By the time the sun had begun its slow descent, casting long amber shadows across the courtyard of the county hospital, Li Shuying and Li Jianhua were finally ready to leave.
The faint scent of medicinal herbs still lingered in the air as the elderly nurse followed them to the doorway.
"Remember," she said in a patient, almost motherly tone, "keep the wounds away from water. Change the bandages every few days, and clean them properly. Do not neglect this, or the healing will be delayed."
Her gaze then shifted to Li Jianhua, and her expression grew more serious.
"Child," she continued, her voice firm yet gentle, "next time, do not be so impulsive and harm yourself to this extent. Your wounds are deep, and they were already inflamed due to negligence. If you are not careful, they will certainly leave scars."
Li Jianhua lowered his head slightly, feeling both embarrassed and grateful. "Yes… Auntie Nurse," he replied quietly.
Li Shuying stood beside him, her lips curving into a polite smile as she inclined her head slightly in respect. "Thank you for your care and concern," she said softly. "We will remember your instructions."
The elderly nurse nodded with satisfaction. She handed over the discharge slip, the thin paper slightly creased from handling. "Alright," she said warmly, "you may go now. If anything feels wrong, come back without delay."
With that, the siblings stepped out of the hospital.
Outside, the evening air felt cool against their skin. They began walking along the dirt road leading back toward the village.
For a while, neither spoke. Li Jianhua's eyes remained fixed on the discharge slip in his hand. After a long silence, he finally sighed.
"Four yuan…" he murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Just for cleaning the wounds… and a bit of ointment."
Li Shuying let out a soft chuckle, though there was meaning behind it, "Take it as a lesson, Elder Brother," she said lightly. "The next time you think of doing something so foolish, remember this four-yuan slip."
Li Jianhua's expression immediately dimmed. The earlier relief he had felt at the hospital slowly gave way to worry again.
He stared at the paper in his hand and sighed heavily. "What will happen if Father finds out?" he said quietly. "The money he gave… all spent like this…"
Li Shuying glanced at him as they walked, her expression gradually turning serious. "Father would not scold you," she said after a pause, "But…"
Her voice softened, carrying a weight that made Li Jianhua unconsciously look at her. "He would feel sad."
Li Jianhua's steps slowed slightly.
Li Shuying continued, "He stands facing enemies with his life on the line… yet his own son was being hurt like this at home, and he knew nothing."
Li Jianhua lowered his gaze, his chest tightening.
Li Shuying spoke again, her voice quieter now, yet carrying a deeper meaning. "All this time, we thought Father did not know anything. We believed that because we never spoke of it, he remained unaware of how the main Li family treated us. But that is not true."
Li Shuying's voice grew softer, "He has always known. He may not have said it aloud," she said, "but he has been preparing for us all along."
"Every month, father sets aside a small portion of his pay. It is meant for our futurez for the day we go to university." Her voice carried neither pride nor complaint, only a steady clarity. "It may sound simple," she continued, "but to save even that small amount, he has sacrificed everything. He lives frugally, counts every coin, denies himself even the smallest comforts. He has already planned the path for us," she added softly. "Our only responsibility… is to walk it well."
After that, she fell silent.
Li Jianhua did not respond immediately. His head was lowered, his thoughts churning. For a long while, he said nothing. Then slowly, something within him seemed to settle. His gaze hardened with resolve. "You are right, Little Shuying," he said at last, his voice firm. "I was foolish… to fall into Li Guofu's trap." His fist clenched at his side. "But it will not happen again. From today onward, I will focus entirely on my studies. I will strive to enter Peking University… and in the future, I will earn enough to support our family."
Li Shuying turned toward him. A bright, genuine smile spread across her face. "I know you can do it, Elder Brother."
Her confidence was simple, but unwavering. Li Jianhua felt a warmth rise in his chest. He nodded, his earlier gloom easing. But then, as he looked at her more carefully, his brows furrowed slightly. "Little Shuying…" he said slowly, "you look… different."
