Completely unaware of the storm he caused within the military compound, Li Guoqiang spent the day in Baicheng with his children, accompanied by Ma Zhiyong.
For the first time in many months, his rigid military routine gave way to something far softer.
Ma Zhiyong, upon meeting the Li siblings, took an immediate liking to them. His naturally outgoing and unrestrained temperament blended effortlessly with theirs, especially with Li Jianmin, whose lively and talkative nature mirrored his own. The two quickly fell into animated conversation.
Even Li Jianguo, though quieter by nature, found himself smiling more than usual in Ma Zhiyong's presence.
As for Li Shuying, she too found herself unexpectedly at ease.
There was something disarming about Ma Zhiyong. His unguarded laughter, his easygoing demeanor, it softened the atmosphere.
And she also remembered him.
In her previous life, Ma Zhiyong had been one of her father's few true friends within the army. When Li Guoqiang had been accused and condemned, he was one of the few people who had stepped forward, who had dared to question the verdict and apply for reinvestigation.
For that loyalty, he had paid a heavy price. Because they had shared quarters, suspicion had fallen upon him as well. Though no evidence was ever found against him, he had nonetheless been dismissed from service.
A good man ruined by association.
Their first stop of the day was a state-owned noodle shop located along Central Street.
Inside, the shop bore the marks of age and legacy. It was said that the shop had been in operation for over a century, its recipes passed down through generations like a treasured heirloom.
They ordered Beef noodles, the speciality of the shop. When the bowls arrived, the siblings were momentarily stunned into silence.
The noodles were long and hand-pulled, smooth and glistening, resting in a deep, clear broth that shimmered with a thin layer of fragrant oil. Tender slices of beef lay atop the noodles, their color rich and inviting, accompanied by finely chopped scallions and a hint of preserved greens.
Steam rose in gentle curls, carrying with it an aroma so deep and layered that it seemed to seep into the bones.
When they took their first bite, the world seemed to pause. The broth was astonishing. Rich yet clean, deeply savory yet not overwhelming, it carried a depth of flavor that could only come from hours, perhaps days of careful simmering. The beef was tender to the point of yielding effortlessly, each bite releasing a burst of warmth and richness. The noodles themselves were perfectly textured, firm yet smooth, absorbing the broth without losing their integrity.
Even Li Shuying, who had tasted countless delicacies in her previous life, felt a flicker of genuine surprise.
Even by the standards of the future this was exceptional. There was no artificial excess, no indulgence without purpose, only precision, tradition, and unwavering dedication to craft.
Even in these difficult times, when scarcity forced many to compromise, the chef of this establishment had chosen not to skimp on quality. It was, in its own quiet way a form of integrity.
The only drawback was the price. One yuan per bowl. For an ordinary family, it was nothing short of extravagant.
Their next destination stood not far ahead. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative. The moment they entered, both Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo stopped in their tracks.
Before them rose a building far grander than one in their county, a two-storey establishment, its wide halls lined with orderly counters and glass display cases. Bright electric lights illuminated every corner, casting a steady glow over rows upon rows of goods.
For the two boys, it was nothing short of overwhelming.
Here everything was different. There were entire sections dedicated to items they had never even imagined seeing in one place.
Radios with polished wooden casings, electric fans with metal blades, enamelware sets with painted floral designs, thermos flasks, wristwatches, bicycles and even bulky television sets. This were the things they never saw in the supply and marketing corporative in their county.
Li Jianmin pointed at one of them, his voice filled with wonder. "Uncle Ma… what is that? Why does it have a glass front?"
Ma Zhiyong followed his gaze and chuckled. "Ah, that? That's a television. It shows moving pictures, like a stage play, but without actors standing in front of you."
Li Jianmin's mouth fell open. "Moving pictures?"
Ma Zhiyong grinned. "That's right. Though not many places have broadcasts yet. It's still something rare."
The boys exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of awe and disbelief.
For the first time in their lives they truly understood how vast the world was beyond their small county.
Even Li Shuying, though far more composed, allowed her gaze to linger. To her, these were relics, objects of a bygone era. Yet seeing them here, in their original time, arranged with such pride and novelty, gave them a different kind of charm.
As they moved from one section to another, the boys' questions never ceased, and Ma Zhiyong, thoroughly enjoying himself, answered each one with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Li Guoqiang, on the other hand, remained focused. He had come here with purpose.
