Yongnan County was over three thousand li from Meng Province, a considerable distance.
Given the current transportation conditions, driving non-stop would take at least two days and two nights.
This was assuming no delays; a slight hold-up could easily extend it to three days.
Qin Chuan, along with his three brothers San Mao, Er Gou, and Li Qiang, set off in haste.
They departed as quietly as possible, with only a select few aware of their journey.
Although it was February and the weather was gradually warming, it was still a time of fluctuating temperatures.
Due to the rushed departure, they had not checked the weather forecast. Just beyond the provincial border, the climate changed abruptly. Snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and the wind was bone-chilling.
The road started to become slippery, and the snow accumulated thicker. Fortunately, the powerful "Tiger Head Ben" vehicle navigated through mountains and across ravines.
However, something unfortunate still happened.
They encountered a traffic jam ahead, with many vehicles stranded on the rough, uneven road.
“Damn it!”
San Mao, who was driving, slammed on the steering wheel in frustration.
“Let’s get out and stretch our legs. We don’t know how long this will take.”
Qin Chuan offered a comforting word and opened his car door.
The four of them stood in the biting cold wind, smoking and chatting idly. However, before they could even finish a cigarette, they all scrambled back into the car like frightened children.
It was too damn cold outside, and in their haste, none of them had brought extra clothes, overlooking this detail.
Thus, the traffic jam persisted from the afternoon until nightfall. Finally, the road was cleared.
The Tiger Head Ben followed the signs on the map, continuing its journey. When one driver got tired, another would take over, while the others slept in the back.
At this point, the group had already entered Meng Province.
Qin Chuan consulted the map in his hand, directing the way. For intricate or confusing sections, he would even get out of the car to ask passersby for directions.
Lin Dongping’s hometown was a remote small county in Meng Province called Bayannur, which was even more remote and impoverished than Yongnan County.
After three days and two nights, Qin Chuan and his companions finally arrived in this county named Bayannur.
However, this did not mean they had reached their final destination. Lin Dongping was not from the county seat; his family home was in a rural village, still over two hundred li away.
Upon reaching the county town, it was already dusk. Qin Chuan was no longer in a hurry. He first found a restaurant to treat his brothers to a hearty meal, and then enjoyed a good night's sleep to recuperate.
Before dawn the next day, the refreshed quartet headed directly to their destination.
About two hundred li from Bayannur County was a village called Fuyao Zhuang, where the inhabitants had been raising livestock for generations.
Men, women, and children alike were almost all skilled riders, possessing excellent abilities both on and off horseback.
Many men from Meng Province were also adept at wrestling, archery, and animal husbandry, displaying considerable prowess.
Lin Dongping was born in such a place. Benefiting from his environment, Lin Dongping had developed respectable skills from a young age, training alongside the adults.
Despite being named Fuyao Zhuang (Prosperous Village), it bore no resemblance to prosperity; it was quite poor and backward.
Lin Dongping was tall and strong, fond of fighting, and entered society early, gaining more worldly experience than the villagers.
In his opinion, staying in such a desolate place would lead to a lifetime of mediocrity.
After venturing into the city, he gradually distinguished himself with his strong abilities. Later, through a fortunate coincidence, he was noticed by Zhang Wenbo and had been following him ever since.
In the early morning, a thick fog blanketed the area.
The sky was overcast, threatening a sleet shower at any moment.
In a typical farmhouse courtyard, a stooped middle-aged woman, wearing an apron, held a basin of chicken feed and was opening the chicken coop.
"Cluck cluck cluck!!!"
"Cheep cheep cheep!!!"
The hungry chickens, who had been fasting all night, flocked around the feed basin, led by a rooster, and scrambled to eat.
The middle-aged woman stood by, holding a stick, watching quietly. Occasionally, she would tap a chicken that was being too greedy, muttering, "You don't lay eggs all day, yet you eat more than anyone else. If you don't start laying soon, I'll slaughter you and put you on the dinner table!"
