Chapter 43

Lin Xiang’s sudden appearance broke the tense standoff in He Hongyuan’s office.

She had overheard the two men seemingly about to start a heated argument—one cold and heartless, the other loud and explosive. If things continued like this, they would soon be overheard by the soldiers passing by.

In a moment of urgency, Lin Xiang threw aside all concerns about politeness and pushed the door open, entering the room.

Inside, He Hongyuan was already dressed neatly, as if preparing to leave. While his face showed no overt signs of anger, Lin Xiang had come to understand him gradually. His posture was upright and rigid, as if he had not relaxed in the presence of anyone truly close. He stood like a soldier ready to spring into action, exuding a strong sense of hostility and confrontation toward his biological father.

Zhou Shengqiang, now deeply angered in front of his son, showed no attempt to conceal his fury. His stern, intimidating demeanor was the product of years of military experience and high-ranking authority. Lin Xiang recalled what Yuezhu had once said: when her uncle didn’t smile, he could be rather intimidating. When he truly got angry, with his face stiffening, even an outsider like Lin Xiang would want to run away, afraid to make a sound, overwhelmed by his terrifying presence.

Lin Xiang didn’t want to see a confrontation between the two men in the army, as it would attract too much attention. In this special time, it would be all too easy for someone to twist their relationship and label He Hongyuan as unfilial, something that could ruin his reputation in an instant. With the red guards of the Cultural Revolution still active, it wasn’t difficult to find a way to drag someone down into the abyss.

Seeing that both men were now glancing toward her, Lin Xiang raised her hand to gently knock on the door she had just pushed open, trying to ease the tension. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said softly. “Captain Zhou, I need to speak with Hongyuan.”

Zhou Shengqiang, having nearly shouted at his son, was still struggling to control his emotions. But with Lin Xiang’s interruption, his calm and composure as a commander slowly returned.

He glanced at Lin Xiang, and upon seeing her polite expression, his demeanor softened slightly. But He Hongyuan, without missing a beat, strode over to the door and said, “Captain Zhou, I’m going out to dinner with my girlfriend. As for you, we’re not really close, so I’m afraid I can’t entertain you. Please feel free to leave.”

He Hongyuan’s blunt dismissal made Zhou Shengqiang’s face turn dark again, but He Hongyuan couldn’t help but smirk inwardly at the situation.

As Zhou Shengqiang stormed off, he left behind a stiff remark, “One day, you’ll understand that I’m doing this for your own good.”

Throughout the exchange, he didn’t say a single word to Lin Xiang, ignoring her completely.

Once Zhou Shengqiang left in a huff, He Hongyuan turned and shut the door behind him, heading out with Lin Xiang.

“You’re here, so how about we have dinner at the mess hall tonight?” He Hongyuan suggested.

Lin Xiang nodded softly, stealing a glance at the man beside her. His face seemed unaffected by what had just happened, though his eyes were dark with an underlying intensity, as if a storm was about to break, hidden beneath a calm, yet turbulent surface.

Lin Xiang hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to comfort him or be mindful of his pride. Just as she was about to speak, He Hongyuan broke the silence.

“You heard all that, didn’t you?”

As they walked along the stone path toward the mess hall, soldiers they passed all saluted He Hongyuan respectfully.

Lin Xiang nodded.

“I don’t recognize that man as my father. My real father died on the battlefield,” He Hongyuan said, his voice dismissive. “Whatever he says, don’t take it to heart. Just treat it as the ramblings of an irrelevant person.” He spoke with contempt. “When he went off to war, my mother was the one who raised me, took care of my injured grandparents, and later adopted two orphans who had lost their whole family to the Japanese. They’re my older brothers now. My mother is strong; she even helped the liberation army catch spies. She could work the fields, chop wood, climb mountains for wild game, and still help the neighbors. Everyone respected her. She saved many lives. I was just a little kid back then, following my mom everywhere, doing whatever I could. I always thought he was the hero on the battlefield, and my mom was the hero in the village. I just wanted him to come back, for our family to be whole again. But… ha.”

He Hongyuan sneered bitterly. “He came back, but brought a woman with him. He said he had married her in the city and had children with her, and claimed that my marriage to my mother was arranged and forced… He’s not even worth my time!”

