiang Chen and Jiang Zhan, were actually inherited from Xu Yingxiong.
She found it strange from the beginning.
Other old comrades who hadn't met the two brothers before, upon hearing that the two brothers resembled Xu Yingxiong, all took time out of their busy schedules to come and see them.
I don't know if they also have a filter, but at first they only said that the two brothers' dimples looked like their maternal grandfather, Xu Yingxiong. Later, they said that their noses, eyes and mouths looked like each other.
If Xu Ningyan hadn't seen Xu Yingxiong's photo, she would have believed it.
Now, seeing their hands, so accustomed to handling guns and killing people, holding the two little brothers in their arms with a mix of melancholy, nostalgia, and relief, showering them with endless kisses, Xu Ningyan could only remain silent.
Of course, the benefits are also obvious: every day when the two brothers come back, their pockets are stuffed with all sorts of gifts.
Wolf fangs, bullet casings, military medals, and all sorts of strange and unusual stones, or small carvings of wood, bone, and the like.
Xu Ningyan has already accepted a small package.
I wanted to return it, but they all said it was just a small trinket and a token of their goodwill.
They also said that according to their local beliefs, things like wolf fangs and bullet casings are all objects with extremely strong yang energy and killing intent, which can ward off evil spirits and calm the mind, making them the best choice for children.
Xu Ningyan had no choice but to accept it.
These are all heavy expressions of love. If they were all hung up, Jiang Chen and Jiang Zhan would probably be covered in them on their necks, hands, and legs.
Forget about warding off evil spirits, it can probably even protect the house.
Xu Ningyan and her two children were called over by Xu Yingxiong's old comrades every day, and seeing them reminded them of him.
Jiang Zhixing had never left the capital before, and everything he saw in the Northwest was new and interesting.
Since his sister-in-law and nephew didn't need to worry about their safety in the military compound, he simply wandered around aimlessly every day.
Xu Ningyan was relieved. He was a grown man, and with the military region's personnel in charge of receiving them as guides, he was free to go wherever he pleased.
Meanwhile, at Mahe Farm, 300 miles away.
Although the farm is not located in the middle of the sandy desert, the conditions are still very harsh.
The sky was filled with yellow dust, and even though it was early summer, there wasn't much green to be seen.
There is a river near the farm called the Ma River, but it is dry year-round, with its riverbed cracked and parched.
Only during the rainy season, when heavy rains occur upstream, the rainwater that cannot be absorbed by the parched land flows downstream along the riverbed.
Only then will the banks of the Ma River be lush and verdant, briefly bursting with vitality.
The fields reclaimed by Mahe Farm rely on the water from upstream during the short rainy season for irrigation.
Along the banks of the Mahe River, besides the Mahe Farm, there are about a dozen production teams of varying sizes, all of which rely on the short-lived flooding of the Mahe River during its rainy season for survival.
Because of its remote and impoverished location and inconvenient access, Mahe Farm often sent labor reform prisoners, or those with bad class backgrounds such as capitalist roaders and intellectuals, to be reformed there.
The person Jiang Zhiyuan was going to pick up was on this farm.
He wasn't alone when he went to Mahe Farm; he was accompanied by three soldiers from the Northwest Military Region, who drove a jeep and traveled a long and dusty journey.
Although it was only about 300 miles apart, the road conditions were poor, with winding mountain roads, and it took two whole days to drive there.
Because the mountain roads were dangerous and they were unfamiliar with the road conditions, they dared not travel at night and rested for one night along the way.
They hurried on their way again as soon as it was light, even eating on the road. They bought a few dry steamed buns, carried a water bottle, and took a bite when they were hungry and a sip of water when they were thirsty.
The four of them took turns driving, but even so, it was already afternoon when they arrived at the farm.
Upon arriving at Mahe Farm, Jiang Zhiyuan presented his work ID and a letter of introduction.
The farm's gatekeeper was startled. This was someone from the capital, and seeing the three heavily armed soldiers behind him, the gatekeeper quickly sent someone to notify the farm's manager.
The farm manager came running over in a panic, recalling his childhood bedwetting incidents along the way, but still couldn't figure out what he had done to warrant the mobilization of personnel from Unit X in Beijing.
Upon seeing Jiang Zhiyuan and the three soldiers behind him, the farm manager's legs inexplicably went weak. He barely managed to maintain his composure as he walked up to Jiang Zhiyuan: "Comrade, hello, I am Qian Aiguo, the manager of Mahe Farm. What brings you here?"
Jiang Zhiyuan nodded to Qian Aiguo, the person in charge of the farm, and explained his purpose.
"Hello, I am Jiang Zhiyuan. I am here on orders to pick up Comrade He Bingqian. May I ask how he is doing now?"
Qian Aiguo breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his brow: "There is such a person, he's undergoing reformation on our farm! But Comrade Jiang, do you have the necessary documents to take him away? We can only release him if we have the documents—"
Although he was nervous, Qian Aiguo still asked the question as required. After speaking, he couldn't help but take a step back, afraid that Jiang Zhiyuan might rush in with the three soldiers behind him to snatch the person if they disagreed.
Jiang Zhiyuan naturally carried documents with him. He presented documents bearing the official red seal of the Beijing Revolutionary Committee, as well as assistance documents from the Northwest Military Region, his letter of introduction, and his work permit.
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