Li Guoqiang soon arrived outside the Regimental Commander's office. Standing near the entrance was the commander's orderly, who had clearly been waiting for him.
Upon seeing Li Guoqiang approach, the orderly gave a brief nod and pushed open the door, gesturing for him to enter.
The office within was neither lavish nor ornate. Two plain wooden chairs faced the desk, their surfaces polished smooth by years of use. A modest bookshelf stood in the corner, filled with military manuals, agricultural reports, and political literature.
Li Guoqiang stepped forward without hesitation. Drawing himself upright, he raised his hand in a crisp military salute.
"Squad Leader Li Guoqiang reporting, Regimental Commander."
He then stood at attention before the desk, his posture straight as a spear.
Regimental Commander He Guangsheng looked up.
For a moment, he was visibly startled.
It was not that he was a man who favored appearances or paid special attention to good looking faces. In his mind, the only qualities that truly mattered were loyalty, discipline, and devotion to serving the country and its people.
Yet Li Guoqiang's appearance was undeniably striking.
Broad-shouldered and upright, with sharp features and a composed bearing, he possessed the kind of presence that immediately drew the eye, much like Gu Zhenhua.
He Guangsheng quickly dismissed the stray thought and gestured calmly toward the chair before him.
"Do not stand on ceremony, Squad Leader Li," he said. "Please, have a seat."
Li Guoqiang bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment and sat down without unnecessary delay.
"Regimental Commander He," he said respectfully, "how may I assist you?"
He Guangsheng did not waste time circling the matter.
"I heard from Comrade Pan Shouyi," he began, "that yesterday you sold a batch of apples to the logistics department."
At those words, Li Guoqiang's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. A faint alertness flashed through his eyes, though his outward expression remained composed.
"Yes, Commander," he replied calmly. "That was indeed me."
He Guangsheng smiled faintly. "Do not misunderstand me, Comrade Li," he said reassuringly. "I simply wish to ask you something." He leaned back slightly in his chair. "Those apples… do they possess some kind of medicinal property? Were they truly just ordinary apples?"
Li Guoqiang frowned slightly. "They were simply fruits, Commander. Nothing particularly unusual, only of good quality."
He Guangsheng slowly shook his head. "Comrade Li," he said thoughtfully, "I have eaten apples before. I have even tasted imported varieties from Britain during a visit to Hong Kong. Yet none of them possessed such an extraordinary flavor or effect."
His tone grew more serious. "My wife has suffered from severe insomnia for many years. The cause is not trivial. During the War to Aid Korea, she witnessed her twin brother fall on the battlefield before her own eyes. Since that day, she has never truly recovered."
His voice carried a trace of restrained sorrow. "She was once a military doctor. After that incident, however, she abandoned her profession and became a full-time housewife. Yet even now, she still wakes at night in tears, haunted by the memory."
He Guangsheng paused. "But yesterday evening, after eating one of those apples… For the first time in years, she slept peacefully through the entire night. When she woke this morning, her mind was clear and her usual migraines were gone. As for myself, I also felt unusually relaxed and refreshed throughout the day. Tell me, Comrade Li would you still insist that such an apple is nothing special?"
Li Guoqiang fell silent. For a moment, his mind drifted back to the first apple he himself had eaten. He had indeed felt a strange warmth spreading through his body afterward, a sense of clarity and vitality he had initially dismissed as imagination.
Now, hearing the commander's account, doubt crept into his thoughts.
After a moment, he spoke slowly.
"Commander, those apples were actually brought here by my daughter when she came to visit me." He paused before continuing. "To be honest, I also noticed something unusual when I tasted one myself. At the time, I assumed it was simply my own imagination. I cannot say whether the apples possess genuine medicinal properties. My daughter herself would likely not be able to explain such matters."
He hesitated briefly before adding, "However, if one considers it carefully, it is possible that the apples grew in particularly favorable conditions. The habitat and climate where they were cultivated may have been exceptionally suitable, enhancing their nutritional composition and secondary metabolites. Such factors could explain the effects you described, Commander."
He Guangsheng folded his hands on the desk and after a brief silence, he nodded slowly. "Whatever conditions produced those apples must be truly extraordinary," he said.
