Zhang Wenhao shook his head slowly, his expression carrying a weight that did not belong to idle speculation but to hard-earned experience.
"Sometimes," he said, his voice low and steady, "leaving matters as they are is the only path left to us, Little Shuying. And I do not say this lightly."
Zhang Wenhao leaned back slightly, "a month ago in Changchun," he began, "I attempted something very similar to what you are proposing."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"Behind our military unit there lies a commune composed of three production brigades, large in both land and population. The unit and the commune work closely together. Our fields are connected to theirs, and as a battalion commander, it is my responsibility to assign troops for agricultural labor, inspections, and coordination."
His tone grew heavier.
"During the summer harvest this year, yields were already poor. Rainfall had been insufficient, and what followed was an oppressive heat that scorched the earth. Soon after, a sudden water shortage spread across the region. And few months back, new directives arrived, grain procurement was to be tightened due to declining productivity across the northern provinces."
He exhaled slowly.
"Not long after, I began receiving letters from old comrades in the south. Their accounts were no better. In fact, some were worse."
His eyes darkened faintly.
"It was then I understood from my privious experience that these were not isolated incidents. They were signs the early shadow of disaster."
Li Shuying listened in silence, her hands unconsciously tightening in her lap.
"One day," Zhang Wenhao continued, "my orderly came to report that a fierce argument had broken out at the commune's canteen between the villagers and the commune secretary. He feared it might escalate into violence."
"I immediately set aside my work and went there myself." His voice dropped slightly. "But when I arrived… what I saw was not an argument."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "It was chaos. The villagers hungry and desperate had gathered in numbers. It was as though they had been pushed to the edge, like beasts cornered in the forest, ready to devour their prey. When I learned the cause," he said, "it was both simple and complicated. The communal canteen couldn't operate because no food was left to sustain it."
He lifted his hand slightly. "The villagers blamed the commune secretary. They believed he had handed over the bulk of the grain to the state, leaving only scraps behind for communal meals."
A faint, bitter smile touched his lips.
"And if you examine the matter from both sides… no one was entirely wrong."
"The secretary was fulfilling his duty, to meet the state's grain quotas. That was his responsibility. Yet the villagers had also labored under the sun, endured hardship, and in the end… found themselves with empty bowls."
He shook his head.
"I found myself standing in a crossfire. I did what I could to calm the situation," Zhang Wenhao continued. "I spoke, mediated, and managed to ease the immediate conflict."
His expression darkened.
"But then… I made a mistake."
He paused, his voice growing quieter.
"I told them what I had begun to suspect, that food shortages were not confined to their commune… that across the country, similar patterns were emerging. That there was a real possibility of famine."
The silence in the room deepened.
"My intention," he said slowly, "was to prepare them, to give them foresight, to encourage caution. I even offered suggestions on how they might conserve and plan ahead."
He let out a soft, humorless breath.
"But instead of calming them… my words ignited something far worse."
Li Shuying's heart tightened.
"They believed me," he said. "And belief, when mixed with fear, becomes something uncontrollable."
"Panic spread through the villagers like wildfire. What had been a contained dispute erupted once more, this time with greater force."
His voice hardened slightly.
"In their anger and desperation, they turned against the commune itself. The commune office was set ablaze. The grain storage was looted, including the reserves of wheat seed meant for the next planting."
He closed his eyes briefly, as though recalling the scene.
"By the time the matter reached the military unit, the situation had already spiraled beyond control. Order had collapsed."
A pause.
"In the end, it required intervention from public security and even the regimental commander had to step in personally to suppress the unrest."
When he finished, the room fell utterly silent.
Zhang Wenhao looked at Li Shuying, his gaze steady, carrying both warning and restraint.
"That," he said quietly, "is what happens when truth is given at the wrong time, in the wrong way, to people who have nothing left to hold on to."
His voice softened, though the weight of it did not lessen.
"So tell me, Little Shuying… if you were in my place then, would you still choose to speak?"
Li Shuying fell into silence.
For a long while, she did not speak. Her thoughts drifted back to her village, some were simple and kind. But most of them were like the main branch of the Li family… were stubborn, narrow-minded, and difficult to persuade even in ordinary times, let alone in a moment of looming crisis.
When she finally raised her head again, her expression had steadied.
"Uncle Zhang," she asked quietly, "what were the suggestions you gave them?"
Zhang Wenhao regarded her for a moment before replying.
"Few years ago, while I was in Beijing, I came across an old text," he said. "It recorded how people survived a great famine in the seventeenth century. At that time, a Taoist priest had foreseen an extreme winter and warned of impending disaster."
He leaned back slightly, recalling the details.
