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Everyone was very happy after the successful promotion of the full-light seedling raising method.

But Shen Mengyin always had a knot in her heart.

She knew she had done something wrong, so she wrote to Wu Yansheng to tell him about the situation in Bashang, especially about the whole-light seedling cultivation method.

Although her intention was only to comfort Wu Yansheng, she did not expect that Wu Yansheng would report her.

Moreover, it made the entire Saihanba Forest Farm very unhappy, and Shen Mengyin suddenly felt like a stupid sinner.

That day, she finally mustered up the courage to find Su Ning.

"Director Su, I...I have something I want to tell you." Shen Mengyin lowered her head and spoke very softly.

"What is it? Sit down and talk." Su Ning was looking at the seedling records.

Shen Mengyin sat down, her fingers twisting together. "I...I did something wrong. I need to apologize to you."

"What did I do wrong?" Su Ning put down the notebook.

“I…I wrote to Wu Yansheng.” Shen Mengyin’s voice was even softer. “I told him everything that happened in Bashang, including the whole-light seedling cultivation method.”

Su Ning simply looked at Shen Mengyin without saying a word.

Shen Mengyin quickly explained, "But I really didn't know he would report it! I just felt he was wronged to leave and wanted to comfort him. I told him about the all-light seedling cultivation method to tell him that your method might really work, and he shouldn't have opposed your decision so much in the first place..."

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, tears welling up in his eyes. "Director Su, I never imagined he would report you. If I had known, I would never have told anyone, even if you killed me."

Su Ning was silent for a moment, then asked, "How many letters did you write to him?"

“Three…three letters,” Shen Mengyin said. “He replied to two of them.”

What did he say?

“In the first letter, he said the all-light seedling cultivation method was nonsense and told me not to get involved. In the second letter, he said I was abusing my power for personal gain and wasting national resources.” Shen Mengyin regretted it more and more as she spoke. “I even argued with him at the time, saying that my method might actually work. Besides, no experiment is ever completely certain. I didn’t expect him to turn around and report me.”

Su Ning sighed, "Shen Mengyin, do you know where you went wrong?"

"Was it a mistake... in writing to Wu Yansheng?" Shen Mengyin was uncertain.

“It’s not just that,” Su Ning said. “Your mistake was that you didn’t see who Wu Yansheng was.”

Shen Mengyin looked up at Su Ning.

"Wu Yansheng is a wicked man," Su Ning said bluntly. "Look at his behavior on the dam: currying favor with Qin Xuemei, ostracizing Feng Cheng, talking back to the leaders, saying one thing and doing another, and wantonly uprooting other people's saplings. You've seen all of this with your own eyes, haven't you?"

Shen Mengyin nodded.

“He left Bashang not because I drove him away, but because he simply couldn’t stand it,” Su Ning continued. “He lacked the perseverance, the responsibility, and the magnanimity. He only cared about himself and his own interests.”

He went to the dam to pursue Qin Xuemei, feeling it would be a waste not to have won her over during his four years of university, not because he was particularly passionate about afforestation.

"I...I didn't think that much at the time," Shen Mengyin said softly.

“You have to think about it,” Su Ning said seriously. “In Saihanba, we are a collective. Things within the collective cannot be casually discussed with outsiders. Especially technical matters, which are highly confidential. If you casually write a letter to outsiders and something goes wrong, who will be responsible?”

Shen Mengyin cried, "Director Su, I was wrong. I was really wrong."

"It's good that you know you're wrong." Su Ning's tone softened a bit. "But I want to remind you, stay away from people like Wu Yansheng. He can report me today, and he can harm someone else tomorrow. Getting involved with someone like him will only lead to bad results."

"..." Shen Mengyin suddenly revealed a thoughtful expression.

"Besides writing letters, what else do you and Wu Yansheng do?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Shen Mengyin quickly shook her head. "It's just ordinary correspondence between classmates. I know he likes Qin Xuemei, but I don't have those feelings for him."

"That's good." Su Ning nodded. "Remember, be careful when making friends. Especially with relationships between men and women. Look at Ji Xiurong..."

Shen Mengyin felt a pang of anxiety at the mention of Ji Xiurong.

Everyone knows about Ji Xiurong and Yan Xiangli's affair.