This was the first time Lin Xiang had heard He Hongyuan speak so openly about the deep wounds in his heart. He seemed lost in the past, his cold words dripping with complete despair.

“I even wanted to bring him back to live with us, but I couldn’t catch up to that car…” He Hongyuan’s lips twisted in self-mockery. “When I grew up, I realized it was a car I could never afford. I asked my mom about it, and she just said, ‘Let him live his life, we’ll live ours.’”

He Hongyuan could feel a warm, cautious gaze fall upon his face.

He turned slightly and met Lin Xiang’s bright, almond-shaped eyes, full of concern and worry for him.

Under the warm glow of the setting sun, her gaze was gentle and soothing, her eyes full of care.

“It’s actually fine. We’re living well without him, didn’t need a penny from him to get by,” He Hongyuan said, returning to his indifferent, carefree demeanor. “I just didn’t expect him to have the gall to think I’d ever accept him. What a joke.”

Lin Xiang remembered that the book mentioned He Hongyuan had a stubborn temperament, cold and emotionally distant, living in pain and repression. The root of all this stemmed from a childhood trauma, though the book never specified what the trauma was.

Now, thinking back, Lin Xiang seemed to see a young boy, just a few years old, witnessing his once-heroic father returning to the village with a new wife, prepared to abandon the family. The shock and despair of this moment must have been devastating for the young He Hongyuan.

It was, in fact, a destructive blow to He Hongyuan’s childhood.

“Your mother was great and powerful, and you’re great too,” Lin Xiang said, not mentioning He Hongyuan’s painful childhood. She spoke earnestly and lightly, “You really are the son of Aunt He!”

He Hongyuan suddenly smiled, looking at Lin Xiang as he listened to her words. It seemed as if all the anger and resentment buried within him dissipated in that moment. In the past, whenever he faced or even heard from Zhou Shengqiang, no matter how hard he tried to hide it, a surge of anger would always rise within him, making him want to release all the resentment. But that would only lead to more inner torment.

But now, as he looked at the woman beside him, her words warm and gentle like a spring breeze, it easily swept away all his bitterness.

The military cafeteria came into view, a large building made of blue bricks, occupying a significant space. Soldiers with aluminum food containers were coming and going.

Lin Xiang pointed at the cafeteria and asked, “What dishes are good here? It looks like I’m in for a treat today, getting to taste the cooking of the mess hall.”

He Hongyuan smirked and said, his expression softening, “I’ll go get the food and bring you what you like.”

Lin Xiang noticed that He Hongyuan had relaxed.

Since Zhou Shengqiang’s unexpected visit, it was already past mealtime. There weren’t many soldiers in the cafeteria, with only about half of the seats occupied.

Lin Xiang chose a corner by the wall to sit, while He Hongyuan went straight to the food window.

As she scanned the room, she saw several soldiers eating heartily, with a few military family members here and there, mostly visiting relatives. Some of the military families were also at the window, collecting food to take home.

Before long, Lin Xiang spotted a familiar face.

Song Wei looked at her a few times before realizing it was Lin Xiang in the cafeteria. He glanced at He Hongyuan, who was getting food at the window, then walked over to Lin Xiang.

“Comrade Lin Xiang!” he greeted, flashing a big smile and showing his gleaming white teeth.

“Comrade Song Wei?” Lin Xiang hadn’t seen Song Wei in a while. She remembered they had once gone on a blind date, though it was a rather strange one—almost not a blind date at all, since they hadn’t talked about anything relevant. She smiled in greeting, “Hello, hello.”

Song Wei plopped down onto the bench across from Lin Xiang and, with curiosity, asked, “I heard about it. You and He Tuan are together now!”

Lin Xiang felt awkward as her former blind date brought up the matter. She worried that Song Wei might misunderstand, so she quickly explained, “At that time, I wasn’t together with your He Tuan.”

She didn’t want anyone to think they had secretly been together all along and had just misled Song Wei during the blind date.

Song Wei grinned and scratched his head, saying, “It’s nothing! I’m going on blind dates now too. I’ve met a girl introduced by the instructor’s wife. We’ve met three times, and it seems like it might work out.”

If they’d met three times, it probably meant they were both interested, Lin Xiang thought, and smiled as she wished him well. “I hope you find someone soon!”