"The people did not persist with their usual grain crops. Instead, they turned to short-cycle, resilient varieties like sweet potatoes, Chinese cabbage, mustard greens. Even the early pods of soybean were consumed while still tender. Some planted buckwheat and used it as a staple."
His tone grew more deliberate.
"These crops require less water and mature quickly. In times of scarcity, they can sustain life long enough to endure the worst of it."
He paused, then added,
"I suggested the same approach to the villagers in Changchun."
His gaze than shifted, studying her more curiously.
"Tell me, Little Shuying… do you still intend to help your village?"
Li Shuying lifted her eyes and met his gaze directly.
"Uncle Zhang," she said slowly, "I understand your concerns. And to be honest, I would not dare confront the villagers directly, nor would I dare place you in such a position."
Her voice remained calm, but there was a firmness beneath it.
"But neither can I simply leave things as they are. The consequences… are too severe."
Zhang Wenhao's brows drew together. "Do you not think you are acting in haste?" he asked. "This situation may yet be temporary. Even my own judgment is not absolute, it is merely a prediction based on experience."
For a brief moment, Li Shuying hesitated.
Then, as if making a decision, she spoke.
"But what if I told you…" she said, her voice lowering slightly, "that I am certain this disaster will come?"
A faint stillness settled between them.
"And not just any disaster," she continued, her eyes unwavering. "But one of the most devastating kind."
Zhang Wenhao's expression changed instantly.
The casual composure he had maintained thus far vanished. His back straightened unconsciously, and his gaze sharpened, turning grave.
"Little Shuying," he said slowly, "do you understand what you are saying? Words like these are not to be spoken lightly. If misunderstood, they could bring serious consequences."
Li Shuying shook her head gently.
"Uncle Zhang," she replied, "there are many things I cannot explain to you. But what I am saying now… is the truth."
Her voice did not rise, yet it carried a quiet certainty that was difficult to dismiss.
"That is why I believe your judgment is not unfounded."
She held his gaze without flinching.
"This disaster… will come."
A heavy silence settled over the living room.
Neither of them spoke.
Zhang Wenhao remained seated, his gaze fixed steadily on Li Shuying, as though trying to see beyond her words.
There was no frivolity in her expression, no trace of childish mischief. Instead, there was unease, yes, but also a deep-rooted anxiety that could not be easily feigned. It was the kind of tension that came not from imagination, but from certainty.
And that… troubled him.
To his own surprise, a part of him already believed in her.
It made no sense. What she had said bordered on the absurd. Yet ever since he had met this young girl, she had carried herself with a calmness and composure far beyond her years. There was a steadiness in her demeanor that set her apart from ordinary children.
She did not seem like someone who would speak recklessly.
Zhang Wenhao's fingers tapped lightly against his knee as he weighed his thoughts. He wanted to ask more, but before he could speak, the sound of footsteps approached.
"Little Shuying, look what I brought for you!"
Zhang Junyi's cheerful voice broke the stillness as he emerged from the kitchen, carrying two bowls with an air of pride.
He placed them carefully on the table.
"My grandmother made this grain crakers and this flat breads," he said with a grin. "They're the best in the whole world. And this..." he nudged the other bowl slightly forward, "...is warm brown sugar water."
Only then did he seem to notice the atmosphere.
His brows furrowed.
"Eh? What's wrong?" he asked, glancing between the two of them. "Did I interrupt something important?"
Li Shuying's expression shifted instantly. The tension in her eyes softened, replaced by a gentle smile.
"Nothing like that," she said lightly. "We were just chatting."
She inclined her head slightly.
"Thank you for the snacks and the sweet water."
Without hesitation, she picked up the bowl of brown sugar water and drank it in one go. Warmth spread through her chest, easing the fatigue that had settled into her bones after a long night on the train.
For a brief moment, she allowed herself that comfort.
Then, setting the bowl aside, she turned back to Zhang Wenhao.
"Uncle Zhang," she said calmly, as though the earlier conversation had never taken place, "please don't worry too much about what I said. I will find a way to deal with matters on my side."
Her lips curved faintly.
"Your suggestions have already been very helpful. For that, I am truly grateful."
As she spoke, she reached beside her and lightly tapped the coarse grain sack resting near her chair.
"And this," she added, "is for you."
Only then did both Zhang Wenhao and Zhang Junyi properly notice the large bundle.
Zhang Wenhao frowned slightly.
"What is this, Little Shuying?"
Li Shuying smiled.
"The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching," she said. "I thought you might need some supplies, so I brought a few things."
"A few… supplies?" Zhang Wenhao echoed, clearly puzzled.
"Food supplies," she replied simply.
Curiosity stirred.
