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After leaving the dam, the five students were temporarily housed in the dormitory of the Weichang Forestry Bureau.

The bureau provided them with a large room and a stove, making it much warmer than the area on the dam.

Sui Zhichao was the happiest. "That's great! I don't have to freeze anymore. It's so warm inside, I can get a good night's sleep."

Shen Mengyin also breathed a sigh of relief, "Yes! I was worried about freezing to death every day while I was on the dam. Now I can rest assured."

Da Kui, however, was a little uneasy. "We've come down, but Xue Mei and Meng Yue are still up there. Will they be able to manage?"

Ji Xiurong said, "It should work! With Deputy Director Su and Captain Zhao there."

Yan Xiangli remained silent, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking out the window, lost in thought.

The next morning, when everyone got up, they found that Yan Xiangli's bed was empty.

"Where is Yan Xiangli?" Sui Zhichao asked.

"I don't know!" said Da Kui. "He disappeared early this morning."

Ji Xiurong's heart tightened, and she quickly went to check Yan Xiangli's cabinet...

The closet was empty; the clothes, books, and notebooks were all gone.

"He...he's gone?" Ji Xiurong's voice trembled.

"Where did you go?" Shen Mengyin asked.

"I don't know," Ji Xiurong panicked. "He didn't say!"

Everyone quickly went to ask someone in the bureau for information.

Old Chen from the personnel department told them, "Yan Xiangli! He's been transferred. The transfer procedures started a long time ago. He said there was an emergency at home, so he applied to be transferred back to Sichuan."

"Transferred back to Sichuan?" Ji Xiurong was struck dumb. "Why...why didn't he tell me?"

"He probably left in a hurry!" Old Chen said. "He said his elderly relative was seriously ill and he had to go back immediately. The paperwork was specially approved by Director Qu."

Ji Xiurong turned pale and ran away.

She ran to the bureau office and pushed the door open.

Qu He was looking at the documents when he was startled.

"Ji Xiurong? What's wrong?"

"Director Qu, Yan Xiangli... Yan Xiangli has been transferred?" Ji Xiurong's voice trembled.

"Yes!" Qu He nodded. "He had an emergency at home and applied to be transferred back to Sichuan. I read the application, and the situation was indeed urgent, so I approved it. Why, didn't he tell you?"

“No…he didn’t say anything…” Ji Xiurong’s tears fell. “How could he do this? How could he leave without saying goodbye?”

"He probably left in a hurry and didn't have time to say anything," Qu He comforted him. "Don't be too sad. Maybe he'll come back after he's taken care of his family matters."

"No...he won't come back..." Ji Xiurong murmured to herself, "I know he won't come back..."

Thinking back on these days, I realized how good I had been to Yan Xiangli, washing his clothes, cooking for him, and caring for him in every way.

But what about Yan Xiangli? He always has a cold face and doesn't say much.

Ji Xiurong thought that was just his personality and that he would get better with time.

Unexpectedly, Yan Xiangli didn't care at all.

They left without saying goodbye.

“Liar…liar…” Ji Xiurong couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. “How could he lie to me like this…”

Seeing that Ji Xiurong was upset, Qu He quickly said, "Ji Xiurong, calm down. Yan Xiangli might really have something urgent to attend to..."

"What's the emergency?" Ji Xiurong suddenly raised her voice. "What's the emergency that you can't tell me? Who am I to him? I'm his girlfriend! How can he treat me like this?"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, and she even started smashing things.

He grabbed the documents on the table and threw them on the ground, also smashing a teacup.

"Ji Xiurong! What are you doing?!" Qu He cried out in alarm, "Stop it!"

But Ji Xiurong had lost control. She was like a madwoman, crying and making a scene in the office, smashing everything in her path.

"Liars! You're all liars! You men are all liars!" she cried, shouting. "I was so good to you, why did you treat me like this? Why?"

Sui Zhichao and Na Da Kui ran in when they heard the commotion, and were stunned by what they saw.

"Xiurong! Calm down!" Sui Zhichao went up to pull her away.