“Hehe, I hope so too!” Song Wei turned around to glance at He Hongyuan, who was walking toward their corner with two lunch boxes. Then he leaned in toward Lin Xiang and whispered with a look of curiosity, “Comrade Lin Xiang, there’s something I’ve always wondered. That day we had dinner at the state-owned restaurant, He Tuan suddenly showed up and insisted on joining us. Was that on purpose? Do you think He Tuan had already liked you then?”

Song Wei had heard the rumors about He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang being together and, after thinking it over, concluded that he might have almost competed with He Hongyuan for her. It seemed like quite the dangerous situation.

Lin Xiang blinked, her thoughts drifting back to that afternoon…

Just then, Song Wei quickly got up and saluted He Hongyuan, who had arrived at the table, before heading back to his own seat.

He Hongyuan had two lunch boxes—one was his usual, and the other was filled with steamed fish, braised pork, and stir-fried cabbage for Lin Xiang. He had also borrowed a box from the mess hall to bring back more braised pork and steamed buns for himself.

The mess hall food was quite good. Although it was mass-cooked, the dishes looked appetizing, and Lin Xiang’s stomach immediately growled with hunger.

She took the chopsticks, ready to enjoy the meal, when she suddenly heard He Hongyuan ask with what seemed like a pointed tone, “What were you and Song Wei talking about so excitedly?”

Eh? The dishes in the lunch box didn’t have any vinegar, so why did it seem like there was an odd sourness in the air?

Lin Xiang curled her lips, glancing at He Hongyuan, who looked completely serious. “Oh, we were just chatting. I haven’t seen Song Wei in a while.”

He Hongyuan bit into a steamed bun and grumbled, “What’s there to talk about?”

Lin Xiang quickly blinked twice, trying to suppress a smile. She then leaned in a bit and lowered her voice in curiosity. “I have a question. That day, when Song Wei and I were on our blind date, you suddenly showed up and insisted on joining us. Was that intentional?”

Looking back now, it didn’t seem like something that fit He Hongyuan’s character—being so bored and lacking in awareness.

He Hongyuan paused with his chopsticks, quickly regaining his composure and avoiding Lin Xiang’s probing gaze. He spoke stiffly, “No, I was just walking around because I was hungry, and when I saw two familiar faces at the state-run restaurant, I thought we could eat together.”

Lin Xiang smiled with her eyes, lowering her gaze to eat without pressing him further.

Wow, He Hongyuan is good at everything, but it turns out he’s bad at lying!

---

After the meal, Lin Xiang didn’t want to return to the Zhou family house right away. The two of them took a walk by the sea, where many people were playing in the water at the tail end of summer, including several children who were bathing in the shallow water, their bare bottoms exposed.

The joy of playing in the water was unmatched. Lin Xiang looked up, and the colorful sunset painted the sky, connecting the horizon and the sea in a line of golden light, majestic and brilliant.

Lin Xiang asked curiously, “Is swimming particularly good among the navy?”

Given the nature of their work with the sea, water training must be essential.

He Hongyuan responded in a subdued manner, “It’s okay. We’ve trained, so we’re a bit better than the average person.”

He then turned his gaze to Lin Xiang’s slender arms and legs, asking, “Can you swim?”

Lin Xiang loved the sea, but she was a beginner when it came to swimming. She could only splash around a little in the water and needed a float to feel safe. She had once taken swimming lessons, but something about it didn’t sit right with her, and she stopped going after a few sessions.

“I’m okay, a bit worse than most,” Lin Xiang said a bit dejectedly, feeling envious of those who could swim effortlessly.

He Hongyuan raised an eyebrow. “When I have some free time, I’ll teach you.”

Lin Xiang quickly shook her head. “Forget it. I heard you scare the soldiers when you train them. I’d rather you didn’t teach me!”

He Hongyuan: “…”

It was the first time someone had so openly rejected him.

They stayed by the sea until nightfall, then made their way to the family quarters. When they reached the Zhou family’s door, Lin Xiang recalled the earlier conflict between He Hongyuan and Zhou Shengqiang, especially concerned that He Hongyuan’s mood might sour when seeing the man. She spoke up first, “You can just drop me off here. Go back quickly.”

He Hongyuan seemed to understand her intent. He smiled, “I’m not that weak. Let’s go in together, so he won’t try to bully you.”