Zhang Wenhao stood up and stepped forward, loosening the knot at the mouth of the sack. As he pulled it open and looked inside, he froze.
Behind him, Zhang Junyi leaned in, only to gasp aloud.
"You call this 'a few supplies'?" he blurted out. "This is everything needed for a proper festival feast!"
Unable to restrain himself, he crouched down and began pulling items out one by one, his astonishment growing with each piece.
"Wheat flour… cornmeal… turnips… garlic… eggplants… Chinese Cabbage... Howthorns.." he muttered, almost in disbelief.
Then he stopped.
In his hands lay a thick, well-cut slab of pork belly.
His eyes widened.
"And this...!"
Even Zhang Wenhao, who already had some understanding that Li Shuying possessed unusual means of obtaining food supplies, felt his composure waver. Let alone Zhang Junyi, who was witnessing this for the first time.
Li Shuying nodded calmly.
"Yes, Uncle Zhang. These are all for you."
Zhang Wenhao finally snapped out of his daze and immediately shook his head.
"No… no, this will not do," he said firmly. "This is far too valuable. I cannot accept such a thing."
Li Shuying remained unperturbed.
"Uncle Zhang, there is no need to feel burdened," she said gently. "You already know that I have my own ways of obtaining such supplies. You are someone I respect greatly. Letting you enjoy a good festival meal, there is nothing wrong in that."
But Zhang Wenhao was resolute.
He shook his head again.
"First radishes, then apples, and now this?" he said with a bitter smile. "If I accept everything from you, how am I to face my own conscience?"
Before Li Shuying could respond, Zhang Junyi suddenly spoke up, his tone far more practical.
"But Father, just look at the quality of these supplies," he said, gesturing toward the items. "Even in Changchun, you might not find things like this so easily. When Mother and Elder Brother return for the Mid-Autumn Festival, they would surely be delighted."
He paused, then his eyes lit up.
"How about this, we pay for it?"
Zhang Wenhao hesitated.
The suggestion was tempting.
After all, who would not wish for a proper meal during a festival? Especially in times like these?
Yet… this belonged to Li Shuying.
Li Shuying, however, shook her head.
"There is no need to pay, Uncle Zhang," she said. "Please just keep it. I have more than enough."
That only made Zhang Wenhao more uneasy.
"No," he said firmly. "If I accept it, it must be as a purchase. Otherwise, I will not take it."
There was no room for negotiation in his tone.
Li Shuying hesitated.
She had not intended to take money. In truth, she valued this connection far more than a handful of yuan. A man like Zhang Wenhao a battalion commander, principled and perceptive was someone worth befriending.
But she could also see that his integrity would not allow otherwise.
After a brief pause, she relented.
"Very well," she said with a faint sigh. "If Uncle Zhang insists…"
She thought for a moment, then added lightly,
"Then five yuan will be enough."
Zhang Junyi's eyes widened in disbelief, and he let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Five yuan? There is no way all of this costs only five yuan. It should be at least ten. There's wheat flour and pork belly in there, those alone would take up half that sum."
Zhang Wenhao, though more restrained, nodded in agreement. The seasoned officer understood the value of such provisions all too well, especially in times when grain and meat had begun to grow scarce. Without another word, he stepped into the inner room to fetch the money.
Left alone in the living room, Zhang Junyi's curiosity, which had been simmering finally spilled over. He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret.
"Hey… little comrade," he said, scratching the bridge of his nose, his tone turning conspiratorial, "where exactly did you get all these supplies? You can trust me, I won't tell a soul. We can keep it between us, like brothers in the same trench."
Li Shuying glanced at him sideways. The sudden change in how he addressed her from "Little Shuying" to "little comrade" did not escape her notice. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. With Zhang Wenhao out of the room, she saw no need to maintain her earlier politeness.
"You are quite annoying, do you know that?" she replied bluntly. "No wonder Comrade Gu used to bully you."
Zhang Junyi froze for a moment, clearly taken aback by her abrupt shift in attitude. Then, bristling, he straightened up. "Hey! How can you say that? Annoying? Do you even know who I am?" He puffed his chest slightly, lowering his voice with a hint of pride. "I am a member of the Dong Tian Gang."
Li Shuying raised an eyebrow, her expression turning unimpressed. "Dong Tian Gang?" she repeated flatly. "What sort of name is that? It sounds more like a group of fishermen by seaside."
Zhang Junyi's face flushed red instantly, as if someone had stepped on his pride. "How dare you look down on our gang!" he snapped. "Do you know we are the second most powerful gang in the entire county?"
Li Shuying merely snorted, clearly uninterested in indulging his bravado further. She turned her gaze away, her silence more dismissive than any retort.
