Return to 2001 to pursue dreams

However, Yan Gaoliang stood up and stopped him and said, "Director Li, let's take a rest today. I'll do it and let everyone have a taste of my craftsmanship!"

Li Jianjun said embarrassedly: "You have traveled thousands of miles to come here and are guests. How can I let you do something?"

Yan Gaoliang ignored him and went straight to the kitchen in the back. Li Jianjun looked particularly nervous and followed closely. Gao Hongda also followed to help.

There was also a chef in the kitchen, wearing a blood-stained apron and carefully cutting the mutton. There was a pile of sheep skeletons thrown in the corner, looking very cautious.

Yan Gaoliang couldn't help but grabbed a large piece of bone-in mutton, picked up a kitchen knife and quickly chopped it into small pieces, heated a pot with oil, threw in a handful of chopped green onions and aniseed, put the mutton pieces in and stir-fried, then poured it into a pressure cooker. Inside, add water and put it on the stove to simmer. A set of movements is smooth and flowing, very skillful.

After the mutton was stewed, he had no intention of leaving. Instead, Li Jianjun said enthusiastically: "We are meeting old friends in a foreign land. Although we have had some unpleasantness, we can only meet in this quiet place. It’s fate!”

Gao Hongda asked nonchalantly: "Have you been out for so long and haven't you contacted your family?"

Li Jianjun sighed and said sadly: "I don't dare, and there are no conditions! Look at this place, let alone a telephone, there is not even a post office, except for a satellite phone at the gas station, and the phone charges are extremely expensive. If I contact my family, I'm afraid you won't be able to see me, and my phone number must be monitored."

Yan Gaoliang then asked: "Your eldest brother is so capable, can't he protect you?"

Li Jianjun snorted and said, "You mean the boss? Humph, if something happens, he will definitely protect himself first! It can be said that as long as he sees me, he would rather try to kill me than let me involve him! I’d better stay here and suffer, as if I’m at the feet of Buddha to atone for my sins for the first half of my life.”

Gao Hongda continued: "Director Li is so wise..." He was about to say that Li Jianshe had died in the detention center, but Yan Gaoliang stopped him in time with his eyes.

Li Jianjun shook his head helplessly and said: "But it's understandable. After working in the system for so many years, I can understand the reason. If it were me, I would do the same thing!"

Then he said very attentively: "You two, stop working here and take a rest outside. You must be very tired along the way. I'll look after the stove!"

Yan Gaoliang waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I'll watch the heat and don't worry! This kind of goat meat can't be stewed too bad, otherwise it won't have the flavor!"

Li Jianjun turned to say: "Well, thank you for your hard work. I'll get you some highland barley wine. The wine I saved last month is very strong and authentic. You must try it!"

Yan Gaoliang told Gao Hongda: "Fourth brother, help Director Li get it!"

Li Jianjun pretended to be angry and said: "Why do you still call me Director Li? It's all old history! Let the past go by, let's not even mention it."

Gao Hongda followed Li Jianjun to the door of the room where the wine was stored. Li Jianjun said sadly: "It seems that you don't trust me as a brother, and you are afraid that I will cheat on you in the wine and meat. But it's no wonder, this brother is a liar." A veteran, you must be careful when going out. Unlike him, you are a well-behaved person!"

Gao Hongda curled his lips with disdain and said in his heart: If you want to sow discord between our brothers, this trick won't work!

Li Jianjun picked up a jar of highland barley wine at his waist and placed it on the largest dining table in the hall. He then turned to the kitchen and put a large plate of peanuts on the table. He invited the others to drink to relieve their fatigue first, and the mutton was stewed immediately. Peanuts are a rare item in such an inaccessible place.

Li Jianjun is very much like a qualified waiter. He is very skilled in bringing tableware and pouring tea to the guests. He has completely lost the demeanor of the previous director of the development zone, and can even be described as humble. He asked intentionally or unintentionally: "Where are you taking people to? Such a big battle?"

The fat chef didn't wait for the others to speak and answered first: "These three bosses are going to Qumei Township to find someone. They have no experience in living in Tibetan areas, so they are looking for our Wilderness Team 9..."

Before he could finish his words, he was lightly kicked by Cangyun Feng. The fat man quickly stopped talking and picked up a cup of tea and put it in his mouth.

Li Jianjun smiled and said: "It's not a long journey. Tomorrow we will get off the 208 Provincial Road and then onto the 207 Township Road. It will still be more than a day's journey at most. The weather has been pretty good these days and there should be no landslides."

Cangyunfeng asked a more concerning topic: "Have you heard of any news about poachers operating in this area recently?"

Li Jianjun shook his head and replied without thinking: "No! Not really! Our place is not yet a no-man's land. If they dare to poach and rob in this area, their cars will basically be unable to escape."

Yan Gaoliang personally brought a large pot of mutton to the table and warmly invited everyone to eat together, including Li Jianjun: "Director Li, oh no, Boss Li, let's have a couple of drinks together!"

Li Jianjun waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Forget it, you can drink. I have quit smoking and drinking a long time ago! I will get some meat to feed your dogs."

After saying that, he quickly got into the kitchen and went to work.

After being bumpy in the car for a long time, everyone was already exhausted. The fat man hurriedly opened the wine jar and was about to pour wine for everyone. Yan Gaoliang and Cangyunfeng pressed their hands on the wine jar almost at the same time.

The fat man didn't know what was going on and was about to ask something. Yan Gaoliang made a silent gesture, took out a small radio from his jacket, turned on the power, and made a sound of no signal, but immediately heard several squeaks. The sound of signal interference lasted for about two minutes, and then returned to the no-signal state.

Even Gao Hongda didn't know what he was going to do there, only Cangyunfeng frowned.

Putting away the radio, Yan Gaoliang shouted to everyone to hurry up and eat the meat while it was hot and be prepared for the night journey. He would not rest here today.

Li Jianjun came out with a basin of broken bones with meat. Hearing that everyone was about to go on the night journey, he kindly advised: "I suggest you rest for a night before setting off tomorrow. We are old acquaintances. All your food, drink and accommodation today are free. It’s all nonsense, this provincial highway is no better than the national highway, there are no cars within a hundred kilometers, the mountains are high and the ravines are deep, it’s so uncertain!”

Then he continued to ask in an unobtrusive manner: "Which car is the dog cage on? Go and open the door. These are all fresh meat bones."

Cang Yunfeng gave Xi Yue, the deputy team leader, a wink. Years of life and death had already created a tacit understanding between the two of them. Xi Yue nodded, took the key from her teammate, and followed Li Jianjun out to the backyard.