Inside the Zhou family living room, both Zhou Shengqiang and Zhou Shenghuai were sitting on the sofa, discussing the future development of the army. Feng Li and Wei Minhui were beside them, looking at the latest silk scarves while occasionally discussing family matters.

Feng Li was more inclined toward He Hongyuan’s mother, but since her brother and his new wife were visiting, she had to take the role of the host and treat them well.

She had little contact with Wei Minhui. Their meetings were rare, often separated by years, typically during the New Year gatherings. In her younger days, Wei Minhui worked as a nurse at a field hospital, but after retiring, she focused on her husband and son.

Now, talking about their children, Wei Minhui mostly praised how Zhou Hongfei had grown up to be sensible and successful. Feng Li listened but wasn’t entirely pleased. Zhou Hongfei had always been a stubborn, spoiled child, so she didn’t say much, only commenting that parents always hoped for the best for their children.

Just as the conversation ended, they heard movement at the door. It was He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang returning.

Everyone in the living room looked over. Zhou Shenghuai exchanged a glance with his wife, Feng Li, and became worried again. Both father and son had cold, tough personalities, so if they argued now, it would be a heavy burden on them, and they would need to mediate.

Zhou Shengqiang focused on his son and his companion’s appearance, recalling the conflict earlier that afternoon. His displeasure was still evident.

Feng Li stepped forward to ease the tension, greeting, “Hongyuan, Xiangxiang, you’ve been out for a walk. Please sit and rest for a while.”

Zhou Shengqiang quickly ran through his interactions with his eldest son in his mind. Seeing him return voluntarily, he thought that maybe his son realized his attitude earlier had been too harsh, and was now secretly softening.

Well, it was his own fault. Zhou Shengqiang decided to give him an out: “Hongyuan, sit down and have some tea with me and your third uncle.”

But He Hongyuan didn’t even look at him. He addressed his third uncle and aunt instead, saying, “Uncle Zhou, Aunt Feng, we’ve already eaten at the cafeteria. I just brought Xiangxiang back, and now I’m heading out. You two can rest.”

He Hongyuan then whispered a quick goodbye to Lin Xiang and left without sparing Zhou Shengqiang any further attention.

Zhou Shengqiang was completely ignored. His words seemed to have gone unheard by his eldest son, and before leaving, He Hongyuan only bid farewell to his third uncle and aunt, completely ignoring him and Minhui.

“This kid!” Zhou Shengqiang’s suppressed anger flared up again, nearly knocking over his tea cup in frustration.

Wei Minhui hurried over to calm him down…

Amid the confusion, Lin Xiang greeted Uncle Zhou and Aunt Feng before heading upstairs, thinking how He Hongyuan had cleverly seized the chance to annoy his father, which felt quite satisfying.

Zhou Shengqiang’s vacation was only half a month. He and his wife Wei Minhui had first visited their son Zhou Hongfei at the Shihwei Food Factory, then they came to visit relatives at the 119th Division. Officially, they were here to see Zhou Shenghuai and his family.

Lin Xiang hoped they would leave soon, but Zhou Shengqiang had fought in many battles and had friends everywhere. Over the next few days, he would be meeting with many commanders and leaders of the 119th Division, and it seemed he was quite at ease.

Lin Xiang didn’t deny that he was a brave soldier, but he certainly wasn’t a good husband or father.

During her time at the Factory No.2, Lin Xiang could only forget her worries and fully immerse herself in work when she was discussing coconut water with Director Zhao and a few experienced workers.

Qiu Hongxia and Yang Tian were always the ones chatting and eating sunflower seeds in the workshop, with Yang Tian being the most hot-tempered and ready to fight. But when it came to issues with the soda production line, they were both very professional.

Director Zhao had some wild coconuts picked, and a row of ten or so were piled up in the corner of the workshop. Yang Tian took an axe and quickly chopped open three coconuts, pouring some of the juice into enamel cups for everyone.

He muttered, “This is harder than oranges and pears.”

Director Zhao understood; after all, good things aren’t easily obtained, and there’s a process involved.

Qiu Hongxia occasionally picked coconuts to drink at the family compound, but the coconut trees were so tall that it was hard for ordinary people to pick one. Either they had to be quick and climb the tree themselves, or they had to use a long stick with a sickle to chop them down. It was never easy.

Now, holding an enamel cup and drinking a sip of the coconut juice, the sweet and slightly cool taste seemed to instantly dispel the summer heat.

