Clutching the mirror, Chen Meilan slowly rose from the kang. The moment she stood up, a wave of dizziness washed over her.
Her vision blurred and the room spun slightly. She instinctively reached for the edge of the table to steady herself. At the same time, an unusual warmth began spreading through her body.
It started from her chest before quickly radiating outward, accompanied by an irritating itch that seemed to crawl beneath her skin.
Chen Meilan frowned. She pressed a hand against her forehead, "What's wrong with me?" Her voice was barely a whisper. After crying for so long, she naturally assumed it was exhaustion.
Her emotions had been turbulent all evening. Combined with a day's labor in the fields, it was hardly surprising that her body was protesting.
Not wanting to think too much about it, she carefully wrapped the mirror again and extinguished the kerosene lamp. The room immediately sank into darkness.
Using the faint moonlight filtering through the window, she slowly made her way back toward her bedroom.
Yet with every step, the strange sensation intensified. The itch grew stronger and the heat grew heavier. By the time she reached the kang, her legs were trembling. For a brief moment, she nearly collapsed.
Fortunately, she managed to lower herself onto the bed. The moment her body touched the bedding, however, the discomfort exploded, "Ah..." A pained groan escaped her lips.
The itching was no longer confined to one place. It was everywhere on her body including her scalp. It felt as though countless tiny insects were crawling beneath her skin.
Unable to endure it, she raised her hands and scratched desperately. But the more she scratched, the worse it became. The itch seemed to spread rather than diminish.
Soon sweat began appearing across her body. Tiny droplets formed on her forehead, her neck, then her back. Within moments, her clothes were damp.
Chen Meilan's brows knitted together. She was confused. Autumn nights in the northeast were already cold. Yet she felt as though she had been thrown into a steaming bath.
The heat was so unbearable that her breathing became uneven. Her heart pounded rapidly inside her chest. At one point, her head began throbbing violently. It felt as though someone was striking her skull repeatedly with a hammer. Each pulse sent waves of pain through her temples.
She gritted her teeth and endured. Minutes passed, then more minutes. Eventually, the strange sensation gradually subsided, the itching weakened, the heat receded and the headache eased.
Chen Meilan lay sprawled across the bed, gasping for breath. Her entire body felt as though it had just survived a battle.
"What was that..." She murmured weakly.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Perhaps she had overworked herself. Perhaps she was falling ill. That was the only explanation she could think of. The autumn planting was tomorrow. Everyone in the village had been working harder than usual. Many people became sick during such times.
Thinking this, she pulled the blanket over herself. Tomorrow would be another long day. No matter what happened, she still had to work in the fields.
Closing her eyes, she forced herself to rest. But barely a few minutes later...
Grrrrrrr...
A strange sound echoed from her stomach. Chen Meilan opened her eyes. Before she could react, another louder rumble followed.
Grrrrrrr...
Her face immediately changed. An intense pressure suddenly twisted through her abdomen. The sensation arrived so suddenly that she nearly sat upright.
"Oh no..." She pressed both hands against her stomach. The urge was immediate and overwhelming.
Outside, the village remained wrapped in darkness and they did not keep a chamber pot inside the room either. Normally she would have endured until dawn. But tonight was impossible. The pressure intensified sharply.
Without another thought, she hurriedly climbed off the kang and rushed outside. Holding her stomach, she hurried toward the outhouse behind the courtyard.
Only after several agonizing minutes did she finally emerge. Her expression relaxed slightly. Yet before she could even take ten steps...
Grrrrrr...
Her stomach growled again. Chen Meilan froze. A familiar pressure returned, even stronger than before. Her eyes widened, "No..." She turned around and hurried back.
The cycle repeated again and again and again.
Throughout the remainder of the night, Chen Meilan traveled repeatedly between the house and the outhouse. Eventually she became too exhausted to continue walking back and forth that she simply sat against the outer wall beside the outhouse.
The cold bricks pressed against her back. The autumn wind blew through the courtyard. Yet sweat continued pouring from her body. Her face was pale and limbs felt weak. Hours passed like this. By the time the strange ordeal finally ended, dawn was already approaching.