Suddenly, at that moment, the middle-aged woman heard a commotion and turned her gaze outside the courtyard.
A majestic-looking sedan had stopped there. As the car door opened, a young man in a trench coat, looking heroic and handsome, stepped out.
He saw the middle-aged woman feeding chickens in the yard and a harmless smile appeared on his face. "Auntie, excuse me, is this Lin Dongping's home?"
"Yes!"
The middle-aged woman nodded. "Are you friends of Dongping? He's still sleeping!"
She knew her son was working hard outside, so she wasn't surprised to see friends arriving by car.
Over the years, her son had periodically sent money home, improving their lives. Her younger children were attending good schools. As a mother, she was very proud of having such a son.
A few days ago, her son, who hadn't returned home in years, suddenly came back, much to her delight as a mother.
"Auntie, we are Dongping's friends."
Qin Chuan smiled and pushed open the fence, walking into the courtyard.
"We heard he returned to his hometown, so we hurried over to see him and catch up."
The middle-aged woman didn't suspect anything. Moreover, looking at the young man before her, his attire and demeanor suggested he was from a big city, possessing a refined and wealthy aura. She became a little self-conscious.
"Then… please come in quickly. I'll go wake Dongping up."
The middle-aged woman said shyly, then glanced at the car. "Are there any other people in the car? Let them come inside for a cup of hot milk to warm up."
Qin Chuan smiled and waved his hand, declining. "Auntie, they don't need to. They can stay in the car."
The middle-aged woman nodded and led Qin Chuan towards the house.
What she didn't see was Qin Chuan subtly signaling to the car behind her. San Mao, Er Gou, and Li Qiang, who were in the car, quickly got out and disappeared into the surroundings.
Qin Chuan followed the woman into the house and was surprised to find a middle-aged man with a dark complexion and a cane inside.
"Hello, Uncle!"
Qin Chuan could tell from his appearance that this was likely Lin Dongping's father.
Upon learning that Qin Chuan was his son's friend, the man also became very welcoming. He first poured Qin Chuan a steaming cup of sheep's milk and said with a smile,
"Young man, please have some. Old lady, hurry up and wake Dongping!"
Qin Chuan smiled and waved his hand. "No rush, Uncle. It's rare for Dongping to be home, let him sleep a little longer."
The implied meaning of this statement was that after today, Lin Dongping might not be able to sleep so soundly, but sadly, no one understood.
In the inner room, on a steaming hot brick bed, lay a figure in deep slumber. This was Lin Dongping, a man in his early thirties.
"Dongping!"
"Dongping, wake up!"
"You have friends here to see you!"
The middle-aged woman nudged her son, who was still in a dream, and Lin Dongping finally opened his groggy eyes, yawning.
"Mom, what are you talking about? What friends?"
Lin Dongping rubbed his eyes and asked in confusion.
He had left home in his teens; where would he have any friends?
"Your friends are your friends, what kind of question is that?"
The middle-aged woman thought her son wasn't fully awake and said with a smile, "I don't know who exactly, but hurry up and get dressed. You'll know when you go out and see!"
"Quickly now, don't keep them waiting!"
After saying this, the middle-aged woman turned and left the room.
When Lin Dongping had finished dressing and opened the door, he immediately saw a heroic and handsome young man sitting by the dining table.
The man was chatting and laughing with his parents, the atmosphere lively and their faces beaming with smiles.
However, Lin Dongping froze. He seemed to doubt his own eyes and rubbed them vigorously, looking again.
There was no mistake, no hallucination. The young man sitting there was indeed Qin Chuan.
In that instant, Lin Dongping, who had still been partially sleepy, felt a chill surge from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. His sleepiness vanished, replaced by a profound sense of dread.
Adrenaline surged through his entire body, and his throat felt dry.
Just then, Qin Chuan looked up. Seeing Lin Dongping standing at the doorway, he offered a warm smile as if greeting an old friend. "Dongping, you're awake! Come, sit down!"