Cold sweat instantly beaded on both Fan Mingqiang's and Fan Meizhen's foreheads.
"Military dependents...?" they echoed almost simultaneously, their voices carrying unmistakable disbelief.
Even Tang Yulan froze where she stood. Her eyes widened as she stared at Li Shuying.
"Y...You're lying!" she blurted out. The panic that had briefly surfaced in her heart quickly settled as another thought occurred to her.
"Hongmei never said your father was in the army. She's your own cousin, why would she lie about something like that?" Her confidence gradually returned, and she lifted her chin proudly. "In fact, Hongmei told me that, it's her father serves in the People's Liberation Army. He's even a squad leader."
She jabbed a finger toward Li Shuying. "You're nothing but a liar. Do you really think you can frighten everyone by casually claiming your father is a soldier? Just because you say so, we're supposed to believe you?"
Fan Mingqiang immediately let out a cold snort. "This little bastard is obviously trying to cover up her family's shame. Her whole family must be..."
His words abruptly stopped and without warning, an indescribable chill crawled up his spine as his gaze met Li Shuying's calm eyes. She stood there with an almost unnerving composure. Her gaze was steady and clear, carrying a quiet confidence that did not belong to a child.
For reasons he himself could not explain, Fan Mingqiang instinctively took half a step back.
His heartbeat skipped, 'What... what kind of look is that?' he thought.
A thin layer of cold sweat appeared on his back. But almost immediately, shame replaced the fear. Ridiculous! Have I really been intimidated by a thirteen-year-old country girl? His face darkened with embarrassment.
He clenched his jaw, straightened his back, and glared at Li Shuying even more fiercely, trying to recover the dignity he felt he had momentarily lost.
Li Shuying, however, paid him no attention whatsoever. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Tang Yulan. "So," she asked calmly, "whatever Zhao Hongmei tells you automatically becomes the truth?"
She gave a faint, almost amused laugh, "How long have the two of you even known each other? A few months? Yet you trust her so completely?"
Tang Yulan immediately flared up. "Of course I trust Hongmei!" Her voice rose several degrees. "I know she would never lie. Hongmei has the kindest heart I've ever seen."
As she spoke, admiration unconsciously filled her expression, "When she told me about your family, she even begged me not to spread it around. She said it was your family's private matter and asked me to keep it a secret."
Tang Yulan folded her arms proudly, "I was the one who insisted on asking her again and again before she finally told me." She looked at Li Shuying with obvious disdain, "Someone as kind as Hongmei would never fabricate rumors for no reason."
Genuine surprise flickered across Li Shuying's eyes.
Interesting...
In her previous life, and even after her rebirth, Tang Yulan had always been notoriously arrogant. She looked down upon every rural student in school as though they carried mud on their bodies. Even Zhao Hongmei had once been among those she openly despised.
Yet today, she was praising Zhao Hongmei as though she were some spotless saint. The change was so abrupt that it felt almost unnatural.
A week... In just one week, Zhao Hongmei has completely won Tang Yulan's trust?
Li Shuying's eyes narrowed slightly. She suddenly realized she might have underestimated Zhao Hongmei's ability to manipulate people.
No wonder she could deceive everyone in my previous life. She truly possessed an extraordinary talent for wrapping poison in honey.
The thought only lingered for a brief moment before Li Shuying calmly pushed it aside. There would be plenty of time to settle accounts with Zhao Hongmei later.
Right now, there were more important matters. She looked at Tang Yulan again, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile.
"So certain?" Her voice remained gentle. "What if I can prove that I am indeed a military dependent?" She paused deliberately before adding, "If I prove it... would you kneel and kowtow to me in front of everyone here?"
The entire cooperative instantly fell silent. Even the sales clerks exchanged shocked glances and Tang Yulan's face flushed crimson.
"Kowtow?" she shrieked. "You want me to kowtow to you?"
Before Li Shuying could respond, Fan Mingqiang finally exploded. "Kowtow my ass!" He stepped forward aggressively, glaring at Li Shuying. "You filthy little brat, have you forgotten I'm standing right here? And yet you still dare threaten my niece?"
His face darkened with fury. He turned toward Fan Meizhen, "Elder Sister, enough talking." He cracked his knuckles one by one, producing sharp popping sounds that echoed through the quiet cooperative, "Let me teach this muddy-legged village girl what respect means."
