Two months later, the storm created by Ye Jian had not settled down yet.
After two months of prying, a usually prudent Ye Zhifan had confirmed that not a single school in the city or the province had a student named ‘Ye Jian’. He even utilized his connections and checked Ye Jian’s registered residence. Once he found out that it was still registered under Fujun Town, he finally relaxed.
Ye Jian did not repeat her studies, nor did she enter any senior high curriculum. It was as if she disappeared.
When October came, Fujun Town’s Principal Chen resigned due to health reasons. The principal’s role was handed over to another capable veteran, someone who was able to take on the responsibility and continue to guard the underground oil depot.
In the same month, Grandpa Gen, who had lived in Shuikou Village for more than twenty years, mentioned that he wanted to look for his relatives who were in the Sichuan province. He then left Shuikou Village after being seen off by the village leader.
Ye Jian, Uncle Gen, and Principal Chen’s silhouettes slowly faded out of Shuikou Village and Fujun Town.
Even the soldiers in the military unit did not know where the three of them went. The only knew that they went to places where the hard work was.
Snowflakes were fluttering around. In one night, the whole city of Anyang turned into a silver-coated world.
The winter of 1996 was here, the Southern Province’s Anyang City weled the first snow of winter.
The children were having snowball fights and their laughter added color to the entire city.
Those that were driving, cycling or walking were being careful, for fear of getting into accidents. Out of the blue, a jeep suddenly appeared from the intersection, accelerating and rolling up layers of snow and fog. In a blink of an eye, it disappeared at the corner of the road.
The driver’s black eyes contained a slight smile. He drove the car steadily to the gates of Municipal No.1 Middle School.
“Hello, I am looking for Ye Jian. Ye Jian from the tenth grade.” Dressed in a military coat, the tall man casually placed his arm on the window sill. He took off his gloves and revealed his slender arms, taking out his ballpoint pen and wrote the name. He smiled at the security officer. “Ye Jian from the tenth grade.”
The security officer on duty was in his thirties. He looked at the young man and slightly avoided eye contact when he saw his military cap.
Xia Jinyuan noticed that something was off and put down his pen. He probed with a serious expression, “Why? What happened to her?”
“My rade, this Ye Jian…” The officer found it difficult to speak. After thinking about it, he spoke softly, “She didn’t attend our school.” He was afraid that others could hear him.
“Why not you go outside and ask around? You can ask around over at the small store in front. I’m just a security officer, there are some things that I can’t say. Ask someone else, they all know.”
She did not attend this school? Xia Jinyuan tightened his grip, thanked him and left with big steps. He started his car and went over to the small store.
After buying a pack of chewing gum, he saw the shopkeeper warming himself by the fire. Xia Jinyuan pointed at the furnace and smiled. “Big brother, I shall get warm here, I’m waiting for someone.”
He took off his military cap and naturally placed it on his palm. He then buckled the side of his waist. His actions were majestic and masculine.
The shopkeeper laughed, “Feel free, do you want a cup of hot tea? I’ll serve you a cup.”
An action and a military uniform were all it took to gain the shopkeeper’s liking.
User Comments
0 comments from readers