Captain Xing arrived with a map.

“We’ve searched this area, and villagers organized searches on the other side. I believe Teacher Yuan and the two students encountered wolves midway and were forced deeper into the desert.”

The Gobi Desert was vast. While the route between school and village crossed through desert terrain, it was only a section, not the entirety.

The challenge in searching lay in the desert’s disorienting nature.

How many people would it take to conduct a thorough ground search?

But spreading people too thin was dangerous – before finding Yuan Yujun and the two Gao children, the rescue personnel could meet with accidents themselves. The hungry wolf pack was prowling, and one or two people facing them wouldn’t stand a chance even with hunting rifles. Safe rescue operations in the winter desert required teams of able-bodied men with sufficient weapons and ammunition.

“Captain Xing, you’re the professional. Tell me honestly, what are the chances Yuan is still alive?”

Kang Wei desperately needed some hope.

Captain Xing didn’t sugarcoat it. Everyone in the room wanted Teacher Yuan alive, himself included, but he decided to be truthful:

“We found Teacher Yuan’s hat in the desert on the second day after her disappearance. I believe Teacher Yuan and the two students encountered wolves – there were signs of wolf activity at the scene. But they should still have been alive then, at least not killed by wolves immediately. There was blood at the scene, but it might not have been human – these students have special circumstances, they were herding sheep to school! Wolves wouldn’t attack humans first, they’d go for the sheep. Also, as far as I know, the Gao brothers had brought their hunting rifle to school, so the three of them had at least one rifle for self-defense.”

Captain Xing found wolf tracks where he discovered the hat. They could have followed these tracks, but the desert weather is unpredictable – even in winter, strong winds can quickly cover trails!

Though they might have escaped being killed by wolves, injuries could lead to infection.

With the desert’s extreme temperature differences between day and night, especially in the coldest winter, freezing to death was also possible.

Captain Xing felt the situation was grim. It was now the fourth night since Yuan Yujun and the students disappeared – the longer time passed, the lower their survival chances.

Due to the county’s high regard for Yuan Yujun, rescue efforts were already substantial, including a helicopter that had searched the desert during calm weather, but found nothing.

So Captain Xing suspected that after being driven deep into the desert by wolves, Yuan Yujun and the students met with another accident.

Of course, saying this would worry everyone in the room, so he only revealed half his thoughts.

But Captain Xing underestimated his audience – from Xia Xiaolan to Gu Zhengqing, from Kang Wei to Shao Guangrong, none were fools.

Even without him finishing, they could guess the rest.

They just refused to accept the worst outcome.

After a long silence, Kang Wei gathered his spirits and studied the map Captain Xing brought:

“We can’t skip the areas already searched. They might be injured, unconscious, or unable to respond to rescuers. These areas need another search! If we can’t find them from the ground, we’ll search from the air – one helicopter isn’t enough.”

“But we already have considerable manpower, the county is taking this very seriously…”

Captain Xing defended quietly.

The county truly was concerned – if Xia Xiaolan and Kang Wei had arrived two hours earlier, they would have met the county chief directing the search.

Such a large operation wouldn’t be mounted for just two missing students – clearly, the county valued Teacher Yuan’s talent. It was also about setting an example – if a volunteer teacher ended up as wolf food in the desert, what university student would dare come here in the future?

“We’ll add more rescue personnel.”

Xia Xiaolan and Gu Zhengqing exchanged glances, both seeing determination in each other’s eyes.

Kang Wei also promised more manpower. Seeing their resolve, Captain Xing stopped objecting.

These people weren’t ordinary citizens. No need to be absolute – if Xia Xiaolan’s group had other methods, that would be best. Captain Xing also desperately wanted to find Yuan Yujun and the Gao brothers.

Teacher Yuan was a valuable talent, and the students were two precious lives.

The brothers only had their grandmother – if something happened to these children, the old woman wouldn’t survive either. That would be four lives lost!

Captain Xing didn’t wait long – reinforcements arrived past 3 AM, bringing three more helicopters.

Captain Xing was overjoyed, “Now we can search in four directions simultaneously!”

Kang Wei wanted to join the helicopter search. No one discouraged him this time, and even Shao Guangrong boarded another helicopter.

Though night searching had poor visibility, considering Yuan Yujun might be actively seeking help, the chance of spotting firelight from low altitude wasn’t small… Even if Yuan Yujun couldn’t make a fire for rescue signals, time was critical – the longer they waited, the lower the survival chances.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t board a helicopter, preferring to coordinate from the ground.

After Kang Wei’s group left, she asked Gu Zhengqing: “Uncle, has Senior Yuan’s family been notified?”

Gu Zhengqing nodded:

“We informed her family before notifying you. They’re on their way and should arrive tomorrow morning.”

Xia Xiaolan certainly couldn’t sleep that night.

Around six in the morning, a jeep arrived at the village, and a woman stepped out.

She resembled Yuan Yujun somewhat.

Her eyes were red, her expression sorrowful, but her back was straight, emanating a spirit of strength.

This was Yuan Yujun’s mother.

Xia Xiaolan looked behind her but saw no one except the driver.

“You must be Little Xia. Yujun mentioned you. I came alone – Yujun’s father couldn’t leave the dam site.”

What kind of work was so important that one couldn’t leave even when their daughter was missing?

Xia Xiaolan didn’t understand Yuan Yujun’s family situation, and xneither did Kang Wei, who wasn’t present anyway.

But Gu Zhengqing had seen Yuan Yujun’s background check.

“Student Yuan’s father is Comrade Yuan Jingye, our country’s hydroelectric construction expert.”

Yuan Jingye!

Xia Xiaolan felt immediate respect.

Yuan Jingye truly lived up to his name’s meaning of ‘dedicated to career,’ and was the country’s leading dam construction expert.

Now Yuan Yujun’s prioritizing greater love over personal love made sense – it was her family’s tradition. Yuan Jingye was just such a person… How did Xia Xiaolan know? Yuan Jingye’s name appeared in professional textbooks – Civil Engineering and Architecture’s boundaries weren’t clear, with overlapping courses.

Yuan Jingye didn’t write textbooks; his name appeared because of the numerous dams he helped build – his masterpieces.

He was now Chief Engineer of a major Chinese water conservancy and hydropower bureau.

Yuan Jingye often said, “As long as I can move, I must go to the site, to the dam!”