Carrying a large hiking backpack and dragging his suitcase, Chen Fei stood there for a while, lost in thought. After studying the electronic map,
He prepared to set off according to the walking navigation. Just as he lifted his foot, he heard someone shouting.
"Hey, this road is mine, this tree is mine;
If you want to pass, leave your toll!"
"Robbery! Men to the left, women to the right.
and those who are neither men nor women, stand still!"
"Seriously, this is a robbery!"
Then came a burst of laughter.
Chen Fei looked in the direction of the sound and saw a row of small heads lined up on a ridge not far away, winking and sizing him up.
It turned out to be a group of mischievous kids causing trouble.
"Ali, Amir, Mauri, you guys are up to your old tricks again! There was a gyrocopter sound just now. Who's coming?"
A pleasant female voice came over, and the heads of the naughty kids disappeared in the blink of an eye, scattering like mice before a cat.
"Hi! Hello!"
Chen Fei greeted them loudly.
"Are you...the new teacher?"
A young woman appeared in Chen Fei's field of vision.
Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was standing gracefully on the other side of the mountain ridge.
"No, I'm not a teacher." Chen Fei quickly waved his hand.
pointed to the direction indicated on the electronic map, and continued,
"I'm going to Aircrew Base 911."
The Aircrew Base 911, the one that warned about the "three-wheeled" two-seat rotorcraft on the public radio channel, was his destination.
"Isn't it?"
The girl was clearly a little disappointed, but she quickly composed herself, looked Chen Fei up and down,
and asked,
"My name is Shen Fei, Shen as in water, Fei as in fragrant grass and trees."
In the Hindu Kush Mountains, the most common people are the native Patan people, or the Ta and Taimur people. Strangers from the Northeast are the rarest, even more so than ethnic minorities.
"Hello, I'm Chen Fei, Chen as in east of the ear, Fei as in non-essence."
Having traveled thousands of miles to the Hindu Kush Mountains, Chen Fei's mood immediately improved upon unexpectedly encountering a fellow countryman.
At least here, he was no longer alone.
Moreover, both their names sounded like "fēi," which could be considered a kind of fate.
"That's right, fellow villager, it's nice to meet you, Chen Fei!"
The young woman trudged over the ridge towards Chen Fei.
Fellow villagers met, tears welled up in their eyes, and a sense of kinship arose spontaneously.
Her surname was Chen, her given name Fei, she spoke fluently and without stuttering, her pronunciation was perfect, textbook-perfect, and she had black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin—she was most likely a
fellow villager. Remembering that she had mentioned a "new teacher" and connecting it to those brats pretending to be mountain bandits, Chen Fei tentatively asked, "Shen, Miss Shen, you... teach here?"
Shen Fei nodded, a sweet smile on her face, and said, "That's right, I'm a primary school teacher here, teaching all subjects, and also the principal, school doctor, cook, and nanny—I have to do everything! This isn't the place to talk; come with me!"
She immediately led the way for Chen Fei.
Chen Fei glanced at the girl; her youthful face bore the marks of the mountain winds and sunshine.
A young woman teaching in this remote mountainous region inhabited by the Patan and Ta people—even a momentary impulse and a surge of enthusiasm wouldn't be enough to sustain her.
Chen Fei remarked with feeling, "It's truly remarkable!"
Some things have to be done, don't they?"
Shen Fei replied without complaint, remaining remarkably optimistic.
Just then, the two crossed the mountain ridge and saw a large courtyard enclosed by cement and stone walls.
Several simple buildings housed both classrooms and dormitories.
The front yard had a cement floor with a basketball hoop and two cement ping-pong tables. The backyard had several vegetable plots, thriving with greenery, interspersed with various trees. Surprisingly, there was also a greenhouse nearby, next to which were sheep pens and poultry sheds, their bleating and clucking creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
The light of civilization shines upon the world, but not every corner is equally bright. There are always some remote places, as if time has reversed, looking like they were a hundred years ago, seemingly isolated from the world.
Shen Fei pointed to the carefree, playful children and said with a sense of relief, "Look, they're here too. I'm not alone."