Li Shuying paused, "Different?" she repeated, faintly puzzled. "What do you mean, Elder Brother?"
Li Jianhua studied her face. Her features were the same, yet something about her demeanor, her face... He could not quite grasp it. "It's nothing," he muttered after a moment, shaking his head. "Perhaps I'm mistaken."
Li Shuying instinctively touched her cheek, but found nothing unusual. She let the matter drop.
The two continued walking in silence. After nearly half an hour, the familiar outline of their village came into view. But something was wrong. The usually quiet paths were filled with movement.
Villagers hurried past them in groups, all heading in the same direction. Voices overlapped, anxious and hurried.
"What's going on?" Li Jianhua murmured, frowning.
Li Shuying's gaze swept the crowd until she spotted a familiar figure. "Aunt He!" she called out.
Widow He slightly breathless from walking quickly, "Ah, Shuying," she replied, lowering her voice as she approached them. "The commune director, Chen Deshun, has called an emergency gathering at the commune office." She glanced around before leaning closer, her tone turning conspiratorial. "I heard that cadres from the county have arrived," she whispered. "It seems they've resolved the water dispute with the neighboring communes." She sighed. "The rest period is over. Work will likely resume tomorrow."
Li Shuying's heart tightened instantly. So suddenly? She had only just begun planning her next steps after speaking with Zhang Wenhao yesterday. Now, with the water crisis resolved, everything was shifting faster than she had anticipated.
Her thoughts raced. Then something struck her. "Aunt He," she asked quickly, "wasn't Brigade Leader Liu away today?"
Aunt He nodded, "He returned a few hours ago as soon as he heard the county cadres had arrived."
Li Shuying gave a brief nod. Without further delay, she and Li Jianhua followed Aunt He toward the commune office.
By the time they arrived, the open ground before the commune building was already crowded. Villagers stood in clusters, murmuring among themselves.
At a glance, Li Shuying spotted her mother and her younger brothers, Li Jianguo and Li Jianmin. They stood together with Widow He's son He Baogen and Lu Lingmei.
Li Shuying walked over and greeted them.
Chen Meilan turned immediately, her expression tightening, "Where have you been all day?" she asked. "both of you didn't even go to school."
Li Jianhua stiffened instinctively and glanced at Li Shuying.
Li Shuying stepped forward calmly, "Mother, we went to the hospital."
Chen Meilan's eyes widened in alarm, "The hospital?" she exclaimed, quickly stepping closer. "What happened? Why did you go suddenly? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have gone with you."
Li Shuying shook her head gently, "It's nothing serious, Mother." She pointed lightly to her face, "I fell off the bed last night and hit my face. There was some swelling and a bruise near my lips. I was worried it might leave a scar, so I went to get some ointment." She paused briefly, then added casually, "And since we were already there, we did a general check-up as well. That's why it took the whole day."
Chen Meilan examined her carefully. Seeing that the injury was indeed minor, her tension eased slightly. Still, she sighed, "You must be more careful," she said softly.
Li Shuying nodded obediently, "Yes, Mother."
She did not linger on small talk. The moment her mother's concern eased, she lowered her voice and asked directly,
"Mother, how was the water crisis suddenly resolved? And why would county cadres intervene in such a matter?"
Chen Meilan let out a weary sigh, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "Who knows," she replied. "These matters are beyond us. I am only worried about the workload from tomorrow onward." Her tone carried quiet fatigue. "Not only must we fetch water back and forth, but since the farming has been delayed this year, everything will have to be rushed. There will be no time to rest."
Beside her, Lu Lingmei wrinkled her nose slightly, her expression troubled, "But even if we sow now," she muttered, "who knows whether the crops will survive the harsh winter? Starting so late… it may all go to waste."
Chen Meilan immediately turned to her, her voice firm, "Do not speak like that. Whether it succeeds or not, effort must still be made. In the end, it is for our own livelihood."