His tone then shifted slightly as he continued, "Comrade Li, I summoned you here today for two reasons. First, I wished to inquire about the apples and see whether it might be possible to obtain more in the future. Second…" He paused briefly, "My wife has insisted that you and your children come to our quarters today. She wishes to host you for lunch."
For a moment, Li Guoqiang was genuinely taken aback. He immediately shook his head politely. "Regimental Commander, that would not be appropriate. I already sold those apples to the logistics department at a fair price. Accepting your invitation because of something that I've benifited as well would make me feel rather embarrassed."
He Guangsheng waved a hand dismissively, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "No, no. This is not something you can decline so easily. It was my wife who gave the order. Between you and me, Comrade Li, I cannot refuse my wife when she decides something. And if I cannot refuse her, how can you?"
His tone carried the familiar warmth of a seasoned soldier speaking plainly.
Li Guoqiang smiled and nodded. "Very well, Commander. Since Madam has invited us so sincerely, we will come."
Yet inwardly he still felt slightly uneasy. After all, he had sold those apples with the simple intention of earning some money for his family. That they had unintentionally helped someone was merely coincidence. Accepting such hospitality made him feel as though he had done something worthy of reward, which he did not believe was the case.
Nevertheless, an invitation from a regimental commander's family could not easily be refused.
When Li Guoqiang returned to the training ground, the moment his children saw him, they rushed toward him with undisguised curiosity.
Li Guoqiang chuckled faintly at their anxious faces and briefly recounted everything that had occurred inside the office, including the unexpected invitation to dinner.
Both boys were stunned. Their reaction was understandable. In their eyes, the Regimental Commander was someone far above their ordinary world.
But standing beside them, Li Shuying's eyes sparkled with undisguised excitement.
Yesterday she had suggested that her father bring a few apples to his company commander as a gesture before requesting leave. Her intention had simply been to help her father establish a favorable connection within the unit.
Who could have imagined that instead of the company commander, the apples would catch the attention of the regimental commander himself?
It truly felt like a pie had fallen straight from the sky.
If today's dinner went well and her father left a good impression on Regimental commander, and if she could also successfully establish a cooperative relationship with Gu Zhenhua… then perhaps the terrible tragedy that had befallen her father in her previous life might be avoided.
At the very least, a small ray of hope would appear.
Thinking of this, Li Shuying quickly spoke up. "Father, shouldn't we bring a gift? We can't visit someone's home empty-handed."
Li Guoqiang had clearly considered the matter already. "I thought about that," he said. "I will bring the oil-sealed shredded chicken you brought from home. It's the only valuable thing I have."
Li Shuying nodded immediately. "Yes, Father. That's perfect. It will show our sincerity."
Both boys also nodded in agreement.
Li Guoqiang glanced at the sky and said, "Come. For lunch we will meet your Uncle Liu Baitao in canteen. He just returned from field drills and will be happy to see you."
The children readily agreed, and the family began walking toward the canteen.
While walking, Li Shuying's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Her mind returned to what her father had just described. Those apples had helped cure insomnia… even eased bodily pain?
At first glance it sounded almost mystical. But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
Every time she consumed food produced within her system space, she had also felt subtle benefits, her body felt lighter, her mind clearer, her stamina slightly improved. At the time she had simply assumed it was because the produce was fresh and of high quality.
But the effect on the regimental commander's wife had been far more dramatic.
There could be two reasons she could think of, one the apples had simply amplified their restorative effects.
Or perhaps…
Perhaps there was something deeper about the system space that she had not yet discovered.
From her perspective, the space looked almost ordinary, farmland, orchards, livestock pens, and simple processing machines. Nothing about it suggested the miraculous effects its produce seemed to carry.
Was there some hidden mechanism she had yet to unlock? Or would those secrets only reveal themselves once the system reached a higher level?
The thought alone filled her with anticipation. A bright spark of excitement flickered in her eyes.
At that moment, Li Shuying felt an overwhelming urge to sell more produce, earn more points, and upgrade the farm space as quickly as possible.
Because somewhere deep in her heart, she had a growing suspicion that the true power of the system had only just begun to reveal itself.
At the canteen, they finally met Uncle Liu Baitao, Aunt Lu Lingmei's husband. The moment he saw the children, his face lit up with genuine warmth.
"Ah, so you've all come," he said with a broad smile, his voice carrying both affection and relief. "You've grown taller again, especially you, Jianmin. Truly, you will definitely become a soldier in future."
