Chapter 25

Shen Jianming had heard of Captain He Hongyuan.

Although they belonged to different regiments, He Hongyuan’s reputation had long resounded throughout the military district. He was known for his rigorous training, outstanding abilities, and bravery and strategic prowess on the battlefield, where he had repeatedly distinguished himself. He had also secured first place in the All-Army Combat Competition five times, making him a legendary figure.

Shen Jianming’s impression of He Hongyuan was that he was highly capable but difficult to approach. He seemed distant from everyone, strictly businesslike, and hard to form personal relationships with.

The starkest contrast to him was Chief of Staff Jiang Zhenghao, who had been transferred to the military district later. Jiang Zhenghao came from a good background, was also highly competent, and had a warm personality. The two were often compared in military discussions, and Shen Jianming had talked about them with his comrades before.

He just never expected that one day, he would actually go to the movies with Captain He!

Even just standing beside him, waiting for Yuezhu and Lin Xiang to arrive, made him unbearably nervous. He unconsciously straightened his posture, puffed out his chest, and tensed up, terrified of making a fool of himself in front of He Hongyuan.

Only when the two girls finally arrived did Shen Jianming quietly exhale in relief.

“Comrade Shen Jianming, this is Comrade Lin Xiang,” Zhou Yuezhu, the undisputed organizer of the outing, introduced them enthusiastically. “Sister Xiangxiang, this is Shen Jianming.”

Today was also Lin Xiang’s first time formally meeting Shen Jianming. After exchanging greetings, her gaze instinctively landed on He Hongyuan.

Why was he here?

Playing the role of a decoy for Yuezhu’s date was definitely something He Hongyuan would never agree to.

This was shocking!

Especially after just hearing about He Hongyuan’s past from Yuezhu, Lin Xiang now looked at him with an indescribable mix of emotions. It felt as if no one had ever seen the real person behind his steely, bristling exterior.

As the four of them stood together in this strange formation, Lin Xiang discreetly glanced at the lovestruck couple exchanging shy glances, then at herself and He Hongyuan, who were staring at each other in mutual bewilderment.

What kind of situation was this?

Was this supposed to be a double date between a couple and a pair of ex-childhood betrothed whose engagement had been annulled?

The only cinema on the island was located at the far end of the street. In the 1970s, entertainment options were severely limited. Organized outdoor film screenings in the military were rare, occurring maybe once or twice a year. Those with a bit of disposable income would choose to visit the cinema instead.

At this time, China’s film industry was like a newborn, offering only a narrow selection of themes—primarily revolutionary films. If one wanted to watch anything different, well, too bad—there was none.

Lin Xiang was happy to go with the flow. It was her first time watching such an unembellished war film.

Shen Jianming, treating this as an official meeting with his date’s family, remained highly alert and had even purchased four tickets in advance. His heartbeat quickened with nervous anticipation.

As the audience followed the flow of people into the theater, moving from bright daylight into dim lighting, Zhou Yuezhu subtly nudged Shen Jianming’s arm. “Relax! My cousin and future cousin-in-law are good people. They don’t bite.”

Shen Jianming: “…”

Are you sure your cousin doesn’t bite?

Just one glance from him makes me nervous!

In the dimly lit theater, Lin Xiang followed behind Zhou Yuezhu and Shen Jianming, feeling a little unsure.

She had originally planned to find a random seat by herself, leaving space for the couple to enjoy their date. But now that He Hongyuan was here, should she sit alone or next to him?

If she ignored him and sat alone, would that seem impolite?

But sitting together with him felt a little… odd.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Just as Lin Xiang was lost in thought, someone grabbed her arm. A firm, unyielding force halted her in place, then guided her into a seat.

He Hongyuan sat down in the empty seat beside her, speaking casually, “They’re on a date. You still want to go sit with them?”

Lin Xiang: “…”

“Of course, I wouldn’t be that oblivious,” she muttered under her breath. Feeling annoyed at his remark, she couldn’t help but fire back, “As if you know so much about dating.”

You’ve never even been in a relationship! Not just that—you’re never going to be in one in your whole life!

The film began. Compared to the advanced, high-tech theaters of later generations, the projection technology here was quite rudimentary. In the dark theater, the film reels spun with a faint whirring sound, and a beam of light cast moving images onto the screen.

Lin Xiang watched with fascination. Since arriving in this era, she had been starved of entertainment. Just seeing a motion picture with sound was already satisfying.