“It really tastes good!” Compared to the overly sweet orange or pear sodas, the coconut juice was much lighter, with a delicate and refreshing taste.

Everyone in the workshop agreed, sipping their coconut juice.

Yang Tian smacked his lips and downed his in one go, still savoring the taste. “Actually, this coconut juice is really on par with orange soda and pear soda. The two flavors are so common nationwide now that you get a bit sick of them. But a sip of coconut juice? It’s different—fresh!”

Qiu Hongxia and Yang Tian had been with the food factory since the soda production line was first introduced. They were experienced and thoughtful, but Qiu Hongxia, though she recognized the good taste, was still worried.

“But now, who doesn’t like something sweet? Everyone’s mouth is so bland. Both sugar and soda have to be sweet. Our coconut juice tastes great, but it’s just not sweet enough. It’s a little too bland, maybe people won’t like it.”

Lin Xiang’s eyes lit up. “Sister Guihua, you’re right.”

She had considered this issue too!

In the 1970s, Huaguo was still in a period of material scarcity. Sugar, oil, and salt were rationed. The people had long been eating things without oil, salt, or sweetness, which made them yearn for sugary snacks or sodas with strong flavors.

Lin Xiang had tasted many candies from that era. The taste of saccharin was strong, the texture poor, and it was even overwhelmingly sweet. Coming from the future, she found it hard to adjust, but for people who had long eaten bland food, this sweetness was more than enough. If it wasn’t sweet enough, it wouldn’t satisfy them.

Any product from any era is a reflection of that time, and it needs to be tailored to the situation.

She remembered that juicing fruit flesh could enhance the color and sweetness of the juice. In sodas where colors and artificial flavors were commonly added, using natural methods could create better taste and flavor.

For example, Beiyang’s orange soda used a bit of fruit juice mixed in with the soda, but the ratio was small and not too obvious. However, coconut meat was different. The meat was tender and fragrant, sweet and soft, and the sweetness was much higher than that of coconut water.

But generally, people didn’t have juicing tools to extract coconut milk. Most of the time, they just drank the coconut water and threw away the coconut, sometimes digging out the coconut meat for cooking.

Director Zhao, after hearing this, immediately decided to give it a try and see if they could extract juice from the coconut meat.

The Factory No.2 wasn’t in a rush to make quick profits, and since the factory had recently done well selling shrimp paste-flavored soda, after some discussion, no one acted immediately. They decided to think it over and continue tomorrow.

He had already notified Lin Xiang the day before that he would be in a meeting today and wouldn’t be able to join her for dinner. So, Lin Xiang directly went back to the Zhou family’s home after work.

Having not had dinner at the Zhou’s for several days, Aunt Feng understood Lin Xiang’s thoughts and was delighted to see her return early. “Xiangxiang, we’ve got something good to eat today.”

To entertain her second brother and his wife, Zhou Shenghuai had been exchanging several kilos of meat tickets these days. Today, he even asked the quartermaster to get a mountain chicken.

Chickens and ducks were rare in rural areas. Those that could lay eggs were usually kept for a long time, and people were reluctant to kill them unless it was for a special occasion. But Zhou Shenghuai’s family could easily get one.

The mountain chicken was slaughtered, its neck cut to drain the blood, then scalded in boiling water to remove the feathers. A 3-kilo chicken was cooked, and half was kept for later use. The other half was cut into pieces and braised with taro.

September was the season when taro ripened. Fresh taro was soft, tender, and had a pleasantly sticky texture, soaking up the red-braised sauce. The broth seeped into every crevice of the taro, locking in the flavor.

The mountain chicken had firm meat and absorbed the braised sauce, releasing a delicious aroma. The chicken paired perfectly with rice, or even with steamed buns dipped in the broth.

Lin Xiang sniffed the air. The dish was nearly ready, and the smell was irresistible.

“Aunt Feng, let me help.”

“You’ve worked all day, just rest,” Aunt Feng insisted, trying to send her away. “I can handle it.”

But Lin Xiang still went to the kitchen to help for a while. When the dish of braised taro chicken was finally brought to the table, she was greeted by a conversation from Wei Minhui, who had just returned from outside.

Wei Minhui seemed kind and polite, but Lin Xiang didn’t want to have any interactions with the couple and just wanted to brush them off and leave.