The eastern horizon had begun to brighten faintly. Chen Meilan slowly pushed herself upright. Every bone in her body felt hollow and her legs were weak. She felt as though every ounce of energy inside her had been drained away, like an empty shell.
Like a walking skeleton, supporting herself against the wall, she slowly made her way back toward her room.
'Is something wrong with my body?.' The thought appeared repeatedly in her mind. As she reached the kang and collapsed onto it, another realization suddenly struck her.
'Tomorrow's planting was crucial. The entire village would be in the fields.' A trace of anxiety appeared on her exhausted face.
"If I become sick..." Her voice was barely audible, "How will I work tomorrow?"
Outside the window, dawn continued spreading across the sky. The first pale rays of morning illuminated the distant rooftops of Shitou Village. But Chen Meilan could no longer stay awake. The night's torment had completely exhausted her.
Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier and finally, darkness consumed her consciousness and she fell into a deep sleep.
Moments after she lost consciousness, tiny droplets of dark, greasy residue began emerging from the pores across her skin. At first it was only a few black specks. Then more appeared, like impurities being forced from deep within her flesh.
The substance carried a faint, unpleasant odor. Slowly, it spread across her arms, neck, face and her entire body. Within a short time, a thick layer of black grime covered her skin from head to toe.
But the room remained silent, and on the kang, Chen Meilan slept soundly, completely unaware that something extraordinary had happened during the night.
The next morning, when Li Jianhua woke up and climbed down from the kang bed, he immediately noticed that something felt strange.
A faint, unpleasant odor lingered in the air, subtle enough to be overlooked, yet persistent enough to make him wrinkle his nose. Frowning, he stepped into the main room and found Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo busy sweeping and tidying the house.
"Little Second, Little Third," he asked while adjusting the straps of his worn schoolbag, "where is Mother? Why haven't I seen her this morning?"
Li Jianguo paused his work and turned around, "I haven't seen her either, Eldest Brother."
Li Jianmin rested the broom against the wall and thought for a moment, "Maybe she's gone to Grand-Aunt Li's place. When I woke up earlier, I noticed the back door towards outhouse was already open. Mother must have gone out before dawn."
Hearing this explanation, he nodded and stopped worrying, then returned to preparing for school.
Meanwhile, Li Shuying also woke up. As she washed her face at the water vat in the courtyard, she also caught a faint strange smell drifting through the house. She glanced around briefly but didn't pay much attention to it. Today, she had more important matters to think about.
After freshening up, she quickly changed into clean clothes and prepared to head to the county town.
The moment Li Jianguo noticed her carrying a basket, his eyes lit up. He quickly looked around to make sure Li Jianhua had already left, then walked over, "Little Shuying, are you going to the county?"
Li Shuying nodded, "Mm. I'll bring back some supplies today. I also plan to earn a little money."
The moment Li Jianmin heard that, he immediately straightened up, "Little Shuying, that's too dangerous. Let me go with you. If you're selling goods, the two of us can look after each other."
Li Shuying immediately shook her head, "No, Third Brother." Seeing the concern on his face, she explained patiently, "I'm not planning to sell anything at the black market this time. I've already found a fixed buyer. I'll be dealing directly with them, so there won't be much risk."
Li Jianmin still looked worried, "But what if..."
Before he could finish, Li Shuying interrupted with a smile, "Third Brother, don't forget that Mother still has to plant sweet potatoes today." She lowered her voice and counted on her fingers, "The seed potatoes need to be cut into sections, then dried, then planted. After that, the soil has to be mounded and leveled. There are so many things to do."
She looked at him seriously, "Mother can't handle all that work alone. You should go help her in the fields."
Li Jianmin hesitated. Sweet potato planting was indeed one of the most labor-intensive jobs. After a long moment, he reluctantly nodded.
Li Jianguo, however, was still worried, "Little Shuying, if you're already bringing supplies home, why do you still need to earn money? Wouldn't it be better to keep everything for ourselves?"
Li Shuying's expression became thoughtful. She lowered her voice, "Second Brother, supplies are important, but money is important too." She paused briefly before continuing, "If things become more chaotic in the future, having money on hand will give us more options."