His lips curled into a cruel smile, "Otherwise, with her lawless temper, who knows? One day she might even dare raise her hand against Yulan."
As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and strode toward Li Shuying with obvious malicious intent.
The surrounding customers instinctively retreated several steps. No one wanted to become involved.
Just as Fan Mingqiang was about to reach Li Shuying...
"Enough." Fan Meizhen suddenly stepped forward and firmly blocked his path. Without saying a word, she subtly tilted her head toward the director Liu.
Only then did Fan Mingqiang notice the man's increasingly solemn expression.
Director Liu had remained silent from beginning to end. But his silence did not mean approval. On the contrary, the deeper his frown became, the more dangerous the atmosphere felt.
Fan Mingqiang's raised fist slowly froze in midair. Only now did he realize, this was not some deserted alley in the county where he could bully a country girl at will.
This was a state-owned Supply and Marketing Cooperative and there were dozens of witnesses.
A sheen of cold sweat instantly appeared on Fan Mingqiang's forehead. He turned stiffly toward Director Liu, forcing an awkward smile that looked uglier than a grimace.
"D...Director Liu..." he stammered, "Y...You can see for yourself how lawless this little girl is. She has been insulting my elder sister from the very beginning. If I don't teach her a lesson, won't she become even more arrogant?"
Before he could continue, Director Liu raised a hand. "Enough." His voice was calm, yet carried undeniable authority. "Whatever the reason may be, Comrade Fan, laying hands on a child is unacceptable." His eyes lingered on Fan Mingqiang for a long moment before shifting toward Fan Meizhen. "Madam Tang..." His tone became noticeably heavier. "Are you truly planning to recommend your younger brother for such an important position at the County Steel Factory?"
He frowned slightly, "With such a violent temper... can he truly shoulder Party responsibilities? Can someone so impulsive properly serve the people?"
Those words struck Fan Mingqiang like a bucket of ice water. His face instantly turned pale. That position, he had waited years for it.
Seeing her brother panic, Fan Meizhen immediately stepped forward, "Director Liu," she said with a graceful smile that barely concealed her irritation, "my younger brother merely cares too much for his family." She sighed softly. "Wouldn't any younger brother become angry after watching someone insult his own elder sister and niece?"
She then pointed toward Li Shuying. "And besides..." Her eyes narrowed. "You still haven't made your position clear, Director Liu. This little girl has been spreading nonsense for quite some time, yet you have done nothing."
She paused deliberately, "What does that mean?" Her voice carried obvious dissatisfaction. "Or perhaps... the wife of the Deputy Director of the County Steel Factory carries no weight in your eyes?"
Director Liu's brows knitted together. He had long grown tired of Fan Meizhen's habit of using her husband's position to pressure others.
Still, he maintained his composure, "Madam Tang," he replied evenly, "I am not challenging your family's status. But this is a state-owned Supply and Marketing Cooperative. The regulations are established by the State, not by me. I have no authority to drive away a customer without cause. If I violate the rules simply to please someone, I will be the one answering to the Organization."
Fan Meizhen immediately sneered, "A customer?" She looked Li Shuying up and down with unconcealed contempt, "Director Liu... Take a proper look. Does she look like someone who can afford anything sold here?"
Her voice dripped with ridicule, "I'd wager she doesn't even possess enough money to buy half a jin of salt."
Several sales clerks secretly nodded. That was exactly what they had assumed from the beginning.
Director Liu merely sighed inwardly. For a woman who had married into a cadre family, Fan Meizhen's vision remained astonishingly shallow.
He was about to speak, but another voice interrupted him.
"Comrade..." Li Shuying calmly reached into the inner pocket of her jacket and without the slightest hesitation, she placed a thick bundle of Renminbi, along with several neatly folded ration coupons, onto the wooden counter towards Han Meifeng.
Her voice remained as calm as still water, "Please pack everything I requested."
Complete silence fell around. Every pair of eyes instinctively dropped toward the counter. Several crisp five-yuan notes lay stacked together. Beside them rested ration coupons, meticulously arranged. For a thirteen-year-old village girl, the sight was utterly unbelievable.
