Chapter 607 Contaminated Zone 6 (Thirty-One)
It was four o'clock in the afternoon when the two of them finally came out of the room, dawdling around.
He Guanghai was sitting outside, drawing a map for them.
Hearing the noise, he looked up, ignoring Xie Tu, and only told Yun Zhao to stay in town and not to go out, and to remember to come back before dark...
Yun Zhao responded to each of them, greeted his uncle, and then took Xie Tu's hand and left the house.
Qingshan Town was extremely poor.
It only takes a few minutes to walk from the main gate to the back of the mountain, and there's not much to see.
But Yun Zhao has many memories of this place.
"Look, that house across the street is He Xiang's house. When he was little, he was like a little shadow, always following me around. He would follow me wherever I went."
Yun Zhao smiled and said, "I call him 'Big Brother' or 'Uncle,' but I tricked him into calling me 'Sister.' We've always addressed each other differently since we were little..."
"Actually, I didn't like him at first, but I reluctantly let him come along because of my uncle."
“But He Xiang was very obedient to me. When he was little, he would help me brush my shoes and carry firewood in the fields. He would do whatever I asked him to do. Gradually, I really started to treat him like my younger brother.”
Yun Zhao recalled his childhood memories with a bright smile.
Passing by another mud house, she pointed to Xie Tu and said, "That's the mayor's house. Every morning before, the mayor would teach everyone to read and write in that open space in front of the house."
"Paper and pens were scarce in town, so a group of people would write on the ground with a stick. If they did well, Grandpa Mayor would reward them with a piece of candy."
"Actually, Cheng Dongshu and the others don't know that the candy was bought by the uncles, and the candy I received as a reward was the one that I didn't want."
“Every time I see a kid showing off the candy, I run back and secretly tell the uncles, and then we laugh together.”
"The uncles told me not to tell the other kids, saying that if everyone knew, I would get less candy. They were just trying to coax me like a child. But I already knew, and the uncles had already shared the candy they bought with everyone..."
Xie Tu listened attentively, his expression focused.
He lowered his head slightly to gaze at her, his brows and eyes softening with an unusual gentleness. His eyes, which were always sharp as knives, were like melting amber, filled with subtle warmth.
I have never seen Yun Zhao like this before.
Her smile was bright, her eyes were filled with dappled sunlight, and she was as vibrant as a newly sprouted branch in spring.
Xie Tu just wanted to walk slower, even slower, to accompany her again and again, walking this short stretch of road filled with memories.
But Qingshan Town is too small.
Even though the pace was slow, I still reached the end.
Yun Zhao's interest remained undiminished, and he led him to the back to see the clear spring water and the land that sustained the entire town.
Two phoenixes were playing there.
When Yun Zhao walked over, he found that the spring water was gone and all the seeds in the field had died.
The smile froze for a moment.
"What's over there?" Xie Tu pointed casually, interrupting her thoughts.
Yun Zhao looked in the direction of the sound and saw the marks carved on the wall. He smiled again, “These are the height lines we carved when we were kids. Everyone would go there to compare their heights every day. But later, the boys grew too fast, so I stopped comparing with them.”
Xie Tu pinched her cheek, then circled her head with his hand and said seriously, "You are indeed a bit short."
Yun Zhao: "..."
Xie Tu smiled at her, "Just kidding. This height is just right now, it's super easy to pick you up."
Her smile was so dazzling it seemed to melt glaciers.
Yun Zhao, seeing his handsome face, decided not to argue with him.
She turned around and took his hand again. "I'll take you to see the tunnel again. It leads to any house in town. It's where we used to play hide-and-seek when we were kids..."
"Okay," Xie Tu replied softly.
The two walked hand in hand through every corner of the town.
...
night.
Perhaps it's because I slept too much during the day, or perhaps I know I'll be leaving tomorrow.
Yun Zhao lay in bed, unable to fall asleep.
Afraid of disturbing Xie Tu, she dared not move and stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Does No. 128, East Third Street, still not have a name?"
The sudden sound beside him startled Yun Zhao.
