Meanwhile, back at the guest house, the atmosphere appeared calm, at least on the surface.
Li Shuying, Li Jianguo, and Li Jianmin all made a conscious effort to behave as though nothing had happened. Their voices were light, their expressions composed, each of them careful in their own way, not for themselves, but for Li Guoqiang.
Yet a soldier who had spent years reading the battlefield could not be deceived by such surface calm.
He said nothing.
His expression remained steady, but his thoughts were anything but.
What had transpired at Commander He's residence lingered heavily in his mind. Sun Zhigang's hostility, his deliberate provocation, none of it made sense. They had no prior dealings, no grievances that he could recall.
And yet, the man had spoken as though he knew him all along.
That realization unsettled him far more than the confrontation itself.
It was only when the door creaked open and a familiar voice filled the room that the tension eased.
"Ah, Comrade Li!"
Ma Zhiyong stepped in, brushing the night chill from his sleeves, his face bright with smile.
"It's such a pity," he said immediately, shaking his head as he looked at the children. "You are already leaving? Could you not stay a few more days? I had planned to take you around Baicheng, show you the park, maybe even take you hunting in the forest behind the unit. There are many things we could have done together."
His tone carried genuine regret.
Li Jianmin chuckled, the stiffness in him loosening as he replied, "Uncle Ma, we still have school to attend. We cannot remain in the unit for too long."
Ma Zhiyong let out a long sigh, half theatrical, half sincere.
"Ah, what a pity indeed. You three are far more lively than your stone-headed father," he said, casting Li Guoqiang a mock disgruntled glance. "All he ever thinks about is drills, discipline, and training formations."
A faint smile tugged at Li Guoqiang's lips, though he did not respond.
Li Shuying watched the exchange, warmth returning to her eyes. Then she spoke gently, her voice carrying a light, reassuring cadence.
"Uncle Ma, please don't worry. We will come often to visit. And next time, we will bring our eldest brother as well." She paused, her smile widening slightly. "But when that time comes, you must take an extra day's leave. You cannot escape your promise."
Ma Zhiyong laughed heartily. "Good! Good! Then it is settled."
The room gradually filled with a more natural ease, the earlier heaviness receding into the background.
Watching his children laugh again, Li Guoqiang felt a small measure of relief settle in his chest.
After a moment, he rose quietly and gestured for Li Jianguo to step aside.
The boy followed him to a quieter corner of the room.
Without drawing attention, Li Guoqiang reached into his inner pocket and took out a neatly folded bundle of cash. He placed it firmly into Li Jianguo's hand.
"Take this," he said in a low voice. "When you return, give it to your mother. Tell her… she must stop overworking in the fields. Her health is more important than anything else."
His tone softened slightly, though the firmness remained.
He then glanced toward Li Shuying, who was still speaking with Ma Zhiyong, her expression animated in a way that eased his heart.
"Also," he continued, lowering his voice further, "take care of your sister. Watch the people she associates with. And do not let her frequent the black markets too often." His gaze hardened just a fraction. "Your safety comes first. Remember that."
Li Jianguo nodded seriously, accepting both the money and the responsibility.
"Do not worry, Father," he said. "I will deliver the money and your message to Mother, and will also take care of my younger sister."
He hesitated then, his brows knitting slightly as something weighed on his mind.
"Father… about..."
The words faltered.
He stopped himself.
He did not understand enough to speak, and instinctively, he knew that careless words could do more harm than good.
Li Guoqiang saw the hesitation clearly.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Then Li Guoqiang gave a small, steady nod.
"Do not think too much," he said quietly. "Everything is fine."
Whether it was reassurance for his son or for himself, even he did not know.
By the time the night had deepened, their preparations were complete.
The few belongings they had brought were neatly packed, tied with care into cloth bundles.
Then Li Guoqiang gave them his final instructions one by one, his tone firm but not unkind.
"Take care of your journey. Do not wander unnecessarily. Stay together at all times."
Then, after a brief pause, he added, "And when you return home, pass my words to your elder brother. Tell him to focus on his studies and not to listen anyone and find work. A man must first establish himself through learning before he can shoulder greater responsibilities."
The three siblings nodded in unison.
"Yes, Father."
Without further delay, they stepped out into the night.
Ma Zhiyong walked alongside them and, after a moment of thought, said, "I will go to the logistics department and ask Pan Shouyi if he can arrange a tractor."
Li Guoqiang gave a slight nod. "Very well. I will trouble you."
Ma Zhiyong had barely taken a step forward when a voice called out from behind.
"There is no need for that, Comrade Soldier."
They turned.
He Jianci was already striding toward them, his pace brisk, his expression calm.
"Deputy Company Commander Gu is waiting at the unit's entrance," he said. "He has arranged a jeep. Since you are all heading in the same direction, he suggested you travel together."
Both Li Guoqiang and Ma Zhiyong were momentarily taken aback.
Yet neither of them voiced objection.
"Then we shall not refuse such kindness," Li Guoqiang said quietly.
They proceeded toward the unit's entrance, their footsteps steady against the gravel path.
