The next morning, Chen Lan rose early, without disturbing her mother or children. After sharing two steamed buns and a bowl of hot pepper soup with Xiang Xi and the others, she left. The sky was still dark outside, and the valley was silent. Although it was dry and rainless, the cold wind in the morning was still piercing, chilling one to the bone.
Chen Lan and the other three could no longer afford to delay. They kept moving along the old road used for delivering supplies, traversing the mountains and forests.
During this supply run, Chen Lan, along with Xiang Dong and Er Hu, hunted as they walked, just like on previous occasions. Perhaps it was due to the drought this year, or perhaps most animals had migrated to areas with water. Chen Lan felt there were significantly fewer prey animals than in previous years.
Xiang Xi watched the three of them hunting with envy, his hands itching. However, no one lent him a bow or crossbow, leaving him exasperated and scratching his head.
Because time was so tight today, Chen Lan also didn't lend him the bow or crossbow. She simply said to Xiang Xi, "Little Watermelon, time is a bit too tight today. There's no time for you to practice. It's getting late, and we still need to catch our ride. We don't have much time to waste. I'll get you a new bow and crossbow later, and you can practice as much as you want. How about that?"
Xiang Xi immediately became excited, jumping up and down with joy. He grinned and said, "Little Lan, it's a deal! You can't fool me!"
Chen Lan immediately replied, "It's a deal, I absolutely won't go back on my word."
With that, she raised her hand and high-fived Xiang Xi.
When Chen Lan and the others, familiar with the route, arrived at their destination and neatly stacked all the supplies at the designated spot, the year's grain delivery mission was successfully completed.
Seeing that the supply mission was finished, Xiang Dong and Er Hu repeatedly cautioned Chen Lan and Xiang Xi to be careful on the road, not to talk too much, not to meddle in other people's affairs, and to return soon. Their families were all waiting for them to come back early.
Chen Lan was a bit speechless. They hadn't even left yet, and they were already telling them to return soon. However, Chen Lan also understood it was out of their care. She nodded repeatedly in agreement.
The two of them looked up at the sky, realizing it was getting late. They reluctantly said goodbye to Chen Lan and Xiang Xi and quickly departed.
Chen Lan and Xiang Xi watched their figures disappear into the vast sea of trees. They didn't stand there for long before they heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. After about fifteen minutes, they saw an old-fashioned Jiefang truck coming from a distance. The truck stopped right in front of Chen Lan and Xiang Xi. Chen Lan then clearly saw that the truck's cargo bed was covered with a canvas tarp.
Chen Lan saw a tall soldier get out of the truck, followed by twenty or so soldiers emerging from under the canvas cover.
The tall soldier then led the soldiers to Chen Lan and Xiang Xi, saluted each of them, and said, "Hello! Are you Comrade Chen Lan and Comrade Chen Xiang Xi?"
Chen Lan and Xiang Xi nodded repeatedly and replied, "Yes, yes! That's us. Are you from the battalion to receive the supplies?"
The tall soldier saluted again and replied, "Yes! Comrade Chen Lan, Comrade Chen Xiang Xi, I am Gao Jinshui, the platoon leader of the third squad of the border defense battalion. These are the soldiers from our squad. We've been ordered to escort you two and receive the supplies!"
Chen Lan nodded and pointed to where the supplies were stored, saying, "Everything is there. Hurry up and move it!" Then, remembering something, she immediately instructed, "First, move the snake skin bags and place them at the bottom. The snake skin bags are filled with potatoes and sweet potatoes. Then, move the cloth bags and place them on top of the snake skin bags. The cloth bags are filled with cornmeal and wheat flour."
Gao Jinshui replied happily after listening to Chen Lan, "Thank you, sister-in-law, we understand!" Chen Lan just twitched the corners of her mouth and smiled, saying nothing further.
The soldiers were well-trained. In fifteen minutes, all the items were moved. The supplies alone filled a large truck and still had more left. Fortunately, the remaining items were wheat flour and cornmeal, each bag weighing about fifty pounds. The soldiers each carried two bags of flour and walked with a brisk pace. Chen Lan and Xiang Xi followed closely behind the soldiers towards the camp.
The soldiers, carrying two bags of flour weighing over a hundred pounds, still moved quickly. Chen Lan, used to running around the mountains, could keep up with their pace. Chen Lan took the large backpack off Xiang Xi's back and carried it herself. Xiang Xi, walking with his hands free, still found it difficult and was soon panting. Fortunately, the camp wasn't too far. They arrived in about half an hour. Xiang Xi was already exhausted, his face covered in sweat.
Chen Lan quickly took out his towel from Xiang Xi's backpack and handed it to him. She also chided, "Wipe your sweat quickly. I say, Little Watermelon, you need to exercise more. You're almost exhausted after such a short walk. Your body is too weak!"
Xiang Xi was so tired he didn't have the energy to respond to Chen Lan's teasing.
By the time Xiang Xi had rested enough, the supplies on the truck had also been unloaded.
As soon as they finished speaking, a middle-aged soldier in his forties approached them. He warmly extended his hand to shake hands with Xiang Xi and Chen Lan, one by one, and said in a loud voice, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank Comrade Chen Lan, Comrade Chen Xiang Xi, and thank all the comrades in the valley for their timely help!"
Seeing Chen Lan and Xiang Xi staring at him in a daze, he immediately smiled and explained, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Qin Dashuan, and I am the commander of this border defense battalion. I am a few years older than you two siblings, so you can call me Old Qin or Brother Qin."
Chen Lan and Xiang Xi readily called out, "Brother Qin."
Then Old Qin, without wasting any time, agreed and said, "Comrade Chen Lan, Comrade Chen Xiang Xi, it's getting late. Let's set off now. Comrade Chen Lan, you go sit in the front. Come, Comrade Chen Xiang Xi, let's go sit in the back."
With that, he rolled up his sleeves and prepared to climb onto the truck.
Chen Lan quickly stopped him, saying, "Comrade Commander Qin, I don't like the smell in the front and I get carsick. Please sit in the front."
Qin Dashuan didn't stand on ceremony and told Chen Lan and Xiang Xi to get into the truck first. He watched as Chen Lan and Xiang Xi threw their two large backpacks onto the truck, and then they also climbed in. He then lifted the rear tailgate and closed it, and pulled down the canvas cover on the roof of the truck. The truck's cargo area was instantly pitch black.
Chen Lan immediately used her mind to retrieve a miner's hat she had bought when catching snow frogs from the system's warehouse. She put it on her head and turned on the power switch, instantly illuminating the dark interior of the truck.