Xie Tu sighed softly, turned around and hugged her from behind, "After we get back, let's buy the other two buildings, and then rename No. 128 East Third Street to Qingshan Town, okay?"
Xie Tu used "we" because he wanted to keep the name she missed so much.
What's past is past.
Try to look ahead.
The unknown future may also be just as wonderful.
Yun Zhao's eyes were a little moist, and he nodded gently, "Okay."
*
The sky was overcast and gray.
The sentries had already gotten up, replenished their ammunition, and were waiting at the town gate, fully equipped and ready to go.
You Fei and the others did not attend the meeting yesterday and were unaware of its contents. They were only notified that they would be departing this morning for the most mysterious area in the contaminated zone.
The sentries knew very well that this mission was extremely dangerous.
They had no experience in operating in high-risk contaminated areas, and obeyed all orders and commands.
The flashlight beams illuminated the town.
One by one, people arrived at the meeting point.
Jiang Mu unusually did not scout the location and arrived at the armored vehicle ahead of time.
"Where are Yun Zhao and Xie Tu?"
Xia Mingang came over yawning, only to be surprised to find that Jiang Mu was already there.
Jiang Mu stood in the shadows, wiping his precious twin swords, his tone as lazy as ever, "The guide and Xie Tu are together, they're probably tired, it's normal that they can't get up."
That tone sounded so frivolous.
At that moment, the car window opened, revealing Fu Qi, who had gotten in at some unknown time.
She frowned. "Can't you speak properly?"
Jiang Mu looked up at her and said casually, "It's a small town that's no more than 800 meters long from north to south. The two of you walked around it again and again yesterday afternoon, walking tens of thousands of steps. How could the guide not be tired?"
Fu Mo paused, realizing she had misunderstood, and quickly slammed the car window shut again.
"Pfft." Xia Mingang couldn't help but chuckle.
Xie Tu and Yun Zhao have already gotten up.
After getting up, the two checked the items left in the room, stepped out of the room, and in the blink of an eye, they transformed back into a cold and aloof S-class sentinel and a quiet and reserved S-class guide.
He Guanghai found a van from somewhere and parked it next to the armored vehicle.
He handed the map to Yun Zhao, saying, "We may have to cross some dangerous areas, so please take the map with you."
He Guanghai knew many channels.
He's fine walking alone, but now, with so many people following him, he'll be spotted by the gatekeepers as soon as he steps in.
I'm afraid the road won't be peaceful.
Yun Zhao didn't take the map. She pursed her lips and said, "Just give the map to them. My uncle knows the way, and I don't need the map since I'm walking with him."
He Guanghai realized what was going on and chuckled, "Zhaozhao, what are you thinking? Uncle only gave you the map because you're the captain. Why are you being so childish?"
Yun Zhao turned his head to the side.
He Guanghai was really angry when he saw this. He rummaged in his pocket for a while and then pulled out a piece of candy.
Strawberry candy, the packaging is very new.
"Eat the candy, and then you can't throw a tantrum. You're a grown woman now, with so many people watching. Don't let people laugh at you..."
The burly, bearded man appeared somewhat clumsy in front of Yun Zhao.
He glanced at the sentries beside the car, afraid that Yun Zhao, as the captain, would be looked down upon by the sentries.
“She’s not angry. Uncle He is sitting next to Yun Zhao in the back seat. We’re getting ready to leave.” Xie Tu reached out and took the map from her, handing it to the most conscientious and responsible Fu Heng through the window.
Yun Zhao was just in a bad mood because he was about to leave.
He helped He Guanghai out of the predicament with a few words.
"Yes, I'm not angry. Uncle, please get in the car."
Yun Zhao had already taken the candy from her uncle, tore off the outer wrapper, ate it, and then pulled her uncle into the car.
Just before the car door was about to close, she suddenly turned around and looked behind her.
The distant horizon faintly glowed with sunlight, casting a hazy light on the quiet town.
The sweetness in my mouth and the bitterness in my heart intertwined.
Goodbye, Qingshan Town.
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