No one knew how Qi Fang had suddenly become "our brother" in the blink of an eye.
But no one paid much attention to that—what happened in the work zone was the real concern. After all, forestry logging was dangerous work, with fatalities and disabilities from workplace injuries occurring every year.
Qi Fang immediately grabbed his safety helmet from his bunk. "How badly is he hurt?"
As he bent down, his gaze accidentally met Yan Xue's. He paused, but she spoke first, "I’ll go take a look too."
The young woman quickly wrapped a scarf around herself. "It’s pointless to just wait here. Don’t worry, I won’t get too close or wander around. I won’t cause any trouble."
Staying in the dugout would indeed have been a waste of time. And considering how she had nearly been crushed by a log earlier, some lessons were better learned firsthand than through repeated warnings.
Qi Fang didn’t object. As they walked out, the others filled them in on the details—especially the one who had accidentally called him "our brother," who was particularly eager to explain.
It was almost the end of the shift, and most teams were wrapping up their work, so an accident shouldn’t have happened. But the chainsaw operators, responsible for felling trees, were different from other workers. If they worked fast enough, they could finish two or three days' worth of logging in one go, freeing up time to forage for side income in the forest.
After all, the logging camp’s transport capacity was limited. No matter how many trees they cut, only a fixed volume could be hauled out each day.
In the other team Yan Xue hadn’t visited, someone had been eager to finish early so they could go gather pine cones the next day. But they’d run into a particularly stubborn tree.
These thick, heavy trees tested a sawyer’s skill and experience. Sometimes, even after the cut was complete, the tree refused to fall. In such cases, they’d toss a coat or a padded hat in the direction they wanted it to fall, letting the wind do the rest.
But today, with snow already falling, the sawyer had rushed the toss. Despite shouting "uphill fall" to warn everyone the tree would fall toward the mountain, it had instead toppled sideways.
Since sawyers entered the forest three days ahead of the main crew, maintaining a 70-meter safety distance, the others were unharmed. But one of his two assistants had been pinned under a branch.
"No immediate danger to his life, but half his body’s a bloody mess. The foreman’s already arranging a motorcar to take him to the hospital and called everyone to the equipment shed for a safety meeting."
By the time they reached the shed—where tractors and generators were stored—the door was left open due to the crowd. Yan Xue stopped outside.
True to form, the foreman, his face dark with anger, tore into Li Shuwu for his recklessness.
Endangering others for the sake of side income was no small offense. A disciplinary mark was the least of his consequences.
The foreman immediately demoted Li Shuwu from his position as a sawyer, replacing him with Liu Daniu, the team leader and a former sawyer himself. Unless Li Shuwu redeemed himself and requalified through the bureau’s training program, he’d likely never return to the role.
"Also, I’ve heard someone brought family members into the work zone without safety precautions." After dealing with the first matter, the foreman shifted focus.
It wasn’t clear who had told him, but his gaze landed on Qi Fang, whose height and looks made him stand out in the crowd.
It wasn’t unusual for family to visit workers who spent months at a time in the mountains. But with tensions already high, this was bound to draw criticism.
Sure enough, the foreman made an example of it. "Safety first—we emphasize it every year, yet some still treat lives like they’re disposable. Can’t you wait a little longer to see your family? Do you think you’re the only one with loved ones? Who’ll take responsibility if something happens?"
It was a bit unfair, but explaining now would only humiliate the foreman publicly—especially since the reprimand was clearly aimed at Qi Fang.
Qi Fang said nothing, only glancing calmly toward "Brother Liang."
If it were just him, it wouldn’t matter. But now, many inside and outside the shed were watching him, and his subtle movement redirected their attention. The young man who’d slipped up earlier even whispered, "Did he report you?"
Though Brother Liang hadn’t heard, he was the one who’d brought Yan Xue up. His guilt made him jump to conclusions, and his unease showed.
"What’re you all looking at me for?" he snapped.
His outburst was as good as a confession. The foreman, mid-lecture, paused.
The scene below spoke volumes—Qi Fang remained composed, while Brother Liang’s bluster was transparently defensive. The foreman’s expression darkened further, but he cleared his throat. "I won’t name names this time. Whoever’s responsible should reflect on their actions. Next time, it won’t just be a reprimand."
His words sounded reasonable, but Yan Xue, standing farther back, overheard murmurs:
"First, he wanted to make an example, now he won’t name names?"
