Reborn in 1977, starting with severing ties with family.

After Jiang Sen blurted out Yingzi's name for the first time, he had already prepared an excuse.

"I think I heard Grandpa call you that before, or did I hear wrong?"

Yingzi was still somewhat skeptical, but had no other explanation, so she went out with suspicion.

Jiang Sen sighed.

It will take some time to gain Yingzi's approval.

Also, she refused his request to deliver the message.

How can I tell the squad leader that I'm still alive and that Yingzi and her grandson saved me?

He still hadn't come up with a good solution by nightfall.

Grandpa Yingzi came in, moved the table next to him to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and then ladled out a large bowl of pheasant soup and two wild vegetable buns.

"Eat more!" he said. "I added medicinal herbs to the chicken soup; it will be good for your injury."

Jiang Sen thanked him, took a bite, and found it fragrant with a hint of bitterness.

He asked, "Where is Yingzi?"

"Get out!"

The old man was unwilling to say much, and Jiang Sen didn't press him further, so he ate in silence.

After eating, the old man brought over a bowl of medicine.

Two days passed, and there was still no sign of them.

Jiang Sen can get out of bed and move around now; his wound has begun to heal. However, he cannot bend his legs and walks with his legs straight, as if he has had a stroke.

He sat by the doorway, stretching out his legs to pick wild vegetables, with a pile of mushrooms beside him.

Grandpa Yingzi sat opposite, whittling a wooden stick with a sharp hunting knife.

This is used to set traps.

One end was sharpened, and the other end was driven into the bottom of the trap.

When prey falls, it either dies or is injured.

Suddenly, a noise came from below, which sounded like the cry of some animal.

The two of them put down what they were holding and stood up at the same time.

Yingzi came up from below carrying a roe deer.

"I caught a roe deer on the way, it'll be good for you to eat!" Yingzi threw the roe deer on the ground and said to Jiang Sen, "I ran into your people, they told me you're alright."

Jiang Sen knew she had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

He disappeared for a few days; he probably went to report to the forestry station.

Then he can stay here and recuperate without worry.

"Thank you!"

"What are you thanking me for?" Yingzi patted her clothes. "I just happened to run into you, otherwise I wouldn't have made a special trip!"

She went inside.

Her grandfather smiled and gestured for Jiang Sen to sit down.

"Your injury will be healed in another two weeks!"

Jiang Sen felt that it wouldn't get better even in a year.

But we can't really stay here and never leave.

"Grandpa, is there anything you need? It's convenient for me to go to the supply and marketing cooperative from the forest farm; I can buy it for you."

Grandpa Yingzi laughed and said, "There's nothing we need. Our ancestors have been here for generations. We have everything we need in these mountains!"

In the past two days, Jiang Sen and Yingzi's grandfather have become quite familiar with each other. They chat together whenever they have free time and help each other with various tasks.

Fortunately, he was young and in good health, so his injury healed quickly.

After Yingzi returned, she still didn't give Jiang Sen a friendly look.

Jiang Sen reflected on his own actions and concluded that he was bothered by things happening by the pond.

Yingzi didn't give him a friendly look, and no matter how Jiang Sen tried to coax her, it was no use.

He chatted with the old man about things outside, and Yingzi listened in.

Jiang Sen looked over, but she looked away again.

At the very least, she no longer treated Jiang Sen the way she did at the beginning. Sometimes she would talk to him and even teach him how to set traps.

Every day, she would bring in fresh prey, which fattened Jiang Sen up.

After more than half a month, Jiang Sen felt that he was almost fully recovered and could leave.

Grandpa Yingzi went out to set up the traps and hasn't returned yet.

Only Jiang Sen and Yingzi remained at home.

They sat at the doorway, chatting while looking at the mountains.

It was mostly Jiang Sen who was speaking.

It took Yingzi a long time to reply.

