After completing the necessary procedures and presenting the introduction letter, Li Guoqiang managed to secure two rooms in the guesthouse, one for Li Shuying, and one for the two brothers.
The rooms were modest, furnished with little more than narrow wooden beds, a small table, and a washbasin set in the corner. The walls were plain, the windows simple, and the furnishings worn with use. Yet to Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo, who had grown up in a village where even basic necessities were scarce, this place felt almost luxurious.
Clean bedding, electric lighting, and even a thermos flask placed neatly on the table, such things were enough to fill them with quiet amazement.
After settling their belongings, the four of them gathered in the brothers' room. Li Guoqiang sat on the edge of the bed, his posture relaxed but his gaze attentive as he looked at his children.
"Well then," he said, his voice steady, carrying both warmth and authority, "tell me properly, what brings you here all of a sudden?"
Li Jianmin immediately grinned. "To see you, of course, Father," he said without hesitation. "And we also brought gifts for you."
"Gifts?" Li Guoqiang repeated, his brows knitting slightly in surprise.
Li Shuying nodded gently. Without another word, she stepped forward and opened the one of the cloth bundle they had brought. One by one, she carefully took out several ceramic jars, placing them neatly on the table.
"These are all prepared at home," she said softly, a faint smile on her lips. "Mother and I made them together."
She pointed at jars one by one as she spoke. "Salted eggs… oil-sealed shredded chicken… dried rabbit meat… steamed cornmeal cakes… dried sweet potato slices… and pickled greens." then added, "All of this is for you, Father."
Li Guoqiang froze. For a moment, he thought he had misheard. "Eggs? Chicken? Rabbit meat?" he repeated slowly, his voice filled with disbelief.
He reached out almost instinctively and opened the jars one by one. As the lids were lifted, a rich aroma filled the small room, warm, savory, and deeply inviting. The scent of preserved oil, cured meat, and simple home cooking blended together, striking directly at the senses.
His throat tightened. It had been months, perhaps longer, since he had last eaten something like this. Even within the military, supplies had grown increasingly strained. The drought affecting several regions had made food scarce everywhere.
Priority was always given to the front lines, and those stationed in rear units often had to make do with limited rations despite their grueling daily training. Meat had become a rare luxury.
For a fleeting moment, his mouth watered. But the next instant his expression hardened. He looked up at his children, his gaze settling on their thin frames and the subtle signs of hardship they could not hide.
A pang struck his heart. "What are you doing?" he said sternly, though his voice carried a trace of pain. "Why bring such things to me?" He closed the jars firmly. "You should keep these for yourselves, and for your mother." His tone grew more serious. "And what about your elder brother? He will sit for the college entrance examination within next three months. He needs proper nourishment. These things should be for him."
He shook his head. "Take them back and tell him to focus on his studies and strive to become a university student. That is the proper path."
Li Shuying immediately stepped forward. "No," she said firmly yet gently. "We have enough at home. These are prepared especially for you, Father. You should keep them."
Li Guoqiang looked at her, his expression softening slightly. "Silly child, your father eats in the military canteen every day. We are not short of food here." He paused, then added quietly, "But you… your situation is different."
His voice lowered, carrying a hint of self-reproach. "I know how difficult things are back home. Your father… is useless in certain matters." His fingers tightened slightly at his side. "How can I take more from you?"
At those words, the three siblings exchanged glances. A subtle, almost mischievous smile appeared on their faces.
Li Jianmin was the first to speak. "Father," he said, unable to hide his excitement, "you don't know, things at home have changed."
Li Guoqiang frowned. "Changed? What do you mean?"
Without hesitation, Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo began to explain everything.
They spoke of how Li Shuying had retrieved his allowance passbook from his stepmother, ensuring that the funds now rightfully returned to their household. They spoke of how she had established connections with people who had access to food supplies, enabling them not only to secure provisions but also to earn money.
Their words came quickly, filled with admiration and barely concealed pride.
As Li Guoqiang listened, his expression gradually shifted. From confusion to disbelief to stunned silence. His gaze slowly turned toward Li Shuying, his expression still caught between astonishment and concern.
"Little Shuying, you…"
Before he could finish, Li Shuying spoke, her tone calm yet resolute. "I know what you are going to say, Father," she said gently, though there was firmness beneath her voice. "It already took us a great deal of effort to convince Mother. And I will tell you the same thing, we are careful. The people we deal with are reliable, and I know them well. There is nothing improper or unlawful involved."
Of course… what I rely on is something far beyond ordinary imagination, she thought.
Li Guoqiang fell silent. His brows remained slightly furrowed, his expression conflicted. As a soldier, discipline and caution were ingrained in his bones and as a father, worry for his children weighed even heavier.
After a long moment, he exhaled deeply. "Fine," he said at last, his voice carrying reluctant acceptance. "But you must be careful. Matters like these are not simple."
His gaze shifted toward his sons.
"And you two, stay by your sister's side. If there are burdensome or dangerous tasks, you must handle them. Do you understand?"
Both Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo straightened instinctively. "Yes, Father," they replied in unison.
Li Shuying nodded, a soft chuckle escaping her lips at her father's protective tone.
Li Guoqiang's expression eased, and a faint smile appeared. "Now that you have my allowance passbook, tell your mother not to overwork in the fields. Even if she earns fewer work points, it does not matter." His voice softened. "She must begin to take care of her health."
The three siblings nodded solemnly. "We understand, Father," Li Jianguo replied.
The atmosphere gradually lightened.
Li Jianmin, unable to hold back his excitement any longer, suddenly leaned forward. "Father, we want to go into the city and explore Baicheng. Will you take us?"
Li Guoqiang let out a quiet laugh. "So, you wish to see the city?" he said, amusement evident in his tone. "Very well. Tomorrow I will request leave from my superior. There is much for you to see here."
