Gu Zhenhua was momentarily taken aback by the sharp shift in Li Shuying's expression.
He immediately straightened and replied with measured seriousness. "Comrade Li, you misunderstand me," he said. "When I speak of taking a certain risk, I am referring to the risk I would personally bear."
Li Shuying did not respond at once. Her silence, however, was not empty, it was deliberate. Taking it as permission to continue, Gu Zhenhua leaned forward slightly and spoke in a quieter tone.
"Let us be frank with each other," he said. "Here is the arrangement I propose. You provide the supplies discreetly, and I will pay you personally."
Li Shuying's expression did not soften. "The fundamental problem still remains," she replied calmly. "Even if you pay from your own pocket, you are still an officer of the army. Eventually, when the unit audits expenses or reports logistical matters, you will have to explain the source of those supplies. And suppose you manage to conceal that," she continued. "What about the soldiers under your command? And even if you somehow keep it from them, what about the other people around you in the county?"
She folded her hands on the table.
"If your detachment suddenly begins eating good food every day while everyone else survives on coarse grains and cabbage soup, suspicion will inevitably arise."
Her voice remained soft, but every word struck precisely at the weaknesses of the plan.
Gu Zhenhua, however, had already considered these matters.
"I can handle the affairs within the unit," he replied firmly. "As for the soldiers under my command, you need not worry. They are trustworthy men. Furthermore, our current lodging situation is about to change. Because of upcoming field drills, we will no longer remain in the militia barracks in the county. We will soon relocate to a more remote area for training."
She nodded and fell into thought, in truth, the moment Gu Zhenhua had begun speaking about food supplies, she had already anticipated what he would ask. And even before he finished explaining, she had quietly made a decision in her heart.
She would help him. Even if it involved some risk. But the reason was not what Gu Zhenhua might assume. It was for her father.
In her previous life, the great misfortune that had befallen Li Guoqiang had occurred less than half a year after the Mid-Autumn Festival. That tragic event still lingered in her memory like a dark cloud on the horizon.
And now, the festival was only two weeks away.
If she could secure a reliable ally within the army, especially someone as capable and influential as Gu Zhenhua it might change the course of events entirely. For that reason alone, the risk was worth taking. However, agreeing too quickly would be foolish.
Simply supplying food would not automatically turn Gu Zhenhua into an ally. Trust had to be cultivated slowly, step by step.
She needed a reason to remain connected to him beyond mere transactions.
After a brief silence, Li Shuying finally spoke again.
"Officer Gu," she said thoughtfully, "to be honest, I am still afraid. But I am willing to trust you, because you are a soldier of the People's Liberation Army."
Then she raised one finger slightly.
"However… there is still one final problem."
Gu Zhenhua nodded immediately.
"Please continue, Comrade Li."
Li Shuying leaned forward slightly. "Transporting food supplies for sixteen people will inevitably attract attention," she said. "Even if we act carefully, someone will eventually notice." Then she paused. "But I believe I have a solution."
Gu Zhenhua's eyes sharpened with interest. "What solution?"
Li Shuying spoke calmly. "You mentioned that your detachment intends to leave the militia barracks and relocate somewhere more remote for training."
Gu Zhenhua nodded.
Li Shuying continued, "In that case… why not move your training site to our village?" Our village lies roughly eight kilometers outside the county, It is surrounded by mountains on two sides and bordered by a river on the third. The terrain is secluded, the population small, and the surroundings ideal for field drills."
Gu Zhenhua blinked slightly, clearly not expecting such a suggestion and remained silent for a moment after hearing Li Shuying's proposal.
What she suggested was not entirely impossible. However, relocating a training detachment was not something he could decide on a whim. Even if his unit consisted of only fifteen soldiers, such a movement still required careful consideration. The training ground had to be suitable for drills, the terrain must support his missions objectives, and most importantly it could not disrupt the daily lives of the local civilians.
The People's Liberation Army was strict about such matters. Still, he did not dismiss the idea outright.
Instead, he looked steadily at the young girl sitting across from him and spoke in a calm, probing tone. "Comrade Li, I doubt the reason you suggested relocation is merely for the convenience of transporting supplies. If that were the only concern, I could personally collect the food from you, or arrange a way to assist with transportation."
Li Shuying sighed softly.
She had anticipated that it would not be so easy to persuade him.
