The night in Northern Xinjiang always descended with peculiar haste, as if an invisible hand from the heavens had forcibly dragged the last traces of twilight beneath the horizon. Chen Mo huddled in a corner of the truck's cab. Outside the window, the scenery had long since transformed from rolling snowfields into blurred shadows; only the two beams of light carved by the headlights could barely illuminate the dancing snow particles ahead. The wheels crunched over the frozen dirt road, producing a monotonous and muffled sound, as if keeping time for this silent wasteland.
"Once we reach Ta County, the road ends here." The driver pressed his cigarette butt into an iron box already full of them, exhaling a cloud of white vapor. "Ahead lies the territory of the forest farm and the study tour station. Any further in, and that's the real deep mountain wilderness."
Chen Mo nodded, gazing out at the dark silhouettes beyond the window. He had heard his father tell stories of this land—memories of reclamation, of burning passion, of youth buried in the black earth—and now, with every jolt of the vehicle, those stories were gradually taking concrete shape in his mind. The truck finally stopped before a courtyard glowing with dim yellow light at a street corner. Chen Mo jumped down from the cab, and the cold wind instantly felt like countless tiny blades cutting across his exposed skin. He tightened his collar and dragged his luggage quickly toward the closed wooden door.
The knocking sounded especially clear in the silent night. Before long, footsteps came from inside, followed by a creak as the wooden door pulled open. A wave of heat mixed with the aroma of food and the warmth of charcoal rushed out, instantly dispelling the cold Chen Mo had accumulated along the way. Before he could clearly see the person inside, a thick coat was already draped over his shoulders.
"You child, you've finally arrived. Any later, and I would have sent Old Qin to intercept you halfway."
The speaker was a middle-aged woman wearing a chestnut-colored turtleneck sweater, a long braid hanging down her back. Her figure was slightly stout, with a noticeable swell to her abdomen. Chen Mo saw her face by the firelight inside and couldn't help but startle. "Aunt Shen? Why are you here?"
Shen Hong laughed heartily, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes brimming with amusement. "What, not welcome? With your mother's temper, do you think she'd rest easy leaving you alone in this bitter cold place? If I didn't come personally to keep an eye on you, could she sleep at night? Come inside, don't stand there acting like a door god."
Chen Mo was pulled into the house by Shen Hong and sat down on a small folding stool by the fire. Shen Hong was the wife of his father's sworn brother. Though the two families were separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, their bond had never been broken. Seeing Shen Hong bustling about with her pregnant belly, Chen Mo quickly stood up. "Aunt Shen, please rest. I'll do it myself."
"Don't stand on ceremony with me." Shen Hong placed a basin of hot water before him and poured a bowl of steaming brown sugar water. "Wash your face first, drive out the cold. Conditions here are limited, not like home—you'll have to suffer a bit."
Chen Mo washed the wind and frost from his face, picked up the brown sugar water, and took a large gulp. Warmth flowed down his throat and into his stomach. Shen Hong added coal to the stove as she asked, "Why are you arriving so late? No delays on the road, I hope?"
"I lost some time transferring in Ice City. Later, I caught a ride with a passing truck to get here." Chen Mo set down his bowl and explained.
Shen Hong gave him a look of gentle reproach. "You, always making people worry. Fortunately, Old Qin called earlier and said he still needed to make a trip to the forest farm. Otherwise, you wouldn't even have a hot meal tonight."
As she spoke, she picked up several aluminum lunch boxes from beside the stove and lifted the lids. A rich meaty aroma immediately filled the air. "These are dumplings and pork rib soup I saved for you. They've cooled a bit, but they'll be fine once heated. Eat up—Old Qin is an impatient man, he'll probably be here soon to pick you up."
Chen Mo didn't stand on ceremony. He removed his hat, revealing a head of neat short hair. In the glow of the fire, the red mole between his brows—ordinarily inconspicuous—appeared strikingly vivid, like a drop of blood fallen onto snow. His features were angular and defined, exuding a determination rare in someone so young. He stuffed a dumpling into his mouth and asked indistinctly, "Uncle Qin is coming too?"
"Not just coming—he's taking you away." Shen Hong picked up her half-knitted sweater and added with a smile, "Your uncle is the head of the forest farm now, a very busy man. He's only willing to make another run in the middle of the night for your sake."
Chen Mo's chewing paused, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart. "Don't tell me... the forest farm I'm going to is the one he manages?"
Shen Hong shook her head. "No, the forest farm you're going to is still some distance from here. But you know your uncle—he's your father's shadow. If you really ended up under his command, he'd probably flay a layer of skin off you, Chen Mo."
Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. "That's good then. Otherwise, before my study tour even begins, I'd have to take military training first."
As the two were talking, the roar of a motorcycle engine suddenly came from outside, followed by a rough, hoarse voice: "Who's badmouthing me?"
Shen Hong winked at Chen Mo, but before she could speak, the cotton curtain at the entrance was pulled aside. A man wearing an old military coat strode in, his frame burly, bringing with him a gust of cold air from the road. Half his face was cold and stern as iron, while the other half was covered with burn scars. One eye was gray and cloudy, appearing somewhat fearsome in the light.
Seeing this, Chen Mo instinctively shuddered, then immediately stood up straight and called out properly, "Uncle!"
Qin Xiaohu swept his single eye over Chen Mo and snorted. "Now that you're here, don't act like a young master. Whatever hardships others can endure, you can endure too. If you dare slack off or play tricks, I'll beat you."
Chen Mo straightened his back and responded loudly, "Don't worry, Uncle. I'm not afraid of hardship."
Qin Xiaohu snorted again, seemingly satisfied with this answer, and turned to Shen Hong. "Is he packed? Those kids in the horse carriages are probably still dawdling halfway. We need to hurry if we want to catch up."
Shen Hong looked at the pitch-black night outside with concern. "It's so late. Why not let the child go tomorrow?"
"No." Qin Xiaohu refused flatly. "There's business waiting at the forest farm. We can't delay in the city. This kid has a sturdy frame—he won't freeze."
Hearing this, Chen