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After Su Ning was taken away, Qin Xuemei struggled to take charge of the forest farm's work.

She goes to the nursery during the day, takes care of the children at night, and also has to worry about Suning's affairs.

After a few days, I've lost a lot of weight.

Only after leaving Suning did I realize the happiness of my previous life.

Previously, Qin Xuemei didn't think much of Suning's busy work, but now she understands its value.

Meng Yue advised her, "Xue Mei, don't overwork yourself. We'll take care of the nursery, so you should rest more."

"I'm fine." Qin Xuemei shook her head. "With Su Ning gone, I need to do my job even better. I can't let people laugh at me."

That's what she said, but everyone could see her worry.

The child cried at night, and she held the child, tears streaming down her face.

"Hanghang, don't cry, Daddy will be back soon," she whispered, comforting the child and herself.

That day, Yu Zheng suddenly came to the dam.

Instead of visiting the nursery first as usual, he went directly to Qin Xuemei.

"Xuemei, let's find a quiet place. I need to talk to you about something." Yu Zhenglai's expression was very serious.

Qin Xuemei's heart tightened. She handed the child to Ji Xiurong and then followed Yu Zheng to the office.

After closing the door, Yu Zhenglai got straight to the point, "Xuemei, the situation is not good."

"What's wrong?" Qin Xuemei asked.

"I've inquired, and it was Wu Yansheng who reported Suning," Yu Zhenglai said.

Although Qin Xuemei had suspected it before, she was still trembling with anger upon hearing the confirmation. "It really was him!"

“It’s not just him.” Yu Zhenglai lowered his voice, “Wu Yansheng’s father, Old Wu, also made a move.”

"Old Wu?" Qin Xuemei didn't know this person.

“Wu Yansheng’s father works in Beijing. He is a veteran cadre with a deep network of connections, especially in the forestry system,” Yu Zhenglai explained. “This time, he personally approached several leaders in the Ministry of Forestry and said that Su Ning was abusing his power for personal gain and wasting national resources, demanding a thorough investigation.”

Qin Xuemei's face turned pale. "Then... what were the results of the investigation?"

“It hasn’t been released yet,” Yu Zhenglai said. “But Lao Wu and Wu Yansheng fabricated some so-called ‘evidence’, saying that Suning took kickbacks in logistics procurement and falsified accounts in project funds.”

"Nonsense!" Qin Xuemei exclaimed excitedly. "Su Ning isn't that kind of person! In the years he's been in Saihanba, he hasn't taken a single extra penny! Every single expense related to seedling cultivation has been meticulously recorded!"

“I know, you know, but the Discipline Inspection Commission doesn’t know, and neither does the outside world,” Yu Zhenglai sighed. “They only look at the evidence. Wu Yansheng forged purchase orders, reimbursement vouchers, and several so-called ‘witness testimonies.’ This evidence looks very real. Besides, their original purpose was to smear Suning.”

"Can't Suning explain it clearly?"

"An explanation?" Yu Zhenglai smiled bitterly. "The current situation is that there are witnesses and physical evidence. How can Su Ning explain? He says he didn't take it, but they say he did. He says the accounts are clear, but they say the accounts are falsified. This kind of thing is impossible to explain."

Qin Xuemei's heart sank. "Then... what should we do?"

“It’s difficult,” Yu Zhenglai said bluntly. “Old Wu has connections in the forestry system, and he’s putting pressure on the disciplinary committee. If they can’t find anything wrong, it’ll be fine. But now that they have ‘evidence,’ even if it turns out to be false, the investigation will take time. During this period, Su Ning will have to stay locked up.”

"How long will you be detained?"

"I don't know." Yu Zhenglai shook his head. "It could take a few months or a year or two. And even if it's eventually found out, Suning's reputation will be damaged. Lao Wu and Wu Yansheng's goal is to ruin Suning and make him lose all his reputation. Some self-righteous fools might say that flies don't land on eggs without cracks, but that's the most insidious thing about Lao Wu and Wu Yansheng."

