Over seven hours later, the pickup truck drove into Chuncheng County in Liangzhou City. The sky had already grown dark.
Zhao Yuan's home was in a small mountain village within Chuncheng County.
"Let's go to the county high school first." Zhao Yuan took on the role of navigator, directing Huang Jie to the school.
His younger sister, Zhao Ling, was a freshman at the county high school, the same school Zhao Yuan had graduated from.
Upon arriving, Zhao Yuan found the main gate shut tight. The school's gatekeeper, an elderly man, recognized him. "Zhao Yuan? Here to pick up your sister? School let out for the holiday yesterday."
Zhao Yuan slapped his forehead. 'I've gotten stupid from excitement.' He turned, went back to the car, and grabbed a carton of cigarettes for the gatekeeper. "Uncle Zhang, here's an early New Year's greeting for you."
