Before coming to Xuejiashan, He's mother, who had always lived in the south, found it hard to imagine that the early morning in July could be very cool, even a little chilly.

She was only wearing a thin coat, which was soon soaked by the dew dripping from the leaves.

He's mother prepared everything, including two to three days of food, a compass, a detector, a medical first aid kit, etc.

Just as the old woman said, most instruments and electronic products become unusable the moment you enter the mountain.

This did not pose a problem for He's mother. She also brought a tool specifically for recording whereabouts in the wild. This tool looked like a chess piece and could be extended and retracted freely. Once inserted into the ground, it was difficult to pull out.

The flag is very wide and is specially painted with a conspicuous layer of luminous material, so that the mark can be seen from dozens of meters away.

He's mother followed the right-hand rule. Whenever she encountered a fork in the road, she only chose the right path, which greatly reduced the possibility of getting lost.

However, she only walked less than a kilometer before she could go no further.

The terrain of Xuejiashan is very primitive. Not to mention the steps and roads, every few steps you will see huge rocks or trees blocking the road, and the gaps are also very narrow.

He's mother was thin and frail, so she could barely squeeze through. If she were a normal-sized man, he would not be able to pass at all.

In addition, the humidity in the mountains is also extremely high. According to He's mother's estimation, the air humidity in Xuejiashan is at least over 95 percent.

Her clothes were stuck to her body, and she felt uncomfortable breathing. Coupled with the low air pressure caused by the high altitude, she had to stop and rest every few dozen steps.

Even so, her heart rate soon reached over 160.

Out of consideration for her own safety, He's mother took photos of the farthest place she had ever reached and wrote a diary to remember the characteristics of this place.

In the following period of time, He's mother entered Xuejiashan several times. She accumulated a lot of experience in going into the mountains. The farthest time she went was even to a place three kilometers into the mountain.

She couldn't wait to share her results with her colleagues, and then tried to take her colleagues into the mountains.

Everything went incredibly smoothly. Apart from the interference caused by the magnetic field disorder, they neither encountered the poisonous miasma in the mountains nor any ferocious wild beasts.

The mysterious Xuejia Mountain brought great surprise to He's mother. Since it has not experienced human development, many endangered and extinct species can be seen in the mountain.

However, Xuejiashan is too large. He's mother and other colleagues did not find any other exits from Xuejiashan, and they could not determine how large the entire Xuejiashan area is.

When it came time to go into the mountains the second year, He's mother was still full of confidence and took four colleagues into the mountains.

Luck did not seem to be on He's mother's side again. According to He's mother's plan, they only planned to go into the mountains for three to four days, but until the sixth day in the mountains, no one had come out of the mountains.

The research institute at the foot of Xuejia Mountain is very small. Apart from the people who entered the mountain, there are only two colleagues on duty.

They didn't dare to rush into Xuejiashan rashly, so they had to call the police first.

As soon as the police and rescue team entered the mountain, thick fog filled the mountain. The fog was a turbid gray-black color, which hindered their rescue operations.

It was fifteen days later that this incident reached He's father's ears. Everyone conceded that He's mother and other colleagues had no chance of survival.

"Listen, Xiaoyan, Daddy can't take care of you during this period. Daddy will send you to live with your aunt for a while." Father He said seriously, "Wait for Daddy to come back and pick you up, okay?"

He Kaiyan suddenly realized that his father seemed to be doing something very dangerous.

Does he also want to go into the mountains to find his mother?

However, Xuejiashan is so dangerous that even the locals cannot go deep into the valley. He's father is just a sailor who has just moved here and has been out to sea all year round. How can he escape from Xuejiashan unscathed?

However, when He Kaiyan saw the determined look on his father's face, he knew that his father had made up his mind.

"Dad, please let me stay here. I can take care of myself." He Kaiyan persuaded, "Besides, I spend most of my time in school now. If I go to my aunt's house, I won't be able to go to school."

Father He was extremely upset for a moment. He had no way to take care of his son, so sending him to his aunt's house was just a temporary solution he came up with.