"Who knows? Maybe it’s because of his son-in-law. Could be his son-in-law’s involved."
"Then he shouldn’t have brought it up in the first place."
"Who cares about his family drama? Poor Old Guo’s family—first the father two years ago, now the son..."
Even after years in the logging camp, injuries never got easier to talk about.
By the time the meeting ended, the motorcar was fueled and ready.
As Qi Fang stepped out, he saw Yan Xue staring at the injured worker being loaded onto the vehicle. The crescent-moon eyes that usually sparkled with laughter were now clouded with sorrow.
He followed her gaze. "He was supposed to get married right after the New Year break."
Yan Xue’s long lashes lowered, her silence deepening.
"I’ll go inform the Guo family, then take you down the mountain," Qi Fang said, glancing at her.
She didn’t object.
After a quick word with the driver, they boarded the motorcar together.
The makeshift rail vehicle, modified from a truck by the local machinery plant, was crude and unreliable—mostly used for railway construction and repairs. But with trains and diesel engines often tied up, every logging camp kept one for emergencies.
The rattling ride from the mountain to the camp felt like the vehicle might fall apart any second. After Qi Fang and Yan Xue disembarked, it continued toward town.
Without discussion, they both chose to visit Guo Chang'an’s family first to deliver the news.
A petite woman in her fifties answered the door, a lively child peeking out from behind her. Her face had been bright with affection moments before, mid-conversation with the little one.
Yan Xue suddenly felt the cruelty of what they were about to say.
Even Qi Fang’s usual stoicism faltered for a moment before he spoke. The woman’s smile froze, her legs buckling beneath her.
By the time they left the Guo household, night had fully fallen. In the vast silence, the sound of unrestrained weeping from the yard behind them cut sharper than any blade.
Just like the cries that had echoed from her home when Yan Xue was six years old in her past life...
"Will the forestry station take responsibility for this kind of work injury?" she asked softly, stepping along the snow-covered path leading to the guesthouse.
Qi Fang gave a quiet "Mm" in response before falling silent again.
After a long pause, he finally broke the quiet between them. "The forestry station only closes for holidays during minor New Year celebrations."
Mm. So what?
Yan Xue lifted her face to look at the man and found his gaze already shifting toward her. "I won’t be able to come down for the next few days. Take some more time to think it over."
He still believed she wasn’t suited for this place—that she shouldn’t stay.
Enduring hardship for a day might feel novel, but after a week or a month, it would become nothing but torment.
Here, there were none of the clothes or shoes she loved, no cinemas or theaters, not even electricity. The only time they had power was when the forestry station ran the generator at night to repair machinery in the small workshop, and even then, it lasted only until nine o’clock. After that, everything plunged into darkness.
Most workers here had little education, and many of their family members couldn’t even read. Finding someone to talk to who shared her interests was nearly impossible, let alone dealing with incidents like today’s.
Rather than regretting it later, it was better to take the time now to understand things properly—and leave early if she had to...
The next morning, Yan Xue was jolted awake by the blare of the loudspeaker.
The forestry station’s broadcast played punctually every morning, serving both to update everyone on outside news and to remind workers it was time to start their shifts.
Yan Xue had never been one to sleep in. Two lifetimes of hardship had robbed her of that luxury, so she quickly roused herself and reached for the cotton-padded jacket and trousers warming on the heated brick bed.
Qi Fang had left her at the guesthouse the night before, likely squeezing into the dormitory for the night before heading up the mountain at dawn.
After what had happened, it was no surprise he wanted her to reconsider. If she’d had a better choice, she might have done the same.
Still, despite its hardships and dangers, the forestry station offered better conditions than most local factories. The town had a hospital and a middle school, while the station itself had an elementary school, a guesthouse, and a canteen.
Yan Xue still had some national grain vouchers her great-aunt had helped her exchange, so she planned to eat at the canteen before exploring the station properly. Yesterday, she’d been too busy searching for someone to take a good look around.
As soon as she stepped out, the guesthouse attendant called to her, "A man came by this morning and asked me to give you this."
It was a stack of cash and local grain vouchers—not as valuable as the national ones that could be used across provinces, but there was plenty of it.
So, for all his cold and blunt demeanor, he wasn’t entirely inconsiderate. He hadn’t just left her stranded here with nothing but a "think it over."
