Year: I planted trees in Saihanba

"Get off your horse!"

(Please imagine yourself with a big belly from eating porridge.)

Xia Tian looked at Wu Yansheng, who was still motionless on horseback, his face darkened, and he shouted loudly.

The sound was as loud as a great bell, echoing across the vast Saihanba.

Wu Yansheng was so startled by the shout that he almost fell off his horse.

He quickly dismounted, lowered his head, and dared not look Xia Tian in the eye.

Like a child who has done something wrong, he stood there helplessly.

Summer walked step by step toward Wu Yansheng.

With each step he took, Wu Yansheng's heart beat faster.

"Wu Yansheng, what exactly do you want?"

Xia Tian stood in front of Wu Yansheng and asked coldly.

"Look at yourself now."

"We came here to plant trees and create forests, to change the face of Saihanba."

"This isn't a place for you to talk about love!"

Summer's voice was filled with anger and disappointment.

His eyes were fixed on Wu Yansheng, as if he wanted to see right through him.

Wu Yansheng lowered his head and murmured.

"Commander Xia... I... I was wrong."

His voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's hum.

Shen Mengyin stood aside, also quite intimidated by Xia Tian's imposing manner.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at Xia Tian, ​​her heart filled with guilt.

She stole a glance at Wu Yansheng.

At this moment, Wu Yansheng was no longer the spirited man he had been moments before.

This instantly diminished much of the admiration she felt for him.

Seeing Wu Yansheng's timid appearance, Xia Tian became even angrier.

Wu Yansheng is simply a leopard that can't change its spots.

Treat them to guests, behead them, and accept them as dogs!

Wu Yansheng is not worthy to host a dinner party.

Now it seems that even taking them in as dogs is not feasible.

Xia Tian looked at Wu Yansheng and shook his head.

"Alright, go back and plant trees!"

Wu Yansheng was startled by Xia Tian's voice again.

However, after hearing Xia Tian's words, he felt as if he had been granted a pardon.

They stumbled and crawled to find their partner and started pretending to plant trees.

Xia Tian frowned and looked at Shen Mengyin standing to the side.

He knew these college students had complicated relationships, but he didn't expect them to be this complicated.

"That's all!"

"Comrade Shen Mengyin, given that this is your first offense, we will let it slide for now."

"Let's see how it goes!"

Summer, out of consideration for Shen Mengyin being a lesbian, showed a rare moment of tenderness and pity.

"Alright, go and rest over there!"

"Come back to camp with us later."

Xia Tian glanced at Shen Mengyin, then ignored her.

He walked to the side and began digging a hole.

Wu Yansheng watched Xia Tian digging a hole not far away, and his heart grew increasingly uneasy.

Time passed slowly amidst Wu Yansheng's anxious heart.

On the other side is suitable land for afforestation.

After cursing Wu Yansheng for a while, Sui Zhichao found that no one paid any attention to him.

In a very awkward situation, I almost dug out a three-bedroom apartment with my toes.

"Sui Zhichao, how do you think my saplings are doing?"

Fortunately, Qin Xuemei spoke up in time to help Sui Zhichao out of the predicament.

Sui Zhichao was cursing so loudly that it was impossible for Qin Xuemei not to hear him.

The reason she didn't respond was partly because she didn't want to get involved with Wu Yansheng.

On the other hand, she was carefully tending to the seedlings in front of her.

"You planted these saplings perfectly!"

"This is even more accurate than the drawings in the book!"

When Sui Zhichao saw Qin Xuemei speak up, he quickly followed up with a comment.

It wasn't so awkward anymore.

"So, Comrade Xuemei, I've been talking to you for ages, and you haven't listened to a single word?"

As the sun gradually sets in the west, it shines like a giant salted egg yolk, turning the sandy land of Saihanba into a vibrant orange-red.

The gale, carrying sand and gravel, lashed at everyone's faces like ferocious wild beasts.

Summer led everyone through a tiring day of tree planting.

Dragging his body, which felt as if it were filled with lead, he struggled back to the camp step by step.

In the canteen, Wei Fugui was extremely busy.

The flames in the stove leaped merrily, illuminating his sweat-drenched face.

Summer sat on a chair in the cafeteria, her brow furrowed.

His expression shifted unpredictably, like the sky before a storm.

Soon, Wei Fugui brought the food to the table.

The aroma of the food filled the air.

Exhausted from the day's work, everyone quickly ate a few bites and finished their meal.

After dinner.

Summer's gaze swept across everyone's faces.

That gaze seemed to carry a tangible weight.

When it finally fell on Wu Yansheng.

His face instantly darkened like the sky before a storm, as if it could be wrung out of water.

He stood up, cleared his throat, and spoke in a loud but powerful voice that echoed through the cafeteria like a great bell.

"Everyone, please stop for a moment. Let's have a proper discussion today."

All eyes turned to Xia Tian, ​​and the campsite fell silent instantly.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Wu Yansheng felt a tightness in his heart, as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart tightly.

She subconsciously lowered her head, avoiding Xia Tian's gaze.