After arranging necessary coupons in advance, he was ready to buy everything for his family.
Brown sugar and face cream for his wife
He paused briefly at a display of shoes before picking up several pairs."Three pairs of Liberation Shoes," he said firmly.
The boys stared at him in surprise.
"Father, is it for us?" Li Jianmin asked.
Li Guoqiang nodded. "You are growing. You cannot ware those patches cotton shoes forever."
From another counter, he selected dacron and blended cotton fabric, fine materials rarely seen in the countryside.
"These are for your mother and Shuying to make cloths," he said.
Li Shuying blinked in slight surprise as he added a ribbon and a delicately patterned scarf to the pile.
"For a young girl," Li Guoqiang said in a softer tone, "one must have something proper to wear."
They continued browsing until they reached a section displaying electrical goods. There, Li Guoqiang stopped and looked at the electric torch.
He picked it up, tested its weight, and after a brief pause, said, "We will take one. And ten sets of batteries."
That decision alone sent Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo into visible excitement. "An electric torch?" Li Jianmin exclaimed in a hushed voice. "Father, really?"
"In our village," Li Jianguo added, "only Brigade Leader Liu has one…"
Ma Zhiyong laughed. "Then from today, your family will have one as well. You should be proud!"
The boys nodded vigorously, their earlier restraint forgotten.
By the time they finished, the pile of goods had grown considerable. Li Guoqiang purchased almost everything, a packet of white rabbit milk candy, thermos flask, four aluminium lunch boxs and so many other things.
To an outsider, it might have seemed extravagant, almost excessive. But to Li Guoqiang every single item held meaning.
They stepped out of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative with their arms full and hearts fuller still. The late afternoon sun bathed the street in a warm, golden glow, and the hum of the city continued unabated around them.
Li Jianmin could hardly contain his excitement. Balancing several parcels in his arms, he turned to his father with shining eyes. "Father, this is the best day of my life. I never knew buying and spending money could be this enjoyable."
Li Jianguo, however, walked beside them with a furrowed brow. His grip on the items in his hands tightened slightly as he spoke in a lower voice, "But isn't this too extravagant? Everything together must have cost nearly fifty yuan. We cannot live like this all the time."
Ma Zhiyong let out a hearty laugh, waving his hand dismissively. "Ah, Little Jianguo, you are still so young. Why burden yourself with the worries of grown men? Life has given you a good day, then you must accept it with an open heart. As the old saying goes, When there is wine today, let us drink today."
Li Jianguo pressed his lips together, still unconvinced. He wanted to say more, to argue perhaps, but when his gaze fell upon his younger brother's radiant face and his sister's quiet contentment, he swallowed his words.
There were some concerns better left unspoken.
Li Shuying than spoke up gently, "Father, we still need to buy special study materials for Elder Brother."
Ma Zhiyong immediately brightened. "That is simple. There are three state-owned bookstores in Baicheng. We are certain to find what you need. Come, one of them is just two streets away." With that, the group set off once more.
Li Jianmin and Li Shuying walked ahead with Ma Zhiyong, their conversation lively and animated, their laughter carried away by the wind. Behind them, Li Jianguo walked in silence, his thoughts heavy and tangled.
Li Guoqiang noticed and slowed his pace deliberately, allowing the others to move a short distance ahead. Then, stepping beside his son, he spoke in a calm, steady tone.
"Your Uncle Ma is not wrong," he said. "You are indeed still young. There are matters in this world that should be borne by your parents, not by you. These are days you should remember with joy, not burden with worry."
Li Jianguo looked up at his father, his expression conflicted. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke, "I understand, Father… but…" He paused, searching for the right words. "Just two weeks ago, we were still struggling for a single meal. We did not even know if we could endure another day in those harsh conditions. And now..." he gestured faintly toward the bustling streets, the parcels in their hands, "....we are here, eating well, traveling by train, spending money so freely."
He let out a quiet breath. "It feels… unreal. Like a dream that might shatter if I become too complacent." His voice grew softer, more introspective. "When Little Shuying and Mother brought back your allowance passbook from step Grandmother, I thought… this is enough. That this was the limit of the happiness we could hope for. I was content with that. But then Shuying said she could earn money, so much of it. And now everything feels too smooth, too easy. I cannot help but feel… that it will not last."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Li Guoqiang listened without interruption. When his son finished, he exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting ahead before returning to the boy beside him.