He Baogen, who had been standing quietly to the side, spoke up, "Aunt Chen," he said, "even if we work hard, the harvest may not be good this year." He paused briefly before continuing, "Starting this late… it is difficult to expect much. And even then, will it truly benefit us?" He glanced around cautiously before lowering his voice further. "Have you not heard about the state's strict grain allocation quotas for each commune?"
At his words, a subtle silence spread among those nearby. Everyone understood. Yet no one dared to speak openly. The policies favored the urban residents, this was something every villager knew in their hearts. But to voice it aloud? That was another matter entirely.
Li Shuying's gaze shifted toward He Baogen. A faint ripple stirred in her chest. This was the first time she had seen him since her rebirth.
At twenty-one, he was still unmarried, his life tied to the fields, his future uncertain.
Widow He had only two children, a son and a daughter. After losing her husband, He Baogen had been her only pillar of support.
And yet in her privious life his ending had been tragic. Though the exact details had blurred with time, the sense of loss remained vivid. A heaviness settled in her heart.
Before she could dwell further, a sudden movement drew everyone's attention. The doors of the commune office creaked open. Several figures stepped out in succession.
At the front stood Commune Director Chen Deshun, his posture upright, his expression solemn.
Behind him followed the three brigade leaders, including Liu Zhenshen along with other senior commune members. Among them were also a few unfamiliar faces, their clothing and bearing marking them clearly as caders from the county.
The murmuring crowd fell silent almost instantly. All eyes turned forward. Chen Deshun stepped ahead and spoke in a clear, authoritative voice, "Comrades. Today's gathering has been called to inform everyone that the rest period has officially ended."
A faint wave of sighs passed through the crowd.
"The collective commune labor will resume starting tomorrow. As for the water dispute with the neighboring communes, it has now been resolved."
He turned slightly and gestured toward the two unfamiliar men standing beside him.
"This resolution has been made possible with the assistance of the finance bureau chief, the Grain Procurement Bureau Chief and the Director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative."
All eyes shifted toward the two officials.
Their expressions were composed, almost indifferent, as they stood with their hands behind their backs.
For a brief moment, Li Shuying stood frozen where she was. When she had first heard that county cadres had intervened, she had assumed a low-ranking representatives sent to mediate a local dispute.
But now, the finance bureau chief, the Grain Procurement Bureau Chief and the Director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
These were not ordinary figures. They were people who held real authority over resources and ultimately, survival itself.
A faint chill crept into her spine. Around her, the villagers also began to sense that something was not right.
Because everyone understood one thing, when county-level cadres personally intervened, it rarely meant anything simple. And soon enough, that unease proved justified.
On the raised steps before the commune office, Chen Deshun straightened his back and continued speaking, his tone growing heavier, "Comrades," he said, "the times have become difficult. Hardship has come upon our region without warning."
He paused, letting his words settle over the crowd, "But difficulty does not mean retreat. It means we must work harder."
His voice rose slightly, carrying across the open ground, "This year, due to delays and natural conditions, our commune must increase its labor efforts. The state has already implemented a grain allocation quota for our commune."
A brief silence fell. Then, "We are required to deliver seventy thousand jin of grain to the state."
The number struck like a hammer, gasps rippled through the crowd. Seventy thousand jin?
For a commune of barely two thousand people it was an overwhelming burden.
Murmurs broke out immediately.
"How is that even possible…?"
"Weren't we only providing thirty thousand jin erlier?"
"What will be left for us…?"
The unease began to swell, threatening to turn into open dissent. Chen Deshun's expression hardened. He raised his hand sharply, "Silence!"
The authority in his voice cut through the noise instantly. The murmurs died down, though the tension remained thick in the air.
"I understand," he continued, his tone measured but firm, "that the quota is heavy. But comrades, we must ask ourselves, do we not have responsibilities toward the country?"
