"What?" Li Guoqiang was even more stunned, his gaze shifting from the apple in his hand to his daughter.
Li Shuying nodded calmly and continued, her tone composed and deliberate.
"This is something rare, something not easily found in ordinary markets. Selling it in the county would not be practical; the people there simply do not have the means to afford such things. But here in the city… the situation is different. There are those who can recognize its value and are willing to pay for it."
Li Guoqiang fell into thought. He lowered his gaze to the apple once more, its smooth, lustrous skin catching the dim light. After a brief hesitation, he lifted it to his mouth and took a bite.
The moment his teeth sank into the flesh a burst of sweet, refreshing juice filled his mouth. It was unlike anything he had tasted in years. The flavor was pure and vibrant, carrying a natural sweetness that seemed to melt across his tongue. For a moment, he unconsciously closed his eyes, chewing slowly, as if unwilling to let even a trace of that taste fade too quickly.
When he finally swallowed, a faint warmth spread through his body. The lingering fatigue from the day's training seemed to ease, replaced by an unexpected sense of comfort and clarity.
He frowned slightly, as though trying to make sense of the sensation. Strange…
But after a moment, he shook his head inwardly. It must simply be because he has not tasted such sweetness in a long time…
When he opened his eyes again, the look in them had changed. There was no longer doubt, only certainty. "These apples…" he said slowly, "are indeed extraordinary." A brief silence followed before he spoke again, more decisively this time. "I do not need fifty percent of the profit. You may keep all of it."
Li Shuying immediately shook her head. "No, Father," she said firmly. "You must take half. What would we do with so much money in the village? It would only sit unused, losing its value. But here, with you, it can be put to better use."
She paused, then added with a faint smile,
"And you will be the one doing the real work. It is only right that you receive your share."
Both Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo nodded in agreement. "Yes, Father," Li Jianmin said. "You should take it."
Li Guoqiang looked at the three of them. Seeing the earnestness in their expressions, he could not help but chuckle softly. "Very well," he said at last. "Then I will accept half."
He lifted the apple again, glancing toward the open sack. "How many are there?" he asked.
Li Shuying replied without hesitation, "There should be over a hundred in total."
Li Guoqiang nodded slowly, his mind already turning. "I know where these can be sold," he said.
Li Shuying, however, shook her head lightly. "Let us not sell all of them, Father," she said. "Keep some for yourself."
She paused, then smiled slightly, her tone turning meaningful. "And… take a few with you tomorrow when you go to request leave from your superior."
Li Guoqiang raised a brow, amused. "Oh? And why would that be?"
Li Shuying met his gaze, her expression composed. "When one asks for a favor, it is only proper to bring a small token of respect," she said. "Is that not the way of things?"
Li Guoqiang let out a quiet laugh. "You have learned quite a bit," he said, shaking his head slightly. "Very well. I understand." He said nothing further, but a trace of approval lingered in his eyes.
What he did not know was that Li Shuying's intentions went far beyond what she had spoken aloud.
She knew her father well. He was upright, disciplined, and sincere, but also too straightforward. In a world where advancement often depended not only on merit but also on subtle human connections, such a nature had quietly held him back.
And these apples were no ordinary fruit. She had already seen their effect. Anyone who tasted them would remember them. And more importantly they would remember the one who had offered them. A faint, thoughtful light flickered in her eyes.
They continued talking for more than half an hour. Li Guoqiang asked in detail about their journey, about how they had met Gu Zhenhua, and who exactly Zhang Wenhao was.
When the truth became clear, his expression changed instantly. "Zhang Wenhao is The Battalion Commander in Changchun military unit?"
He could hardly believe it. In just a single year of his absence, his children had come into contact with figures of such standing. The thought left him both astonished and quietly proud.
After some time, the night grew late. Li Guoqiang returned to his dormitory, where he was immediately met with another round of relentless questioning from Ma Zhiyong, who had been waiting eagerly for his return.
Meanwhile, Li Shuying retired to her own room in the guesthouse. After extinguishing the light and ensuring everything was in order she entered her system space and arranged it and than she lay down upon the narrow bed. Her thoughts drifted briefly over the events of the day before sleep gradually claimed her.
That night Li Guoqiang slept more soundly than he had in years. It was, perhaps, the most restful sleep he had experienced in years. When he awoke the next morning, he felt… different, refreshed and light.
There was no familiar stiffness in his muscles, no lingering ache in his joints from the previous day's training. Instead, an unusual vigor coursed through him, as though his entire body had been quietly restored overnight.
For a fleeting moment, he even felt as if he could run ten full laps around the training ground without pause.
He paused, frowning slightly. Strange, but then he shook his head. Perhaps it is simply because I saw my children yesterday…
The morning bugle sounded, sharp and clear in the pre-dawn darkness.
Ma Zhiyong stirred on the opposite bed, sitting up with a yawn.
Li Guoqiang glanced at him. "You are going to training?" he asked.
Ma Zhiyong waved his hand dismissively. "Did I not tell you yesterday?" he said. "I have taken leave as well. I wish to meet your children properly and spend some time with them."
Li Guoqiang nodded. "In that case," he said, a faint smile forming, "you must help me with something."
Ma Zhiyong raised a brow. "Oh? What kind of help?"
Li Guoqiang simply replied, "Brush your teeth and come with me."
Soon, the two men made their way toward the guesthouse. The compound was still quiet, the sky only just beginning to lighten with the faintest hint of dawn.
When they reached the door to the boys' room, Li Guoqiang turned to Ma Zhiyong. "My children are still asleep," he said in a low voice. "Wait here."
