Everyone was looking at Kang Wei, including Dan Yujun.

Kang Wei didn’t take credit.

After understanding what had happened, everyone let Dan Yujun rest and left the room one by one.

Dan Yujun and the Gao brothers were starving, but they couldn’t eat heavily yet. They were on IV nutrition and rice porridge for now, recovering slowly.

Of course, they also needed plenty of sleep.

After seeing Teacher Dan awake, Gao Wang finally agreed to return to his hospital room.

Xia Xiaolan also left, meeting a blood-covered Shao Guangrong in the hallway.

“I heard she’s awake?”

“Yes, she’ll need time to recover, but she’ll heal. Shao Guangrong, what happened to you-“

Shao Guangrong couldn’t help boasting, “I went wolf hunting with Captain Xing and the others. With the county militia, villagers, and rescue team working together – Sister-in-law, do you know how many wolves we killed? It’ll take time for their pack to grow strong again. The winters will be peaceful for the next couple of years!”

Wolf meat wasn’t good eating – tough, dry, and hard to chew. When Captain Xing offered to share the wolf meat, Shao Guangrong declined, saying he’d rather pay for the wolf pelts and take them back to Beijing as rugs after processing.

He offered to give Xia Xiaolan two fur rugs, but she politely declined.

The thought of sleeping on wolf pelts made Xia Xiaolan uncomfortable. If she was cold, she could turn up the heating or add more cotton quilts… actually, sleeping next to Zhou Cheng kept her plenty warm.

Better not say that and upset the single Shao Guangrong. Xia Xiaolan had meant to refuse but then reconsidered and nodded:

“Alright, if you have extra, set them aside for me. I can give them to the elderly.”

The only elderly people she was close to were Grandpa Zhou, Grandmother Zhou, and Grandmother Yu.

Shao Guangrong happily agreed, then gestured toward the hospital room:

“Sister-in-law, what’s going on with those two?”

“You mean will Kang Wei and Senior Dan get back together?”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “I don’t know. I only know that after Senior Dan woke up, she wasn’t afraid or complaining at all. This dangerous experience hasn’t changed her mind about staying in the Northwest… and the county doesn’t want to let her go either.”

Xia Xiaolan felt that after this experience, Dan Yujun’s conviction might have grown even stronger.

Why would a 14-year-old boy dare to fight wolves?

Because of poverty – the wolves threatened his family’s most valuable possessions.

Until the Northwest’s poverty changed, children would continue dropping out of school.

Shao Guangrong frowned but quickly relaxed:

“It’s between Kang Wei and Xiao Dan. My worrying won’t help – they have to decide for themselves.”

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “Beyond matters of life and death, nothing is too serious. Whether they end up back together or not, as friends we should just offer our blessings.”

Xia Xiaolan stayed in the Northwest until the third day of the New Year before preparing to leave. That day, she met Dan Jingye.

It was the fourth day after his daughter’s rescue when Dan Jingye finally arrived in the Northwest.

He didn’t plan to stay long. After confirming Dan Yujun was safe, Dan Jingye prepared to leave – they couldn’t spare him from commanding the dam project. Holidays were a luxury for Dan Jingye and everyone else on the front lines of construction. Their breaks depended on project completion, not national holidays.

Facing his daughter Dan Yujun, Dan Jingye directly asked what everyone wanted to know:

“What are your plans after discharge? Your two-year teaching commitment is over.”

Only Dan Jingye could ask such a question.

It was normal for a father to care about his daughter’s career plans, and Dan Jingye was someone who wouldn’t waste a moment. To him, idling away time was despicable. If Dan Yujun said she wanted to rest for two months before working, Dan Jingye would probably find it strange.

Who could rest for two months?

Not even students and teachers with summer vacation.

Students had homework, review, and preview; teachers had lesson planning and self-improvement during breaks… this was Dan Jingye’s understanding of “summer vacation.”

But his daughter had been missing for six days next door, wasn’t even discharged yet, still lying in a hospital bed, and Dan Jingye had such high expectations – Xia Xiaolan was amazed.

Dan Yujun was used to her father’s ways.

“The county wants me to stay and work here.”

“Working in government?”

Dan Jingye frowned. He disliked such work and dealing with people. Technical workers lived purer lives – even if, like him, their careers had ups and downs, Dan Jingye didn’t care!

As long as his technical skills were solid, as long as he could solve dam problems, no amount of setbacks mattered. They would ultimately need him back at the dam!

Technical skills provided lifelong security and could solve problems immediately.

Dan Jingye had hoped his daughter Dan Yujun would follow in his footsteps – if not building dams, then bridges, since she studied civil engineering… but he said nothing. He had his convictions, and Yujun had hers.

“It’s up to you. Don’t regret your choice. Yujun, Father needs to return to the dam-“

Cheng Qurong sat in her chair, a mocking smile on her face.

But Dan Yujun understood, “Work is important. Go back to the dam. I’ll be discharged soon.”

Dan Jingye came and left quickly – Xia Xiaolan had never met anyone like him.

She’d heard Dan Jingye was named a National Model Worker before age 30 – he certainly had that dedication.

Kang Wei hadn’t spoken the whole time, not even raising an eyebrow when Dan Yujun indicated she would stay in the Northwest.

Dan Yujun finally requested:

“Mother, Xiaolan, could you leave for a while? I need to talk with Kang Wei.”

Xia Xiaolan checked her watch, “It’s almost noon. I’ll take Aunt Cheng to the cafeteria and bring something back for you both.”

Leaving the room, Cheng Qurong looked back worriedly.

Then she gave Xia Xiaolan a bitter smile:

“The halo is for others to see, but life is your own. I admire Old Dan – he’s dedicated and upright, but… I fear Yujun will follow his path.”

If she could choose again, if the organization introduced her to potential matches, she wouldn’t choose Dan Jingye.

Kang Wei was such a good young man – Yujun would surely be happily married to him.

But that would be Yujun’s happiness, not necessarily Kang Wei’s.

Cheng Qurong was full of worry.

Walking and talking with Cheng Qurong, Xia Xiaolan said:

“Aunt Cheng, you’re worrying unnecessarily. Both Senior Dan and Kang Wei are adults, even financially independent without family support. I think whether they get back together, how they might relate to each other, or how their future turns out – these are all their own choices, right?”

Dan Yujun could choose to stay in the Northwest, dedicating her life to work, as long as she wouldn’t regret giving up love when she was old.

Of course, separation from Kang Wei didn’t mean lifelong loneliness – who said Dan Yujun couldn’t find a like-minded partner?

In this world, there was a Dan Jingye, a Dan Yujun, and there would be others like them.

Kang Wei could also choose – he could let Dan Yujun go, or accept her ideals.

They were adults who could take responsibility for their choices – why should Xia Xiaolan worry?