Fan Meizhen's pupils shrank violently. Tang Yulan's mouth slowly fell open. Even Fan Mingqiang forgot to breathe.
How... How could this muddy-legged village girl possess so much money?
Tang Yulan clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms. Her pride suffered another heavy blow.
She had mocked Li Shuying for being unable to afford anything. Yet now, the girl had casually produced money.
Before anyone recovered from their shock, Han Meifang suddenly let out a surprised gasp. "Oh..." Her usually indifferent eyes widened slightly.
She carefully picked up one of the coupons, studying it closely. Then she looked at Li Shuying with unmistakable surprise, "National coupons?" Her normally cold voice unconsciously rose, "These are genuine national coupons."
She looked back at the slips several more times, almost as if confirming she had not mistaken them.
Then she raised them slightly for everyone nearby to see. The surrounding sales clerks immediately leaned forward.
Several of them inhaled sharply.
"They really are National Coupons..."
"I've rarely seen them..."
In this era, ordinary provincial ration coupons were already precious enough. National coupons, however, were something else entirely. They could be used across provinces and were extremely difficult for ordinary civilians to obtain.
Most people only knew of them through rumors. Han Meifang looked at Li Shuying again. This time, the aloofness in her eyes had disappeared completely.
Instead... There was unmistakable admiration.
"So..." She smiled faintly. "Your father truly serves in the People's Liberation Army. I've heard that National Coupons are generally issued only to military personnel, particularly cadre-level officers."
She hesitated briefly before asking politely, "May I ask... what position does your father hold?"
Li Shuying answered without any trace of pride, "He is a Squad Leader."
Han Meifang's smile immediately deepened, "A Squad Leader..." She nodded sincerely, "No wonder. I have always admired our People's Liberation Army. The soldiers who guard our country endure hardships ordinary people cannot imagine."
She looked directly at Li Shuying, "As a military dependent, you deserve the respect due to your family's sacrifice."
Her voice had completely changed. Gone was the indifference from earlier. Instead, she spoke with genuine courtesy.
"I'll prepare everything immediately." Without waiting for a response, she briskly turned and hurried toward the storeroom, personally gathering every item Li Shuying had requested.
The contrast in her attitude was so obvious that even the surrounding customers noticed it.
Tang Yulan stood rooted to the spot. Her mind was in complete chaos.
She stared blankly at the National Coupons Han Meifang had displayed.
Even she understood their significance.
Ordinary families simply could not obtain such things.
Which meant... Li Shuying had not lied.
Tang Yulan's face gradually lost all color. Her thoughts became increasingly chaotic.
How... How could this be? Hongmei clearly told me Li Shuying had no father at home... She even said Li Shuying was nothing more than a fatherless bastard. Then... why is everything happening exactly the opposite?
Had Zhao Hongmei...
lied to her? Just thinking about it made her clench her fist in annoyance.
The moment Li Shuying received the neatly wrapped bundle of goods, she looked up at Han Meifang and smiled sincerely, "Thank you, Comrade."
Han Meifang hurriedly waved her hand, the cold indifference she had shown earlier nowhere to be found. Instead, a faint warmth softened her usually impassive face.
"There is no need to thank me," she replied calmly. "It is simply my duty."
She pointed toward the parcels stacked neatly on the counter, "I've packed everything you requested, soy sauce, chili paste, fermented bean paste, vinegar, salt, Sichuan peppercorns, cassia bark, as well as the mung bean cakes and red date cakes. Since you hold National Supply Coupons, there are no county purchasing restrictions on these items. If you require anything else in the future, feel free to come."
Li Shuying nodded gratefully, "I'll remember that."
Her impression of Han Meifang improved considerably. From the beginning, unlike the other sales clerks, Han Meifang had never mocked her appearance or dismissed her simply because she came from the countryside. More importantly, when everyone had remained silent, she alone had stepped forward to speak the truth despite knowing exactly who Fan Meizhen was. People like that were rare.
With another polite nod, Li Shuying gathered her parcels and walked toward the entrance without sparing another glance at the Tang family.
Her expression remained calm, but only she knew how violently the anger churned inside her chest. If not for the fact that Fan Meizhen possessed both influence and status, she would never have allowed today's insults against her mother to pass so quietly.