Tears welled up in Qin Xuemei's eyes. "How could they be so cruel? What did Su Ning do wrong? He just wanted the trees to survive, to turn Saihanba into an oasis..."

“They hate Suning because they did so well,” Yu Zhenglai said. “Wu Yansheng is jealous of Suning, and Old Wu is very protective of his son. This father and son are narrow-minded and vindictive.”

"Then... what can we do now?" Qin Xuemei wiped away her tears.

"There's only so much we can do," Yu Zhenglai said. "I've already reported the situation to the Ministry of Forestry, but Lao Wu has connections within the forestry system, so it hasn't been very effective. Now we can only wait for the investigation results and see how the Discipline Inspection Commission decides."

He paused, looking at Qin Xuemei, "Xuemei, you need to be mentally prepared. In the worst-case scenario, Su Ning might be dismissed, or even... go to jail."

"Jail?" Qin Xuemei's voice changed. "Impossible! Su Ning didn't commit a crime!"

Yu Zhenglai said, "Since Lao Wu and Wu Yansheng dared to do this, they must have made preparations. They won't let Suning turn things around easily."

Qin Xuemei slumped into the chair, trembling all over.

"Xuemei, you have to be strong." Yu Zheng patted her shoulder. "You are a mother, a wife, and the technical director of the forest farm now. Su Ning isn't here, so you have to hold on."

"I...I can handle it." Qin Xuemei bit her lip. "I believe Su Ning is innocent and will be fine."

“I believe it too,” Yu Zheng said, “but reality is cruel. You have to be mentally prepared and also think about the child.”

"My child..." Qin Xuemei thought of Hanghang, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

“If… I mean if, something really happens to Suning, you need to take good care of yourself and your child,” Yu Zheng said. “The organization won’t abandon you. But you still have to make a living on your own.”

"No, Su Ning will definitely come back. He told me to wait for him."

"I hope so," Yu Zheng sighed.

He gave a few more instructions and then went down the mountain.

Qin Xuemei sat alone in the office for a long time.

She recalled all the little moments she shared with Suning.

From initially opposing full-light seedling cultivation, to later supporting it, to falling in love, to getting married, to having children...

Suning is such a good person, so upright, and so responsible.

How could someone like that embezzle? How could he abuse his power for personal gain?
How could Wu Yansheng and Lao Wu be so despicable?
But Qin Xuemei knew that Yu Zheng was right.

In this world, sometimes you can't prove your innocence just because you are innocent.

It's all too easy for someone with power and influence to frame another person.

Fabricating evidence, bribing witnesses, exerting pressure...

Although Qin Xuemei had never experienced these methods herself, she had heard of them.

Suning is really in danger this time.

But she cannot fall, because she is Suning's wife, Hanghang's mother, and a builder of Saihanba.

She must be strong and hold on until Su Ning returns.

Qin Xuemei wiped away her tears and stood up.

I walked to the window and looked at the forest outside that was turning green.

Those were planted by Suning and the others together.

How could someone who dedicated his life to Saihanba possibly embezzle?

How could someone who turns a desert green be a criminal?

……

After Yu Zheng left, Qin Xuemei thought about it for two days.

She knew that simply waiting in Saihanba wouldn't bring any results.

Wu Yansheng and his father had connections in the province and in the forestry system.

Without anyone's help, Suning could very well be framed.

So she had to do something.

But what could she do? She was just an ordinary technical section chief, with no relatives or friends in the province, and she didn't know anyone.

Suddenly, she remembered someone: her father, Qin Qiufeng.

Actually, she didn't really want to think about this person.

Her father left when she was very young, supposedly to join the revolution, and was never heard from again.

Her mother raised her alone, and she suffered a lot of hardship because of her father's influence.

The mother was still waiting for the father before she died, but the father never came back.

Therefore, Qin Xuemei harbored resentment towards her father.

But later she heard that her father was still alive, working in the Ministry of Forestry, and was even a leader there.

However, she has remarried and has a new family.

However, Qin Xuemei still went to Beijing to find her father, but learned some things from her father's current wife and mistakenly believed that her father had been with his current wife for a long time.