In truth, the suggestion had never just been to help her father avoid tragedy alone, forming a connection with Gu Zhenhua is indeed one of her intentions, but there was another reason as well, one that involved her village and its people.
For a brief moment, the image of Brigade Leader Liu and the weary villagers of her commune flashed through her mind.
She straightened slightly and spoke with sincerity. "To be honest, Officer Gu, there is indeed another reason."
Gu Zhenhua gestured lightly for her to continue.
"Our commune is a very backward one," she explained. "Although we produce a respectable amount of grain every year, we have never attracted the attention of the county cadres."
She paused briefly before elaborating.
"Our irrigation channels are still crude earth trenches that dry everytime river water goes down, while other communes have already begun installing reinforced embankments. The road connecting our village to the county remains a narrow dirt path that becomes nearly impassable during the rainy season. We lack proper storage granaries, and even agricultural tools are scarce."
Her voice remained calm, but the quiet frustration behind her words was clear.
"Meanwhile, other communes closer to the county receive more frequent visits from cadres. They receive guidance, equipment allocations, and sometimes even funding for improvements. Our commune, however, is often overlooked."
She lifted her eyes and met Gu Zhenhua's gaze. *If your detachment were to relocate to our village for training, it would inevitably draw the attention of the county leadership. Once the cadres become aware of our commune, inspections and development funds might follow."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"And if your unit stays there for a period of time, the brigade may also receive compensation for providing land and logistical support. That money alone could improve many things for the villagers." She spread her hands slightly. "That is why I suggested it."
Gu Zhenhua listened carefully without interrupting. The reasoning was… surprisingly reasonable.
From a civilian perspective, it made perfect sense. From a military standpoint, it was not entirely impractical either. If her description of the terrain was accurate, the surrounding mountains could provide useful ground for reconnaissance. Moreover, the remote environment might even assist his own mission of investigating the bandit activity in the region.
Even so, he did not immediately agree. Such a decision would require consultation with the regimental commander. After considering for a moment, he finally nodded slightly.
"I will take your suggestion into serious consideration, Comrade Li," he said and leaned forward slightly. "But regarding the food supplies?"
Li Shuying answered without hesitation. "Do not worry about that," she said confidently. "I will take care of the arrangements."
Gu Zhenhua studied her for a moment before nodding. "Very well." Then he added thoughtfully, "As for the price of the supplies, we will need to establish a reasonable arrangement. I cannot pay the full black market price. Such transactions would inevitably attract scrutiny, and that would place both of us in unnecessary danger."
Li Shuying nodded in understanding. "I will adjust the prices according to normal market rates for the items you require," she replied. "Would that be acceptable?"
"That will be acceptable," Gu Zhenhua said. After a brief pause, he asked another question. "When do you plan to return to your county?"
At once, the lively spirit in Li Shuying's eyes dimmed slightly.
After such an exiting say with her father and brothers, she had nearly forgotten that her visit to the military compound was coming to an end. Tomorrow, she and her brothers would have to leave. The thought of departing so soon weighed unexpectedly on her heart. She had only just reunited with her father after such a long time.
Gu Zhenhua seemed to understand her silence and did not press her immediately. She must be reluctant to leave her father behind, but leaving the compound was inevitable.
Besides, if everything proceeded as planned and if Li Guoqiang's service record review and background check were completed, there was a strong possibility that he would soon join Gu Zhenhua's mission in Taonan County.
When that happened, father and daughter would meet again soon enough.
After a brief moment of quiet reflection, Li Shuying finally spoke. "We will be leaving tomorrow," she said softly.
Gu Zhenhua nodded. "In that case, I will arrange the train tickets."
Li Shuying instinctively opened her mouth to decline the offer. However, halfway through the motion she remembered the incident at the railway station in county and they both were business partners now, so there was no need to be overly formal and conservative.
So affter a brief pause, she nodded. "Very well." Then she rose from her chair. "In that case," she said politely, "I will return to my room."
With that she was about to turn and leave the lounge, when Gu Zhenhua suddenly spoke. "Wait."
His voice was calm but firm.
Li Shuying paused mid-step and turned back, her brows knitting slightly in confusion.
Gu Zhenhua did not explain immediately. Instead, he reached beside his chair and picked up a heavy cloth bag that had been resting quietly against the table leg. He extended it toward her. "This is for you," he said simply.
Li Shuying blinked. "For me?"