On-screen, the battle raged on with loud gunfire and explosions. Though the production was simple, it carried a certain raw authenticity, holding Lin Xiang’s attention completely—until, all of a sudden, the screen went black.

The film had stopped.

Lin Xiang quickly looked around. She had never experienced a movie cutting off midway before. However, the rest of the audience seemed unfazed, immediately breaking into quiet discussions about the previous scenes while patiently waiting for the screening to resume.

“The projector is old. It breaks down often. Everyone’s used to it,” He Hongyuan’s deep, cool voice sounded beside her.

Lin Xiang turned to him, only able to make out his silhouette in the darkness.

“I see,” she whispered back, instinctively keeping her voice low. Speaking softly in a movie theater was second nature to her. However, this unintentional quietness made their conversation feel strangely intimate—like they were sharing a secret.

“How long does it usually take to fix?”

“If it’s fast, it’ll take a little over ten minutes. If it’s slow…” He cast his gaze downward, the darkness obscuring his vision but amplifying his senses of hearing and smell.

To speak in a low voice, Lin Xiang had unconsciously leaned in closer, her small face now just inches away from He Hongyuan. Close enough that he could hear the soft sound of her breathing, clear even amidst the gradually growing chatter in the theater. Close enough for a faint, pleasant fragrance to linger in the air between them.

Close enough that he could hear the steady, powerful pounding of his own heartbeat.

One beat. Another. Steady and strong.

“What happens if it’s slow?” Lin Xiang asked in confusion. Why had he suddenly stopped mid-sentence?

Did he freeze up just like the projector?

“If it’s slow, it could take an hour or two.”

“…!!!”

“Does everyone just wait?” Lin Xiang couldn’t imagine people sitting idly in a theater for that long. In the modern world, that would be unheard of.

“Of course,” He Hongyuan said matter-of-factly. “A dime isn’t cheap.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong. A ten-cent movie ticket was indeed expensive. Leaving would be a waste.

—

Fortunately, their luck wasn’t too bad. The projector was fixed after about twenty minutes, and the film continued. Even when the final “Goodbye” flashed on the screen, the audience was reluctant to leave. It wasn’t until the screen turned completely dark and the audio stopped that people finally accepted the film was over.

As the crowd poured out of the theater, Lin Xiang lost sight of Zhou Yuezhu and Shen Jianming. The only person still conspicuously near her was the tall, imposing He Hongyuan.

By the time they stepped outside, it was nearing lunchtime. Naturally, Zhou Yuezhu suggested that the four of them grab a meal at a state-run restaurant, and Shen Jianming—eager to impress his future in-laws—immediately offered to treat everyone.

But Lin Xiang was no third wheel without a sense of boundaries. The couple had finally managed to sneak away for a private date, and she wasn’t about to intrude.

“You two go ahead,” she said with a smile. “I had a big breakfast and I’m not too hungry. I’ll take a walk along the beach instead.”

As she spoke, she seized the moment to wink at Yuezhu, as if to say: See? Aren’t I considerate?

As for the “grim reaper” beside her—the same He Hongyuan who had made Shen Jianming nervous just by existing—surely he would have the sense to withdraw as well.

Having alone time with a partner was always appealing, but Zhou Yuezhu still hesitated. After all, she had invited Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan out in the first place. It didn’t seem right to abandon them now. She tried to persuade Lin Xiang to join them, but when that failed, she turned to her cousin for help.

He Hongyuan was straightforward: “I also want to take a walk by the sea.”

Zhou Yuezhu: QAQ

Shen Jianming: (Secretly thrilled!)

After some back-and-forth, Lin Xiang’s persistence won out. She watched as Zhou Yuezhu and Shen Jianming headed off for their date, then turned to bid farewell.

“Captain He, I’ll be going now.”

It was time for everyone to go their separate ways.

Or so she thought.

But after walking a short distance, she suddenly noticed He Hongyuan following her. She looked at him suspiciously, only to hear him state with a serious expression: “I really do want to walk by the sea.”

Lin Xiang: “…”

—

The sea in the 1970s seemed particularly blue—though Lin Xiang wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination. The vast waters stretched endlessly, their gentle waves undulating like silk, shimmering with golden flecks under the sunlight.