Just then, Zhang Wenhao returned, holding a small bundle of notes. Without hesitation, he handed it to her. Li Shuying accepted it with a polite nod, slipping the money into her pocket without even counting it.
"Then I shall take my leave, Uncle Zhang," she said, rising from her seat. "There are still a few matters I must attend to today."
Zhang Wenhao nodded warmly. "Very well. But next time, you must come properly as a guest. Stay for a meal and you must meet my mother. She has been asking about you ever since she tasted those apples."
"I will," Li Shuying replied with a small smile.
With that, she stepped out of the courtyard and into the narrow lane beyond.
She had barely taken a few steps when hurried footsteps sounded behind her.
"Hey! Little Comrade Shuying... wait!"
Zhang Junyi caught up with her, slightly out of breath yet still grinning. "Why don't you reconsider?" he said, lowering his voice again. "If you don't want to tell me where you got those supplies, then how about we make a deal?"
Li Shuying stopped abruptly and turned to glare at him, her expression sharp.
"Do you wish to invite trouble upon yourself?" she said coldly. "Speaking so openly about deals and trading, have you forgotten where you are? If you want to court disaster, do it alone. Do not drag me into it."
Zhang Junyi shrugged, seemingly unfazed by her warning. He glanced around the quiet lane and said casually, "Relax. At this hour, there's hardly anyone around. Most people are at the factories or out in the fields. Even if we talked louder, no one would bother to listen."
Li Shuying studied him for a moment, What a foolish man, she thought, a faint trace of impatience surfacing beneath her composed exterior.
"There is no need to waste your breath," she said at last, her tone calm yet firm. "Stop following me. I will not tell you anything, nor will I make any deal with you."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and continued down the narrow county lane.
Zhang Junyi, however, was not so easily dismissed. Stubbornness seemed etched into his very bones. He quickened his pace and fell in step behind her once more, undeterred.
"I'll give you another chance to reconsider," he continued, his voice brimming with misplaced confidence. "You may not realize it, but I have wide connections in this county. If you deal with me, no one would dare trouble you. In these times, connections are more valuable than gold..."
He went on incessantly, his words spilling forth like a broken dam, heedless of whether they were welcomed.
Li Shuying felt a flicker of irritation rise within her. For a brief, she truly considered silencing him the simplest way she knew how. Yet the thought of Zhang Wenhao tempered her actions, and she forced herself to endure.
After a while, even Zhang Junyi's own voice began to betray him. His throat grew dry from his endless chatter, yet the girl ahead of him remained as unresponsive as a still pond. He frowned, rubbing his neck, then glanced around absentmindedly, only to realize something.
They were approaching the gates of Taonan County First High School.
He paused for a fraction of a second. The girl did not look old enough to belong there.
Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, a mischievous smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Ah, so that's where you're headed," he drawled, his tone turning teasing. "Little comrade, don't tell me you're here to meet your revolutionary partner?" He chuckled lightly. "Chairman Mao teaches that this is a new society, free in spirit and thought, but still, isn't it a bit early for you? Though I suppose having a comrade-in-arms of the heart isn't such a bad thing…"
The more he spoke, the darker Li Shuying's expression became. A flush crept up her cheeks.
She stopped abruptly and turned, her sharp gaze cutting into him like a blade.
"Stop spouting nonsense," she snapped. "I am here to pick up my elder brother."
Zhang Junyi's smirk widened, clearly pleased at finally provoking a reaction, "oh? So you have an elder brother here?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Li Shuying folded her arms, lifting her chin slightly. "Not just one. I have three elder brothers studying here. If you do not leave at once, I will have them teach you a proper lesson."
Zhang Junyi merely shrugged, unfazed.
"What's his name?" he pressed on. "You might not know this, but I'm in my final year here. I know everyone in this school. Perhaps I even know your brother."
Li Shuying snorted softly, clearly unimpressed. Still, without much thought, she replied, "Li Jianhua."
Even as she spoke, her gaze drifted toward the school gates. Classes had not yet ended.
She scanned the surroundings next, Gu Zhenhua should be here by now. She had told him to meet her at half past two. Given his nature, he would not be late without reason.
A trace of irritation surfaced again as she remembered the persistent nuisance beside her. She turned, intending to finally drive Zhang Junyi away but froze.
The boy's earlier dismissive attitude had vanished entirely.
He stood there, with expression a mixture of disbelief and something far more serious.
"Li Jianhua… is your brother?" he asked, his voice no longer playful but low and grave.
The sudden shift unsettled her.
Li Shuying frowned slightly, a flicker of caution rising within her heart. She opened her mouth to respond...
"Comrade Li."
The calm, familiar voice came from behind her, steady and composed, carrying an unmistakable authority.