Li Jianmin's eyes lit up. "Like what?" he asked eagerly.
Li Guoqiang leaned back slightly, thinking for a moment before answering. "The Supply and Marketing Cooperative here is quite large," he said. "You will see many goods there, things rarely found in the county."
He continued, his tone carrying a hint of pride.
"There is also a state-run noodle shop that is quite famous. And unlike the small state-run restaurants back home, the ones here is a state run high-grand hotel which serve a wider variety of dishes, even some foreign-style cuisine."
He paused, then added,
"There is an old street where performances are held in the evenings, opera, storytelling, and lantern displays. We can go there as well. And there is also a movie theatre."
Li Jianguo and Li Jianmin exchanged puzzled looks. "Movie theatre?" they repeated together. "What is that?"
Li Guoqiang chuckled softly. "It is a kind of performance," he explained patiently. "But instead of actors performing live on stage, it is recorded using cameras and then projected onto a screen. You watch the story unfold as moving images. You may think of it as a more advanced form of opera."
The two brothers were stunned. Their eyes widened as if an entirely new world had just opened before them.
"We want to see it!" Li Jianmin exclaimed immediately.
"Yes, Father, we must see it!" Li Jianguo added.
Li Guoqiang smiled and nodded. "Very well. We will go."
However, while her brothers were filled with excitement, Li Shuying's thoughts moved in a different direction. She hesitated briefly before asking, "Father… would that not cost a great deal of money? Where would it come from?"
Li Guoqiang's expression shifted into one of quiet pride. "I will tell you a small secret," he said, lowering his voice slightly as though sharing something important.
"Your father has some savings." He straightened slightly. "My monthly allowance isn't just twenty yuan but twenty-eight yuan, along with twenty yuan worth of coupons. Occasionally, I also receive bonuses when assigned to special missions."
His gaze darkened faintly as he continued, "But since your step-grandmother used to take my entire allowance, I had no choice but to keep a portion hidden. Whenever I returned home, I would secretly give some to your mother."
He paused, then added in a steady voice, "This money was meant for your futures, for your education. When each of you passes the college entrance examination and leaves for university, I intended to give it to you. The remaining money will come handy for three of yours bride price?"
Li Jianguo frowned slightly. "Then why spend it now?" he asked.
Li Guoqiang smiled faintly. "I have saved one hundred and twenty yuan," he said. "That is enough. Your father can still secure your future and, at the same time, let you enjoy your first visit to the city."
Li Shuying fell silent for a moment, her thoughts turning. Then she spoke softly, "Father… we also have some savings."
She cast a brief glance at Li Jianguo. Understanding immediately, Li Jianguo reached discreetly into his inner clothing and took out a carefully wrapped bundle of money. Without hesitation, he placed it on the bed before their father.
Li Guoqiang's gaze lowered to the bundle of money placed before him. He did not open it immediately. Instead, he lifted his eyes and looked at his daughter, a trace of seriousness settling into his expression. "How much is it?" he asked.
Li Shuying smiled faintly, her tone calm. "Eighty-two yuan, and some loose change."
For a moment, Li Guoqiang thought he had misheard. "Eighty-two yuan?" he repeated, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You earned this much… in just one week?"
Li Shuying and Li Jianmin both nodded, unable to hide the small smiles on their faces.
Li Shuying spoke again, her voice drooping. "But it is not easy, Father. Demand is high, but people's purchasing capacity is limited. Prices must be balanced carefully, otherwise nothing will sell."
Li Jianmin quickly added, "Our goods are of high quality, so we cannot sell them cheaply. After all, we still need to pay the supplier and earn a reasonable profit."
Li Jianguo, ever the more cautious of the three, spoke in a steady tone, "And it is not possible to go to the black market every day. It is too risky. If we attract the wrong kind of attention, it could cause trouble. It would also affect our future."
Li Guoqiang listened in silence, his expression gradually turning serious. He gave a slow nod. "What your second brother says is correct," he said. "Such matters are indeed dangerous. You must not involve yourselves in the black market too casually."
His gaze shifted once more to the bundle of money resting on the bed. "Keep this money safely," he continued. "And use it wisely. Do not spend it recklessly."
Li Shuying shook her head lightly. "Father, this money is meant to be used here in the city," she said. "We wish to purchase several things… especially a set of advanced practice materials from Beijing for Elder Brother."
Li Guoqiang immediately waved his hand. "You need not worry about such matters," he said firmly. "Your father is capable enough to provide. Keep this money for yourselves."
A faint, mischievous smile appeared on Li Shuying's face. "Father," she said slowly, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness, "how about I give you an opportunity to earn money as well?"
Li Guoqiang frowned slightly, caught off guard. "Earn money?" he repeated. "What do you mean?"
Without answering directly, Li Shuying turned and walked toward the largest bundle among their belongings, a heavy sack that had been tied tightly since their journey began. With deliberate care, she loosened the knot and opened it.
The moment its contents were revealed, Li Guoqiang froze. His eyes widened abruptly, almost to the point of disbelief. "Apples?" he exclaimed.
He stepped forward at once and reached into the sack, picking one up with both hands as though it were something fragile and rare.
The apple was large, its skin smooth and unblemished, glowing with a rich, natural red that seemed almost luminous under the dim electric light. It was plump, firm, and carried a faint, fresh fragrance that spoke of its quality.
He turned it over slowly in his hand, his astonishment deepening. "Is this truly an apple? How can it be so full… so perfect?"
Li Jianmin straightened proudly, unable to hide his excitement. "These are special apples," he declared. "They are extremely sweet and delicious."
Li Shuying said slowly, "Father you need to sell this apples, whatever profit me make, half of it is yours."