As they approached, the silhouette of a military jeep came into view under the pale glow of a lone lamp. Beside it stood Gu Zhenhua, upright and still, as though he had been waiting there for some time.
Ma Zhiyong immediately straightened and gave a crisp salute.
"Deputy Company Commander Gu," he said, his tone respectful yet tinged with admiration, "you are truly considerate. A jeep ride to the station will save us a great deal of time."
Gu Zhenhua returned a slight nod. His gaze then shifted briefly to Li Guoqiang and his children.
He observed them for a moment and seemed faintly reassured to find no visible distress upon their faces due to earlier incident.
"Let us depart," he said simply. "We are running late."
Without further exchange, they boarded the jeep.
The ride was uneventful, yet the silence within the vehicle carried its own weight.
Even Ma Zhiyong, usually incapable of holding his tongue for long, remained unusually quiet. The presence of Gu Zhenhua seated in the front seemed to impose an unspoken restraint on everyone.
By the time they arrived, the station was alive with subdued activity.
Dim lights illuminated the platform, and the distant hiss of steam echoed through the night as trains prepared for departure.
As soon as they stepped down from the jeep, Gu Zhenhua turned to He Jianci.
"Go and arrange five tickets," he instructed.
He Jianci nodded and left at once.
Ma Zhiyong watched this exchange with growing confusion. He leaned slightly toward Li Guoqiang and spoke in a low voice.
"What is happening with Deputy Company Commander Gu?" he whispered. "Providing a ride is one thing… but arranging tickets as well? Is that not… a little too considerate?"
Li Guoqiang exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed ahead.
"It may be for the best," he replied in an equally low tone. "At least the children will have someone with them. As for the tickets…" he paused, then added, "only someone of his standing can secure soft-sleeper berths at such short notice. I will repay him the cost."
Ma Zhiyong frowned slightly, still unconvinced.
"But do you not find it… unusual?" he pressed. "He is not related to your family in any way. And yet, look at him."
He gestured subtly toward Gu Zhenhua.
The young officer stood near the Li siblings, his posture relaxed, his expression calm, so different from the cold, distant demeanor he displayed within the unit.
"Everyone knows his temperament," Ma Zhiyong continued under his breath. "Eccentric. Reserved. Even intimidating. Many soldiers under his command are older than him, yet they still feel uneasy in his presence."
He shook his head faintly.
"And yet… with your children, he seems entirely at ease."
Li Guoqiang did not dwell on his suspicions and with a faint shake of his head, he replied, "Though he holds the rank of deputy company commander, he is still only twenty-two. Perhaps he finds it easier to get along with those closer to his age. Who can say?"
Ma Zhiyong stared at him as though he had just heard something utterly absurd. "With that demeanor, does he look like a young man to you?" he scoffed. "If anything, he seems older than me. He did not utter a single word the entire journey, as if every syllable cost him dearly."
Li Guoqiang cast him a look of mild disgust. "Not everyone enjoys running their mouth endlessly like you," he said dryly. "And have you forgotten? He is our superior. Mind your words."
Ma Zhiyong let out a dissatisfied grunt but did not argue further. Instead, as if recalling something important, he leaned closer and asked, "Did you not tell your children you would return home during the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
A soft smile touched Li Guoqiang's lips. He shook his head slightly. "No. I intend to surprise them."
Ma Zhiyong's face brightened at once. "Then they will surely be overjoyed," he said with a chuckle. "A sudden reunion beneath the full moon, hm, even the old poets would call that a blessing."
Before Li Guoqiang could respond, footsteps approached. He Jianci returned briskly, a set of tickets in hand. "Deputy Company Commander Gu," he reported, "the train is already at the platform."
At once, the group stirred into motion.
Li Guoqiang reached into his pocket and withdrew a ten yuan bill. Stepping forward, he handed it to Gu Zhenhua with both hands. "Deputy Company Commander Gu," he said solemnly, "thank you for your consideration. But I cannot take advantage of your goodwill. This is for the children's tickets. Please accept it."
Gu Zhenhua lowered his gaze to the folded bill. The sum exceeded the actual fare. For a fleeting moment, it seemed he might refuse. Yet, after the briefest pause, he accepted the money without comment.
His eyes lifted, Li siblings were already gathering their belongings, their figures moving toward the train.
Then Gu Zhenhua turned back to Li Guoqiang and said in a solemn tone, "If you do not wish to spend your life separated from your family then seize the opportunities that come your way. Do not wait endlessly for the perfect moment." His gaze sharpened, carrying a weight that lingered beyond the words themselves. "Fortune favors the bold."
The sentence hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Before Li Guoqiang could respond, Gu Zhenhua had already turned away. With long, unhurried strides, he walked toward the train. He Jianci followed closely behind, carrying the luggage without a word.
Li Guoqiang remained where he stood.
For a moment, he said nothing.
He understood each word clearly, yet when strung together he could not immediately understand.
His brows drew together slightly.
After their tickets had been inspected by the uniformed attendant, the three siblings settled into their berths.