On the beach, barefoot children ran back and forth, occasionally crouching down to pick up seashells and conch shells left behind by the tide. A little further away, people were wading in the shallows—though in the summer heat, swimming in the sea was probably no different from taking a bath.

Shirts came off, and with a dive, they plunged into the water, sending up sprays of foam.

Breathing in the fresh, salty air, Lin Xiang grew excited. She didn’t care about the age gap between herself and the kids—she simply joined in.

It had been a long time since she’d collected shells by the sea.

Brightly colored shells mixed with conch and starfish clinked against each other, forming a cheerful melody. Who wouldn’t love such trinkets? No matter the era, people always enjoyed stringing them into bracelets.

Lost in play, she barely noticed the sand sneaking into her shoes. Eventually, she just gave up, took off her shoes and socks, and let her bare feet sink into the soft, warm sand.

For a moment, she felt like a child again—carefree and unburdened.

She completely forgot about He Hongyuan. She was too immersed in enjoying the sea.

—

Not far away, He Hongyuan stood at the edge of the sand, watching her.

He had never indulged in such leisure before. It didn’t matter whether the army stationed him in the snowy northeast, the vast northwest grasslands, or this southeastern coastal town—his focus had always been on training and combat. He had never paused to take in the scenery.

In the past, whenever he passed this beach and saw families playing by the shore, he barely spared them a glance. These trivial moments of civilian life held no significance for him.

Until now.

Now, he stood there, watching Lin Xiang blend into the group of children, barefoot in the sand, enthusiastically collecting shells and conch. Her long, dark braids swayed with her movements, swinging up and down as she darted around.

Whenever she found a particularly beautiful shell, she would proudly show it off to the other children, basking in their admiration and exclamations. Her face lit up with unrestrained joy.

He watched silently for a long time.

Until, one by one, the army wives came to gather their children, and in the end, only Lin Xiang remained.

She picked up the ten or so small trinkets she had collected, carefully rinsed them in the seawater, then shook off the lingering droplets. When she looked up and saw that He Hongyuan was still there, the surprise in her eyes was unmistakable.

“Captain He, you haven’t gone back yet?” Lin Xiang had been so absorbed in playing that she had completely forgotten about him. She figured that someone like He Hongyuan wouldn’t be able to idle away time here and would have left long ago.

Wasn’t he known as a workaholic? Even during his breaks, he’d find something to keep himself busy.

“I saw you playing quite well with those five- and six-year-old kids.”

He seemed to be making an understated comment on her childish behavior, even glancing down at her bare feet, which were covered in sand.

Lin Xiang’s face stiffened. Was she really acting that immature? She hurriedly bent down to put on her shoes, but her feet were still covered in sand. With no choice, she went back to the water to wash them off. The cool seawater brushed against her skin, refreshing and gentle. Only then did she pick up her cloth shoes in one hand, holding her seashells and conches in the other, preparing to leave.

“I’m usually not this childish,” Lin Xiang explained. “It’s just that seeing the ocean is rare for me, so I got a little excited!”

He Hongyuan was surprised. “You like the sea that much?”

“Yes!” The sea breeze ruffled Lin Xiang’s bangs, and her eyes sparkled. “I went to the beach once when I was a child, collecting shells and starfish with other kids. I had so much fun.”

That was a memory from her past life, from a charity event when the orphanage received funding to take the inland children to a coastal city. It was the first time she had seen the ocean. At the beach, Lin Xiang felt like any other child. There were so many kids playing together, surrounded by families, and for once, she didn’t feel like an orphan.

But when the day ended, and parents took their children home, she and the other orphans stood together in a group, waiting for their caretakers. Twenty-something kids with only two accompanying staff members—unlike the other children, who had one hand in their father’s and the other in their mother’s.

The light in her eyes dimmed as she murmured, “I used to hope my parents would take me home too.”

But she had no parents. No home.

Lin Xiang’s parents had died in a car accident in her past life. They had shielded their baby with their last breath. She had no memory of it, but the elderly caretaker at the orphanage had told her the story, and it had stayed with her ever since.

Around them, the faint chatter of adults and children blurred into the background. Beside her, He Hongyuan remained silent.

It was only then that Lin Xiang remembered what Yuezhu had mentioned earlier that morning—about He Hongyuan’s past.

She turned to look at him. The sharp angles of his face were cast in the golden light as he gazed into the boundless sea, his eyes deep and unreadable.

