Chapter 139: Mission Accomplished

Seeing the wolf pack finally retreat, Tian Shukuan still didn't dare believe it; after waiting ten minutes, he finally dared to run out.

"Da Kui, stop turning, the wolves are gone!"

Tian Shukuan shouted, but it had no effect; Niu Da Kui was still flailing the two dead wolves like a fan, whooshing.

But the obvious footsteps were somewhat feigned.

Tian Shukuan tried to stop him a few times, and seeing it was useless, he had to run toward the top of Shan Yakou.

"Group Leader Lu, are you okay?"

Up to this moment, Tian Shukuan was still in shock.

Such a huge Alpha Wolf was actually killed by Lu Cheng; he had been watching the whole dangerous encounter.

Anyone who reacted a bit slower would have been torn apart by its sharp claws.

No wonder the Railway Department specifically assigned Lu Cheng to escort him; with anyone else, they wouldn't have gotten out of this forest today.

Lu Cheng waved his hand: "I'm fine, lead the horse down."

Lu Cheng then shouldered the Alpha Wolf and returned to the valley floor.

Adding the one Da Kui had killed earlier, there were now five wolves in total.

These are spoils; I won't even mention the wolf meat, especially the wolf skin—cut it off and take it to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative for cash.

He tossed the Alpha Wolf onto the Snow Plow and said, "Da Kui, stop flailing, go carry the other wolves over; when we reach the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, we'll exchange them for money so you can buy food…"

After Lu Cheng finished speaking, the whooshing wind could still be heard as he flailed.

Straightening his back, clapping his hands, Lu Cheng raised his voice: "Da Kui, I told you to stop flailing, didn't you hear!"

Niu Da Kui was almost unable to stand steady, clearly due to dizziness; a normal person would have given up long ago, I really don't know how he kept going.

"Leader, you said to keep flailing until you come back and call stop; you have to call stop, then I can stop."

Lu Cheng inhaled, so angry he wanted to step forward and kick, but he stubbornly didn't dare get close.

The two dead wolves rolled around; anyone who approached would be knocked down.

"Stop, stop, stop! That's enough!"

"Alright!"

Niu Da Kui finally stopped, swayed his body, took two steps in place, but still couldn't hold on and, dizzy, sat down hard on the ground.

"Leader, I'm dizzy, the world is spinning."

Not being dizzy would be odd; Lu Cheng shook his head, saw Tian Shukuan lead the horse down, and went up to check.

Those wolves bit hard; besides multiple wounds, the rear of the horse was missing a chunk of flesh.

"Comrade Tian Shukuan, this Snow Plow can no longer be sat on; looks like we'll have to walk."

The horse was injured, quite seriously, and couldn't keep pulling the three of them.

This would inevitably waste time.

But after just experiencing life and death, Tian Shukuan's temperament had changed a lot.

"It's okay, Group Leader Lu, we've done our best; even if we can't deliver on time, it's not your fault, and any responsibility I'll bear alone."

Seeing Tian Shukuan's change, Lu Cheng glanced unexpectedly, confirming that people must go through things.

Only Niu Da Kui was still sitting there, counting stars in the air like a child, which was fine.

This time the physical exertion was considerable, but luckily there was wolf meat; even Tian Shukuan forced himself to endure the nausea and ate a lot of raw meat.

After all, from now on they'd have to rely on their legs.

After rearming, the three braved the cold wind, heads down, moving forward.

The snow on the road left footprints, some deep, some shallow.

After walking and resting, at nine a. m. they finally emerged from the forest.

At this moment the three were exhausted to the bone.

Around ten o'clock, they met lumber workers from a nearby forest farm on the road.

The workers saw the blood on the horse, frozen into strings of ice, and looking at the Snow Plow piled with five wolf carcasses, quickly understood what had happened.

It was clear they had encountered a wolf pack in the forest and gone through a fierce battle.

In places like the old forest ahead, even workers climbing to cut trees must bring guns and be extremely cautious; there are not only wolves but also tigers, black bears, and other large beasts.

Seeing the three survive amazed the workers greatly.

Exhausted to the limit, they hurriedly took the three into the forest farm.