He Kaiyan was not willing to live in someone else's house. In the past, when his father and mother were busy with work, he had lived under someone else's roof, and that feeling was really not pleasant.

Although He's father gave his aunt a generous living allowance, the only money that could be spent on He Kaiyan was his daily meals.

His aunt didn't abuse him, but she was very frugal. She strictly controlled the usage of every family member, from toilet paper to water and electricity.

You have to wash your face in a basin, and the dirty water is not thrown away immediately, but used to wash your hands, mop the floor, flush the toilet...

If the water meter at home went a few extra ticks, my aunt would fly into a rage and force others to admit their mistakes.

The TV at home is hardly ever turned on. Even on hot summer days, there is only half an hour of "fan time" every day.

He Kaiyan lived in his aunt's house for three months. He lost a lot of weight due to hunger and his eyesight also deteriorated.

Thinking of this, He's father no longer forced He Kaiyan to stay at his aunt's house. He had already made a second-hand preparation.

"Xiao Yan, this is Dad's credit card, with a monthly limit of 3,000 yuan. During this period, if you need to pay for meals or school, just swipe this card." He sighed and took out a stack of cash. "Here is 5,000 yuan. You are a sensible child. Dad believes that you will not spend money recklessly. If all this money is used up..."

He wrote down a phone number on a piece of paper and watched He Kaiyan save it in his phone.

"Is this Uncle Zhang's call?" He Kaiyan asked.

He's father nodded. The man's name was Zhang Xiangrong. He was his childhood friend for many years. After retiring from the army, he opened a pawn shop.

After they each got married, they kept in touch frequently. Whenever He's father was on vacation at home, Zhang Xiangrong would drive for more than ten hours every now and then to have a small gathering with He's father.

He is a rare man of integrity, and He's father feels at ease leaving his son to him.

He's father reminded him of many things again and again. After so many years, He Kaiyan could no longer remember what he said. He only remembered that his father seemed to have suddenly become much older.

It was not until late at night that He Kaiyan returned to his bedroom in a daze. He thought he would not be able to sleep, but as soon as he lay on the pillow, he fell asleep.

The next morning, when He Kaiyan got up, his father had already left.

He had just walked to school when he suddenly remembered that his schoolbag was still in the convenience store, and that extremely precious thing was in the bag.

"Hey, classmate, class is about to start, you should go back to the classroom!"

Just as He Kaiyan was about to go out, he was stopped by the security personnel of the school security department. He hurriedly explained: "I forgot to bring my schoolbag. I have to go home."

The security guard glanced at his watch and said seriously, "No, it's already class time. How can you, a student, go outside? It's too dangerous!"

He looked at He Kaiyan carefully. It was the time for students to enter the school, and He Kaiyan indeed did not have a backpack.

The security guard kindly advised: "If you forgot to bring your things, I can help you call your parents and ask them to bring them over."

He Kaiyan knew that his father should have just arrived near Xuejiashan. If he called him, he would definitely turn back.

Now that his mother is missing, he can't be so ignorant anymore.

"No need, uncle. I'll borrow my classmate's book first and go back to get it at noon," he said.

The security guard urged again: "That's fine, go back to the classroom quickly, or the teacher will scold you later."

He Kaiyan returned to the classroom absent-mindedly. All the students in the class had taken out their books and were ready to start morning reading.

Except, his deskmate Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo's schoolbag was in the drawer, but he was not at his seat. He Kaiyan came late today and didn't know whether Xiao Mo had come to school.

The sound of high heels hitting the floor was heard in the distance, and two minutes later, a red figure rushed into the classroom.

"Everyone, hand in your English books and open your dictation books. We will dictate words this morning."

He Kaiyan was stunned for a moment. His dictation book was left in the classroom, but he took the English book home yesterday.

He turned his head and saw Xiao Mo's English book on the top of the drawer. He could reach it with just one hand.

Just as he was hesitating, the English teacher's voice rang out again, "He Kaiyan, hurry up and hand in the book."

He had no choice but to pick up Xiao Mo's English book and put it on the podium.

He Kaiyan really had no intention of studying. Even though he opened the dictation book, he couldn't help but start to daydream.