“I used to think that too,” he finally said after a long pause, his voice carrying as if from a distant place. He turned his head slightly and looked down at her. “I thought for sure he would come back. But…”

A quiet chuckle escaped him—rare, and laced with something that wasn’t quite humor. To Lin Xiang, it felt like infinite sorrow.

She recalled what Yuezhu had said: He Hongyuan’s father had indeed returned years later—only to separate from him and his mother for good.

“You were right,” He Hongyuan said, as if recalling something. He had once looked into Lin Xiang’s background and read about her complicated feelings toward her parents. “Not all fathers are worth anything.”

He Hongyuan had always seemed tall, imposing, carrying a strict and powerful aura. But at that moment, hearing what his father had done and seeing the man standing before her, wrapped in his own layer of thorns, Lin Xiang felt as if she was meeting him for the first time. The real him.

Waves crashed against the rocks, spraying white foam into the air. The rhythm of the tide seemed to echo in their hearts.

But He Hongyuan swiftly concealed his emotions, his expression shifting back to the composed and unreadable Captain He.

“Your recruitment exam is tomorrow, isn’t it?” he asked.

“Yes,” Lin Xiang nodded. She spoke softly but with determination. “Don’t worry. Since I said I’m your relative, I won’t embarrass you!”

Today was a certain someone’s forty-fourth birthday. A few days ago, that man had invited He Hongyuan to his military district to celebrate, but He Hongyuan had flatly refused, and they had argued.

Even now, he was still in a bad mood, feeling restless whether he was at the regiment headquarters or his dormitory. It wasn’t until Yuezhu mentioned needing a cover story for her date that he agreed to come along and watch a movie with Lin Xiang.

Normally, He Hongyuan wouldn’t entertain such a meaningless activity. But at that moment, he hadn’t been able to refuse.

Just like now, hearing Lin Xiang declare that she wouldn’t embarrass him, he found himself curving his lips slightly. “Even if you do, no one would blame me for my relative’s mistakes.”

Lin Xiang: “…”

Do you hear yourself right now?!

“If I pass the recruitment exam and get a formal job, and one day, I have a little house facing the sea… I think my life would be perfect!” She gazed out at the ocean, making a wish.

—

The beach saw people coming and going, mostly military wives bringing their children to play nearby. As the day wore on, Lin Xiang started feeling hungry, and the two of them decided to leave.

As they passed a stretch of lush coconut trees near the shore, they happened upon a newlywed couple picking coconuts.

The young man, eager to impress his wife, wielded a long bamboo pole with a sickle attached, swinging it enthusiastically. The rustling of the leaves and the sound of coconuts shifting in the tree filled the air.

Lin Xiang, who hadn’t had fresh coconut juice in ages, was instantly tempted.

She thought about it—if they picked a few more, maybe she could buy one?

Alright, maybe two.

“Comrade, could you pick a couple more coconuts? Can we buy two from you?” She was craving them.

The woman smiled at Lin Xiang. “No need to pay. These coconuts grow wild; no one owns them. Just wait a moment—my husband will pick a few more and share two with you.”

“That’s great, thank you!”

Like the young wife, Lin Xiang eagerly watched, but the man struggled for a while. His arms were getting sore from holding up the long pole, and he still hadn’t succeeded. The pole was too long and difficult to control—each time he thought he had it, the blade missed, only cutting off a few coconut leaves while the coconuts remained untouched.

The young couple was out of ideas. The woman, eager for sweet coconut water, watched as her husband pulled back the pole, then naturally turned to the tall, well-built soldier nearby.

“Comrade soldier, why don’t you give it a try? Pick some for your wife while you’re at it, and help us grab two as well. My wife has been craving coconut water.”

Lin Xiang: “…”

Why did he assume she was his wife?

Lin Xiang was about to explain, “Comrade, we’re not—”

“I got it.” He Hongyuan took the long pole from the man. With a stretch of his arm, the blade reached the coconuts.

The young wife teased her husband with a smile. “How come you can’t even get a coconut down?”

“It’s not that I’m useless—it’s just really hard to cut! You’ll see, that soldier is probably just a little better than me. He still needs me to give him some tips so he doesn’t waste time… Comrade soldier, listen, you need to—”

Before the man could finish his sentence, they heard a sharp whoosh, and a coconut fell from above, landing squarely in the soldier’s hands.

The young couple was dumbfounded. That was fast!