The children greeted him politely, and soon they sat together for a simple meal.
The food, as always in the canteen, was plain, coarse grains, a thin vegetable broth, and a small portion of pickled greens. Li Shuying, who had grown accustomed to the richer taste found the flavors lacking. Yet somehow, the meal did not feel dull.
Perhaps it was the warmth in Uncle Liu Baitao's voice, or the way he spoke of home with such fondness, that made even the simplest food seem comforting.
They talked about the village, the current conditions, the upcoming harvest, and the daily struggles everyone endured. Uncle Liu asked eagerly about his twins, Little Weimin and Little Weiguo, his eyes softening whenever their names were mentioned.
"Are they still causing trouble for their mother?" he asked with a chuckle.
Li Jianmin laughed. "They fight every day, Uncle, but they also can't stay apart for even a moment, they have even started earning workpoints collecting pig feed."
Hearing this, Liu Baitao shook his head helplessly, though the smile on his face only deepened.
Before leaving, he carefully took out a small bundle of money and handed it to them.
"Give this to your Aunt Lingmei," he said. "It's what extra I managed to save from my missions."
His allowance, being that of a junior soldier, was modest compared to Li Guoqiang's. Yet even so, he had set aside what little he could for his family.
From his pocket, he also produced two small wooden toys, crudely carved, yet crafted with care.
"I made these during my spare time," he said, his voice tinged with a father's quiet pride. "They're for Weimin and Weiguo."
After exchanging a few more words, Liu Baitao rose to leave for his afternoon training. Soon after, Li Guoqiang also returned to the training ground, his duties calling him away once more.
Left on their own, Li Shuying and her brothers decided to change into something more presentable for the dinner.
For once, they shed the coarse, worn garments they had always been accustomed to wearing.
Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo put on the newly purchased Dacron shirts and trousers. On their feet were brand-new Liberation shoes, sturdy and clean, a stark contrast to their usual worn-out footwear.
Li Shuying, too, changed into a fresh white cotton shirt and neatly fitted trousers. The fabric felt soft against her skin, a rare comfort. She slipped on her new cotton shoes, their lightness making her steps feel almost buoyant.
For a moment, she simply stood there, feeling the difference.
Then, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.
A mirror.
Since arriving in this new life, she had heard her brothers and mother occasionally mention her refined features. Yet she had never truly seen herself.
Even in her previous life, she had only glimpsed her reflection much later, when she was imprisoned, where a cracked mirror hung in the washroom. By then, time and suffering had already left their marks.
Now, standing here in her youth, she felt an inexplicable curiosity.
She wanted to see herself.
Without delay, she began searching the room, checking corners, the washroom, even behind the small wooden table. Yet no mirror could be found.
Just as she was about to give up, she opened the cupboard in the far corner.
And there mounted on the inside of its door was a long mirror. Her face immediately brightened.
With a quick step forward, she stood before it and looked up.
For the first time, she saw herself clearly.
She froze.
The girl reflected in the mirror was… unexpectedly delicate.
Her complexion was fair, though tinged with a faint paleness that spoke of hardship. Her features were fine and gentle, a small, straight nose, soft lips, and a pair of clear, expressive eyes that seemed almost luminous despite her thin frame.
Yet it was also evident that she was undernourished.
Her cheeks were slightly hollow, lacking the softness they should have possessed at her age. Her body, too, was slender, infact too slender, as though it had not yet been given the chance to grow properly.
There was still a childishness to her appearance, an immaturity that had not yet fully blossomed.
But even so Li Shuying could tell. Once she grew older with proper food, care, and a peaceful life...
She would undoubtedly become beautiful. A sudden burst of joy welled up within her. She couldn't help but smile brightly, her eyes curving into crescents.
Lifting her hand, she gently touched her cheek, as though to confirm that the reflection was truly her own.
However, as her fingers brushed against her skin, she felt a slight roughness—the dryness caused by the cold autumn air.
She frowned faintly. Then, remembering something, she quickly reached for the small tin of cold cream her father had bought the previous day.
Carefully, she applied a thin layer onto her face.
The cool, smooth texture spread across her skin, bringing with it a soothing comfort.
As she looked at her reflection once more, her smile returned soft, quiet, yet filled with a budding confidence.
Around four thirty their father came to pick them up and all four left for regimental Commander's place for dinner.