Li Jianguo didn't fully understand her concerns, but he trusted his younger sister. Nodding, he simply said, "Then be careful on the road."
"Don't worry." Li Shuying gave both brothers a bright smile and stepped through the courtyard gate.
Neither of them noticed Chen Meilan behind the closed door still lay unconscious on the kang. The room was dim and stifling and her breathing was uneven.
Her brows were tightly furrowed as if she were trapped in a terrible nightmare. In her dream, she saw Li Guoqiang standing together with Wang Xiuying.
The two of them were laughing as though they were a proper family. And she and her children had been abandoned like worn-out shoes. No matter how desperately she cried out, Li Guoqiang never turned back.
The nightmare wrapped around her like icy chains, dragging her deeper and deeper into darkness, even though she tried to wake up, something just didn't let her back into reality.
Meanwhile, the very man occupying Chen Meilan's nightmare, Li Guoqiang, who by all accounts should have been at the military garrison in Baicheng, was currently walking through the streets of Taonan County.
Even now, the events of the past two days felt somewhat unreal. Until recently, he had not known that he would be returning home at all. It was only the day before yesterday that Regimental Commander He had summoned him to his office once again and informed him of the special assignment. The mission itself remained confidential, but one detail had surprised Li Guoqiang greatly.
Its execution would require him to return to his hometown.
The moment he heard those words, a surge of joy had nearly overwhelmed him. That night, he had barely slept. After all, it had been almost a year since he had last returned home.
Although he had briefly seen his children only last week, such a short meeting could hardly satisfy a father's heart. He missed them terribly, especially his eldest son, Jianhua. And most of all, his wife.
Thinking of Chen Meilan, an unconscious smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Over the years, military service had taught him discipline, restraint, and endurance. Yet no matter how many campaigns he participated in or how many years he wore the uniform, he remained an ordinary man when it came to his family.
More than once during the train ride, he had caught himself wondering how his family might be living.
Whether Jianhua had been studying well for his collage entrance exam. And whether Chen Meilan was taking proper care of herself.
At one point, his excitement had become so overwhelming that he had almost forgotten the actual reason for his return. Fortunately, years of military training quickly brought him back to reality.
Mission first, family second. That was the soldier's way.
As he walked through the familiar county streets, autumn sunlight spilled across the old buildings and dirt roads. Workers headed toward factories. Farmers carrying tools passed by on their way to collective labor sites. Bicycles rattled across uneven roads. The county was alive with the bustling energy of a new day.
Many people couldn't help turning their heads when they saw him. A tall and extraordinaryly good looking military officer walking through the street naturally attracted attention.
Time seemed to have favored Li Guoqiang. Although already the father of four children and was in his middle age, his features remained remarkably handsome. His brows were sharp and dignified, nose straight and jawline firm.
There was a steadiness in him that few men possessed. A calmness that naturally inspired trust. Even in larger cities, such bearing and looks would have been difficult to ignore.
Several young women glanced at him before quickly lowering their eyes shyly.
Li Guoqiang, however, paid little attention. He had long grown accustomed to such reactions. Without slowing his pace, he continued toward the county militia barracks.
The compound soon appeared ahead. The moment he entered the grounds, his expression became serious once more.
Across the yard, two figures were already waiting, Gu Zhenhua and He Jianci.
As he approached, Li Guoqiang immediately straightened. His boots came together with a crisp snap. A moment later, he raised his hand in a perfect military salute, "Deputy Company Commander Gu. Li Guoqiang reporting for duty."
Gu Zhenhua studied him for a brief moment before giving a nod, "Squad Leader Li."
His voice was calm and authoritative, "On behalf of our troop, I welcome you to Taonan County and officially acknowledge your temporary assignment to this operation."
"Thank you, Deputy Company Commander." Gu Zhenhua nodded slightly, "It is my honor to serve the Party and the people."
The corner of Gu Zhenhua's mouth lifted faintly, "Good." He paused briefly before turning his head toward He Jianci.
The orderly immediately understood. He snapped to attention and saluted, "Deputy Company Commander."