This made Qin Xuemei even more resentful.

She felt that her father had betrayed her mother and both of them.

So over the years, she never thought of looking for her father, and came to the harsh and cold Saihanba alone to plant trees and create forests.

But now, for Suning's sake, she has to go find him.

Only the father could save Su Ning.

Although Qin Xuemei was unwilling, she had no choice.

He quickly made a decision: to go to the capital and find his father.

He told Zhao Tianshan and Meng Yue about his idea. "You're going to the capital? To find your father?" Meng Yue asked, her face full of surprise.

“Yes.” Qin Xuemei nodded. “Only he can save Su Ning.”

“But…” Meng Yue hesitated, “haven’t you always refused to acknowledge him?”

“I’m willing to do it for Suning.” Qin Xuemei said firmly, “I can’t watch Suning be framed and I can’t let him go to jail.”

Zhao Tianshan agreed, "Go ahead! Xuemei, we'll help you take care of the child."

“No, I’m taking Hanghang with me,” Qin Xuemei said. “I want my father to see his grandson. Maybe that way, he’ll be more willing to help.”

"Be careful on the road," Zhao Tianshan said. "Don't worry about the forest farm; we'll take good care of it."

……

The next day, Qin Xuemei carried Su Hang and boarded the train to Beijing.

Holding the child, the journey was bumpy, but there was only one thought in my mind: to save Su Ning.

Upon arriving in Beijing, Qin Xuemei went directly to the Ministry of Forestry.

The security guard stopped her. "Comrade, who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for Vice Minister Qin Qiufeng," Qin Xuemei explained, showing her work ID.

"Vice Minister Qin?" The security guard sized her up. "Do you have an appointment?"

“No. But I am his daughter,” Qin Xuemei said.

The security guard was stunned and quickly made a phone call.

Soon, a secretary ran out and asked, "Are you Vice Minister Qin's daughter?"

"Yes."

"plz follow me."

Qin Xuemei followed her secretary to an office.

Pushing open the door, I saw a man in his sixties sitting inside, wearing reading glasses, looking at some documents.

He was stunned when he saw Qin Xuemei.

“You are…” Qin Qiufeng stood up.

"I am Qin Xuemei," Qin Xuemei said.

The document in Qin Qiufeng's hand fell.

"Xuemei...is it really you?" His voice trembled.

"It's me," Qin Xuemei said calmly.

Qin Qiufeng walked over, looked her up and down, and his eyes reddened. "She looks...she really looks like your mother..."

“My mother is dead,” Qin Xuemei said.

Tears welled up in Qin Qiufeng's eyes. "I know... I found out later... I'm sorry, Xuemei, I'm so sorry..."

"What's the use of saying sorry now?" Qin Xuemei's tone was cold.

“I know it’s no use…” Qin Qiufeng wiped away his tears, “All these years, I’ve been looking for you. But back then, there was war, and everything was in chaos. I searched for a long time but couldn’t find you. Then I heard… I heard that you were all gone…”

"So you remarried after my daughter and I died?" Qin Xuemei asked.

Qin Qiufeng was stunned. "Xuemei, you...you listen to me."

"Okay! Go ahead! I'd like to hear your explanation too." Qin Xuemei looked at him.

Qin Qiufeng took a deep breath. "My current wife used to be my secretary. After I got separated from you, I thought you were both gone. At that time, I was in poor health, and she took care of me. Later, my colleagues brought us together, and we got married. But I have never forgotten you and your daughter in my heart."

He took out an old wallet, opened it, and inside was a yellowed photograph…

The young Qin Qiufeng was holding a two- or three-year-old girl, with a gentle woman beside him.

“This is you, this is your mother.” Qin Qiufeng pointed to the photo. “I’ve carried this with me all these years.”

Qin Xuemei looked at the photo, and her eyes also reddened.

The little girl in the photo is indeed her.

That woman was indeed her mother.

“I know I’m sorry,” Qin Qiufeng said. “But I really did search. During the war, communication was difficult, and I searched for more than ten years. Later, I heard that your village was bombed and everyone was gone… that’s when I…”

He didn't finish speaking, but Qin Xuemei understood.