He was wondering what kind of mountain Xuejiashan was and whether it was really full of dangers.

The temperature has been very suitable recently, so why did my mother get lost in the mountains?

However, there are abundant supplies in the mountains, and even if the food you bring is used up, you should be able to find food.

If there are wolves or black bears in the mountains, human power is totally unable to contend with them...

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of knocking on the table. The English teacher frowned. She obviously saw that there was not a single word written in He Kaiyan's notebook, so she reminded him.

The English teacher cleared his throat and said, "I will read the previous words again, and everyone can check for any omissions."

Taking advantage of the opportunity when she repeated it, He Kaiyan quickly wrote the word in the dictation book.

After morning self-study, He Kaiyan suddenly thought that he could ask for leave from the physical education teacher during the morning exercise time, then sneak out of school and get his schoolbag back.

However, he didn't plan to exploit the loophole he made yesterday again because it was too close to the playground and could be easily discovered.

Where else can you get away from school and still be private?

He Kaiyan caught a glimpse of the milk in his classmate's hand and quickly thought of a perfect place.

He Kaiyan has always had excellent grades, and he often participates in various school activities. His teachers have always had the impression that he is a "good boy."

So, he just covered his stomach and said he had some abdominal pain, and the physical education teacher quickly agreed to give him leave.

He Kaiyan pretended to go back to the classroom to rest, but actually went around to the school's small supermarket from another staircase.

This supermarket is next to the canteen. In order to facilitate the canteen's daily transportation of food, the supermarket specially opened a side door leading to outside the school.

The supermarket owner is not a school staff. According to He Kaiyan's observation, the owner often charges students more money and his purchase price is several dollars higher than that of ordinary supermarkets, which shows that he must be a person who loves to make money.

Knowing his boss's weakness, He Kaiyan came up with a plan.

He deliberately messed up his hair, splashed some water on his face, and ran into the supermarket in a hurry.

"Uncle, I am the student council member of Class 1, Grade 2. I would like to ask you, has our class paid the milk fee for this semester?" he asked loudly.

The boss saw his panic, rolled his eyes, and said with a smile: "Little classmate, don't worry, I'll help you check. I remember that there are a few classes that haven't paid their milk fees..."

The school where He Kaiyan works distributes milk and fruit to students every day, but the money is not deducted from the food expenses. Instead, each class life committee member first registers the list of students who need to order milk, and then collects the money and gives it to the supermarket owner.

"Um, uncle...can you hurry up a bit? The class is about to start, and the teacher said that the milk must be distributed before this class."

"Don't rush me, don't rush me. Your class's milk fee for one semester is at least 10,000 yuan. It's a lot of money. I have to check it slowly." The boss said slowly, "If there is no record, I can't give you milk, right?"

He took out a worn notebook from the drawer, flipped through a few pages, and muttered to himself from time to time.

"Oh, Class 1, Grade 2... Let me look for it, Grade 2..."

"Here, we handed in two classes last month, Class 7 and Class 5. Your class..."

"Hiss, got it! No, no, this seems to be from last year."

He Kaiyan pursed his lips, the color of his lips turned a little pale. If the sweat on his face just now was fake, he was actually sweating because of the heat.

The boss looked at it for seven or eight minutes, then slowly shook his head and said, "Little student, there is no payment record for your class. If you don't believe me, check it out for yourself."

He opened the payment record for the second grade of junior high school this school year, and it was clearly written on it that there were only six other classes, but no Class 1 of the second grade of junior high school.

He Kaiyan pretended not to notice that he was blocking the line with his fingers, and said, "Boss, can you please give me the milk today first? Otherwise, I will definitely be scolded by the teacher!"

He naturally knew that the teacher would not get angry over such a small matter and would at most just criticize him a few words.

He also knew that only by pretending to be a student who was extremely afraid of the teacher could he gradually lure out the greed in the boss's heart.

"No, I'm just a supermarket owner. To put it bluntly, I'm just working for your principal. If it's just one or two dollars, I'll give it to you. But if the accounts don't match for several hundred dollars, I'll be held accountable!"

The boss looked embarrassed, as if he was really considering the students but was helpless.


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