As the train shuddered and slowly lurched forward, Li Shuying, Li Jianguo, and Li Jianmin hurried to the window. Leaning out as far as they dared, they waved fervently at Li Guoqiang and Ma Zhiyong.
"Father, uncle Ma see you soon!" Li Jianmin called, his voice nearly swallowed by the rumble of iron wheels.
Ma Zhiyong shouted, "yes, you all must remember your uncle Ma."
Li Guoqiang on the other hand did not shout back. He simply raised his hand in a steady gesture, his gaze fixed upon them until the distance swallowed their forms.
Only when the train gathered speed and the platform dissolved into darkness did the siblings slowly withdraw.
They returned to their seats, the earlier warmth of companionship replaced by a quieter, heavier stillness.
Li Jianmin was the first to break it.
Lowering his voice, he muttered, "What do you all think of what happened today? That Political Commissar… his attitude toward Father was simply too much. How can Father continue working under such a person?" His tone carried restrained anger.
Li Jianguo frowned slightly, glancing toward the compartment door before replying in an equally subdued tone. "Do not speak so carelessly," he said. "Not everyone in the unit is like him. Did you not see Uncle Ma, Commander He, and Aunt Lee? There are still upright people there. I am certain there are others as well."
His words were measured, but even he could not entirely conceal the unease beneath them.
Li Jianmin clicked his tongue softly. "That may be true," he conceded, "but that man… the way he spoke, as if he had already decided Father was guilty of something. It did not feel right."
He hesitated briefly, then added, his voice dropping further, "And what about what he said later… about those rumors?"
At this, the air in the compartment seemed to tighten.
Li Jianguo's expression darkened. "Rumors are just rumors," he said firmly. "In the army, words travel faster than bullets. A single misunderstanding can become ten stories by the next day. You should never take such things seriously."
"But he did not sound like he was repeating idle gossip," Li Jianmin insisted quietly. "He spoke as if he knew something… or wanted others to believe he did."
Li Jianguo fell silent at that.
Across from them, Li Shuying had remained quiet until now, her gaze resting on the darkened window where her own reflection faintly stared back at her.
She spoke at last, "Whether it is truth or rumor, the intention behind speaking it in such a manner was not simple."
Her brothers turned to look at her.
"He chose his moment carefully," she continued. "In front of Commander He, in front of Comrade Gu… and most importantly, in front of us. That was not carelessness. That was deliberate."
Li Jianmin's brows furrowed. "Deliberate? But why? What does he gain from targeting Father like this?"
Li Shuying's eyes lowered slightly, her thoughts moving deeper.
"A person does not act without reason," she replied. "If his words were not born of personal grievance, then they must be tied to something that concerns Father's position, or perhaps something Father himself does not even know."
Li Jianguo's expression grew serious. "You mean… there is something hidden?"
Li Shuying did not answer immediately. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap, her tone turning quieter, more contemplative.
"In the army," she said, "merit should speak for itself. Yet Father has served for many years, with achievements that even Commander He acknowledged… and still, he remains where he is."
Her gaze lifted, steady and clear.
"Do you truly think that is merely coincidence?"
Neither of her brothers spoke.
The rhythmic clatter of the train filled the silence between them.
After a long pause, Li Jianmin exhaled slowly, leaning back against his seat. "If what you say is true… then Father's situation is far more complicated than we thought."
Li Jianguo nodded faintly, his jaw tightening. "Then all the more reason we must not act recklessly. Father has endured this long, we cannot add to his burden."
Li Shuying gave a small nod, though her expression remained thoughtful.
"Yes," she said softly. "For now, we observe… and we remember."
Li Jianmin, however, was not convinced. "But we cannot just sit back and do nothing. Don't we already know Deputy Company Commander Gu? His position in the unit is not low, if we ask him for help, perhaps he can intervene."
Li Jianguo immediately turned toward him, his expression firm, almost admonishing. "little Third, favors are easily received, but not easily repaid. In this world, once you owe someone, you carry that weight for a lifetime. If you do not have the ability to return it, you should not seek it in the first place."
Li Jianmin clicked his tongue, clearly dissatisfied. "Then what? We just watch as Father is suppressed by that man? Today was already too much, what if he makes things worse in the future?"
Li Shuying, who had been listening silently, finally let out a faint, "Third Brother," she said gently, her voice soft yet steady, "there is no need to be so anxious."
"Father's situation will not remain the same forever," she said. "And… I have already thought of a way."
"What way?" Li Jianmin and Li Jianguo asked almost at the same time.
Li Shuying's smile deepened just a fraction, a trace of mischief flickering across her otherwise composed expression.
"You will know soon enough," she replied lightly.
There was no further explanation.
Before either of her brothers could press further, she turned her gaze back toward the window.
Her thoughts returned, unbidden, to her father.
By now she understood one truth with absolute clarity. Separation from family was not merely distance, it was vulnerability.
As long as they remained apart there would always be gaps. Gaps where others could interfere, manipulate, or suppress without resistance.
And such gaps… could one day become irreparable.
This cannot continue.