April 3, Tuesday. Clear skies.
The third day of the third lunar month. An auspicious day to start work or open a business.
Li Long drove the Jeep to pick up Director Wei and Li Xiangqian first, then went to pick up Ma Xiaoyan and Ye Laya.
A large truck followed the Jeep, carrying an entire truckload of water pipes.
They would use what they had first and worry about whether it was enough later.
Director Wei had chosen the date and told Li Long a week in advance. Li Long thought the timing was about right, too. He only hoped it would not rain that day.
Fortunately, the weather had been sunny these past few days, with a little wind.
The road into the mountains had dried, and the mountain snow had all melted. Tender grass had sprouted on the turf around Harimu's Winter Camp. It was not very thick yet, but it was pleasing to the eye.
The mountain pines had turned green again. Clusters of tender new needles had just emerged on the old branches, their color distinctly different from the branches, giving them a rather striking look.
The first flowers to bloom were wild tulips and dandelions, in shades of pale yellow and buttery yellow, with a little blood red-the stripe down the middle of the wild tulips was that color.
Li Long drove, with Director Wei in the passenger seat and Ma Xiaoyan and Ye Laya in the back.
Li Long had originally wanted Li Xiangqian to sit in the back, since it could seat three people, but Li Xiangqian insisted on riding in the truck's passenger seat, to accompany the load, as he put it.
Li Long did not insist. He drove the Jeep ahead, leading the way to Harimu's Winter Camp.
Li Long