Ji Xiurong shoved him away, "Don't touch me! You men are all the same! None of you are any good!"

She continued smashing things, even knocking over the bookshelves.

Qu He was so frightened that she hid in a corner and shouted, "Help! Someone, grab her!"

Several male staff members rushed in and managed to subdue Ji Xiurong.

But she was still struggling, still crying out.

"Yan Xiangli! Come out here! Explain yourself! Why are you doing this to me!" she shouted hoarsely.

Qu He, still shaken, wiped away his sweat. "This...this person has gone mad? Quick, get them to the hospital!"

The bureau quickly dispatched a vehicle to take Ji Xiurong to Chengde Regional Hospital.

After examination, the doctor said that the mental disorder was caused by a strong stimulus and that hospitalization was required.

"How could someone who was perfectly healthy become like this?" Qu He was both anxious and frightened. "If something happens to her, how am I supposed to explain it to her family?"

Sui Zhichao and the others were also terrified. They hadn't expected that Yan Xiangli's sudden departure would be such a blow to Ji Xiurong.

"Yan Xiangli is a complete scoundrel," Na Da Kui said angrily. "He should at least have said goodbye before leaving! Xiu Rong treated him so well, how could he do this to her?"

Shen Mengyin sighed, "Actually, I've felt something was wrong for a while now. Yan Xiangli is cold to everyone, and he's not warm to Xiu Rong either. But Xiu Rong just likes him, and she can't be persuaded otherwise."

“What’s the point of saying all this now?” Sui Zhichao said. “The key question is, what about Xiurong? Does her family know?”

"We haven't notified her yet," Qu He said. "I had someone call her hometown and ask her parents to come over."

"Don't tell the people in Bashang about this yet, so they don't worry. Especially Deputy Director Su, he already has a problem with you students, if he finds out about this, he'll definitely think you're a lot of trouble."

"What about Yan Xiangli?" Da Kui asked. "We just let him go like that?"

"The person has already been transferred, what else can we do?" Qu He said helplessly. "The transfer procedures are complete, and my approval was perfectly reasonable. I can only say that I misjudged the person."

Everyone was silent.

After being admitted to the hospital, Ji Xiurong's mood fluctuated.

When he's feeling well, he lies quietly with a blank stare in his eyes.

When she's upset, she cries and makes a scene, wanting to find Yan Xiangli.

The doctor gave her a sedative, and she slowly fell asleep.

Sui Zhichao and others took turns guarding the hospital.

Seeing Ji Xiurong's haggard appearance, everyone felt very sad.

"If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have advised Xiurong not to be so nice to Yan Xiangli back then," Shen Mengyin said with some regret.

"Can you persuade her?" Da Kui said. "With Xiu Rong's temper, once she's made up her mind, no one can change it."

"I wonder where Yan Xiangli is now," Sui Zhichao said. "If he knew Xiurong was like this, would he come back?"

"No," Shen Mengyin said with certainty. "He's the kind of person who's very cold-hearted. Once he leaves, he won't come back."

Sure enough, news came a few days later that Yan Xiangli had taken the train back to Sichuan and had transferred his work relationship.

From then on, he had nothing to do with Saihanba or Ji Xiurong anymore.

Ji Xiurong's parents rushed from their hometown and wept bitterly when they saw their daughter's condition.

"My daughter was perfectly fine, how did she end up like this?" Mrs. Ji grabbed Qu He's hand. "You have to take responsibility!"

Qu He could only apologize, promising to cover all medical expenses and arrange the best treatment for Ji Xiurong.

But none of this could heal the wounds in Ji Xiurong's heart.

She loved someone so earnestly and wholeheartedly, only to be met with his sudden departure and heartless betrayal.

This kind of blow cannot be healed with money.

……

The news eventually reached Bashang. Su Ning received a call from Qu He, and his face was grim.

"Yan Xiangli has been transferred? Ji Xiurong has gone mad? Why didn't you say so sooner? This is such a big thing!"

"I was afraid you'd worry..." Qu He explained over the phone.