Just as she was about to make an excuse to head to the kitchen, she heard Wei Minhui say, “Xiao Lin, I know you and Hongyuan have a good relationship, but your uncle just has a quick temper, so don’t take it to heart.”

Lin Xiang smiled at her, but felt like the couple was playing good cop, bad cop. Still, she responded nonchalantly, “Aunt Wei, I don’t let things that don’t concern me bother me.”

Wei Minhui’s smile stiffened. She sighed deeply and said, “I understand that Hongyuan holds some resentment towards his father, and that must affect you too. But family is family—there’s no lasting grudge between father and son. Hongyuan is struggling to get over it, and since you’re his partner, it would be best if you could help him reconcile.”

Lin Xiang was taken aback. “Aunt Wei, are you suggesting I try to get Hongyuan to repair his relationship with Uncle Zhou?”

Wei Minhui nodded. “Hongyuan’s father has always felt guilty towards him. Now, after so many years, if they can at least get along and speak a few kind words, it would be good. We all know that a harmonious family is a prosperous one. As his partner, it’s better for you to help him mediate.”

Lin Xiang almost laughed with anger. She kept her expression serious and said, “Aunt Wei, both Hongyuan and his mother were hurt by past events, and no one has the right to question his decision. He is my partner, yes, but I respect him as a person with his own thoughts and character, and I fully support his choice to not forgive.”

Wei Minhui didn’t expect this delicate-looking young woman to be so unyielding, and she didn’t press the issue further.

The rest of the dinner was uneventful. Zhou Shenghuai, still at an old comrade’s house, didn’t come back. Wei Minhui hurriedly ate a few bites and left the table to rest.

Lin Xiang enjoyed the delicious, tender chicken and soft, sweet taro, eating with great satisfaction. It was a pity that He Hongyuan wasn’t there to enjoy it with her.

After dinner, Lin Xiang and Zhou Yuezhu wandered around the family compound for a while. The sky grew dark, the wind picked up, and it looked like rain was coming.

The two girls hurried back home, and soon after, Zhou Shengqiang returned from the 119th Division leader’s house. Wei Minhui came out to speak with her husband, and before long, Zhou Shenghuai started discussing the return journey with his younger brother.

Zhou Shengqiang and Wei Minhui planned to leave the day after tomorrow, and Zhou Shenghuai, out of both duty and kindness, tried to persuade them to stay a bit longer. “Second Brother, you’ve come such a long way—why not stay a few more days?”

Zhou Shengqiang waved his hand with a serious face. “It would just be a nuisance. Every time I see that kid, it makes me angry.”

Zhou Shenghuai knew better than to get too involved in their issues, so he just said, “Hongyuan has a stubborn nature, just like you.”

Zhou Shengqiang nodded. “He’s definitely more like me than Hongfei.”

The group made polite conversation, and then Aunt Feng symbolically urged her second brother and sister-in-law to stay a little longer, but eventually, they agreed to leave, planning for a big dinner the next day.

Zhou Shengqiang, with a pointed suggestion, said to his younger brother, “Tomorrow, have that kid come over for dinner. I can’t just visit and not eat with him.”

Though he was getting older and not concerned with forgiveness anymore, he wanted to have a meal with his eldest son before leaving.

Zhou Shenghuai, knowing his nephew’s temperament all too well, was already prepared for the worst. The next day, he invited his nephew to dinner, but as expected, He Hongyuan refused. “Uncle, tell him this: once he’s gone, I’ll go to your house every day for dinner.”

Zhou Shenghuai was speechless. His nephew was clearly bent on angering his father.

Zhou Shenghuai made an excuse on his nephew’s behalf: “Second Brother, Hongyuan is busy with work, he won’t be able to come tonight.”

Zhou Shengqiang wasn’t fooled. “He doesn’t want to come. You made up that excuse for him, didn’t you? He probably didn’t have anything good to say about me.”

Zhou Shenghuai fell silent, feeling this was more difficult than any work he’d done at the base.

Fortunately, Zhou Shengqiang didn’t press the issue further and didn’t go to the base to question his son.

As for the dinner, Zhou Shenghuai and his wife had prepared a lavish meal. The elders talked while Lin Xiang and Yuezhu, the younger ones, mostly ate and relaxed.