But she also understood a simple truth. An egg could not smash a stone, atleast not yet.
People like Fan Meizhen and Tang Yulan had spent years standing above ordinary people. Such people valued their pride above everything else. Once offended, they would resort to every possible means, open or underhanded to crush whoever embarrassed them.
For now... She could only endure. The day would eventually come when they would repay today's humiliation a hundredfold.
The instant Li Shuying disappeared beyond the entrance, Fan Meizhen finally released the breath she had been holding.
Her carefully maintained composure instantly collapsed. She whipped around and glared at Tang Yulan, "Lanlan!" Her voice was low but frighteningly cold, "What exactly was that?"
Tang Yulan instinctively shrank back, "M...Mother..."
"You told me she was a fatherless bastard!" Fan Meizhen hissed through clenched teeth. "You said that little village girl had no father at home. Then tell me..." Her voice rose another degree. "Where did this military-dependent identity come from?"
Tang Yulan's lips trembled, "I... I only repeated what Hongmei told me..."
"Hongmei? Hongmei again!" Fan Meizhen nearly laughed from anger, "You believed someone else's words without verifying them and dragged me into this mess?" She lowered her voice immediately, afraid others might overhear, "Do you even understand what would have happened if this matter had truly reached the People's Armed Forces Department?"
Her face turned noticeably pale, "Military dependents are under military protection. Insulting an active serviceman's family is not something your father's connections can simply smooth over." Her fingers tightened around Tang Yulan's wrist. "If today's matter had been formally reported..." She swallowed, "...our entire family could have been investigated."
Tang Yulan finally realized the seriousness of the situation. Her face lost all color, "I... I didn't know..."
"You didn't know?" Fan Meizhen almost exploded, "You nearly caused your father years of hard work because you listened to gossip!"
For the first time, Tang Yulan genuinely felt afraid.
Outside the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Li Shuying drew in a slow breath. The cool afternoon breeze gradually calmed the irritation in her heart. She adjusted the cloth bundle in her arms and prepared to head toward the road leading back to Shitou Commune.
Just then, her eyes landed on a milita jeep parked beneath a row of old locust trees not far away.
The driver leaned casually against the steering wheel, speaking with the soldier beside him. The familiar sharp profile immediately caught her attention.
Gu Zhenhua.
The moment she recognized him, her lingering anger faded considerably. Even after seeing him several times, she still couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The heavens truly favored some people.
Tall and straight-backed, with sword-like brows and clear, resolute eyes, Gu Zhenhua possessed the kind of appearance that naturally commanded attention. Yet what impressed people even more was the calm restraint unique to a career soldier.
If she were truly the thirteen-year-old Li Shuying, she probably would have blushed just from meeting his eyes. Fortunately, her soul had already lived through another lifetime. A seventy-year-old heart was far less susceptible to handsome faces.
She quietly shook away the absurd thought and turned to leave. But before she had taken more than two steps...
"Comrade Li." A deep, steady voice called after her.
Li Shuying stopped and turned. Gu Zhenhua had already stepped down from the jeep.
Almost instantly, the people lingering outside the cooperative noticed him. A wave of whispers spread through the crowd.
"Is he from the county militia? Such a fine young man, why have I never seen him before?"
"Exactly, such a fine man, "
"He looks even more imposing up close."
Gu Zhenhua paid no attention whatsoever to the murmurs. He walked directly toward Li Shuying with calm, measured strides.
Stopping before her, he gave a slight nod, "Comrade Li."
Li Shuying returned the greeting, "Comrade Gu."
"I've been waiting for you." He continued.
She blinked in surprise, "Waiting for me?" A trace of confusion appeared in her eyes, "But... didn't we agree to meet on Monday?"
After a brief pause, another possibility crossed her mind, "Have you already used up the supplies?"
Gu Zhenhua shook his head, "No. The grain and meat are sufficient for another two days."
His voice remained as composed as ever, "I happened to see you pass by the county hospital earlier today. I intended to drive to Shitou Commune afterward, so I thought I might save you the walk."
Hospital? Li Shuying's heartbeat skipped. The members of the Hei Lang gang were still recovering there.
Could it be... Had Gu Zhenhua discovered something? The possibility flashed through her mind like lightning.