"Maintain perimeter security. No interruptions."
"Understood." He Jianci saluted again. Without another word, he turned and strode away toward the opposite side of the compound.
Soon only Gu Zhenhua and Li Guoqiang remained beneath the flagpole. For several moments neither man spoke.
Then Gu Zhenhua broke the silence, "I trust Regimental Commander He has already briefed you on the general situation."
Li Guoqiang immediately nodded, "Yes, Deputy Company Commander." A trace of anger flashed across his eyes yet his face remain composed, "Regimental Commander He informed me of the bandit activity in this region. Please rest assured. I will do everything within my power to assist in locating and eliminating this group."
Gu Zhenhua nodded, "I expected nothing less." He than reached into his coat and removed a folded intelligence report, "There has been a development."
Gu Zhenhua unfolded the paper, "Our informants have confirmed that the group has recently increased recruitment efforts. They are actively seeking able-bodied young men especially from rural villages."
"They are targeting particularly those who desperately desire urban household registration. The most troubling aspect is not the recruitment itself. It is the method. They are conducting recruitment under the name of the People's Liberation Army."
Li Guoqiang's expression froze. For a moment he said nothing. Then his jaw tightened, "This is outrageous." His voice carried obvious anger, "They are impersonating the People's Liberation Army?"
Gu Zhenhua nodded "Correct, they present themselves as military recruitment agents and promise government positions, military assignments, food rations, and urban registration."
Li Guoqiang's eyes became cold, "Then they are no longer merely bandits, they are terrorist. They are using the reputation earned through the sacrifices of countless soldiers. They are deceiving the masses and damaging public trust in the Party and the army."
Gu Zhenhua nodded approvingly, "That assessment is accurate. Their actions suggest planning, discipline, and organizational structure. Ordinary mountain bandits are incapable of operating at this scale."
Li Guoqiang's brows furrowed, "Do we know their ultimate objective?"
"Not yet." Gu Zhenhua answered honestly, "However, we can identify several possibilities. Out of which one possiblity is proven, is taking over the mining sites near the border."
Li Guoqiang nodded slowly, "Understood."
Gu Zhenhua folded his hands behind his back, "This is where your role becomes important. You were not called here merely because you know the local terrains. You were selected because you possess something my men currently lack, local identity. You grew up there, you understand the people, their habits, their concerns and relationships. If strangers begin asking questions, villagers become cautious. But when you ask, people speak freely."
Li Guoqiang understood immediately, "You want me to gather intelligence while blending into the civilian population."
"Exactly." Gu Zhenhua nodded, "You will maintain your normal activities. You will stay at your home as a soldier on leave, observe outsiders, pay attention to rumors. Particularly any mention of military recruitment, or unfamiliar visitors."
Li Guoqiang responded firmly, "I understand."
Gu Zhenhua continued, "Our intelligence indicates the group possesses an extensive information network. They knew about our deployment before it even arrived. They knew the movement schedule of the military supply convoy. Which they successfully ambushed and looted both food and weapons. That's why this operation require planning and intelligence support. Because they have eyes and ears throughout the region."
Li Guoqiang's expression grew grim, "Then every villager is a potential source of information."
"Correct, which is why operational secrecy is critical." Gu Zhenhua said, he than paused before speaking again, "There is another matter. Our current assessment places their primary hideout somewhere within the mountains behind Shitou Village."
"The terrain favors concealment, the forests are dense, the ravines provide natural defensive positions, and the mining districts are located just beyond the mountain belt."
He pointed toward the distance mountains, "If they intend to monitor transportation routes, infiltrate mining operations, or move personnel undetected, there is no better location."
Li Guoqiang thought carefully, the logic was difficult to dispute. After a brief silence he asked, "When does the unit intend to move?"
"Within the next several days." Gu Zhenhua replied, "The entire detachment will relocate to the vicinity of Shitou Village. Officially, the operation will be described as wilderness training and field survival exercises."
"Once we establish ourselves near the village, communication between us will become significantly easier." He looked directly at Li Guoqiang, "Until then, maintain normal behavior. Do not act differently. Do not appear overly interested in local affairs."