Ma Zhiyong nodded, leaning casually against the wall.
Using the spare key, Li Guoqiang quietly unlocked the door and stepped inside. The room was dim, the soft sound of steady breathing filling the silence. His two sons lay fast asleep, their fatigue from the journey evident.
Moving carefully so as not to disturb them, he approached the large bundle containing the apples and untied it slowly.
One by one, he began to count. "…ninety-eight… ninety-nine… one hundred…"
When he finished, he paused briefly. There were one hundred and four apples in total, each one fresh, unblemished, and gleaming even in the faint light.
Without hesitation, he set aside eighteen apples separately. The remaining eighty-six he carefully placed back into the sack, tying it securely once more. He then hoisted the heavy bundle onto his back with practiced ease.
As he stepped out of the room, Ma Zhiyong immediately straightened, his gaze falling upon the large sack.
He frowned, then grinned mischievously. "Such a large sack?" he said teasingly. "What is inside your kid? Don't tell me you're kidnapping your own kid, Comrade Li." He laughed aloud at his own joke.
Li Guoqiang shot him a sharp glance. "Stop spouting nonsense," he said curtly. Then, without another word, he reached into his pocket and tossed one apple toward him. "Try this."
Caught off guard, Ma Zhiyong instinctively caught the apple. He looked down at it and the laughter on his face slowly faded, replaced by a look of genuine surprise.
"What?" Ma Zhiyong stared at the apple in his hand, his brows rising high in exaggerated surprise. "You are treating me to an apple? Comrade Li, this is truly a rare honor. But do you not think this is rather extravagant? Apples are not something one comes by easily these days… where did you even get this?"
Though his mouth continued to run, his eyes betrayed him. They were fixed firmly on the apple.
Before Li Guoqiang could respond, Ma Zhiyong had already lifted it to his mouth and taken a large, eager bite. The moment his teeth broke through the crisp flesh he froze. His eyes widened. A sharp intake of breath escaped his lips.
For a long moment, he said nothing. He simply stood there, chewing slowly, as though afraid that speaking might disrupt the extraordinary sensation flooding his senses. Then, without restraint, he began devouring the apple, bite after bite, until nothing remained but the core in his hand.
Even after finishing it, he remained still, his expression dazed, as though he had yet to return from wherever that taste had taken him. Finally, he looked up at Li Guoqiang, his face filled with astonishment.
"What… was that?" he demanded. "Was that some legendary golden Apple of nine Peahens? A fruit from the gardens of the immortals? Why did it taste… so magical?"
Li Guoqiang frowned slightly. "Magical?" he repeated.
Ma Zhiyong nodded vigorously. "I am telling you the truth," he insisted, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "The moment I swallowed it, I felt a warm current spreading through my entire body. My limbs feel lighter, my mind clearer… it is as though all my fatigue has vanished."
Li Guoqiang fell silent. For a brief moment, his thoughts flickered back to the previous night when he himself had experienced a similar sensation. Could it be…
But just as quickly, he dismissed the notion. This fellow is always talking nonsense, he thought inwardly.
What he did not realize was that this time, Ma Zhiyong was not exaggerating. The apples, nurtured within Li Shuying's mysterious system space, indeed possessed qualities far beyond the ordinary.
Li Guoqiang chose not to dwell on it. Instead, he shifted the topic. "This sack contains eighty-six apples," he said evenly. "I intend to sell them."
Ma Zhiyong's eyes widened once more. "So many magical apples and you want to sell them?" he exclaimed loudly. "Such rare fruit, and you would part with it so easily?"
Li Guoqiang shot him a sharp look. "Watch your words," he said sternly. "There is nothing magical about them. Do not indulge in feudal superstition. If someone reported it to the political commissar, you will find yourself in serious trouble."
Ma Zhiyong shivered instinctively, lowering his voice at once. "Fine, fine… I will not say such things aloud," he muttered. "But still, why sell them? Would it not be better for us to keep them and enjoy them ourselves?"
Li Guoqiang shook his head. "My children brought these apples with the intention of selling them, I am merely assisting them. As for our own needs, I have already set aside a portion. You may have more later."
He paused, then added practically, "Even if we kept them all, they would eventually spoil. It is better to turn them into something of lasting value."
Ma Zhiyong considered this for a moment. Then, slowly, he nodded. "That… does make sense. So, where do you plan to sell them?"
"To the logistics department within our unit," Li Guoqiang replied.
Ma Zhiyong blinked. "Inside the unit?"
Li Guoqiang nodded. "Selling outside would require time and effort, and may invite unnecessary complications," he explained. "But within the unit, the transaction will be straightforward. We can secure a fair price quickly and without risk."
At this, Ma Zhiyong's eyes lit up. "Ah! That is indeed a good plan," he said, his earlier hesitation replaced by enthusiasm. "Efficient and safe." He leaned forward slightly. "Then tell me Guoqiang, how can I assist?"
Li Guoqiang looked at him steadily. "When we reach the logistics department," he said, "you will handle the negotiation."
Ma Zhiyong straightened at once, his expression turning confident. "You wish me to bargain on your behalf?"
Li Guoqiang gave a faint nod. "I know you are skilled in such matters," he said. "So make full use of your… talent. Ensure we obtain the best possible price."
Ma Zhiyong's grin widened, pride evident in his eyes. "Comrade Li," he said with a light laugh, "I am pleased that you have finally recognized my strengths." He patted his chest. "Leave it to me. I will ensure that not a single fen is lost. We will secure a most satisfactory return."
With that the two men set off together towards Logistic department building, both unaware that what they held in their hands would soon create far greater ripples than either of them had anticipated.