Everyone at the educated youth settlement closest to the back mountain changed their expressions drastically and ran out without even having time to put on their cotton-padded coats.
In the courtyard, everyone looked solemnly towards the back mountain, wondering what had happened there and hesitating whether they should go and check.
"Bang! Hey! Can you hear me? Just wanted to let you know, someone's quarrying rocks in the back hills using blasting. Don't panic, it's nothing serious! Stay home, eat and drink as usual, don't wander around, no one will be responsible if you get hurt!"
The battalion commander finished recounting the instructions given to him by the soldiers in one breath. After finishing, he wiped the cold sweat from his face, his heart pounding wildly.
Who would have thought that such a group of time bombs were hiding in these mountains? Luckily, the people in their village were afraid of death and dared not go too far into the mountains, otherwise probably none of them would have escaped.
"Thank you for your cooperation, comrade! Please keep an eye on things and make sure no one goes up the mountain out of curiosity. It's not safe in the mountains right now. Someone will come and let you know when we're done."
Duan Jianhua nodded. He knew the seriousness of the matter. He would have the village's patrol team keep a close watch during their patrols to prevent any villagers who were always looking for a bargain from suddenly going up the mountain to pick up something cheap.
"Zuo Zuo, is blasting and quarrying normal now?"
This is November, and the temperature is almost 60 degrees Celsius. Going outside feels like your head could freeze off. Huh? They're quarrying stones? Are you kidding me?
Gu Zuozuo withdrew her gaze from the back mountain and leisurely returned to her room.
"If they say it's normal, then it's normal. It has nothing to do with us. Go pickle your vegetables and mind your own business."
Upon hearing this, Meng Tian and Qi Meng exchanged a glance, their eyes showing understanding. It seemed that Zuo Zuo knew what had happened on the back mountain. Since it had nothing to do with them, they didn't interfere and went back into the house to continue their unfinished pickling business.
"Your train is the day after tomorrow. I prepared some local specialties for Meng's parents and uncle. Would you like to send them over in advance?"
Meng Tian was returning to her home in Haishi, while Qi Meng was returning to her uncle's home in Beijing. Qi Meng was also a student of Gu Zuozuo's parents, so she also called him uncle.
"No need, there's not much stuff, the two of us can carry it."
Gu Zuozuo raised an eyebrow. Did she not mention how much she had prepared?
Two days later, before dawn, Qi Meng and Meng Tian were dumbfounded, staring blankly at the burlap sack that was almost as tall as the two of them, and almost had a heart attack.
"Zuo Zuo, I think my parents might not really like the local specialties... right?"
"Exactly, I think my uncle and his family can't find any good stuff in Beijing, so they're probably just lacking in this area... I mean, maybe!"
Their words slowly faded into silence under Gu Zuozuo's ambiguous smile. After a long while, they both let out a wail and collapsed back onto the kang (heated brick bed), completely giving up.
Why didn't you say you prepared this much?!
"You didn't ask."
Is there even a question? They're not like Gu Zuozuo, that freak with superhuman strength. They're just ordinary newbies in this world, the kind that would be blown away by a strong wind. Do her sisters have some kind of misunderstanding about them?
"Stop pretending to be dead, get up! Uncle Ma is waiting for you at the door!"
She had made all the arrangements in advance, and even sent a telegram to Meng's parents and uncle. These two pampered young ladies would be picked up and dropped off by someone, so they wouldn't have to get tired.
"Zuo Zuo, if you can't cook, go eat with Ma Liang and Grandma Ma. Don't just eat whatever you can find! You'll get stomach problems. It's too cold. If you really can't manage, you can move in with them. When you sleep alone at night, remember to lock the doors and windows. Don't think you're invincible just because you have some rudimentary kung fu skills! Remember to add firewood to the stove. Don't go into a qi deviation when you practice. You're practicing internal energy, not an impenetrable wall of copper and fire..."
Gu Zuozuo had a comforting and gentle smile in the corners of her eyes and mouth. She listened to Meng Tian and Qi Meng's rambling before parting without feeling annoyed at all. On the contrary, she listened patiently, nodding from time to time, and promising herself that she would eat well and be careful.
After seeing off her two worried best friends, Gu Zuozuo returned to the deserted dormitory. Looking at the empty room after the two left, the smile on her lips slowly faded and returned to its usual desolation. For her, quiet solitude was the lifestyle she was most used to.
She's always been alone, hasn't she?
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