Yan Xiangli left without saying goodbye, and Ji Xiurong almost went crazy.

Although I'm much better now, the wound in my heart will always remain.

“You saw how good Ji Xiurong was to Yan Xiangli,” Su Ning said. “She did his laundry, cooked for him, and cared for him in every way. And what happened? Yan Xiangli just left without saying goodbye. Why? Because he didn’t care about Ji Xiurong at all.”

Shen Mengyin felt a chill run down her spine when she recalled Ji Xiurong's appearance in the hospital.

“Wu Yansheng is the same kind of person as Yan Xiangli! In some ways, he’s even worse than Yan Xiangli,” Su Ning said. “They are both selfish and only think about themselves. Being with people like that will only hurt you.”

Shen Mengyin was completely awakened.

Yes! Wu Yansheng and Yan Xiangli look so alike.

They all seem nice on the surface, but in reality, they only care about themselves.

If Yan Xiangli could treat Ji Xiurong that way, wouldn't Wu Yansheng treat her the same way?
Shen Mengyin was suddenly relieved that she had only exchanged a few letters with Wu Yansheng and had no other relationship with him.

"Director Su, I understand." Shen Mengyin wiped away her tears. "I will never contact Wu Yansheng again. I will not tell anyone about what happened in Bashang."

“That’s right,” Su Ning said. “In Saihanba, we are comrades-in-arms. We must trust and support each other. To the outside world, we must be united and keep secrets. This is discipline, and it’s also the bottom line.”

“I understand.” Shen Mengyin nodded emphatically.

"Also," Su Ning looked at her, "you're young and naive, which is a good thing, but it also makes you easy to be fooled. In the future, when making friends, pay more attention to their character and less to their appearance. No matter how talented a person is, you shouldn't get too close to someone with bad character."

“Yes,” Shen Mengyin said. “I was too naive before. I thought Wu Yansheng was a classmate and wouldn’t hurt me. Now I know that some people will do anything for their own benefit.”

"It's good that you know," Su Ning said. "Let's put this matter behind us. From now on, focus on your work and planting trees. Putting your mind to the right thing is more important than anything else."

"I will definitely do my best!" Shen Mengyin stood up and bowed to Su Ning. "Thank you for your guidance, Director Su."

Stepping out of the office, I felt much more relaxed.

The weight that had been pressing on my heart has finally been lifted.

Thinking back to Wu Yansheng's letter, those complaints and those belittling remarks about Suning, it all seems ridiculous now.

Suning is a man who gets things done, while Wu Yansheng is all talk and no action.

He was so naive to actually sympathize with Wu Yansheng.

From now on, I will devote all my energy to planting trees.

Like Qin Xuemei, like Meng Yue, like all the builders of Saihanba, they dedicated their youth to this land.

Instead of wasting time on someone like Wu Yansheng.

Back in her dorm, Shen Mengyin took out the two letters written by Wu Yansheng, glanced at them one last time, and then tore them to shreds.

The fragments were thrown into the furnace and burned to ashes.

Just like his own ridiculous sympathy for Wu Yansheng, it was also burned away.

From this day forward, Shen Mengyin will be a builder of Saihanba.

She is the daughter of this land.

Her heart, her feelings, her youth—all belong here, and absolutely not to anyone unworthy.

Shen Mengyin walked to the window and looked at the newly planted saplings outside.

Lush green and full of life.

Just like her heart at this moment, having gone through this lesson, she has become more mature and determined.

I believe she will grow and thrive on this land.

You gain friendship, you grow, and you find meaning in life.

Although my family background is not good, it doesn't mean I can't change it. I must change my situation through my own efforts.

These are things that people like Wu Yansheng will never understand.

……

After Shen Mengyin confessed to Su Ning, the news spread throughout the girls' dormitory within two days.

Actually, it wasn't Shen Mengyin who brought it up; it was Ji Xiurong who first noticed something was wrong.

That night, Ji Xiurong saw Shen Mengyin burning something. When she went closer to take a look, she found it was fragments of a letter.

"Mengyin, what are you burning?" Ji Xiurong asked.

"It's nothing, just some old letters." Shen Mengyin quickly used the stove hook to break up the fragments.