Li Guoqiang immediately answered, "Understood."
Gu Zhenhua's voice softened slightly, "Squad Leader Li. I know your family lives in that village, but your first responsibility remains the mission. If these people are allowed to continue operating unchecked, the danger will not stop at the mines. It will eventually reach every nearby area."
Li Guoqiang's back straightened even further. His answer came without hesitation, "I understand, Deputy Company Commander Gu. My loyalty is to the Party, the people, and the mission."
A trace of approval appeared in Gu Zhenhua's eyes, "Very good." Then he extended his hand, "Welcome to the operation, Squad Leader Li."
Li Guoqiang grasped it firmly. Both exchanged a silent look.
After exchanging a few final words with Gu Zhenhua, Li Guoqiang saluted once more before turning and leaving the militia compound.
His military boots struck the ground with steady rhythm as he made his way through the county streets. The mission weighed heavily on his mind. Yet beneath that was anticipation for finally meeting his family.
His pace unconsciously quickened. The road to Shitou Village suddenly did not seem nearly long enough.
At the same time, another train slowly rolled into Taonan County Railway Station. A shrill whistle pierced the air as steam billowed across the platform. Passengers poured from the carriages carrying cloth bundles, woven baskets, and wooden luggage cases.
Amid the crowd, two women stepped down from one of the passenger cars. One was middle-aged, the other was a teenage girl.
Their appearance immediately attracted attention from the surrounding passengers. Not because they were particularly beautiful.
Rather it was because of their clothing.
The older woman wore a bright sky-blue dacron jacket paired with dark trousers. The material gleamed slightly beneath the sunlight, far more eye-catching than the coarse cotton garments worn by ordinary villagers.
Beside her, the teenage girl wore a fitted floral dacron blouse with a narrow collar and pressed black trousers. The fabric was fashionable by urban standards, but on her youthful face it created an oddly mature appearance, making her seem several years older than her actual age.
The outfits were expensive, modern and conspicuous. And completely out of place amid the sea of grey, blue, and patched cotton clothing surrounding them.
People couldn't help stealing glances. Some looked envious, others looked curious and a few simply stared.
For the rural residents of a small county, such clothing represented something distant and unattainable.
The older woman lifted her chin slightly, clearly enjoying the attention gathering around them. A smug smile appeared on her lips as she adjusted her collar. "Fengfeng, look around," she said with satisfaction. "The moment we stepped off the train, everyone's eyes followed us."
The teenage Fengfeng glanced at the surrounding crowd and let out a quiet snort, "What else would they look at?" Her gaze swept over the passengers carrying patched cloth bundles and worn cotton jackets, "Most of these people probably haven't even seen proper dacron fabric before."
The woman chuckled, "Of course they haven't." She lowered her voice slightly, though not enough to prevent nearby people from overhearing, "After all, we're not in Anshan anymore. This is just a small county."
Fengfeng wrinkled her nose, "The station is even worse than I imagined. The people here look exactly the same as when we visited years ago, dusty and murky."
"Mother, I really don't understand why we have to spend the entire winter in that village."
Woman's expression stiffened briefly before relaxing, "We're only staying temporarily, because there are some matters that need handling." Her eyes flashed as she said that.
Fengfeng rolled her eyes, "Still, just thinking about spending months among those muddy villagers gives me a headache."
Womans smile deepened, "Then consider it a lesson, a person should occasionally return to the countryside. Otherwise how would you remember how fortunate you are?"
Fengfeng immediately understood the implication. A proud smile appeared on her face, "That's true. Compared to them, we're already living completely different lives."
Just as the two stepped beyond the station gate a shrill voice suddenly rang out from nearby, "Cousin Xiuying! My dear niece! You're finally here!"
Both women turned.
Not far away, a woman was waving her arms enthusiastically while hurrying toward them through the crowd, it was Li Yulan.
Her smile stretched from ear to ear. But her eyes never left their clothes. They glittered with unconcealed greed.
The moment both woman saw Li Yulan, their earlier smile disappeared and a contempt flashed in their eyes before they quickly comceled it and smiled at her as they walked towards her.