"Worried? Is this the time to worry?" Su Ning snapped. "If anything happens to Ji Xiurong, can you take responsibility?"

"I...I've already arranged the best treatment..."

"What's the use of treatment?" Su Ning said. "If your heart is broken, can medicine heal it?"

Suning slammed down the phone and sat there sulking.

Qin Xuemei and Meng Yue both cried when they heard the news.

"How could such a good girl like Xiu Rong do this?" Meng Yue wiped away her tears. "Yan Xiangli is such a scoundrel!"

Qin Xuemei was also furious, "How could he treat Xiurong like this? Xiurong was so good to him!"

When Feng Cheng and Zhao Tianshan found out, they also sighed.

"So you can't judge a book by its cover," Zhao Tianshan said. "Yan Xiangli is usually quiet and looks honest, but I never expected him to be this kind of person."

"You can know a person's face but not their heart," Feng Cheng shook his head.

Looking at everyone, Su Ning solemnly said, "This is a reminder to everyone. In Saihanba, we must not only be responsible for our work, but also for the people around us. Matters of the heart are not to be taken lightly, and we must not hurt others."

"Especially you young people, your minds are full of love and romance. Be careful when you're in a relationship, and choose the right person. Don't end up like Ji Xiurong, who gave her heart only to be hurt."

Everyone nodded.

“Also,” Su Ning said, “everyone must keep Ji Xiurong’s matter a secret. Especially her treatment; don’t talk about it everywhere. Let’s preserve her dignity.”

"clear."

This matter weighs on everyone's heart like a stone.

They never expected that going down to the dam for the winter, which was supposed to be for safety, would lead to such an incident.

Yan Xiangli's sudden departure and Ji Xiurong's mental breakdown cast a shadow over this winter from the very beginning.

Little did they know that an even greater test was yet to come.

Winter in Saihanba has only just begun.

The winter in one's heart is sometimes colder and harder to endure than the winter in nature.

……

Ji Xiurong stayed in the hospital for half a month, and her condition fluctuated.

The doctor said that she had suffered a severe shock, and medication would have limited effect; the key was for her to come to terms with it herself.

That day, the Forestry Bureau was to deliver winter supplies to the Bashang area.

The convoy loaded trucks in the yard, piling up coal, grain, and cotton-padded clothes to the brim.

Ji Xiurong ran back from the hospital, suddenly rushed out, and blocked the convoy.

"I want to go up to the dam!" She clung to the truck door.

"Xiurong, what are you doing?" Her mother quickly pulled her back. "You're still sick, why are you going up to the dam?"

"I want to go up to the dam!" Ji Xiurong insisted. "Let me go up!"

Qu He rushed over upon hearing the news, her head throbbing with pain, and advised, "Xiurong, it's minus twenty or thirty degrees Celsius in Bashang right now, the conditions are too harsh. You've only just recovered, you can't take it. How about we wait until next spring when it's warmer?"

"No! I want to go up now!" Ji Xiurong cried, tears streaming down her face. "I want to go up! If you won't let me, I'll walk up myself!"

As Ji Xiurong spoke, she turned to leave, but her parents quickly stopped her, and the three of them ended up in a tug-of-war.

Qu He had a terrible headache, so he could only try his best to soothe her, saying, "How about this, I'll send a telegram to the dam area and ask Deputy Director Su. If he agrees, you can go up. If he doesn't agree, you'll just obediently go back to the hospital, okay?"

"Then go and ask!" Ji Xiurong urged.

Qu He returned to his office and sent a telegram to the dam area: "Ji Xiurong's condition has stabilized slightly, and she insists on going to the dam. Do you agree? Please reply."

Soon, Su Ning called back, "I agree to let her come up. It's tough on the dam, but there's important work to do. Maybe it will distract her and stop her from thinking about those sad things. The Forestry Bureau must ensure the supply of materials."

Qu He showed the telegram to Ji Xiurong.

Ji Xiurong immediately burst into laughter through her tears, "I knew Deputy Director Su would agree! Quick, I want to get in the car!"

Her mother was still a little worried. "Xiurong, it's so cold in Bashang. Are you alright?"

