Chapter 158: Off to the Inner Mongolian Grasslands!

After spending just one night in Blackstone Village, Lin Xiaodou and Liu Yan'er returned to the pig farm.

The days that followed were as busy as ever.

As September approached, Director Hu suddenly received a phone call from higher authorities.

After hanging up, he first consulted Elder Wang, and then called an emergency meeting.

"A large number of cattle and sheep have fallen ill in the Inner Mongolian grasslands. The local veterinary station couldn't handle the situation, and the matter has already been reported to the central government. Upon learning of this, the leadership immediately recommended Elder Wang for the mission. I've called this meeting to arrange for two assistants to accompany Elder Wang. Who among you is willing to go?"

As soon as these words fell, the room fell silent.

Those working at the county veterinary station were mostly locals whose families lived nearby. The Inner Mongolian grasslands were desolate, barren, and so very far away from Guizhou Province. No one wanted to leave their hometowns behind and endure a bitter life in such a distant place. Besides, serving as an assistant essentially meant taking care of Elder Wang. Elder Wang was so frail; no one knew if he could withstand such harsh conditions. What if he collapsed out there, and they couldn't make it back? Nobody wanted to take on such a thankless and risky task.

Seeing that no one spoke, Director Hu sighed and was about to offer a few more words of persuasion.

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out: "Director Hu, I'll go."

It was Lin Xiaodou! She had actually volunteered!

A flash of complex emotions crossed the others' faces, mixed with a shred of genuine admiration.

Elder Wang, sitting off to the side, showed a look of gratification in his eyes. This girl was good; his judgment had not failed him.

Perhaps inspired by Lin Xiaodou's initiative, Doctor He and Liu Yan'er stood up one after the other.

Doctor He spoke first: "I'll go. I'm quite familiar with Elder Wang, so it will be easier for me to take care of him."

She hadn't spoken up earlier because she was somewhat worried about her family home and couldn't look after them from such a great distance. But upon second thought, there was nothing truly holding her back anymore. Since her divorce, her reputation had somewhat affected her natal family anyway, so it might be better for everyone if she left.

Liu Yan'er chimed in immediately: "I want to go! Wherever Xiaodou goes, I go!"

Her motivation was purely to latch onto a capable partner.

Seeing three people step forward all at once, Director Hu's face broke into a satisfied smile.

"Very good. You are all fine comrades who contribute to the nation. Let Elder Wang choose the final candidates."

Since they had agreed on two people, they only needed to select two.

Elder Wang did not hesitate and stated directly: "Let it be Lin Xiaodou and Liu Yan'er. These two girls are young; I'll take them out to see the world."

Doctor He opened her mouth, hoping to plead her case a bit further, but then she heard Elder Wang continue: "Doctor He, you have always worked hard and conscientiously. I leave the veterinary station in your hands. I hope you will manage it well."

Doctor He felt a warm surge in her chest.

This was the first time Elder Wang had ever praised her. She immediately nodded and said, "Rest assured, I will manage it properly. I'll wait for your return."

The departure for the Inner Mongolian grasslands was scheduled for three days later.

Director Hu promptly granted Lin Xiaodou and Liu Yan'er time off so they could return home and say goodbye to their families.

...

At noon in Blackstone Village.

Seeing Lin Xiaodou and Liu Yan'er return out of the blue, the brigade leader's family was quite surprised.

"Lin, lass, Yan'er, shouldn't you be at work today? Did something happen?"

Lin Xiaodou explained, "Adoptive Dad, Adoptive Mom, Yan'er and I are leaving for the Inner Mongolian grasslands in a few days..."

Upon learning that they were traveling so far away to Inner Mongolia, Liu's father and mother felt a deep reluctance to let them go. But no matter how painful the parting would be, this was the path the girls had chosen themselves, and they had to support them. Since they wouldn't see each other for a long time, they decided to spend these three days making the most of their time together.

That very afternoon, Mother Liu took Lin Xiaodou and Liu Yan'er to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought a mountain of supplies.

Early autumn in Guizhou already carried a hint of chill, and the grasslands in the north would undoubtedly be even colder. Mother Liu used up all her saved cotton ration coupons to buy raw cotton and paid someone to urgently make two thick cotton quilts.

"When you get to the grasslands, remember to air out your quilts in the sun. New cotton quilts basked in the sunlight are the warmest to sleep under."

Mother Liu also bought two sets of toiletries for them and measured out several feet of military-green fabric.

"Since there's still some cotton left, I'll have someone make two military overcoats for you. Wearing those, you won't feel cold at all."

Lin Xiaodou originally wanted to pay for the items herself, but Mother Liu stopped her: "You are my adoptive daughter, and this girl Yan'er still needs you to look after her. Buying a few things for you is nothing."

In truth, Mother Liu didn't have much money left either.

The previous incident with the eldest daughter-in-law had virtually emptied the Liu household. The money Mother Liu currently had came from what her son had earned doing carpentry work over the past few months. Buying all these odds and ends at the cooperative would likely wipe out her savings entirely.

Knowing the family's financial situation, Lin Xiaodou offered a compromise: "Adoptive Mom, I'll accept these things then. But let me handle the food supplies; I still have plenty of pastries left over at my place."

Mother Liu refused: "How can I let you prepare..."

For this trip to the supply and marketing cooperative, she had even borrowed a bit of money from her brother-in-law's family, so she still had enough to cover things.

Lin Xiaodou pretended to be displeased: "Adoptive Mom, do you still consider me your adoptive daughter or not? Why are you being so distant with me?"

"You child..." Seeing Lin Xiaodou's persistence, Mother Liu could only nod. "Alright then, I'll trouble you with that."

Lin Xiaodou smiled. "What trouble is there to speak of? I've already bothered you and Adoptive Dad so many times."

Liu Yan'er also crowded over with a beaming smile: "Mom, don't be so polite with Xiaodou. Once my salary comes in, I'll hand every penny of it over to Xiaodou to offset the cost of these things. You can rest easy!"

Mother Liu chuckled. "That's not a bad idea. Stick close to your Sister Xiaodou, and you'll go far in the future!"

Liu Yan'er nodded eagerly: "Mm-hmm, I know!"

When they returned after finishing their purchases, the eldest Liu brother had already finished his shift in the fields.

Learning that his sister and Lin Xiaodou were heading to the grasslands, the eldest brother spent the entire night weaving two sturdy, large back-baskets for them.

"You can put all your luggage and belongings in these baskets. You won't have to carry them by hand; it'll be much more convenient."

"Thank you, Eldest Brother," Lin Xiaodou said.

Liu Yan'er looked at her eldest brother with a complex expression. She pressed her lips together for a moment, then finally spoke: "...Take good care of Mom and Dad at home. They are getting older, so please bear the burden and look after them."

She didn't hear the long-awaited word "brother," but the eldest brother was still quite pleased. At least his sister's attitude today was much better than her usual coldness.

"I will, sister," the eldest brother replied. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of Mom and Dad."

"Thank you."

Though she might never be able to forgive her eldest brother for what happened in the past, uttering a simple word of thanks was necessary.

After finishing dinner at the brigade leader's home, Lin Xiaodou stepped out.

She needed to make a trip to the town's black market.

Over the past few months, every time she had time off, she would visit the black market to trade. Now that she was going on a long journey, she still needed to have a word with that person...