Jiang Sen said, "One day, I will definitely build a bigger and more comfortable sloping pillar for Grandpa to repay his life-saving grace." He pointed to the side, "Right there, level the front, and then put a fence around it, using the best animal hides and the thickest tree trunks. Ideally, there should be a sleeping area and a place to entertain guests inside, um... and a stove for cooking, using the best iron pots..."

Yingzi looked up at Jiang Sen, who was speaking excitedly.

"What's the point of saying all this if you're leaving? Do you think you can stay?"

“If you ask me to stay, I will stay!” Jiang Sen looked at Yingzi with eyes full of tenderness. “I’ll pluck the moon from the sky for you, whatever you want.”

Yingzi blushed, quickly lowered her head, hugged her legs, and started scribbling on the ground with a straw stick.

"That's all nonsense. What are you going to do, fly to the heavens or something?"

"I'm telling the truth!" Seeing that there was a chance, Jiang Sen quickly pressed on, "If you get tired of staying in the mountains in the future, I'll take you to see the outside world. There are many tall buildings, cars, and lots of beautiful clothes in the city."

Yingzi was a little curious.

"Is it that good?"

"Of course!"

"Then why are you even here?"

"...That's a job! Do you want to go?"

Jiang Sen seems to be showing his wolfish nature again.

"In no mood!"

The two were silent for a while.

Jiang Sen glanced at the sky and said, "Grandpa has been gone for two days. When will he be back?"

"You should be back tonight. I'll take you down the mountain tomorrow."

Jiang Sen had a lot more to say, but Yingzi had already gotten up and gone inside.

At night, the two were separated by a curtain.

No one was asleep.

Jiang Sen looked at the curtain and said softly, "Yingzi, my name is Jiang Sen. I'm from Beijing. I'm twenty years old this year. I have no one to rely on. I came to the Great Northern Wilderness hoping to meet someone who cares about me, someone who will always be there for me no matter what happens, no matter how far I go. If you don't have anyone else in your heart, could you consider me?"

There was no movement from Yingzi's side; even her breathing became lighter.

Jiang Sen didn't receive a reply. He lay down, stared at the dark place, and sighed softly.

He really didn't know how to express himself in a way that would make Yingzi accept him.

At night, the door opened, and the old man returned, bringing with him the unique atmosphere of the mountains.

He quietly put his things down and lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) next to the stove.

The next morning, after breakfast, Yingzi took her hunting rifle and carried her basket on her back.

"Grandpa, I've taken him home."

"Yes, let's go back!" the old man said. "There are things in the basket inside the house, take them with him too, he needs to rest and recover when we get back."

"understood!"

Jiang Sen didn't know what Yingzi's grandfather had brought him. He sat down opposite him and said, "Grandpa, I'm going back now. I'll come back to see you and Yingzi when I have time."

"I'm determined!"

After saying goodbye to the old man, Jiang Sen took his belongings and his gun, and followed Yingzi down the mountain.

When he got down, he looked back up and saw the old man standing by the railing looking at him.

He waved and said, "Grandpa, take care! I'll be back!"

The old man waved his hand but didn't say anything.

“Let’s go!” Yingzi said, leading the way into the woods.

The two walked a distance, one in front of the other.

Jiang Sen said, "Yingzi, could you please take care of the injured and walk slowly?"

Yingzi didn't answer, but she slowed her pace.

Jiang Sen quickly walked a few steps to her side.

"Yingzi, I know you heard what I said last night. You don't need to answer me right away, but I can't go back on my word. I really like you!"

Yingzi blushed, quickened her pace, and muttered, "Stop talking nonsense, let's go."

Seeing her somewhat flustered movements, Jiang Sen smiled.

After that, Jiang Sen didn't mention these things again, and quietly followed Yingzi through the woods.

Yingzi also shot a fox, hitting it right in the eye.

"Take this back and make a scarf for you." Yingzi skinned the fox and threw away the meat.

Fox meat isn't tasty; the roasted rabbit on the fire in front of me smells much better.

"Okay!" Jiang Sen smiled at her. "I'll have someone make it and send it to you."