Although her expression remained perfectly calm, inwardly she became vigilant.
She forced a faint smile, "So... Comrade Gu, is there something you need from me?"
Gu Zhenhua studied her quietly for a brief moment before answering, "No. I'm merely visiting to your commune. Since our destination is the same, I thought I could give you a ride."
Li Shuying remained unconvinced. After several encounters, she had already formed a rough understanding of this man. Gu Zhenhua never wasted time on meaningless matters. If he personally waited here for her, there had to be another reason.
She had little patience for guessing today. Especially after everything that had just happened inside the cooperative. She opened her mouth, intending to politely decline.
Before she could speak, however, Gu Zhenhua's eyes fell upon the heavy grain sack and several parcels she was carrying. Without a word, he naturally reached out, "I'll carry these."
Before Li Shuying could refuse, the weight in her hands had already disappeared.
He lifted the sack with practiced ease, as though it weighed almost nothing, then turned toward the military jeep.
After taking only two steps, he paused slightly and looked back, "Comrade Li." His tone remained calm, carrying the quiet certainty of someone accustomed to giving orders, "It's already lunch time. Come."
Li Shuying let out a quiet sigh. She had already guessed that refusing would only lead to another round of polite insistence. Gu Zhenhua was the sort of man who appeared gentle on the surface, yet once he had made up his mind, his words carried the firmness of military discipline.
Since there was little point in arguing, she simply nodded, "Then... I'll trouble you, Comrade Gu." And with that followed him.
The moment they reached the vehicle, He Jianci immediately pushed open the passenger door and climbed down.
"Comrade Li!" His cheerful voice instantly broke the slightly awkward silence, "It's been a few days."
Li Shuying smiled politely, "Comrade He."
Seeing the two greet each other, Gu Zhenhua quietly placed the sack in the rear compartment before dusting his hands.
He Jianci immediately stepped aside and gestured toward the front seat, "Comrade Li, please."
Li Shuying instinctively turned toward the rear of the jeep, "I'll sit in the back."
"No, no." He Jianci waved both hands with exaggerated seriousness, "The back is full of documents and supplies. Besides, I'm used to sitting there."
Without waiting for her to refuse again, he opened the passenger door wider, "Please."
Li Shuying hesitated only briefly before nodding, "Then... thank you."
She climbed into the passenger seat, but thag immediately realised something. Gu Zhenhua was already sitting behind the steering wheel.
"..."
For the briefest instant, her expression became slightly unnatural.
In her previous life, decades later, a young woman sitting beside a young man in the front passenger seat often carried an entirely different implication.
Although she clearly knew this was 1958, where people rarely entertained such thoughts, old habits from another lifetime still lingered in her subconscious.
A faint warmth quietly crept onto her cheeks.
Fortunately, neither Gu Zhenhua nor He Jianci appeared to notice. Or perhaps, they simply did not think in that direction at all. After all, soldiers of this era were famous for their upright conduct.
Gu Zhenhua adjusted the rear-view mirror, his voice calm as ever. "Is your seat comfortable?"
Li Shuying quickly suppressed the strange thoughts in her heart. "It's fine."
"If it becomes uncomfortable on the muddy road to village, let me know."
"...Mm." She originally intended to suggest switching with He Jianci once they started driving. Yet before she could speak, Gu Zhenhua had already started the engine. The jeep gave a low rumble before steadily pulling away from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Dust rose gently behind the tires.
Outside the cooperative, Tang Yulan remained rooted to the spot. Her eyes never left the departing military vehicle.
She had only followed Li Shuying outside to confront her because she had been thoroughly scolded by her mother moments earlier because of her. Yet what she had just witnessed left her mind completely blank.
It was him. The officer from the execution ground.
Ever since that day, his composed bearing, straight military uniform, and stern yet handsome face had lingered in her thoughts. She had secretly asked around the county for nearly a week, using every acquaintance she knew, but nobody seemed able to tell her who he was.
It was as though he had appeared out of nowhere.
And now... Not only did Li Shuying know him, she seemed to know him well.
They spoke naturally.
He had voluntarily carried her things.
He had even come personally to pick her up.
Tang Yulan's fingers slowly curled into fists. Her nails dug deeply into her palms.
Why?