The sour cabbage stew with vermicelli and fatty pork slices was, compared to the pungent raw wolf meat, countless times tastier.

All three ate until their bellies swelled; Lu Cheng didn't eat for nothing—he stripped the wolf skins and gave all the wolf meat to the forest farm.

Though wolf meat isn't tasty, it's still meat; once roasted, the flavor is acceptable.

As for the two wolf fangs from the Alpha Wolf, Lu Cheng removed them; they can ward off evil and ensure safety.

Upon learning they were on a mission to Spring City, the Factory Director dispatched a dog‑pulled Snow Plow to take them there.

The horse was temporarily left at the forest farm, and a veterinarian from the nearby settlement was asked to bandage its wounds.

After that there was no delay; after a brief half‑hour rest, a forest‑farm worker led the three to resume the journey.

Believe it or not, nine dogs pulling a Snow Plow ran faster than the horse.

Without having to walk hard, the three's stamina gradually recovered; perhaps being survivors after the calamity, Tian Shukuan and Da Kui were so happy they started howling again.

The road ahead was flat, with no further incidents; when they arrived at the One Steel Plant in Spring City, it was only four p. m.

It can be said they completed the escort mission early and perfectly.

The Snow Plow stopped at the steel plant gate, Lu Cheng jumped down: "I tell you, Comrade Tian Shukuan, this treatment is unacceptable; we risked our lives to bring the data, and there's not even anyone to greet us."

Tian Shukuan also knew the trip had been very hard: "Sorry, Group Leader Lu, Zheng Changzhang surely didn't expect us to arrive early."

Lu Cheng was just joking, but didn't expect Tian Shukuan to seem slighted; after all, arriving on time owed much to Lu Cheng's merit.

The Security Department was notified, and Zheng Changzhang of One Steel Plant arrived in a hurry with his men.

"Section Chief Tian, I didn't expect you so quickly—thanks for your effort."

Lu Cheng was rather surprised; he hadn't expected Tian Shukuan, who wasn't old, to already be a Section Chief.

The two shook hands excitedly, and Zheng Changzhang said, "Thanks for your hard work. I'm waiting for your repair data; if it doesn't arrive soon, the entire Steel Factory workshop will have to shut down, and the loss is unimaginable."

Tian Shukuan hurriedly handed over the data, which Zheng Changzhang passed to the technician, who immediately began repairing the equipment.

The data required study, so Zheng Changzhang wanted Tian Shukuan to take part as well—more hands, more strength—to work through the night repairing the equipment.

But contrary to expectations, Tian Shukuan, who had been eager to deliver the data, suddenly became unhurried and began recounting the incidents along the way.

Zheng Changzhang listened beside him, sometimes surprised, sometimes tense; in the end, he frowned and looked toward Lu Cheng not far away.

Leaving Tian Shukuan behind, he walked over, and when he saw several Wolf Skins on the Snow Plow, he was genuinely shocked.

He immediately clasped Lu Cheng's hands and said, "Group Leader Lu, so you were the one escorting Section Chief Tian here—thank you. On behalf of the Steel Factory, I thank you."

Lu Cheng smiled, "Zheng Changzhang, no need for formalities. Director Tang arranged it; this is my duty. If you want to express thanks, thank the comrade worker who came from the forest farm. He traveled a long way; we should at least give him two packs of cigarettes."

Zheng Changzhang slapped his head and immediately ordered, "Quickly, go to my office and fetch a few boxes of Da Qianmen cigarettes."

The worker waved his hand and hurriedly declined, "No, no, I'll go back right away; no need to trouble you."

But Lu Cheng held him back; the worker, seeing that it was still daylight, was determined to return to the forest farm.

Lu Cheng didn't want to keep him any longer, but the cigarettes had to be taken.

After checking with Zheng Changzhang, they learned the train was stranded at Gongzhuling and would take several more hours before it could run; arriving at Spring City was estimated to be tomorrow afternoon.

Coincidentally, Lu Cheng also needed a break.

To thank Lu Cheng for the escort, Zheng Changzhang specially assigned the two of them to the Steel Factory Guesthouse.

In the Guesthouse, Lu Cheng looked at the five Wolf Skins, planning to go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative tomorrow, but he didn't know how much they could sell for.