After the meal, while everyone else was busy, Zhou Shengqiang called Lin Xiang aside and asked her to come to the study.

Lin Xiang could have ignored it, but out of curiosity, she went, wondering why he had asked for her specifically.

In the study, the light was dim. Zhou Shengqiang stood with his hands behind his back, turning to face Lin Xiang when he heard her footsteps.

The young woman in front of him was bright and beautiful, clearly attractive to young men. But Zhou Shengqiang felt that her family background was too poor. He had always felt guilty towards his eldest son and was determined to arrange a better marriage for him as a form of compensation.

“Comrade Lin Xiang,” Zhou Shengqiang’s voice was deep and powerful, his tone resonating strongly in the closed study. “I know Hongyuan’s situation with his mother is complicated, and all I want now is to make it up to him. You know, Hongyuan has been promoted to the position of regiment commander at such a young age, and his future is bright. Whether I provide him with some help or he marries well, it will benefit him. I know you two were betrothed in the old days, but those customs are outdated… They’ve caused harm. I don’t want Hongyuan to make the same mistake by marrying just because of an old engagement. Your family background is also complicated—your father worked at the Xifeng City Machinery Factory, and your mother passed away, remarried, and then you came here. I understand it hasn’t been easy for you, but considering everything, it seems that you two aren’t suited for each other. Once your engagement is called off, I’ll have my wife and I help you find a good match.”

Zhou Shengqiang was skilled in psychological warfare. On the battlefield, he was able to attack the enemy’s psychology, and now, facing a girl under twenty, he used his trump card: “You probably don’t want to see Hongyuan marry you and have his future negatively impacted because of you.”

Lin Xiang quietly listened to Zhou Shengqiang’s lengthy speech, which essentially told her that she wasn’t worthy of He Hongyuan, that she should leave, and that she would harm He Hongyuan’s future. He even resorted to moral manipulation, suggesting that she would harm He Hongyuan’s career.

Now she truly understood the burden that He Hongyuan’s mother had carried, how such a simple and innocent person could never outsmart this old fox.

“Director Zhou,” Lin Xiang spoke gently, even smiling a little, which made Zhou Shengqiang squint his eyes in slight surprise. “What Hongyuan said that day was right—he doesn’t care about the opinions of unrelated outsiders. So my thoughts are the same. Our matters are not something you need to worry about.”

Completely disregarding his words and directly excluding him, Zhou Shengqiang’s anger flared instantly. “Lin Xiang, I am Hongyuan’s father! How can I not worry about his marriage?”

Lin Xiang smiled lightly. “Director Zhou, when you abandoned your wife and child to climb higher, why didn’t you remember you were Hongyuan’s father? Why didn’t you care about them then? Now that Hongyuan has grown up, become a respected commander, and has a bright future, you suddenly want to recognize him as your son? Is that possible?”

Zhou Shengqiang, angered by his son’s reprimanding, struggled to accept it. How could this girl, Lin Xiang, speak to him like this?

Enraged, Zhou Shengqiang bellowed, “Lin Xiang! You… How dare you speak to an elder like this?”

Lin Xiang, holding her head high and staring at the furious middle-aged man, poured out her grievances. “Director Zhou, you hold a high position, and even if you retaliate against me later, I must speak my mind. You have wronged He Hongyuan and his mother. The past has left them with irreversible damage. And now, you keep appearing in front of them. Do you think you owe them and want to make up for it? No, you’re being selfish. You want to use Hongyuan to comfort your own guilty conscience, to forgive yourself. Are you really doing this for Hongyuan, or is it just to find an outlet for your own uneasy heart? Only you know the answer.”

Zhou Shengqiang stood, trembling with rage, feeling each word from Lin Xiang strike deep into him. His strong back seemed to be buckling under the weight of her words. He shook with anger, pointing at Lin Xiang, unable to speak.

Lin Xiang took a moment to calm down and replied calmly, “Director Zhou, I wasn’t speaking as Hongyuan’s partner. I was just expressing my thoughts as an observer. Anyone with a little conscience who hears this will agree with me.”

She paused, then boldly added, “By the way, Hongyuan and I are getting married soon. But we won’t be inviting you. After all, no one wants any unpleasantness at their wedding.”

“How can you say such things…” Zhou Shengqiang was struck deeply by Lin Xiang’s words, his heart bleeding with fury.

