Although Qian Aiguo was flustered, he worked quickly and checked all the documents, certificates, and letters of introduction. Only after confirming that everything was correct did he breathe a sigh of relief.
After thinking for a moment, still feeling somewhat uneasy, he cautiously said, "Comrade Jiang, your documents, certificates, and letters of introduction are all fine, but I still need to call the county revolutionary committee to confirm—"
Jiang Zhiyuan interrupted him directly: "Comrade Qian Aiguo, I came directly from Beijing to pick up the person! You've read the documents, and there are no problems. So you should release the person to us according to regulations! You should know about the confidentiality regulations, right?"
Qian Aiguo's heart skipped a beat. Why did he call the county revolutionary committee to confirm? It was because there was no precedent for this.
Over the years, hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been sent to their Mahe Farm, and not a single one of them has ever left the farm.
He was unsure about being asked to leave so suddenly. He thought he should let the county revolutionary committee know so that if something went wrong, it wouldn't be his fault alone.
But upon hearing Jiang Zhiyuan's words, he immediately understood and said, "Comrade Jiang, I understand, I will release them right away!"
He was about to call someone to fetch He Bingqian.
Jiang Zhiyuan said, "No need, just take us there directly."
What could Qian Aiguo do but smile and follow behind?
It was already dusk on the farm, and the people who had been working in the fields were gradually returning to their lodgings.
Jiang Zhiyuan looked over and saw that everyone was covered in dust and had blank stares. Even when they saw Jiang Zhiyuan and his group, they would only glance at them before hurriedly lowering their heads and walking away.
The farm wasn't very big; it took a long time to walk inside before we saw some low thatched huts or mud-brick houses.
Although Jiang Zhiyuan didn't say anything, only glancing at it, Qian Aiguo hurriedly defended himself, saying, "Those living here are all sent for reformation. The harsher the living conditions, the better they can be reformed from the depths of their minds—"
Jiang Zhiyuan's gaze suddenly froze when he saw a figure.
The figure was thin, hunched over, with gray hair. Despite the weather, he was still wearing a tattered cotton-padded coat, and his gait was somewhat unnatural, with a limp.
Qian Aiguo had been observing Jiang Zhiyuan, and when he saw Jiang's gaze fixed on a certain spot, he looked over as well.
He explained, "That's Gu Yong, who was sent to our farm for reform a couple of years ago. He was sent from Beijing. I heard he used to be a military commander in Beijing, but he made a big mistake and was sent here. His wife divorced him, and his son, to protect himself, pinned all the blame on him."
"He's all alone! He's been here for so long, and no one has come to visit him, nor has anyone written him a letter or sent him anything. At the end of last year, during the great snowstorm, he was trying to save the farm's property when several sheep got trapped under the snow. He caught a chill and his legs got frostbite, so now he has some trouble walking."
Jiang Zhiyuan withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyelids, making it impossible for anyone to see his eyes clearly.
Qian Aiguo gave an explanation, but seeing that Jiang Zhiyuan did not react, he stopped talking.
Continue walking inside.
No one stopped or slowed down as they passed by Gu Yong.
Gu Yong was walking with his head down when he heard footsteps and unconsciously looked up.
Upon seeing that familiar figure from behind, I was completely stunned.
He opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly realized something and immediately shut his mouth.
Her eyes were fixed on Jiang Zhiyuan's back, filled with surprise, joy, and a tiny, inexplicable expectation.
No matter how he looked at him, Jiang Zhiyuan didn't turn around. He just walked straight, slowly but firmly, further and further away until he turned a corner and disappeared from sight.
Gu Yong's already hunched back bent even more.
He had been standing by the roadside for too long. The workers who were finishing their shifts caught up with him and, seeing him still standing there staring straight ahead, couldn't help but pat him on the shoulder: "Old Gu, why are you still standing here? What are you looking at?"
Gu Yong came to his senses, feeling as if all his energy had been drained away. He was listless and said, "I didn't see anything, I just saw Director Qian leading a few strangers inside."
Hearing Gu Yong's words, the few people who were finishing up at the back exchanged glances: "Has another new person joined?"
"Sigh, when will this ever end?"
...
Gu Yong had no interest in listening to these idle chatter. At that moment, he had a big question in his mind: What is Jiang Zhiyuan doing here?
Led by Qian Aiguo, Jiang Zhiyuan walked for about two more miles before seeing another cluster of low thatched huts and houses.
He walked straight to a low shed that looked like a haystack. Qian Aiguo pushed open the door, which was not even a proper door; it was just a few bundles of straw haphazardly tied together and used as a door.
The room was so low that people had to bend over to get in; it was dark and had no windows.
Jiang Zhiyuan stood at the door for a moment to get a feel for the scene inside.
At the very back, there was a patch of ground covered with wooden planks, on which was a layer of grass. On top of the grass, quilts were haphazardly piled up, their original color no longer discernible.
Next to the doorway, a clay stove was built with mud bricks and stones.
On the stove sat an earthenware jar, which was also dark black.
There was some firewood next to the stove.
That's all.
Qian Aiguo stood at the door, looking somewhat embarrassed: "Well, they're here for reformation, so naturally, the conditions are a bit harsh, a bit harsh—"
Although he felt he hadn't done anything wrong and had been following the rules and regulations, for some reason, seeing this scene, especially under Jiang Zhiyuan's gaze, made him feel guilty.
Jiang Zhiyuan didn't say anything and stood at the door without going in.
Qian Aiguo thought that Jiang Zhiyuan disliked the dirty, messy, and low-ceilinged interior, and he himself also disliked it, so they both stood at the door.
After waiting for a while and still not seeing him, Qian Aiguo couldn't stand it any longer and shifted his feet: "Should I send someone to call him?"
Before he could finish speaking, a figure slowly approached from afar. He was thin, with messy hair and a stubble beard. He was wrapped in a tattered old cotton-padded coat, revealing the yellowed and blackened cotton wadding inside, which trembled in the wind.
As he approached, he saw Jiang Zhiyuan and his group and stopped about ten meters away, looking at them warily: "Who are you looking for?"
Before Jiang Zhixing could speak, Qian Aiguo couldn't help but say, "He Bingqian, this is Comrade Jiang from Beijing, sent to take you away!"
He Bingqian took two steps back, then stopped, his eyes filled with wariness and suspicion: "From the capital? Who are you on orders? Where are you taking me?"
Jiang Zhixing stepped forward and walked to a well-lit area: "Comrade He Bingqian, I am Jiang Zhiyuan!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