After thanking the attendant, Yan Xue had barely stepped outside when another voice stopped her: "Are you that relative of Qi Fang’s?"
This time, it was a middle-aged woman in her forties, carrying a metal bucket. With the snow having stopped, the bucket was uncovered, revealing freshly ground corn paste inside.
Since they were still in the "thinking it over" stage, Qi Fang naturally hadn’t introduced her as his potential match, so Yan Xue didn’t clarify either. "And you are...?"
"My husband is Liu Daniu, Qi Fang’s work team leader. When Qi Fang first arrived, there wasn’t space in the dorms, so he stayed with us for half a year. He ran into me this morning on his way out and asked if I could show you around the station when I had time."
Liu Daniu—Yan Xue remembered him. He was the one who’d made the mistake that cost a worker his hand. So, her assessment of Qi Fang’s thoughtfulness wasn’t wrong. He’d even arranged a guide for her.
Yan Xue’s eyes curved into a smile as she thanked the woman. "I really appreciate it. When would be a good time? I’ll come find you after breakfast."
"Breakfast? Everyone’s up on the mountain by now. The scraps they serve down here aren’t even fit for dogs." Liu Daniu’s wife grabbed her arm. "Come on, eat at our place. My lazy kids are still asleep, but I left food warming in the pot. It’s all ready—hope you don’t mind."
The woman, who could heft a full metal bucket with ease, was far stronger than Yan Xue. Before she could protest, she was being cheerfully dragged toward their home.
Along the way, Liu Daniu’s wife chatted about whatever came to mind—all things related to the forestry station—so Yan Xue didn’t resist.
Unlike the brick-and-tile guesthouse, most workers here lived in self-built earthen houses, locally called "overlord huts." With timber in ample supply, the structures used logs for support, the gaps filled with yellow mud mixed with dried grass. They looked squat and unimpressive, but they were warmer than drafty brick houses.
The Liu family’s yard had dogs, and the moment they caught wind of a stranger, they erupted into barks.
"Wait here while I tie them up. My father-in-law keeps them for hunting—three in total, but he took two up the mountain this morning."
Liu Daniu’s wife set down the bucket and went inside, soon calling out, "All right now."
Seeing her stationed by the kennel, Yan Xue carried the bucket in for her.
"Heavy, wasn’t it?" Liu Daniu’s wife asked as they entered. "This was supposed to be the Guo family’s turn to make pancakes, but with their third son’s accident, I took it over."
As she spoke, she swatted the backside of a boy rummaging through the large cooking pot in nothing but his underpants. "Aren’t you freezing? Running around half-naked like this."
Poverty was widespread in those days. Many city kids never owned long johns before adulthood, let alone those in the forestry station. The boy didn’t mind the smack, but he flushed at the sight of a stranger and darted back into the room.
"That’s my youngest. All he ever thinks about is food," Liu Daniu’s wife said with a resigned chuckle.
"Sounds like my little brother at that age," Yan Xue replied.
Married women loved chatting about children, and hearing Yan Xue had a brother that age warmed Liu Daniu’s wife even further.
Just then, a girl of fifteen or sixteen emerged from the inner room. Her expression darkened when she saw Yan Xue.
Liu Daniu’s wife told her to greet their guest, and though she did, her tone was grudging. "When are we leaving?" she demanded.
Her mother faltered. "Not today, sweetheart. I’ve got things to do."
The girl’s face twisted. "You said three days ago you’d take me to town to sell my things! Then it was yesterday, then today—and now you’re putting it off again! Did you ever mean to take me at all?"
Adults often dismissed children’s concerns, assuming their own matters took precedence. They forgot that to a child, those small promises were everything.
Liu Daniu’s wife’s guilt quickly turned to irritation. "We have company—where are your manners? Listen to me, the weather’s bad today. We’ll go another time."
"Fine! I’ll go by myself!" The girl’s eyes reddened as she stormed back inside, emerging moments later with a basket strapped to her back.
Clearly, she’d been preparing for this for a while.
No mother would let her daughter trek to town alone. Liu Daniu’s wife rushed to stop her, and soon the two were locked in a standoff at the door, the younger siblings peeking out from the inner room.
Amid the chaos, Yan Xue spoke up. "How about I go with her? I’ve got a relative in town who was supposed to bring me here, but their child had an accident. I should check on them anyway."
