With the matter settled, Xu Mingxuan and Chen Lan prepared to bid farewell to the elders. Before they left, the elder woman packed a bag full of walnuts and other mountain goods for them. Chen Lan and his companions, unable to refuse, accepted the gifts.
After unloading the sacks of grain from the ox cart, Chen Lan and the others left Honghua Ridge Village. The elder woman and the two elder men saw them off for a long distance, their reluctance evident. Only when Chen Lan mentioned they would return the next day to help the village dig a well, thus ensuring another meeting, did the elders finally stop. They did not return to the village immediately, however. They continued to watch until the ox cart had passed the large mountain slope ahead and Chen Lan’s figure was no longer visible. Only then did the elder woman and the two elder men turn and head back towards the village.
On the way back to the camp, Chen Lan said to Xiang Xi, "Little Watermelon, make sure to give me a list of the tools needed for digging the well when we get back."
Xiang Xi cheerfully replied, "Alright! No problem, Little Basket. I'll write it for you as soon as we return."
Chen Lan pondered for a moment, then asked, "Brother Mingxuan, have you spoken with the elders about when we'll go scout the route?"
Xu Mingxuan thought for a moment and said, "Ar Lan, we can't rush this. When we get back, we need to discuss it further amongst ourselves. After all, we're preparing winter provisions for the soldiers in the camp, and it wouldn't be right not to let the camp know. We need to find a good excuse, so I can go under the guise of procuring food and cross over."
Chen Lan’s spirits immediately drooped upon hearing Xu Mingxuan's words. He couldn't help but sigh, "Alas! It's truly difficult to give something away for free!" He only now realized that, without knowing when it started, he had developed a habit of sighing.
He couldn't help but feel anxious, wondering if there was still enough time. He hoped that relations between their side and the other had not yet deteriorated to the point of no return.
Chen Lan then lowered his head and tried to recall memories from his past life. After thinking for a while, he remembered that the Cold War between China and the former Soviet Union had officially begun in June 1959, when the USSR ceased its aid to China's nuclear research.
And starting in July 1960, China's national leaders refused the unreasonable demands of the former Soviet Union, which would have compromised national sovereignty. In retaliation, Soviet leader Khrushchev withdrew all Soviet experts stationed in China, destroyed some technical blueprints, and tore up all economic contracts with China.
At this very time, China was facing an unprecedented severe natural disaster.
Thus, the Sino-Soviet relationship completely deteriorated from 1960 onwards, followed by a protracted eight-year Cold War with intense mutual criticism. It even escalated to the point where in 1969, the former Soviet Union amassed a million troops on the Sino-Soviet border, and war between the two countries was a constant possibility.
With this in mind, Chen Lan looked at Xu Mingxuan and said, "Brother Mingxuan, we need to be quick with this. The Soviet Union's autumn harvest is about to end. Before they report their yields, we need to send people over to negotiate an exchange. If we go later, I fear they will have already reported any surplus beyond their quota, making the exchange process difficult for everyone."
Xiang Xi and Er Zhuang nodded in agreement. Xiang Xi added, "That's right, Little Basket is making a good point, Brother Mingxuan. If we go late, those collective farms we're targeting will most likely have already submitted their entire yields. In that case, we won't be able to exchange much grain."
Xu Mingxuan pondered for a while, then said, "Ar Lan, if that's the case, there's only one good solution. We'll have to find (A Patriotic Sojourner) to help us with this."
Chen Lan was momentarily stunned by Xu Mingxuan's words, then suddenly remembered who "(A Patriotic Sojourner)" was. He immediately gave Xu Mingxuan a thumbs-up and praised, "Brother Mingxuan, your idea is brilliant! If that's the case, it solves the problem of going across, the problem of where the grain comes from, and the problem of us profiting greatly. It's a win-win-win!"
Xiang Xi also chimed in, saying it was a good idea. Only Er Zhuang was utterly bewildered.
Chen Lan lowered his voice and quietly asked, "Brother Mingxuan, did you give the note from (A Patriotic Sojourner) to Battalion Commander Liu yesterday?"
Xu Mingxuan also lowered his head and whispered back, "Yes, I did. Before everyone had their meal, I quietly called him to the battalion headquarters and told him, showing him the note. He said that since the person specifically wanted to send winter supplies to the soldiers guarding the border and not to us personally, there was no violation of regulations. Why shouldn't we accept it? We can't stop patriotic individuals from being patriotic, right? From contributing to the country?"
Hearing Xu Mingxuan's words, Chen Lan couldn't help but sigh, "Brother Mingxuan, you're really lucky! No wonder your mother-in-law said you always meet benefactors. The previous battalion commander you partnered with, Commander Zheng, was not only upright and selfless but also flexible and adaptable. And now, Commander Liu, who you're partnering with, is also a person who lives simply and understands things clearly, possessing great wisdom hidden beneath a simple facade and a broad mind. Both of them are people who get things done. You all treat your comrades like brothers and family. I'm starting to envy your camaraderie."
Xu Mingxuan reached out and stroked Chen Lan's hair, his voice heavy with emotion, "Ar Lan, you haven't been to the battlefield and don't know the brutality of war. Seeing comrades who were laughing and joking with you yesterday fall one by one before your eyes, leaving their chance to survive for us who are alive now. There's no reason not to give our all for our comrades."
Chen Lan reached out and patted Xu Mingxuan's hand to comfort him, "Brother Mingxuan, everything will get better slowly. My father-in-law said for you to work hard in the army. By the time you're discharged and return home, it will be the 1980s. By then, our country will have just begun its reform and opening up, ushering in a prosperous and thriving era. The country's development will be on a fast track, and with a few years of construction and development, people's lives will have undergone earth-shattering changes. By then, our country will truly be prosperous and strong, and no one will go hungry anymore. Then, I'll take you around our country, to all the places you want to go, and take you back to the places where you fought to see the magnificent landscapes of our homeland. How about that?"
Xu Mingxuan's heart stirred at her words, and he asked, "Ar Lan, will our country really become that good then?"
Chen Lan nodded and said, "Definitely. It will be even better than I described. So, Brother Mingxuan, we must both live well and work hard. Then, we can witness the great changes in our country."