The three of them then went to the Ice City Forestry Department.
Chen Nan, carrying relevant documents and proofs, met with the head of the Forestry Department.
Some procedures were handled.
It would be impossible for ordinary people to enter the Greater Khingan Range, search for wild Siberian tigers, and collect samples.
However, Chen Nan was the deputy leader of Tsinghua Medical School's Hepatitis B research and development team, and Tsinghua had previously contacted them, hoping for their cooperation.
Therefore, Chen Nan's visit was merely a formality.
In addition, the other party sent a middle-aged man named Ma Xiuyuan to accompany them and assist in their work.
He was very knowledgeable about the habits of Siberian tigers and had entered the Greater Khingan Range multiple times.
This time, he was to cooperate with Chen Nan and his team and to install GPS trackers on the Siberian tigers to determine their locations and living patterns.
At three in the afternoon,
Chen Nan, Ye Wanzhi, Ma Xiuyuan, and Fan Ruyan, a group of four, arrived at Pangu Railway Station.
This railway station was located on the outskirts of the Greater Khingan Range, making it the most convenient entry point.
As they exited the station, they saw a middle-aged man holding a sign with Ye Wanzhi's name on it.
This was Xie Qiang, the son of an old friend of Grandpa Ye.
He was in his forties, nearly two meters tall, with a shaved head and dark skin.
After confirming his identity, Ye Wanzhi said, "Uncle Xie, we'll have to trouble you to guide us into the mountains this time. Don't worry, we'll pay you for your services."
Xie Qiang waved his hand, his voice booming, "It's my honor to serve the country. Talking about money would be an insult to me!"
At this moment,
Four meticulously modified, heavily armed Jeep Wranglers drove up from a distance.
After the vehicles stopped, a group of young men, resembling rich heirs, quickly got out and approached Fan Ruyan, saying nervously, "We're sorry, Sister Ruyan, we're late!"
Fan Ruyan acknowledged them calmly and asked, "Are all the supplies ready?"
The leading young heir grinned, "Sister Ruyan, I will do my utmost for any task you assign. We have prepared two hunting rifles and six repeating crossbows, which will ensure our safety on this trip."
"Miss Fan, are these people also accompanying us into the mountains?" Chen Nan frowned. He could tolerate Fan Ruyan joining them out of consideration for Ye Wanzhi,
but now there were more than a dozen young heirs.
He found this unacceptable.
Fan Ruyan countered, "Is there a problem?"
Chen Nan stated directly, "This expedition is for scientific research, not for sightseeing or hunting! Ask your people to go back!"
The leading young heir became furious, "Damn it, who the hell do you think you are? How dare you speak to Sister Ruyan in that tone? Aren't you tired of living?"
Fan Ruyan waved her hand, signaling the young heir to be quiet, and then looked at Chen Nan, "To clarify, I didn't ask them to come for sightseeing or hunting!"
"My initial intention was to protect your safety!"
"After all, the Greater Khingan Range is home to many large wild animals!"
"Without expert protection, we could very well encounter unforeseen dangers!"
Chen Nan directly interrupted her, "We don't need their protection!"
Fan Ruyan's expression turned grim, "Then it's alright for us to protect Wanzhi, isn't it?"
Chen Nan was speechless.
Seeing their argument, Ye Wanzhi said, "Junior Brother Chen Nan, why don't we let them come along? After all, more people mean more security!"
"If you put it that way, then I have nothing more to say!" Chen Nan shrugged indifferently. In his opinion, the few of them were enough, and they didn't need more people.
Let alone these young heirs, whose intentions were not to protect Ye Wanzhi!
It seemed more like hunting.
"Let's go, get in the cars!" Fan Ruyan gave Chen Nan a provocative glance and then got into the first Wrangler.
"Uncle Xie, I'll ride with you!" Chen Nan got into Xie Qiang's Haval H9.
Ma Xiuyuan also got into Xie Qiang's H9. As someone from the Forestry Department, he could sense that these people had ulterior motives for entering the mountains.
To put it bluntly, they were enemies in his professional career.
Ye Wanzhi sensed the subtle hostility between Chen Nan and Fan Ruyan, and after a moment's hesitation, she got into Fan Ruyan's car.
"Little Chen, those people are not to be trifled with. Try your best not to make enemies with them!"
As the car started, Xie Qiang spoke, "If I'm not mistaken, the young man just now was Wang Ming, and his father is the largest forest farm owner around here!"
"He has assets in the hundreds of millions and has influence in both legitimate and illegitimate circles!"
"If you truly anger him, he's not afraid to resort to underhanded tactics!"
Chen Nan's expression was relaxed.
How dark could the hand of a forest farm owner's son be?
Ma Xiuyuan said in a low voice, "The forest farm owner you're talking about, could it be Wang Dalei?"
Xie Qiang nodded.
Ma Xiuyuan's expression turned serious.
He knew of Wang Dalei.
If Wang Ming hunted wild animals after entering the mountains, even he was unsure if he should intervene.
After all,
these kinds of people were not to be provoked.
Chen Nan spread out a map of the Greater Khingan Range and asked, "Uncle Xie, where are we going now?"
Xie Qiang replied, "To Bijiashan. A month ago, hikers saw a wild Siberian tiger there. We'll see if we're that lucky."
The straight-line distance from Pangu Station to Bijiashan was over a hundred kilometers, but due to the mountainous terrain and rugged roads, it took over five hours to reach it.
By the time they arrived at the foot of Bijiashan, it was already dark.
Everyone parked their cars and set up camp, circling the five vehicles to prevent encounters with large wild animals.
Afterward, they assembled their tents, lit a bonfire, and began preparing dinner.
Dinner consisted of pheasants and wild rabbits, which Wang Ming and his group had hunted on the way.
A moment later, the aroma of meat filled the air around the camp.
Just as Ye Wanzhi was looking for Chen Nan with a roasted rabbit, she found him eating compressed biscuits!
Those things were very dry and not very palatable,
but he ate them with gusto.
"I'm sorry, I've already eaten dinner. Feel free to eat as you please!" Chen Nan politely declined Ye Wanzhi's offer. Although he didn't consider himself a good person,
he would never associate with Fan Ruyan and the others.
Naturally, he would not partake in their prey.
"Chen Nan, I know you dislike Ruyan bringing so many people, but I still hope you'll give me face!" Ye Wanzhi looked embarrassed. She hadn't expected Fan Ruyan to bring so many people either.
Chen Nan smiled, "I won't make things difficult for you."
"However, please convey something to Fan Ruyan for me, Sister Ye. Some things are enough. Don't go too far!"
"All things have spirits!"
"And every place has its own customs!"
"Even decades ago, hunters here would leave the small ones and take the large ones!"
"But they, upon arriving, took everything, large and small!"
"If they continue to take without restraint, they will face retribution!"
Fan Ruyan walked over, "Do I need you to teach me how I do things?"