“Okay! I can definitely do it!” Ji Xiurong said resolutely. “Mom, please let me go. There will be work to do on the dam, and when I’m busy, I won’t be sad anymore.”

Her father sighed helplessly, "Forget it, let her go! She cries every day at home anyway, going to the dam might really be a good thing."

And so, Ji Xiurong climbed onto the truck delivering supplies.

When Da Kui heard that Ji Xiurong was going to the dam, he immediately started making a fuss, "Director Qu, I want to go up too! I'm worried about Xiurong going up alone!"

Qu He frowned. "Da Kui, don't get involved. Ji Xiurong is a special case; why are you getting involved?"

"I'm not just here to join in the fun!" Da Kui exclaimed anxiously. "Director Qu, you don't know, I've always liked Xiu Rong. Her sadness makes me sad. I want to go up and take care of her!"

"You..." Qu He didn't know what to say.

At this moment, Shen Mengyin and Sui Zhichao also arrived, feeling embarrassed to stay below the dam.

“Director Qu, since Ji Xiurong and Da Kui have both gone up, we feel bad staying down here,” Sui Zhichao said. “Let’s go up too! More people means more strength, and we can take better care of Ji Xiurong.”

Shen Mengyin chimed in, "Yes! Everyone is suffering on the dam, while we're enjoying ourselves down below. We really feel bad about it."

Qu He looked at them, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

"You...you're all collectively forcing me to resign?" He smiled bitterly. "Fine, fine, go ahead! Anyway, we're short-handed on the dam, a few more helpers will do."

"Thank you, Director Qu!" The three men happily climbed into the car.

Qu He watched the truck drive away and sighed, "These college students are such a headache. They decide to go down to the dam or go up to the dam whenever they want, they're unpredictable."

A staff member next to him said, "Director, if four of them go up, we won't have enough supplies! We originally only prepared five people to stay behind, but now there are four more, and we still don't have enough food or coal."

"Prepare the second batch immediately," Qu He said. "Send another batch in a couple of days. We can't let them go hungry and cold on the dam."

"Yes."

……

The truck was traveling on a bumpy road.

Ji Xiurong sat in the carriage, wrapped in a thick cotton coat, looking out at the desert.

Da Kui sat down next to her and asked cautiously, "Xiu Rong, are you... are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Ji Xiurong said. "I've just figured it out. It's not worth being sad for that kind of person. I'm going to work hard in Bashang, plant a forest, and prove that I, Ji Xiurong, am not a useless person."

“Yes! That’s right!” Da Kui was very happy. “Xiu Rong, you’re right to think that way. Don’t worry, I will take good care of you in Bashang.”

Shen Mengyin and Sui Zhichao sat on the other side.

Sui Zhichao started talking again, "Mengyin, do you think Deputy Director Su will be angry if we go up? We said we'd go down to the dam, but now we're going up again. It keeps changing."

"Let him be angry!" Shen Mengyin said. "Anyway, we're going up, and he can't kick us out."

“That’s true,” Sui Zhichao said. “But I think Deputy Director Su is a good person, just a bit stubborn. You see, he agreed to let Ji Xiurong go up, which is for her sake.”

“Yes.” Shen Mengyin nodded. “Although Deputy Director Su is strict, he has good intentions.”

The truck drove for more than three hours before finally arriving at the campsite on the dam.

Zhao Tianshan led his men out to unload the goods.

Seeing Ji Xiurong and the other three, he was taken aback for a moment, "Why did you all come up here?"

"We've decided to spend the winter in Bashang," Sui Zhichao said, "to fight alongside everyone."

Zhao Tianshan glanced at Ji Xiurong and saw that she was in good spirits. "Alright! Come on up! But it's a deal, once you're up here, you can't complain about being tired or have to go down all the time."

“We promise!” the four men said in unison.

Su Ning also came out of the house. When she saw them, she didn't say anything, but said to Zhao Tianshan, "Arrange accommodations for them, add heated kang beds and extra bedding. Don't let them get cold."

"Yes."

...(End of chapter)