But Ji Xiurong, with her sharp eyes, spotted the words "Yansheng" (延生).

"Is it a letter from Wu Yansheng?" Ji Xiurong frowned.

Shen Mengyin knew she couldn't hide it any longer, so she simply told the whole story, "Yes, I exchanged a few letters with him. But we've stopped now." "You corresponded with him?" Ji Xiurong was surprised. "Why? Didn't you know he wasn't a good person?"

Shen Mengyin then recounted what had happened.

How could I write a letter to comfort Wu Yansheng, how could I mention the all-light seedling cultivation method, and how could I not have imagined that he would report it?

Ji Xiurong was furious after hearing this. "That Wu Yansheng is so despicable! He's incompetent himself, but he won't let others succeed? How dare he report Director Su?"

The commotion drew the attention of Qin Xuemei and Meng Yue, who also came over.

"What's wrong? What's all the noise about?" Meng Yue asked.

Ji Xiurong recounted the story again.

Qin Xuemei's face turned very ugly after hearing this, after all, Wu Yansheng was her boyfriend.

"Xuemei, you...you don't know about Wu Yansheng's report?" Meng Yue asked cautiously.

"I don't know." Qin Xuemei shook her head. "I only know that the expert group came, but I didn't know that it was Wu Yansheng who reported it."

"That Wu Yansheng, he's simply..." Meng Yue was so angry she couldn't find the words, "And you're even his girlfriend! His behavior is just too shameless!"

Of course, Meng Yue's words were aimed at Shen Mengyin, and sure enough, Shen Mengyin lowered her head with a face full of shame.

But Qin Xuemei remained silent.

She did agree to be Wu Yansheng's girlfriend, or more accurately, she accepted Wu Yansheng's advances.

That happened last winter.

Wu Yansheng wrote her a letter from Beijing, expressing his heartfelt feelings and saying that he came to Saihanba for her sake and that he would live out his days alone if she did not accept him.

Qin Xuemei was moved and replied that she accepted Wu Yansheng's offer.

In reality, Wu Yansheng had been expelled from school and later went to work in Beijing, so their relationship gradually faded away.

Later, Wu Yansheng wrote again, saying that his father had arranged a job for him in Beijing and wanted to transfer her back as well.

Qin Xuemei refused, saying she would make achievements in Saihanba first.

From then on, Wu Yansheng continued to send letters frequently, but Qin Xuemei only replied indifferently.

Because Qin Xuemei was busy planting trees, she didn't think much about it, and her mind wasn't on Wu Yansheng.

Only now do I realize that Wu Yansheng not only communicated with her, but also secretly communicated with Shen Mengyin.

Wu Yansheng's true intentions were as clear as day, which made Qin Xuemei feel particularly disgusted.

What's even more outrageous is that they actually went and reported Suning.

"Xuemei, don't be sad," Ji Xiurong comforted her. "It's better to see through someone like Wu Yansheng sooner rather than later."

“I’m not sad.” Qin Xuemei said calmly. “I just feel… I was too foolish back then. I shouldn’t have been so easily moved.”

"What are you doing?" Meng Yue asked, puzzled.

"I was so stupid to be deceived by his sweet words," Qin Xuemei said. "He said he came to Saihanba for me, and I believed him. Now that I think about it, it wasn't for me at all. He just wanted to show off and get attention. He treated me like prey in the eyes of a hunter. You all saw what happened on the dam: trying to please me, ostracizing Feng Cheng, and causing trouble in Saihanba. Was any of that for me?"

"Exactly!" Shen Mengyin exclaimed angrily. "He even complained to me that Director Su was deliberately targeting him, saying that the all-light seedling cultivation method was nonsense. Now that I think about it, he was just jealous! Jealous of Director Su's competence, jealous of the success of the all-light seedling cultivation method!"

Qin Xuemei nodded, "That's why I said I was so stupid. I actually agreed to be the girlfriend of this kind of person."

Meng Yue suddenly asked, "Xue Mei, are you still... in a relationship with Wu Yansheng?"

This question silenced everyone.

Qin Xuemei thought for a moment and said firmly, "No. From the moment I learned that he had reported Director Su, it was no longer the case."

"You want to break up with him?" Ji Xiurong asked.

