After everyone finished speaking, it was time to eat. Everyone got to drink the chicken soup they had been craving and couldn't help but praise their leader for being so amazing. They even said they would invite her over more often in the future, which made Zhu Fanfan suspect that they were trying to flatter her to death.
Dai Xinghuo gave the signal, and the captain was finally released. His first words were: "If I don't recognize your agreement, you can forget about taking him away."
Zhu Fanfan looked at Dai Xinghuo, who said directly, "Grandpa, we've gotten the better deal, so don't cause trouble, just push it down."
A group of people took action and dragged the captain away again. Dai Xinghuo patted his chest loudly: "Don't worry, I'll take care of Grandpa."
Zhu Fanfan: ...Those who know her would think she was going to do ideological work on the brigade leader, but those who don't would think she was going to kill him.
Liu Zi hurriedly said, "I'll go tell my dad."
These hotheads have made things worse and worse. Dad has lost all face and dignity this time. He probably won't be able to get over it himself. He needs to go and comfort them.
After saying that, he left. A little while later, the father and son came back chatting and laughing. The captain smiled and said to Zhu Fanfan, "The pheasants here are different from those in other places. They only need to be boiled in water for a few minutes to cook, and they taste especially delicious. They're just right now. The chicken soup has already been served. Let's go and have a taste."
Liu Zi gestured that everything was settled, and Zhu Fanfan didn't stand on ceremony. The group started eating and drinking, their friendship was great, and the scene was lively, like old friends who had known each other for years.
After finishing his meal, Zhu Fanfan was about to leave. Dai Xinghuo didn't try to stop him and simply asked his great-grandfather to issue a letter of introduction so he could stay in the city for two days. The brigade leader rolled his eyes as he processed the paperwork.
Before dark, they returned to the city. Liu Zi told her grandfather that she would be back later. Zhu Fanfan took Dai Xinghuo to find Master Xin and left the problem to him to solve. She would send another batch of supplies once things stabilized. She also called her grandfather to let him know she was safe and sound, and to reassure him that the situation at Green Leaf Commune had been resolved and that Grandpa Zhang and the others would not be harassed.
With this matter resolved, Zhu Fanfan began planning her next destination. Her grandfather had given her four addresses, and she had completed one. There were still three she needed to check. She wondered if the other grandfathers were as lucky. She also didn't know if Grandpa Zhang and the others had been sent down here by someone with ulterior motives, or if they were simply starving to death because they didn't know the truth.
Her next destination was the Northwest. She knew that at this time, the Northwest was filled with yellow sand and everything was under construction. She didn't know how Grandpa Lu and the others were doing. They had only stayed in Shanghai for a few days, and there was already news that the free train tickets were being cancelled. It should be a few days before those young people stopped causing trouble.
Because of the pass, Zhu Fanfan could go anywhere without any hindrance. When she got off the train in the Northwest, someone came to pick her up. It was Zhu Zixi, who was already a regimental commander here. He had taken leave specifically to pick up Zhu Fanfan.
Zhu Fanfan felt embarrassed: "Grandpa said you have a lot of tasks here, why did you come to pick me up? I can go by myself."
Zhu Zixi said cheerfully, "I'll take you back to show off. When I tell others that my sister looks like a New Year's picture doll, they don't believe me. Today, I'll let them see if my sister is a fairy."
The main problem is that the checks here are very strict, and there are no vehicles passing through at all. If you want to come, you have to walk there yourself, and it's a long way! He couldn't bear to see his sister go through so much trouble.
Zhu Zixi drove over to pick her up, worried that her sister wouldn't be used to the weather here. But she still said a few words: "You've come all this way. It must be tiring to carry so much stuff. I heard from Grandpa Jiu that you specially prepared this for me. I've been here for so many years and I'm used to it. I don't need anything. Grandpa Jiu also sends me things often."
Zhu Fanfan still said, "I heard from Grandpa that the conditions here are not good and everything is lacking. Anyway, we're just taking a car, so it won't take much effort. Besides, I have to save face for you. All these things will make others envious of you for a year."
Zhu Zixi said smugly, "With you being able to come, others will envy me for a year."
The environment here is too harsh; no one would come to visit relatives. Even if they did, they wouldn't be able to adapt to the conditions and would leave after only a few days.
Upon arriving at the Sixth Regiment where Zhu Zixi was, Zhu Zixi said, "This is where I'm staying. The locals call it a 'diwozi' (earthenhouse). I've already tidied up the room. Take out your things and I'll help you unpack."
Seeing that everything around her was sand, Zhu Fanfan learned from her cousin that the place with the tree was the roof. As soon as Zhu Fanfan got out of the car, she was sprayed in the face with yellow sand and went back inside. Zhu Fanfan couldn't help but ask, "Is the weather like this all the time here?"
Zhu Zixi chuckled dryly, "I've gotten used to it here. I forgot you're new here and haven't gotten used to it yet."
(This is a fictional story. The author has never been to Northwest China. All information was found online. Do not compare it with history. It is purely made up by the author. Don't take it too seriously. If you do, you're right.)
Zhu Fanfan said, "Cousin, you've worked hard. Let's go tidy up the house now."
Zhu Zixi, holding a package in each hand, said, "You wait here. I'll go put the things away first. The sandstorm here is too strong. You should get off the bus first."
Zhu Fanfan disobeyed and came out with a package in each hand, saying, "Brother, I wasn't raised in a pampered way either. If you can adapt to a harsh environment, so can I."
Zhu Zixi knew that Ninth Grandfather was not the type to spoil children, but after all, she was the only girl in the Zhu family, and Ninth Grandmother doted on her, so she had never suffered materially. He couldn't bear to see Fanfan suffer here instead of at home.
The brother and sister carried everything into the house, and Zhu Fanfan then realized that the house was pitch black and very dark. Even with her strong mental strength, Zhu Fanfan needed a while to adjust. The house was just a pit dug in the ground, and everything inside, from the kang (heated brick bed) to the cabinets, was made of yellow mud. Even the stove was made of yellow mud. Almost all of these were in one room.
Zhu Zixi explained, "I live alone, so the room is a bit small. Fanfan, you stay in this room, and I'll stay in the other room. It's a bit simple here, so I'm sorry to make you uncomfortable."
Zhu Fanfan said, "Brother, I'm only staying here for a few days, so there's no need to go to too much trouble. I see that people here live quite far apart, aren't you going to stay together?"
Zhu Zixi explained, "The house of my comrade is right next door, but it's always during work hours, so no one's there. I'll introduce you to it later and show you around, so you can see the unique scenery of our motherland. I heard you have a camera, did you bring it? It's not easy to take photos here, so take a lot of pictures, and take a lot of pictures for us too. I'll reimburse you for the cost of developing the photos."
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