Chapter 8: If you keep thinking about it, there will be a response
All the hopes that I thought had been abandoned will eventually bloom again, and all the dreams that I thought had been betrayed will eventually shine brightly.
Lu Shuang 01
Because of a special report on forest vegetation protection, I stayed in a remote mountainous area for half a month, living and eating with forest rangers together with photographer Xiao Wang. Every day, I recorded the illegal logging of vegetation and the conflicts between the Environmental Protection Bureau and businessmen who destroyed forests to build factories.
To be honest, this trip has benefited me a lot. I used to be obsessed with dealing with people, but I think if I can thoroughly understand human nature and gain a firm foothold in society, I will be able to live well.
The focus of my life has always been on myself, because I don’t have the energy to care about others, let alone the natural environment. I used to think that those environmentalists were a group of idealists. When it comes to survival and protecting the environment, everyone will choose survival first. Environmental protection seems to be something that is particularly far away from us.
However, during this trip to the mountains, I felt distressed when I saw the old trees that had grown for hundreds of years being illegally cut down, the yellow muddy surface of the lush hillsides, the increasingly barren forests, and the decreasing number of animals. This is a feeling I have never had before, but now it has taken root in my heart.
In addition to patrolling with the forest rangers every day, when I return to my residence, I begin to look up the information needed for various reports, organizing it as I interview.
Seeing me as if I had been injected with chicken blood, Xiao Wang couldn't help but sigh: "A Shuang, you are working so hard, I almost thought the person who followed me was not you, but Yu Nansheng."
Xiao Wang's words seemed to wake me up. I have always relied on my cleverness and talent to look down on Yu Nansheng's seriousness and hard work. But perhaps in Shen Yuxi's eyes, what I lack is this serious drive.
I still feel dissatisfied when I think about how he once scolded me for taking shortcuts. Now when I think about it, it’s really a bit funny.
Because it is deep in the mountains, the power supply is very unstable and sometimes there will be power outages at night.
The forest ranger Uncle Li lent me an oil lamp, and I used it to look up materials and take notes, as seriously as a primary school student.
Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.
I put down my pen and asked cautiously, "Who?"
I only heard a familiar male voice answer: "I am Xia Xingfeng."
I was stunned for a moment, a little surprised.
This place is hundreds of kilometers away from the city. Why is he coming here for no reason?
Seeing that I didn't open the door, he added with a wry smile, "I'm really Xia Xingfeng. I went out camping with my classmates today, and I heard from your colleagues at the newspaper that they sent you to the forest farm to do an interview. We couldn't finish the grilled food, and since you were nearby, I sent it over to share with you."
Actually, after we met in the hospital, we contacted each other more frequently because of that case. He also knew which newspaper I was interning at, and he would invite me out for dinner from time to time, saying that he wanted to repay me for my help.
I don't dislike him, and I think his reasons for repaying my kindness are valid, so after a few interactions, we have become good friends.
To be honest, I once thought that I would never make friends in my life. Yu Nansheng was more like a rival . I gradually grew up in the competition with her. Although I no longer hate her, I still compare myself with her unconsciously. As for Shen Yuxi... I wanted to get close to him, but he always kept a distance from me.
Speaking of which, the only friend I can get along with without any worries is Xia Xingfeng.
It's rare that he still thinks of me when he goes camping.
I stood up and opened the door for him, then took the lunch , "You and your classmates are so free to come all the way here to camp."
Xia Xingfeng smiled slightly, helped me open the box, and then said, "They didn't want to go so far, it was my suggestion."
I picked up a piece of roasted pork belly and put it in my mouth. Their skills were good and it was roasted very fragrantly. I asked, "Why did you suggest coming here?"
Xia Xingfeng paused, his eyes dodging, and two barely perceptible blushes appeared on his cheeks: "I thought you might be bored here, so I came to take a look."
Hearing this, I was stunned for a second, and stopped picking up the meat. After a long while, I coughed twice and said, "I'm doing well here. I'm living a very fulfilling life. Look, there's still so much information I haven't read yet."
Xia Xingfeng's lips curled up into an imperceptible bitter smile, then he returned to normal and acted as if he was very interested in what I was doing.
"Are you looking for information? Do you need help? I know a little about environmental protection, maybe I can help you."
I shook my head. "No, I'm almost done. I can pack up and go back to the office tomorrow. You should go back and rest first. It's getting late."
Xia Xingfeng didn't leave. He pursed his lips, seeming a little unwilling: "I just want to do something to help you..."
"These barbecues are a big help to me. I've been eating vegetarian food here so much that I'm almost like a nun. Thank you for helping me eat meat." I said as I picked up another chicken wing and continued, "If you are doing all this now to repay me for helping you, I don't think it's necessary. I'm not as kind as you think. I just didn't like those people at the time."
Xia Xingfeng looked at me and suddenly fell silent.