Perhaps, their father did not abandon them on purpose.

It was due to the times, and the cruelty of war.

Qin Xuemei's resentment subsided somewhat, after all, it was indeed a misunderstanding.

As for whether the misunderstanding was intentionally caused by the stepmother, Qin Xuemei began to have doubts in her heart.

"Then why don't you look for me again?" Qin Xuemei asked. "You can look for me again after Liberation!"

“I looked,” Qin Qiufeng said. “I sent people to look for you in our hometown, but you had already moved away. Later, I got busy with work, and I thought you were no longer here, so… I gradually gave up. It was my fault, I admit it.”

He looked at Qin Xuemei and said, "Xuemei, I'm so glad you came to see me. I'm really glad."

Qin Xuemei was silent for a while, then said, "I came to see you, not to claim kinship. I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it? Tell me," Qin Qiufeng said immediately. "If it's within my power, I will definitely do it."

Qin Xuemei told her about Suning's situation.

How did they meet Suning, how did they work together on whole-field seedling cultivation, how did they get married, how did they have children, how did he get falsely accused by Wu Yansheng, and how was he taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission?

“Wu Yansheng’s father, Lao Wu, has connections in the Ministry of Forestry and is putting pressure on the Discipline Inspection Commission. Su Ning is in great danger now,” Qin Xuemei said. “Dad, can you save him?”

This was the first time she had called him "Dad".

Qin Qiufeng's tears fell again. "Yes! I definitely can! Xuemei, don't worry, I'll handle it right away."

"Thank you."

Immediately afterward, Qin Qiufeng made a phone call, his tone stern, "This is Qin Qiufeng. Investigate the case of Su Ning, the deputy director of the Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm. Who is interfering? Who is putting pressure on him? Find out the truth immediately!"

After hanging up the phone, he said to Qin Xuemei, "Xuemei, don't worry about staying here. I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter."

"Thank you, Dad," Qin Xuemei said.

"You're welcome." Qin Qiufeng looked at his grandson. "This is...my grandson?"

"Yes, his name is Su Hang. He just turned one month old," Qin Xuemei said.

Qin Qiufeng carefully took the child in his arms, looked at the child's little face, and smiled, "Looks like you, and also like Su Ning, right?"

“It’s more like Suning,” Qin Xuemei said.

"Okay, okay." Qin Qiufeng was very excited. "I have a grandson... Xuemei, can you forgive me?"

Qin Xuemei remained silent for a long time. "Before Mom passed away, she said she didn't blame you. She said you were a revolutionary and had no choice in the matter. Now, I don't blame you either."

Qin Qiufeng cried, he cried very sadly.

Qin Xuemei also cried.

The father and daughter cried for a long time, releasing all the grievances, longing, and regrets they had accumulated over the years.

After she finished crying, Qin Qiufeng said, "Xuemei, you and the child can stay at the guesthouse for now. I'll have someone arrange rooms. I'll take care of Suning's matter. You don't need to worry."

“Dad, you must save him,” Qin Xuemei said. “He’s a good man, a man who gets things done. Saihanba only saw hope because of him.”

“I know,” Qin Qiufeng nodded. “From what you said about the all-light seedling cultivation method, I know that this is a capable person. Such a person should not be falsely accused.”

He paused, then said, "I will handle Wu Yansheng and his father. Such acts of abusing power for personal gain and making false accusations must be severely punished!"

The huge weight on Qin Xuemei's heart finally lifted.

With her father involved, Su Ning should be fine.

Looking at her father, she suddenly realized that this man, whom she had resented for over twenty years, was actually not having an easy life either.

War, separation, misunderstanding... these are all tragedies of our time.

Now, we can finally make up for it.

For Suning, and for the father and daughter.

Perhaps, this is fate.

Her father appeared when she needed him most.

Although it was late, it wasn't too late.

Holding her child, Qin Xuemei silently prayed: "Su Ning, you must hold on! Our dad is here to save you."

...(End of chapter)