These adorable children were her motivation to persevere. They were a bit mischievous and naughty, but during class, they all listened attentively, making her efforts worthwhile.
"Besides those students, are you all alone?"
Chen Fei gazed at the lively farmhouse courtyard.
In this desolate mountain wilderness, the courtyard was like a paradise.
"I'm alone!"
Shen Fei nodded firmly, then said, "Although it's not very convenient, the locals are very helpful. Oh, and there's also the 911 Aircrew Base. I often go there to buy things, and they'll help me bring some things back. Are you still going to 911? It's getting dark soon, and the road might be difficult to travel. There are also wolves and bandits. Why don't you stay here for the night, and I'll find a student to take you there tomorrow?"
"Wolves? Bandits?"
Chen Fei couldn't help but widen his eyes. How could these students and a female teacher possibly stop those vicious guys?
Shen Fei stuck out her tongue playfully and said, "Don't worry, I don't have anything valuable here. Bandits never come here; they won't rob a school. As for wolves, the locals hunt them regularly and leave the carcasses nearby, so the wolves won't dare come near. Besides, I have a gun—a Type 95, a second-hand replica, but it's pretty good."
The Type 95 rifle, with its relatively low recoil, is a bit old, but it's indeed suitable for women who aren't very strong. Its lethality and accuracy are guaranteed, making it more than enough to deal with emergencies like bandits and wild beasts.
Shen Fei looked Chen Fei up and down and said, "Have you thought it through? I still have a spare room!"
"Thank you, but no thanks. I'm in a hurry."
Chen Fei shook his head. He had wasted too much time on the road and had to register today, or the consequences would be severe.
"Alright!"
Shen Fei didn't try to stop him again but waved to the few little boys running around in the courtyard.
"Amir, bring me my gun, two magazines, and a bag of bread."
Amir was one of the mischievous kids who had just tried to verbally rob Chen Fei.
"Okay, teacher!"
One of the little boys, his heels swaying, rushed into a house and soon came running out, beaming, carrying a gleaming black Type 95 automatic rifle, two full magazines, and a bulging plastic bag.
Chen Fei stared blankly.
Following his gaze, Shen Fei guessed what Chen Fei was surprised about, smiled, and said, "Every household here has a gun. Guns and ammunition are necessities. The kids have handled guns since they were little; they know their limits. Don't worry!"
In Chen Fei and Shen Fei's hometown, the thought of a minor brazenly carrying a weapon of death in public was unthinkable.
Taking the Type 95 assault rifle and magazine from the little boy Amir, who ran up to her, Shen Fei handed it to Chen Fei, saying, "Here, consider it a loan." It can be used for self-defense, and it's also a token. You should know how to use it, right? This is the safety, this is the fire selector, and this is the trigger. Remember the safety; be careful of accidental discharge. Take the bread with you on the road; I made it myself, and it tastes very good."
"Yes, I know how to use it, thank you. And what about you?"
Chen Fei immediately reacted, hurriedly taking the gun and magazine. The gun and magazine together held 90 rounds of ammunition, enough to handle even small groups of bandits or wolf packs, ensuring personal safety.
"I also have a small revolver and a few hand grenades."
The kind-hearted fellow villager Shen Fei shrugged.
As the only school within a hundred miles, it was actually quite safe, especially since the local people were known for their toughness; they wouldn't stand idly by in an emergency.
The Type 95 assault rifle obtained from the 911 Aircrew Base wasn't just for self-defense; it was also a memento. Seeing it was like seeing his hometown;
Otherwise, there wouldn't be a small peachwood fish hanging from the muzzle.
There are plenty of old, broken AKs locally, but the originals are nowhere to be found. Over the decades, internal stress has dissipated, causing deformation in the rifle.
They're mostly various unknown, homemade models. Because the technical requirements are low, this old rifle is remarkably resilient.
As for those who are into nostalgia, accurate replicas are almost nonexistent, and this one with a peach wood fish on the muzzle is unique.
Locals know who it belongs to just by looking at it.
"Thank you, Teacher Shen. I'll return the rifle to you as soon as possible."
Chen Fei thanked him again.
He had to remember the favor of being lent a self-defense weapon on their first meeting.