“It’s not a breakup, it’s a realization,” Qin Xuemei said. “We never really started anything. We just exchanged a few letters and said some silly things. Now I’ve come to my senses, and he’s not the one I’m looking for.”

"What kind of person are you looking for?" Shen Mengyin asked curiously.

Qin Xuemei blushed slightly, but didn't shy away from the question, "I'm looking for... someone who is truly responsible, broad-minded, and can put their career first. Like..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood.

Just like Suning.

"Xuemei, I support you," Meng Yue was the first to say. "Wu Yansheng is not good enough for you. You deserve better."

“I support you too,” Ji Xiurong said. “Xuemei, you are so outstanding, you will definitely find someone who truly understands you.”

Shen Mengyin also said, "Xuemei, you have better judgment than I do. I was almost fooled by Wu Yansheng, but at least you woke up in time."

Qin Xuemei smiled and said, "Actually, I should thank Mengyin. If you hadn't told me about Wu Yansheng's report, I might still be in the dark."

"Then what are you going to tell Wu Yansheng?" Meng Yue asked.

“Write a letter,” Qin Xuemei said decisively. “Make things clear and cut all ties from now on.”

“Yes! That’s how it has to be!” Ji Xiurong said. “We can’t leave him any illusions.”

That very evening, Qin Xuemei wrote a letter.

The letter was short, but very clear:

"Comrade Wu Yansheng: Your letter has been received, thank you for your concern. After careful consideration, I believe that we are not suitable to continue developing our relationship. Your behavior during your time in Saihanba, and your subsequent report against Director Su, have made it clear to me that we are not on the same path. From now on, please do not write to me again. I wish you a bright future. Qin Xuemei."

After writing the letter, she sealed it and affixed a stamp.

"I'll mail it out tomorrow," Qin Xuemei said.

"No regrets?" Meng Yue asked.

"I have no regrets." Qin Xuemei shook her head. "What would I regret? His sweet words? Or his backstabbing?"

“That’s right.” Ji Xiurong nodded. “People like that aren’t worth keeping.”

Shen Mengyin suddenly said, "Sister Xuemei, I think you did the right thing. Although I haven't talked to Wu Yansheng, I can sense from those letters that he's a very self-centered person. He always thinks he's right and everyone else is wrong. It's too tiring to be with someone like that."

"Yes!" Qin Xuemei exclaimed. "I learned a lot during my year in Saihanba. The most important thing is that you can't judge a person by their appearance, you have to look at their actions. Wu Yansheng talks a good game, but what about his actual actions? He's a deserter."

The word "deserter" made everyone laugh.

Indeed, Wu Yansheng was a deserter from Saihanba.

Unable to endure hardship, unable to accomplish anything, they eventually slunk away.

They're not at peace even after they've left; they stab you in the back.

Such a person is indeed not worth cherishing.

"Alright, let's not talk about him anymore." Qin Xuemei put the letter away. "Let's talk about planting trees instead! We need to transplant a new batch of saplings tomorrow, so we have to get up early."

"Yes, let's get down to business." Meng Yue changed the subject. "How many trees are we transplanting this time?"

“Ten thousand trees,” Qin Xuemei said. “If the survival rate can be maintained at 96%, then we will have seventeen thousand two hundred and eighty surviving trees.”

"Seventeen thousand two hundred and eighty trees!" Ji Xiurong's eyes lit up. "That's enough to plant a huge area!"

“Yes!” Qin Xuemei said, “As long as we persevere, one day Saihanba will become a forest again.”

The four girls chatted about planting trees, getting more and more excited as they talked.

Wu Yansheng's matter was quickly forgotten.

Because they have more important things on their minds: planting trees, building forest farms, and turning deserts into oases.

These things are far more important than an unworthy person.

The next day, Qin Xuemei mailed the letter.

She felt completely relaxed as she walked out of the post office.

It's like unloading a burden, a burden I shouldn't have been carrying.

Now, she can finally travel light.

She devoted all her energy to the construction of Saihanba and to this land she loved so deeply.

As for Wu Yansheng, let him remain in the past!

Let Wu Yansheng and his own schemes rot and stink, and he will never be able to integrate into the Saihanba community.

...(End of chapter)