It was as if this would allow them to escape the impending reprimand.

He knew a storm was brewing.

"Wu Yansheng!"

Summer shouted, her voice filled with undisguised anger, like a volcano about to erupt.

What exactly do you want to do today?

Wu Yansheng's body trembled as if he had been struck by an electric current, and he slowly stood up.

Her head drooped even lower, almost buried in her chest, as she murmured softly.

"Commander Xia, I...I was wrong."

"Wrong? You're just going to say 'wrong' so casually and call it a day?"

Xia Tian took two steps forward and stood in front of Wu Yansheng, staring intently at him.

That gaze seemed to see through every thought in his heart.

What brings you to Saihanba?

"It's for planting trees and creating forests, to revitalize this barren land!"

"This isn't a place for you to be lovey-dovey or neglect your duties!"

The wind howled, making the cafeteria doors bang loudly, as if cheering on the anger of summer.

The sounds of summer echoed in the cafeteria, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.

"Today you left your post without permission and rode your horse recklessly through the woods. What do you take this tree-planting task for?"

"Are you treating this like a child's game?"

Wu Yansheng lowered his head, his face burning as if he had been slapped hard several times.

He could feel the gazes of his colleagues around him like needles pricking him, making him extremely uncomfortable.

He wanted to explain, but his throat felt blocked, and he couldn't utter a single word. He could only silently lament his situation.

"We are pressed for time. Rain is expected in five days, which is the golden opportunity for us to plant trees."

Summer's tone softened slightly, but remained serious, like a judge issuing a verdict.

“Every sapling carries our hopes, and every person shoulders an important responsibility.”

"As the group leader, you not only failed to set a good example, but you also failed to lead by example."

"You even led the way in causing trouble. How can you live up to everyone's trust?"

Wu Yansheng lowered his head even further, so low that he could see his toes, and whispered.

"Commander Xia, I really know I was wrong. I will definitely work hard in the future and never make the same mistake again."

"It's not enough to just know you're wrong; you have to take concrete action."

Xia Tian looked at Wu Yansheng, her eyes filled with both disappointment and a hint of expectation.

"Starting tomorrow, if you dare to slack off or cause trouble again..."

"Just pack your things and leave. We don't need people like that in Saihanba!"

Wu Yansheng nodded hurriedly, his head bobbing like a rattle drum.

"I promise, Commander Xia, I will definitely keep my word."

Xia Tian glanced around at everyone and raised his voice.

"Listen up, everyone. If any of you are like Wu Yansheng, tell me as soon as possible."

"Anyone who backs down in the face of battle will face my wrath. Do you all understand?"

"understand!"

The crowd answered in unison, their voices echoing powerfully in the small cafeteria.

It seemed as if it wanted to break through the oppressive atmosphere.

Sui Zhichao felt a little amused as he listened to Xia Tian's criticism of Wu Yansheng.

However, he was well-trained and managed to suppress his laughter, though his expression was somewhat distorted.

Shen Mengyin listened to Xia Tian's reprimand of Wu Yansheng.

His face turned pale and then flushed.

Although Xia Tian was referring to Wu Yansheng, his words struck Shen Mengyin's heart like a heavy hammer.

"Alright, everyone go and get some rest. We have a tough task ahead of us tomorrow."

Summer waved her hand, signaling everyone to disperse.

Everyone got up and headed towards their respective dormitories.

Wu Yansheng dragged his heavy steps back to his dormitory, each step feeling like he was carrying a thousand-pound burden.

Summer's reprimand struck Wu Yansheng's heart like a heavy hammer.

He outwardly agreed obsequiously, but inwardly a flame of resentment burned within him.

"Isn't it just taking Shen Mengyin out for a walk?"

"Is it really necessary to get so angry?"

"Planting trees doesn't necessarily mean working hard every single moment."

"I studied afforestation, after all. How could I not know the ins and outs of it?"

These thoughts churned in his mind like surging waves.

But he dared not reveal the slightest bit of his feelings to Xia Tian.

The tree planting task resumed the next day.

In the early morning in Saihanba, the cold wind was still biting.

Like sharp little knives, cutting into everyone's cheeks.

After a quick breakfast in the makeshift canteen, everyone headed to their respective afforestation sites.

When Wu Yansheng arrived at the woodland he was in charge of, he initially pretended to give a few instructions.

But not long after, he began to find all sorts of excuses to slack off.

He first said that his back was uncomfortable and he needed to rest for a while, and then exaggeratedly rubbed his back.

Then he made excuses that the tools were not working properly and dawdled, refusing to do the work.

He held the tools, looking at them from left to right, but wouldn't start using them.

Zhao Tianshan saw all of this, his brows furrowed, and he felt secretly dissatisfied.

He was well aware of the difficulty of this tree-planting task.

The planting of every sapling is crucial to the future greening of Saihanba.

They are the seeds of hope that will transform Saihanba from barrenness into lush greenery.

Wu Yansheng's passive resistance to work will undoubtedly affect the overall progress.