Before he could finish his sentence, a loud crash sounded.

The study door was kicked open, and a figure in white military uniform appeared.

He Hongyuan stood there, face as dark as water, glaring at Zhou Shengqiang. He walked over, swiftly pulling Lin Xiang behind him. “Zhou Shengqiang, go back to your army and never show up in front of me again!”

The hostility in his gaze was not that of a son looking at his father, nor a stranger, but that of an actual enemy.

With just one look, Zhou Shengqiang felt as though he had been stabbed again in the same spot, where his heart had just been wounded by Lin Xiang’s words.

Lin Xiang was quickly pulled away by He Hongyuan. His steps were large and quick, filled with anger, as though carrying a gust of wind. Lin Xiang struggled to keep up with his pace, stumbling and crashing into his back.

He Hongyuan, feeling the impact, snapped back to his senses. In the corner of the compound, under a lush coconut tree, He Hongyuan suddenly turned around and pulled Lin Xiang into his embrace.

His long arms wrapped around her like an eagle spreading its wings, holding her tightly, bringing a sense of security.

Lin Xiang wrapped her arms around his slender waist, responding with her own strength.

Her voice, muffled against his chest, floated out: “I just… I just scolded that person.”

Scolding her partner’s father made her feel a little guilty, as she was still influenced by traditional values.

“He deserved it!” He Hongyuan didn’t hesitate for a second. He loosened his grip slightly and lowered his gaze at Lin Xiang. “He deserves to be scolded. It’s so satisfying!”

Lin Xiang suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and smiled brightly. “Yes, I scolded him! He was so irritating.”

Her soft voice drifted in the cool breeze, and He Hongyuan, who had been enraged by Zhou Shengqiang’s shout earlier, began to calm down.

His Lin Xiang was incredible. She was even better at making people angry than he was.

He Hongyuan lowered his head and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

Lin Xiang had just been overwhelmed with emotions, but unexpectedly, the man in her arms suddenly pulled away. She pushed him gently, feeling guilty and quickly glanced around. Seeing that there was no one around, she finally relaxed.

Fortunately, Zhou Shengqiang was leaving tomorrow. His departure would be good for He Hongyuan. Otherwise, every time he appeared, it would only tear open the scar in He Hongyuan’s heart again, leaving it raw and impossible to heal.

Thinking about the dark childhood of the man holding her, the tragic events that had shaped his life, Lin Xiang felt a wave of sorrow. She looked up at the man, who seemed so tough and unshakable after years of emotional armor, who appeared cold and distant to others, but at that moment, all she felt was heartache for him.

“You…” Lin Xiang wanted to say something comforting.

But she heard the man’s deep voice from above, tinged with a bit of teasing: “What you said earlier… was it true?”

Lin Xiang was taken aback. “Which part?”

She had said many things in her anger toward Zhou Shengqiang, and she wasn’t sure which one He Hongyuan was referring to.

He Hongyuan reminded her, “The last one.”

Lin Xiang quickly replayed the conversation in her mind and realized that the last thing she had said to Zhou Shengqiang, in an attempt to upset him even more, was—”Hongyuan and I are getting married soon, and we won’t be inviting you to the wedding.”

All her emotions quickly dissipated, leaving only the embarrassment of having spoken thoughtlessly. How could He Hongyuan have heard that?!

Her face flushed, the warmth spreading across her cheeks as a soft blush appeared under the moonlight. She tried to explain, “Actually, I said that because…”

“No matter what your reason was, I’m taking it seriously,” He Hongyuan said with a playful smile in his eyes, as though he were preparing to tease her. “You said we’re getting married, and you can’t back out of it now.”

Lin Xiang froze for a moment. She looked up at the moonlit night, and the man’s sharp features seemed to soften, his eyes warm and gentle. In his previously cold and indifferent eyes, she could only see her own reflection now.

She smiled, her lips curving up like spring sunshine breaking through the clouds, radiating warmth. “Then you’ll need to apply to the army for a house with a good view, facing the sea. And make sure the neighbors are nice, because if we end up next to people like He Fen or Captain Li, we’ll be in trouble. We’ll also have to buy pretty furniture when we move in…”

Lin Xiang chattered on, and He Hongyuan just quietly listened, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he did.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you,” he said softly.