He Hongyuan tossed the coconut to the ground and swiftly moved again. The pole seemed to obey him completely, and within moments, he had cut down four coconuts.

The young couple thanked him and left with two coconuts. As they walked away, the woman whispered to Lin Xiang, “Your man is amazing!”

Lin Xiang, holding two coconuts: “…Wait, we’re not—”

But they were already gone.

Ignoring the misunderstanding, Lin Xiang had to admit—He Hongyuan was impressive.

He used a machete to cut open the coconut, and they drank straight from it. Lin Xiang followed suit, tilting her head back to sip the sweet coconut water. “This tastes amazing.”

He Hongyuan cut open the second coconut before setting the tool aside. “People here love fresh coconut water. It’s different from the Beibingyang sodas sold in state-run restaurants.”

“Why don’t they sell coconut water, then? Is it available anywhere?” Lin Xiang asked casually.

He thought for a moment. “No, the sodas are mostly orange and pear-flavored.”

Lin Xiang took another sip and muttered, “Sounds like a business opportunity.”

===

He Hongyuan didn’t drink the second coconut—he gave it to Lin Xiang instead.

That night, after drinking two whole coconuts, Lin Xiang’s dreams were as sweet as the coconut water.

At dawn the next morning, she woke up early, dressed in her best outfit, and carefully braided her hair into two neat plaits before heading off to take the recruitment exam.

The food factory’s hiring exam had two stages. The first was a written test, designed by the factory itself, mostly covering general knowledge and logical thinking. Lin Xiang found it extremely easy and was the first to finish.

This first round eliminated many candidates—those who were completely illiterate or had difficulty understanding the questions. The second round was more like an interview. For workshop workers, the requirements were lower, but for office positions, the questions were more detailed.

Lin Xiang had years of workplace experience in her past life. Navigating this interview was effortless for her.

Judging by the interviewers’ expressions, she was confident she had secured the position of publicity officer at the factory. If not, she was sure she could at least land one of the other two office roles.

Once the exams were over, there were mixed emotions among the candidates. Many military spouses sighed regretfully, upset that their lack of education and literacy had held them back.

Shen Chunli came out of her interview full of confidence. She turned to Meng Jing and declared, “Cousin, just wait and see—I’m definitely getting the publicity officer job!”

Meng Jing knew her cousin was well-educated, raised in a dual-income household, and polished in her speech and behavior. “I think you’re the perfect fit.”

With the recruitment process over, the military spouses gradually left. Meanwhile, the factory office staff remained behind to review and finalize the results. One by one, they checked the applicants’ scores and evaluations.

The application form with the highest score—Lin Xiang’s—was picked up and examined…

===

The recruitment results were scheduled to be announced three days after the exam.

Early that morning, Zhou Yuezhu excitedly accompanied Lin Xiang to check the notice board outside the food factory. The list would display the names of those who had been accepted, along with their assigned positions.

The red notice board was already surrounded by a crowd. People were stretching and craning their necks, eager to find their names.

All the military spouses whose names appeared on the list were overjoyed. However, even after successfully getting into the factory, there was still the matter of placement—either Factory No.1 or Factory No.2. Everyone wanted to be assigned to Factory No.1, while those who barely made the cut were often sent to Factory No.2, which inevitably led to some disappointment.

After all, Factory No.1 was known as the advanced factory, responsible for most of the production and profits, with better benefits and working conditions. In contrast, Factory No.2 was still underdeveloped and had become a place where the “old, weak, sick, and disabled” were concentrated—no one wanted to be assigned there.

“Sister Xiang Xiang, you’ll definitely be fine!” Zhou Yuezhu had seen plenty of military district personnel, and from what she knew about Lin Xiang, her education, speech, and way of thinking were far above the rest. If Lin Xiang didn’t make it in, that would be the real surprise!

The two squeezed into the crowd, and Lin Xiang began scanning the list from the far left, starting with Factory No.1. The higher a name appeared on the list, the better their exam performance.

Yet, as she went down the list, she couldn’t find her name.

Lin Xiang wasn’t arrogant, but she had confidence in her abilities. During the interview, the admiration and appreciation in the eyes of the factory staff had been obvious.

That’s impossible.

She finished checking the entire list for Factory No.1 but still didn’t see her name. Then, at the very bottom of the Factory No.2 list, she finally found it—”Lin Xiang.”