"I have spent more than half my life in the army, I have walked through battlefields, carried the wounded, and watched comrades fall beside me." His expression remained composed, yet there was a depth in his eyes that spoke of memories long buried.
"When a soldier dies in service, he is called a martyr. The state honors him, his name is remembered, and his sacrifice is praised." He paused briefly. "But do you know what I have seen, Little Second?"
Li Jianguo shook his head silently.
Li Guoqiang continued, his tone growing quieter. "I have seen families receive the belongings of the fallen… and care only for the compensation that comes with it. I have seen them rummage through those possessions, discarding everything that held memory, keeping only what held value. At such moments, I would ask myself, what is a man's worth? If even his sacrifice becomes nothing more than a means for profit… then what is the meaning of living a life of restraint and hardship, saving endlessly for a future that may never come?"
He turned his head, looking directly at his son. "I do not tell you this so that you abandon frugality. Being prudent is a virtue. A man must know how to endure hardship. But if one lives only to save, only to endure, and never allows himself or his family a moment of comfort or joy… then he loses something far more valuable."
He placed a steady hand on Li Jianguo's shoulder. "To be born human is not only to struggle, it is also to feel, to experience, to cherish."
Li Jianguo fell silent as he absorbed his father's words. He had always believed that survival came first and that one must hold tightly to whatever little one had, guard it, preserve it, and never risk losing it. Hardship had carved that belief deep into his bones.
But now, listening to his father, he began to understand that life was not meant to be endured like an endless winter. It was also meant to be lived.
Frugality was not about denying oneself everything, nor was it about clinging to fear. It was about balance, about knowing when to endure and when to allow oneself a moment of warmth.
If one only saved and never lived, then what was the purpose of saving at all?
If one only feared loss, then how could one ever truly gain?
Li Jianguo looked at his father and with a genuine, unburdened smile said, "Thank you for the shoes, Father."
Li Guoqiang let out a hearty laugh, the sound deep and reassuring. "Then you must wear them to school every day. Do not let them gather dust at home."
With that both continued forward, their laughter blending with the bustle of the city streets.
Meanwhile, within the military compound, a group of soldiers, exhausted from hours of drills, rested beneath the shade of a large tree.
One of them stretched his limbs and spoke idly, "Who knows what was so special about those apples? I saw how Comrade Pan Shouyi was being praised today."
Another soldier, leaning back against the trunk, chimed in, "I heard Assistant Lu from the logistics department say each apple was worth nine jiao."
A chorus of astonished exclamations followed.
"Nine jiao? For a single apple?" one soldier exclaimed. "Was it made of gold?"
Another scoffed, shaking his head. "More likely Comrade Pan was fooled. Someone must have tricked him into buying them."
A third soldier snorted. "Fooled? Then why did it turn out so well for him? Didn't you see how he walked into the canteen today, his nose practically in the air? I heard he even received a bonus this month, and the political commissar personally praised him."
The group fell into murmurs, their curiosity only growing.
At that moment, a soldier who had been resting with his eyes closed slowly opened them. His gaze was calm, yet there was a hint of deliberate intent behind it. "What you know is too little," he said evenly than asked, "do you know where did those apples come from?"
"Where" everyone asked in unison.
The man did not answer right away. Instead, he shifted his gaze toward the far end of the shade, where on the wooden chair sat was their squad leader.
The man was broad-shouldered and bulky, his frame was wide and blury. His face, however, carried a certain shrewedness, his narrow eyes and perpetually furrowed brows giving him an air of severity.
The soldier's lips curved faintly, almost imperceptibly. Then, raising his voice just enough to carry across the shade, he said, "Those apples came from Squad Leader Li Guoqiang."
The effect was immediate. The man on the wooden chair snapped his eyes open, his sharp gaze cutting through the air like a blade. He sat upright, his expression darkening as he fixed his stare on the speaking soldier.
"What did you say?" he demanded coldly. "Who brought those apples?"
The soldier, who had clearly anticipated this reaction, maintained an expression of feigned confusion. "Squad Leader Zhao, I thought you already knew," he replied, his tone deliberately mild. "Isn't Squad Leader Li Guoqiang your brother?"
The soldier continued, as though unaware of the tension he was stirring. "I heard his children came all the way here to visit him. They even brought those apples with them. Later, Squad Leader Li sold them to the logistics department, and because the quality was exceptional, Comrade Pan Shouyi purchased them at nine jiao per apple."