Chapter 124: Zhu Yan Goes Missing

Page 1 of 3

Zhu Yan shouted loudly, then rushed out first. She moved swiftly, wanting to be the first to check if anyone was injured.

“Doctor Zhu! Be careful!”

Behind her, the female soldier who had just spoken to Zhu Yan called out, but before her words finished, Zhu Yan had already vanished into the snowy mist.

The soldiers inside the cave came to their senses and followed, but Zhu Yan’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Zhu Yan paid no heed to anything else, running solely toward the direction from which the gunshots had come.

Meanwhile, Wang Baoguo, returning after gathering firewood, spotted two snow goats. Overcome with excitement, he chased after them with his rifle. Due to the heavy snow, it took several shots before he managed to hit one.

Though one snow goat wasn’t enough to feed everyone fully, simmering it into a soup to go with dry rations would be delicious.

Carrying the goat on his shoulder, Wang Baoguo ran toward the cave, guided by his memory.

Yet upon arriving, Zhu Yan was nowhere in sight.

“Where’s Doctor Zhu?” Wang Baoguo asked.

The female soldier replied, “Instructor, Doctor Zhu heard the gunshots and went out looking for you. Don’t worry, Da Zhuang and the others followed her.”

Only then did Wang Baoguo feel a slight relief. He set down the goat from his shoulder. “Everyone, start a fire. Tonight we’ll have goat meat soup.”

Everyone present cheered. On a day like this, a bowl of steaming hot goat soup was truly comforting.

Among the group was a cook from the kitchen squad—a tall figure with a distinctive straight single eyebrow. Naturally, the task of making the goat soup fell to him. He piled up the gathered firewood in a ring, set up a large iron pot he always carried, and fetching water was easy enough—just melt snow outside.

He dragged the snow goat outside, gutting and cleaning it. The offal was a delicacy too, and the goat’s blood was collected in a basin...

However, the strong scent of blood awakened the “spirits” of the snowy mountains.

After scalding the hair off and cutting the meat into pieces to put into the pot, the aroma of the goat soon filled the cave, making it impossible to contain.

Still, Wang Baoguo’s heart remained unsettled because Zhu Yan had yet to return. His eyes stayed fixed outside the cave. At that moment, a figure slowly appeared in his sight.

But upon closer look, it was not the familiar figure he had hoped for.

“Where’s Doctor Zhu?”

Page 2 of 3

“Instructor Wang, we lost track of Doctor Zhu. Da Zhuang and the others are already searching for her...”

Hearing this, Wang Baoguo panicked. He ignored everything else and dashed into the heavy snow.

***

At Zhou Shimao’s home, two families sat together, laughing heartily around the dinner table.

“Xia, your cooking—I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.”

“What? Are you saying my cooking doesn’t taste good?”

Lü Hongxia’s words made Zhou Shimao cough awkwardly several times. “How could I mean that? My wife’s cooking is the best, of course. It’s just... sometimes it’s nice to have a change of flavor.”

“Hmph, you’re not honest at all. I’m honest though—Xia’s cooking really is better than mine.”

Lin Hai and his wife, along with Lin Ling, had never tasted Xia Yan’s cooking before. This time, tasting it, they all agreed it was the best they’d ever had. If they weren’t at Zhou Shimao’s house, Lin Ling probably wouldn’t have stopped eating.

“My mom’s cooking is the best,” Lin Hongzhuo said proudly, lifting his head.

Lü Hongxia patted the little boy’s head. “Right, your mom is the best.”

Then she turned to Chen Qiumei. “Sis, the daughter-in-law your family found is really wonderful.”

“Exactly. It’s a blessing from Lin You’s previous life to have married such a good wife,” Chen Qiumei nodded immediately in agreement when Lü Hongxia spoke.

Chen Qiumei had always been extremely satisfied with her daughter-in-law, and now that even the political commissar’s wife praised her, she was absolutely delighted.

Lin Ling tugged Lin You’s sleeve. “Brother...”

Having loved singing since childhood, she wanted to join the performing troupe. But she had arrived late; that morning she learned the troupe had finished recruiting new members this year. She had planned to try again next year. On the way there, hearing that Lü Hongxia was the troupe leader, she mentioned it to Lin You, hoping he could help inquire.

Lin You nodded. “Aunt Lü, I have a favor to ask.”

“Hm? What is it? We’re all family here; don’t mention favors,” Lü Hongxia said, surprised. She had known Lin You for so long but this was the first time he asked her for a favor.

Page 3 of 3

“It’s like this—my sister loves singing and dancing and wants to join the troupe. But when she asked this morning, they said recruitment was over, so...”

Before he could finish, Lü Hongxia laughed. “I thought it was something serious. You must be talking about Lin Ling, right?”

Lin Ling nodded. “Yes, Leader Lü.”

Seeing her natural confidence and composure, Lü Hongxia nodded approvingly. “What’s needed for performing is confidence. If Lin Ling were timid, I might have to think it over.”

“Tomorrow morning, come directly to the troupe to see me. Although recruitment is officially over, we still have two spots unfilled. You can try out.”

“Thank you, Leader Lü,” Lin Ling blushed with excitement.

“Don’t thank me yet. There will be an evaluation. I’m only giving you one chance. If you don’t pass, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Of course. If I don’t pass, I won’t have the face to stay there.”

After dinner, Lü Hongxia pulled Xia Yan to play mahjong. Mahjong was Xia Yan’s weakest skill; she had spent over thirty years in her previous life without ever mastering it.

After playing for more than an hour, she still misplaced some tiles.

Luckily, Lin You was behind her advising, so Xia Yan barely managed to win a round. Though it was just one round, it made her happy like a child.

At that moment, Lü Hongxia suddenly remembered something. “Xia, do you know a sent-down youth named Zhuang Lili?”

“I do. She was my high school classmate. Aunt Lü, you know her?” Xia Yan was surprised. Why would Lü Hongxia suddenly mention Zhuang Lili? Thinking back to their last meeting, it had been quite unpleasant.

“We met her a few days ago when our troupe went up the mountain. She mentioned you,” Lü Hongxia said meaningfully. “Xia, I have a good eye for people. Don’t get too close to this Zhuang Lili. You might run into her on the mountain anytime. If she asks you for favors, just give her a few polite words and nothing more.”

Though she didn’t know what Zhuang Lili had said back then, Xia Yan didn’t intend to have any deep connection with her. “Don’t worry, Aunt Lü. She’s at the ranch, and I rarely go there, so we won’t have much contact.”

“That’s good.”