Gu Zhenhua nodded. "This evening, when I came looking for you," he explained, "I happened to overhear your conversation about searching for special study materials from Beijing for your elder brother. So I brought them."
Without another word, Li Shuying quickly took the cloth bag from his hands. The moment she loosened the drawstring and looked inside, her breath caught.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Inside the bag were seven thick practice manuals, bound in slightly worn red hard covers. Though aged from years of use, the books were still well preserved.
Li Shuying lifted one carefully, her fingers trembling slightly.
"T…These are the original volumes," she murmured in astonishment. It was not a question but a statement. She knew them immediately.
The authentic practice sets were famously bound in deep red covers. The titles were written in flowing Caoshu-style calligraphy, bold yet elegant, giving the books an unmistakable scholarly air.
"How did you obtain these?" she asked, unable to conceal her disbelief.
Gu Zhenhua replied in his usual steady tone. "I am originally from Beijing," he said. "These books were distributed to me during my second year of high school. When I heard you speaking earlier about searching for them, I remembered that I still had the set. It has been five years since I graduated. I have always had the habit of keeping my books. Whenever I am transferred somewhere, I bring them along. So they happened to be with me."
Li Shuying nodded slowly, still processing what she was seeing. Then she looked deeper into the bag.
Among the red practice volumes were several thin notebooks, clearly Gu Zhenhua's personal notes from his student days. At that moment, Li Shuying's smile became completely genuine.
She had originally been searching only for copied reproductions circulating in major cities, often incomplete and scattered.
But what lay in her hands now was the entire original set. To her, it was nothing less than treasure. A memory from her previous life surfaced in her mind, of what she heard in jail.
That after the college entrance examinations were reinstated in 1977, countless people across China had desperately searched for reference materials to prepare for the exam. Among the most coveted were precisely these practice manuals from Beijing.
Years later, she had once heard a story online about a well-preserved original set being discovered. Collectors had treated it like an antique relic, priced at Three hundred thousand yuan.
Li Shuying quickly forced the thought aside.
She raised her head and looked at Gu Zhenhua with shining eyes. "Thank you, Officer Gu," she said sincerely. "You have truly helped me this time. You are practically our savior."
She hugged the cloth bag closer to her chest. "Do not worry about the food supplies anymore," she continued eagerly. "I will provide your unit with the best provisions possible, and I will even give you proper discounts."
Gu Zhenhua frowned slightly. "Discounts?"
Li Shuying froze for a moment. She had accidentally used a term from decades in the future. "That means I will charge you less than the regular market price."
Gu Zhenhua shook his head. "That will not be necessary, Comrade Li. There is no reason for you to reduce your profit over something so trivial. I simply had the books and gave them to you. It is no great burden. In truth, they will serve your brother far better than they would serve me."
But by this point, Li Shuying was far too excited to truly listen. Her mind was already imagining her elder brother's face when he saw these books.
She nodded repeatedly, barely registering Gu Zhenhua's final words. "Yes… yes… thank you, Officer Gu…"
Clutching the cloth bag like a precious treasure, she turned and hurried upstairs and after keeping the books safely she lay on her bed.
Next morning the three Li siblings sat quietly together in the corner of the training ground, watching their father conduct training of his squad.
They were discussing their return home. None of them wished to leave. Their train was scheduled to depart that night at eleven o'clock, which meant they still had the entire day left to spend with their father.
Just as they were in the middle of their conversation, a young soldier suddenly came running across the training ground.
When he reached Li Guoqiang, he immediately halted, straightened his posture, and delivered a crisp military salute.
"Squad Leader Li," he reported loudly, "you have been summoned by Regimental Commander He to his office."
For a moment, the entire training ground seemed to fall into a strange silence.
Li Guoqiang himself was visibly taken aback. He stared at the young soldier for a moment before asking carefully, as if unsure whether he had heard correctly, "Are you certain… it is me?"
The young soldier nodded without hesitation.
But Li Guoqiang could not help feeling puzzled.
After all, Regimental Commander He Guangsheng was the highest authority within the entire military compound. A man of such rank would normally have no reason to summon an ordinary squad leader.
In truth, Li Guoqiang had only ever seen the regimental commander from afar during large assemblies. Never once had he expected to be called to his office personally.
The three Li siblings exchanged wide-eyed glances. None of them understood what was happening.