He stepped forward slightly, his voice gaining momentum, echoing the rhetoric of the times, "Without the state, where would we stand today? Grain must first support the nation, then the collective, and only then the individual! Endure hardship for a few years, and we will build prosperity for generations! We must unite under the leadership of the commune, strengthen our resolve, and overcome difficulties together!"
He swept his gaze across the villagers. "The people must rely on collective strength. Only through labor, unity, and sacrifice can we overcome this challenge!"
Li Shuying's eyes widened, and a flash of anger surged within them. Again, the same hollow promises. The same polished words wrapped around unbearable demands.
In her previous life, she had seen this play out more than once. The only difference now was the timing. Back then, the strict grain procurement quotas had been enforced before the summer harvest of 1959. But in this lifetime… it had arrived early, descending upon them like an unseen storm before winter harvest only.
Yet the pattern was identical.
Seventy thousand jin, it was not a number meant to be achieved, it was a number meant to be extracted. Even the most advanced communes would struggle to produce such an amount, let alone a modest village like Shitou.
Her jaw tightened, she remembered it clearly, after the summer harvest in her previous life, when the villagers failed to meet the quota, the county officials had taken everything under the name of "state allocation." What remained for the villagers were scraps, barely enough to survive.
Soon after, the communal canteens closed, and then came the height of the famine. Not a sudden disaster, but a slow, suffocating one. Hunger that crept into every household, followed by silent deaths, and at the root of it all were the policies like this.
The villagers stood in silence after Chen Deshun's speech. But this time, there was no spark of inspiration. Only weight.
Even Chen Deshun seemed to sense it. A faint crease appeared between his brows, though he quickly masked it. He was not unaware of their predicament, but he was powerless to change it.
At that moment, one of the county officials stepped forward, the chief of the finance bureau. He expression composed as he surveyed the crowd. He could see the dimness in their eyes, the quiet resistance buried beneath obedience.
Still, he had a role to play, "Comrades," he began, his tone deliberately softened, "do not be discouraged. I understand the burden you feel. Seventy thousand jin is indeed no small amount." He paused, allowing his words to ease the tension just enough.
"But," he continued, a faint smile forming on his lips, "this task is not without its rewards."
The villagers stirred slightly, "I have another announcement to make, one that I believe will lift your spirits."
Immediately, attention sharpened. Even those who had been staring at the ground raised their heads.
"At this year's county meeting," he said, "your village has been selected for development under several key policies. The county has approved funding for the construction of a reservoir here in Shitou Village," he continued, "as well as additional funds to build a proper road connecting your village to the county town."
For a moment the villagers' dimmed eyes began to brighten. A reservoir meant water security. A road meant connection.
Seeing the change, the official pressed forward, "The labor required for these projects will come from your village," he said. "However, this will not be counted as labour points." He raised his voice slightly. "You will be paid in cash."
For a heartbeat, the crowd was silent. Then, it erupted.
"Paid… in money?" one man exclaimed, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Doesn't that mean we won't have to sell grain just to get cash this winter?"
An older villager, his face weathered by years of hardship, laughed aloud. "I have five strong sons and three sturdy grandsons!" he said, almost breathless with excitement. "If they all join, won't our family earn a great sum this year?"
A woman stepped forward from the crowd, her brows raised with anticipation. "Comrade," she called out, "can women also take part in the labor?"
Before the official could respond, another woman beside her scoffed lightly. "Why wouldn't we?" she said boldly. "Are women any less capable than men? Of course we can work!"
Laughter and agreement spread through the crowd.
For the first time since the gathering began, there was genuine energy.
However, Li Shuying alone remained unmoved. Her expression did not soften, nor did her gaze waver. Her eyes lingered quietly on the officials standing at the front.
A faint thought surfaced in her mind, this was not all. If her judgment was correct, there was still something more to be revealed… something that might be connected to the arrangement she had made with Gu Zhenhua.
And just as that thought settled, the finance bureau chief slowly raised his hand once again.
The murmurs died down almost instantly. "Silence," he said, his voice measured, carrying an unmistakable weight. "I have one more announcement to make."